ITHMF 21

Chapter 21

“But I’m curious… is it okay if I speak informally with you? …Sir?”

“What’s with that awkward formal speech? Ah, is it because I’m the Crown Prince? Hmm, normally you should use formal speech, but you don’t have to. If you’re a friend of Kyraan’s, then you’re also my friend, so just speak comfortably.”

I’d asked cautiously just in case, but Pheron gave permission to speak casually very readily.

Had he always been this open-hearted? I’d been worried I’d unconsciously use informal speech even if he said no, so getting this permission put my mind at ease.

As I sighed in relief, Pheron asked me a question.

“Can I ask you something I’m curious about this time?”

“What is it?”

“Serenel, you’re not an imperial noble, are you? Where are you from?”

“Huh? Ah… well…”

Whoa, he’s just hitting me with that out of nowhere?

I hadn’t even imagined he’d suddenly ask about my origins, so I was a bit flustered. Wait a minute. What should I say? I had no answer prepared.

My mind, which had gone completely blank, couldn’t output a response. When I remained silent for a long while, Pheron tilted his head.

“Did I ask something difficult? I was just curious where you came from…”

“I’m from really far away… You probably wouldn’t know it even if I told you.”

“Hmm… Is that so? I actually know all the surrounding kingdoms pretty well.”

“It’s really far from the Empire. Not many people actually know about it.”

Could you please just let it go?

I was so nervous he might ask me to tell him anyway that I fidgeted with my fingers. Then, with perfect timing, Kyraan joined the conversation.

“Is that important?”

“No, I was just curious, that’s all. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s fine. I wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Fortunately, it seemed he had no intention of pressing further, as Pheron readily backed off.

I swallowed a sigh of relief and glanced at Pheron.

Well, thanks to Kyraan I got past it for now… But he won’t ask again later, right? No, I just won’t give him a chance to ask again. Anyway, the Crown Prince will go back to the capital after the festival ends.

I firmly resolved to be careful in every way until then.

“Hello, Serenel?”

I tried my best to avoid Pheron, but as expected, life doesn’t go as planned.

Pheron, having spotted me standing in front of the fountain, approached me cheerfully. I was waiting for Kyraan, who’d gone to buy drinks, and gave an awkward smile.

“Hello…”

I said in a fading voice and waved my hand, and the knights standing behind him slightly furrowed their brows.

Ah, right. I was supposed to use formal speech in front of others.

Though I was actually the princess of the Mermaid Kingdom, that wasn’t publicly known, so using formal speech was the correct thing to do. But before the knights could even say anything, Pheron spoke first.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting for Kyraan… sir.”

“Where did Ian go?”

“He went to buy drinks… sir. Why are you here, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

“I came out to look around the festival too. It’s lonely sightseeing alone, but then I happened to find Serenel, you know?”

He’s probably seen this every year, hasn’t he? Does he still have things left to see?

I found it a bit odd, but figured he’d just gotten bored staying in the villa, so I nodded. However, contrary to my wish that he’d just greet me and leave, Pheron settled in right next to me.

“What have you seen and done?”

“Ah… I just ate some things, and took a walk… sir.”

“You like eating, don’t you, Serenel?”

“Ah, does it show?”

Feeling a bit stung, I fidgeted with my face for no reason. It’s not like I have “glutton” written on my forehead, is it?

Pheron saw my flustered actions and laughed playfully.

“Kyraan isn’t interested in eating. So if he’s been going around eating, that means he was accommodating someone else.”

“Ah… I didn’t know. I thought Kyraan liked eating too, since he ate well with me.”

“Well, rather than liking the food…”

“Rather than…?”

But Pheron, who seemed about to say something, stared at my curious face and then shook his head with a mischievous expression.

“Hmm, it’s nothing. I suddenly don’t feel like telling you.”

“What? How can you do that… sir!”

“Right here. I think my stomach suddenly hurts.”

What on earth is hurting his stomach?!

Even seeing my bewildered expression, Pheron just laughed it off. That smile contained a firm will to never answer.

Looks like he really won’t tell me. Giving up on hearing it, I changed the subject.

“But you… I mean, Your Highness, aren’t you going to check out other places?”

At that, Pheron made an exaggeratedly hurt expression.

“Why? Do you want me to leave? Don’t you want to see me? If that’s the case, my heart will ache so much…”

No, I was just asking…

I did think it’d be better if he left because of the knights’ stares, but seeing him look so disappointed made me a bit flustered. It made me feel like I’d done something wrong.

I averted my eyes from Pheron’s pouting face.

“No? I didn’t think that at all! …sir.”

“Mm-hmm. So you did think that. You’re really bad at lying.”

“I’m really not…!”

“Alright, let’s just say that’s what happened. I’ll let it slide just this once.”

My awkward denial had only revealed my true feelings, making me a bit embarrassed.

Seriously, if he’s going to hang out with us, he should have come without his knights.

Because he felt so approachable, informal speech kept slipping out. Every time it happened, the stares drilling into my face were so sharp.

Maybe it’d be better if I just didn’t speak?

When I quietly fell silent, Pheron laughed lightly.

“Ah, why are you so embarrassed again? It’s fine if I’m a nuisance. I understand everything, Serenel.”

“I didn’t think you were a nuisance… sir.”

“Then what did you think?”

I hesitated, wondering if I should say it.

Could I openly say the knights made me uncomfortable?

I closed my mouth again, but Pheron pestered me, saying he was curious and to tell him. Reluctantly, I glanced at the knights and gestured for him to come closer.

As soon as Pheron leaned his upper body toward me, I whispered in a very small voice.

“The knights keep staring, and it makes me feel pressured.”

“Ah, is that so? So that’s why you’ve been all stiff since earlier?”

“Informal speech keeps slipping out without me meaning to… They must think I’m a rude person.”

“Well, so what. I’ll explain later that I told you to speak informally. Don’t worry too much. You don’t need to mind them. Just speak informally, informally.”

“But still…”

“Then I’ll tell them to keep their distance.”

I nodded vigorously, indicating that sounded good. Even if they only moved back a few steps, the piercing stares probably wouldn’t disappear, but at least I’d feel more at ease.

Pheron approached the knights and said something to them, and they all dispersed at once.

Wow, that was fast.

By the time I came to my senses, the knights had vanished from my sight in an instant.

“Where did they all go?”

“Mm, they’ll probably guard from hiding. They won’t show themselves until I allow it, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, I feel a bit more relaxed now. Huh? Kyraan’s coming. Kyraan, over here!”

I waved toward Kyraan, who was approaching from a distance. He must have heard my voice, because he smiled gently.

However, as soon as he arrived with his hands full of juice, he spotted Pheron standing beside me and frowned slightly.

“Why are you here?”

“Ah, you’re here?”

“…You’re so casually happy to see me that it’s suddenly annoying.”

“Why! Are you annoyed just by seeing my face?!”

“To be precise, I’m annoyed at you for showing up out of nowhere.”

“Such a needlessly specific guy…”

Leaving Pheron muttering to himself, Kyraan handed me the juice.

I was just getting thirsty, so I eagerly gulped it down. The refreshing apple juice cooled and soothed my parched throat.

Ahhh, so refreshing!

As I felt my whole body becoming moisturized, Kyraan asked.

“So really, why are you here?”

“I just came out to look around and saw Serenel, so I had a little chat.”

“Then you can go on your way now.”

“Don’t you think you’re being too cold to a friend? Can’t you see your poor, lonely friend wandering about?”

Pheron clasped his hands delicately and blinked his eyes in a pathetic act. But Kyraan was resolute.

“You usually get along fine on your own.”

Eventually, Pheron dropped the pitiful act and yelled.

“Ah, I don’t want to be alone today!”

“You have your knights with you. You’re not alone, so that’s fine, isn’t it?”

The clash of spear and shield was fierce.

I sipped my juice and watched their argument with great interest.

They actually get along pretty well, don’t they?

Just then, apparently sensing danger, Pheron looked at me. His desperate eyes seemed to beg me to tell Kyraan to let him hang out with us, and I felt a bit troubled.

Don’t push decisions like this onto me…!

Kyraan, apparently seeing through Pheron’s sly trick, stepped in front of me.

“Don’t try to get sympathy from Serenel.”

“This is all part of a strategy for victory! Serenel, this cold-hearted friend is trying to abandon me!”

Eventually, Pheron even pretended to cry, as if trying to provoke my pity.

…I was going to say he could join us anyway.

You shouldn’t leave a friend out like this. Thinking his effort was commendable, I tugged at Kyraan’s sleeve.

“Let’s play with Pheron too, Kyraan.”

“Thank you, Serenel!”

At my words, Pheron’s face brightened as if he’d never been pouting. Kyraan looked displeased, but he didn’t say no any further.

When he silently nodded, Pheron grumbled discontentedly.

“Don’t you treat me way differently than you treat her?”

“How could you and Serenel be the same.”

“Still, I’m hurt! So sad!”

“Fine. Be as hurt and sad as you want, all by yourself.”

Pheron openly badmouthed Kyraan right in front of me, calling him heartless.

Kyraan, apparently used to this, calmly extended his hand to me. As I took his hand and stood up, Pheron quickly claimed the spot on my other side.

“Where are we going now?”

“We’re going to look at flowers. I heard there’s a rose garden nearby.”

“Ah, I know that place. I’ll guide you.”

Pheron walked ahead confidently.

Since I didn’t know the way well, I followed him without complaint. Kyraan, walking beside me, whispered in a small voice.

“If he makes you uncomfortable, make sure to tell me.”

“It’s not really uncomfortable. It’s fine.”

“If he asks you something difficult to answer, like last time, you can tell him you don’t want to answer.”

“But he’s the Crown Prince, isn’t it a bit much to openly say I don’t like it?”

“I’ll take responsibility.”

“Oh, that’s reassuring. Very trustworthy.”

At that, Kyraan’s cheeks turned slightly pink. He seemed shy about the compliment.

Ah, cute. So cute.

When I smiled and looked at him, even his ears turned red, perhaps from embarrassment.

But just as I was about to tease him more, Pheron turned around and grumbled.

“Are you going to whisper without me? Let me in!”

“I’ve never left you out. You talk too.”

“…Fine.”

With Pheron joining in, the atmosphere became lively. We exchanged silly banter all the way until we reached the garden. Most of it was meaningless chatter, but still, it was fun.

The rose garden was located in the southern part of the island, even amidst the bustling festival. The vast garden, like a park, had a gentle walking path on the right side of the central fountain and a space for simple picnics on the left.

“Wow, the garden is really pretty. But there are so many people…”

“It must be more crowded because of the festival period.”

I took in the intense fragrance of roses filling my nose as I slowly walked into the garden.

The garden was quite large, maybe the size of two or three soccer fields combined, and there were just as many people.

From the common red to white, yellow, and pink… In front of the roses of every color, families, couples, and friends gathered in small groups.

I led the two of them to a spot full of red roses. Then, the people nearby glanced at us and slowly moved away.

“Hmm, it feels like people are avoiding us. Is it just my imagination?”

“Yeah. It’s your imagination. Don’t worry about it.”

Pheron waved his hand dismissively and smiled, telling me to just look at the flowers.

It doesn’t seem like my imagination, though…

I glanced back slightly at Pheron and Kyraan.