Chapter 20

"If... just hypothetically, if we had a child, what would you do?"

"I would dote on them! I might end up spoiling them so much that you'd have to stop me."

"That's... not what I expected."

The answer was different from what he had anticipated. Trying to gather his thoughts, he decided to go along with Lili's conversation, but it seemed he had made a mistake again. Jesaruto resolved to speak clearly.

"Aren't you afraid of me? My eyes are red, and everyone fears them as a curse."

"What do you think a curse is?"

"Huh?"

"There are many things in the world that are called curses, right? Like a doll whose hair grows due to a curse, or a diamond that brings death to its owner... So, does the prince's eyes have something like that? For example, do they shoot beams or turn people to stone when they make eye contact?"

"Beams?"

He had asked clearly, yet he received an unexpected response. Lili's words made no sense. He wondered if there really were such cursed items in the world and repeated the unfamiliar words. Lili suddenly waved her hand.

"Ah, forget that. Anyway, is there something special about your eyes?"

"Nothing special... but there are people who freeze like stone when I glare at them."

"Oh, that's not because of a curse, it's just that the prince is scary. The prince's face is so well-featured. Being glared at by a beautiful person is more frightening than being glared at by an ordinary person."

"Beautiful..."

He wasn't sure if he was being complimented or insulted, and he stared blankly at Lili. He was already completely at her pace. Lili looked straight into Jesaruto's eyes and smiled, glanced at the bed, then at the nearby bench, and finally sat down on the bed. She tapped the space next to her, inviting Jesaruto to sit down. It was not the action of a shy maiden.

"As I said before, did the prince find me disappointing?"

"Disappointing?"

"Yes. I'm not the ethereal beauty that people talk about."

"No, I didn't think anything in particular about your appearance..."

"You're not interested in me at all, are you? I see..."

As Jesaruto sat down next to her, Lili asked another unexpected question. He answered honestly, and Lili visibly became dejected. Jesaruto, feeling the need to smooth things over, spoke.

"No, that's not it... I just thought your eyes were beautiful."

"Really? That's true? Because my eyes are my only pride. I'm often told they look like emeralds. I'm glad you noticed at least that much."

Lili, who had been deflated like a wilting flower, suddenly perked up, and Jesaruto couldn't help but laugh. He only raised the corners of his mouth, but Lili's face lit up even more.

"The prince should smile more."

"What?"

"As I said before, I hardly ever see the prince smile. I'm sure the people in this palace feel the same way. That's why you seem hard to approach, right? People who are always in a bad mood are hard to get close to... But there might also be admiration. After all, the prince's eyes are like rubies and very beautiful!"

"...What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the prince's eyes are like rubies and very beautiful. Combined with the red hair, it's almost fantastical. People are in awe of things that are too beautiful."

Ignoring Jesaruto's sudden bad mood, Lili reached out and touched his red hair. Jesaruto flinched, and Lili quickly withdrew her hand.

"Sorry, I touched you without permission... But they're so beautiful, I couldn't help it..."

"Are you serious?"

"Serious? Of course. Why do you ask?"

"That's..."

Lili's question seemed genuinely curious, and there didn't appear to be any lies. But could it be a lie? If so, she must be a very skilled actress, but that wouldn't fit with her strange behavior earlier.

In the end, the conclusion he had reached at the beginning was correct: this princess was odd. That's why she would call his feared eyes beautiful. Jesaruto, finally convinced, stood up suddenly.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want children. My cousin Conrad can be the successor, so there's no problem. However, you have a position, so I'll do my best to handle things well. But there will always be gossipy people, so you should be prepared for that. Other than that, I won't interfere with you and will try not to bother you. So please, live as you like in this palace."

"Prince...?"

"Get some rest."

Jesaruto left the bedroom, and Lili watched him in a daze, not sure what she had done wrong.

(No, maybe everything...)

The more she thought, the more she found things to regret. She probably wasn't disliked, but as she gradually understood his last words, she thought so.

Still, it was inevitable...

(Am I just not meant for love or romance...)

No matter how much she studied what men liked, it never worked out. Would she have to live as a decorative princess, never knowing a kiss?

(No way, I don't want that!)

Lili shouted in her heart and, while planning her next move, fell asleep.