Get to Work, Prince! Chapter 26 - First Time

That meant Theodore had secretly left for somewhere, and his absence must not become known.

 

“Oh my, Advisor Renata! I was just about to bring breakfast, so let’s go in togeth…”

 

The prince had shown his irritable and sensitive side to everyone without restraint.

 

As a result, those who served him usually avoided being alone with him and tried to bring Renata along whenever possible.

 

When this advisor was present, the prince tended to be a bit gentler, and since his attention was entirely focused on Renata, the others were often pushed to the background.

 

Noticing the maid rushing over with the same intention this time, Renata quickly stepped inside the bedroom and called out,

 

“His Highness says he has a bad hangover and will skip breakfast. Please ask if he needs anything…”

 

“Why are you arbitrarily starving me?”

 

The moment the long-sought voice pierced her ears, an outstretched arm brushed past her shoulder and pushed the door shut.

 

Renata’s mind was completely occupied by the solid body pressed against her back, so she couldn’t even say the simple words “Shall I bring food?”

 

“It would be troublesome if someone comes in. Can you lock it?”

 

When she turned her eyes, she saw an arm wearing an unfamiliar, shabby coat.

 

Seeing him in different clothes from usual, she hurriedly locked the door as instructed.

 

That was all.

 

She had told herself she could separate work and personal matters, that she had no feelings toward him, and that last night’s incident was just because of her terrible drinking habit, but all of it was useless. She stood there in a daze.

 

She couldn’t deliver the report she had prepared, couldn’t scold him for where he had gone, and couldn’t ask worriedly if he had gotten involved in anything dangerous.

 

For no reason, her lips felt burning hot, and her heart was pounding so abnormally fast it felt like it would jump out of her mouth.

 

“I’ll wash up quickly, so wait here.”

 

Fortunately, Theodore didn’t seem to notice anything strange about Renata. He withdrew his arm and stepped back.

 

The moment she turned around, thinking she should pull herself together while he was gone, the person who was still standing behind her widened his eyes.

 

Then his eyes curved softly, and he smiled brightly.

 

“You’re not going to answer?”

 

“Ah, yes. Take your time, please.”

 

Finding something amusing, he let out a short laugh and slowly swept her earlobe with his fingertips.

 

Perhaps because his hand was cold, goosebumps rose on the spot he touched and around it.

 

“You’re not sick, are you?”

 

“Pardon? No, I’m perfectly fine.”

 

“Good.”

 

Even after Theodore headed to the bathroom, Renata stood in the same spot for about a minute before fanning herself with her hand and walking toward the window.

 

While going to close the window, she suddenly stopped, then hurriedly approached the mirror hanging on one wall.

 

In the mirror, she saw her own reflection with flushed cheeks, ears, and neck.

 

She had shown him this face…

 

“Ah… please…”

 

Only now realizing that it wasn’t Theodore who was cold, but that she herself was burning hot, Renata collapsed onto the sofa and buried her face in both hands.

 

She had spent all that time worrying about how to face him and how to start the conversation, yet his attitude hadn’t changed at all. She felt like a fool.

 

She lowered her hands from her face, clasped them on her lap, and took a deep breath.

 

‘Alright, I should focus only on work from now on.’

 

Renata closed her eyes and slowly listed in her mind the things she needed to report.

 

The reason she had slept all day during the hunting festival wasn’t because of overwork, but a happening that occurred while she was making a certain deal with the Tower Master.

 

After that, she started seeing something, and she felt an ominous energy from the crown prince.

 

She informed the Tower Master, who said he would follow the crown prince and might even eliminate him, then left.

 

‘And the part I need to supplement here is…’

 

After nearly finishing organizing the content, Renata closed the window, fastened the latch, and waited for Theodore to come out.

 

Then she suddenly recalled an unlucky day.

 

‘He’s not going to come out wearing only a shower robe again, right?’

 

Since she had a good learning ability, she didn’t stop worrying and immediately took action.

 

Her hand, which had been choosing suitable clothes in the small dressing room connected to the bedroom, suddenly stopped.

 

There seemed to be something on the wall visible between the densely hung clothes.

 

She carefully reached out and placed her palm on the wall. A stinging pain reached her fingertips. There was a security spell cast on it.

 

If it was hidden this thoroughly, it must be a secret he didn’t want revealed, so she should respect that.

 

Suppressing her surging curiosity and about to withdraw, a short flash of light appeared before her eyes, and an opaque barrier disappeared.

 

“Oops, I wasn’t supposed to touch it for long.”

 

It seemed her immature alchemical ability, which absorbed surrounding power whenever she relaxed even a little, had automatically dispelled the magic.

 

Faced with the crisis of unintentionally seeing the prince’s private belongings, Renata reflexively fixed her gaze on the ceiling and released all the power she had absorbed.

 

The mana that left her body flowed backward in reverse order, as if rewinding time, and restored everything to its original state.

 

She even delicately fixed the slightly twisted circuit, making it almost a perfect crime.

 

Just as she was feeling relieved that she only needed to leave quickly, a familiar voice spoke.

 

“That’s a fascinating ability. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were a mage.”

 

Theodore, now fully dressed in neat clothes, stood at the entrance of the dressing room and let out a pure exclamation.

 

The guilty party turned around stiffly and stammered like she was confessing.

 

“This is, um, I had no intention of looking at all, but I still can’t handle alchemy well, so somehow…”

 

“Are you being humble or joking? Even my master could only refine and transform absorbed power. Restoring the traces of magic exactly as they were was difficult for him.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“How did you grasp and memorize the principle in such a short moment? Are you a genius?”

 

“Me…?”

 

She had clearly heard someone say not long ago that her ability was only at this level, yet receiving the opposite evaluation left Renata with a dazed expression.

 

Moreover, the prince she knew was someone who pointed out shortcomings without hesitation when work was insufficient and never gave empty praise.

 

For him to speak like this meant he was sincere…

 

“Then wouldn’t I, who recognized that genius and kept her by my side, be even greater?”

 

As he raised his hand to lightly pat her shoulder in encouragement, she shrank back and openly avoided it.

 

Surprised by Renata’s reaction, Theodore looked at her with a complex gaze that was hard to describe, then silently lowered his hand.

 

The sudden silence was unbearably awkward, so Renata spoke first.

 

“Thank you for viewing me… in a good light.”

 

She then glanced up to read his expression.

 

“Aren’t you curious about what that is?”

 

Theodore’s face was calm, but the corner of his mouth was slightly trembling as if holding back a smile.

 

Not knowing how to respond, she quietly nodded.

 

“You can look. Well… it doesn’t seem like there’s much reason to hide it anymore.”

 

Soon, as if nothing had happened, he gave a playful smile.

 

Telling her to take her time looking around, Theodore returned to the bedroom and was reading the newsletter Renata had placed on the table.

 

“Hm? Why are you out already?”

 

“I thought work should come first. I’ll start with my report.”

 

“…As expected of you.”

 

As Renata began her report, he listened with his usual somewhat casual attitude but didn’t miss any suspicious parts and asked follow-up questions.

 

“I actually just came back from Glimford. The discovered corpses were all burned pitch black, so I wondered if the Tower Master had joined that side, but after hearing you, it might not be the case.”

 

“…Were there many casualties?”

 

“You don’t need to worry about that part. It’ll be handled accordingly.”

 

The conversation, which lasted about an hour, ended with a kind dismissal.

 

“Good work. Since the banquet scheduled for the weekend was canceled abruptly, you can go home now. I’ll count today as worked, so rest until Monday.”

 

“Is there anything more I should do…”

 

“Since the Tower Master is missing, there probably won’t be any progress on that front for a while. If he comes looking for you, inform me immediately.”