Chapter 17

The prince appeared while I was engaged in idle banter with Sir Janiche, savoring a cup of tea. He made his presence known by peeping through the slightly ajar dining room’s doors.

“Welcome! I thought you were going to collapse from hunger.”

“Oh, no. Collapsing is…”

“In that case, do hurry inside before you collapse.”

Despite his imposing stature, the prince scurried to the table and settled down beside me. While doing so, he skillfully avoided making eye contact with Sir Janiche, opting instead to cast his gaze upon the wall or fiddle with his fingers.

He was dressed in a new dark green shirt, which fit him impeccably, unlike the borrowed shirt from Sir Janiche. However, he seemed somewhat unfamiliar with the well-fitted clothes, occasionally adjusting the sleeves with a touch of awkwardness.

“It suits you perfectly due to your fair complexion. Also, this is freshly brewed tea.”

The prince nodded in a mechanical manner. His damp hair cascaded down to his waist, yet he seemed unperturbed by the moisture.

“Just a moment, please. I’ve reheated the chicken dish.”

“Sh-should we eat together?”

“Absolutely.”

No one could rival his innocence. I guided him to the kitchen and came back to where Sir Janiche had already set a plate brimming with salad before us.

I began by serving the prince his portion of chicken, then divided the remainder for Sir Janiche, and finally helped myself to what was left. As I portioned the food, the prince stood behind me, gripping the apron strings with a hint of trepidation.

“Please, take a seat.”

“Ah, yes.”

Since I couldn’t simply tug at the strings, I turned to face the prince. He hesitantly took the seat beside me, placing his hands on his thighs with a slightly puzzled expression. I laid the fork and knife in front of him.

“From now on, you should use your utensils during meals. Understand?”

“But… I don’t know how to use them.”

“You’re smart, Prince, and you’ll learn quickly.”

“A-am I smart?”

I remained silent, yet the prince appeared content with the mere compliment. Tentatively, he began to slice the meat with the utensils; his technique was somewhat clumsy, resulting in unevenly cut chicken.

As he gingerly placed a rather ragged piece into his mouth, both Sir Janiche and I finally took up our own utensils in earnest.

Although only a day had passed since the prince descended the stairs, we were already growing accustomed to our newfound daily routine.

“That was truly delicious. Well, I shall take my leave now.”

“Take care.”

As was customary, Sir Janiche departed first, leaving me to roll up my sleeves, rise from my seat, and gather the empty plates.

Just as I was about to arrange the plates, utensils, empty teacups, and water glasses on a tray for removal, the prince, who had been watching me intently, spoke up.

“Is… is it heavy?”

“Oh… no, not really. It’s not burdensome at all.”

Truth be told, I couldn’t be a maid if I could hardly lift such a weight. I was on the verge of saying it when I caught a glimpse of the prince’s melancholic eyes, prompting me to swiftly correct my response. Feigning a struggle, I hoisted the tray, and he immediately sprang to his feet.

“I… I can help.”

“Truly? Thank you. Our Prince is indeed strong.”

“It’s… it’s nothing. I can even lift a wardrobe.”

Why would he need to lift a wardrobe? I was about to ask, but then I realized it was merely a child’s boast, easily comprehensible.

The prince strode briskly, tray in hand. There was a trace of triumph in his footsteps.

“Please place it there. I’ll do the dishes.”

“But… do you wash dishes every day?”

“Yes, and afterward, I cleaned Sir Janiche’s quarters. Oh, speaking of which, I will be adding another bedroom today.”

The prince regarded me with a look of curiosity. I passed by him and began to fill the sink with water.

“I have to make a room for you. Would you prefer it adjacent to Sir Janiche’s quarters?”

“I… I dislike that idea…”

His vehement objection escaped his lips. Perhaps a room with one space between them would be more suitable. As I pondered, the prince blushed and inquired tentatively.

“Can I… use the room next to Daphne’s?”

“That’s not possible, I’m afraid. Those bedrooms are all rather cramped, and none of them have attached bathrooms.”

“I don’t mind that.”

“But I do. You are a prince, after all, and it is only fitting that you use a good room. Moreover, even Sir Janiche has a bedroom with a bathroom.”

She continued her words with the prince before turning her attention to washing the dishes. At that moment, he fell silent, his eyes silently observing her every move.

What seemed ordinary and familiar to her appeared strange and fascinating in the eyes of the prince. Every now and then, he would move his hand, attempting to mimic her motions as she washed the teacups.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Do you like it? Watching me do the dishes.”

“Ah… could… could I give it a try as well?”

“No, that wouldn’t be appropriate. It would be rather strange for the prince to wash the dishes.”

“I… I wouldn’t mind.” The prince muttered regretfully.

“I’m sorry, but could you help me roll up my sleeves? It seems they keep sliding down.”

“Uh, sure!”

Perhaps I should have assigned him a task much earlier. The prince’s violet eyes ignited with enthusiasm. With his long legs stretched out, he swiftly approached me from behind.

“…I can feel your breath on my head, Your Highness.”

“Ah, I-I apologize.”

“There’s no need for apologies…”

I chuckled briefly and shook my head, my high ponytail tickling the prince’s chin, causing him to make a grunting sound.

“Just… let me touch it for a moment.”

“Yes?”

I saw an arm with deep green clothes. As it lightly grazed my head, the prince concentrated intently, skillfully rolling up my sleeves. Was this task so serious?

I refrained from mocking his seriousness, as he carried himself as if he had embarked on a weighty mission. His silver hair, which occasionally tilted to one side, brushed against my cheek.

With one sleeve rolled up to my elbow, the prince hesitated and said, “T-this time, I-I mean the opposite side,” before shifting his hand.

His warm, sturdy fingers made contact with the inside of my arm before swiftly retreating.

“Thank you. You did a good job.”

“I-Is that so…”

“Yes, I will ask for your help again in the future. Would that be fine?”

“Uh, yes! You can ask for my help every day if you wish.”

The prince, having finally rolled up my sleeves, responded with a bright voice. In that moment, my gaze was fixed on the pristine plate; however, it felt as though I could discern the brightness of his expression without even looking at him.

Stepping aside once more, the prince’s body seemed restless, as if he were eagerly awaiting my summons, despite the fact that I no longer needed his help until I finished washing the dishes.

After tidying up the final rinsed teaspoon, I wiped my damp hands on an apron and turned in his direction. His violet eyes gleamed like a contented puppy, basking in the affectionate attention of its owner.

“Shall we go upstairs now?”

“Ah, yes. My room needs to be tidied.”

“That’s right, Prince. You’re staying with us now instead of being all alone on the top floor.”

As I offered a gentle smile and spoke those words, the prince gazed at me silently. His eyes, slightly moistened, mirrored his emotions. Together, we ascended the stairs, and suddenly, I interjected.

“By the way, now that I think about it, I don’t think you’ll be able to use your new bedroom anytime soon; the bedding needs to be washed, and even if I did it now, I don’t think it would dry in a day….”

“T-then, what should I do? W-where should I sleep?”

“Well, how about transforming into a puppy tonight and sleeping with me?”

Naturally, I moved to the room adjacent to Sir Janiche’s sleeping quarters. The prince abruptly halted outside the door, causing me to turn back. His eyes darted around, a flustered demeanor overtaking him as he fidgeted and toyed with his fingers.

I opened a small window within the bedroom, allowing sunlight to filter through while dust particles danced lazily in the air.

“If you’d rather not, that’s perfectly fine. I can spend the night in the dining room.”

“Y-you mean, you’ll give up your room to me?”

“Yes. You were dead set against sleeping with Sir Janiche.”

“I-I don’t want that! B-but I… I don’t wish to inconvenience you either…”

What then should we do? If he were to simply transform into a puppy, there would be no inconvenience for anyone.

I pulled back the gray fabrics that covered the closet, desk, and bed and dropped them to the floor. The bedroom, untouched by human hands for an extended period, had cobwebs akin to those on the top floor where the prince had previously resided.

Erasing all traces within a single day seemed like an insurmountable task. I dragged the gray clothes into the hallway and fetched a broom.

“I think I’ll settle for sweeping the floors and wiping down the furniture today; that’ll be enough for me to call it a day.”

“I-I’ll do it.”

“You, my prince?”

“You said it was my room…. and it looks like you can’t do it alone.”

I observed the prince’s delicate hands, seemingly unaccustomed to any form of menial labor. Despite his lack of experience, he hesitated momentarily before taking hold of the broom. Without uttering a word, he passed by me and commenced sweeping the floor with vigor.

I watched him silently and retrieved a feather duster.

“You should start in the corner,” I said, “so we can finish quickly.”

The prince halted his awkward movements and glanced at me. Regardless of his unfamiliarity with menial tasks, I had no objections to his assistance.

After all, the nameless castle was secluded. No one would raise an objection if the prince were to engage in household chores.

He proceeded towards the corners and began sweeping ardently with the broom.

Every so often, he cast a glance in my direction, as if yearning for praise, his long hair swaying gently as he diligently cleaned the floor.