“So you’re Count Guivarch? I’ve heard about you. Despite your youth, they say you’re a capable man,” remarked King Eric II, the current monarch of the country.
Much to Claus’s surprise, it was the king himself who had come to see him this time instead of the princess. Up until now, Meltia had always been the one waiting for him, so at this unexpected development, Claus’s expression stiffened.
“Sorry to keep summoning you here,” Eric went on. “I’m sure you must’ve noticed, but my daughter Meltia has become very fond of you.”
“I’m honored to hear that,” Claus responded. For now, he decided to remain calm and polite, and carefully observed the king’s next words.
“I know you already have a fiancée. But this is the first time Meltia’s taken such an interest in anyone—especially a man. As her father, I want to make all of her wishes come true.”
Claus listened in silence. He’d done a bit of research and had found out that Meltia was a late and long-awaited daughter for the king and queen. On top of that, because of the princess’s poor health, she had mostly been confined to her room from a young age. That was why her parents pampered her so much. This didn’t change even once she’d become a teenager.
“If possible, I’d prefer not to force you to break up with your fiancée...but the thought of seeing my daughter cry over a broken heart pains me. That’s why I want you to stay at the palace as her tutor and get to know her better. She’s a beautiful, lovely girl. Perhaps you’ll come to see her merits too.”
It seemed that the king wasn’t planning to take extreme measures, but he did want to pair Claus up with Meltia. What an arrogant way of thinking. Just like a certain someone I know... I wonder if all royals are like this? Claus thought, recalling a certain dark-skinned friend of his. His lips hardened into a line. Even if I did see the princess’s “merits,” there’s no way that’d make me break up with Jeanette. But of course, he didn’t say that out loud. Outright rejecting a royal order wouldn’t be prudent. I have to find common ground.
If Claus rejected both the king’s order and the princess’s proposal, he risked not only losing his peerage, but having Matheson Trading and Roussel Corporation seized. If push came to shove, he and Jeanette had the knowledge and tenacity to make a living anywhere, but he didn’t want to force Jeanette to leave her homeland because of him.
“Very well. I shall undertake the task of being Her Highness’s tutor.”
“Oh! Excellent!”
“However, I also have my own job as a feudal lord,” Claus went on, tentatively pushing back against the royal demands. “If I have to come here frequently, it might hamper my work.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that!” Eric replied dismissively. “Two days a week will do it.”
Two days? That should be manageable, Claus thought. But the true bad news came with the king’s next words.
“In return, I want you to live in the palace for the time being.”
Claus paused.
“Excuse me...?” he asked, wondering if he’d misheard. He wants me to live here?
The cheerful Eric prattled on.
“You needn’t worry. I’ve already arranged to have all the tools and people you’ll need to be moved into the palace!”
At this, even Claus couldn’t retain his composure.
“What?! Your Majesty, I’m not—”
But right then, someone else interjected.
“Lord Claus! I’m so happy you agreed!”
Princess Meltia entered the room, her voice as light as a bell.
“Living under the same roof as you is like a dream come true! I look forward to your tutoring!” she said, entwining her pale, slender arm around Claus’s. Her sheer beauty paired with those rosy cheeks would’ve made anyone but Claus let out an involuntary sigh.
Instead, Claus’s expression soured as if he’d just bitten into a nasty bug.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Huh?! Lord Claus can’t return to the mansion?!” Jeanette screamed. It had been a few days since Claus had gone to the castle, and this morning a letter had arrived from him, which she had just read.
“Milady, what’s going on?” Sara asked, peeking into the room. She had just been dealing with a visitor when she heard Jeanette’s screech.
“Well...” Jeanette sounded clearly troubled. “Lord Claus says that he’s trapped in the royal palace...”
“Trapped?! What do you mean?!” Sara exclaimed, just as startled.
Jeanette folded the letter back up, then went to sit on the living room sofa to calm herself down.
“I was worried when he didn’t return for a while, but I never would’ve thought it was because of something like this...!”
Three days had already passed since Claus left to visit the castle. On the first day, Jeanette had still felt calm. But then came the second day, and then another, and Claus still wasn’t back. Finding this suspicious, Jeanette had decided to visit the palace herself. Right as she was making her preparations, Claus’s letter had arrived.
“Milady, please tell me what’s happening!” Sara requested, approaching Jeanette.
In spite of her bewilderment, Jeanette began explaining the letter’s contents.
“Lord Claus has been ordered to live in the palace for a while. He must act as the princess’s tutor and do his work as a lord from the palace itself.”
“Is that why those strange servants have been moving Lord Claus’s things?!” Sara asked, observing said servants. They wore the royal crest and had arrived in droves early this morning. After they entered the House Guivarch residence, they began going through and packing Claus’s belongings.
“I guess so...” Jeanette muttered, watching them out of the corner of her eye.
Not content with his possessions, the servants were also taking Claus’s personnel away. It almost looked as if everything that belonged to Claus had now fallen into the king’s hands.
Sara was dumbfounded and hesitated before speaking.
“Um, milady... Just for how long will Lord Claus have to live in the castle?”
“I... I don’t know,” Jeanette confessed. Claus had mentioned in the letter that he had no idea when he’d be allowed to return.
“I-Is this even allowed...?!”
Sara’s confusion was understandable. Jeanette was just as perplexed—in fact, even more so.
“What’s going to happen now, milady?”
“For now, let’s wait it out. It’s only been three days,” Jeanette replied. “His work as a tutor has only just started. Maybe once everything settles, they’ll let him leave,” she added, clenching her fists.
Sara started to say something, but swallowed her words.