“Ah, you’re troubled after all, aren’t you? Damn. I didn’t mean to say this much.” Kyuriakris scratched the back of his head.
“I...”
“Don’t,” he interrupted. “I’ve known your answer for a long time now, so don’t hit me with the coup de grâce. Have some mercy.” He paused to glance over his shoulder. “In the meantime, it looks like the ‘princess’ has arrived,” he added, stepping away from Jeanette.
The princess?
“Jeanette!!!” Before Jeanette could ask what Kyuriakris meant, Claus’s shout rang out, answering her unspoken question.
“Lord Claus.”
Claus ran out onto the balcony, breathless. Kyuriakris laughed.
“You’re late, Claus. I was this close to sweeping Jeanette away to Pakira with me, you know?”
Yet Claus cast the other man a serious look.
“Under usual circumstances, maybe so... But today, you protected her, didn’t you?”
Kyuriakris’s smile stiffened.
“What are you talking about? I was trying my hardest to seduce her.”
“Oh really?” Claus smoothed down his hair, which had grown disheveled during his run. “Kyuri, I’m sure you know that Jeanette isn’t concerned with herself, but she cares about my reputation greatly. That’s why she once asked me to break up with her.”
He was referring to the time when, shortly after her father had gone missing, Jeanette had asked Claus to end his engagement to her because she was worried about what people thought of him.
“I’m sure some of the party guests claimed that the princess and I look good together. In fact, I heard a few of them myself. Jeanette was closer to them, so she must’ve heard even more than I did. In which case, it would’ve made her wonder whether she should step aside.”
Jeanette’s eyes widened, because although she hadn’t said it out loud, this was indeed something that had gone through the back of her mind.
“Kyuri, there’s no way you could’ve left her alone in those circumstances.”
“Because it was my chance to snatch her away?” Kyuriakris asked, still being self-deprecating.
Claus shook his head.
“No. You wouldn’t do that in her moment of weakness. You wish for her happiness too, one way or another.”
Kyuriakris said nothing. Claus must’ve hit the mark.
“How long have we known each other?” Claus asked while laughing. “I know you well, Kyuri. Anyway, if you actually wanted to take Jeanette for yourself, you could just use your princely authority to do it.”
“The only reason I haven’t is because it’s no fun to do it by force...”
“You didn’t do it because you don’t want to rob her of her smile. Right?”
Those were the exact words Kyuriakris had told Jeanette earlier. The prince gasped and cast Claus a startled look.
“Did you hear what I said earlier...?”
“Hmm? What do you mean? I’m just telling it like I see it. And I knew that you’d be the one to cheer Jeanette up if she felt upset, Kyuri.”
Once more, Kyuriakris said nothing. He only chuckled, as though he’d finally given up.
“There you go again, Claus... Why do you have to see through everything? Did you develop mind reading abilities?”
“Why? That’s easy.” Claus smiled. “Because I love you both. One of you is the woman I love, and the other is a friend I love. Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s honestly scary if that’s all it takes for you to figure things out so accurately. It’s a true horror!” Kyuriakris said with a grin.
“Call it what you will.”
“Aww, man! I can’t believe you’re actually trying to bring me, your love rival, over to your side. I can’t go around flirting with Jeanette anymore now that you’ve said all that.”
“A great figure once said, ‘Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?’” Claus replied with a smirk.
“You’re a schemer—how terrifying,” Kyuriakris responded with a chuckle. “Well, as your beloved friend, I believe it’s my time to make a gracious retreat.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
With another huff of laughter, the prince turned away. He didn’t say another word, merely waving his hand as he departed.
“Now then.” Claus turned back to Jeanette with an apologetic look on his face. “I’m sorry I took so long, Jeanette. I was going to find you right away, but I got caught up longer than expected.”
“I-It’s fine,” she replied. Her heart pounded as she gazed into his violet eyes.
Why can’t I calm down...?
“I made you see something painful, didn’t I?” Claus grasped her hand tightly and kissed it. “But no matter what anyone says, you’re the only one for me. I don’t want anyone else. So please don’t mind what the others are saying, okay?”
“O-Okay.”
“I do think Lady Tia is beautiful, but that’s not all that counts. I can’t say this where Their Majesties might overhear me, but...” Claus drew his face closer to hers and lowered his voice. “I think you’re much more beautiful than she is. And I’m sure Kyuriakris agrees.”
Jeanette looked surprised. He said the same thing as Lord Kyuriakris... When she realized that, she giggled.
“Right. Thank you, Lord Claus.”
“So don’t worry about anythi— Jeanette, what’s wrong?!”
“Huh?” Jeanette was shocked when Claus raised his voice. At the same time, she felt tears slide down her own cheeks, and her eyes widened. “Wha...?”
“Jeanette...” While she hurriedly wiped her face, Claus hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry. I really did hurt your feelings. And even before that, I’ve just been stuck in the palace...!”
“No, Lord Claus,” Jeanette said, still in his embrace. “It’s just... I suddenly felt so happy and relieved... Earlier, for just a brief moment, I thought that you really had fallen for Her Highness...”
“What? Why did you think that?”
Jeanette fidgeted in his arms.
“Well... Um... Because you were looking at her so tenderly...” As she spoke, her face gradually became redder and redder.
Oh no, I think I just messed up! I sounded so childish!
“Sorry, never mind, just forget what I—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Claus hugged her even tighter.
“Oh God, is this a dream? It’s not, is it? To think that Jeanette is feeling jealous...”
Ahhh! Lord Claus seems happy, but I’m so embarrassed by how pathetic I am!
Jeanette felt overwhelmed by this strange new feeling she’d never before experienced, but Claus laughed joyously.
“Sorry, Jeanette. I know you’re in pain...but I can’t help feeling happy about it. Your tears make me so glad...”
“My tears?!” she echoed.
Has Lord Claus gone crazy?!
“Not like that. What I mean is that the fact you’re crying because of how you feel about me makes me happy. There’s a big difference. But...before I explain further, can I say just one thing?”
“What is it?”
“I want to kiss you.”
Jeanette’s eyes widened.
“W-We’re at the palace! Someone could come out here at any time!”
“I know. But I still want to do it. Will you let me?” Claus whispered into her ear.
Jeanette blushed again. Someone could genuinely turn up at any moment! We may be engaged, but for us to kiss in such a public place...! Despite her thoughts, however, she found herself nodding.
Claus slowly pressed his lips against hers, and the kiss tasted sweeter than any of the confections she’d had today.