Chapter 8

Seeing that Lazulis had finished reading for a moment, Garnet offered the herbal tea she had prepared.

Perhaps realizing that it was futile to go against Garnet after the earlier incident, Lazulis obediently sipped the herbal tea.

After confirming that the contents of the teacup had decreased to a certain extent, Garnet spoke to Lazulis.

"Your Highness, it's time for your nap."

"……What?"

"Sleep is one of the essential elements for human growth. Your small size might be due to a lack of sleep."

"……Don't say I'm small."

"If you ensure adequate sleep, you should grow quickly."

Lazulis pouted and turned away at Garnet's words. Not rebelling outright suggested that he had some idea of the reason.

"To make up for the slow growth so far, you should actively incorporate naps from now on. ...So, please come to my lap."

She tapped her knee, and Lazulis clutched his head.

"Why did it come to this!?"

Following the teaching that sleep promotes growth, it was time for a nap to increase his sleep hours. And...

--- "It seems that gentlemen are weak for the scenario of a lap pillow. If you smile and tap your knee, His Highness will surely be smitten!"

"Nap" and "lap pillow" — these two elements formed the perfect strategy to help Lazulis grow while also winning him over. However, for some reason, Lazulis, instead of being smitten, stood up and tried to run away. But Garnet had a plan.

"What...?"

As Lazulis stood up, he swayed. Garnet quickly supported him and gently leaned him against her.

"Suddenly, I feel very sleepy..."

"They say you get sleepy after a full meal. Come, this way."

She guided him to the sofa and smoothly positioned him for a lap pillow. Looking down, Lazulis blinked sleepily but still looked dissatisfied.

"…Why did it come to this?"

"It must be fate guiding us. I'll sing a lullaby for you, Your Highness."

If they kept talking, he wouldn't fall asleep. To cut off the conversation, Garnet cheerfully sang a lullaby.

"…Your vibrato is so skillful, it's annoying. But—"

Gradually, Lazulis' eyelids closed. In a sleepy murmur, he whispered:

"It feels nostalgic..."

After a while, Garnet stopped singing, and the sound of his peaceful breathing filled the air. Garnet felt a sense of accomplishment. As a princess, she had to excel in all areas. The singing techniques she had been trained in since childhood were not wasted.

—The way he sleeps so defenselessly... he really is cute. And my lap is so warm...

She remembered visiting the estate's ranch and timidly interacting with the animals. Lazulis' warm presence brought an indescribable sense of fulfillment to Garnet's heart. Observing her small fiancé without waking him, Garnet couldn't help but smile.

—Phew, but it's a good thing the herbal tea worked... He really is tough...

The herbal tea she gave Lazulis was a special blend with strong sleep-inducing properties. While it was unusual for it to be so potent, Lazulis' body must have been craving sleep.

—...Prince Lazulis is a tough opponent. I mustn't let my guard down and must proceed carefully. ...Eventually, you will be my trump card.

Garnet gently stroked Lazulis' hair, thinking about the future.

Lazulis, who was apparently very sleep-deprived, slept for several hours. When he woke up...

Garnet's leg was completely numb, and she couldn't even stand.

"Ugh, I didn't expect this to happen..."

"Hey, what's wrong!? I'll call for help, just wait!"

Confused upon waking, Lazulis worried excessively... and Garnet couldn't bring herself to say that her leg was just numb. As she was dramatically carried on a stretcher, Garnet sighed softly.

Winning over a small prince is unexpectedly challenging.