âYou really donât want any tea? I already put in the tea leaves, so just drink a cup and then go.â
Yves set down the teapot and teacups on the table.
His movements werenât large, but this alone pushed the knot of his robeâs soft, silk waistband⌠into a very precarious situation.
âShâŚShall we drink?â
âSure. Sugar? Cream? Milk?â
âI-Iâm fine.â
âIâm going to put everything in.â
Though he complained so much about being dragged out of bed, Yves was now humming as he brought the containers of sugar, cream and milk.
Every time his long legs took a step, the knot of his belt just kept going lower⌠and lowerâŚ
Radis did her very best not to let her eyes gravitate towards his perfectly cut abs, and towards the navel that sat prominently on his lower abdomenâs muscles.
Completely unaware of her gallant efforts, Yvesâs shoulders now began to bob up and down as he sang a weird song.
âOn my day off~â
Yves hummed cheerfully as he opened the sugar canister. Then, with a small pair of silver tongs, he picked up some sugar cubes and dropped them into one teacup.
âThree sugars~â
Yvesâ shoulders would bob up and down again whenever the sugar cubes fell into the tea, which contained milk as well.
The light shoulder dance further pushed the belt lower.
The weak silk belt was about to unravel.
Then, Yves lifted the cream jug and raised his arm higher than whatâs necessary.
âCream, tooâŚâ
The silk beltâwhich had been shouting, âI surrender!ââfinally dropped its arms helplessly.
âIâm going to add a lot~!â
And, right in front of Radis, Yvesâ robe opened spectacularly.
With a sparkling tada! going off in her mind, Yvesâ chest, which looked as hard and as sculpted as marble, suddenly appeared. Then, lower, his gorgeously cut abs and rippling back muscles attributed to his tapered sides.
Immediately, Radis squeezed her eyes shut.
And then punched herself on the forehead.
Thwackâ!
The sudden sound of bone hitting bone startled Yves. He looked at her in amazement.
âRadis? What are you doing?â
âNothing at all.â
With an extremely stinging forehead now, Radis regained her composure and explained.
âThis is the fastest and most effective method in resisting the temptation of an incubus. Marquis, you should remember this, too. There might come a time that you encounter such a monster at Monsterwood if you ever have to stay overnight there.â
âHah? What are you saying? Are you sure youâre alright?â
âOkay, letâs just get straight to the point, Marquis. What Iâve been wanting to ask you about is the Sixth Imperial Prince.â
The incu⌠No, Yves sat across from her, then he responded.
âIf itâs the Sixth Prince, then youâre talking about Nesseo Arpend?â
âCan you tell me about him?â
âThat wonât be difficult.â
Yves sipped his tea, which had three sugars and plenty of cream and milk.
âHow old is the Sixth Prince again⌠Twelve years old, I think? Yeah, I guess so. Hmm⌠I donât remember much else about himâIâve only met him once or twice. Nesseo Arpend doesnât have much presence as a prince of the Imperial Family.â
âWhy is that?â
âHer mother was a handmaid.â
âA handmaid of the Imperial Family?â
âNo, the Empressâ handmaid.â
ââŚâŚ!â
Radisâ eyes went wide open.
âThe Empress⌠Are you talking about the First Princeâs mother?â
âYes. And just to clarify, the First Princeâs name is Charles Arpend.â
âI seeâŚâ
Lost in thought, Radis placed a hand over her mouth.
Considering that the sixth princeâs mother was a handmaid of the empress, and that he didnât have much of a presence, itâs unlikely that heâd become the crown prince.
Then, considering Davidâs reaction at that time, the crown prince must be someone whoâs instead closely associated with the sixth prince.
âMarquis, if the Sixth Princeâs mother was the Empressâ handmaid, then she must have a connection with the Empress, right?â
Yves nodded.
âThe Sixth Princeâs mother was a handmaid who followed the Empress from when she was still living under the Lebeloia Duchyâs roof. You can think of them as people who are in cahoots with each other.â
ââŚâŚâ
Radis thought to herself.
âThen⌠Itâs probable that First Prince Charles was the one chosen to become the Crown Prince.â
She recalled Olivier.
âSo His Highness Olivier didnât succeed in becoming the Crown Prince? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?â
In front of Yves, who was yawning without even covering his mouth, Radis fell into deep thought. She propped her chin on the back of her hand.
If youâre a prince who had a great chance at the right of succession, it might be natural to want the throne.
But last night, Olivier looked at the night view of the imperial palace, and all he said was that he disliked it.
âWhat will happen to Lord Olivier if the next Crown Prince is the First Prince?â
As her mind wandered and as she sipped her bitter tea, Radisâ eyes turned towards the yawning Yves.
It might not be a big deal for Olivier if he wouldnât be able to become the crown prince.
Itâs difficult to tell whether itâs necessarily a good thing if he were to ascend the throne.