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Chapter 16│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com
On the table are an ornate tea set, herbal tea, and colorful macaroons.
“And that’s what happened
”
Aldrick-sama asked me and I explained how I came to the Ludendolf empire.
“That’s unforgivable! Instead of valuing and cherishing Liserotte, who had contributed so much to the defense and development of the country by keeping a barrier over the whole country for ten years, they abuse her, scorn her, neglect her, break the engagement with her, and deport her?!!”
Aldrick-sama had a blue streak on his forehead.
“So what will Liserotte do now?”
“Fortunately, I can use healing magic, and I’m thinking of putting my skills to good use.”
“Then you should work at the royal palace. I will write you a letter of introduction.”
“No, I can’t cause any trouble for Aldrick-sama
!”
“Don’t be so watery (氎臭?)! We’ve been friends since we were kids, right? You can count on me! Liserotte can stay here forever if she wants!”
Aldrick-sama takes my hand.
“Friends
”
“I couldn’t do anything for you even though you’ve been having a hard time for ten years. I wanted to be by your side and support your mother when she died, but I couldn’t do anything! I want to help you! From now on, you can talk to me about anything!”
No one had ever said such kind words to me when I was in Hallstein Palace.
His Majesty the King praised my paintings from time to time, but basically I was alone. His Majesty the King didn’t like it when I got involved with other people.
Aldrick-sama’s words are very touching.
“May I take your word for it?”
“Yes, you can! You can count on me!”
Aldrick-sama smiled. Aldrick-sama’s face comes closer
 and I close my eyes in panic.
“Ahem, Ahem! Aren’t you two a little close?”
A cough from Aldrick-sama’s servant brings me back to myself. The man clearing his throat is the young man with sky-blue hair who has been in the room since we entered.
When I opened my eyes, Aldrick-sama’s face was so close to mine that the tips of our noses were touching.
I can’t shake the feeling of distance from my childhood.
The prince of a country is no longer a child, so I have to pay attention to the distance.
“Kyle is here?”
Aldrick-sama called Kyle, the young man with the sky-blue hair.
So the young man in uniform’s name is Kyle-sama.
“Of course, I would not leave the Crown Prince alone with a young woman to whom you are not engaged. I know his highness is happy to see the woman you’ve had a crush on for years, but please don’t skip all the steps and run wild.
“What
?”
“Eh..?”
Kyle-sama called Aldrick-sama “the Crown Prince.”
But, Aldrick-sama was supposed to be the fourth prince
.
“K-Kyle, what are you talking about?! Liserotte, it’s not, it’s not
 I admired Liserotte because
”
“Congratulations.”
“What?”
“Aldrick-sama, you’ve been crowned. Congratulations. I apologize for the delay in congratulating you.”
I did not know that Aldrick-sama had become crown prince because I lived a secluded life in the royal palace. At that time, I had very little information about the outside world.
Just being the fourth prince is a big difference in status from me, a commoner, but being the crown prince is even bigger. Aldrick-sama has become even more distant from me. I have to be careful not to get too familiar with him!
“Well
 Is that what’s worrying you?”
“What?”
Aldrick-sama puts his hand on his forehead, stunned.
“In front of Liserotte-sama, the Crown Prince is intimidated. Liserotte-sama is a tough cookie. What should we do, Your Highness?”
Kyle-sama puts his hand over his mouth and chuckles.
Did I say something funny?