I felt a bit guilty about borrowing his clothes and couldn’t turn down his request. This is to thank you for the dress. I quickly slipped the ribbon through the holes. Noah had a beautiful back, and even if it showed a bit, it wasn’t at all offensive to the eyes.
“And done!”
“Well done, clever mare!” Noah praised.
I’m not even sure if that counts as an insult anymore, but whatever. At least I was able to help him out. Noah bit down on the candy he was eating and gulped; he pressed a hand against his chest and coughed a few times. I’d assumed he was eating a cough drop or something, but I was taken aback when he parted his lips again.
“Hmph, I suppose I’ll thank you,” he said in a beautiful, singsong voice that was alluring. “You did well.”
“What happened to your voice?!” I cried.
“Didn’t you know? This candy can change one’s voice.”
“I had no idea…”
Now that his voice was high-pitched and elegant, he perfectly fit the bill as a beautiful young lady. I’d thought that his low voice would immediately give him away, but the candy masked it completely. I didn’t know you could do that! What an invention!
“And if you dare tell anyone that I’m a guy…” Noah started. He drew his face close to mine and flashed a bewitching smile. “I’ll destroy you and your household with false accusations.”
“Eep!” I shrieked. I shook my head vehemently, swearing that I wouldn’t tell a single soul.
“What’s your name, crabby girl?”
I’m a crab now? I sound kinda delicious… I was reluctant to give my real name, but I feared what would happen if I lied to him.
“Misha von Ritual.”
“Hmm… Ritual,” Noah mused. “A low-tier family, huh?”
Yeah, yeah, I know. Just let me leave already. I prayed to God that he’d leave my side, but he grabbed my arm. You’ve failed me again, God…
“My hems are stupid long, and they’re in my way,” he groused. “Carry them to the grand halls for me.”
“Er, um, I’m supposed to meet up with Vil in the corridor…”
He glared at me. “I knew it! You’re the one who’s been trying to seduce my brother, huh?! I wasn’t sure since I only saw you guys from afar, but what you just said sealed it!”
I guess he saw me with Vil. Noah’s awfully rude and ill-tempered with me, but maybe it’s because I’m close to his brother.
“Just listen to what I say, you chicken!” he barked.
Now I’m a chicken! At least he adds variety to his insults! Plus, these animals can turn into food, so I’m feeling like a snack now! I couldn’t deny that I was sort of enjoying my exchange with him. I knew that this beautiful tyrant likely wouldn’t listen to me, so I reluctantly tagged along with his antics. When I picked up his hems, Noah gave a satisfied nod.
“Where is your chaperone anyway?” I asked.
“Gave them the slip.”
“Wh-Why would you do that?”
“‘Cause they kept tagging along with me like some kinda clingy shadow.”
“What the?!”
I almost insulted him, but I stopped myself short. Still, I should at least give him a word of warning.
“You do know everything I’ve done for you should’ve been done by your chaperone, right?” I asked. “If you didn’t give your chaperone the slip, you wouldn’t have been in this conundrum!”
“I wasn’t in any conundrum. I mean, you’re here to help me,” he replied.
“You little…”
I wish you’d give me the slip! But no amount of scolding would get this child to listen.
“What kind of relationship do you have with my brother?” Noah demanded.
“Huh? We’re just friends.”
“You’re not engaged to him or anything?”
“Of course not! Even if the world flipped upside down, I doubt we’d ever get married!”
“Misha,” a familiar voice called. “You didn’t have to exaggerate that much.”
“Huh?! Ack!” I was surprised he suddenly appeared behind me. He must’ve finished his investigation and returned; we were lucky enough to reunite here. “Um, Vil…” I started.
“Brother!” Noah cried happily as he clung to Vil.
What the?! Now he’s acting all cutesy?! Noah had acted like a devil mere moments ago, but now he was smiling like an angel.
“Don’t you have an important role to fulfill?” Vil asked.
“I do,” Noah replied. “I feel more at ease now that I was able to speak with you.”
My jaw dropped; I couldn’t help but give an exasperated sigh at his change in demeanor.
“Where’s Countess Mayfair?” Vil asked. “I thought you were with her.”
“I lost her in the crowd…” Noah replied, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Unbelievable… The countess must’ve been his chaperone, and he was lying through his teeth about losing her. He not only called her a clingy shadow but even revealed that he had given her the slip. But Noah glared at me ferociously, forcing me to silence.
“Truth be told, Lady Misha here saved me when I was in a spot of trouble,” Noah said, his back turned to his brother. He feigned his sobbing, but he glared at me like a little monster. “If she hadn’t been here to save me, I dread to imagine what would’ve happened to me…”
Clearly, he’ll kill me if I spill the beans.
“I didn’t know that you were acquainted with her, Brother,” Noah said sweetly. “Are you two close?”
“I suppose we are,” Vil replied.
Noah discreetly intensified his glare at me, and I frantically shook my head to deny those claims. You’ve got it all wrong!
“Hee hee, I had no idea you were close with such an adorable girl!” Noah said with a giggle.
“Yeah, so get along with her, all right?”
“I would love to! Oh, I’m so happy!”
Noah gripped my arm, clinging so tightly that I thought the blood wouldn’t circulate to my hand. Oh my god… Just give me a break. Please! All the while, I realized that it’d gotten late, and the time to be granted an audience with a royal was over.
“Um, Noah, I think you lost your opportunity to be granted an audience,” I said. “Shouldn’t you have gone over there sooner?”
“Oh no, I’m about to right now,” Noah replied.
Now? Huh? As I mulled over his words, the crown prince’s ceremony began. The cardinal, the strongest church authority figure, arrived and draped a red gown—proof of the crown prince—over Prince Rena’s shoulders. Just like that, she was publicly declared the crown prince of our nation, and I spotted the queen nearby, smiling at her daughter.
The queen turned forty this year, but her beauty and youth made it look like she was in her early thirties at most. In fact, if she claimed that she was in her twenties, I would’ve believed her. It was almost astonishing to know that she had a child in her teens.
“I’ve got a blessed announcement for the nation today,” the queen said loudly, gathering the attention of the room.