Chapter 81
“Your Highness, I am truly sorry. I should have attended…”
Lea didn’t know that Calix had come looking for her that day. That was because Zion had decided they should keep it secret and silenced Rose and the others as well.
“I know it’s late, but I really wanted to give you a gift. I actually prepared something just for you, Your Highness.”
At her unexpected words, Calix’s eyes grew a little wider. The fact that she had prepared a gift meant she had originally intended to attend the birthday banquet.
“…Then why haven’t you come to my palace even once until now?”
Only moments ago, Calix had mockingly called her ‘Sister’, but he quickly shed the guise of a younger brother.
“Well…”
Unable to say that she hadn’t had the courage to visit him separately, Lea lowered her head and mumbled quietly.
“I kept debating when to give it to you… and it ended up being delayed.”
“……”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Up until now, Calix had been irritated by how flustered Lea became in front of him. Yes, up until now.
But today, seeing her laughing so comfortably in front of Zion and Derek, and now seeing her so timid and cautious in front of him, didn’t feel so bad.
Yes, you shouldn’t be comfortable with me.
No matter how much time passes, until I forgive you for everything that’s happened, you should keep begging.
“Then, let’s go to my palace right now.”
“…Pardon?”
“You didn’t lie, did you? Telling me there’s a gift when there isn’t?”
“No! Of course not!”
Lea’s heart pounded so hard she could hardly breathe properly. She quickly added,
“Th-then, let me stop by my palace to pick up the gift first.”
Since her regression, this would be the first time she visited the Crown Prince’s palace in her human form. Even though he didn’t seem to be in a good mood, she didn’t want to miss this chance he had given her of his own accord.
As long as the time hadn’t come for him to no longer need her, she wanted to stay by his side as long as possible. That, at least, was something she shamelessly couldn’t give up.
“…Very well, then.”
Calix finished speaking and abruptly turned his back. Lea, left staring blankly as he disappeared quickly, flinched slightly, then turned her gaze to Zion and Derek.
They couldn’t hide their dismay upon seeing Lea’s brightly blooming expression.
“My apologies, Sir Zion, Young Lord Felitier. I’ll see you both again next time.”
“Yes, I’ll come visit again.”
“…I’ll come too.”
Zion responded, and Derek followed immediately, not to be outdone. But Lea, unaware of the tension between the two, responded cheerfully.
“Yes, please come visit again.”
Having said that, Lea didn’t wait and left first. Zion and Derek both stared silently in the direction she disappeared with light steps, and only after she was completely out of sight did they speak.
“Did you test him, by any chance?”
At Zion’s question, Derek responded while still looking in the direction Lea had vanished.
“I couldn’t read her.”
“Hmm. Seems like your rank is lower than His Highness’s.”
“…This confirms it. That those whose thoughts I can’t read are ranked higher than me.”
Derek didn’t mention that he couldn’t read Lea’s mind either. Even if Zion had already guessed it from Lea herself, he didn’t want to say it with his own mouth.
“Is it that His Highness has a higher rank, or is your rank just absurdly low?”
Zion’s tone was laced with provocation, and only then did Derek turn his gaze away from where Lea had disappeared.
Dark blue eyes and pale blue eyes met in the air. Though they hadn’t forgotten that their relationship was closer to colleagues than enemies, neither felt the need to reveal all their cards.
Especially Derek. Though things had begun with Zion’s help, he no longer had any intention of receiving it, nor would there be any need to.
“Well. I don’t know about that, but I do know that you’re ranked lower than me, Young Lord.”
Zion’s expression twisted slightly as he recalled how Derek had once read his thoughts when they first met.
“Tch. Mental-type Espers really are a nuisance.”
“Are they more troublesome than physical-type Espers?”
Physical-type Espers were those who simply pushed through with brute force, so much so that one might end up dead before even having a chance to use their abilities.
“Since we’re here, let’s go meet with Sir Eric before we leave.”
“Yes, I was planning to speak with him about this incident anyway.”
“About your family, I assume.”
“…Yes, because they’re being a nuisance.”
Even as they moved away, the two kept glancing in the direction of Lea’s palace, hoping they might run into her again.
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