The siblings heard Martha shouting from afar. Martha would never make such a loud noise if nothing big had happened. A few seconds later, they could see Martha come running to the garden.
âNee-sama, what have you done?â
âEmma, I will cover for you if you tell me honestly, so speak. It will be easier for my heart if I know about it first.â
The two brothers quickly asked Emma, who had blended into the mass of cats.
âEhhh? I havenât done anything! You two are so mean!!!â
Even though she protested from within the four purring cats, George and William wouldnât listen to what she said.
âThink carefully. From when you woke up this morning till now, have you done something that would get you in trouble?â
âMost of what Nee-sama thinks as alright is already a no-no for the public. You know that, right? Did you do something bad?â
âI already told you that I didnât do anything! Hey, Koumei-san, Iâve been together with you all this time, right?â
âMeow?â
âSee, even Koumei-san said that it was probably okay!â
âNo, that was an interrogative sentence earlier though?â
âNee-sama, you canât give a false translation!â
â â â
âEmma-sama, Emma-sama? âŚGeorge-sama, William-sama. Is Emma-sama here?â
Martha looked around for Emma, who was currently invisible because she was hidden within the cats, as she caught her breath.
âShe is inside that mass of cats, Martha.â
âWhaâ William! You didnât have to tell her directlyâŚâ
âWhat are you doing, Emma-sama?! The Prince, His Highness Edward, has come to visitâ AH, youâre full of fur!!! And t-t-t-the insects in the back, EEKKKKKKK.â
Martha noticed the tailless whip scorpions that were still in the Canned Cat Food Formation and screamed.
â â â
The Prince and Arthur, along with their knight escorts, were guided to the drawing room of the Stuart familyâs mansion.
The sofa that the Count, Leonard, had offered them to sit on was covered by a (Emma silk) handmade cover. Noticing that, the Prince and Arthur sat down very carefully while the knight escorts just stood on stand-by behind the sofa like the diplomats did on that day.
âI apologize for the wait, Your Highness.â
âNo, Iâm the one who came so suddenly. Please donât mind.â
The Prince, who couldnât hide the tiredness on his face, smiled bitterly.
He detained Robert and Bryan and went to bed later than usual, but he couldnât sleep well for most of the night because he kept worrying about Emma. Today too, he attended to his official duties since early in the morning, and when he was about to sigh for the 30th time, Arthur suggested he go check on Emmaâs condition himself if he was that worried. Arthur further persuaded him by saying that it wasnât strange for the Prince to ask for the testimony of the number one victim in the turmoil, Emma, personally.
And that was how the Prince came knocking at the Stuartsâ door in high spirits.
âYour Highness! Is something the matter?!â
George and William entered the drawing room in hurried steps and asked the Prince after giving a vassal bow.
There was no sight of Emma behind them.
âI came to ask about yesterdayâs uproar. âŚIs Emma alright?â
The Prince was so worried that even his voice trembled when he said âEmmaâŚâ out loud. The Prince thought to himself. Thereâs no way sheâs alright. The things Robert did, such as dropping a bunch of insects on the delicate Emma, were too atrocious.
âYes, she is alright. Sheâs feeling great. Thereâs no problem at all.â
âYes. My older sister will be a little late because she needs to change her clothes, but she will come in a moment, so please donât worry.â
George and William answered awkwardly after seeing the Princeâs worried expression. Emma had been playing with the cats and tailless whip scorpions enthusiastically since morning, so her clothes were full of cat fur. She needed to change her clothes first in order to be presentable in front of the Prince.
ââŚChange clothesâŚâ
The Princeâs face that had initially been gloomy became even more clouded. Those faces⌠Both George and William are terrible at lying. Emma must have still been in bed because of the shock from yesterdayâs turmoil. She had to change her clothes because she couldnât appear in front of me, a prince, in her pajamas.
âShe doesnât need to push herself too hard. If it will stress her body, then please just let her rest in bed.â
â âHuh?â â
The brothers tilted their heads in confusion.
However, in the Princeâs eyes, their action seemed to mean that they didnât expect him to see through their lie.