The Princess is Going on Strike - Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“He’s late.”
“What?”
Who’s he talking about?
I gave a slow reply after being lost in thought. Ethan looked back at me as he answered me.
“I’m talking about Estian Yulgrit Auslante. The Crown Prince.”
Was His Highness also planning on coming here? Why…..?
The door opened before I finished my thought and the Crown Prince stepped inside. His glistening ash-gray hair was disheveled and he sat down beside Ethan with a sour look on his face. I was a bit surprised with the Prince’s sudden appearance, but both Ethan’s and his carefree attitude towards one another was more interesting to see. The Crown Prince then glanced at Ethan with his golden eyes before turning to me. He was trying to find a comfortable posture due to his stiff neck before speaking to me.
“Lady Aerylle. How are you feeling?”
I gave the Crown Prince a calm nod, when he smiled and leaned his body slightly forward.
“Then I’m relieved. In any case, I’m glad to finally be able to meet the famous Masked Princess. It is also your first time seeing me, isn’t that so?”
“That is so.”
“Don’t be so stiff. I’m not here to reprimand you or anything so relax. So what do you think Ethan? How does it feel to meet Lady Aerylle?”
“It’s nothing much. It isn’t any different from our meeting earlier.”
Ethan gave a curt reply as if it were natural to the Prince’s laid-back speech.
Do they usually speak so casually to one another?
“Why? We were curious about her all along. It’s a bit sudden, but shouldn’t you at least show that you’re happy to spend time with her like this? Relax, will you?”
“I think I can relax if you shut that annoying mouth of yours.”
Ethan turned and glanced at me before turning back to the Crown Prince. The Prince smirked before he spoke.
“Lady Aerylle. Ah, come to think of it, I heard that you’re not that fond of being called that. Is that right?”
The Prince tilted his head before turning and asking Ethan. Ethan frowned in slight embarrassment. The Prince chuckled when he saw his reaction and shook his head.
“I believe that’s enough small talk for now.”
The Prince held his hand out to me.
“I am Estian Yulgrit Auslante. I may not be much, but I’m the Crown Prince of this country and heir to the throne. It’s nothing to worry about so let’s move on, shall we?”
Do I have to introduce myself as well?
I opened my mouth to speak, but Estian spoke before I got a chance.
“I apologize about what happened earlier. I deeply regret it as it’s a banquet held in the Imperial Court. This was all due to my carelessness.”
“Why would that be your fault, Your Highness?”
“I believed it would’ve ended by giving that man a light warning, but he was quite a bit more insane than I expected him to be. Therefore, it is my fault for wrongly assuming that he was in his right mind and letting it slide.”
It was surprising seeing Estian, the Crown Prince, speak while twirling his finger next to his temple.
Is he normally this kind of person?
“I never thought he’d slap his own daughter in front of so many people. And it seemed to have happened before even Ethan could make a move to prevent it. I had left you alone since I didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings by bringing you out of the hall myself… but I guess it’s too late for that. In any case, I apologize.”
The Crown Prince wasn’t to blame. He was the one who tried to help me, though I don’t know if he did it in good faith or for a purpose. Estian glanced at Ethan before continuing to speak.
“As I mentioned earlier, we were quite curious and wanted to meet you. Your name has been mentioned a couple of times in the last few days. I’m sure you know the reason?”
“The corruption case related to the military supplies…. Right?”
Estian nodded without answering. He sighed and leaned back in his seat with a relaxed expression. He then swept his hair back and readjusted his posture.
“The armament race is heating up these days and there are a lot of internal conflicts. We spend too much on them every year and if this continues for the next 10 years, then the economy will collapse. In the meantime, to hear that your father, Duke Brixia… I had a headache when I heard that the man who was responsible for the exclusive supply of our military munitions was involved in a corruption scandal.”
The Crown Prince smirked while poking his forehead with his finger.
“But what was more shocking was to find that the one who gave us the hint in revealing this corruption was none other than his daughter, the Masked Princess. You even requested that we move according to the law, which is why I’ve become greatly interested in you. Right?”
He poked Ethan in question and Ethan gave a slight nod. Estian look at the expressionless man, clicked his tongue and sighed.
“Did you know, Lady Aerylle? I asked this guy to serve as my personal guard today. His skills are amazing. He agreed when I had asked him in the morning, but then suddenly asked to be dismissed at lunchtime despite the guard schedule already being assigned! I was so shocked that I asked him for the reason, but he didn’t tell me.”
Ethan frowned and turned to look back at Estian who bobbed his chin towards him and stared as if to goad him, Why? Do you have anything to say?
“Shall I tell you something funny?”
Estian leaned forward as he spoke.
“He was so insistent in asking for leave from his escort duty that I kept prodding him for the reason.”
Estian straightened his back and his face went stiff as if trying to imitate someone.
“That’s when he said he had to meet Lady Aer- ack!”
“Please shut up!”
“You’re so heartless, you punk! I’m the Crown Pri- Aack!”
What in the…..?
Ethan pinched Estian’s forearm with a frantic expression causing him to stop speaking. His nervous reaction caused me to wonder if he really was the same expressionless man just now. Ethan blocked Estian’s mouth as he glanced over at me and met my eyes as I stared with a blank expression. He looked back at Estian with resentment, took a deep sigh, then slumped back in his seat before sweeping back his hair. Sitting next to him, Estian glared at Ethan as he rubbed at his throbbing arm. Ethan massaged his forehead with his index and middle finger before looking at me.
“Don’t misunderstand. I only wanted to hear your answer.”
“…my answer?”
“The answer to the question I asked this morning.”
What question is he….. Ah, that?
Why do you wear a mask?
It was the question that brought me to the banquet hall.
Regalius Tome: