CPSMBD Chapter 06

CHAPTER 6

Everyone's charm

"Your Highness, good morning! You're here early. I assure you I'm not late!"

General Chief Aide Kuan frantically offered his explanation, already feeling guilty.

"General Chief Aide Kuan."

The Crown Prince's voice cut through the air, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Our dear General Chief Aide Kuan, whose courage was about the size of a bean, suddenly had eyes like a startled rabbit.

"Y-yes, Your Highness?"

"How are you managing as General Chief when you can't even properly look after your subordinates?"

"P-pardon?"

"Pay more attention to your staff. From today, personal telegrams during work hours are forbidden. Take better care of your subordinates."

The Crown Prince left the aide's office abruptly, leaving those words hanging in the air.

The General Chief Aide turned to me with tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

"Did... did I do something wrong to offend His Highness?"

"Not at all. You didn't do anything wrong, General Chief Aide. You know how nasty His Highness's temper can be. He's just taking out his frustrations on you."

I patted the General Chief's shoulder reassuringly.

"Hmm..."

The sensitive and tender-hearted General Chief stared at the floor dejectedly.

Even the three lonely strands of hair on his head seemed to lose their vigor and droop downward.

I could already see my future for the day: consoling the General Chief until evening.

Ah yes. Another exhausting day was just beginning.

***

To cut to the chase, I hadn't been able to contact Lord Dale since our arranged meeting.

The Crown Prince had been constantly monitoring me, frequently popping in and out of the aide's office.

The Crown Prince muttered to himself while staring at me:

"I just don't understand, not at all. How could you possibly find such a man acceptable?"

"Everyone has their own charms and strengths. I'm just better at finding them."

At my words, Brahe raised his hand enthusiastically.

"Senior, then what's my charm?"

"You have a vibrant energy that makes people feel good. You're great at giving compliments and lifting people's spirits, so it's always pleasant being around you."

"I guess I am like that."

Brahe nodded in acknowledgment.

Judging by his upturned lips reaching toward the sky, he seemed quite pleased with my assessment.

"Then what about me? Senior Chief Aide?"

General Chief Aide Kuan had somehow appeared behind the Crown Prince, peeking out with his tiny pea-sized eyes blinking.

"Hmm. General Chief Aide, you're incredibly thoughtful, and absolutely adorable."

The Crown Prince looked Kuan up and down.

"Adorable...? What exactly is adorable about him?"

"Your pea-like green eyes are adorable, and even your strong-willed hair strands are cute."

"Ah..."

Brahe let out an inexplicable sigh.

The three strands of hair standing proudly on the General Chief Aide's otherwise bare head swayed happily at my compliment.

"Ahem, well. So that's my charm. Thank you, Senior Chief Aide Violetta. Thanks to you, I've discovered charms about myself I never knew existed."

General Chief Aide Kuan trotted back to his seat.

With each step, his three strands of hair bounced up and down in perfect rhythm.

'Really, General Chief Aide is definitely the most adorable person in the Imperial Palace.'

Brahe urgently asked:

"Then what about Chief Chamberlain Dominic?"

Apparently, we weren't done discovering everyone's charms.

"He's like a teddy bear, dependable and warm. He shares delicious treats with me and always recommends the best new restaurants in the capital."

"Teddy... bear? How can you compare that bandit to a teddy bear?"

The Crown Prince muttered, somehow looking shocked. Brahe added:

"I'm more shocked that she called him dependable..."

Just then, someone entered the aide's office unannounced. It was Secretary Derek, looking for the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, what are you doing here? There's a mountain of work to be handled today."

The Crown Prince ignored Secretary Derek's words and asked me:

"Then what's Secretary Derek's charm?"

"He has this decadent charm, you know? And he's hilarious."

Derek, who had been wearing a confused expression at the sudden attention, gave a shy smile at my words.

"Me? Thank you."

"Deca... dent? Hilarious? What exactly is decadent or funny about Secretary Derek?"

The Crown Prince raised his voice, clearly unable to comprehend.

Really now. Why does he keep asking about things that are so obvious?

"The dark circles under his eyes have this grotesque charm that's quite decadent."

"That's just because he's exhausted from working all night!"

Brahe, standing bewildered next to the Crown Prince, asked in a dubious voice:

"Then what about him being funny? I always thought Secretary Derek was the least humorous person in the entire palace. Surely... you're not laughing at his dad jokes?"

Hmm. Brahe seems to have the wrong idea. I corrected his misconception:

"No, that's not it. Secretary Derek is absolutely hilarious."

"Indeed. Let me demonstrate just how funny I can be."

"No! Secretary, please don't!"

Despite Brahe's desperate protest, Secretary Derek was not one to be deterred.

"Do you know what the easiest number in the Empire is?"

Brahe responded with a resigned voice:

"Don't tell me... nineteen?

Pfft.

I couldn't help but laugh at Secretary Derek's joke.

See? He's truly humorous, just as I said.

"Oh, correct! Aide Brahe, you're quite witty yourself."

The Crown Prince covered his eyes with one hand, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Brahe muttered darkly:

"I can't believe I... got that right.... To think my sense of humor is on the same level as Secretary Derek's..."

"Well, I have lots of work to do, so I'll take my leave. Your Highness, please stop playing around and come to the office. We have countless documents to review today."

Secretary Derek gracefully exited the aide's office with those parting words.

The Crown Prince turned to look at me with an expression of disbelief.

"Do you really find that funny?"

Trying to suppress my laughter while pursing my lips, I nodded.

"Yes. It's hilarious. I envy Secretary Derek's wife. Every day must be joyful with someone so amusing."

"Really... I don't understand your taste in people at all. Then what about Lord Eden?"

"My brother? That guy has zero charm. Unless being trash counts as charm."

"Well, at least your judgment about your brother is sound. Then what about me?"

Oh? What was Crown Prince Friedrich's charm again?

I pondered deeply, but nothing came to mind.

The Crown Prince, noticing my hesitation, immediately pressed me:

"I asked what my charm is. Why aren't you answering?"

"..."

"Don't tell me... I have no charm at all?"

"Hmm. Nothing really comes to mind."

"Think carefully. How can I have no charm when even Kuan, Derek, and my chamberlain have some?"

"Umm..."

"Feel free to speak freely. Anything will do. There must be at least one thing."

But no matter how much I thought, I couldn't think of anything.

"Well... I'm not sure what Your Highness's charm is."

The Crown Prince looked down at me with an expression of wounded pride.

Judging by the crease between his eyebrows, he was properly annoyed.

"By the end of today, write me a report listing five things - whether they're my good points, charms, whatever you can think of."

"What? A report?"

"Yes, that's an order. It must be submitted today. No leaving work until you submit it."

Is this really something that needs to be ordered?

Why is he so obsessed with charm?

Honestly, why does he care what a mere aide thinks about his charm?

'Your Highness only needs to be charming to your future wife.'

But what could I do?

The Crown Prince was my superior, and as a mere employee, I had to do what I was told.

It seemed leaving work on time today was out of the question.

I responded with a pout:

"Yes, understood."

Surely it doesn't have to be just my opinion.

I could ask others about the Crown Prince's charms, compile their opinions, and write the report.

'Then I can leave early without working overtime!'

But had he anticipated my clever plan?

The Crown Prince added a final condition:

"Asking others for their opinions is forbidden. Brahe, General Chief Aide Kuan, don't you dare say a word to Senior Chief Aide Violetta. Understood?"

"Yes, understood."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

General Chief Aide Kuan and Brahe responded energetically.

How could this be?

My plan to get help from those two and leave work early had evaporated in an instant due to the Crown Prince's order.