CH 93

'Master Rid, you don't have to be so scared, do you?"

'...... No, no, I' m not going to get away with it if he finds out about that "

Deanna said to me with a look of dismay, and I replied with a troubled look on my face.

I was thinking about it all the way back to the guest house from Nikique's mansion.

I was normally supposed to go in and out of the castle as Fara's attendant.

However, we parted ways at Marein's mansion.

If I went back to the castle, my father would probably find me and I would be in trouble.

After seeing me like this, Deanna turned to Chris and said,

"Then why don't we tell him that Master Rid has an errand to run and we can come in with him?"

Chris looked at Deanna with a puzzled look on her face as she told her something she had never thought of.

In this case, I should go back to the guest house and then go to Fara

I looked at Chris and said, "

, "I'm sorry, Chris. Can I ask for your help?"

"I understand. But please don't do anything reckless like this next time."

'...... yeah, I'll be careful. Thanks."

Chris let out a sigh and said, "Oh dear," as she led us to the gates of the castle.

A soldier at the gate stopped Chris, but as soon as Chris told him that she was related to the Bardia family at the guest house, he let her through.

I whispered a "thank you" to Chris.

Chris nodded, looking a little taken aback.

We entered the castle, and after a short walk, the guest house came into view.

Just as I was thinking, "This is good," I heard a voice I had heard before.

'I found the , Tia."

Found?　Who could it be that knew me and called me like this?　

I turned pale with blood as I searched for the owner of the voice.

There was, to my surprise, Lacis.

He was holding his hand on his knee and pointing his finger at me.

I answered with trepidation, afraid that my true identity would be revealed.

What can I do for you, Prince Lacis?'

"I was not waiting for you to come back."

Is it my imagination that Lacis said something that bothered me a lot?　

Anyway, I said as if I was running away with a desire to leave this place.

"I am sorry, but I have a lot of work to do . If there is nothing else I can do for you, please excuse me. ......'

I bowed to Lacis as I finished and quickly turned to go to the guest house.

"No, , wait, I have a business, with you "

"What can I do for you ......?"

I probably had the most uncomfortable expression on my face that I've ever had.

But Lacis was still not cowed and said,

'Oh, I'd like to talk to you alone , don't you get me wrong 　I'm not interested in you by any means"'

'Huh!?"

I rolled my eyes, taken aback by Lacis's words.

Then, realizing the intent of his words, I turned pale as my blood ran cold.

Slowly, I looked at Deanna and Chris, and they both quickly turned their heads away.

At any rate, I knew I couldn't hope for any help.

I took a deep breath and then said to Lacis

"I appreciate the invitation ...... very much, but I have some work to do as well, so could we talk about this later?"

I was very sorry to say this to Lacis, but if it was at a later date, the maid named "Tia" would disappear from this scene.

It would be the least hurtful thing to his heart.

"　No, but how about just a little bit of your time I won't take up too much of your time. How about you, Lady Deanna?　As the prince of Renalute, I ask you for a favor: ......"

(Lacis , don't use the prince's power for this kind of thing.) I shouted in my heart and desperately appealed with my eyes for Deanna to refuse.

But the eye reply that came back from her was,

"I understand... . If it's just for a short time, I think I can make it."

"I'm sorry, Deanna, but I owe you a debt of gratitude."

"...... is... yes."

I felt like my soul was leaving my body and I was white as a sheet, and Lacis took me by the hand and pulled me along with him.

◇

The first thing I noticed was a big cherry blossom tree at the end of the road.

When I saw it, I thought that Fara had wanted it, come to think of it.

Then I looked to the side and saw that Fara was not there .......

For some reason, Lacis was there.

I came to my senses and was stunned.

But he didn't notice me, and with a twinkle in his eye, he said,

"Tia, it's not ....... I wanted to show you this."

"I see. It's a beautiful tree, but why did you want to show it to me?"

I made a cold, heartless attempt to show my disinterest.

I'm sorry, Lacis. But I'm certain this is for your own good.

But he was not discouraged by the way I looked at him.

"I'm sorry I was too aggressive. But I'm sure I'm drawn to you. That's why I really wanted to show you this."

I responded, flinching at his too passionate gaze.

"I think that's some kind of misunderstanding. In the first place, didn't Prince Lacis and I meet only this morning?　I thought it was just an assumed attraction,......."

I pushed him away frantically, politely and coldly. But the light in his eyes is still burning.

'I thought so too,....... But I talked to my mother about it, and she told me that this is love, "

"......?　Queen Liesel?　What did she tell you?"

Lacis was so happy that I was interested in what he had to say that he told me what Liesel had said to him.

After meeting "Tia" for the first time, he could not stop his heart from beating and rising in his breast.

After much consideration, he told Queen Liesel what had happened and his situation.

The queen was apparently very pleased, saying, "You've found someone like that."

The queen was told by Liesel that his feeling was "love" and that it was proof that he had met someone he liked.

At that moment, like a bolt of lightning, he understood.

"He......?　Is it me?"

I was on board with Lacis' unexpected words.

But instead of being depressed, the light in his eyes was getting stronger.

"I understand ....... I will continue to train daily so that I can surpass Rid . Originally, I was going to ask for a rematch with Master Rid sooner or later. When I surpass him, I will come to see you again. I hope I will be able to repeat the question I just asked you."

"　I don't think that's going to make any difference, ......?"

"Heh, I know. This is my intention. Thank you, I've never felt this way before. Love is a wonderful thing."

Lacis looked into the distance with a refreshed face.

I don't know about you, but it seems that he has completed himself.

"Sorry, I think it's time to go."

He walked me to the front of the guest house where I had left Deanna and the others.

"I will definitely show you that I am stronger than Rid, , Tia," . and then I'll ask you the same question I asked you earlier."

He said this as he left and walked away from me and the others.

At that moment, I felt like collapsing into white sand.

Chris and Deanna, who were watching us, were both stunned.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"It is indeed insane to bring down a prince and princess together . ......"

"..⁉ No, Lacis is just mistaken when it comes to the love ".

Chris and Deanna looked at me with pity when I said that.

This is "love.

After discussing with his mother how he should treat Tia, she told him that they should start by getting to know each other.

So, he really wanted to have this discussion.

I turned my head down in disappointment after hearing Lacis' explanation.

I believe that there was no mistake in the queen's feelings as a mother toward her child.

However, this was definitely a misunderstanding.　

Perhaps Lacis was just puzzled when she first met a girl from the empire who was close to her age (but not the same).

And then his mother, whom he trusts the most, calls it "love," which is a grand misunderstanding.

But this is a serious problem.

Because he is so deluded.

He was giving me a burning look as he was explaining the situation to me.

I thought about what I could do to get him to give up.

As a result, I decided to make him give up by making an impossible demand, even though it was very heartbreaking.

I thought so and slowly spun my words in a cold, aggressive manner.

"I understood Prince Lacis's feelings. But with all due respect, I am not interested in weak princes."

.".... weak prince?"

His eyes flashed with suspicion.

I continued without hesitation.

"Yes, Prince Lacis. you were defeated by Master Rid, , and that too without a trace. How can you say that you are in love with a girl under such circumstances? Don't you have something to do before that?"

"...... you are surprisingly bitter. It is as different from when we first met. But you are indeed the one I fell in love with!　It's people like you who say it clearly like that then i am ready for that."

As soon as I heard what Lacis said, a chill ran down my spine.

What is this prince saying ?　

I was about to back away, but I held my ground and said.

". Yes. . I adore him . Even if Fara and Rid are paired , that feeling will not change. There are as many forms of feelings as there are people. So, please give up."

But instead of being depressed, the light in his eyes was getting stronger.

"I understand ....... I will continue to train daily so that I can surpass Rid . Originally, I was going to ask for a rematch with Master Rid sooner or later. When I surpass him, I will come to see you again. I hope I will be able to repeat the question I just asked you."

"　I don't think that's going to make any difference, ......?"

"Heh, I know. This is my intention. Thank you, I've never felt this way before. Love is a wonderful thing."

Lacis looked into the distance with a refreshed face.

I don't know about you, but it seems that he has completed himself.

"Sorry, I think it's time to go."

He walked me to the front of the guest house where I had left Deanna and the others.

"I will definitely show you that I am stronger than Rid, , Tia," . and then I'll ask you the same question I asked you earlier."

He said this as he left and walked away from me and the others.

At that moment, I felt like collapsing into white sand.

Chris and Deanna, who were watching us, were both stunned.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"It is indeed insane to bring down a prince and princess together . ......"

".. No, Lacis is just mistaken when it comes to the love ".

Chris and Deanna looked at me with pity when I said that.

I promised myself that I would never be a " Tia" again, and that I would never fight with Lacis again.