Chapter 3

After that, I began to see my step-sister at the castle more and more often. Moreover, the Crown Prince was always nearby.

When I asked Father why my step-sister was at the castle, he said she had been chosen as a lady-in-waiting in training for the Crown Prince.

“Lady-in-waiting in training?”

Usually, they would live in the servants' quarters within the castle grounds, but she was treated as a lady-in-waiting and a study companion, and would only come to the castle when she felt like it, Father said. He mentioned that this was a special exception.

Normally, a study companion would be chosen from among girls of the same sex, usually from noble families with high status and ability.

What kind of special exception is this?

And she only comes when she feels like it?

Can she really be both a lady-in-waiting and a study companion?

Besides, neither the Crown Prince nor Father had reported anything to me about this?

From that time on, various doubts began to grow in my mind.

The week after I heard about the lady-in-waiting and study companion from Father, the Crown Prince casually explained the situation to me, saying they had been friends for a while.

———Friends?

“Nicoletta... are you angry?”

“No, Your Highness. However, Viola is an unmarried young lady, so it is not desirable for her to meet you in private or alone.”

“...Yeah, I see. Okay.”

The Crown Prince looks very young, both good and bad. It’s partly because of his youthful appearance, but it might also be because he still seems immature mentally.

“I’ll be more careful.”

“Yes, thank you.”

While it’s a virtue to be so accepting, it also gives the impression of being a bit unreliable.

“Nicoletta, there you are.”

“Your Majesty, is there something you need?”

“Yes, I’d like to talk about Fermo.”

After having tea with the Crown Prince, I was stopped by the King in the castle. When he said he wanted to talk about the Crown Prince, I went to his office, but instead of sitting at his desk, he asked me to sit on the sofa used for breaks.

Sitting across from each other at a low table, a maid brought us teacups and cut fruits that looked like a mix of pale pink and creamy white.

“These are the white peaches the envoy from the neighboring country brought the other day. I remember you like them, Nicoletta.”

“Oh! Thank you very much—ah!”

The juicy white peach melted in my mouth, leaving a soft sweetness.

“Haha, you liked them, didn’t you?”

“Yes, they are very delicious.”

The King smiled gently, elegantly crossed his legs, and took a sip from his cup, exuding an almost frightening charm.

Although he said he wanted to talk about the Crown Prince, we were just having tea.

For a while, we talked about the interactions with the envoy from the neighboring country, future policies, and how the tea from a certain earl’s estate was particularly good this year.

“———Recently, your step-sister has been hanging around Fermo, haven’t you noticed?”

“Ah! ...I apologize for my step-sister’s behavior.”

“No, I thought you were aware of it, Nicoletta.”

The sudden change in topic and the shift to the main issue made me a bit anxious.

Even if I were aware, I have no authority since my step-sister has been recognized as a lady-in-waiting in training and a study companion. The Crown Prince also says he enjoys talking to a step-sister close to his age, so there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

“What do you really think, Nicoletta?”

“...Isn’t what I just said my true feelings?”

“Hmm.”

The King, running his fingers through his loosely wavy golden hair, seemed to be thinking about something.

I stopped drinking my tea, wondering if I had said something inappropriate, but the King smiled with his hazel eyes and told me to eat the peach without worrying.

“Nicoletta, you always sit up straight and endure everything. Relax sometimes.”

“Is that so?”

While eating the white peach, I thought I was quite relaxed just talking with the King.

I even answered while still chewing.

The King chuckled softly and took another sip from his cup.