Chapter 7

author’s note: They grow a wee bit bigger. The sweetness is also picking up(?). So look forward to it.

A lot happened along the way, but we had now turned 12! Wow, clapclapclap. Everybody was getting along really well now.

Well~ Everyone had grown up~

Zernite grew the most out of everybody, vertically and horizontally. He was still a child, yet his face had turned edged and rugged. His father frequently brought him along to the Knights Order to train, and his swordsmanship had become remarkable.

He was powerful. During arm-wrestling, no one among us could win against Zernite. On his waist, although edgeless, a steel sword dangled there.

Bailard had polished his beauty and gracefulness. His manners and demeanors were elegant, and his soft tone of speaking would melt anyone who heard it.

He had become his grandfather’s assistant, and helped out during the church’s events and celebrations. He was called a ‘saintess’ or ‘heavenly maiden’ by the church goers. While he himself was infuriated as to why he was called a girl.

Jade had broadened his interest from being an ‘insects professor’ to all living things in general. Now, it was not only limited to animals and plants, he was interested in ‘nature’ itself. He was currently running various trial-and-errors to improve the livestocks and agricultural fields in the territory ruled by his family.

And then, we have Alfred. Al had grown up to be a wonderful prince. He originally was a fine-looking prince, but now it had some masculinity added on to it. He became taller with a tougher body build. His manners were impeccable, added with a smooth tongue. He had a clever mind and from his almost daily sword sparring with Zernite, he was also physically active.

So perfect. What a perfect prince.

…..It was just that, there was a bit of flaw in his personality.

He already had that tendency from the start, but I wonder why he became very attached to me. As we became older, it only got worse. Why was that? Or was it only my imagination?

“Fania! You, you didn’t come to the inner palace for five days, what do you mean by that?”

I just arrived at the inner palace, and right away I got interrogated. Al who just found me, trotted towards me and abruptly wrapped his arms around my shoulder.

“No need to fuss. I was attending my grandmother’s birthday party, I’m sure I’ve contacted you about me going to the region of southern Lioz1 for that.”

After my grandparents passed on the Duke title to that scumbag father of mine, they left Arginia Duchy to live their easy retirement, building their mansion in the southern region of this country where the climate was warmer. Just one way would take two full days to reach there.

Two days you know, two days!

I didn’t even get to properly attend my grandmother’s birthday party, and straight away I made my way back here. Not to say that I deserve praise, but surely I didn’t need to be reproached like this.

“I’m not saying that. Do you think it’s okay for you to be away from me for five long days?”

He hugged me tighter, I could not move.

“Eh, what you say is simply impossible”

“Not impossible. You only have to be with me.”

Gosh, he was just like Gi*nt2. Hadn’t he changed at all from when he was 7? I was wondering just why this dazzling prince always bothered so much about me, a villain character….

”

”

In the BL game, Alfred the Second Prince, hated his fiancé, ‘Fania’. They went to the same academy, but he never spoke a word to ‘Fania’. Even worse, he complained about ‘Fania’ who was mad with jealousy, and intentionally flirted with his beloved Louie in front of ‘Fania’s eyes.

At this rate, when we go to the academy, would Al hate me? Would he fall in love with the protagonist Louie, and become annoyed with me? My heart felt a stabbing pain. Right now, we were so close, and he also looked straight at me, but would he….

“Well, well, Alfred-sama. You’re troubling Fania there.” With a soft gentle voice, Bailard came to my rescue3. The beautiful Bailard spoke placidly, and softly smiled.

Now, everyone was here inside Al’s room in the inner palace. We were all somewhat busy nowadays that it was not easy to get everyone gathered like this.

The busiest of them all was Al, it had become harder to meet him, but a certain someone would show his face at the inner palace4. Today was a rare event that everybody was here.

“Yeah, if you are being so persistent, Fania will run away, you know.”

“Alfred-sama just goes overboard when it comes to Fania anyway.”

Jade and Zernite also chimed in. But rather than giving me a helping hand, the way they spoke only sounded like they were teasing Al.

“You guys are so noisy. Fania is mine so it’s okay.” Al said that and kissed my head.

Uwargh, staph! Whatcha doin’?

I wanted to hit him, but my shoulders were trapped in his hold, I can’t even raise my arms. I struggled to shake Al off, but he had me locked in his grasp, there was no way for me to escape.

“Wah, this is hopeless.”

“Oi, oi, Fania is moving weirdly you see.”

The two of them were fed up, while another one by their side,

“Huhuhuhu, Alfred-sama really likes Fania so much.” Bailard laughed with poise, and delivered the final blow to me.

My face turned red, I twisted my body in any way I could to break away from Al’s restraint, but he only hugged my shoulder even tighter, so I could not move at all.

After we turned 12, our differences in size became more significant. While Bailard and I were competing with our small stature, Al and Jade were slightly bigger than kids our age. Zernite was by far the biggest among everyone.

The current Fania with a small body had no way to escape Al’s clutch. Showered with everyone’s gaze, I really felt like running away.