“I’d have to tell a witch or a wizard my secret as well to keep you quiet about it,” Prince Rena said. “Which means someone other than family would learn about my secret. I’m not keen on doing that.”
“I see,” I replied. I had no intention of continuing this conversation, but it seemed the prince had other ideas.
“Isn’t it weird? I have to fake my gender.”
“Surely, you have a good reason to do it.”
“I do.”
Perhaps she was incessantly told that she was a boy the moment she was born. I felt bad for her—that was no easy life to lead.
“This nation only allows men to take the throne and become king,” Prince Rena said, her eyes darkening as her tone became low. “I’ve got no other choice.”
No doubt she was forced to give up on all sorts of things to continue acting as a boy. It must’ve taken a lot of self-sacrifice to keep up the ruse.
“Truth be told, only my mother and a few ladies-in-waiting know of my secret,” she revealed.
“I-I had no idea…” I murmured.
So, even the king doesn’t know about this?
“I was able to fake it all until now, but I’m sure things won’t be so easy in the future,” she muttered.
Boys and girls tended to change and mature once they reached adolescence, and the physical changes were especially hard to ignore. The prince, who’d already turned seventeen, stopped growing taller, and in exchange, she felt her chest growing larger.
“The queen has claimed that she’d use magic to keep my appearance concealed, but then what?” Prince Rena opined. “Will I have to marry a princess somewhere?”
Her Majesty apparently claimed that she had a plan in mind, and the prince had nothing to worry about.
“My mother always had a fragile body,” Prince Rena said. “She couldn’t hope to give birth to another child, and after much agonizing, she’s taken this route, failing to recognize her own foolishness.”
The queen knew that she couldn’t keep this act up, but she also didn’t know what else to do.
“I suspect that a horrific future awaits me,” the prince muttered.
“That can’t be…” I replied.
“I’m sure of it.”
She wished to at least have a bit more freedom and act like a kid her age. And so, Her Highness enrolled in magic school.
“But I didn’t expect the headmaster to reveal that the crown prince had enrolled in my grade,” she muttered.
The people who surrounded her knew she was the crown prince. Maybe the headmaster simply wanted to tell the students to treat each other with respect since any one of them could’ve been the crown prince; above all, the royal family and the school must’ve had some sort of agreement behind Prince Rena’s back.
“I’d hoped to make a real friend one day, but…” she trailed off.
The royal’s wish was simple. She just wanted friends to have fun with. But those around her who knew her real identity tried to curry favor with her, and the prince was crushed by the cruelness of reality.
“I’d like to make a request to you,” she said.
“I’m not sure if I can grant it, but I’ll happily hear you out,” I replied.
The prince burst out laughing. “Yeah, I think you’re the best fit for the role. Won’t you be my friend?”
“You want to be friends with me, Your Highness?”
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“You said that you wanted a hundred friends, didn’t you?” the prince replied, answering my query. “Just make me one of them.”
Right… I did make a silly introduction like that. Frankly, I wasn’t keen on being close to a royal with dangerous secrets. I’d have to act overly considerate around her, and more importantly, my uncle was the one who tried to kidnap her. But I’d learned the prince’s secret, and I felt like I couldn’t refuse.
From Prince Rena’s point of view, she’d feel more at ease if someone who knew her secret was with her; plus, I felt guilty about what my uncle had done. I don’t think I can say ‘no’ to her… I noticed that she stared straight at me, her eyes clear and twinkling beautifully. She must have a strong sense of justice. I’m sure she can treat everyone equally and has done her best to act properly as a benevolent future ruler. Rejecting her request will be nothing short of insolent.
“I understand,” I replied. “If you don’t mind me, I hope we can get along as friends.”
“Thank you,” Prince Rena said.
She almost burst into tears as she smiled at me, and when I saw her expression, I knew that I’d made the right choice. I’m glad I accepted.
“Now then, I can escort you to your dorm room,” the prince offered. “Which one are you in?”
“Er, uh, I don’t live in the dorms,” I replied. “I’m living in the caretaker cabin at the Garden Plant.”
“The caretaker cabin?”
I briefly told her about my special circumstances.
“I see, so that’s what happened,” the prince murmured.
“Yes,” I replied.
She didn’t pry further and used a magic scroll to teleport us to the Garden Plant. The moment I landed in the garden, I spotted Gem glittering beautifully like Christmas lights.
“What is that?” Prince Rena asked.
“That’s Gem, my familiar, Your Highness,” I replied.
I was certain it was angry since I left it alone for a few hours. I tried to rush over to comfort Gem when the prince held me back.
“Misha, I’ve got another request,” she said.
“A-And what might that be?” I asked.
“I’d like for you not to be so formal with me. We are friends, aren’t we?”
“Er… Um… I’ll…try.”
“Thank you.”
The prince hugged me, and before I could ask why, she used the teleporting scroll and left. What a day it’s been… But I shouldn’t dwell upon it. I didn’t have time to be in a daze. It was imperative that I remained on Gem’s good side. I rushed over to it and tried to apologize, but it turned its face away from me angrily.
“I’m sorry!” I cried with a bow. “I really didn’t mean to leave you alone for so long!”
It was Gem who decided to stay back, but the moment I was whisked away by the prince, I should’ve called for my familiar instead of neglecting it. I apologized profusely when the slime grew very hot. I stepped away from my partner.
“I’ll take you around with me, wherever I go,” I said.
As I made my promise, Gem turned to me and nodded. I was glad to see that it wasn’t angry with me anymore.
“Then let’s head home,” I said.
It flickered in response, but Gem refused to move from its spot. Knowing that it’d probably be upset if I left it behind again, I decided to roll its body along as I did before. Gem glimmered happily.
“Um, do you like to be rolled around?” I asked.
The jewel slime wriggled about in response. I wouldn’t think this was fun for it. I can’t understand a spirit at all.
My belongings were delivered from the hotel along with some food; Professor Whipp must’ve made some arrangements for me. I gratefully accepted the delivery and decided to take a warm bath before heading to bed for a good night’s sleep. I stepped into the bathroom and twisted the magic faucet. A heater under the bathtub could warm up the water using magic stones. That would be a decent expense if I used magic stones every day, and I did my best working within the budget the professor gave me.
I could spend more on food if I didn’t bathe every day, but as a former Japanese, I couldn’t stand skipping a day. I sighed as I prepared my magic stones when Gem, to my surprise, jumped into the bathtub.
“Huh? What are you doing now?” I asked.
A moment later, Gem’s body turned red, and steam began to rise from the water that I’d already put into the tub.
“Are you heating the water up for me?!” I gasped.
Gem nodded, but I noticed the water begin to bubble—it was boiling hot.
“Thank you, Gem,” I said. “But I’m afraid this is a bit too hot for my liking.”
Gem was capable of using ice magic as well and immediately adjusted the temperature, making it very comfortable for me. After I took a nice, long bath, I tried to open up my textbooks to review some material, but I was too excited to do so. I was less physically tired and more emotionally drained; too many things happened today, and I couldn’t keep up. From my entrance ceremony and summoning to work in the greenhouse to a meal with the prince, it was a whirlwind of events. I wanted to head to bed early, but when I went to the bedroom, I realized an important detail that I’d missed.
“I-I don’t have any bedding!” I cried.
Only the bed frame was in the room, and even I struggled to sleep directly on the floor. But since no stores were open so late at night, I decided to lay some cushions out instead. I slumped my shoulders when Gem suddenly jumped onto the frame.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
A moment later, Gem thinned itself out like bedding and stretched out across the floor.
“I-Is this like a waterbed?!” I gasped.
I gingerly touched it. The spirit was nice and firm to the touch, and Gem used one of its appendages to beckon me over.
“Can I sleep on you?” I asked.
It gave me a thumbs-up.
“Then I’ll take your offer,” I said.
I carefully laid down and felt the warmth. In lieu of a blanket, Gem used its own warmth to keep me nice and toasty. It was poofy enough like a pillow, and even when I rolled over, Gem supported me well.
“Gem’s special waterbed!” I cried. “This is really nice!”
I thanked my familiar before I was whisked off to dreamland.