CPSMBD Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Prince In love

"Yes, it's true."

"But why? Why won't you date His Highness?"

Seriously, who put them in charge of my love life? Dating the Crown Prince is my decision. Why are they interrogating me about this?

"Why should I date His Highness in the first place?"

"Because His Highness likes you!"

"Well, I don't like him!"

Brahe clapped his hands together as if having an epiphany.

"Ah! Now I understand."

This guy just doesn't get it. Love is a two-way street. One-sided affection isn't enough.

"So when exactly did His Highness start having feelings for you?"

"It hasn't been long. Actually... Prince Friedrich's feelings for me aren't genuine right now."

"What? What do you mean?"

Brahe's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, you see... His Highness drank the Fairy's Tears potion. And I happened to be the first person he saw afterward."

General Chief Aide's Kuan eyes trembled.

"What? Our Prince drank the Fairy's Tears?"

"Yes."

Brahe gave me a suspicious look.

"Don't tell me... Senior, did you actually steal the Fairy's Tears and secretly feed it to Prince Friedrich...?"

"Do you really think I would?"

I should have let Brahe enter that office that day instead of me.

Then I'd be living peacefully now without any worries.

Though the Crown Prince would be suffering from his infatuation with Brahe instead, but that wouldn't be my problem.

'No, wait. If the Crown Prince became Brahe's rival, wouldn't that make things difficult for Lily?'

That wouldn't be fair to Lily.

"Ah, of course not. I was worried for a moment that you had committed a crime against His Highness."

"Just what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Someone who might secretly feed His Highness Fairy's Tears if it meant avoiding overtime work?"

"Even though I hate overtime, I wouldn't go that far!"

General Chief Aide Kuan, who had been listening intently to our conversation, asked:

"How did Prince Friedrich end up drinking the Fairy's Tears?"

"Well, about that..."

Before I could answer, Brahe shot his hand up, cutting me off.

"Oh, wait! I think I know!"

"What is it?"

"Remember that person who was dragged away by guards during the three-minute matchmaking session with His Highness a few days ago! What was her name... I knew it..."

"Aila Grita."

"Yes, that's right! Was she the one who secretly gave His Highness the Fairy's Tears?"

"Yes, that's right."

Both Brahe and General Chief Aide Kuan's jaws dropped.

"Oh, that explains it. I thought it was unusual to arrest a noble lady in public like that... but now it makes sense."

Chief Kuan nodded.

"Secretly drugging His Highness – now I understand."

"Then Aila Grita must have been the one who stole the Fairy's Tears too."

"Right. But I think she had help. Getting the Fairy's Tears from the Magic Department without leaving a trace, and escaping surveillance – these aren't things a woman could easily do alone."

"Hmm. You have a point, Senior."

"At least there's an antidote, so His Highness will return to normal once we get it."

"There's an antidote for Fairy's Tears?"

"Yes, apparently."

I clapped my hands to get General Chief Aide Kuan and Brahe's attention.

Now came the most crucial part.

"Listen, you two. Nobody can know about Prince Friedrich's infatuation with me until we find the antidote. Understood?"

While General Chief Aide Kuan nodded in agreement, Brahe raised another question.

"Huh? Why not?"

"It absolutely cannot happen! Just imagine if Her Majesty the Empress found out."

After pondering for a moment, Brahe spoke up.

"Wouldn't she just arrange a grand royal wedding between Prince Friedrich and you, Senior? At the Emperor's recent coronation ceremony, she announced she'd arrange a magnificent royal wedding for whoever could win Prince Friedrich's heart."

"That's exactly why we can't let anyone know. This must remain absolutely secret! I don't want a loveless marriage."

"Hmm... What about Lily? Can we tell Lily?"

"Absolutely not."

When I shot back with flashing eyes, Brahe mumbled in a small voice, looking dejected.

"But Lily and I don't keep secrets from each other..."

"Still no."

"Lily will feel so betrayed when she finds out later..."

"The answer is no."

When I shook my head firmly, Brahe's face fell.

"Besides, this concerns His Highness's personal matters. We absolutely cannot go around talking about it carelessly."

"Fine... I understand."

Brahe reluctantly agreed.

Phew. Thank goodness I outranked Brahe. At least I could pull rank when needed.

As Brahe was returning to his desk to work, he suddenly stopped and spoke up.

"But you know... I think it would be fine if you married Prince Friedrich. You wouldn't have to work overtime anymore, and I'd have an amazing connection to the future Empress!"

"What about my life?"

"Well, I don't know about that? But since His Highness has fallen for you, I'm sure things will work out somehow..."

I really should have let Brahe go into that office that day.

"Stop talking nonsense and get back to work!"

"Yes, understood."

Brahe returned to his desk and began working.

***

A few days later, the Crown Prince moved his entire workspace to the Aide's Office.

He made up the ridiculous excuse that I wouldn't show my face outside of work hours.

But why would I need to see the Crown Prince outside of work hours anyway?

The Crown Prince constantly suggested we go for walks or have meals together after work, but I rejected every offer.

There were times when I almost wavered, seeing his dejected face after all the rejected date proposals, but I held firm against the temptation.

I couldn't risk any rumors starting if I spent personal time with the Crown Prince outside the palace.

Instead, we compromised by placing his desk next to mine.

During work, the Crown Prince would stare intensely at my face whenever he had the chance.

I deliberately ignored his gaze.

But undeterred by my indifference, the Crown Prince spoke up.

"Violetta, you look beautiful even while working."

Silence fell over the Aide's Office, and all eyes turned to me.

"Agh! Your Highness, why would you say that?"

My face burned hot.

"Why? I'm merely speaking the truth."

Brahe and General Chief Aide Kuan cleared their throats and turned away.

I could feel their shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

'Why don't you just laugh out loud?'

Their pretense was even more annoying.

"I can't work properly because of you, Your Highness!"

The Crown Prince remained unmoved by my complaint.

"Don't mind me and continue working."

How could I not mind? I put down the documents I was reading and glared at him.

'This is so uncomfortable! Incredibly uncomfortable!'

Even Brahe, who had initially celebrated the Crown Prince's feelings for me, seemed very uncomfortable once the Prince settled into the Aide's Office.

Of course. Who would welcome having their superior watching their every move? It made it difficult to even take short breaks.

The moment the Crown Prince stepped away, Brahe even made an absurd suggestion:

"Senior, how about making a deal? Just go on one date with him in exchange for sending Prince Friedrich back to his office?"

"Absolutely not."

Even the General Chief Aide tried to convince me.

"Miss Violetta, just consider it positively once."

When I gave him a betrayed look, General Chief Aide Kuan mumbled in a dying voice:

"I was just suggesting... Not saying you have to..."

That's the same thing!

I had absolutely no intention of sacrificing myself for the organization's peace.