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Chapter 24




In the middle of a meal inside the academy restaurant. Sitting beside Alfred, Fania was being fed like a nestling, but suddenly


*drip* A tear streaked down Fania’s cheek.
“Aah, Fania, don’t cry.” Al stopped Fania’s tear by kissing it.
“Al
 Al doesn’t mind even if you cannot meet me. You no longer need me~” Fania clung onto Alfred who was sitting on his side.
“How can that be. I love Fania so much.” Al dragged Fania to sit on top of his lap while facing him, and kissed Fania’s cheek again and again.
“Alfred-sama, did you do something?” Jade stared at Alfred.
“Ah~, the cup smelled of liquor.” Zernite reached out his hand to grab the cup in front of Fania and sniffed it.
“I only put a little in it.” Al nonchalantly answered as his close aides coldly gazed at him.
“What are you planning to do about the class in the afternoon?”
“Just what are you thinking to make Fania drink liquor in bright midday?”
“You guys are so noisy. Do you know how Fania-deficient I am now, you won’t understand. We’re going to the same academy, yet we cannot be together. How can I withstand that.” Alfred knitted his brows, and vented his anger. But once he noticed Fania was moving, he instantly directed a soft smiley face at Fania.
Until the enrollment at the academy, Alfred had been the one who took care of Fania in practically everything. He even prevented the chamberlains and maidservants from getting close to Fania.
From Alfred’s perspective, he couldn’t entrust his precious beloved Fania to anyone else. He took pleasure in taking care of Fania and never once had he thought of them as a bother. Fania on the other hand, only kicked a fuss about being embarrassed in the beginning but he quickly got used to it, and he took it for granted to be taken care of by Alfred.
To say it was taking care of Fania, it was not like he was a toddler, his meals and laundry was handled by the people-in-charge. It didn’t require 24/7 attention. Furthermore, it might be because Fania was still in a growing stage, he slept a lot. He slept at least 8 hours a day. On the contrary, Alfred was the type who didn’t need that much sleep.1
Therefore, Alfred had time to spare. His increasing official duties handed by his father were performed creditably.
However, the situation changed when they enrolled in the academy. The academy took his time at fixed hours, while his official duties stayed at the same amount. Or perhaps they only increased.
He no longer had any spare time. Once he returned from the academy, he was swamped with official duties and more official duties. Let alone taking care of Fania, he didn’t have time to even flirt with Fania. They finally managed to exchange each other’s feelings, and he thought he could touch Fania everyday
.
“Even if you can’t meet at the academy, aren’t you both living in the Royal Palace?” “To say you can’t meet at the academy, aren’t you meeting during recess everyday?”
Jade and Zernite objected, but Alfred only rebutted with “You guys just don’t understand.” as he refused to listen.
‘This prince is really good-for-nothing’. The close-aides had common opinions regarding this.
“Al~, Al~”
“What is it, Fania?” Fania who was clasping on Alfred’s chest was glancing up at Al.
“Al, do you no longer need me? You’re already bored with me?” His clingy appearance with beads of tears flowing down could tickle anyone’s desire to protect him.
“Of course there’s nothing like that.” Alfred also turned into a lovesick fool. His ikemen2 looks had just gone to waste.
Alfred carried Fania up while he stood from his seat, and he changed the holding posture into a princess carry.
“I love Alfred, yet you
.”
Fania who was being carried up usually would struggle to free himself out of embarrassment, but now there was no hint of struggle, he even nuzzled his head as he clung on Alfred.
“Alfred-sama, where are you heading?” Bailard, who was silent until now, asked Alfred where he intended to go while still carrying Fania.
His voice was low-pitched
.and intimidating.
“




It’s consensual.” Alfred didn’t meet anyone’s eyes as he murmured.
“How is that consensual? You cannot take the words of a drunkard at face value. Don’t just interpret anyhow you want it. I’ll say this to remind you, last time Fania got a fever that made him stuck at home for three days. Just what do you think you’ve done to the delicate Fania?”
Bailard’s anger was deep-seated. Bailard would never believe it that Fania who was like a pomeranian dog himself would entice Alfred. He fully thought that Alfred, who went out of control, finally pounced on Fania.
What an absurd thing for him to pounce on Fania who was still a child. This was simply unforgivable even if he was a royalty. Fania somehow made it to the entrance ceremony, yet from the next day he developed a fever for three days.
Bailard who was on a rage didn’t know the truth. Fania’s first experience with Alfred resulted with him having sore muscles, but only that. That was why he could attend the entrance ceremony.
It was just that on the next day, the words he heard from Princess Consort Jane were too shocking for him, and he shut himself inside the room and developed a fever from the utter shock. However, Alfred and his close aides didn’t know about what happened between Fania and Jane, thus believed that the fever was due to Alfred overdoing it.
“What is it?” Alfred asked with a quizzical expression.
“May I have you pass Fania to me?” Bailard smiled brightly.
“Um, but
”
“Alfred-sama.”
“Ugh
.”
“Here Fania, come to me.” From the stern expression he showed to Alfred, he changed to a saint-like face when looking at Fania.
“I
 still don’t forget it. Bailard, you traitor
. You dare to get taller than me. I’m not a chibi3. I’m definitely not a chibiiii~~”
“Yes, yes.” Bailard quickly snatched Fania away from Alfred’s arms, not concentrating on those pomeranian-like shouts.
“Urk.” He also ignored the begrudged face of Alfred.
“Really, if Fania suffers a hangover tomorrow, what are you going to do?” “Here, here Fania, drink this water.” Jade and Zernite peeked at Fania in Bailard’s arms. No one cared about Alfred even a bit.
After school hours. Fania woke up and was puzzled as to why he was in the infirmary. He fell into a mini panic as he worried whether he had turned sick.
author’s note: The chronicles:
Friday (Entrance ceremony eve)
– First experience
Saturday (Entrance ceremony)
– Sore muscles but still went to the academy
Sunday (Entrance Party)
– After meeting Jane, shut in the room and developed fever
Monday (School day)
– Absent due to fever
Tuesday (School day)
– Absent due to fever
Fania was absent for two days from school.