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Ah… I have attended enough royal balls to know exactly how they go.
Someone compliments my outfit, someone else compliments my manners, an elderly duke that suspiciously has four daughters asks whether I've "given any thought to marriage,” I lie about some lady from the East, or West depending on my mood…
It's always the same, pretty predictable, right? HA, I know, I’ve mastered the art of ballrooms!
...or at least I thought I had. Until three weeks ago.
I still remember pushing open the heavy ballroom doors like always while the orchestra was in the middle of some grand, dramatic piece. I had barely taken three steps inside when a man looked at me… I mean, that’s not unusual, people look at princes —especially princes as magnificent as myself— all the time!
The unusual part was his expression. His glass remained halfway to his lips, and another noble spoke to him, but received no answer.
He just… stood there, looking at me with a pair of golden eyes belonging to a man who had just discovered life's greatest treasure and couldn't believe his luck.
I looked at Nene, one of my servants standing beside me. "...do you know that man?"
She followed my gaze. "...Lord Kamishiro, from the West."
"Is he always like that?"
"...No?”
"S-Should we call a physician?"
"I don't think that’s it, Your Highness…”
The next morning, I received flowers. A-And I don’t mean a bouquet, bouquets are normal! I’m talking about an absurd amount of flowers. There was a card between them: For His Radiant Highness. It had no signature, pfft, as though I wouldn't figure it out, mister mystery.
The day after that, very expensive chocolates arrived… and the day after that, handmade sweets from the capital.
"...Is this legal?" I asked my servants when then I received jewelry. Nobody knew, predictable…
By the end of the second week, my chambers looked like a particularly luxurious flower shop.
I-I repeat, I had seen this man only one time in my life!
He had bowed and kissed my hand like everyone else, I had bowed back with a smile, and oh dear, he had looked as if I had bestowed meaning upon his existence.
…then he almost walked into a pillar while leaving but that’s another story.
A month passed before I saw him again… which feelt a bit disappointing.
Of course, it’s not because I missed the flowers or found myself glancing towards the palace gates every morning to see if another ridiculous gift has arrived! That sounds so stupid.
Another royal ball, another sea of embroidered jackets and glittering gowns… yes, the first time they were amazing, but now they’ve grown awfully predictable.
I was halfway through politely enduring a conversation about trade routes when I noticed him, and he seemed to catch my gaze at the exact same moment.
His entire face softened… I promise, I had never seen someone's eyes smile before, I never would’ve known it was even possible.
He excused himself from the group surrounding him and made his way towards me with refined grace, only getting betrayed by the pink tint on his ears.
"Your Highness,” he bowed.
"Lord Kamishiro… I survived your offers.”
"Ah, only survived?"
"I am still finding petals in my library…” I couldn’t help but shrug with politeness.
"I apologize, My Lord…”
"You don't sound sorry at all!”
"I'm afraid I am not⁓!”
I failed to suppress a smile at that time… oh, so he was funny, that’s pretty dangerous.
A servant passed by carrying champagne, and Lord Kamishiro waited until they have gone before turning to me again.
"...May I ask something terribly selfish?"
"That depends…”
"Would Your Highness grant me this dance?"
Ah, you thought I hadn’t caught the unmistakable hope in that polite request… if you put it that way, refusing would have felt pretty cruel.
Besides… it was one dance, what harm could possibly come from one dance?
I placed my hand in his. "You may, Lord.”
The orchestra began another waltz and his hand settled carefully at my back, showing me what an excellent dancer he was. No wonder though, nobles are practically raised in ballrooms!
"So," I started once more, "who exactly is this so-called… Lord Kamishiro Rui?"
"Well… I come from the western territories."
"I gathered as much, what a soft accent you have.”
"Indeed, my family oversees diplomatic relations with neighboring kingdoms…”
"Ah, that explains why Father speaks highly of House Kamishiro… have you traveled?”
"Quite often!”
He ended up sharing a thousand stories as we moved across the ballroom. About distant kingdoms with floating markets, cities built into cliffs, libraries so large they require maps, winter festivals where entire lakes become mirrors beneath lantern light…
Every place became vivid simply because he was describing it, every story somehow circles back to the people he met rather than his own accomplishments.
He laughed easily… and listened even more easily.
By the time the music ended, I knew more about Lord Kamishiro Rui than I expected to. Where he grew up, why diplomacy fascinates him, which books he rereads without ever getting bored…
…I wanted to know more.
How troublesome. He was, unfortunately, ridiculously wonderful.
Intelligent without flaunting it, elegant without seeming rehearsed, he spoke to servants with the same warmth he offers nobles and thanked musicians after every performance.
It would be terribly easy to fall for someone like him…
...
…which, which, is precisely why a rather mischievous thought appeared in my head.
Because someone this hopelessly devoted, someone who looks at me as though I've hung every star in the night sky myself…
It would be a shame to waste such a rare opportunity… after all, a prince deserves entertainment. And Lord Kamishiro looks made for the role of amusing me!
PHASE #1 — Ambiguous Love Letters!
Sure, that's easy! Nothing too obvious, nothing that could be interpreted as a confession… but enough to make Lord Kamishiro wonder whether I was merely being polite, or perhaps encouraging him.
I considered it a perfectly reasonable strategy! After all, if he was going to shower me with gifts and increasingly ridiculous amounts of attention, the least I could do was give him something interesting in return, right?
The first letter arrived four days after the ball, and came with a small book about the eastern kingdoms, bound in dark leather, and a single white flower tucked between its pages.
About the letter itself… ah, embarrassingly elegant. Who even writes like that?!
He wrote about a city he had been visiting, where the streets were built around a river and merchants sold strange fruits beneath colored awnings. He described the architecture, the food, the music he had heard from an open window one evening…
By the end of the letter, he had managed to compare the place's night sky to the lights reflected in my eyes.
I read that sentence three times, had to close the letter and then open it again to make sure I read that right.
...how shameless of him. I liked it.
The second arrived a week later, this time with a pale blue ribbon and a collection of poems from the western territories.
He wrote about a winter festival he had attended, where an entire frozen lake had been covered with lanterns. He told me how the lights reflected upon the ice until it looked as though the stars had fallen from the sky.
Then, he added that he had wished I could have seen it… but not because he thought I would appreciate that spectacle, no-no, it was because he thought the sight would have suited me.
The third one… came with jewelry. A small golden pendant shaped like a little sun with a pale gemstone at its center.
And his explanation was even more extravagant this time!
He claimed it was a traditional piece from his homeland, worn by travelers as a reminder that no matter how far they wandered, there would always be something worth returning to.
Then… came the most suspicious part: I thought Your Highness might understand the sentiment.
I stared at that sentence for a very long time, there was no possible reason for my heart to beat faster over a piece of jewelry.
I wore it the next morning, because, I mean, it naturally suited someone as majestic as myself!
After that, the letters became a regular occurrence… sometimes they arrived with flowers from distant gardens, carefully wrapped so their petals would survive the journey. Sometimes with books he insisted I would enjoy. Once, a tiny glass ornament from a coastal city, because he had apparently seen it in a shop and immediately thought of me.
He described the sea outside the city, the salt in the air, the sound of ships entering the harbor at dawn, and then he wrote: I found myself wondering whether Your Highness has ever stood somewhere so quiet that the world seemed to belong entirely to you.
I’ll ask once more, WHO WRITES LIKE THAT?! I had never received a letter quite like his!
I began looking forward to them… not that I would ever admit it thought. I would simply find myself glancing towards the doors whenever a servant entered my chambers.
If a letter arrived, I would dismiss everyone before opening it. If there was a gift, I would pretend to inspect it casually. And if one of his letters contained something particularly shameless… I would spend an entirely unreasonable amount of time deciding whether I should be amused or offended.
But I had a plan!! I reminded myself of that every time I caught myself smiling.
Lord Kamishiro was hopelessly devoted to me, and that already gave me an advantage. All I had to do was keep him wondering…
So, after several days of receiving his letters, I finally sat down at my desk with a fresh sheet of paper and dipped my pen into the ink.
I had to be careful… if I was too warm, he would think he has to get a ring on my finger as soon as possible. But if I was too cold… the game would sadly end.
I began writing. My Lord Kamishiro… ugh, no, too formal. Just Lord Kamishiro sounds better.
«Your latest letter has arrived safely, as has the book you so generously sent. I confess that your descriptions of the western coast have made me rather curious. I had never considered visiting the region before, though perhaps I simply lacked a sufficiently convincing guide.»
Oh, that was good… pretty ambiguous. Keep going.
«As for the pendant, I find myself wearing it more often than I expected. It seems I owe you a proper thank-you for choosing something so suited to my taste. I wonder what else you might find on your travels that would suit me so well…»
...
P-Perhaps that was a little too much…?
Wait, no… it was exactly what I needed.
I folded the letter carefully, sealed it, and handed it to my servant.
As the door closed behind him, I looked down at the golden pendant resting against my chest. This was going to be so fun…
PHASE #2 — The Jealousy test!
The second phase of my plan was considerably more ambitious… I also considered to call it the Garden Strategy. Elegant name, wasn't it? But... mhm, maybe too elegant.
Every spring, the palace gardens are opened to the public for a few days. It was one of the few occasions when ordinary citizens could wander through the royal grounds, admire the fountains and flowerbeds, listen to musicians hired by the Crown, and enjoy the gardens without the restrictions that separated them from the palace.
Naturally, nobles attended as well… it was practically another kind of royal gathering, only with fewer chandeliers and more sunlight. I had never paid much attention to it before.
This year, however… I had a very particular reason to attend.
I told myself I was merely curious whether he would be there, that was all. Pfft, I obviously didn’t spend the first hour looking for him. Let alone the second.
I simply happened to notice every particularly elegant gentleman wearing western colors! Entirely coincidental.
Eventually, while walking along one of the garden paths, my eyes casually (I swear) recognized something familiar among the crowd. The violet hair, those golden eyes, and naturally, the expression of a noble spotting the most important person in the entire kingdom.
He excused himself from the conversation he had been having and approached me with that same effortless elegance I had seen at the ball.
"Your Highness….” he bowed.
"Lord Kamishiro,” I offered my hand, and he took it carefully before bringing it to his lips.
There was that little blush again… I must admit, I was beginning to find it rather entertaining.
"I hope I am not intruding. I must say, Your Highness… I had heard the palace gardens were beautiful, but I fear the descriptions did them a great injustice. They are rather impressive."
"Rather?" I looked at him with a playful grin, and that got a smile out of him.
"I suppose I should have expected such modesty from their owner~!”
"I am perfectly capable of admitting when something is beautiful!”
"Never doubted it…”
He offered his arm, giving me a few seconds to consider it. I decided to place mine through it; after all, there was no reason not to.
"Tell me," I said as we began along the path, "you have told me enough stories about your travels to fill several books. But there is something I have remained curious about. You yourself, My Lord.”
For once, he was quiet. Oh dear, what a miracle that was.
"Then perhaps I have been telling the stories in the wrong order…”
"Hmm, perhaps."
"Well… my family has lived in the western territories for generations. We oversee diplomatic relations with several neighboring kingdoms, so I suppose diplomacy was inevitable for me."
"I imagine growing up in that environment must have been rather interesting, huh?”
"Oh, it certainly was…”
He told me about the palace where he had grown up, the long corridors that seemed enormous when he was a child, the library where he spent far too many hours instead of attending lessons, and the gardens his family kept in the classical western style.
He spoke about his parents, about the expectations placed upon him, about the first time he was allowed to accompany his family on a diplomatic journey… and even trusted me with how much he hated formal dinners as a child.
"You?" a carefully elegant giggle escaped my lips.
"Especially me~! I assure you, Your Highness, I was a remarkably difficult child…”
“Well, that explains quite a lot, My Lord,” he laughed, and I found myself wanting to hear more.
He spoke about his younger years with an honesty I hadn't expected, stories so ordinary that I couldn't understand why I enjoyed hearing them so much.
The more he told me, the more difficult it became to think of him as merely Lord Kamishiro, the mysterious nobleman from the West who sent me flowers and wrote letters like a poet from another century.
Rui, huh… I never called him that. It was a rather lovely name, which I considered using. Perhaps it could be casually, in the middle of the conversation…
Hmmmmmmmmmm… no. Not yet, that would be far too familiar, and considering how devoted he already seemed to be, he would probably interpret it as some grand declaration of affection.
We continued through the gardens, passing beneath a stone arch covered in climbing vines.
When he suddenly slowed, I followed his gaze to find a bed of white roses stretched along the path, their petals almost glowing beneath the afternoon light.
"They're beautiful…” he said.
I glanced at the flowers. "Indeed, they are.”
"I don't think I've ever seen roses quite this shade,” he let go of me and stepped closer, to pick up one of the roses that had fallen onto the grass. "...may I?”
Before I could ask what he meant, he gently tucked the fallen rose behind my ear.
He seemed to realize what he had done only after the fact… judging by the way his ears turned pink, just like that night.
"...it suits you."
…okay but this was NOT supposed to happen. He was supposed to be entertaining me, not the other way around!
"Ah… does it?"
"Very much~!”
"W-Well... I suppose I can allow it!”
He laughed quietly as we continued waking, to then open his mouth once more just a few seconds later. Poor man, really has no self control… pitiful.
"Your Highness… my palace is partially empty tonight."
"Oh, is it?"
"Most of my family is away on diplomatic business. The halls will be unusually quiet. There is… something I have been wanting to show you."
"The library?" I raised an eyebrow, and his smile widened.
"You remembered…?”
"Of course I did. You have mentioned it in nearly every other letter."
"Then perhaps I should finally let you see it… it would be an honor to escort Your Highness there."
At that moment, my heart leapt out of my chest. Oh dear… the library. The enormous western library with enough shelves to require a map, the place where he had spent his childhood reading instead of attending lessons... the collection he had spoken about with such obvious affection.
…alright, yes, I desperately wanted to see it. I wanted to see the place where he had grown up, I wanted to know him. However… that was precisely why I had to be careful.
I couldn't simply accept, not without maintaining the plan, so I swallowed my excitement and smiled.
"That sounds wonderful, but unfortunately..." I paused long enough to make him curious, "I already have plans tonight."
"Ah… plans?"
"Indeed,” I folded my hands behind my back. "I am expected to meet another nobleman."
He went very still and I continued, doing my absolute best not to smile.
"Apparently, he is quite interested in courting me…”
"Oh… I-I see.”
"He's rather... persistent, though."
"I imagine he must be…”
I glanced at him… ah, there it is, what I wanted to see… the faintest crease between his brows. Very, very interesting, Lord Kamishiro.
I looked ahead before he could see my smile. "But well, I suppose one never knows before seeing someone in person!”
"...of course."
Of course… Lord Kamishiro was nothing if not polite, there was no other way he could deliver that line. But his arm had become a bit stiffer beneath my hand.
PHASE #3 — Scandalous proposal!
A week passed since that day… a week of flowers appearing in my chambers, books arriving from the western territories, and the occasional piece of jewelry accompanied by some beautifully worded explanation that was certainly more romantic than necessary.
I wrote back, of course! The correspondence had become rather interesting, after all…
And… because the show must go on. Of course.
The third phase required a ballroom, and fortunately, I didn't have to arrange one myself!
It was my father's birthday. The King always celebrated with an enormous ball, which meant the palace would be filled with nobles from every corner of the kingdom, musicians, diplomats, servants carrying trays of champagne, and, most importantly… he would be there.
Naturally, I intended to look magnificent. A prince should always look magnificent at his father's birthday celebration, this was simply etiquette!
The problem was… deciding what to wear, though.
I rejected the first attire because it was too plain, the second because it was too dark, the third because the collar wasn't quite right, and the fourth looked excellent… until I noticed that the gold thread clashed with the buttons.
The fifth was my golden mine.
"Y-Your Highness," Nene said carefully, already holding a ridiculous mountain of discarded clothing over both arms, "perhaps we could simply choose the first one…”
"Nope.”
"The first one was quite elegant."
"Exactly, dear... quite elegant, not fully. Tonight is my father's birthday, in case you forgot.”
"...yes, Your Highness,” she just sighed.
"And therefore I must look exceptional!” I picked up another coat. "What about this?"
"Well… is very impressive."
"Too impressive...?"
"Not at all."
"T-Too much embroidery?"
"No."
"Too little?"
"...n-no?”
I narrowed my eyes. "Nene, you aren't even looking at it!!”
"I have been looking at it for several minutes, my prince.”
"Then why did you answer so quickly?!”
"Because I have learned that hesitation only results in another three outfits being added to the pile…?”
"Excellent, you're learning fast!”
By the time I was finally satisfied, my poor maid was carrying enough discarded clothing to outfit the whole kingdom. I adjusted my cuffs and looked at myself in the mirror… perfect.
My hair had been carefully arranged as well, though I had insisted that it remain recognizable as my own rather than some ridiculous sculpted masterpiece. That’s it, a proper prince! And perhaps, most importantly…
…someone Lord Kamishiro would have a very difficult time ignoring.
I caught myself smiling at the thought, but forced it back. Pfft, why would I dress for a nobleman, I’m simply dressing for my father’s birthday!
I stepped out of my chambers and Nene followed behind me, still carrying the enormous pile of rejected clothes.
"...Ah, y-you can put those away now."
“Finally…” someone give her a raise.
The ballroom was, as expected, absolutely magnificent! Hundreds of candles illuminated the golden balconies, reflecting their light against enormous crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling…
The orchestra had already begun playing, filling the room with music while nobles from every corner of the kingdom gathered in their finest attire. Somewhere near the center of it all, my father was receiving congratulations for another year of being the most important man in the room.
Pfft, and of course, I looked even better. I adjusted one of my cuffs as I entered, allowing myself a satisfied smile.
Like I said, tonight Lord Kamishiro would have a very difficult time ignoring me.
...which was precisely when I realized that someone was already looking at me.
His violet hair had been carefully arranged, and his formal attire embroidered with subtle golden details. He looked every bit the part of a distinguished lord from the western territories, certainly… and, he was staring at me already.
…I had spent nearly an hour choosing an outfit specifically because I wanted to see that expression, and now that I had it, my heart decided to become unbearably loud. Composure, Tsukasa, composure!
"Your Highness…”
"Ah, Lord Kamishiro."
"I was wondering when I would finally have the pleasure of seeing Your Highness this evening~!”
"Ah, just wondering?"
"Perhaps hoping…”
"...oh. W-WELL, I wouldn't want to disappoint you!”
"Well… you look particularly radiant tonight, Your Highness,” a warm smile drew on his lips as his gaze traveled over my attire. "I suppose the occasion demanded it?”
"Ah, you are becoming rather shameless, Lord Kamishiro."
"I'm afraid you encourage it.”
“Mm, do I?”
"Quite intentionally, I'm sure...?”
Oh dear, he said it so calmly that I couldn't even think of a proper response… no way I’m losing the chess game this way!
In the middle of my internal crashout, he extended his hand towards me:"May I have this dance?"
Well, I must admit I had missed that little flicker of hope in his eyes, though...
I placed my hand in his. "You may…”
His smile widened, and as the orchestra began another waltz, Lord Kamishiro gently guided me towards the dance floor.
He was an excellent dancer, as I had already learned during our previous dance, but tonight he seemed even more at ease... perhaps it was because we had grown more familiar with one another.
"So," I began, "how many times have you been forced to dance tonight?"
"Only three, for now…”
"Only?"
“I declined the fourth~”
"R-Really? How scandalous of you, My Lord!”
"I was saving my energy for this one,” his gentle golden gaze met mine.
I looked away before he could notice my smile. "You really have become shameless…”
"Fufu, I was under the impression that Your Highness found it entertaining…”
I narrowed my eyes at him, though the corners of my mouth betrayed me. Fine, if he wanted to play like that… then perhaps it was time for phase #3 to start.
I waited until the music reached a quieter passage, then leaned closer. "Lord Kamishiro, I was wondering…”
"Yes?"
I let my voice trail off deliberately, until his expression became attentive.
"Wondering… whether you would like to see my chambers."
He nearly missed a step and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Good, that’s it…
"Y-Your... chambers?"
"Indeed, My Lord.”
I watched the rosy color return to his ears. "W-Well, that certainly sounds like a rather private invitation…”
"Oh, really? Then perhaps you should refuse, as such a prestigious diplomat…” I tilted my head innocently.
“Ah, I don’t believe I could… not when Your Highness is making such a scandalous proposal."
"Scandalous, isn't it?" I let a laugh slip out. "I can already imagine what people would say if they saw the Crown Prince inviting Lord Kamishiro to his chambers during his father's birthday celebration…”
"...like someone fainting and your reputation never being recovered?”
"Mm, how tragic…” the music ended and I withdrew my hand from his. "Well?"
He offered his arm again. "Lead the way, Your Highness…”
Oh dear, he was actually coming, that’s excellent. O-Or at least, that was what I told myself as we slipped away from the ballroom and entered the quieter corridors of the palace.
The servants we passed offered polite bows, though I noticed one or two glances lingering between us. I couldn't help smiling… oh, this really does look suspicious.
I glanced at him, who caught me looking because he was doing the exact same.
"...s-something amusing? Your Highness has been smiling for the past several minutes…”
"Ohh, have I? Perhaps I'm simply enjoying the adventure…”
I opened the door and stepped inside once we reached my chamber, and he followed after me closely.
Then, I walked towards the desk, picked up the newest book, and turned back to him with the most innocent, borderline angelic smile I could manage.
"Anyway~!" I held up the book. "I wanted to show you this! It arrived from the western territories this morning, and I remembered you mentioning the author in one of your letters… isn’t it wonderful?” a sweet smile drew on my lips.
Poor guy, I could count more than one minute his brain spent trying to process this new information…
I allowed myself to enjoy the spectacle for a few more moments, then placed a hand against my chest.
"Wait… y-you actually thought I was insinuating that?!”
"I-I wasn't certain…”
"Lord Kamishiro!" I gasped, absolutely scandalized. "How could you possibly think such a thing of me?!”
“Well, you announced that it was a scandalous invitation—”
"—and you thought the Crown Prince would simply..." I paused, searching for the most dignified wording. Remember, Tsukasa, you’re a prince, you can’t say—...yeah. "...invite a nobleman to his chambers for something so… uh… improper?!"
The Lord's smile widened… God, every time I move a gear inside him, another recovers. This is so incredibly stressful!
"I suppose I should apologize… then, I deeply regret doubting Your Highness's impeccable intentions."
"Good!!" I folded my arms, "I am pretty offended, actually. Do you truly think I am so easily won over? That the Crown Prince would be someone easy?!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t ever dare…”
"Good. We understand each other!!”
After (....I swear I’m telling the truth, believe my words) getting publicly humiliated, he glanced towards the book in his hands.
“So… this is what you wanted to show me?”
It was bound in deep blue leather, decorated with tiny silver stars that seemed to shimmer beneath the lamplight.
"An astronomical treatise from the western territories. It arrived this morning!”
His expression changed in the blink of an eye, getting a smile out of my lips.
"I knew you'd recognize it…”
"Of course I do... the author spent nearly twenty years cataloguing the northern constellations, though his observations of the winter sky are considerably more accurate than his early work."
I walked towards the reading area beside the window and sat down, opening the book across my lap. "Then, you can tell me about it!”
"You haven't read it?"
"Not yet… I have more responsibilities than a diplomatic noble, sadly.”
"Then why did you ask me to see it?"
"I want to hear what you think of it… I understand you’re someone incredibly passionate about literature, after all. Your opinion must have a great intellectual value."
That seemed to catch him off guard, before nodding and sitting beside me. “I suppose I can manage that~!”
He opened the book… and that’s when I realized I had made a horrible, horrible mistake: I encouraged Lord Kamishiro Rui to start talking.
He explained the author's theories about planetary motion, the history behind several of the star charts, the differences between western and eastern astronomical traditions, even why some of the constellations had completely different names depending on the kingdom…
I asked one question, ONE! And he answered it for nearly five minutes! Then another question somehow led to another explanation, and another, and another.
Before I knew it, we had reached a section about navigation by stars, and he was explaining how sailors used specific constellations to estimate their position at sea.
I rested my chin against my hand. "How do you know all of this..?"
"I read the book quite often… I find astronomy fascinating, and the author himself is rather fascinating as well. His later work was influenced by scholars from the southern kingdoms, particularly their method of recording celestial movements."
"What about this?" I turn the page.
"Oh, that's an interesting chapter..." oh… no. There it was again. Another huge piece of knowledge landed upon me.
I listened, occasionally asking questions just to see where the conversation would go. He always seemed to have an answer, and when he didn't, he was perfectly comfortable admitting it and explaining what he did know instead.
He spoke with the same enthusiasm he had when describing distant cities… and I found my eyes watching him more than the pages.
His expression changed whenever he became excited about something; his eyes seemed brighter, and his hands moved every time he explained some complicated idea, completely forgetting that he was supposed to be an elegant western lord sitting in the Crown Prince's chambers.
I smiled without realizing.
"...what?" damn right he would notice… damn Lord.
"Nothing…” I look back at the book. “Please, continue. We have enough time.”
PHASE #4 — Yes, but not yet!
Well...
After what happened in my chambers, I suppose it was only natural to become slightly more comfortable around Lord Kamishiro! He had already visited my chambers, we had shared many dances, exchanged countless letters, and spent an entire evening discussing astronomy…
So, naturally, inviting him back was perfectly reasonable. I simply had to decide… what to do.
The answer came to me one evening while I was looking out of my window: the palace gardens looked completely different at night.
It was… very, very beautiful. And, more importantly, it seemed like exactly the sort of thing Lord Kamishiro would enjoy.
I sat at my desk and took out a fresh sheet of paper. Okay, this is easy! I will simply invite him for a walk, nothing complicated, CONSIDERABLY less suggestive than last time… just a perfectly innocent invitation.
«Lord Kamishiro,
I thought you might enjoy seeing the palace gardens after sunset. They look rather different beneath the moonlight, and I find myself curious whether they would inspire another one of your descriptions.»
I paused. Hmm… that sounded good. I read it again, one, two, three times, and a fourth just in case I missed something.
Was "I find myself curious" too warm? Perhaps… so I changed it to "I wondered whether,” I proofread it and decided it sounded cold, so I changed it back.
Then, I stared at the sentence for approximately, ummmm... indeed, seven years.
"There,” I signed and folded the paper before frowning at myself. "...this is getting kind of ridiculous."
Lord Kamishiro arrived shortly after sunset, and the gardens looked even prettier than I remembered: moonlight covered the fountains in silver, while dozens of small lanterns illuminated the paths between the flowerbeds.
Plus, a gentle breeze moved through the trees, carrying the scent of roses and the sound of water from the fountains. Hm, seems the environment decided to cooperate with me this time!
...Oh. And… yeah. He looked rather handsome tonig—COM-PO-SURE.
"Your Highness,” he bowed, took my hand and pressed a gentle kiss against my knuckles, like always.
"Lord Kamishiro… you came.”
"I must say, the gardens are even more beautiful than you described…”
I offered my arm, and he accepted it immediately. So, we began walking on the moonlit path.
He asked about the flowers that only bloomed during summer, and I told him which ones my mother had insisted on planting years ago. Then, sometimes, he pointed out several constellations above us, and I pretended to understand more than I actually… did. I read one (1) astronomy book, don't expect too much of me.
I stopped when we reached the fountain… ah, how curious, there’s something resting on the edge!
Oh, it’s something small! With transparent wings! Aww, how cute, something with six legs!
Something that absolutely did NOT belong anywhere near me.
A dragonfly sat perfectly still on the stone, and the disgrace of a human being by my side… just had to notice it.
"Your Highness…?"
I stared at the insect as it moved one leg, and swallowed. “...it's nothing."
"Oh, what a lovely creature...” he smiled.
Lovely? LOVELY?!
"Y-Y…yes…" I said stiffly. "Very… very lovely."
The dragonfly moved again, and I took one subtle step backward out of pure instinct.
"Are you… afraid of insects?"
"—NO,” I rushed to answer. “I just… p-prefer to admire their beauty from a… reasonable distance.”
He, on the other hand, stepped closer to the fountain. Huh.
"...what are you doing.”
"Meeting our guest~!"
Rui crouched beside the fountain and held out one finger, until the dragonfly landed on it. His expression softened right away.
"There you are…”
He… spoke to it. He actually spoke to it oh my dear God what.
"Did you lose your way, little one? I suppose the palace gardens can be rather confusing at night."
"A-Are you seriously talking to an insect…?"
"Yes…? It seems polite.”
"It has no idea what you're saying!”
"But it is listening, isn’t it?”
I pressed my lips together. This is completely ridiculous…!
Rui gently raised his hand, allowing the dragonfly to remain perched there. "Isn't it pretty?"
"...I suppose,” ew. Seriously, ew.
After a while, the dragonfly seemingly got bored and flew away, disappearing into the darkness above the fountain.
"See?" Rui watched it go, and turned towards me. "Nothing to fear~!”
“Pfft, I knew that! I-I mean, who would even be afraid of insects, that would be so ridiculous… h-haha…”
We eventually sat on the edge of the fountain, and I could relax again… oh sweet God, why must you give me your hardest battles?!
Rui rested his hands beside him and looked into the fountain. "You know… there is an old tradition in the western territories."
"Another one?"
"Another one…”
"Do I even want to know this one…?”
"I think you might~” he reached into his coat and produced a small coin.
"Why do you have that?" I squinted.
"One never knows when a fountain might appear… the tradition is rather charming,” he held the coin between his fingers. "In some western towns, people make a wish whenever they encounter a fountain like this. They toss a coin into the water, close their eyes, and think of something they truly desire."
"And the fountain grants it?"
"Not necessarily….”
"Then… what's the point?"
"Sometimes…” he looked at the rippling water, “people simply need somewhere to place a desire."
…huh. That was unexpectedly thoughtful.
"And… you really believe in it?"
“I believe wishes are useful… they remind us of things we might otherwise be too afraid to admit we want."
"T-That's a rather philosophical answer….”
"I was trying to impress Your Highness~!”
“Well, that certainly succeeded…”
Rui smiled, and then looked into my eyes once more. "Then… perhaps you should make one."
"W-Wait, me? I don’t have a coin…”
"Take it,” he offered me his, and I started at it for a while before accepting it… would be a shame to decline such a kind offer.
"Very well… what should I wish for?”
"Anything~!”
"That's terribly vague… can I tell you?"
"Only if you want the wish to lose its magic."
I considered that, and then smiled while closing my fingers around the coin.
“I wish… uh…”
There were so many things I could have chosen. Peace for the kingdom, success for my future reign, good fortune for my family…
…I wanted to keep feeling like this, though.
Hahaha, no. I was NOT going to say that out loud.
"I could wish for..." I cleared my throat. "uh... a little more freedom!”
Rui tilted his head. "Freedom?"
"To travel! To see places outside the palace, to walk through foreign cities without half the kingdom following me…”
"Ah, that sounds like a very reasonable wish for a future king…”
"What about you?"
He looked down at the coin in my hand. "I... already know mine."
"You do?"
"Yes."
“Then…” I handed the coin back to him, “perhaps you should do it! You know more about this tradition, after all!”
He turned it over once between his fingers and tossed it into the fountain, making it disappear beneath the water after a soft splash.
"W-Woah, you didn't even hesitate... what did you wish for?"
"That would defeat the purpose, Your Highness~”
“Ugh, okay, Lord Mystery…” I glanced at the water again.
I found myself wondering what Rui had wished for… even more dangerously, whether there was any chance his wish had something to do with—
"—you're staring, Your Highness.”
“UH—so are you!”
He laughed softly. "Well, naturally…”
I smiled despite myself. Our conversation drifted back towards wishes, though neither of us seemed particularly interested in discussing the fountain anymore.
"You reeeeeeeeeally won't tell me yours?"
"I won't~!”
"Not even a hint…?"
“Well…” he shifted to face me, "I wished for something I have wanted... for a long time now."
"A-And that's supposed to help?! That’s incredibly vague!”
"I didn't say I was going to make it easy!”
"How cruel?!”
"Perhaps I learned from a certain prince…”
I laughed quietly, before noticing how physically close we had become.
Neither of us had moved intentionally… a-at least not that I could remember. Yet, somehow the space between us had gradually disappeared.
His shoulder was almost touching mine, and let alone his golden eyes. Completely mesmerized by the royal in front of him.
I could even see the blush returning to his ears… and my heart began beating much faster than it had any right to.
This was… fine! perfectly fine! The Crown Prince was completely capable of handling harmless eye contact!
Then Rui leaned closer, and seemed to hesitate.
"...m-may I?"
My breath caught. I knew exactly what he was asking, and for some inexplicable reason, I found myself answering before I could think better of it.
"...Yes."
He moved a little closer… too close, much too close, and his gaze flickered towards my lips.
Nonononono, ABORT IMMEDIATELY.
My hand rushed to the fan hanging from my waist, and snapped it open between us.
"Oof… i-it is… rather warm tonight, isn't it?" I fanned myself dramatically. "Much warmer than inside…!”
"...i-is that so?"
"Absolutely….”
"Did you… do that on purpose?"
“Pfft, do what?”
"The fan—”
"—what about it? It was warm—”
“—Your Highness, you’re doing it again.”
He gave me the look, and I continued fanning myself with exaggerated innocence.
"...nevermind."
"Good!” I pointed towards the sky. "The stars are particularly bright tonight, aren’t they?”
He stared at me for a moment longer before finally looking upward. "They… are."
"The sky looks different from here, I-I supposed the lack of… palace light… helps. H-Haha, we should’ve brought the astronomy book!” I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore…!
“...Your Highness,” he interrupts. “If you hadn't opened the fan..."
I froze. "...y-yes?”
"Would you… have wanted me to do it?”
My fingers tightened around the fan. Oh… there was no playfulness in his voice this time. How… dangerous.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about…”
"Your Highness."
"Look at the stars…. w-wow, so… so pretty—”
"I am looking at you."
"...I told you," I finally sighed and made an effort to draw a smirk, "the Crown Prince isn't someone easy to woo."
His smile returned. "I remember perfectly…”
“Then you should know, Rui... you’ll have to pass the trial by fire.”
PHASE #5 — Peasants!
I woke up the next morning with a terrible realization: I was awfully, horribly in love with Rui.
THERE, I SAID IT. W-Well, not aloud, but I admitted it to myself, which is arguably worse.
I stared at the ceiling for several minutes. "...Wonderful."
After weeks of flowers, letters, dances, ridiculous little games, and pretending that I was merely entertaining myself, I had finally run out of excuses.
I. wanted. him. I wanted Rui to stay, to ask me to marry him and I definitely wanted to say yes.
However… another thought made its way into my mind.
"WAIT!” I sat upright, quickly getting dizzy. Ugh... that's on me.
A-Anyway, there was one thing I needed to know first! Rui was a good man, but still a nobleman... right?
What if he only wanted me because of my title? What if he loved the palace, the wealth, the influence, the crown? W-What if he treated common people like rats?!
That would be UNACCEPTABLE, and worthy of me poisoning him in his sleep after a few days of marriage. And I FORBID people from asking why I have a plan to poison future husbands to get away, that’s deeply private information!
I needed to know whether he would still treat me right if none of those things existed… and fortunately, I have an excellent solution.
I had done this many times before, after all!
My own people rarely recognized me when I dressed plainly enough and messed up my hair a bit, and I knew the city well enough to move through it without attracting attention. A simple shirt, worn trousers, a cloak, a wild hand through my hair… nobody will suspect a thing, like always.
I stood in front of the mirror and adjusted the collar of my borrowed clothes, admiring my work. I mastered this technique, thank you very much.
"If Lord Kamishiro truly cares about me, he'll care about me! And if he doesn't…!”
My smile disappeared. Well… uh, then I would know, and I’d have to reconsider everything. The thought was unpleasant enough to immediately push it away.
He had always treated servants warmly, spoke to musicians after performances, and had never seemed particularly impressed by wealth or titles… but all of that while I was looking!
I pulled my cloak over my shoulders and looked at myself one last time before opening the window and slipping out through the familiar route I had used countless times before.
A few minutes later, I was walking among the citizens of the capital.
As expected, nobody bowed, moved aside nor called me royal titles. Nobody even looked twice, and I couldn’t help smiling. It was always strangely liberating to do this, after all!
HOWEVER! I had a mission. I was going to find him, speak to him, and discover what kind of man he really was.
And if he proved himself worthy… well. Perhaps then I could finally allow him to ask the question he has been waiting for since the day our eyes first met.
I adjusted my cloak and continued down the street.
"All right, Rui…” I smiled to myself. "Let's see who you really are!”
I knew Rui would be in the eastern district that afternoon; his family had several diplomatic offices there, and according to one of his recent letters, he was expected to spend part of the day meeting with merchants from a neighboring kingdom.
His last meeting should've ended right now, all I had to do was find him!
And, as fate would have it… I didn't have to search for very long.
I spotted him near the entrance of a busy market square, dressed in a white western coat with several documents tucked beneath one arm. He was speaking to an older merchant while absentmindedly sorting through a stack of papers.
I quickly looked away. Right, commoner, I was a commoner. Don’t you DARE.
…anyway. I waited until he stepped away from the merchant, and walked directly towards him.
A little closer, just a bit more… good, now!
I deliberately stepped into his path while he seemed distracted.
"Ah!" I collided with him, causing the stack of papers to fly everwhere. "O-Oh dear… I'm so sorry!"
Documents scattered across the street, some landed near the fountain while others were carried away by the breeze.
When he let go of his hurting head, he immediately crouched down. "Ah… a-are you all right?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Did I hurt you?"
"No, no, I'm fine! I promise!” I crouched beside him and started gathering the papers. "I'm terribly sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going…!”
"It was an accident…” Rui picked up several sheets and carefully straightened their edges. "Please don't worry about it."
Okay… he wasn't angry, not even slightly. He was actually checking whether I was okay. Alright… that was interesting.
"I'm still sorry about your papers…”
"They can be replaced,” he looked down at one of the documents. "Although I suppose these particular copies will need to be rewritten…”
I winced. "Oh…”
"It happens… not the worst document I had to rewrite.”
"Are you… some kind of clerk?" I handed him another sheet.
"Something like that~!” he gathered the last few papers and tapped them against his palm to organize them. "Thank you for helping."
"O-Of course!” I hesitated. This was supposed to be the test… I had imagined him becoming annoyed, maybe dismissing me, or barely acknowledging my existence, even.
Instead, Rui was being exactly the same person I'd met at the palace. I was beginning to feel rather stupid for ever doubting him, but I needed to continue! I was here now!
I pointed towards the documents. "Are those important?"
"Very…”
"Then I'm glad I didn't ruin them completely…”
Rui gave me an amused look. "You did throw them across half the square though."
"I-I said I was sorry!!”
He… laughed. Even disguised as an ordinary citizen, hearing it made my chest feel strangely warm.
"W-Well... I'm glad you're not angry."
"I don't think I could be… you looked more frightened than I was."
"Did I…?"
"Quite…”
"Perhaps I simply have a guilty conscience!”
He organized the final document and looked at me again. "You aren't from this district, are you?"
"Not exactly…” that’s it, careful…
"I thought so… there's something familiar about you."
"H-HAHA, WHAT?” I nearly choked, oh my God stop giving me heart attacks FOR ONCE.
"I can't quite place it…”
"P-Perhaps you've seen me around, that must totally be it!”
"Either way… I'm glad our unfortunate meeting didn't result in anything worse."
"Me too,” I smiled back.
He tucked the documents safely beneath his arm, but before leaving, he hesitated and turned around once more, eyeing me up and down.
"...are you heading somewhere, Sir?"
"...No?” alright…? I… wasn’t expecting that…?
"Then perhaps you would allow me to buy you something to drink? As an apology for the collision…”
Are you kidding me. He was offering to buy a complete stranger a drink. My heart sank a little, please stop making my previous doubts feel foolish for a second.
"...alright?”
"Excellent~!”
He gestured towards one of the nearby cafés. "After you."
I followed him, and… what is this feeling? It feels like I am the one being tested instead of him!
"May I ask your name?" he suddenly asked.
Oh, right… uhm, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Think, think…! Look for inspiration. The sky… huh… the stars were quite pretty that night—that’s it.
"Hoshi!” I settled confidently.
Rui blinked. "Hoshi?"
"Yes!”
It was probably too obvious… but hopefully he wouldn't notice.
"That's a lovely name…”
"Thank you, Sir!” I finally relaxed.
"—and your family?"
OH MY GOD, GIVE ME A BREAK?!
"My… father owns a tavern! A small one, nothing particularly fancy, but it's been in our family for generations…” that sounded believable… uhm, probably?
"That’s great… do you help him?"
"Sometimes… I do most of the counting, though.”
"What is the tavern called?"
...oh. No, that’s good. What if I jumped right into the river right now? Sounds really tempting.
"The..." think think think "The… Golden Star!”
Rui smiled. "That's rather fitting!"
"Yes! I know everyone who comes in; the regulars, the merchants, the travelers... sometimes you hear the most interesting stories there!”
"I imagine you do…” his gaze softened as he looked forward once more.
"You would probably enjoy it!”
"Well, I do enjoy places where people are willing to talk…”
"Then you'd fit right in, I assure you.”
We eventually got to the café, which was pleasantly quiet compared to the market outside…
Rui had chosen a table near the window, where the afternoon sunlight fell across the wooden floor and illuminated the little dust particles floating through the air.
We talked about ordinary things; the weather, market, the importance of imported goods… you know, I usually got really bored by these conversations, but this one was rather nice!
Then, however, curiosity got the better of me. Even in a place like this, his posture was too refined, his clothes too well-made, and his speech too polished. Even the way he held his cup seemed suspiciously elegant…
"You know… you look like a rather high-ranking noble."
“Ah, do I?" he took another sip.
"Very much!” I narrowed my eyes. "Your clothes, the way you speak, those papers... you're definitely not just some clerk."
"Very perceptive, Hoshi…” Rui smirked. “I am a nobleman, a diplomat.”
“KNEW IT!” I couldn’t help but grin, getting a chuckle out of him. "Then tell me something, Lord Mysterious! Are you engaged to some beautiful maiden?"
“Ah, that… no. But I am currently courting someone."
Oh dear, I nearly dropped my cup. “Y-You are…? Who is she?”
"That is a secret~! A rather important one…”
"Come onnn, you can tell me!”
"I don't think so."
"Not even her name?"
"No."
"Her family?"
“Oh, let alone that…”
"H-Her kingdom, at least…?"
"Definitely not."
I dropped back with an irritated huff. "You're terribly secretive for someone who yaps as much as you do!!”
"Perhaps I simply enjoy having one thing to myself~!” he couldn’t help but giggle this tme.
"What is she like, at least…?"
Rui suddenly became quiet… and the moment he opened his mouth, I knew I had made a terrible mistake by asking. Why does this keep happening?!
"She's… oh, extraordinary. She's intelligent, proud, but not cruel. She can be incredibly dramatic over the smallest things…”
"...s-she sounds charming,” I took another sip.
"She is… she's also remarkably kind."
My heart squeezed. "Kind…?"
"Indeed,” his voice softened. "She treats the people around her with genuine affection, even when she pretends otherwise. I've watched her speak to servants like they were her familt… but she's also curious. She asks questions about everything and wants to understand the world, even things that don't concern her directly."
I… had to remind myself to breathe, if I’m being honest
"And... is she beautiful?"
He looked at me as though the answer were absurdly obvious… maybe it is, to him. "Beautiful... that word doesn't quite cover it."
Oh. Oh, Rui… you can’t just—
I lowered my eyes so he wouldn't see my face, otherwise this would turn into an absolutely awkward situation.
"H-How… did you meet her, anyway?"
"At a ballroom~!”
"Love at first sight, I supposed?"
He considered it. "I don't know if I would call it that…”
"What would you call it, then…?"
Rui looked towards the window, tapping his fingers on his own chin. "I don't really know how to explain it… I walked into the ballroom, and then I saw her. It was… strange. When I saw her, everything else seemed distant. I remember thinking… there you are.”
…dear God help me.
"Like..." he laughed under his breath, embarrassed by his own words. "Like I had finally found someone I didn't know I was searching for…”
"...does she… know?"
"I hope so… I haven’t told her yet. I want to do it when the time is right.”
Wonderful… now I felt genuinely guilty. If I revealed myself right there… I wasn't sure I could look him in the eyes and admit that I had spent all this time testing the sincerity of the man who had already given me his heart.
We then left the café, stepping back into the afternoon bustle of the capital.
The market had become even busier while we were inside… but that noise didn’t completely reach me. I walked beside Rui, still thinking about everything he had told me.
There you are… I couldn't stop hearing it. It was completely ridiculous.
Rui suddenly sighed, pulling me out of my haze. I glanced at him.
"...what's wrong?"
"Mm, perhaps I'm simply tired…”
I narrowed my eyes. That wasn't it… there was something about his expression that bothered me. He looked... sad, even?
"Lord... Kamishiro?" I slowed down, and he looked at me.
"yes?"
"You can... tell me, you know.”
He hesitated for a few seconds before looking ahead. "I suppose I've simply been thinking about the person I mentioned… I've been wondering whether my feelings are foolish."
“H-HUH?!” that got me to finally stop walking, and Rui took another step before noticing I did.
"I just… don't know whether she feels the same."
Oh no no no, ABSOLUTELY NOT. We are NOT doing this today!
"B-But you said you were courting her, and sent her countless gifts!”
"But perhaps she only enjoys my company… or the attention. She's a royal, after all. There are countless people who would gladly court her… why would she choose me?"
"W-Well, maybe you're just plain wrong!” I step forward.
"Am I…?"
"YES! If you've been kind to her, if you've listened to her, if you've made her laugh… t-then perhaps she cares about you more than you realize!”
His expression softened… good, that’s it, no bad spirits here! "You… think so?"
"I do! And even if she hasn't said anything yet..." I took a breath. "...she might simply be… waiting for you to ask."
That got his eyes to widen, not expecting that conclusion I just jumped to.. “...really?”
“REALLY!”
"Well, that's reassuring…” a gentle smile drew on his lips. "You seem very invested in this though, Sir Hoshi.”
"...I just don't like seeing people look miserable,” oof, I almost got caught…would’ve been tragic.
“Well, thank you… Hoshi. Or should I say… thank you, Tsukasa?” he turned towards me with the most innocent expression imaginable.
….huh.
NO, SERIOUSLY. HUH. T-That bastard…?!
"...excuse me what.”
"Ahh, did I say something? I must have misspoken~…”
I looked around… nobody nearby seemed to have noticed us too much. That’s good… I aggressively grabbed his sleeve and dragged him around the corner and into a narrow alley between two buildings, far enough from the market that nobody could overhear us.
“HOW DID YOU KNOW?! CONFESS RIGHT NOW!!”
Rui leaned casually against the wall. "Know what~?"
“DON’T YOU DARE!”
“Fine…” he tilted his head. "It wasn't particularly difficult."
"Not difficult?! I've disguised myself dozens of times and nobody ever recognized me—!!”
"—your eyes."
"...huh?”
"They're… rather distinctive, the shape, mostly. The way they widen when you're excited, the narrowing whenever you're suspicious… and you have a very particular expression when you're trying not to smile. Your smile is also easy to recognize. Even when you try to hide it, one corner of your mouth rises before the other."
"...y-you memorized that?"
"Of course!”
My face grew warmer, but he refused to give me a break. His voice even had the guts to get gentler.
"And your lips… you also tend to press them together when you're embarrassed."
I immediately stopped doing… oh my God, exactly that.
"Like that!” he giggled.
“STOP ANALYZING ME!”
"I can't help it… you have a very recognizable face, dear prince.”
I stared at him. "You knew from the beginning…?"
"At first, I had a suspicion. I confirmed it the moment you told me your name was Hoshi. You chose the first thing related to the sky that came to mind… it was rather adorable!”
"S-So you let me lie to you?!”
"I thought it would be more entertaining to see how far you intended to take it! But you're a terrible spy, I must admit…”
I covered my face from the deep humiliation I was going through, but then peeked through my fingers.
"...You still like me?"
He seemed genuinely surprised. "Tsukasa, dear… I recognized you before you even finished introducing yourself. I think I would recognize you anywhere."
For several seconds… I couldn't think of anything to say. Oh my Lord, how does one even recover from that?! How does one continue with their life after going thgough something as humiliating as that?!
"...Wait."
"Hm?"
"If you knew who I was… then… d-did you plan to look miserable to get me to confess?! WAS THAT IT?!”
"You looked very concerned right there, golden prince… guess the hunter becomes the hunted eventually?”
“THAT’S NOT—”
"So, I got you to confess you were hoping I would ask you to marry me this whole tim—”
…alright. Let me say something. In my defense… I didn’t plan any of this. IN MY DEFENSE, I WAS PANICKED. I absolutely did NOT plan to use my lips to shut him up, stop looking at me like that!
PHASE #6 — ???
The next morning, I was buried beneath an unreasonable number of documents. Apparently, being Crown Prince meant that even after spending an entire afternoon disguised as a tavern owner's son, I still had to return to the palace and deal with trade reports…
I was halfway through sorting a stack of diplomatic papers when I noticed someone approaching from the other end of the room.
Right, we had a meeting today. I decided to make his life difficult for my own entertainment, like always.
I placed the document down and looked at him with the most solemn expression I could manage.
"Lord Kamishiro…”
"Your Highness,” he bowed, but only received a dramatic sigh from me.
"Unfortunately… we need to discuss something."
"Oh?" his smile disappeared in the blink of an eye.
I folded my hands over the desk. "I don't think… we can continue this."
"...continue what?" oh dear, he went completely still, how adorable… then, his expression became genuinely concerned. "D-Did I do something…?"
"Unfortunately,” I looked away with disappointment. "I don't think I want to hear anything about you ever again. You've disappointed me terribly."
“Tsukasa… what did I do?”
I paused for effect before looking directly into his eyes. Poor thing, even had to swallow due to the panic.
"I've heard some rather disturbing things… such as the fact that you've been kissing commoners."
"...What?" he blinked.
“POOR PEOPLE, Lord Kamishiro!” I said the p-word with exaggerated disgust. "Apparently you've been going around kissing poor people!!”
I even made a tiny face of revulsion… someone get me an award for this.
"You must be terribly desperate to lower yourself to a poor person!”
His shoulders suddenly… relaxed, before he started shamelessly laughing.
"Your Highness…!” he covered his mouth, trying unsuccessfully to suppress it. “You gave me the scare of my life!”
"I am deeply serious, what are you laughing at!!”
"Though…” he regained a bit of composure and wiped a tear away, “I seem to remember that Hoshi was rather insistent that the Crown Prince wasn't so easy… but I perfectly remember the Crown Prince himself impulsively kissing me.”
"...d-did he?"
"He certainly did…”
I picked up another document and pretended to be very very interested in it. "Well… I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding."
“Ah, is there now?”
"Yes… you kissed Hoshi, not the Crown Prince. He’s a completely different person.”
Rui's mouth twitched. "Oh, dear… is that so? What a shame..."
"Absolutely!”
"The resemblance is remarkable, though…”
"Coincidence, genes are a funny thing! And therefore, I'm afraid you'll have to work a little harder… to earn the right to kiss the Crown Prince."
"And… what would Your Highness require?" he followed my game with amusement.
I pretended to think. "Perhaps more flowers, books, letters…”
"—would a proposal help?"
My pen stopped, and I looked up so quickly that I believe… something cracked there. Ouch.
"...You are not getting out of this that easily,” I narrowed my eyes.
"I wasn't trying to…”
I looked down at the documents for another moment before finally giving up on pretending they were still even a bit interesting.
"Well… I suppose I'll be waiting to see you again."
"Will you?" a smile drew on his lips.
"Of course…”
"Then I suppose I'll have to work very hard,” he nodded calmly.
"Naturally!”
"For years, perhaps."
"...y-years?"
He smiled innocently. "Well, according to Your Highness, the Crown Prince isn't so easy… if he’s supposedly so patient, I'll simply have to court you for many, many years before asking for your hand properly."
…was he. Was he throwing my own game back at me…?
"...W-Well,” I folded my arms. "The Prince will be waiting!”
"Waiting for what?"
I hesitated. "...You know. Don't make me say it."
"So you're telling me… that the Crown Prince is easy?"
“W-WHAT?! I NEVER—”
"Perhaps the poor Prince is so desperate to receive a marriage proposal that he'd accept just about anyone who happened to ask…” he wiped a fake tear away, moved by… apparently, his own conclusion?
"T-That is an outrageous accusation…!"
"Is it?"
"Absolutely!"
"Then perhaps I shouldn't even bother~!” he turned towards the door again, and I stood up before my mind even processed it.
"Wait!” I sighed. "...God, fine!”
Rui looked back, and I had to stare at the floor. Who’s the shameless one now, huh, Crown Prince? The next words were going to cost me whatever remained of my dignity…
"Maybe… maybe the Prince isn't that difficult."
Rui's eyebrows rose. "Maybe?"
"Don't push your luck!” I looked away again. "But… if a certain noble happened to be… I don’t know, tall, refined, intelligent, knowledgeable about art and literature… and… someone with a rather unfortunate tendency to speak like a poet…”
That was when his expression became unbearably fond. "And… what about his heart?"
"...Good. Very good,” I folded my arms again. "He has to have a good heart."
"And would that nobleman have a chance if he were all of that?"
“...he might, My Lord.”
"Aww, just might?"
"Don't ruin it!” I, however, couldn’t help the smile drawing on my entire face. Seems my eyes are capable of smiling too, after all. "Then… perhaps, I'll see you tomorrow too, Lord Kamishiro.”
"I certainly hope so, Your Highness,” he bowed before reaching for the door, to then hesitate and turn around. "And, Tsukasa?"
"Yes?"
"You can tell the Crown Prince not to worry... since he won't wait long."
My face heated up right away as I pointed towards the door. “...I want you out. Right now.”
“As you wish~!”
The door closed, and I finally had permission to cover my tomato-level flushed face with both hands.
“...alright. I'll grant you the victory... just this time."