Chapter 3
"I will never marry you, never!"
Eric's sharp voice echoed throughout the palace. It was so loud that a maid
passing in the hallway flinched and her shoulders hunched. Regardless, Elisha
didn't even pretend to have heard him and drew a circle on the paper. Her
attitude suggested she was already used to this.
For days after Emperor Bernard's sudden declaration, Eric would spout those
words whenever he saw Elisha. For Elisha, it was a situation she couldn't help
but get used to. Of course, being used to it didn't mean she intended to allow
it.
"Your Highness." Elisha let out a deep sigh as she looked at the crookedly drawn
circle. At that, the corner of Eric's lip twitched. It was a stark contrast to
the way he had been shouting a moment ago.
Eric knew the meaning of that sigh. A verbal hell, a terrifying eloquence, the
true model of sharp, cutting words...
"You can't tell someone’s joking, can you, Your Highness?" "What?" "Taking
something that was obviously a joke as if it were real. It’s truly foolish. They
say your head can be cut off for insulting a Prince by calling him a fool, but I
have to say it anyway." "......" "You are a real fool, Your Highness."
Having said her piece, Elisha tilted her head. her gaze was incredibly defiant,
as if challenging him to try and cut her head off. Eric blinked in daze. That
very small girl dared to call him a "fool." And more than once.
"You, really......" Eric's blue eyes contorted as he opened his mouth to speak.
Elisha stared blankly at Eric, waiting for the words that would come out of his
small mouth.
Is he going to say he’ll cut my head off? Of course, that wouldn't happen, but
perhaps her etiquette lessons would be extended. Ah, but that would probably
seem like a privilege in the eyes of others. Etiquette lessons instead of a
beheading.
I should be more careful with my words from now on. Either that, or prove that I
am useful enough to deserve such treatment. Elisha, at least, understood the
structure of this Imperial Palace perfectly. Those who are useful are granted
the right to have the favor of the powerful.
If I want to continue living here, that would be the best. Just as Elisha was
lost in her thoughts, her eyes darting around.
"Are you a fool?" Eric shouted, still scowling. Elisha, in turn, raised an
eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. Eric didn't miss the chance and continued.
"You don't know my father." "......" "Once Father says something, he always
carries it out." The reason you can live here this comfortably is ultimately
because of that. The boy's blue eyes sparkled with a mixture of reverence and
fear.
This time, Elisha tilted her head the other way. It was a somewhat unfamiliar
look to her.
"Then you are the fool, not me, you fool." Having finished his piece, Eric
crossed his arms and lifted his chin. Elisha immediately lowered her gaze to the
circle she had drawn.
That young Prince only heard and saw what he wanted, so he wouldn't know, but
Elisha saw and heard many things in the Imperial Palace. Most important among
them were stories about her own status. Stories about why the Emperor couldn't
possibly make her the next Empress, no matter how much favor he had for her. So
there was no reason for Eric to be this angry.
But Elisha didn't bother to express any of this. It was because she found it
rather interesting to see Eric throw such a tantrum. Perhaps she wanted to see
more of this side of him, so completely different from herself. Anyway, it
wasn't bad.
"Your Highness," Elisha spoke, staring at Eric's black hair. "What." Eric cast a
glance at her and answered brusquely. Elisha blinked slowly twice before asking.
"I called you a fool, Your Highness. Why aren't you angry?"
Eyes tinted with genuine curiosity stared at Eric intently. Eric met her gaze
and muttered a response. "Well, because you say things much worse than
that......" "When did I?" "Just because they aren't direct insults doesn't mean
they aren't insults." You fool. Having said his piece, Eric shrugged his
shoulders as if proud of himself.
Paying him no mind, Elisha continued with an indifferent expression. "So, is
that why you hate me?" "Huh?" "That’s what you always say, isn't it? That you
won't marry me. That you hate me. Am I wrong?" "No, no, it’s not that it’s not
that, it is! It’s true!" Stammering, Eric bit his lip and stared at Elisha.
Elisha looked at Eric's reddened earlobes, then met the blue eyes glaring at her
and spoke. "How much do you hate me?" "Huh?" "Exactly how much do you hate me?"
Elisha's eyes were fixed directly on Eric. It was a look of pure curiosity. Eric
blinked a few times before giving his answer.
"As much as... vegetables." "You don't really hate me, do you, Your Highness?"
"What are you talking about! Vegetables are disgusting!" "So, even if I said you
wouldn't have to eat vegetables if you married me, would you still not want to
marry me?" "W-well, that......"
At Elisha's question, Eric's eyes darted back and forth. He looked like someone
facing an irresistible temptation. Elisha watched him intently and remarked
coldly. "Picky eater." "What about you!" "I eat my vegetables well. Shall I eat
your vegetables for you too?"
Gulp. The moment Elisha finished her sentence, Eric swallowed hard. She would
eat his vegetables for him. That time he had to eat a raw carrot, he almost
cried. No, get a grip. Don't be fooled.
"E-even so, I will never marry you! Not even if I die!" Having regained his
senses, Eric shouted. Elisha covered one ear with her finger and frowned
slightly. They had been taking etiquette lessons together, but she couldn't
understand why he would shout whenever he pleased.
Of course, that wasn't what was important now. "Fine, I understand." Elisha
finally lowered her hand from her ear and nodded. "Honestly, I don't care if I
marry you or not." "......" "I don't particularly like you, Your Highness, but I
don't hate you either." "......" "So, I’d prefer you didn't die."
"Why are you suddenly talking about my life?" Eric asked, his small, fern-like
hand touching his neck. Elisha shrugged her shoulders. "You said you’d rather
die than marry me." "Well, yes, but......" Now that she said it so plainly, he
felt like he had said something terrible. Eric muttered uncertainly.
Come to think of it, things hadn't been boring since she arrived, so maybe it
wasn't all that bad. Of course, he had a habit of blabbing out "I hate you!",
but even so, he didn't hate her to the point of death...
But I just said I hate her as much as vegetables. While Eric was struggling with
feelings he himself couldn't understand, Elisha continued.
"So if a situation arises where we really have to get married." She offered a
faint smile, like a soft exhale. "I will be the one to leave then."
At that moment, Eric stopped all his thoughts and stared at Elisha. In over a
month, Eric hadn't seen Elisha smile even once. She had occasionally raised an
eyebrow to express her disapproval, but she was basically always expressionless.
But that Elisha smiled. Like the first snow that had fallen quietly overnight.
Eric unconsciously took a sharp breath. He felt like he had to. Because his
stomach, for some reason, was doing flips...
"Even if, in the future, I become smarter and more capable than you, and
everyone wants me instead of you, I will still leave for your sake. I’ll be able
to live well on my own by then." Unaware of Eric's feelings, Elisha spoke,
tapping the writing quill she was holding with her fingertips.
Eric finally regained his senses, and his face crumpled again. "That will never
happen!" "Sad news for you, Your Highness, but the world doesn't like a Prince
who only knows how to shout......" Elisha said, her voice full of pity. But her
eyes remained completely devoid of any emotion.
Seeing her looking as if she hadn't been smiling just a moment ago, Eric let out
a small, dry laugh. Even if, in the future, I become smarter and more capable
than you, and everyone wants me instead of you. A girl whose only skill is
scolding him?
Eric shook his head vigorously. "Never, never."
"Never, never."
Why was he remembering this only now? Eric touched his forehead with his
fingertips and let out a small sigh. In his other hand, he was still holding the
letter Elisha had left behind.
Elisha had left. To fulfill a childish promise from their youth, a promise he
hadn't even remembered well at first.
"Elisha." Elisha, Elisha. The man, now tall, repeated Elisha's name in a low
voice. Since they were young, Elisha had never said anything nice, not even as
an empty compliment. She never considered anyone's feelings enough to bother
with kind words. That arrangement of words she spoke with her own conviction,
like a spell.
The fact that she remembered what he said when they were children and finally
acted on it must have stemmed from the same principle.
"Mullin Karsus." Once his thoughts ended, Eric spoke with a completely cold
voice. "Summon the commander of the magic knights immediately."
Then Eric commanded, as if chewing the words. "......The Imperial Archmage has
vanished."
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