“TWO orphanages submitted applications requesting repairs. This one is primarily concerned with the deterioration of the outer wall…”
As soon as they reached the office, Linus left, telling her he would return after changing into a fresh set of clothes. So, despite her and Management in the room, not a word from the woman’s explanation stuck in her brain.
“Um, excuse me, but I have a question.”
“Of course. Is it about the material the wall is made of?”
“No.”
“Then are you inquiring about the ongoing highway infrastructure maintenance?”
It was only natural she’d ask Fiona about these topics since they discussed them often, but none of it was on her mind. If anything, she found it odd that Management wasn’t bothered.
“No, about what happened earlier.”
“Ah, I see. You’re referring to how you didn’t know the degree of His Highness’ popularity, Lady Saint?”
“That’s part of it. What I want to know is why everyone was so shocked.”
Until now, Management had been poring through the documents while answering Fiona’s questions. Now, she froze. A beat later, she ever so slowly raised her head to look at Fiona. The halting speed reminded her of a rusted, unused machine coming back to life.
“Please…don’t tell me you haven’t noticed at all?”
Fiona only stared at her in blank confusion, not knowing what she was referring to. So Management put down the documents on the table and sighed quietly.
“First, please confirm something for me. Are you and His Highness lovers?”
“No.”
Management sighed again at Fiona’s immediate reply.
“Obviously, it goes without saying that His Highness is a gentleman to his bones. He behaves courteously toward all his subjects, women included.”
Aware of that, Fiona nodded in agreement.
“Despite being the crown prince, he doesn’t misuse the authority of his position and treats everyone equally. A gentleman who doesn’t discriminate against anyone.”
Though she wondered why Management said the same thing twice, albeit phrased differently, she only spoke the truth, so Fiona nodded again.
“Now, with that established, let me pose a question to you. Would a gentleman place his lips on a woman’s hair?”
“Huh?”
While the sudden question surprised Fiona, Management’s serious expression forced her to think about it diligently.
“Gentleman.”
A gentleman was a man of social standing who was sincere, knew his manners, and behaved impeccably. So, would a gentleman touch a woman’s hair and kiss it…
“H-He wouldn’t…?”
Based on the direction their conversation was going, a gentleman wouldn’t press his lips to a woman’s hair, which would mean Linus wasn’t a gentleman. However, Management had repeatedly emphasized that he was a gentleman. In short, that might signal Fiona’s misunderstanding of the concept of “gentleman,” yet when she thought about it properly, no other men she knew, including Charles, behaved like Linus.
Even so, she still felt like his peculiar actions didn’t not make him a gentleman.
“Wait, what? Huh?”
When her mind became confused about what constituted a gentleman and non-gentleman, Management stared at her sympathetically as if she understood.
“Lady Saint, if I may be so bold as to ask. Have you had a paramour until now?”
“No.”
“I knew it!”
Management nodded much more vigorously than Fiona’s answer warranted. It made her wonder if people really thought her prospects for love affairs were so low.
“Then tell me about the men in your life.”
“The pontiff, His Highness, the priests… I’d say that’s about it.”
“And does His Highness kiss your hair in front of them?”
“He…does.”
“I knew it!”
Management exclaimed again, almost cutting Fiona off in her excitement. Then, she rested her hand on her chin and looked down thoughtfully.
“Hm, hm, I see. Through his actions, he not only eliminated potential rivals but also discouraged them. A very logical strategy indeed.”
“Then…am I correct in thinking that it isn’t normal to be kissed on the hair?”
At Fiona’s timid question, Management slowly lifted her face and stared at her.
“It’s one thing for lovers to fawn over each other in private. But seldom would they do such a thing brazenly in public. To say nothing of the fact that this is the crown prince we’re discussing. A single word from him, a glance, is enough to make a noblewoman swing from hope to despair.”
“But he’s done the same thing, even in this room—”
He touched and kissed her hair even in his office. Though it wasn’t a public space, Budget and Management had nevertheless been in the room with them.
“Indeed. An unbelievable sight before our very eyes. To think that His Highness, the epitome of a gentleman, would sexually hara…I mean, flaunt his sexual allure… No, scratch that, express his love. And since you accepted his behavior like it was the most natural thing in the world, we frankly assumed you two were lovers.”
“He’s always been like that, though, which is why I thought it was normal.”
She had no idea it wasn’t normal to touch someone’s hair, much less kiss it. What a shocking truth.
“What precisely do you mean by ‘always’?”
“Since we met ten years ago.”
“He’s acted in such a fashion with you for a decade, yet you aren’t lovers. Come now, Lady Saint, doesn’t that strike you as bizarre?”
“Well, now that you mention it…”
Fiona had never thought about it before. But now, as she compared his behavior against what society at large deemed normal, she was forced to accept the reality.
“Then this means—”
“I wonder what we’re talking about, hm? Might I join?”
The door opened, and the man with the marvelously melodious voice entered, heading directly to Fiona’s side, where he sat down. He looked just as dignified in his princely raiment as in the knight’s armor he’d worn earlier. The deep green of his jacket enhanced the silver of his hair, giving him a doll-like beauty.
“I learned how popular you are, Your Highness.”
Linus’ eyes widened a bit at Fiona’s announcement. Then, just as quickly, a smile bloomed on his face.
“Well, part and parcel of being the crown prince, eh? Now, Fiona, tell me what you think of my popularity.”
“In a word, amazing.”