Chapter 92

#092 He Has a Secret (3)

It took about twenty minutes for the situation to settle down.

I had to promise the prince that I would not pass on the task of distributing ether to other priests until the annual prayer meeting was over.

I reminded Cristel several times that I was a homebody with no political ambitions.

I could understand why she, who was in a teenager's body and treated as one, would act immaturely.

However, I was worried that the prince, who was twenty-four, sometimes acted too childishly.

Could it be that ‘Sedric’ is the main body?

"I also have the intention to help Lady Blanquer. Young... Duke, the current young duke, I don't think he should be in that position. Moreover, to do such a thing to his young sister, he deserves punishment. I should take away what he values most, right in front of him."

Cristel spoke through her teeth.

She seemed to be trying hard not to defame the young duke, her brother, in front of Eva.

But she had already let it all out on the day of the duel.

"But I don't know how to help."

"I have a letter I wrote to send to my parents."

Eva replied with a tense expression. I searched my coat and pulled out the neatly folded letter.

I had received it from Eva before the opera but hadn't had the chance to read it yet.

After taking the letter from me, Prince Sedric quickly scanned its contents and then passed the paper to Cristel.

His expression remained unchanged, making it hard to gauge his reaction.

"What do you think? Is it convincing enough to persuade the duke and duchess?"

"Hmm. Just a moment."

Cristel examined the letter in response to my question. Her blue-gray eyes shone with caution.

"We need to decide the approach. Should we send it as a formal notice or as an emotional appeal to make their parents cry? The sentences are a bit disorganized right now."

"What's a formal notice?"

Eva tilted her head and asked Cristel.

I glanced at the prince, slightly tense.

I wondered if this world had a concept similar to a formal notice.

The prince also looked a bit puzzled. It seems they don't have such a thing.

"That's, um, like an official document. Public mail has a different format from private mail, right?"

It was a plausible explanation. Eva then cautiously began to speak to us.

"My parents and I aren't that close... If I throw a tantrum, they might listen, but this time I want to find my place maturely."

She had a sensible attitude. I smiled gently and poured lavender tea into her cup.

The fragrance spreading through the air made the child smile.

Cristel stroked Eva's red curly hair.

"Then trust your aunt, no, your sister. I'm good at writing official documents."

"Eh, sister...?"

Eva blushed and looked pleased.

Since the guy who should be her brother had never acted like one, this must be the first time she was receiving such warm treatment from a sibling.

I handed her the quill I had brought, and Cristel began writing new content on the back of the letter.

I pushed the opera cake closer to her to make it easier for her to eat while writing.

I gave Eva a dessert spoon along with a poire belle Helene.

The first sentence was already taking shape.

"1. I wish for your and the estate's endless prosperity."

No, that really sounds like an official document.

I stifled a laugh and placed a schuette on the prince's empty plate.

Unlike Cristel, who preferred spicy food, this guy preferred subtle flavors.

"Is it okay to send it like this?"

"No."

The prince answered immediately to my question. He was glaring at the schuette. It wasn't poisoned.

"The guy must have planted his people in the family after becoming the heir."

I nodded. That made sense.

Even if it was the duke and duchess's castle, it was unlikely that there were no eyes and ears of the young duke inside.

There was a possibility that Eva's letter might not reach her parents immediately, or even be intercepted.

Watching the two young ladies concentrate, I started to think of a plan.

"The prince's coronation ceremony."

The prince, who was chewing on the schuette, met my gaze.

He had grown a lot since the days when it was hard to get him to eat even a piece of dried meat.

"I heard that the invitations for the nobles are being sent out this week. What if we use that?"

"..."

"If it's a letter with the royal seal, neither the servants nor the young duke can open it. The duke and duchess will be the first to see it. If we include the young lady's letter with it?"

He seemed to be thinking for a moment, then swallowed the schuette and replied.

"They might think the princess is being manipulated by the royal family."

"But it's true that the young duke disgraced the family by insulting the prince. Since the duke and duchess don't show equal affection to their children, they won't necessarily protect their son when they know Eva has a just cause."

"..."

"Not bad."

"Thank you."

I smiled.

Though his words were brief, his sentence implied that he would do as I wished.

Clearly, he had calculated that helping Eva and deposing the young duke would be a profitable deal.

Things were going well. Now the decision was up to the duke and duchess.

I started to eat the rice pudding with a caramelized surface.

The people of the viscount's house were good at cooking.

...Now that I think about it, this is the first time I've come to a friend's house since I possessed the body.

I was so busy I didn't even bring a housewarming gift.

"How about we finish this and have a pajama party tonight? Just the three of us, including Sir Elizabeth."

"What's a pajama party?"

"Ah. It's where we wear pajamas at night and play together. We chat, drink, and have pillow fights?"

"Wow, that sounds fun!"

Cristel's explanation made Eva's eyes sparkle. It was a pleasant sight.

Indeed, it was a good idea.

"I'll be fine. I like staying indoors. Crowded places are stressful for me."

*creak*

As I tried to soothe her, Demi, who had approached, rubbed against my calf.

The young lady pouted slightly. I need to organize my notebook tomorrow.

*

"Eva considered the prince as a marriage prospect? Not a duel?"

Cristel, who had drunk quite a bit, raised her voice.

Elizabeth couldn't hold back her laughter and buried her face in a pillow.

Her new friend was endlessly entertaining.

Some people occasionally pointed out that she wasn't like this before she fell ill, but Elizabeth really liked the 'new' Cristel.

The princess was a hero who had slain a monster, and a down-to-earth, cheerful person.

"Even if we were cousins, we couldn't marry anyway."

"Still, sixteen and twenty-four? She's his daughter, his daughter!"

"Sniff."

And she often made her laugh with such age-inappropriate remarks.

Elizabeth, forgetting that the numbers applied to her as well, sobbed.

The good mood from the alcohol was spreading. Cristel sipped the cognac that had been warmed by her body.

On the giant bed, the two of them and the sleeping young lady were enjoying the pajama party.

"The young duke had a glass of wine and fell asleep."

"She must have been tired from writing the letter to her parents."

"I might have taught her the pillow fight a bit too enthusiastically."

Cristel said.

While Elizabeth pushed Eva's hair behind her ear, the princess poured dry gin into the young duke's empty glass.

"At sixteen, you should do everything you want. You can consider marriage later. If you want power, try to get it. If you want to learn something, learn it. Travel, make lots of friends."

She spoke in a mature tone. The young duke took the glass and chuckled.

But Cristel suddenly raised a finger.

"Of course, Yerang is an exception. She's different. How can you compete with someone who thinks about marriage at six?"

Elizabeth burst out laughing and got off the bed.

While talking about age, she suddenly remembered something she wanted to show Cristel.

She stood barefoot on the floor and started rummaging through the bedroom drawers.

Cristel, who had been admiring the various colors of the cognac, looked over at her friend who hadn't returned.

"Sir Elizabeth?"

"I found it. Look, princess."

Elizabeth, who had returned to the bed, handed her a small bundle.

It was full of old, faded cards and papers.

"What is this?"

"These are letters I exchanged with my friends when I was young."

"Wow."

Cristel opened each colorful page one by one.

The crooked writing and grammatically incorrect sentences were both cute and amusing.

As expected of children, the content was all trivial.

But it was endearing how, being children of noble families, they tried to sign their names as beautifully as possible at the end.

"This is from Sedric. Let's see, when he was eleven."

"Does he even know how to ask about someone's well-being?"

"Ha ha ha ha."

Elizabeth laughed heartily. Cristel chuckled and read the card.

Perhaps because she had drunk quite a bit of strong alcohol, the words were starting to blur in her head.

She closed her eyes tightly and then looked at the bottom.

Really, I didn't think much of it.

"..."

"Is this the prince's middle name?"

"Huh?"

At Cristel's words, Elizabeth's gray eyes slowly widened.

Both of them felt the alcohol wear off instantly. The young duke quickly examined the card.

Between 'Sedric' and 'Liester,' a beautifully written word caught their eye.

"..."

"You're right."

"A, it's a secret..."

Elizabeth, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly groaned and started to complain.

Cristel, unable to believe what she had just seen, took a deep breath.

This was information that only close family, best friends, or lovers would know.

I didn't see it, but I can imagine.

"His middle name is quite ironic."

"Huh?"

"Given his personality, it's hilarious. Like 'Open Church Closed'?"

"Huh?"

Elizabeth asked with half-closed eyes.

She seemed to be getting sleepy now that her head was on the pillow.

After all, she had worked a full day today.

Watching her, Cristel's eyelids also felt heavy.

Despite feeling amused, her head kept nodding.

She didn't resist and lay down right away.

The last thing she saw was Elizabeth's glass on top of the drawer.

She left it there...

But really, is that his middle name? The prince is the one who locks people up.