Chapter 34
"Young Lord, lower your voice."
"I'm sorry!!"
"Lower."
"I'm sorry!"
"Lower."
"I'm sorry."
Only then did Melance let out a short, satisfied sigh and give a tiny nod.
"Like Melance said, keep your voice down from now on. And don't kneel like that anymore either. Got it?"
"But...!"
"Young Lord Ruth. You're my personal guard from now on, right? I don't want to see my guard kneeling."
"!"
Ruth's eyes wandered wildly, and his full lips trembled.
Kanter, who had been watching, cautiously asked,
"A-are you crying...?"
"No!"
Melance could only sigh as he looked at the two boys.
"Haa... Anyway, what was I trying to say again?"
Riena frowned and tilted her head.
The three boys had taken turns throwing her thoughts into chaos.
"Um... you told him not to kneel!"
"Ah, right. Thanks, Kanter. Anyway, Young Lord Ruth, no more kneeling from now on. And keep your voice down."
"I'll remember that."
Only then did Ruth's voice finally settle into something calmer.
"Ruth, do you want something to drink?"
"I'm fine!"
"No. When I tell you to say what you want, say it."
The sweet scent filling the room tickled Ruth's nose.
"I'll have a chocolate-flavored nutritional drink."
"Hm?"
Romi, standing nearby, tilted her head.
"What's that...? A nutritional drink?"
"Knights eat only the minimum amount of solid food they need, and make up the rest with nutritional drinks."
Even after his explanation, Romi still looked puzzled before disappearing outside.
Then Kanter's pale green eyes sparkled as he looked toward Ruth.
"Then... if I drink nutritional drinks like Young Lord Ruth, will I grow tall too?"
"Of course! If you make sure to drink them regularly, they'll help with your growth."
"Wow... I'm going to drink them every day from now on! Thank you, Young Lord!"
Kanter grabbed Ruth's hand and shook it excitedly with a bright grin.
Melance snorted as he watched.
"That doesn't mean a short person will suddenly shoot up in height. Don't expect too much."
With a single sentence, Kanter's spirits immediately sank and his shoulders drooped.
Riena shook her head at the dejected boy.
"No, Kanter will grow tall. Hmm... maybe as tall as Antonio?"
"Thank you. I'd like that, but...."
"I'm telling you, you really will."
"How would Your Highness know that?"
Melance's cold gaze turned toward Riena.
She flinched.
Those chilly violet eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through her.
"J-just... an Imperial Princess's intuition."
"What an interesting intuition."
Just as his sarcasm ended, Romi pushed the door open.
"Chocolate nutritional drink. Is this the right one?"
Ruth nodded and smiled brightly.
He reached out for the cup.
At that exact moment, Melance spoke.
"Your Highness, I'll return to the library now. I have a mountain of work waiting."
"You're leaving already? The coronation is tomorrow. You should rest today."
"My apologies."
Melance gave a slight bow and walked elegantly toward the door.
"Wait, Melance."
At Riena's urgent voice, he turned back.
"The library is one thing, but you promised to help with Kanter's succession too, remember~?"
"Ah...."
Melance froze.
He looked back and forth between Kanter, who was smiling innocently, and Riena, who wore the smile of a victor.
One plus one.
If you want to leave this room, take one of them with you!
"Would it be all right if I started helping him tomorrow?"
"We have lessons again tomorrow afternoon, and the succession issue is pretty complicated. Could you start today?"
Melance only managed half a nod, his expression deeply reluctant.
Perfectly timed, Kanter rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Riena.
"Your Highness! Thank you for the cocoa today. Starting tomorrow, I'll make sure to come exactly on time every day!"
Riena's cheek nearly twitched.
Even so, she summoned every bit of strength she had and nodded.
Only then did Kanter and Melance leave together.
"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"
Ah.
There was still one more.
Riena waved toward Ruth and forced a smile.
She'd spent the whole day smiling when she didn't feel like it, and the corners of her mouth were starting to twitch.
"I'm just a little tired."
"Then I'll wait outside in the hallway."
"All right. I'm going to rest for a bit."
"Yes!"
The moment the door closed, Riena collapsed face-first onto the bed.
Save me....
Kanter's curious eyes darted eagerly around every corner of the Imperial Palace.
He had stayed at the palace briefly last winter, but he hadn't been able to look around properly then.
Now even the smallest things fascinated him.
The bakery piled high with bread.
The attendants cleaning every corner of the palace like machines.
Everyone's so busy....
Whenever servants met the two boys' eyes, they bowed respectfully.
And every time that happened, Kanter awkwardly bowed back.
Watching him repeat the gesture over and over, Melance let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"Bowing to servants. That's exactly the kind of behavior that gives people something to gossip about."
Kanter had been called Young Lord at the Cartes Duchy.
But hadn't he spent his entire life watching every servant's mood and expression?
Those wounds had become scars.
The habit had been carved into his body.
"The only people you need to show the top of your head to are members of the Imperial Family and the Grand Duke's family. Stop bowing so deeply to everyone else."
"...Yes!"
With a cheerful answer, Kanter quickly hopped closer to Melance.
Melance flinched and immediately stepped to the side.
Apparently, walking too close together was completely unacceptable.
"I greet Young Lord Melance~"
A bright, ringing voice brought Melance to a stop.
Elaborately styled blond hair fluttered in the breeze.
A custom-made dress clung tightly to Marilen's body in a way that seemed far too mature for her age.
And there was that arrogant expression, as if she knew exactly how pretty she was.
It was Marilen Nellian, daughter of Count Nellian.
"It's the first time I've seen you since the Harvest Festival! Have you been well?"
Melance deliberately tilted his chin toward Kanter before looking back at Marilen.
But Marilen's eyes remained fixed entirely on Melance.
"What is wrong with everyone in this palace? None of you seem to have learned proper greeting etiquette."
Melance's low growl struck Marilen directly.
Her pretty eyes wandered blankly between the two boys.
The cold atmosphere was eerily similar to the one in the Cartes Duchy.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"I'm asking whether it's considered proper etiquette for a count's daughter to ignore the heir of a ducal house entirely."
Should he replace every etiquette instructor in the Empire?
How many times had he ended up arguing about damned greeting manners by now?
But Marilen merely gave a small scoff and clicked her tongue.
"I wasn't rude to you, Young Lord Melance. Isn't this a little excessive?"
The sharpness in Melance's eyes suddenly relaxed.
Then one corner of his mouth curled crookedly.
He had realized there was no point explaining.
His cold gaze shifted toward Kanter as he let out a mocking laugh.
You want to be treated like a proper young lord when you're only half one?
Marilen openly looked down on him.
Kanter's eyes trembled.
"I-I'm fine.... Really...."
His face turned gray as he lowered his head like a criminal.
Watching it made the back of Melance's neck stiffen.
"Then I'll be going."
Marilen deliberately spread her skirt and bowed only to Melance before turning away.
"Wait."
His firm voice stopped her.
"You don't have any business in that direction."
"I came to the Imperial Palace, so I thought I'd greet Her Highness the Imperial Princess."
"Lead the way. We also have business with Her Highness."
Suddenly?
Marilen wanted to ask what that was supposed to mean.
But the killing intent in Melance's expression was different from before.
So she kept her mouth shut.
Even Kanter's green eyes, which had been timid and lowered moments ago, now looked almost feral.
The guilty, shrinking child from earlier was nowhere to be seen.
"F-fine."
Marilen hurriedly looked away from the two boys and headed toward the Imperial Princess's room.
Romi spotted the three approaching from afar with an ominous atmosphere surrounding them and bowed politely.
"Her Highness is resting right now. Please wait here while I ask whether she can see you!"
"No, that's all right. She must be tired. We shouldn't disturb her."
"Go ask Her Highness. I'll wait."
Romi gave Marilen a displeased look.
"What are you doing? Can't you see I'm waiting?"
At her harshly commanding tone, Ruth's brows twitched.
He stepped forward.
"You should return another day. Her Highness hasn't had proper rest for several days."
His tone was completely businesslike.
But the look in his eyes was closer to a threat.
Marilen's shrill confidence immediately weakened.
"I-I live far away from the capital. If I don't greet Her Highness this time, I don't know when I'll be able to return to the Imperial Palace."
"Then you should have come earlier. Pay your respects another time."
At this point, why didn't he just tell her to disappear from his sight?
Marilen shot Ruth a sideways glare.
Then the door slowly opened.
"Stop grumbling and come in."
"Thank you!"
With an irritatingly cheerful answer, Marilen slipped gracefully through the doorway.
Kanter and Melance followed behind her.
Riena had apparently managed to sleep for a little while.
Her eyelids were slightly swollen.
For days, she'd been preparing for the late Emperor's funeral.
She also had the upcoming coronation to prepare for.
And earlier that day, she'd been thoroughly exhausted by three different boys.
Of course her stamina had hit rock bottom.
"I greet Your Highness the Imperial Princess."
At the overly elaborate greeting, Riena stretched and nodded.
"I'm deeply sorry about the late Emperor, Your Highness. I was so worried about how much grief you must be carrying that I came all this way to see you!"
Ah, yes.
I'm sure you were.
Marilen's consolation was extremely long-winded.
She even made a sorrowful face every so often, enough to make anyone watching think she was deeply heartbroken.
