After meeting his gaze, which was as bright as spring flowers, my startled heart quickly calmed down. If it were anyone else, I might have been wary, but with Enrique, there was no need to be on guard. At that moment, the voices of the men arguing grew closer.
"So, what did you say to me after getting drunk yesterday?"
"How would I know? I don't remember!"
Startled by the argumentative tone, I tensed up, but then Enrique gently pulled me.
I followed Enrique's lead. During our movement, the horses neighed and spoke intermittently, making me break out in a cold sweat.
[If you give me some candy next time.]
[I'll tell you everything I know, Pulong!]
'Alright, alright! Be quiet, be quiet!'
I tried hard to calm the horses. I was worried that if the people outside heard the horses, they might come in, but fortunately, no such incident occurred. There was a side door in the stable that I hadn't noticed, and Enrique led me out through it.
I took a deep breath of the fresh air, which was a stark contrast to the stable. Then, I suddenly realized that I was still holding Enrique's hand. Glancing at our hands, Enrique was startled and let go.
"I apologize, Your Majesty. Please forgive me for touching you so freely."
For a moment, Enrique looked stunned by my immediate forgiveness, but then he burst into laughter.
His refreshing laugh, like a commercial for a sports drink, surprised me a little.
'Indeed, a pretty boy is the best.'
Enrique asked me with a smile.
"By the way, I heard that Your Majesty is attending the tea party today, but I didn't expect you to be in the stable."
"Uh, yeah. It just happened."
"Could you tell me what you were doing in the stable?"
"Um… just… taking a walk."
I tried to brush it off, but Enrique didn't budge. Despite his gentle smile, I felt an unspoken pressure that I couldn't ignore.
"I heard you were having a conversation with someone."
I was startled and tried to regain my composure. I couldn't let him see my unease.
'Did he hear me making deals with the horses?'
Apart from Eidan, no one knew that I could communicate with nature. They just thought the animals liked me because I was the seed of a deity.
"This isn't the first time, is it?"
I was dazed, as if something had struck my head hard.
"…What? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Enrique reacted as if he didn't understand what the problem was. It was as if he was listening to someone else's story.
Really, it seemed like he didn't understand. Looking at me intently, Enrique reluctantly spoke.
"Even if I did, it wouldn't change anything."
"Whether it changes or not, it doesn't matter."
But it mattered to me. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.
'How dare they talk about Eidan behind his back.'
"…Wait. I'll take care of it."
I let go of Eidan's hand without hesitation and took deep breaths to calm myself down. Then, I walked forward with a bright smile.
"What were you all talking about so animatedly?"
The young ladies were startled by my unexpected appearance, their eyes widening.
'They must be feeling guilty.'
I quickly scanned the faces and identities of the young ladies. They were all from influential families. Among them, one girl had been particularly persistent in her insults against Eidan. Soon, I figured out who she was.
"Just some trivial gossip."
'Got you, you little brat.'
I recognized the culprit just by her voice. She was the only daughter of the Miteron family, and her family was closely watched because the Miteron Count was a right-hand man to the Javier Duke.
"What kind of trivial gossip? Tell me too."
"We were talking about the latest ribbons in fashion."
"Really? Eidan isn't into ribbons, is he?!"
I asked with a bright smile, and the faces of the group of young ladies in front of me turned pale. It was such a dramatic scene that I couldn't believe it even as I saw it with my own eyes.
"When did Eidan start liking ribbons? I didn't know that."
"Come on. Dirty blood? Don't know your place and come here?"
"It's a misunderstanding, Your Majesty."
"Ah! Are you doubting my hearing?!"
I widened my eyes and covered my mouth with both hands. The Miteron young lady, sweating profusely, started to make excuses.
"I, I heard it as a rumor. It's absolutely not true. Please believe me, Your Majesty."
"Miteron young lady seems to believe everything others say and just repeat it."
The atmosphere became unbearably tense. The other young ladies, sensing the tension, took a step back, as if it had nothing to do with them. I sighed.
"I should be going. Everyone, take care."
I waved and turned away without hesitation. Before I had taken a few steps, someone called me, as expected.
It was Emily. Emily, with a pale face, apologized to me.
"I am truly sorry, Your Majesty. It's entirely my fault that such an incident occurred at my party. Please punish me."
"Emily, it's not your fault."
Emily was actually far away when the young ladies were gossiping, so she wasn't involved. I sighed sadly and muttered weakly.
"I don't deserve to be here. What can I do…"
"Any ruler should set an example. The faults of the people are the faults of the ruler. If my knight Eidan doesn't deserve to be at this party, then neither do I…"
My unreasonable statement surprised everyone around me. Emily, finally regaining her composure, spoke.
"Your Majesty, that's absurd."
"It is absurd… But I'm going back to the palace. I need to know my place…"
Oh, how sad, so sad. With a gloomy expression, I turned around.
"Lady Miteron, please apologize to His Majesty and Sir Eidan."
Emily's icy voice fell heavily on Lady Miteron's head like a frost.
"W, well. I'm sorry. I caused you worry by spreading rumors, Your Majesty and Sir Eidan."
It was an apology anyone could tell was forced under the pressure of Lady Javier.
But I readily accepted her apology. This wasn't forgiveness.
'A bigger plan for a bigger revenge.'
I smiled slyly. *** On the way back to the palace, I turned to look at Eidan, who had been staring out the window at the sunset.
Eidan is simple yet complex. Sometimes his thoughts are clear, but other times he's like a misty lake, impossible to fathom.
"Eidan, how's the Javier Duke situation?"
"It's not as easy as I thought. He meets with Ace regularly, but he doesn't open up easily."
The more secrets someone has, the more they fear revealing themselves. I had already anticipated that it would take considerable time. The only achievement of today's visit to the mansion was the discovery that he was collecting stones imbued with the power of the city.
"Then, is there a connection with the Miteron Count?"
The Miteron Count, the right-hand man of the Javier Duke, is not a member of the council but has significant influence in the social circle and runs the capital's major gambling houses and auction houses.
Eidan, who had been pondering something, finally answered after a pause.
"…Yes, there is. He once commissioned the guild to find a subordinate who had fled with the accounts."
"Yes. The subordinate has been apprehended."
"Preparations are complete."
I immediately sent the letter I had prepared in advance with Oscar. *** After handling urgent official duties, Esteban caught his breath. This feeling of emptiness, melancholy, and a throbbing headache.
But if I openly showed signs of withdrawal, Gustav would throw a fit, and the palace staff would become annoying, so I tried to act composed with a fake cough.
"Mabel hasn't been around lately."
"It seems she has made friends with children her age. She's been busy exchanging letters. She was very excited about attending the tea party today."
"Letters, Oscar must be busy."
Finally, Esteban smiled faintly. Imagining the two cute kids sitting together and writing letters, how could he not feel pleased?
"Speaking of which, Mabel is now at the age where she can make friends with her peers."
"Your Majesty is so considerate, she will surely make good friends."
Esteban and Gustav imagined Mabel, known for her considerate nature, drinking tea and chatting with her new young friends, and they smiled fondly. At that moment, the so-called considerate Mabel was in a carriage, heading to deal with her peers.