🦊 🦊 🦊
AFTER dinner, I returned to my room and relaxed in the tub. A little while later, Julietta and the twins visited. All of them appeared to have taken baths as well. As such, we lounged on my bed in our negligees. The bed was large enough to accommodate all four of us lying down without issue. This was a guest room in the royal castle, after all.
“Still, your fennec ears were so cute,” Cia said. “Could you pop them out again?”
Oh, c’mon, is this what you came over for?
“Nope,” I replied. “According to Custode, my ears only pop out when my emotions run high.”
“Seriously?” Cita asked. “What a letdown.”
Wow, you too? I doubt they’ll pop out again tonight, so by all means, feel free to leave.
Julietta bowed her head to me. “Ally,” she said in a flustered tone. “I’m sorry about my brother.”
“Huh?” I asked, cocking my head in Julietta’s direction. “What are you sorry about?” I didn’t understand the reason for her apology at all.
“What did I tell you, Julie?” Cita chimed in. “Ally’s completely clueless.”
Could someone please tell me what I’m clueless about? I thought while stroking Squishy, who sat quietly on my lap.
Cita leaned forward eagerly. “What do you think about Prince Giusto, Ally?”
What a strange question. He looks like Julie and is surprisingly cunning, I suppose? But I know that’s not what Cita wants to hear.
“I think he’s a wonderful person,” I replied. “All the young ladies in Bragioga probably adore him.”
“What else did I expect?” Cia responded with a soft sigh.
Hey, why is everyone looking at me with pity in their eyes? What the heck am I doing wrong here?
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“Prince Giusto likes you, Ally,” Cita said, hugging a cushion.
I stiffened at the unexpected comment. “Come again?”
Then, Cia delivered the finishing blow. “You and Oreste are the only ones who haven’t noticed.”
“Seriously?!” I exclaimed.
Cia’s blow nearly KO’d me. Was I really on the same level as Oreste? I couldn’t be that dimwitted, right? The mental shock deflated me.
“Hey, there’s no need to make fun of Oreste, too,” Cita complained.
Yeah, I would never recover from this. Still, things suddenly make a lot more sense.
“That’s why Em seems on edge around Giusto,” I muttered to myself. “His sinister aura always comes out whenever Giusto is involved.”
Julietta bowed her head again. “I’m truly sorry. When Giusto threw down the gauntlet to Prince Embert, my heart beat out of my chest. I thought I might cry.”
Are you sure you’re not about to cry right now?
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I said while throwing my arms around Julietta. “Em might be a handful, but he wouldn’t let this escalate to a conflict between nations. After all, Em thinks highly of your brother. I’m positive everything will be fine.”
I was telling the truth about Em thinking highly of Giusto. He’d said as much in the gazebo. On the other hand, he did start radiating his sinister aura afterward…
Cita balled her hands into fists. “In any case, the fate of our countries is in your hands, Ally.”
“Really, the fate of our countries? That’s a bit grandiose, wouldn’t you say?”
“I agree with my sister,” Cia added to my surprise. “But you love Prince Embert, don’t you?”
“Of course,” I responded with a nod.
Cia nodded firmly as well. “In that case, you need to make your feelings clear to him. Even more than usual. Got it?”
“Y-Yeah, I understand.”
I still have no idea how this connects to the fate of our two countries, though. As I wondered that, Cita continued rubbing salt into the wound of my stupidity.
“The happier Embert is, the more peaceful our countries will be,” she said. “Make sure he knows you love him ten times over.”
“I agree with Cita,” Julietta added. “Please save the world again with your love, Ally.”
Even Julie, huh? Alrighty then. I might not know what’s going on, but I’ve got this.
“I’ll do my best,” I replied.
After all, everyone’s supporting me. I can’t respond with anything but my full, unwavering effort.
Custode shook with suppressed laughter beside me. Wasn’t he supposed to be asleep?
✦ ✦ ✦
🦊 🦊 🦊
☆☆ Embert’s Point of View☆☆
AFTER dinner, I had a meeting with Janus and Severin. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compose my mind in the slightest. Severin, who must have guessed the source of my distress, brought up Ally’s fennec ears.
“Ally certainly is fascinating,” he said. “Shame the treasure chest that turned her into a fennec fox disappeared. I would’ve loved to research its structure. I might have to ask Ally if I can study her instead.”
“Severin,” I growled. “Are you in a hurry to die?”
Severin laughed at my threat. “Aha, I’m only joking. Besides, Ally would never speak to me again if I asked her to be my guinea pig.”
Janus brewed us tea during this conversation. Once finished, he sat across from me, not a trace of mirth in his eyes. “When did you learn about Ally’s fennec ears, Your Highness?” he asked.
“Hmm…” I mused. “Right after the curse lifted, I suppose.”
If you crossed Janus during times like these, he could be even more terrifying than his father.
“I see,” Janus replied. “Come to think of it, you did seem restless around that time.” Here, his sapphire blue eyes glinted dangerously. “So? You reacted strongly to Ally’s fennec ears. I trust you haven’t done anything inappropriate in the past, yes?”
I shook my head vigorously. “Of course not! Well, to be precise, I almost did… However, Squishy’s body slam brought me back to my senses, and I regained control of myself!”
“Regained control of yourself, eh?” Janus asked with a heavy sigh.
Severin and I both stiffened. Yet, contrary to my expectations, Janus’s demeanor softened.
“Certainly, Ally is breathtakingly adorable with her fennec ears and tail,” he said. “Her appearance alone could bring a man to his knees, but the feel of her fluffy ears… That could become somewhat addictive.”
When Janus let out a small laugh, I nodded excitedly. “Yes, exactly!” I exclaimed. “Ally could be likened to an aloof Goddess of the moon. Combining that appearance with oversized, fluffy ears breaks all the rules. She’s so precious and adorable that I fear my heart will stop. Moreover, her ears feel just as soft as when she was a fennec fox. Each time I touch them, and they twitch in response, the sheer cuteness nearly causes me to swoon. What must her tail feel like? The mere thought drives me to the brink of madness.”
“Your Highness,” Janus said in an icy tone, interrupting my rambling.
“…Present,” I responded, regaining my composure.
Janus smiled. “Do try to exercise some restraint.”
“…Noted.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Severin trembling with suppressed laughter. In any case, we turned our attention to the matter at hand.