0&1 Ch 20.2

“Yeah… I was worried about you,” I replied.

“Thanks.” Edward tilted his head to one side.

“I’m glad you look okay.”
“Do I?”
“… Yeah.”
“Right. I’m glad to hear you think it’s a good thing.”
“…”

I thought it would have been better to be cursed. It was much easier when Edward cried and glared at me.

It felt like cold hands were digging into my stomach. A tingling tension ran down my spine.

“As the Prince of this country, and as your brother, I am grateful for your dedication to the country. Everyone here is grateful to you. I hope you enjoy the banquet we have prepared for you.”

I hurriedly finished my greeting. Edward had been smiling quietly since the beginning. It wasn’t a happy smile. But the fact that he was smiling was enough to make everyone else smile.

I wish they were able to see what was going on. What on earth was Edward doing? It would be even better if someone saw and told me.

“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll have a good time,” Edward replied.

“Yes…” 

What else did I say?

I ran away.

When I came to my senses, I was on the terrace.

It was as if I had been possessed by a spirit. In the end, I didn’t even mention what I had been trying to find out. It was as if I was back in a dream.

My stomach churned. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, showing no signs of calming down. I put my hands on the cold railing and looked down at the garden.

The bushes rustled. I heard moaning.

There were many passionate lovers in the garden.

I couldn’t calm down at all. I couldn’t keep it together.

I was afraid of Edward.

I had always been afraid of him, but this was not the same kind of fear. I had anticipated his behavior. I could imagine Edward killing me or hating me.

But the Edward I had just met was like a complete stranger. I had no idea what he was going to do.

Why? I needed an explanation.

“Your Highness, are you here?” Grey opened the curtain. 

I grabbed him and pulled him out onto the terrace. “Grey. Let’s talk.”

Grey’s face turned pale with panic. 

I closed the curtain.

“Your Highness?” I closed the door to the terrace and turned to Grey. His eyes were wide open. “Did you miss me that much?” 

What are you talking about?

When I turned around, Grey was also confused. He seemed to have realized what he had said too late.

“I missed you so much.”

When I replied, Grey covered his face. He was a really strange guy. What kind of answer did he want?

I motioned to him. 

“Grey, come closer. I have something to ask you.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

Grey approached me with his face covered. I grabbed his shoulder and asked in a low voice. “Did you see that?”

“What?”
“Did you see Edward?”
“Yes.”
“Why is he acting like that?”

“… Don’t you think he wants to restore your relationship?” Grey replied curtly. It was definitely a spontaneous answer. It was an answer he couldn’t have given if he knew what had happened between Edward and me.

But did Grey know about it? Did he know what Edward had said to me?

“That can’t be.”
“That’s how it looked.”
“You’re mistaken.”

“I’m sure everyone who saw it thought the same as me. No, you two have always been close. I think you handled it well. Since His Highness Edward is not well known in aristocratic circles, people will judge him based on what they saw today.”

“What good would it do Edward to pretend to be friendly with me?”

“It’s unusual for you to doubt someone else’s goodwill, Your Highness,” Grey said. I thought he was being sarcastic.

But in reality, he probably said it without any particular meaning. That was just how Grey spoke.

“I doubt it’s goodwill. Would you be happy if someone who clearly hates you said they were glad to see you?”

I had seen Edward’s eyes. Even as I spoke, I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

They were as blue as ice. I already knew how Edward looked at someone he’d opened up to. If I didn’t know him, I might have been flustered and a little happy.

I might have thought he forgave me. That his hatred had faded and his heart had softened.

But Edward had always been a poor actor. When he didn’t want to answer a question, he pretended not to hear it, and when he was embarrassed, he blinked his eyes. A truly clueless child doesn’t react like that.

Even as an adult, he was still a poor actor. I was glad to see that he hadn’t changed in that respect.

Just like in my dream the day before.

If Edward really had forgiven me, I would not have been able to resist.

“His Highness Edward hates you?” Grey looked confused.

“You don’t like the expression? Dislike? Is that better? Say it any way you want. It doesn’t matter.”

“It’s not that…” Grey fell deep in thought. “Perhaps you are right, Your Highness. You know His Highness Edward better than I do.”

“Really?”
“Yes. You have observed him for a long time.”
“Me? I’ve observed Edward?”

“You assigned Alex Baumkuchen to His Highness Edward, didn’t you?” Grey said casually.

His expression suggested that he knew everything, which left me baffled.

I assigned Alex? To Edward?

What are you talking about?

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Grey and I moved away from each other at the same time.

We weren’t the only ones who were surprised. Alex Baumkuchen was standing behind the glass door of the terrace.

“May I come in?” He asked politely. 

With his large build, boyish face, and knight’s uniform that fit him perfectly, Alex looked like a young knight who had stepped out of a romance novel for noblewomen. His bright green eyes looked back and forth between me and Grey, then he bowed politely.

“Come in.” I gave my permission. Grey opened the door from inside.

Instead of entering, Alex said, “Duke Cracker. His Highness Edward is looking for you.”

“Is it urgent?” Grey asked.

“I am not in a position to say.”
“I’ll see you later.”

I nodded to Grey. “… See you next time.”

Grey bowed and left. I watched him go, waiting for Alex to leave as well.

Right. Edward was back, so Alex came back too.

My mind was so preoccupied with Edward that I couldn’t think about Alex. While the two of them were on the battlefield, I believed that we would not lose this war.

They were both main characters in this game world. They were the protagonists.

Alex Baumkuchen was the person whose appearance had changed the most since I first saw him. He used to be a prickly kid, but now he was one of the most renowned knights in the country.

People said he was Edward’s knight. The image of a young, loyal knight and a Prince was a beautiful one.

He stood by Edward’s side on the battlefield and in the banquet hall. Until I called Edward, Alex was the one he was talking to.

The two seemed close. Maybe that was Alex’s place originally. I don’t remember what their relationship was like in the game, but it was probably similar to now.

Everything was going according to the original setting.

Alex did not show any wariness toward others as he had in the past. There was no need for that.

People respected him.

Alex was so popular in the capital that it was rare to find a noble lady who had not sent him a letter. Seeing him in person, I could understand why.

It had been a long time since I had seen Alex. Not long after I took Alex in, Sir Baumkuchen often brought him to class. Every time he did, Alex seemed uncomfortable.

The reason for his discomfort was me. I could tell from the difference in his attitude toward Sir Baumkuchen and me.

Why was he so uncomfortable? I couldn’t understand, but Sir Baumkuchen seemed to be enjoying it, so I told him there was no need to bring Alex to class.

I didn’t see Alex for several years after that. The last time I saw him was the day before he left for the war.

Alex, who was standing at the entrance, entered the terrace.

I suddenly remembered that I had given him permission to come in. In an instant, the terrace felt crowded.

I wondered how much he had grown since I last saw him. It had only been six months since he left for the battlefield. He was still growing, but it was amazing to see.

What did he eat to grow so much? He was so cute when he was little.

It had been almost seven years since we first met.

They say that ten years can change a country, but seven years may be enough to change a mountain.

As I stared blankly, Alex lowered his head.

He knelt down.

Alex, kneeling in his knight’s armor, looked overly dignified. It was as if he were in the King’s throne room. There was nothing wrong with his behavior.

If I were his Lord.

But Alex was the King’s knight. His Lord was the King. I looked around. Even though I knew there was no one else there.

There was no one in sight. It was dark. Alex stood with his back to the banquet hall, where light and music were coming from.

Alex said, “I present myself before His Highness, Prince Joffrey.”