Chapter 213
Suddenly, I stumbled upon a fundamental question. Is it really right to waste one of the three precious mealtimes in a day on the Crown Prince?
Of course, it’s not right. Spend my valuable dinner time with the Crown Prince? That time, which should be peaceful and happy, will just turn into a bothersome and irritating hour.
“This is not how it should be.”
My teeth clenched in frustration. Honestly, the Crown Prince would probably prefer having a dinner date alone with the Crown Princess over sharing a meal with me.
Yet somehow, that guy summoned me. He chose to sacrifice time with his beloved Crown Princess for me.
“Seriously, what the hell?”
I almost cursed out loud at my own thoughts. I mean, doesn’t it sound weird?
Anyway, the fact that the Crown Prince called for me means something serious has come up, something on par with royal assault or unauthorized executions.
But honestly, I can’t pinpoint anything. If it was something worth summoning me for, I should have known about it. No matter how I think about it, there’s no reason for this sudden call.
“He wouldn’t just summon me for a simple chat.”
Dinner with a favored official? Sadly, the Crown Prince isn’t the type for simple and homey gestures like that.
After all, if he does reward someone, it comes in the form of shiny gold items. Thanks to that, I’ve received quite a haul over the past two years. The real issue is finding time to actually use it.
“I guess I’ll have to see.”
In the end, it seems I have no choice but to go and find out for myself. Though, even without this conclusion, I was already in no position to ignore the invitation.
But come on, he wouldn’t be summoning me for anything to do with Marcilio, right? That guy’s a complete nutcase, but he wouldn’t call someone from far away just to have fun at their expense.
…Right?
Upon arriving at the Crown Prince’s palace, the knight at the front gate naturally stepped aside. He looked calm, as if he recognized a regular customer at a restaurant.
He didn’t even mention that the Crown Prince was waiting. His reaction seemed to suggest, “Go ahead in; I won’t stop you,” which somehow made me feel a little despondent.
“Am I getting used to this?”
I glanced at the knight before quietly making my way inside. I understood perfectly well why he was behaving that way. This was already my third summon just in the latter half of this year. This guy shows up once every so often, and handling him properly is more of a hassle.
I need to ensure there won’t be a fourth summoning. At this rate, I might end up lying down to welcome him.
“Executive Manager.”
“Ah, Housekeeper! It’s been a while.”
Not long after entering the palace, the Housekeeper, who manages the Crown Prince’s residence, greeted me.
Seeing him brought me a strange sense of relief. I hadn’t seen him in a while, mostly due to my disciplinary visits. Now, I was here for an invitation to dinner instead of getting scolded.
“Yes, it’s been a while. I heard you were around, but I didn’t actually get to see you.”
“Haha. Well, you’ve been busy, so it’s not surprising.”
The Housekeeper seemed to share a similar sentiment and lightly mentioned that.
It’s not normal for the guests to be the ones involved in accidents… I’m dying of embarrassment thinking about it.
Reacting to my embarrassment, the Housekeeper smiled lightly and turned his body, as if to invite me to follow him.
“Today, we have the honor of hosting two special guests, so all this work is worth it.”
“Two?”
That was unexpected. The Crown Prince is usually too busy with work to invite anyone to the palace.
When he has time to invite someone, he prefers using the communication channels, and if he has to meet in person, he just barges into the other party’s headquarters. For the people on the receiving end, it’s often an emotional rollercoaster, given the Crown Prince’s merciless reputation.
“Yes, the Crown Princess has also invited a guest.”
“I see.”
I nodded at the response that made perfect sense. Sure enough, it’s hard to imagine the Crown Prince inviting someone over. I can easily envision him barking orders, but hosting a dinner? Not likely.
“Executive Manager, there’s something I need to ask your permission for.”
“Speak freely. What permission do I need to give in the Crown Prince’s residence?”
I responded casually to the Housekeeper, cautiously opening his mouth. In the Crown Prince’s palace, the desires of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess take precedence. My opinion as a mere guest hardly matters.
Still, my expression relaxed naturally. The Housekeeper surely knows this fact all too well. However, for him to ask for my consent, it shows how much respect he has for me.
“Good words beget good words. Crown Prince, take note; you’re worse than your subordinates.”
“Thank you. That was a bit embarrassing to say, but you’re giving me courage.”
The Housekeeper, still smiling, paused a moment before continuing.
“The Crown Princess’s guest is still in the palace. It looks like they’ll be staying for quite a while…”
“A meal is more enjoyable when shared among many.”
“Haha, thank you once again.”
Since I could guess what he was alluding to, I answered first. If the guest is still here, then unless they’re engaged in a fasting prayer of some sort, it makes sense to share the meal together.
In fact, this is great. I don’t know the reason behind the Crown Prince’s summons, so I’d better have a solid backup plan.
The Crown Princess, serving as a controlling element. And on top of that, the guest is someone personally invited by the Crown Princess. No matter how audacious the Crown Prince might be, he wouldn’t dare make a move with such steering lines in play.
“How fortunate.”
I’m satisfied. Enen hasn’t completely abandoned me after all.
“By the way, Housekeeper, who is the guest that the Crown Princess invited?”
The valuable shield I would have protecting me from the Crown Prince. At the very least, I should know who it is out of basic courtesy. It’s only right to prepare some proper gratitude or flattery for them, so their mood stays pleasant.
‘Who could it be?’
I started piecing together a rough list of potential guests. If they agreed to the invitation, that means they’re someone with ties to the palace, and if they’re dining with the Crown Princess, their relationship surely can’t be too distant.
Is it the daughter of Marquis Diso? Or possibly from Baron Lifur? Maybe even from Count Johannes’s family?
“Oh, it’s someone you know well, Executive Manager.”
Upon my question, the Housekeeper’s previously gentle expression shifted dramatically.
What’s this, did I ask too much? He looks like he was waiting for me to ask first.
“It’s Lady Erzhabet from the Masalo family.”
“…Pardon?”
Those words left my mind momentarily blank.
As I cut into my steak, I raised my gaze slightly.
Upon looking up, I saw the woman who was also quietly moving her knife. She had elegantly styled long white hair, and rather than the usual craziness or mischief, her red eyes were filled with calm. Plus, she was wearing a white dress instead of the black Inspection Department uniform.
‘Is that… Second Manager?’
Cognitive dissonance kicked in. She looks like the Second Manager, but she doesn’t at all. I definitely recognize her, but she seems so unfamiliar.
“Hehe, what a coincidence. I never thought the Executive Manager would be here too.”
“Wow, what a strange coincidence indeed.”
At the Crown Princess’s words breaking the silence, the Crown Prince quickly responded.
‘Coincidence?’
A nonsensical statement made me unconsciously turn my gaze to the Crown Prince, who merely drank his wine in silence.
This guy must be feeling a little guilty for saying something so ridiculous.
‘What kind of coincidence is this?’
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have a special bond. There’s no way they wouldn’t know who the other invited. They’re definitely aware of this and are acting clueless on purpose.
It’s not a coincidence; it’s a setup. They’re planning on pairing me with the Second Manager.
‘Why?’
That’s the problem. I have no idea why the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would involve themselves this deeply with me.
I thought that attending would shed some light on their intentions, but instead, it just got more complicated.
‘The fear of the unknown.’
I quietly lowered my eyes. Ignorance and mystery are terrifying…
*
It’s frustrating. I want to throw this away right now.
But every now and then, the piercing gaze from my senior kept me focused on just cutting the meat.
“Hang in there.”
If I let my composure slip even just a little, my senior would go into a furious rant. She really hates it when her work is ruined.
“…What kind of outfit is that?”
“What’s wrong with it? It’s comfortable and nice.”
After getting a leave approval from the Senior Manager, I rushed over, but instead of a warm welcome, my senior criticized my outfit.
“You look like you’d be sitting alone in the audience when everyone else is wearing wedding dresses.”
That struck a nerve, and I nearly cried. Why is she getting so specific? It’s like she’s seen my future or something.
“If you keep acting like you are now, you’ll be like that forever. You need to show a different side to the Executive Manager.”
“But I’m just being myself for the Manager…”
“Being yourself just builds up frustration.”
Honestly, if it weren’t for the Crown Princess, I would’ve hit her by now.
Anyway, my senior insisted that I needed to show something new instead of the usual, so she brought this dress. It was a flimsy, thin white dress that looked like it would tear if I moved too much.
“Ugh, I don’t like this kind of thing.”
“Senior, can’t I just wear my uniform? Since it’d match in the same outfit, it should be friendlier, right?”
“There’s a certain look that people should wear…”
I complained nonstop because wearing this turned out to be so uncomfortable.
“Wear it! Just wear it! Don’t waste that pretty face of yours!”
“Ouch!”
In the end, I got a nice smack on the back from my fired-up senior.
“Why do you avoid wearing it when you’ve got no good features aside from your looks?”
“That’s cruel!”
…Thinking it through, I didn’t mean to make sense of it.
So, with tears welling up, I reluctantly put on the incredibly uncomfortable dress. My senior nodded in satisfaction, and the maids who came in afterward to do makeup said I looked pretty, but it didn’t really hit me. Changing clothes doesn’t really bring that much effect, does it?
‘Actually, it does.’
Surprisingly, it does. I’ve been feeling the Executive Manager’s gaze on me a lot lately.
Pretending not to notice, I glanced subtly; despite acting like I was ignoring him, I’d still catch glimpses.
“Hehe.”
I felt puffed up. Yes, it’s true; the Manager is interested in me.
Even just a little bit of effort made him glance my way. He must have some affection for me to notice like this.
‘Thanks, senior.’
All the resentment I felt moments ago shifted overwhelmingly to gratitude. When I looked at my senior with appreciation, she gave a slight smile and started moving her lips.
I couldn’t hear her voice, but reading lips is part of my training in the Inspection Department. Understanding her message wasn’t hard.
“Don’t get cocky… confess soon…?”
My senior made a bold statement as I turned my gaze toward the Executive Manager. Honestly, I was going to do that on my own anyway. Today’s dream was terrifying enough.
With the Manager seemingly enchanted by my charm, and my senior cheering me on, now feels like the perfect time. This moment could be when I express my feelings to the Manager.
“……”
But despite that determination, my mouth only opened slightly, and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
What’s going on? Why can’t I speak? This seemed like the moment to act. If I say something now, it’ll all be over.
‘…It’s still during dinner.’
After pondering, I realized what was stopping me. Confessing midway through a meal feels inappropriate.
Yes, that’s it. It’s not that I’m nervous or anything.
After all, I’m from the Masalo family; I should maintain a basic sense of etiquette.
– Clink
“…Pardon?”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I just accidentally slipped.”
I pretended not to hear the sound of my knife clanking.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.