TDKSR 24

Chapter 24

“It’s not ‘Huh?’ It’s ‘Hello? Darling.’ You’re fundamentally playing a woman with charm, aren’t you? Try making it a bit more melodious.”

If only it were that easy……

“Some women have husky voices. So you don’t need to force your voice too thin—rather, lowering your voice volume can also be a method.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Anyway, this profession doesn’t require much talking.”

“……How do you know all this?”

“Honestly, if your job is selling laughter, there’s no way you’d need much conversation. Isn’t the key how well you satisfy the other person? It’s something you can figure out with just a little thought.”

Jonathan made a slightly fed-up face at Livga, who spoke so nonchalantly.

“Most of the men who come are there to relieve those kinds of urges anyway. And a smarter woman would research ways to lure even men who had no particular thoughts into her bedroom.”

Jonathan opened his mouth.

“No, that kind of……. It’s not something a young lady should know about, is it?”

Livga looked at Jonathan and let out a small sigh.

“Your Highness keeps treating me like a child because you first met me when I was a minor, but I know what I know. You’re currently learning from that child. Pull yourself together.”

“Alright.”

Jonathan laughed.

Truthfully, Jonathan found Livga’s act of pretending to be mature—her words and behavior—endearing. That was also why he let himself be persuaded as if he had no choice.

“Your posture is good now. Next, you’ll learn how to act charming.”

“Hm?”

“A small voice. Try not to move your mouth too widely. If you think of pronouncing words while pushing your chin down slightly, you’ll be able to make your speech sound a bit lisping too.”

“You researched this too?”

“Of course. Now, watch carefully.”

Livga brushed Jonathan’s shoulder and smiled brightly.

“Pff…….”

Livga let out a deflating kind of laugh, then subtly linked her arm with Jonathan’s. Then she rubbed her cheek against his arm.

‘Huh?’

When Jonathan stared blankly at Livga, she soon removed her arm and spoke with an expressionless face.

“I told you there’s no need to talk much, didn’t I? If you make this much contact and smile, normally the other person’s reaction comes.”

“…….”

“When leaning on someone’s arm, it’s better for the other person to look down at you, so bend your knees slightly so the other person can meet Your Highness’s eyes. Understood?”

“…….”

“Your Highness?”

“……Let’s rest for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Jonathan excused himself.

He opened the door to another room and went in. He didn’t forget to close the door firmly. He couldn’t bear the embarrassment.

Livga was lovely. That loveliness was driving Jonathan crazy.

He knew all too well that he couldn’t have her and shouldn’t covet her, yet she was shining so brilliantly this close, within arm’s reach. Wasn’t that too cruel?

‘Pull yourself together, Jonathan. A political marriage is unavoidable. Don’t think about ruining someone else’s life. Livga is out of the question. No. No. Absolutely not.’

Livga was a child who wished for ordinary happiness. Jonathan couldn’t give her ordinary happiness.

He took deep breaths several times.

He had lived as an imperial prince for a long time. And even now, Jonathan was unchanged—an imperial prince. Something like managing his expression was nothing.

Right now, it was simply……

“I was on the battlefield too long.”

Yes. It was because he had been in harsh lands for too long.

—

By the time Jonathan composed his expression and appeared, Livga was with Yona.

Beside Yona was a corset that looked hideous even at a glance. Judging by its considerable size, it seemed to have been custom-made.

Jonathan’s eyebrow twitched.

“What is it?”

“Your Highness!”

Jonathan felt revulsion at Yona’s face, which clearly showed delight.

“Your bright face like that usually appears when you have bad intentions.”

“Bad intentions? I always do my best as Your Highness’s right arm. As it happens, I need Your Highness’s help.”

“No.”

“Please don’t refuse before hearing me out, since it’s about Livga.”

“……Speak.”

“The Grand Empress Dowager suspects the relationship between Your Highness and Livga.”

“I told Mother I’d bring the young lady I have in mind to Duke Robert’s wedding. There’s no reason for Livga to be involved.”

“How long does Your Highness think you can hide that you disguised yourself as a woman and went? It will be a problem even if she never finds out. Basically, the Grand Empress Dowager’s dogs will follow.”

That was true.

“Either way, she’ll try to deal with the lowly woman who ruined her only brother’s wedding.”

Everything Yona said was correct.

“So?”

“If things go wrong, the sparks could fly onto Livga. She might misunderstand that Livga played that role.”

Since Jonathan had referenced Livga’s appearance when transforming with Aura, it might indeed look that way to others.

“I can just let it be known that I was the one acting. Like getting into a carriage with Livga and disappearing. There are many methods.”

“Regardless, if someone who never kept women close except for the Grand Empress Dowager and his nanny is suddenly parading around with a young lady in her prime and causing scandals, it’s suspicious.”

Jonathan glanced at Livga.

His eyes met Livga’s. Livga said nothing.

“Since Livga is a fallen noble with no family backing, in situations like this she’s easy for the Grand Empress Dowager to manipulate, and one day the Grand Empress Dowager might forcibly push for Your Highness and Livga’s marriage.”

“Mother isn’t someone who would go that far without thought.”

“That’s from Your Highness’s perspective. With a son causing so many scandals, wouldn’t anyone think that if he just settled down and started a family, he might come to his senses?”

“Surely not to that extent.”

“Even if not, no matter how smart Livga is, against someone as high as the Grand Empress Dowager…….”

Yona trailed off.

It was true. Against the Grand Empress Dowager, Livga had too little. Experience, honor, power, wealth……

“She won’t force it recklessly. I also said I have no thoughts of marriage.”

“Even if she learns that Livga is a Star Seeker, would she still?”

“!”

Jonathan glared at Yona.

That Livga was a Star was confidential. But there was no guarantee that confidentiality wouldn’t reach the Grand Empress Dowager’s ears.

She already knew that Jonathan was an Aura manifestor.

“Did you tell her?”

“There’s no way I would. But I think anyone perceptive could deduce that much.”

“…….”

“A safeguard is needed. A minimal protection measure.”

Jonathan wordlessly approached the desk.

He opened a drawer with the key hanging from his neck and took out a small case.

He had thought about it before. He had simply assumed the day would be far off when he could hand it over directly.

“Livga.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Take it.”

“?”

Livga inadvertently accepted the case Jonathan held out.

When Livga opened the case, a ring with a crude design was revealed. It was a simple gold ring with a sapphire set in it.

“If you press the sapphire in the center…….”

Jonathan pressed it himself.

Then something like a small mist rose. Along with glowing letters.

It was Erisian, said to be the language of the gods.

Erisian was difficult and not easy to master. The phrase, whose meaning could not be known, shimmered faintly.

Livga was astonished by its beauty. It was truly similar to Jonathan’s Aura.

“Research was banned, and only an Aura manifestor of ‘Manifestation’ can create it, so it can no longer be made now.”

Livga gazed at the ring as if entranced.

Jonathan studied Livga’s expression.

“Your Highness!”

It was Yona who was rather flustered.

Jonathan continued as if he didn’t care.

“It’s the Ring of Stealth, one of the twelve lords’ rings. I used a blue gem to match my Aura color. You’ve heard of this ring, haven’t you?”

“Ah, yes!”

Livga’s answer resembled an exclamation.

“This ring carries immunity. Even if you incur Mother’s wrath, as long as you have this ring with its immunity, you can avoid it.”

“Your Highness! Wait a moment. This is for founding meritorious subjects or those who follow…….”

“It can also be given to the spouse of a direct imperial heir.”

Jonathan spoke calmly.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to marry Livga?”

That’s right. He wasn’t going to marry Livga.

So……

“Let’s say I confessed and got rejected. If I say I went crazy and proposed to Livga with that ring, that works.”

“Your Highness!”

Jonathan pressed the center gem of the ring again.

“Press it again and it disappears.”

“It’s truly amazing.”

Livga was staring intently at the ring.

“It might be dangerous for you to keep it, so I recommend storing it in the imperial palace treasure vault soon. Before that, I’ll register it as yours……. I’ll send someone or something.”

As if it were nothing. As if he were reluctantly handing it over……

“Your Highness! Even so, this isn’t right. A national treasure like this…….”

Yona showed a vehement reaction.

“I’ve always been like this.”

“Even so, this isn’t right. What will you do about the Duchess later?”

“You really are so interested in me.”

He hoped no one would know.

He had no thoughts of marriage anyway, so wasn’t it fine that he gave it to the person he most wanted to give it to?

Jonathan closed the ring case resting on Livga’s hand and made her grasp the case with her hand.

Livga looked at Jonathan.

Livga moved her lips as if hesitating, then spoke calmly.

“……Your Highness, this seems excessive. And even if I took it right now, I wouldn’t be able to use it.”

Jonathan’s heart ached at the hand she held out again.

It was something that shouldn’t hurt, yet it felt like rejection.

—