Get to Work, Prince! Chapter 18

“Anyway, I’d like to have a simple teatime together. When the atmosphere is this chaotic, there’s nothing better than chatting over tea, right? I also want to hear about Theo’s recent activities.”

 

For a noble to invite a commoner to a gathering was essentially the same as saying, 

 

“Come and be my entertainment.”

 

Especially not during a leisurely time like this … when many people were already groaning under the pile of work that had poured in from all directions.

 

Renata struggled to keep the smile on her lips at such a truly aristocratic way of thinking.

 

“I don’t think it’s a place someone like me dares to join. Thank you just for the invitation.”

 

“Really? These past few days you’ve been dressed better than most young ladies, so I thought you might be interested in that sort of thing.”

 

Ailet finished her sentence with a bright, cheerful lilt and smiled adorably, her eyes gently curving.

 

“But your current look suits you better after all. Oh dear, did that sound offensive?”

 

Watching that smile, Renata once again thought that it was no wonder people could fall in love with the crown prince or any prince.

 

Even while spitting out such rude words, instead of feeling any resentment, she found herself unconsciously admiring the woman’s appearance.

 

“Not at all.”

 

“My, you’re not an ordinary one, are you?”

 

Ailet’s tone rose slightly, clearly displeased that Renata was still maintaining her smile without change.

 

Renata already knew well that nobles who had grown up sheltered from the real world often had poor manners with their words.

 

So she wasn’t bothered by it.

 

She shouldn’t have been.

 

Then why was she feeling so irritated?

 

“You’d better watch how you behave from now on…”

 

Just as Ailet took a step forward and continued speaking, a knight suddenly barged in.

 

“Chief Aide! His Highness is urgently looking for you!”

 

A flash of embarrassment crossed Ailet’s face, which had been arrogant just moments ago.

 

It was as if something had been exposed, and she felt guilty…

 

‘So the claim that the prince wouldn’t be returning today was a lie.’

 

But why? Did she want to show off that she communicated with the prince more closely than Renata did?

 

‘This definitely looks like jealousy.’

 

Renata couldn’t understand why it was being directed at her, but grabbing the hand of salvation that had suddenly appeared was her priority.

 

“I’m sorry, but I must take my leave first.”

 

While Renata bowed deeply, the knight who had delivered the prince’s message impatiently tapped his feet, urging her to hurry.

 

Thanks to his fussing, she was able to leave quickly, but as she followed the knight, who only walked fast without saying a word, belated worry began to creep in.

 

The prince usually called for her this urgently only when he had caused some trouble and needed her to clean up the mess.

 

“…What kind of accident did His Highness cause this time?”

 

“I apologize for the late greeting. I am Fritz, the second son of the Bargardt family. I have sworn my sword to His Highness and am currently carrying out the order to protect the Chief Aide.”

 

Unable to immediately grasp the situation, Renata blinked repeatedly while digesting his words. By the time she did, they had apparently reached their destination, and Fritz stopped.

 

“His Highness commanded that if the Chief Aide ever finds herself in a situation where her personal safety is threatened, I am to immediately remove her from the location in his name.”

 

This was considered a threat to her safety…?

 

“Please return to the castle first.”

 

As if it had been waiting, a carriage was parked beside Fritz. He opened the door and bowed politely.

 

“Thank you for your consideration, but I still have work left to do, so it’s difficult.”

 

“We will take care of it.”

 

Renata was about to refuse again, saying it was fine and that she couldn’t push her duties onto others, when she inwardly repeated the word he had used.

 

‘“We”… That means there are several of the prince’s people here?’

 

She had been working hard all this time. 

 

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let someone else handle things just this once?

 

“…Thank you.”

 

After hesitating for a moment, she gave a small bow and climbed into the carriage. 

 

The door closed immediately behind her.

 

Soon, the wheels began to roll slowly. Sitting blankly in the sudden solitude, Renata started recalling the worries she had been putting off.

 

The Magic Tower Lord she had finally met had not given her any answers regarding her younger sibling’s treatment.

 

Nothing had been resolved, and the amount of medicine her brother was taking kept increasing day by day.

 

Even when the dosage was increased, it only prevented the symptoms from worsening … nothing more. If things continued like this…

 

“Sigh…”

 

She didn’t want to think about it anymore.

 

She had no idea what to do, and she was so exhausted that she just wanted to rest.

 

It wasn’t as if she had properly rested in the past few years, but today, for some reason, she felt even more…

 

At that moment, the button on her dangling sleeve finally came off and rolled across the floor.

 

As Renata bent down to pick it up…

 

“…Why am I like this, really.”

 

Tears she hadn’t even noticed had pooled began to fall heavily.

 

Without even understanding why she was crying, the sorrow that burst out began to swell on its own.

 

Even then, she was so desperate not to be heard by anyone that she held her breath and didn’t notice the carriage suddenly stopping.

 

“Move over.”

 

Only after the person outside the abruptly opened door spoke did she realize someone was there.

 

Renata stared with wide eyes like she had seen a ghost. Theodore casually squeezed in and sat right beside her.

 

Unable to tell a member of the royal family to get out, she mumbled and slowly scooted sideways.

 

“…It’s narrow. Please sit on the other side.”

 

“If I sit across from you, I’ll just stare at your face the whole time. This way is less embarrassing, isn’t it?”

 

Only then did she remember her current state. She straightened her posture, frantically rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, and hurriedly made an excuse.

 

“I yawned.”

 

“Right. Did you yawn because you’re sick, or because someone did something stupid?”

 

As expected, the prince who never listened to anyone properly made Renata glare at him sulkily.

 

Sensing her gaze, Theodore slowly tilted his head toward her.

 

“D-don’t turn this way. You said you wouldn’t look.”

 

“Human eyes can see from the side too, so it’s hard not to see at all. And I never said that.”

 

Good grief… What kind of life is this, where I can’t even cry freely and have to argue with my superior…

 

Feeling newly pitiful about her situation, Renata turned her face away and sniffled.

 

“I’m doing you a favor, so you can’t complain, okay?”

 

Before she could even ask what he was planning with that scary statement, a thick arm wrapped around her waist, and her body was suddenly lifted.

 

He placed her directly onto his lap and pulled her close.

 

Not stopping there, he wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other firmly around the back of her head.

 

“W-wait, Your Highness!”

 

“Are you already trying to complain? Decide properly. Do you want to show me your face, or stay like this?”

 

It was quite embarrassing, but since he had rested his chin on her shoulder, it was indeed a position where he couldn’t see her face.

 

She had to choose between showing her messy face or maintaining this awkward posture…

 

‘Ah, I don’t know anymore.’

 

Trapped in his stubbornly firm embrace, Renata strangely didn’t feel stifled or annoyed. Instead, she was wrapped in a warm, comforting feeling.

 

Thus, unlike her usual self, she made an irrational choice and relaxed her rigidly tense body.

 

“You said you were sick.”

 

“They said I just slept for a long time from overwork…”

 

“If it was that hard, you should have told me.”

 

“Your Highness really has no conscience.”

 

“I suppose I don’t.”

 

“…I see. It’s good that you know.”

 

As Renata leaned against him, entrusting her whole body to him, gentle hands softly stroked the nape of her neck and the back of her head.

 

Every time his fingertips brushed her ear, a ticklish shiver ran through her, yet she clung tightly to him and didn’t try to pull away.

 

“Anyway… did you have a good rest?”

 

“Yeah, I went sailing. In the Opus Strait.”

 

That was one of the stories she had overheard while following Theodore last time.

 

It was about the rebels’ plan to sink trading ships passing through the strait.

 

‘If he went to the Opus Strait, then what about the eyewitness accounts of the prince?’

 

Startled by both the sudden serious topic and Theodore’s erratic movements that seemed to be everywhere at once, Renata couldn’t find a proper response. 

 

Instead, she asked lightly as if simply checking if he had slept well the night before.

 

“Um… that… did it go well…?”

 

“No, I didn’t get to see the outcome. Someone suddenly collapsed, so I had to rush back overnight. Look, my clothes are covered in dirt.”

 

Renata slightly turned her face to check his condition and tilted her head in confusion.