CH 42

Tangerines were Grezekaia’s specialty.

It was such a delicious fruit that even during the war, there was an unspoken rule: ‘Don’t touch the tangerine fields!’

Maybe it was because of that, or maybe it was because of Grezekaia’s transfer to Sapher and their lives improving, but this year was an excellent harvest for tangerines. 

In addition, Sapher could now bring in tangerines without paying customs duties. 

Delicious and inexpensive tangerines were popular inside all the walls of the capital.

“Such common people’s fruits…” 

But that’s why Valentine didn’t like tangerines.

Besides, he had no intention of accepting the snacks that Duke Maximilian gave him right away.

How could he know if there was poison in it?

“It’s delicious.”

Perhaps because he wasn’t eating, Clarisse cut the tangerine she peeled herself in half and handed it to him.

‘Hmph, do you think I’ll eat something like this?’

But when he started to smell something sour, he started to drool for some reason. 

‘Something like tangerines… I really hate it.’

He had to get rid of everything he didn’t like, so he shoved the whole tangerine in his mouth.

I hate it! I’ll make them all nutrients for my body!

He quickly peeled a new tangerine and ate it before he could swallow it in his mouth.

After eating for a long time with such excitement, he realized one thing. The fact that Clarisse was staring at him with those amber eyes wide open.

“What. Why are you looking?”

“I like it because you eat well.”

Seeing her bashful smile without any warning, she seemed convinced that Valentine was relieved of his anger.  

‘How can you be so shameless!’

To believe that just giving him a tangerine would ease his anger.

“I…not yet.”

I’m mad at you, you liar!

Did you try to persuade me with the Duke’s help?

Valentine stopped trying to say so.

He recalled the moment when he had just followed Maximilian into the villa.

The trained knights from Sheridan showed loyalty and courtesy to the Duke.

So much so that even young Valentine could tell for sure.

There was virtually no disregard for the imprisoned Prince.

It wasn’t just the knight. 

The servants who served the Duke also looked as polite and confident as the servants of the royal palace. 

Standing in front of them, the Duke of Sheridan looked like a “cool adult.”

For sure…

Just like what Clarisse said.

‘Maybe the story was all true.’

He shook his head in a hurry to shake off the thought that came to him at the moment.

It couldn’t be.

If Clarisse is right, it means his mother is a liar.

“Ah really!”

“Prince?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Yes?” 

“That’s why! I don’t know who’s right!”

He groaned and leaned his forehead on the soft bed.

Even though the thoughts were spinning around, they didn’t lead to any conclusions.

“I don’t know what you are talking about… But the Prince can check it yourself and come to a conclusion, right?”

“What?” 

At the strange words that came back right away, Valentine abruptly raised his head.

Clarisse was eating a small piece of tangerine. 

“When you don’t know who is right, that’s the only way.”

Valentine laughed crookedly at the story that came back as if it was obvious.

“That makes sense…” 

To him, his mother’s word was absolute. 

Because that person was the only one who truly cared for Valentine and was the greatest person on this land.

But, instead of believing what his mother said, did Valentine dare to ‘confirm’ and draw a ‘conclusion’?

“You said you didn’t know.”

“….” 

“In that case, the Prince has no choice but to find the answer yourself.”

It… was a very strange word.

It is also true that Valentine’s ‘answer’ was already in his mother’s.

If he gets a compliment, it’s the right thing.

If he goes against her mood, it’s wrong.

Of course he was taught to live like that, but—.

Now, he couldn’t even refute Clarisse’s words.

“You… What would you do if I found out your lie?”

“Yes? Suddenly me?!”

Clarisse answered in surprise.

It seems that she didn’t know at all that she was the one who made him wonder.

Valentine was a little annoyed.

‘How could you do that?’

Valentine had been thinking only of Clarisse since the evening before yesterday until this morning!

“If I find out that you dare lie, I will make you my maid!”

“…Yes? A, ah…. Ah.”

Soon Clarisse’s face began to turn blue.

It’s like being caught lying.

“What are you doing? As expected, was it a lie?”

“Oh, t, that. That. I… I didn’t lie.”

It was somehow cute to see Clarisse, who had been acting confidently so far, shrugging her shoulders.

He forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth that were about to rise on their own.

“As expected, you lied, right?”

“That’s not it… The Prince misunderstood me and said that I was the Duchess’s maid. But I…”

No way, it wasn’t?

‘Well, the room is too luxurious for a maid.’

Besides, the Duke himself came to worry about her.

Is she the Duke’s daughter?’

If so, Clarisse means it’s a family.

‘…Family.’

His heart was pounding for some reason.

‘D, do you mean I had such a cute family?’

His expectations rose over the ceiling.

****

「I’m a prisoner.」

「I am the princess of Grezekaia, who was to be executed at the age of eighteen.」

Clarisse recalled what she had said to Valentine three days ago. 

She couldn’t forget the look on his face right after that.

He was so surprised that he seemed frozen…

It would have been better if he had responded with harsh words, as he had so many times.

｢Prince…?」

Even at the moment when Clarisse called anxiously, he jumped up and ran out of the room.

As if he was running away from something bad.

‘…Something bad… that’s right.’

Clarisse dropped her head sullenly as she pulled over her flower-studded bonnet.

‘The Prince is a nobleman. He wouldn’t want to be dishonored by being close to a prisoner for no reason.’

Even as she tried to think that way, Clarisse still had some vague lingering feelings.

‘…But there seems to be no children in the third wall.’

Valentine was the only child here.

‘Is the Prince… not lonely?’

When thoughts about him naturally start to spill over into worry. 

Rosalie started talking while tying the ribbon of her hat beautifully around Clarisse’s chin.

“The new hat you bought with the Duke the other day suits you very well.”

“Sheridan’s fur hat would be too cramped here, and he gave me a new one.”

“You bought a book, right?”

“Yes, and he also gave me a giraffe cushion to help me sleep. It’s huge.” 

As Clarisse said, on one side of her luggage was a giraffe doll with its head held high because it couldn’t fit in every car. 

“He bought me five puzzles and a box with singing sounds.”

Clarisse lightly wept as she thought of the consumption details the Duke had used for her. 

“What should I do if the grace gets bigger? I don’t know how much… Can I be a great 18?”

This was a pretty serious concern.

However, Clarisse realized that the questioner was wrong.

“Clarisse, every eighteen in the world is far better than that sum.”

In the eyes of Rosalie, the king of praise, it seemed that all 18-year-olds looked cool.

Now the servants came and took the bags from Clarisse’s room one by one.

It was to be loaded onto a carriage.

The carriage back to Sheridan.

Clarisse had longed for the people of Sheridan Mansion, so she waited a bit for the day she returned.

But when it came to today, her heart felt heavy, and Clarisse clearly knew why.

It was because of Valentine.

‘But it’s strange for me to deliver the news.’

It will be a nuisance to him.

Clarisse came out of the palace garden holding Rosalie’s hand.

A carriage that had already been prepared was waiting for them.

“It seems that no one from the royal family has come out to see you off.”

A few soldiers whispered behind Clarisse.

“What do you care about? After all, our Duke is from Sheridan.” 

“But how can you not come to meet him and even see him off when you’re a family…” 

“Leave it. After all, they’re people who don’t care if the Duke comes or not.”

Clarisse glanced at Maximilian, who was giving instructions from a little distance away.

‘Could the Duke… Was he alone in the royal family?’

Clarisse recalled herself from the past.

Being a loner wasn’t good.

Just in time, the Duchess approached Maximilian and held out a piece of paper.

She seemed to be putting together a list of things she would bring.

‘Maybe…’

Clarisse realized one thing as she looked at the profile of the two, who seemed friendly.

‘The Duchess made the Duke not feel lonely.’

It felt like a pretty word, like polished pebbles, and Clarisse’s heart tickled.

“…It must be nice.”