Troublesome Prince (4)
“That prince must have nothing better to do. Is he planning to set up a household in someone else’s home?”
It had been five days since the Fourth Prince had been staying at the Duke’s residence.
As a result, Duha also had to endure indefinite confinement in her bedroom.
Leila, who was bringing lunch to the bedroom, sighed deeply.
“Because of that guy, only the lady is suffering. It’s already been five days since you couldn’t go outside. Aren’t you feeling suffocated?”
“Leila, when there’s nothing you can do, staying still isn’t difficult.”
Duha lifted a spoonful of soup filled with ingredients.
“The most painful time is when you have many things you can do, but can’t do any of them.”
There was nothing she could do against the prince.
Well, if he weren’t a Prince of the empire, things might have been different.
Meanwhile, Leila put her hands on her hips as she looked at the shadowed face of the Duchess.
“Why can’t you do anything? If that Prince wasn’t here, you could have gone for a walk and seen the flowers by now!”
“See the flowers?”
“Yes, even though the weather is still chilly, it seems to be spring. Flowers have started blooming since a few days ago. You like flowers, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Can’t you just sneak out for some fresh air? You just need to avoid running into the Prince!”
Duha had thought the same at first.
As long as she didn’t run into him, it would be fine.
“But I’m the one who promised my husband that I wouldn’t leave this room. I can’t break that promise.”
“But…”
Duha smiled as if to reassure her, who was looking at her with worried eyes.
“Please enjoy the flowers on my behalf.”
“Still…”
“And this life isn’t as boring as you think. I have many other things to do.”
Duha pointed to the pile of books stacked in one corner of the room.
They were books Leila had borrowed from the Duke’s library to keep her entertained.
“Thanks to the books you’ve been borrowing for me lately, I haven’t had time to be bored.”
“You’re not a bookworm, Princess. Are you going to read books all day?”
“If reading gets boring, I can do embroidery. Don’t worry, Leila.”
But despite her master’s reassurance, Leila didn’t seem to think of relaxing her face.
Having been by Duha’s side for a long time, she knew better than anyone what kind of person Duha was.
Duha was someone who preferred to roam freely rather than be confined, and to run rather than sit.
For someone like that to not only marry into the empire but also be confined to a room like this…
Leila couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
But when it came to stubbornness, Duha always won.
“Sigh, alright, alright. I won’t say anything more.”
Leila sighed as if resigned and began to tidy up the dishes Duha had emptied.
“Then I’ll pick up some fallen flower branches on my way back. It will be a nice change of scenery for the room.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“I want to do it.”
Leila explained in a calm voice with a slightly pouty face.
“We don’t know when that Prince will leave. The maids say he might stay for about a month, and by then, the flowers that have bloomed now will all be gone.”
Duha chuckled at her.
Yes, this was Leila’s greatest strength.
Making others accept her care without feeling burdened.
And Duha had received much comfort from her warm heart.
In the end, Duha decided to yield to Leila once again.
“Alright, if you’re not too busy, could you do that for me?”
“I’ll do it even if I’m busy! Picking up flower branches isn’t a big deal!”
Leila left the room with a tray of dishes, walking with a dignified stride.
“Then I’ll be back!”
She didn’t forget to leave with her usual cheerful farewell.
*** *** *** *** ***
The Fourth Prince, Justin, was lying on a makeshift bed on the balcony of the guest room, basking in the sunlight.
It was none other than his escort knight who interrupted him as he enjoyed his nap with his arms behind his head.
“Your Highness, how long do you plan to stay here? His Majesty will be angry if he finds out.”
“Father will be angry?”
“Isn’t the royal family busy with the throne issue right now? While the First Princess is solidifying her political position in the capital, if His Highness the Prince is found spending time in such a remote place…”
“Don’t worry. Father isn’t so idle as to get angry with me for such a trivial reason.”
Justin slowly opened his eyes.
“And no matter how much my sister struggles, she can’t beat me.”
Unlike the First Princess Yulia, who was born to a concubine, the Fourth Prince Justin was born to the Empress.
In the Krone Empire, the order of succession was determined by birth order, regardless of birth status or gender.
Therefore, although he was behind Yulia in rank, Justin had an overwhelming advantage in terms of power.
The Empress’s family was a prestigious one recognized throughout the empire, and there were many nobles who supported him.
They all supported the Fourth Prince Justin, born to the Empress.
“Effort is something only those who lack do.”
Justin, sitting up, looked around at the view of the Duke’s residence below the balcony.
“Like the owner of this castle.”
He recalled the face of a man he found as annoying as a parasitic brother.
Leonhardt von Esbaden.
Justin personally disliked him immensely.
He was annoyed by his attitude of making every effort for the Emperor’s orders, and his subtly aloof demeanor, even though he ultimately had to obey the orders of a Prince like himself.
Nevertheless, Justin wanted to make the Duke his ally.
Because the Duke of Esbaden was a man of great value.
A prodigious knight who rose to the position of Duke at a young age.
Despite his overwhelming talent in swordsmanship, he was a loyal dog of the royal family, willing to do anything for the Emperor.
The strongest knight who pledged loyalty only to him.
What a desirable talent.
Moreover, even if he became Emperor, he would need Leonhardt’s power, which protected the borders, to govern the empire smoothly.
Justin rubbed his eyes and asked the knight.
“What is the Duke doing?”
“A monster appeared in a village on the outskirts of the territory, so he went to subdue it.”
“Another monster. It seems like the Duke is using the monster as an excuse to avoid me every time. It must be my imagination, right?”
“The Esbaden territory is known for frequent monster appearances, so it’s not a lie.”
“I don’t think it’s a lie either. Lying to a Prince, unless he wants to die…”
At that moment, Justin frowned.
“What is that?”
“What are you referring to?”
“That thing loitering down there.”
The knight’s gaze followed the prince’s finger and then stopped.
There was a woman with long, dark brown hair braided, crouching down.
She seemed to be awkwardly searching for something she had dropped on the ground.
“It’s a woman. Judging by her attire, she seems to be a maid of the Duke’s residence.”
“A maid?”
Justin’s gaze, which had been following the woman, gradually took on a dangerous glint.
The Prince’s eyes narrowed as he observed the woman for a long time.
“Not a bad figure.”
“Shall I bring her?”
As if knowing exactly what the Prince meant, the knight asked in a nonchalant tone.
Instead of giving an order to the knight, he got up from his seat.
“No, I’ll go meet her myself.”
The knight bowed his head politely at his words.
The maid, busily moving below the balcony, was still looking at the ground like a deer unaware of its danger.
*** *** *** *** ***
Leila was engrossed in choosing flower branches to give to her master.
But no matter how much she crawled on the ground, nothing caught her eye.
“Ugh, aren’t there any intact branches?”
Her skirt was covered in dirt, but she didn’t seem to tire as she continued to search the ground.
“Why are there so many magnolias here? They’re the messiest when they wither. It’s a hassle for the person who has to clean them up.”
Magnolias, though beautiful to look at, were very unsightly when they withered.
Why had they planted so many of these flowers, which had a knack for making people feel restless, at the Duke’s residence?
“Oh, that one looks nice.”
At that moment, a fresh and luscious magnolia branch caught Leila’s eye.
It seemed to have broken off in the wind during the night.
Just as she reached out for the flower branch, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her up.
“Ah! What is this!”
The culprit who grabbed her wrist was the escort knight of the Fourth Prince.
Leila flinched at the sight of the sword hanging from the knight’s waist.
At that moment, a frivolous voice came from behind the knight. It was a young man dressed in flamboyant clothes.
He looked Leila up and down with a sinister gaze.
“I haven’t seen you around here before. What’s your name?”
Leila’s eyes narrowed at the casual tone.
Judging by his flamboyant attire and the old man who seemed to be a knight standing behind him, he seemed to be someone of high status.
‘Come to think of it, they said the Fourth Prince had dark auburn hair…’
Though hot-tempered, Leila wasn’t without tact, having taken after her master.
Realizing that Justin was the Fourth Prince, Leila’s face showed a hint of dismay.
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