“So, it’s been a month, and our princess is still under house arrest?” Kyuriakris asked teasingly. He’d come to visit the Guivarch residence and was currently seated on the sofa.
Jeanette was sitting next to him mumbling and groaning; she couldn’t find the words for a proper reply.
“Ugh...”
Indeed, a month had passed since Claus had gone to the royal palace. He sent Jeanette a letter once every three days, but he still had no prospect of returning home. He’d tried pleading with the king and princess, to no effect.
“Good grief! It’s usually the hero’s job to go save the kidnapped damsel, but to think it’s Claus who got himself kidnapped... What a damned princess!” Kyuriakris chortled.
“Ughhh...” Jeanette’s shoulders drooped dispiritedly. “It’s absurd to try and win someone’s heart by keeping them trapped against their will. I’ve been waiting for Her Highness and His Majesty to realize as much, but...”
Kyuriakris scoffed.
“You’re being too soft. Don’t you know the saying, ‘All is fair in love and war’?”
“Ngh...”
“They took his belongings and even his servants. It’s plain as day. I’m the same: I take what I want by force. That goes for the throne and for women. Royalty especially have a tendency to be like that, you know?”
Kyuriakris’s blunt words pierced right through Jeanette’s heart.
“Nnngh...”
H-He’s right. I misjudged the situation...! This is royalty we’re dealing with!
“I had a feeling this is how things would go ever since I first heard of Claus’s detention,” the prince went on. “Still, it’s been a month now, huh? Before you know it, a whole year could pass like this.” He smirked at her.
That statement was a direct hit.
“Waaah!” she moaned.
Kyuriakris stood up, only to sit right next to her and bring his face closer to hers.
“Anyway, Jeanette. You should give up on someone pathetic enough to let himself get kidnapped like this. Join me instead. If you don’t want to be confined to a harem, I’ll allow you and you alone to travel freely through the palace.”
“Huh?” Jeanette’s eyes widened at this sudden change of topic. Why is he bringing this up now?!
“Say yes, Jeanette. I don’t want to force you into anything if I can help it. But as I said earlier, being royalty means taking things for yourself. That’s especially true for the imperial family in Pakira. If you don’t agree, I’ll just have to drag you home with me.”
“Whaaat?!”
Is it my turn to be stolen?! Jeanette wondered, hurriedly leaning away from Kyuriakris. Before long, she found herself squeezing into the corner of the sofa.
“Ummm! I’d prefer to talk about this some other time!”
“No.” Kyuriakris’s black eyes glinted, like a carnivore who had spotted his prey. His sharp, beautiful features drew nearer to Jeanette, who stiffened.
Oh no, this is bad! All I’ve been able to think about is Lord Claus, so I didn’t notice, but aren’t I completely alone with Lord Kyuriakris right now?!
Yet right as a droplet of sweat appeared on Jeanette’s temple...
“MILADYYY!!!”
Bang!
...the door flew open and Sara burst into the room. She was wielding a broom in her hands, holding it like a sword.
“Lord Kyuriakris! I won’t allow you to lay a hand on her!” the maid proclaimed, glaring harshly at the prince.
He smiled in amusement.
“Ah. You got here quicker than I expected. I even ordered my servants to hold you back and all...”
“Huh?!” Jeanette squeaked in shock. I thought it was strange that I hadn’t seen Sara for a while! Was that because of him?!
“Hah!” Sara shouted triumphantly. “I beat all those frail men with my trusty broom!”
What?! Sara, you’re so strong! Jeanette thought with amazement.
The maid kept going.
“I actually received a warning about this from Lord Claus! He said he was sure that Lord Kyuriakris would take advantage of this opportunity to try and abduct milady, and that he wants me to protect her! And that’s exactly what I’m going to do!”
“Oh?” Kyuriakris lifted an eyebrow. “Damn you, Claus. You’re thorough as always... However.” He smiled impishly. Slowly, he rested his chin in his hand in a most high-handed and dignified manner. “You seem to have forgotten that I am the Pakiran Empire’s first prince. Do you think that you, a mere maid, can speak to me like that?” he asked, emanating the overwhelming aura of a ruler.
Both women shuddered at the change in the air, which had suddenly grown cold and intense.
Eeek!!! So Lord Kyuriakris can be this scary?! Jeanette had almost forgotten, but when the prince wanted to, he could be extremely intimidating. His sharp eyes bored into them, refusing to be denied. Sara grew pale like a cornered mouse.
Yet even so, she didn’t give in.
“L-Lord Claus told me about this too! He said, ‘Kyuri will probably try to frighten you into backing down by using his status. But don’t be intimidated. For the most part, he’s a good guy, so despite the things he says, he won’t actually do anything violent. That much I can guarantee!’” Sara’s grip tightened around the broom as she continued to scowl at the prince.
Kyuriakris looked down at her for a moment...only to burst into loud laughter.
“Pfft... Ha ha ha! Damn it, Claus! You told her that much?” he exclaimed, pressing his hand to his forehead. “And he even said I’m a ‘good guy,’ huh? That means I can’t tease you anymore, or I’d lose my honor... Maid—your name was Sara, wasn’t it? I concede this victory to you and Claus. I’ll reflect on my actions and rein it in from now on.”
Jeanette let out a relieved breath. I’m saved! If Sara hadn’t come, Jeanette might’ve actually been devoured by Kyuriakris.
“Thank you, Sara!”
The maid pounded her chest.
“Leave it to me, milady! In Lord Claus’s absence, I shall protect you!”
“So reliable! That’s my Sara!” Jeanette said, rushing over to embrace the other woman.
“Of course. You’re my treasure too, milady,” the maid replied, hugging Jeanette back tightly.
Kyuriakris hummed as he observed them.
“Seeing two women so intimate with each other isn’t half bad. Sara, how about you come too and become a maid at the harem?”
Sara’s eyes glinted once more.
“‘Too’? Milady isn’t going anywhere!”
In face of her menacing look, Kyuriakris cackled again.
“All right, let’s leave that aside. But what are you going to do about Claus?” he asked Jeanette, crossing his arms. “At this rate, it sounds like he won’t be allowed to leave until he accepts Princess Meltia’s marriage proposal. Meaning he’d have to break up with you.”
She nodded.
“I suppose both Her Highness and His Majesty are truly after him...”
“That’s right. They wouldn’t keep him for this long otherwise.”
Jeanette bit her lip. Ever since she’d found out about Meltia wanting to marry Claus, Jeanette had simply watched on from afar, feeling lost. But with the way things were, she couldn’t take it easy anymore.
“So? Do you plan to just hand him over?” Kyuriakris questioned teasingly.
“Of course not,” Jeanette said, looking up. “A person’s heart belongs only to themselves. I won’t allow anyone to force Lord Claus into anything—not even royalty!” she announced vigorously.
Kyuriakris’s eyes grew wide in wonder.
“Oh? Are you going to pick a fight with the royals?”
She hesitated for a moment, but quickly straightened up.
“I don’t like putting it that way...but basically, yes!” A flame lit up in her eyes as she spoke. “Someone’s trying to steal Lord Claus. This must be a rewa—I mean, a trial from God himself!”
“Wh— Ha ha ha!” The prince burst into laughter. “I heard about this from Claus, but are you seriously going to turn this into a reward?!”
“N-No, it’s j-just a figure of speech...!”
It’d be rude to Lord Claus to treat this as a reward! That was a slip of the tongue!
While Jeanette frantically tried to explain herself, Sara’s expression grew exasperated.
“It’s too late, milady. You let your true feelings slip out.”
“Ugh...” Jeanette hung her head, having no escape.
Kyuriakris chuckled.
“I think it’s a good thing. Rather than weeping over the situation like some tragic heroine, tackling it head-on is a lot more your style. I like strong-willed women like you.”
Unexpectedly, Sara nodded along to his words.
“I feel the same way. Of course, you’re adorable when you’re all dejected, milady, but I like you best when you’re your cheerful self.”
“Oh? So our feelings align. How rare,” the prince remarked.
“On that alone, we are kindred spirits,” the maid replied, and they both smirked at each other. “Anyway, milady! What kind of strategy do you have in mind?”
Jeanette nodded.
“Let’s start with the basics: information gathering.”
“‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you needn’t fear the result of a hundred battles,’ huh?” Kyuriakris asked.
“Yes!” She nodded again.
When Sara tilted her head in confusion, the prince began explaining.
“It’s from a book on the art of war from the Far East. It means that as long as you have a good grasp of your enemy’s capabilities and present situation, and understand your own position as well, you can keep winning no matter how many battles you fight.”
“I see!” Sara replied.
Jeanette continued laying out her plan.
“To be honest, I have no clue how to get Lord Claus back from the royals. But that doesn’t mean I’ll give up! I’ll start looking, and I might find an opening in something seemingly trivial.”
Sara nodded energetically.
“To begin with, we’re going to review all business records we can get our hands on and scour the capital’s newspaper!” Jeanette decided.
“Business records and newspapers?” Sara echoed. “What use is that going to be?”
“It’ll get us information about Her Highness Princess Meltia!” Jeanette replied, and then began explaining.
The first step was to thoroughly get to know the key figure: Meltia. They would look at lists of businesses’ clients, hoping to find Meltia’s name or those of other people with close ties to the royals. They’d also closely examine the capital’s newspaper for any clues about the family.
“Sara, could you please check the archives and bring me all the newspapers from the past sixteen years, since the princess’s birth?”
“Of course!” With renewed vigor, Sara left to go to the archives.
“Princess Meltia, huh...? I’ll question my retainers and see if I can get any information on her as well,” Kyuriakris said as he got to his feet. “After all, Claus is more or less my friend.”
“Thank you so much!” Jeanette said.
But moments before he vacated the room, the prince suddenly stopped and turned to face her.
“By the way, let’s continue our previous conversation once Claus is back.”
“S-So you’re still interested in that...” Jeanette murmured, scrunching up her face.
Kyuriakris laughed loudly and then departed the Guivarch estate.