Of course, people don't die by falling into a fountain. However, this brought a slightly different difficulty than a threat to life. The new tailcoat he had worked so hard to make was now wet and messy, his nose was sour from drinking a handful of water, and his situation was utterly ridiculous.
"The clothes arrived yesterday, so I didn't need to wash them."
I said bluntly, and Lorenz, who was looking down at me with his hands behind his back, replied, "Oh no, did you? It looks old."
He seemed to be in a pretty good mood. He appeared to enjoy making the other person look bad in this way. Maybe he wanted to make me feel embarrassed, but thanks to that, I knew what he cared about the most. It was quite unfortunate that I found out about this man's bad taste…
Lorenz is looking for Kyle's weakness.
I still couldn't tell if it was to break Kyle down, or if he just wanted to get on his nerves and change this fragile relationship.
"What if I spread rumors that the Prince was happy to put me in the fountain?"
Lorenz replied calmly, "Which of the words of the owner of this imperial city or the stranger is more convincing?"
It was quite arrogant. Even though he was in charge of most of the affairs of the state, the Emperor was still alive. Well, he was going to think it was only a matter of time. Or wait for the Emperor to die soon and put an end to this troublesome power struggle.
"Anyway, I'm sorry."
['Actually, I'm not really sorry, I need to scratch your insides.']
I grinned and clenched my fists. I had noticed it, but when it was confirmed by the system, I was twice as annoyed.
"Shall I help you up?"
Uh-oh, do you give me a bottle and then give me medicine?
Lorenz was slightly away from me, his arm stretched out straight, bare-handed, as if he had taken off his gloves. Was it a waste to splash even a drop of water on his gloves?
Ugh.
[￣へ￣=3]
Me and the system sighed at the same time. Do I have no hands or feet?
"I'll get up on my own. Thank you for your concern, but I'm very suspicious. Haha."
['I don't have anything to take, so I want you to get help!']
…It's not completely wrong, but why did it sound a bit like resignation?
I shook my head from side to side. Water got into my eyes, blurring my vision, and my eyelids felt sore. As I struggled to get up, water poured out of my body.
"Uh-huh, it's cold."
Even though spring in the capital was early, it was only the beginning. I was trembling because I was covered in cold water.
"I will tell them to make new clothes and send them over."
Do you throw away your clothes just because you soaked them in water? He has a lot of money, so he really does everything. Kyle also wears my armor for years.
"That's fine, too. It's enough to dry it."
I replied casually, but I was worried. After all, Kyle made it for me on purpose. I wondered if I should ask someone else to do the laundry before 'loading' turned off. Of course, Kyle wasn't a great person who would feel uncomfortable just because his clothes were a little spoiled. Rather, he would worry about me as if a few clothes were nothing.
"It's cold there, so come here quickly, Shu."
Okay. I'm sure he will say so. He said he was going to die of upset…
…Yes?
"Your Highness Kyle?"
Kyle was right in front of me. Just like the expression in my imagination.
What? Why are you here?
As I looked up at him with a blank expression, Kyle strode over and put his hand under my arm to pick me up and pull me out of the fountain. Not only my clothes, but even his, were soaked, but he only studied my complexion.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, what… Falling into a fountain doesn't kill you."
The back of Kyle's hand came over and brushed lightly across my cheek and forehead. Perhaps he had come here in a hurry, but warmth oozed from his hands.
"What are you doing?"
Kyle hid me behind his back and questioned Lorenz. The low-pitched voice that came out of his throat was more like a growl.
"If you're going to provoke me, do it yourself. Don't drag people in with you."
"Ammon."
Lorenz smiled softly and shook his head.
"I just patted him on the shoulder as an encouragement. I didn't know he would be so pushy."
At the same time, the friendly translation of the system began again.
['If I said this, know it properly, or what will you do?']
I still had a trembling feeling for Lorenz, but I let him go because I was extremely sympathetic as a drowning person.
"It's a pity. In Lorenz's eyes, I still look like a fledgling teenager."
['Do you think I'm stupid enough to be fooled by your words?']
I don't have a sword, there is no war.
I shook my shoulders once and asked, "…By the way, Your Highness. How did you know?"
Kyle answered my question with a slightly angry voice. "I was watching from above."
"…"
"The terrace overlooks the garden. I was just going to go back after seeing you go in…"
I could see the situation roughly. Kyle was watching me because he was worried, and Lorenz probably felt that way. So, he pushed me moderately to test Kyle.
"That's a strange thing."
Lorenz's voice was full of pure admiration. "I never thought that the same Archduke Blake, who did not lift an eyebrow even after dozens of insulting words were hurled at his mother, would come down just because his companion had drowned."
Kyle clicked his tongue. As if he didn't even feel it was worth responding, he completely turned to me. Then he took off his cloak and wrapped it around me.
"Hey, this will get your cloak wet."
"Well, that's what it is."
"…"
I mean, it's just wet.
I was speechless, just staring up, and Kyle made eye contact with me and asked, "Is the conversation over?"
"Yes."
"You can go back now."
It sounded like he didn't care about saving face, so he asked him to be with him now. I smiled lightly and put my hand on his outstretched hand and clasped it together.
"Yes, I think the garden is very self-sufficient."
I looked over my shoulder, bowed my head, and greeted Lorenz. "Seeing the fountain, I'm doing well."
He heard Lorenz laugh behind him, but he tried his best to ignore it. He's a nuisance, so don't get involved.
Afterwards, I dripped water and headed to the palace with Kyle. There was an awkward silence for a moment, and I smiled helplessly.
"All my expensive clothes are wet, I'm sorry."
"It's enough to rebuild clothes. How many more will I build in this year?"
It was similar to what Lorenz had said, but the tone was much warmer. It sounded like I was more important than my clothes, rather than saying that I could throw away clothes. It seemed that he would give you as much as he wanted.
Look, I'm doing all the kind things, and who's kind to whom?
"Why do you make so many expensive clothes? You only need a couple of suits. Troublesome."
After all, only four hours a day are human. But I'm not asking you to scoop hamster clothes…
Ah, I remembered that nightmarish strawberry sweater. Now I look like a strawberry sweater pervert after a pet pervert.
"What's the hassle? I know all the dimensions."
Kyle grinned low and tightened his arm around my shoulder. "Maybe it's because I'm eating well, maybe I can make the top a little more roomy."
"…"
I stared at Kyle's face as if possessed. Perhaps because of the splash of water, his hair and cheeks were strangely shiny. It must have been dark until just now, but now that I'm by his side, I feel bright all over again. My eyes flew to the smooth forehead that was exposed through the black hair.
…If you think you want to kiss me, you're crazy.
Even if you go crazy, you must be really crazy.
"I hope that my Highness will not be at a disadvantage or in danger."
Kyle replied bluntly, "If you are safe and happy, I won't be like that."
"…"
"If you think about it that way, doesn't it seem that our happiness moves along a fairly similar pattern?"
Our happiness is not far away. When Kyle is happy, I naturally laugh, and when I see him laughing, he laughs too. When the North becomes dangerous, they are busy with each other, they are proud that they spent the winter together, and when the princes are misbehaving, they get annoyed, and then they laugh at the other person who got out of it well.
"It's like a community of destiny."
It was. My existence was imprinted in your life by that name. Maybe it means that Kyle has been imprinted in my life as well.
"…Community of Destiny."
Kyle quietly recited the words I had said. Then, as if he liked it very much, he slowly pondered it and added, "That's a good word."
His voice was low and resonant. If I were to express that voice in color, it would be infinitely black. But it was so soft and sweet that I could forget the cold of early spring.
"…"
I silently muffled and shut my mouth.
[(⊙ˍ⊙)]
"What was he trying to say?"
"No, that's it…"
"Shu?"
"I'm going first! Time is up! Sleep soundly, don't come into my room! Tomorrow, I'll go to His Highness' room first!"
"…"
"Well, then, enough!"
I quickly shook him off and scrambled into my room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind me. I covered my mouth with both hands and swallowed my breath.
Insane.
I almost confessed…
How long had it been since I became aware of my emotions? It was just that the figure that was shining under the faint moonlight attracted people as if it would bewitch them. I was dragged helplessly as if someone had wrapped a long string around me and pulled me…
Is it an impulse?
Yes, it could be an impulse. Emotions come and go quickly. It may be a fleeting whim.
"But why is my heart still beating…"
So I had to lean against the door and wait for my heartbeat to calm down.