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“I want to see the First Prince, because he was so kind to Tati…….”
Once again, I glanced at the queen and Rudolph, trying to feign ignorance. I unnecessarily clenched both hands and gave Siegfried’s collar a little squeeze.
‘Siegfried, can you see? How terrified I am of the queen and Rudolph!’
Siegfried stretched out his arm and wrapped it around my shoulder in a protective gesture.
“I think Tatiana is a little nervous, and I think it would be very helpful if His Highness the First Prince were to be with her.”
“That, Duke of Orleans. That is…….”
“Just traveling all the way here has already overwhelmed her.”
Siegfried retorted coldly.
“Didn’t His Majesty tell us that he had arranged this meeting to apologize to our Tatiana?”
“…….”
“So, for the sake of the child, I’m sure you’ll do at least that.”
Under Siegfried’s searching gaze, the emperor and the queen finally summoned Lakius.
Let’s wait a bit.
Knock, knock, knock.
A gentle knock sounded.
Entering the parlor, Lakius bowed politely.
“‘Greetings, His Majesty the Emperor, His Highness the Queen, and the three warriors.
“…….”
As I stared at them, I felt a pang in my chest.
‘Lakius calls the emperor…… His Majesty, not Father.’
Still, he’s your father by blood. That rascal Rudolph, he certainly did call the emperor Father…….
“Take your seat, Lakius.”
The emperor opened his mouth nonchalantly.
At the same time, the queen’s eyes blazed and she glared at Lakius.
‘Surely, you don’t intend to sit with us?’
As though those were her words.
It was impossible for the observant Lakius not to notice the unspoken pressure. Lakius took it for granted and sat down on a solitary sofa near the doorway.
It was the furthest seat in the parlor.
Judging by his nonchalant expression, he was used to being treated like this on a daily basis.
‘You think I’m going to stand by and let my Lakius be disrespected like that?’
I glared at them both.
“First Prince!”
At my call, Lakius whirled around in surprise.
I patted the seat beside me.
“Can’t the first prince be next to Tati?”
All three of my guardians glanced over.
Ugh, my sides are stinging!
Trying to ignore their heated stares, I smiled harmlessly at Lakius.
“Tati wants to sit down with the first prince!”
“…….”
At that, Lakius, who had remained expressionless the entire time, clenched his teeth. As if something deep in his chest was stirring.
” By any chance, does…… the first prince hate Tati?”
I asked, forcing myself to fake a sullen expression, and Lakius quickly came to my side.
“No, of course not.”
Lakius’s cheeks flushed a little as he said that.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer.
“Then sit here!”
With that, Lakius sat down next to me.
However, as soon as the queen and Rudolph saw Lakius sitting at the head of the table, they seemed to become very upset.
‘So what are you going to do?’
I ignored them both and looked at Lakius affectionately.
‘This is how much I care about you, male lead.’
I’ll be good to you in the future.
So just refrain from cutting my throat in the future, okay?
* * *
A moment later.
The children slipped out first, as the adults decided to have a bit more of a chat.
Well, to be more precise.
‘It’s because Rudolph’s got his tummy all twisted up in knots.’
I glanced at Rudolph out of the corner of my eye.
A mere five minutes into the adult conversation, Rudolph had begun to make it clear that he was bored to death.
That’s right, he’s the reason we’re here. What age must he be in order not to behave like that unconsciously?
The queen glared at Rudolph several times and tried to speak to him in her native tongue, but to no avail.
The poor queen.
‘Since the children seem to be bored, should we ask the adults to send us off to play?’
And so, I suggested it.
Thus, I, Lakius, and Rudolph went on to play separately.
‘…… That’s…’
As I walked alongside Lakius, I glanced back.
‘Why is that guy Rudolph following us so closely behind?’
Rudolph made eye contact with me and said triumphantly.
“Because I’m going to play with you, you should be grateful.”
“…….”
My mouth dropped open.
Wow, so this is what it felt like to be stunned and speechless?
I turned to Rudolph with raised eyebrows.
“Why do I have to play with the Second Prince?”
“What?”
I asked, and for a moment, Rudolph looked dumbfounded.
“Well, I apologized to you, so……!”
“Oh, right. The Second Prince did apologize. But that doesn’t mean…….”
I put my hands on my hips and grinned like a little devil.
“Tati doesn’t have to play with the Second Prince, do I?”
“……What?”
“I’m not going to play with the Second Prince.”
I poked my tongue out at him.
“I’m going to play with the first prince alone, and you, the second prince, stay out of it.”
“You, you……!”
Rudolph froze for a moment, then turned bright red.
Regardless, I squeezed Lakius’s hand.
“Tati only plays with the First Prince, and that’s it. What about the First Prince?”
At my subtle question, Lakius looked down at me with an unreadable gaze. Then he lowered his voice to whisper to me.
“Does Miss Tatiana wish to be separated from Rudolph?”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded, still a little puzzled.
Why would he ask me that?
But then.
“In that case, please…… excuse me for a moment.”
Huh?
At the same time, my body snapped up.
“Kyah!”
I reflexively threw my arms around Lakius’s neck.
With his arms firmly around me, Lakius started running.
The view of the luxurious corridor faded into the background.
No, I know I couldn’t have run away from Rudolph on my short legs.
‘Oh my gosh, what is this speed?’
This is what an eight-year-old boy is capable of, physically?
When you’re the male lead of a world, you’re supposed to have this kind of physical ability?
Blinking my eyes in bewilderment, I suddenly saw Rudolph standing in the distance with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Rudolf’s face contorted.
“What the hell is this!”
And as soon as I saw that contorted face, I felt my heart explode in my throat like a bottle of cider.
Turning to Rudolph, who was quickly fading into the distance, I waved cheerfully.
“Goodbye, Second Prince! Bye!”
Ah, I feel better!
* * *
With that, Rudolph was completely out of sight.
Lakius gently set me down on the floor.
“Sorry for the sudden hug.”
“…….”
He said, and then apologized again.
Ugh, really.
I fought back the sigh that threatened to burst out.
What kind of imperial favors did it take for this kid to have such low self-esteem?
“First Prince is always apologizing,” I replied dryly, and for a moment Lakius looked dumbfounded. “Tati would rather have you smile at her than apologize to her.”
” ……don’t you ever laugh at anything else?”
“No.”
I nodded firmly, and Lakius lifted his hand unnecessarily and cupped the corner of his mouth.
His lips were pressed into a straight, hard line.
“…….”
Once again, Lakius looked puzzled.
Apparently, he hadn’t realized that he was always so expressionless.
“Is this still a thing?”
I smirked at Lakius.
” I hope you smile more often.”
“Smile ……often?”
“Mmm. That’s why you have to play with Tati often. That way, Tati will make the first prince laugh a lot. Okay?”
I put all my strength and selflessness into the words, “You should play with Tati often”.
We need to see each other more often.
So, we can get to know each other and build a connection.
You’ll be the one to save my neck in the future, won’t you?
“……Yes.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Lakius clumsily smiled after me.
It was a pretty smile, if a little awkward.
“Is there somewhere you’d like to go?”
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