Crown Prince Arios’s Warning

“Someone. Prepare a place for pleasant conversation. Show these people hospitality.”

There was a clatter as a chair shifted, and the King of Tania came down from the dais. Shitoen and the other nobles bowed their heads, so I hurriedly bowed my head too. Was I not supposed to look at this kind of thing either?

Then the King of Tania left the room, and I stiffly listened to the sound of the door closing with a click.

“Then we shall have tea prepared. Please wait here until the preparations are complete.”

One of the nobles told us that, then left the room.

Good grief.

I had only been sitting there, but somehow every part of my body felt stiff.

“You must inform the kingdom of this at once.”

When I turned my face toward Crown Prince Arios’s voice, he had stood up and was giving instructions to the civil officials standing by near the wall.

“Thank you for your hard work. With this, your official duties are finished, aren’t they?”

Shitoen came closer and smiled at me.

“Yes, that’s right. Shall we leave this country tomorrow? Or stay a while longer…”

“No. I have already met the people I wanted to meet… As planned, let us stop by my family home today and head for Tidros tomorrow.”

Seeing Shitoen shake her head, I worried whether she was forcing herself.

It was not as if she could come back again right away. She could take it a little easier.

“I am also looking forward to the villa with a pool that His Highness the Crown Prince has prepared for us.”

Shitoen said that with her cheeks turning pink.

I forgot―――――！！！！！！！

Shitoen’s swimsuit!!!!

Fastest route…. We’re heading there by the fastest route!!!!

“Shitoen.”

While I was putting the travel schedule together in my head, Crown Prince Arios called out to her in an overly familiar way.

“Yes?”

“I am a little concerned about your collar…. Why not have a maid fix it for you?”

Crown Prince Arios casually touched Shitoen’s collar.

Wai…! Hey, what do you think you’re doing?!

I thought about grabbing him, but sure enough, there was something like a fray…. Something like a bit of thread stuck there. Was that there before…?

“Oh my…. Thank you for telling me. Prince Saryu, please excuse me.”

Shitoen hurriedly left the room.

Click.

The sound of the door closing rang out.

Only Crown Prince Arios and I remained in the room.

He was standing, and I was sitting…. I wondered if I should match him for the time being, so I stood up with a grunt.

“Is Lady Mail in good health?”

I asked because I somehow felt awkward with nothing to do. I did not really care either way. Or rather, I had no basis for it, but I felt like that girl was probably doing well.

“Yes. She is in the middle of queenly education.”

“That sounds… difficult.”

I swallowed the words “for those around her” without saying them.

A small chuckle.

I heard laughter and turned my face in surprise. Crown Prince Arios was laughing.

“No, I know what you are imagining. Her tutors are holding their heads in their hands…. But Mail is working hard for my sake. I, too, must work hard.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but…”

Scratching my head roughly, I bent my mouth into a frown.

“Wasn’t that girl the one who caused this uproar? From what I can guess, Crown Prince Arios was fed lies, wasn’t he?”

There were dragon markings on Shitoen’s body.

Dragon markings were sacred, so they were not generally exposed to public eyes. That was precisely why their shape, color, and appearance stirred people’s imaginations. For better or worse.

Shitoen’s body had tattoos like scales all over it, and they were something horrifying.

I believed it was Mail who had told Crown Prince Arios that and stirred up his disgust.

“But I was the one who believed it. It was all due to my own lack of virtue.”

Crown Prince Arios declared that firmly.

From the way he spoke while looking me in the eye, there was none of the spoiled attitude he had shown before.

“Besides… it cannot be helped. I have already fallen in love with Mail.”

Crown Prince Arios smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

“I believe Prince Saryu can understand this feeling as well.”

“If you’ve fallen in love, then there’s no helping it.”

When I replied, Crown Prince Arios, unusually, laughed aloud and shook with amusement.

“By meeting you and Shitoen, I learned many things. I did things for which I should apologize, and I also did things that I would not normally be forgiven for even if I apologized. But I am grateful for your generous hearts. And I want to be someone who can answer that generosity.”

“I see. Let’s both do our best.”

Crown Prince Arios nodded, but immediately erased his smile and brought his face close to mine.

“Earlier, I put a bit of thread on Shitoen’s collar and prompted her to leave the room. She will probably return soon. I will get straight to the point.”

“Eh…? Wha?”

“Shitoen’s life is being targeted by an assassination group.”

“………Huh?”

“I will do everything I can, but I still do not have enough power. This is all I can say right now. Their skill is certain. Be very careful.”

“Consort Shitoen, entering!”

At the same time as the guard’s voice rang out, Crown Prince Arios moved away.

“Thank you for waiting. It seems the tearoom will be ready soon.”

Shitoen entered with a cheerful smile on her face.

“Ah… I… see.”

I let out my voice, and it was all I could do to act as natural as possible.

An assassination group? Be careful?

But why….

Why did the crown prince know about that?

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Even though I wanted to question him about all kinds of things.

Crown Prince Arios was called away by the civil official from his own country who had returned, and even at the tea party afterward, I never had another chance to speak with him alone, and we parted ways.