Chapter 63

Johan, who had been jumping to his feet, lost his footing and stumbled.

“L-Lady Astell…?”

Kaiel, who had been resting his chin on his hand with his arm on the windowsill, felt his elbow slip.

“How… did you come here with the Second Prince?”

“Things just worked out that way. How is the Duke?”

I approached the bed where Duke Ruthius lay.

He must have received treatment, as his complexion looked better than before.

My experience at the information guild had taught me just how effective high-grade potions were.

So, as long as he received proper care, the chances of Duke Ruthius dying were extremely low.

Even so, I found it hard to quell my anxiety.

The Duke’s deathly pale face must have triggered a trauma I had long forgotten.

“Haa…”

Seeing with my own two eyes that Duke Ruthius was alive, I could finally feel at ease.

“Is the Duke going to be all right now?”

“The High Priest treated him, so you need not worry. Still, it would be best for him to be careful for the time being. The wound was quite deep, so it could get infected or reopen.”

“I’ll tell him that when he wakes up. Not that I expect him to listen.”

I watched Duke Ruthius for a long moment before bowing deeply to Johan and Kaiel.

If not for these two, the Duke might have died.

“Thank you for your help. I will be sure to repay you for today.”

“N-No, please don’t do this! I was only doing my duty as a clergyman! Please, raise your head!”

“Don’t mention it. I just thought it would be wise to have the Princess indebted to me.”

Johan, flustered and at a loss, and Kaiel, with his cynical reply.

Their contrasting reactions made me laugh in spite of myself. Kaiel and Johan smiled back at me.

As the atmosphere lightened, Kaiel asked calmly.

“Do you have any idea who the culprit might be?”

“Isn’t there only one? It’s so transparent, it’s impossible not to know.”

“You will have to be even more careful from now on. It is highly likely they will target those around you again, rather than you yourself.”

Perhaps thinking I would be scared, Johan gently tried to soothe me.

“Please don’t be too anxious. Sir Kaiel and I will protect you.”

Hiding in someone else’s shadow in a dangerous situation was not my style.

All I had to do was find the source of the danger and eliminate it before I was attacked.

“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline. I prefer offense over defense. I have another method in mind.”

At my response, Johan asked worriedly.

“What are you planning to do?”

“At this party…”

“Ahem!”

Kaiel cut me off with a dry cough.

“The situation is not ideal today. Let us discuss the details later.”

As he spoke, Kaiel gestured with his eyes toward Dante.

Since our target was the Emperor himself, he was clearly telling me to be careful what I said in front of Dante.

Just then, Dante slowly brushed back my hair.

His sudden action drew the attention of Johan and Kaiel.

I, too, looked up at him and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“There was some dust in your hair.”

“Is it gone?”

“Yes, it’s all gone now.”

Dante smiled affectionately and neatly tucked my hair back.

“Thank you.”

I replied nonchalantly, but I paused when I saw the expressions on Johan and Kaiel’s faces.

Their faces were set harder than ice in the dead of winter.

“Second Prince, was there something on the Princess’s hair? I didn’t see anything.”

“Perhaps the Master of the Magic Tower has poor eyesight.”

Kaiel, whose vision was indeed not the best, fell silent.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, it is extremely rude to touch a woman’s body without permission. I would ask you to be more careful.”

“Don’t worry. The Princess and I have that kind of relationship.”

Johan’s eyes widened. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning in his sleep.

Then, his intense gaze, demanding an explanation, fixed on me.

I shot Dante a resentful glare.

*Why would you say that? Now I have to explain, and it’s such a hassle.*

I had planned on telling Kaiel anyway, since we were in the same boat.

*The problem is Johan…*

In truth, he was even more trustworthy than Kaiel.

*He’s a clergyman, after all.*

That steadfast paladin probably didn’t even know the meaning of betrayal.

So, it was unlikely he would go running to the Emperor to tattle.

“The Second Prince and I have agreed to cooperate temporarily to deal with a common enemy. I believe that is what His Highness meant.”

“A common enemy?”

“Yes, the one whose name we never speak.”

“…How is that person an enemy of the Second Prince?”

I explained everything, from the rumors circulating among the public to the Emperor’s plan.

Including the fact that Dante was slated to be used in that plan.

Only then did Kaiel nod in understanding.

“So that’s what happened. Then in what way have you decided to cooperate?”

“We plan to use the rumors.”

“What rumors are you referring to?”

“The rumors that the Second Prince and I are dating are widespread, aren’t they? We’re going to pretend to be lovers, just as the rumors say.”

The recovery room fell silent.

For a long while, Kaiel and Johan just stared at me blankly.

“…Do you really have to do that?”

“This way, the Second Prince can join my guild without raising suspicion. Though he might get a reputation for being crazy about a woman.”

“That is not a very good method. This could come back to haunt you later, Princess.”

“I’m against it too, Lady Astell. I think it would be better to find another way. I will help you.”

Kaiel and Johan took turns trying to persuade me.

It seemed they really didn’t like my plan with Dante.

Just then, Dante, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head.

“How strange. By what right do you two object? This is a matter between the Princess and me.”

As Dante said, Kaiel and Johan had no right to interfere in this matter. It was solely between Dante and me.

At Dante’s words, Kaiel and Johan closed their mouths. They both looked as if they’d realized their mistake.

Honestly, I wasn’t offended. It meant they were worried about me as comrades.

Knowing that, I had listened to them quietly.

“It’s fine. Everyone is free to state their opinion.”

“I am only saying this because it will be difficult to deceive that person with clumsy acting.”

“Yes, yes! That’s right!”

Johan nodded his head vigorously at Kaiel’s words.

“Hmm…”

Come to think of it, he had a point.

The Emperor was a cunning man. On top of that, he would be on high alert, so he wouldn’t be easily fooled.

*Can Dante really pull it off?*

As I was pondering Dante’s acting abilities, he gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Darling, you don’t trust me?”

His voice was dripping with honey.

His gaze was perfect, too. He was looking at me as if he found me so lovely he couldn’t stand it.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

Dante’s divine performance didn’t end there.

He brought his lips close to my ear and whispered.

“So please don’t leave me. Okay?”

“Wow…”

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Anyone would believe this was the voice of a man terrified of being abandoned by the one he loved!

I had asked him to act like someone completely smitten with me, but I never expected him to be this perfect.

His god-like acting seemed to have moved Kaiel and Johan as well, as their jaws dropped.

“Your acting is insane. I love how you’re already getting into character.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yes. But you can move your hand now. Unless you want it broken.”

“My darling’s fiery side is part of her charm.”

Dante spouted nonsense as he removed his hand from my shoulder.

With this level of skill, not even the cunning Emperor would suspect a thing.

*Even I’m starting to get confused.*

I was smiling in satisfaction when I happened to see Johan and Kaiel’s faces.

“…?”

They wore incredibly complex and subtle expressions.

Johan sighed and asked cautiously.

“Then… I suppose you’ll be attending this party with the Second Prince?”

“I’ll have to. Why?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just curious…”

Johan trailed off with an awkward smile.

He looked somewhat dejected. Like a puppy that had been scolded by its owner.

*Look at that face… So cute!*

I was about to take a step toward him, as if hypnotized, when Dante stopped me.

“Darling, shouldn’t we be heading back soon? We should let your father rest comfortably.”

Bravo.

In that short time, Dante’s acting had improved by another level.

*‘Father’… Right. Acting is all about the details. Exactly.*

I nodded my head.

“I suppose so. Gentlemen, I’m sorry to ask, but could you move the Duke to the carriage? I think his feet would drag if I carried him.”

“Lady Astell, leave it to me!”

“Sir Johan, you carried him here, so I will do it this time.”

“Darling, you should ask your lover for things like that.”

Johan, Kaiel, and even Dante all rushed forward, offering to carry Duke Ruthius.

*The Duke is surprisingly popular with men.*

Is it because he’s a Sword Master?

The three exchanged sharp glances as they decided who would carry him.

The victor was Dante.

He carried Duke Ruthius to the carriage as if he were a princess.

“Well then, Princess, I will see you at the party.”

“Lady Astell, I will see you later.”

“Be careful on your way, darling.”

I gave them a short wave and boarded the carriage.

D-day was just around the corner.