Chapter 62

#062 Enjoy It (3)

"There's no harm in knowing, after all."

I took as defensive a stance as possible. Kristel nodded lightly.

But it felt more like she was saying, "If you say so, then that must be it."

I wish it were a misunderstanding.

"I thought you and His Highness the Prince had done something to make the Prince hate you."

"No, hate... that's a bit much..."

I trailed off, flustered.

While getting close to the two main characters and being dragged to the battlefield or put in danger is absolutely something I want to avoid, that doesn't mean I think badly of them.

There's no way I could dislike the characters that Eunseo admires so much.

Even though the prince can be a bit annoying.

"That's a relief."

Kristel's face brightened a little.

I wondered how I could change the subject and lightly shook the fairy tale book in my hand.

*Crash! Eve's Great Adventure – Eve Blanquer and the Phoenix Knights*.

"Thank you for the recommendation. Did you read it yourself?"

"Yes, even with the librarian's help, I couldn't find any other books related to the Holy Knights. Studying here, I feel like I might become a better scholar than a Holy Knight."

She had a point. I smiled wryly and walked out of the bookshelves with her.

Then I headed to the opposite bookshelf.

Since she had helped me find a book, I wanted to return the favor with something small.

"Here, there's also a fairy tale about the new element. It's also written by Duke Evelyn."

"He must have loved his son very much. To write a fairy tale for him."

"Yes, and he even drew the illustrations himself."

She took the *Crash! Eve's Great Adventure* I handed her, examined the cover and contents, and smiled gratefully.

Since she had decided to become a Holy Knight, it would be good for her to gather valuable information and grow as quickly as possible.

In the process, she might even meet a good priest partner.

But did she just say "son"?

"By the way, Prince, is there anything you want?"

"Why the sudden...?"

"It's your birthday soon, isn't it?"

She really remembered my birthday from all over the place.

But while I might accept a gift from the Emperor or Duke Dume, I couldn't accept the main character's sincerity.

It would be awkward to wipe my mouth and then have to remember her birthday, and getting closer would be a burden.

"Everyone keeps talking about my birthday."

"Prince, your birthday on May 31st is published in *Biweekly Liester*, so no one in the Empire would know it."

So that's why all the nobles I met at the celebration knew!

"I don't really need anything. His Majesty takes such good care of me."

"Come on, you receive birthday gifts not because you need them, but to feel good."

I had never thought of it that way.

I laughed awkwardly without answering, and she sighed softly.

"I'm leaving for the north with Sir Elizabeth tomorrow. I probably won't be back until June."

"Like a summer vacation, huh."

I nodded.

After the "Great Beast Purge," Kristel and Sir Elizabeth, who had grown closer, were planning to travel north during the "June Heatwave."

It was still May, so it was earlier than expected, but the main character leaving the capital was certainly good news for me.

"Yes. We originally planned to leave in June, but the mages' prophecy changed. They say the heatwave will start tomorrow at the earliest and the day after at the latest."

I had heard a similar story from Benezaim this morning.

There is a team of imperial mages who predict the appearance of beasts and the weather in the capital, and their prediction was suddenly overturned yesterday.

The heatwave would reach the capital a week earlier than usual.

At this point, it felt more like a live broadcast than a prediction.

"The north will be cool. Have a good trip."

"Thank you. It should be fun. Actually, Sir Elizabeth is going for a fief inspection, but it's also the time when pirates appear in the North Sea."

Wait, wait.

"Pirates?"

"Yes! I hope I can see them. They don't appear every year. They travel between the Penetian Divine Kingdom and the Empire's territorial waters..."

Her light blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

Kristel continued to chatter, but I couldn't focus on her words as I tried to clear my mind.

Eunseo's voice poured into my head like a heavy rain in the rainy season.

It was a clear voice as if she were speaking right next to me.

"Kristel was kidnapped by pirates recently, and people were setting up a showdown, and there was a big fight."

"But you didn't get off the ship."

"It was interesting, why did you get off? Honestly, it wasn't that bad. Yeseo and Serigei teamed up to save her, so the story progressed quickly. And how can the plot always be so refreshing? You need such crises."

This is... This is the plot I know...

"Prince?"

"Yes?"

"You weren't listening to me, were you?"

"......I'm sorry. I got a bit dazed because of the heat."

"Ah, you're even sweating a little."

Kristel took out a handkerchief from her bosom with a sympathetic look and handed it to me.

"You must be very sensitive to heat, even though it's not that hot yet."

I also had a handkerchief, but I was too busy sorting out my thoughts to reject her kindness.

I wiped the light sweat on her forehead with her silk handkerchief.

In the original "Retreat Duke," Kristel had been kidnapped by pirates.

I didn't know the details.

I had only listened to Eunseo's complaints.

But just now, when Kristel mentioned pirates and said she was leaving for the sea tomorrow, it seemed like that episode was about to start.

Of course...

"Thank you for the handkerchief. I'll wash it and return it to you."

"Yes, I would be grateful."

This time, she won't be kidnapped. I concluded, looking at Kristel's smiling face.

She was no longer the Kristel from the original story.

Her character might not have changed much, but with the "Blessing of the Sea" absorbed, Kristel, who now possessed immense water power, would never be harmed by anyone at sea.

On the contrary, the pirates would have to avoid her.

"I'll bring a gift when I return the handkerchief."

"Lady."

"We're friends, right? Not that close yet, but..."

Kristel looked up at me. I couldn't refute her words.

In the valley of Duke Dume's territory during the Great Beast Purge, I was the one who proposed a secret to her in front of the fallen "Saidi."

I was also the one who didn't reject her declaration of friendship.

"......Just a small keepsake will do."

I compromised.

"Keepsakes are nice. I'll do that."

Kristel smiled brightly, as if she could light up the world.

Looking at her face, I reaffirmed my resolve.

If this is the process of the main character influencing those around her, I will be the first and last supporting character who doesn't fall for it.

"Be careful of the pirates."

Well, just in case.

"Are you telling me to be careful?"

"Who knows what might happen in life."

She laughed out loud this time.

Since she had to use a portal in the morning, I hurriedly sent her off.

I was grateful that she didn't suggest I go with her, perhaps sensing my discomfort.

I was left alone in the library, holding Duke Evelyn's fairy tale book in one hand and Kristel's handkerchief in the other.

*

The next day was peaceful, but it was hard to "enjoy" it.

"Prince, are you very hot?"

"This is a problem. The heatwave hasn't even landed yet..."

Ganael and Benezaim, standing beside me, were restless.

I was lying on the bed with a thin nightgown, the sheets changed to a cooler material, but I was the only one feeling like I was dying.

It turned out that Prince Yeseo's body was weak against heat, despite my initial doubts.

In reality, I wasn't particularly sensitive to heat or cold, so I hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Damn.

"I'm fine."

"Don't say that. If you have trouble sleeping tonight, you should really consider a summer retreat."

Ganael fanned me with a worried look.

I had immediately rejected the idea of a summer retreat when Sir Elizabeth mentioned it ten days ago, but now, the boy's suggestion sounded very tempting.

People are so fickle.

This morning, Kristel left for the north with a teacher from the Vatican.

Tomorrow, when the heatwave officially starts, I heard that Prince Sedric is going to a duchy for a summer retreat.

I'm not sure if it's true, but I overheard the servants talking.

During the morning class, Cardinal Boutier also mentioned that he was planning to go to the summer palace with the Emperor.

So, by the day after tomorrow, I would be the only one left in the palace.

If it weren't for this heatwave, I could have enjoyed a solo vacation in the spacious palace.

No, if it weren't for this body.

"How long does the heatwave last? A week?"

"It lasts a week at the shortest and ten days at the longest. Most shops in the capital close during this time, and commoners take a break from work."

Damn. I cursed under my breath.

If it were my own body, I