Chapter 44
Men’s Delusions
“Please eat, my lady. I specially requested these dishes from the palace chefs—they should suit your taste perfectly.”
‘How on earth did I end up sitting across the table from this terminal “prince-syndrome” patient?’
Dragged along by maids holding her arms, she had been forced to bathe, dressed up, shoved into a revealing gown, and then dumped in front of Diego, who had been waiting for her in the dining hall.
‘Stay calm. Just humor him a little and then leave. He promised to accept my refusal of his proposal, so today’s goal has already been achieved. Better not provoke him further and ruin the real plan later.’
“Does the food not suit you, my lady?”
“Huh? No, it’s delicious. Really delicious. Suddenly my appetite’s just exploding. If I finish this, I can leave, right?”
Himena suddenly began shoveling food into her mouth at a frantic pace.
“…Hm? What the—this is actually delicious?”
But the food she had stuffed in thoughtlessly melted in her mouth—it was unbelievably good.
‘Wow, palace chefs really are something else! Oh, wait—Royce must be waiting… I wonder if he’s eaten properly yet?’
“Your Highness, what happened to the knight who came with me? Is he being given dinner as well?”
“Your knight? Well… he’s probably with the other royal guards. I’m sure he’ll eat on his own. You don’t need to worry about—”
“No, no. He’s the kind of guy who claims his legs give out if he skips even one meal. He really can’t miss dinner. Excuse me, steward! Could you check if the knight named Royce, who came with me earlier, has been properly fed?”
She turned to the steward directing the maids nearby.
“Ah, yes, my lady. I’ll send someone at once.”
The steward hurried out, while Diego watched Himena in puzzlement.
“My lady, you care so much for your knight… is there perhaps some special relationship between you two…?”
“Royce? Of course he’s special. He’s practically like my little brother. Sometimes he’s so dense I smack him on the back of the head, but he’s got a good personality. He even treats me like his big sister sometimes. Being with him is reassuring.”
“B-big brother?”
“Oh, I mean big sister! Hah, I misspoke.”
“…I see.”
“That’s why, whenever I eat something this delicious, I think of him. Come to think of it, he’s the same age as you, Your Highness. He’s twenty this year—just like you.”
“Same… age as me? Hmph, he looked at least ten years older.”
“Pfft! True, he does look older than his age. Even standing next to me, he looks like the older one. But ten years older—hah! I can’t wait to tell him that, I’ll tease him forever! Hehehe.”
“Hah… so he’s my age. What a shock. Ha-ha, really…”
Diego found himself laughing aloud with her—something he normally considered crude and vulgar at the dining table. But strangely, Himena didn’t look vulgar at all. Instead, he felt like he was being pulled along by her rather than leading the conversation.
“But you know, despite his size, he’s really soft-hearted. He grumbles, but does everything he’s told, worries about me all the time… I was lucky to meet him. I should really take better care of him.”
“Ahem. That’s enough talk about other men.”
“Hm?”
Diego was getting annoyed at how long she went on about her knight.
“My lady, do you always laugh so loudly? You’re unlike the other noblewomen. Surely you were taught etiquette from a young age? Or… is it because of that head injury you forgot all those lessons?”
‘Seriously? He was laughing with me a moment ago, and now he’s trying to shame me for bad table manners?’
“Tsk. And what about you, Your Highness?”
“…What about me?”
“Coming to dinner with your shirt unbuttoned halfway down your chest—is that proper etiquette? Or is that some special royal protocol?”
“T-that’s… I…”
Diego had deliberately left his shirt open to appear more manly, but being called out left him flustered.
“Ahem. I dressed like this because I thought you liked it. Earlier, you stared at me so intently…”
“Me? Oh, no, Your Highness—you’re mistaken. Not just me, but most women dislike men who flash themselves like that. That’s a complete male delusion! Earlier, I wasn’t captivated, I was just embarrassed!”
Mortified by her blunt words, Diego hastily began fastening his shirt. Then, embarrassed further, he barked at a nearby maid.
“Ahem! You there—come and fasten my blouse properly!”
“Y-yes, Your Highness…”
‘What, he can’t even button his own shirt? At least he feeds himself—small miracles. Unbelievable…’
Himena shook her head in disbelief.
The young maid, trembling, knelt and tied his blouse. Being this close to the prince—his bare chest and handsome face looming above—left her breathless.
‘Heh. Are you watching, Himena? This is what happens to women near me—they all blush and can’t even raise their heads. Surely you see…? Wait, why isn’t she even looking at me?’
Diego’s irritation flared again when he noticed Himena propping her chin, lost in thought. He shoved the maid’s hands away.
“Enough. Go.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
Unlike Diego, Himena was thinking of Kylian—how he always managed things himself without relying on servants, despite his noble rank.
‘He wasn’t born a noble, but as the Niger chieftain’s son, he still grew up with some status. Now he’s even a marquis, yet he’s so independent. He treats his people like family, gets along with his subordinates…’
Remembering his warmth made a faint smile spread on her face.
‘He grew up so well without parents. Yes… if I had a son, I’d raise him like that. Not like this helpless prince…’
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
Diego poured wine smoothly into her glass.
“Oh, nothing. Just… thinking about how many different types of men there are in the world.”
“Hoh… different types of men, you say…”
‘Is she boasting about having experience with many men?’
Diego sipped his wine, then leaned close with a sly smile.
“Then, in your eyes… what kind of man am I?”
“Hm. You, Your Highness…”
Himena met his smoldering gaze with a sly smile of her own. She reached out and seized the strings of his blouse.
Diego swallowed hard, a little excited at her touch.
“…My lady, when you say my name in that soft voice, suddenly I…”
Yank!
She pulled the strings tight, choking him.
“First, dress properly. Like this. Ho, ho, ho.”
“Y-you…!”
Diego snatched the strings back and glared at her. Just then, the steward returned.
“My lady, your knight is dining happily with the royal guards. The atmosphere seemed very friendly.”
“Really? That guy sure is sociable.”
The royal guards were actually thrilled—since she had rejected the prince’s proposal, Royce had delivered the news they’d been praying for. To them, he looked like an angel.
“Your Highness, thank you for the meal. Since I’m finished, may I go now?”
“Ahem. If you’ve finished, let’s take a walk in the garden together.”
“…A walk?”
“There’s something I want to show you.”
“Cough, cough! Your Highness, I feel a cold coming on. I really shouldn’t be out in the chilly night air…”
Fwip!
Diego draped a cloak over her shoulders and pulled up the hood with a wry grin.
“This should do. Now, let’s go!”
“Oh, come on…”
He grabbed her wrist and dragged her outside.
The sun had just set, painting the western sky with shifting hues of red and blue.
“My lady, have you ever properly toured our palace gardens?”
“…No. But a garden’s a garden. What’s the difference…”
She trudged along sulkily while he happily boasted.
“I’ve heard your estate in Caraphedon is large, but it’s nothing compared to this. Even foreign envoys are awed and envious when they see it.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”
Ignoring her flat replies, Diego rattled on enthusiastically.
“If you changed your mind and joined the royal family, we could walk this beautiful, peaceful garden every day. I could even make you your own private garden—planting your favorite flowers each season… Hm? My lady? Where are you?”
He spun around—she was gone.
“Here, Your Highness!”
Himena waved from a patch of grass far away.
“My lady! What on earth are you doing over there?”
