The Crown Prince Summons Us

“What is it?”

“N-Nothing at all!”

Asked that with a blank look, I hurriedly shook my head from side to side. Maybe she found that movement amusing, because Shitoen covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“When you laugh, you’re adorable…”

Crap, that slipped out loud!

As I flailed in complete panic, Shitoen’s eyes went round as saucers, and with even her ears turning bright red, she burrowed under the quilt.

“I-I’m sorry. I just woke up and I’m not even wearing makeup… I must have looked awful, didn’t I?”

Hearing her muffled voice, I panicked.

W-Why?! I was complimenting you…!

Ah, I get it!

Her waking face itself wasn’t the issue—she took it to mean, “You’re only cute when you smile”!?

“N-no, no, no, no, that’s not it, Shitoen!”

I lifted the quilt and slipped under it too.

“Eek!”

Under the quilt, Shitoen had curled up like she was holding her breath underwater.

She cried out in surprise because I’d suddenly come in, but I ignored that and said it clearly.

“I misspoke! You’re cute when you smile, and you’re cute all the time too!!”

I declared it flatly.

Shitoen stayed frozen for a while, but then, with her cheeks still pink, she smiled again, this time shyly.

“Prince Saryu, you look handsome no matter when I see you.”

Maybe not just because we were both under the quilt together, but my whole body grew hot.

I reached an arm toward Shitoen. Even to me, the movement felt unbearably awkward, but Shitoen neither ran nor looked displeased, and simply waited for me.

I caught her by the waist and drew her close.

When I enclosed her in my arms, I caught her scent again for the first time in a while. Sweet, yet fresh. Somehow, that scent reminded me of the winter frontier.

I wondered why, and pulled Shitoen even closer, burying my face at the base of her neck. When I inhaled deeply, perhaps it tickled, because Shitoen let out a faint, almost coaxing little sound.

“Ah… right.”

I murmured.

Daffodils.

It smelled like that.

Their stems and leaves are slender, yet they break through the snow to announce the end of winter.

Whenever I saw those daffodils, both I and the men under my command would be glad. “Our mission is over. Spring is near.”

“What is it?”

Shitoen pulled back just a little and peered into my face.

Because the quilt shut out the room’s light, the outline of her face and body looked faint and melting in the dimness.

“I was thinking… I still hadn’t said welcome back.”

When I smiled, Shitoen smiled too.

“Is that so?”

Saying that, Shitoen moved a little closer to me again and kissed my forehead.

Right nearby was her pale throat. Before I knew it, I was kissing her, and I wrapped my arms around her waist.

“Ah.”

Hearing the startled sound slip from Shitoen’s lips, I kept trailing kisses from her throat to her collarbone and the top of her chest.

“Ah… um… …hnn. Prince Saryu.”

That uncertain voice, and yet sweet at the same time, made my arms and body grow hotter and hotter.

Just as I hooked my fingers at the shoulder of Shitoen’s nightwear and started to pull it down.

“Good morning, young master. Lady Shitoen.”

Knock, knock, knock. Three dutiful knocks sounded, and through the door came the butler chief’s voice, also one I had not heard in quite some time.

“…Prince Saryu. It’s the butler chief.”

Probably because I didn’t answer. Shitoen called to me with a stifled giggle.

“Good morning, young master. Lady Shitoen.”

The butler chief’s voice pressed the attack even further, but I didn’t move, keeping my face buried against Shitoen’s chest. As if I would move! I can’t hear him. I do not hear a thing!!!

“GOOD MOR NING TO YOU!”

But the butler chief, enunciating each word with a breath between them, cornered me. No! I’m not leaving the bedroom!

“Captain! Please wake up! Everything after this is going to be delayed!”

Damn it! Raul was here too! What is it with you?! At least finish balancing the figures before you come! …Ah. That was from the dream…

“Prince Saryu, let’s get up, all right?”

Shitoen was laughing.

“………Damn it.”

I clicked my tongue and flung the quilt off.

“What is it?! I only got back late last night!”

Still, when I tried to fight back, the butler chief answered through the door.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has summoned you. He said for you to come together with Lady Shitoen.”

“The Crown Prince?”

Without thinking, Shitoen and I looked at each other.

If it were only me, that would be one thing.

But what did it mean that Shitoen was to come as well?