The room was filled with voices chattering in conversation and soft music played by the minstrels Albert had hired for the evening. It was Siegfried’s subtle way of telling me to speak casually, like we did when we were alone, but I shook my head slightly.
“I think it would be unwise to let your guard down in a place like this, Your Majesty,” I said.
“You’re so strict, as always. But I suppose I’ll let it go for today. It is your birthday, after all.” He spoke in his usual tone of voice and then looked up at me from his seat. “About what I said before...”
“Yes?”
“About how many people are genuinely here to celebrate your birthday.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
He’s still thinking about that?
“I am,” he said nonchalantly.
“Pardon? I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I came here to celebrate your birthday. And no other reason.” Although he still spoke in his formal tone, the expression on his face was that of my childhood friend.
“Your Majesty, I should remind you once again not to let your guard down.”
He turned his gaze to the hall and gave a quiet nod. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“By the way, Kreis.”
“Yes?”
“The tips of your ears are turning red again.”
I clamped both hands over my ears and heard him stifling a laugh. I jabbed him lightly in the shoulder with my elbow, completely forgetting we were being watched.
“If you tease me again, I’ll give all the pastries I made to Professor.”
“H-Hey, that’s too cruel!” The startled look on his face made me burst out laughing.
“Then behave,” I replied.
“If I behave, will there be a reward in it for me?” he asked slyly.
Was he really that desperate for my sweets? After all, he was the king. He could ask the castle chefs to make any delicacy he wanted, yet he was acting like all he wanted were my homemade pastries.
The nobles caught sight of my smile for the first time this evening, and I could hear them sighing from Kreis’s beauty. I didn’t fully recognize this, though. I was too busy thinking, Maybe I should go get some pastries from my room and bring them back to him.
Just then, a loud voice rang out from the entrance again. “Announcing His Highness Prince Claude!”
My heart skipped a beat. He was here at last.
I looked toward the entrance and watched as a man with the same jet-black hair as Siegfried, and an equally handsome face, walked in.
He wore the same military uniform too, but there were differences in how they carried themselves. Siegfried was quiet and still, but Claude never stopped moving. Siegfried was refined, but Claude had a wild look about him. Some would say that was just his ambition, but honestly he was just reckless and impulsive.
“Goodness, Prince Claude looks wonderful today.”
“His beauty is quite different from King Siegfried’s, wouldn’t you say?”
I heard the ladies admiring him. But I knew what his handsome face looked like when it was twisted with hatred.
He was the one who had stabbed Kreis. He’d pointed his sword at me and told me to die with a disgusted look on his face, and I’d never forget it.
My hands trembled, and I felt a hot sensation burning inside of me.
That’s the man who killed me.
I could feel Kreis’s rage. Or maybe it was my own. The memory of Claude killing me was still so vivid and fresh in my mind. The pain, the anguish, the despair, the regret. All of it came rushing back to me as if it had just happened.
Don’t lose your temper. Stay calm.
Claude approached Siegfried and dipped into a graceful bow. “Good evening, O Noble Sun who lights our kingdom.”
“Long time no see, Claude. I hear you haven’t been to the castle lately,” Siegfried said casually.
“I’ve been traveling to broaden my horizons.”
Broaden his horizons, my ass. He was just sniffing around for ways to overthrow Siegfried.
“Yeah, but if you blurt that out now, you’ll just be arrested for treason,” Professor said in my mind. I hadn’t even noticed he was there.
I know that. That’s why I’m clenching my fists right now. It’s taking all my effort to not grab him by the collar and punch his face in.
“So, Claude? What brings you here, exactly?”
“I came to attend the birthday celebration of Lord Kreis.”
“Of course you did. In that case, isn’t there someone else you should greet?”
“Tch...”
Claude’s cheeks flushed from Siegfried chiding him in public. That was unusual. Siegfried normally doted on Claude, but now he had just scolded him in front of everyone. And nobles were all about appearances, after all. And that went double for royalty.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. However, I couldn’t find the young lord and—”
“He’s standing right here.”
“Huh?”
I had no other choice but to lower my head to Claude. “Thank you for coming today, Your Highness. I am Kreis von Louboutin.”
I introduced myself even though this wasn’t our first meeting. We’d run into each other a few times when I’d visited Siegfried at the castle. So either I hadn’t made much of an impression on him, or he just had a crappy memory.
“Oh, my apologies. You look different from when last we met, and I didn’t recognize you right away. Thank you for the invitation.”
So Karina’s efforts to polish me up have paid off. I’ll have to reward her later.
“I hope you enjoy your evening, Your Highness.” I smiled at him pleasantly, but inside I’d already killed him a hundred times over. He’d killed Kreis. The rage ate at me.
I’d thought the drive of my future plans would keep me calm. But it was too difficult now, face-to-face with the man who murdered me. I could still vividly feel the pain of him stabbing me. The despair, the regret of it all... It was overwhelmingly fresh in my memory.
Revenge.
Now that I stood here in front of Claude, that word became sharp and clear.
He’d killed Kreis like he was an insect. He’d used Kreis to drive Siegfried into a corner, then once he no longer served a purpose, gleefully finished him off, right in front of Siegfried.
“Be gone from this world.”
And so Kreis had. Just like Claude had wanted. But now I stood in his place.
What kind of world will this become, now that Kreis is gone? How will things change for you, Claude, now that I’m here?
I was so lost in thought, I didn’t see him until it was too late.
“Kreis.”
“Gilles...”
Damn it.
The moment I turned around, I heard Claude suck in a breath.
This is bad.
Somehow without me realizing it, Gilles had slipped up right beside us, plastering on that soft, angelic smile that perfectly masked his rotten personality beneath the surface.
I’d let my guard down. I thought he’d given up after Siegfried had chided him.
“And this gentleman is?” Claude asked.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Gilles von Louboutin. I hope we will be better acquainted from now on.”
“Gilles... What a lovely name.”
Claude stared at him with interest. I could practically hear the bells ringing in his head. Tragically, I was witnessing the exact moment that the man who might one day kill me fell head over heels.
“Wow, what a rare treat to be present at the moment someone falls in love.”
The result of this love is that I die, remember?
Shouldn’t they be hesitating and questioning their sexuality a bit more?
I remembered getting flooded with those sorts of comments regarding the instalove between the two back when I first released the story online, and now I was painfully aware of what the readers meant.
“Gilles, I thought you’d gone back to your room?” I said.
“I was only going to stay a little longer, but I’ll go ahead and return to my room now as you’ve ordered.”
He got me.
“You’ve been ordered to stay in your room even though there’s a party going on? But why?” Claude asked curiously.