Chapter 41.
It was an absurd level of confidence, but I didn’t bother to say anything.
Yes, whether it’s Joachim or Friedrich, it’s all the same. Whatever I say now, it won’t get through.
“Still, I’ll speak to His Majesty myself.”
Joachim’s expression crumpled immediately.
“Your Highness.”
“You’re not wrong, but surely he’ll look more kindly on his daughter than a complete stranger.”
“…Princess Mari is also His Majesty’s daughter.”
Joachim struck at the heart of the matter with a serious face.
“Even if the Emperor is affectionate toward Your Highness…”
“So, because he’s the Emperor, I shouldn’t act out without knowing my place?”
I smirked, tilting the corner of my mouth defiantly.
“You know me, Duke. I’ve always been like this.”
“….”
Joachim gazed at me steadily, then murmured,
“That’s why I fell for you.”
Wait, how does he manage to flirt even with that? I looked at him in disbelief, and he smiled weakly.
“You won’t listen even if I try to dissuade you, will you?”
“Then I wouldn’t be Rene Stade.”
I replied as if it went without saying.
“I also don’t want you to fall out of His Majesty’s favor. Let’s not add more reasons for me to feel sorry.”
I said it lightly on purpose, but Joachim’s expression was grave.
“Are you worrying about me?”
“Well, if that’s how it sounds…”
“You say you won’t reward me.”
Joachim’s lips curved up uncontrollably as he muttered.
He looked genuinely delighted, enough to make me flinch just watching.
“That sentiment alone is enough, truly.”
“…I didn’t know you were such a selfless person.”
“How could that be?”
This time, Joachim laughed even louder, as if he’d heard an amusing joke.
“My desires are as vast as a mountain, but I’m satisfied simply because it’s you. Even a single drop of kindness like this quenches them all.”
“What a strange thing to call kind. I just don’t want to owe you more.”
“If I say that even that sense of obligation delights me.”
Joachim slowly withdrew the handkerchief. I thought he’d take it away, but instead, he gently grasped my hand with it. As if he wanted to hold on in any way possible.
“Would you dislike that?”
“I don’t dislike it. There’s no reason to refuse your loyalty.”
I replied impassively.
“But I hope you clearly understand what I want, Joachim Rommel. I’ve said it plainly.”
“….”
“I mean, don’t twist my intentions under the guise of doing it for my sake.”
It was about my intention to renounce the succession to the throne. Joachim still seemed unconvinced, but he nodded soon after.
“However, I will follow you whenever you change your mind.”
Joachim must think I’ll change my mind eventually. Just as I thought about him earlier.
In this way, the two are similar. Who’ll be right? We’ll have to wait and see.
***
After parting with Joachim, I stepped outside for a walk.
He seemed eager to follow, but I refused. I had something to do alone, in secret.
‘My magic is back.’
From what I’d studied so far, someone with high magic like Rene could create a vacuum around them just from intense anger.
Earlier, Lady Noivan and the guard clearly couldn’t breathe.
‘Shall I test it once?’
I stopped quietly in the middle of the Rene Palace garden and stared into the void.
Then, I imagined snapping a distant tree branch.
‘Zap.’
“….”
‘Zap, zap.’
“….”
But nothing happened.
Is this not it?
I was glaring at the tree, straining my innocent eyes, when suddenly a tall, handsome young man appeared in front of it.
It was Friedrich.
Startled, I relaxed my eyes, and they met his directly. Oh no, did he think I was glaring at him?
Flustered, I quickly smiled, but Friedrich alternated his gaze between me and the tree, then suddenly plucked a peach from the branch.
Wow, he can reach that without a ladder.
I was newly impressed by his lanky height when he walked over to me, holding the pink peach.
I kept smiling to avoid any misunderstanding.
“Hello. Out for a walk?”
“Yes.”
“It’s hot out.”
“I have some things to think about.”
I was about to ask what when Friedrich rubbed the peach on his sleeve and handed it to me.
Puzzled, I stared at it blankly, and he tilted his head, asking,
“Weren’t you looking at it because you wanted to eat it?”
Ah, so that’s how it seemed. Of all things, I chose a peach tree as my target.
No, it’s better this way—avoids a weird misunderstanding. I nodded with a smile.
“It made me crave peach tart. I’ll have some when I get back.”
“Ah.”
At that, Friedrich looked a bit embarrassed for a moment.
Then what about this peach? He pondered with that look briefly.
Then, casually, he opened his mouth and took a big bite.
The soft, juicy flesh being pierced and torn by sharp, firm canines made a vivid sound. Along with the juice bursting from the pulp.
The peach juice trickled from the corner of his mouth, slowly sliding down his pale wrist.
On his sunlit, fair skin, the transparent, sticky peach nectar glistened like jewels.
Unconsciously, I followed its path with a dazed gaze when Friedrich’s voice reached me.
“It’s delicious.”
Snapping back, I turned to see him already watching me steadily.
I hadn’t really been staring, but it felt oddly embarrassing. I smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“It looks that way.”
“Are you curious about the taste?”
“Well. I don’t need to try it to know it’s sweet.”
At that, Friedrich gave a peculiar smile.
“It’s sweeter than you think.”
“Good for you. You picked a nice one.”
It did look plump. Thick enough for plenty of bites, and the pink skin seemed perfectly ripe.
Then, something even pinker than the peach entered my view as I held it.
Before I could register what it was, the pink filled my vision, and a sweet peach scent flooded in.
Next, something as soft as peach flesh touched me. Suddenly, my mouth held a tender piece, like a peeled peach.
Slurp— The wet sound from when he bit the peach followed.
Sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing. A perfect symphony of the senses, and I realized belatedly that he had kissed me.
As Friedrich pulled away quickly and met my eyes, his upturned corners curved like a crescent moon.
“How is it?”
Sweet, right?
His voice sounded casual at first glance, but his cheeks were flushed pink, and his ears were bright red. Like the red flesh of a peach.
That contrast squeezed my heart tight. I took a brief deep breath, struggling to manage my expression.
It’s fine. No big deal. To Rene, this is like a baby’s peck.
“I’m not sure.”
I replied nonchalantly.
“The taste was a bit faint.”
“Ah…”
At that, Friedrich wore a thoughtful expression.
As if the kiss really had been just to share the peach flavor.
I was starting to feel a bit incredulous at his seemingly genuine innocence.
“It’s sweet, though…”
He muttered sullenly, then took another bite of the peach.
Yes, if he really wanted to share the flavor, he should have put the peach directly in my mouth.
No sooner had I thought that than something—somethings—sweet, soft, and moist entered my mouth.
It filled my mouth completely, then slowly withdrew moments later. Yet, the sweetness lingered inside.
As I gently crushed it with my tongue, the pulp broke, releasing juice that soaked my mouth. Just as Friedrich had boasted, it was truly sweet.
…But did he have to convey it this way?
I narrowed my eyes at the bolder-than-usual Friedrich, but upon seeing his face, I forgot what I was going to say.
“Sweet, right?”
His cheeks were now fully red like apples, and he asked me with innocent eyes, as if there had been no impure intent in the act at all.
“Yes, it is.”
In the end, I forgot to scold him and just laughed.
