Only three months remained until my graduation. One afternoon, with classes ending early, I was enjoying a leisurely tea with Bertia in a special room designed for small gatherings and meetings. As usual, Zeno, Kuro, and Bertia’s maids stood by in the background.
“Tia, what color do you think would be nice for the graduation party dress?” I asked.
Upon hearing my question, Bertia’s eyes suddenly became clouded. Just moments earlier, she had been happily stuffing her cheeks with bite-sized pastries.
There was a time when Bertia acted distant toward me. Recently, however, she has started spending time with me when she can, but mentioning graduation always seems to cast a shadow over her expression. That’s why I have been careful not to bring up anything about Baroness Heronia, graduation, or the “otome game.”
Unfortunately, with graduation so near, such omissions were no longer feasible. I had already managed the necessary preparations regarding Baroness Heronia without informing Tia. However, the arrangements for the graduation itself couldn’t move forward without her, especially since, as my fiancée, she needed to attend the graduation party as my partner.
“The dress for the graduation party?” Bertia murmured, her cheeks still filled with pastries, and then she froze.
… It’s trivial, but you know, the pastries are made bite-sized so you don’t end up with bulging cheeks. It defeats the purpose if you stuff several in your mouth at once, doesn’t it?
She swallowed with difficulty—or at least, it appeared that way since her mouth was crammed full of pastries, making it look like she was swallowing normally. To ease the tension, I opted to tease her a little.
“Indeed. The graduation party is primarily a couples’ gathering. It’s an unspoken rule that engaged attendees should bring their partners. You wouldn’t want to leave me as the sorrowful bachelor abandoned by his fiancée, would you? Therefore, in response to your generosity, I thought I’d gift you the dress.”
Bertia smiled uncomfortably. “But isn’t the dress more fitting for the heroine? Shouldn’t it be given to her instead of me…”
“Tia, I’m asking you as my partner.” Her uncertain gaze met mine. I interrupted her, my voice unexpectedly harsh. She must have detected the irritation in my tone as she flinched and inadvertently crushed the pastry in her hand.
“Ah, look what you’ve done. Your favorite treat is ruined now.” I took a breath to calm myself, then stood up as if nothing had happened. I reached across the table and took her soiled hand.
When I touched her, she shivered with anxiety, but I chose to ignore it. Gently, I uncurled her fingers to collect the crumbled pieces of the pastry.
This isn’t good.
Is this typical of adolescence? Recently, my emotions have felt extremely volatile. Even the smallest things Bertia does seem to disturb me, which wasn’t the case before. It’s honestly bewildering.
If she wasn’t involved, my emotions wouldn’t be so stirred up, allowing me to function normally. It doesn’t interfere with my responsibilities as Crown Prince, and it’s not a significant issue.
While Bertia’s maids readied a damp cloth, I quickly popped the pastry fragments from her hand into my mouth.
“Mmm, these are quite delicious, aren’t they?”
Even if the pastries were oddly shaped, their nostalgic taste lifted my spirits. Looking at Bertia, I noticed her cheeks were flushed red and her hand remained in mine—a scene more delightful than any dessert.
I gestured to Zeno, who promptly positioned a chair beside her. When a maid came forward with a damp cloth, I reached out to take it. She lingered for a moment, evidently hesitant to allow a crown prince to undertake such a humble chore. However, my encouraging smile helped her feel at ease, and she handed me the cloth. I carefully cleaned Bertia’s hands.
“All done! Now, Tia, what color do you want it to be?” I relaxed my grip after wiping and gently placed her hand on mine. Kuro came over, thumping her fluffy tail against the chair as a warning.
… I know. I won’t do anything more in such a public setting.
“Color…”
“Absolutely, color! I want the design to complement my outfit, so I’ll take care of that. Naturally, I’ll pick something that looks great on you too.” While I talked, Bertia, still blushing, began to warm up. Watching her, I offered her a gentle smile.
She appeared to want to say something, but upon seeing my smile, she seemed to abandon any objections.
“… A muted shade of yellow,” she said after some contemplation, selecting a color she frequently wore. However, her expression shifted abruptly, and she exclaimed, “No, wait! I believe blue would be a better choice!”
I tilted my head in confusion at her sudden shift; she looked troubled, almost on the verge of tears, as she smiled weakly.
“Or… another color might be even better. Like red or black… Yes, that’s right! Perhaps something more fitting for a villainess…”
Her hand tightened around mine.
Though her grip seemed unintentional, it felt as if she was holding onto me tightly.
The first color Bertia suggested for her dress matched my hair, while the next resembled my eyes. However, she quickly dismissed both options in favor of something “more befitting of a villainess.” She moved from yellow to blue, then from blue to red or black.
Each time she blinked, the sorrow in her eyes appeared to intensify, almost as though she was attempting to pull away from me. Witnessing this, I felt my brow knit in concern.
“Hey, Tia. Why can’t we go with the usual yellow?… Are you tired of yellow now?” I kept my voice steady, suppressing my smile and narrowing my eyes instead.