Isn’t that too heartless!?
The room where Prince Kaldor was ushered in was the most impressive parlor in our house. It’s a space reserved for special guests, used so rarely that within the Doristan Kingdom, the only ones who might set foot here would be members of the royal family—or possibly Leon-sama.
However, even Leon-sama once dismissed it, saying, "Rooms that demand too much formality are a bother," and opted for a standard guest room. The same goes for Crown Prince Raymond.
Given that neither His Majesty nor Her Majesty would typically visit, this room had long been waiting for an opportunity to shine. Finally, today is its time to see the light of day…
Incidentally, I’ve only peeked inside it before. This is my first time properly entering! Honestly, just imagining accidentally damaging one of the furnishings here was enough to keep me away.
Being born as Cristea and growing up surrounded by luxurious things, you’d think I’d get used to it eventually. But no—if anything, my appreciation for these valuables has only grown, and my commoner spirit from my past life constantly whispers caution.
“How many months of a previous life's salary would this cost if it broke?!”
Even now, just sitting on the luxurious sofa has me fidgeting in discomfort.
Prince Kaldor, in contrast, sat at the place of honor with calm composure and an air of superiority. Meanwhile, his guard, Tika-san, seemed restless, nervously glancing around the room.
When the tea was served, Tika-san tested the prince's tea for poison before handing it over. Right! That’s what royal behavior looks like! This is how it should be!
Crown Prince Raymond can appraise poison, as I’ve heard from Oniisama, but even so, casually eating my cooking without a second thought seems reckless!
Well, it’s not like I’d ever serve poisoned food. Nor would I want my brother to be used as a poison tester… Anyway, the focus now should be on Prince Kaldor.
When I glanced at him, he was silently sipping his tea with a furrowed brow and an air of irritation. How should I handle this situation?
The silence lingered for a while as we all quietly sipped tea, until finally, my Otousama seemed unable to endure it any longer.
"… May I have permission to speak?"
"You may."
"Would you be so kind as to explain why Your Highness has come here with my daughter? The information from the Sa… ahem, messenger was vague at best…"
Otousama, were you about to call him “Sacred Beast-sama” just now?
Likely, Mashiro's explanation was something as simplistic as “Cristea is returning to the estate with Prince—the guy at the spice stall—and Leon”. It’s no wonder Otousama couldn’t make sense of it all. He probably bombarded Mashiro with questions, only to get no satisfactory answers.
This confusion ultimately traces back to me for not clearly instructing Mashiro on what to convey. My apologies.
Regardless, Otousama must have rushed to prepare a proper reception as soon as he understood the involvement of Leon-sama and a prince, albeit vaguely connected to spices. Truly, I’m sorry for all the trouble caused.
I’ll have to accept whatever scolding comes later… But still, who could’ve predicted this turn of events?! Impossible!
As I wallowed in the unfairness of it all, Prince Kaldor’s gaze briefly flicked toward me. Huh?
"… I am unsure how much of the situation you are aware of, but it was I who gave your daughter the raw material for that aphrodisiac the other day. When a dispute arose regarding it, this man, Leo-dono, intervened, and I was subsequently invited here."
Well, that’s quite a summary. Technically not a lie, though.
"… That aphrodisiac was from Your Highness? But why would such a situation arise? Surely there was no prior connection to my daughter?"
"I wanted to gauge how well it might sell within Doristan. To that end, I disguised myself as a merchant and operated a spice stall. There, through Leo-dono, I was introduced to your daughter, Cristea."
"Leo… -dono? I see. So, it was through this gentleman’s introduction…"
Otousama’s gaze turned toward Leon-sama with a *Really?* kind of expression. Leon-sama, meanwhile, was smiling mischievously, so Otousama gave up with a sigh.
"Well, if this gentleman vouched for it, I suppose there was no reason for her to doubt and follow along."
When Otousama shot me a glare, I shrank in on myself.
It’s true. Since I couldn’t imagine Leon-sama harboring any ill will toward me, I followed along without question. I have no excuses for this. Gnn…
"I was curious to see how the nobility of Doristan would react to the aphrodisiac. Surely, such a young lady would have no detailed knowledge of its uses, so my expectations there were unmet."
This time, Prince Kaldor glanced at me briefly. Please direct complaints to Leon-sama.
"However, if she had consulted someone older and the contents had been revealed, it might have been confiscated. Her consultant or parent would likely attempt contact in some way. That outcome would have been convenient in its own right."
Well, I *did* consult someone, and most of the chocolate was seized for testing. So, the plan wasn’t entirely off the mark.
"At that point, those who sought secret profit, those who succumbed to greed, or even those who sought to eradicate it under the guise of justice… I was curious to see who might emerge. Instead, the servant came using it as if it were just another spice. Unbelievable. I summoned Miss Cristea as the owner, only to be told it was being used in cooking and that its utility was under investigation. Absurd!"
Um, what would you have had us do? Otousama and Okaasama supported its purchase and even the production of more chocolate. That’s why the Head Chef sent Shin to procure more. Since he failed, I had no choice but to step in.
When I glanced nervously toward my parents, I saw both holding their heads in their hands with strained expressions, letting out deep sighs.
"So, we too have finally succumbed to Cristea’s peculiarities…" they muttered in lament. How rude!
What do you think about this chapter?
