“Frankly, I think the princess has been very patient. Treating someone who is almost an adult like a fifteen-year-old child—how could she not feel hurt?”
Bergamot sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice.
“Child, you have a tendency to be overly protective of everyone. It’s good to be affectionate, but there should be a limit.”
Ern opened his mouth to speak but then clamped it shut.
He wanted to say something, but there were no words.
Bergamot’s words were not wrong.
The only excuse he had was that it was instinct.
The familial affection he felt towards Epherna was unavoidable, given that half of his blood was from the Dragon Clan.
Controlling instincts is no easy task.
Occasionally, he tried to treat Epherna as an adult, but then he would suddenly recall her face from childhood.
It was the kind of affection parents typically have for their children.
“…I’ll try my best.”
“You know that trying alone is not enough. You need to change your mindset.”
“Yes.”
Whether that would be possible was another matter.
Being of dragon descent meant his sense of familial affection was particularly strong, making it hard to think otherwise.
Even so…
“Thank you for your advice.”
“Yes. Make sure to reconcile properly.”
More than anyone, Ern agreed with Bergamot’s words about changing his mindset.
*****
That night, Ern found himself in Epherna’s room, the door slightly ajar.
He approached the bed, moving silently, and saw Epherna fast asleep.
Her eyes were damp, as if she had been crying.
Ern sat beside her and gently stroked her cheek.
“…I’m sorry.”
He knew Epherna had been trying. At merely fifteen, she had endured the pressures of being a princess, managed a grueling schedule of education, and dealt with negative noble factions plotting against her.
All she wanted through those childhood struggles was to stand beside Ern.
“It’s hard for me.”
Changing a deeply ingrained perception is not easy. Without some dramatic event, Ern doubted his view of her would change.
Just as he was thinking this…
Epherna’s eyes fluttered open.
“…Mister.”
Her voice was slightly hoarse.
Feeling guilty, Ern used his mana to cast a healing spell.
“You’re awake?”
“I wasn’t asleep.”
“Sleep some more.”
“I can’t sleep now that you’re here.”
“I’m sorry.”
Epherna grasped Ern’s hand, the one that had been caressing her cheek, and interlaced her fingers with his, her voice soft and apologetic.
“Mister, I’m sorry for getting mad today.”
Ern felt a pang of guilt.
Though she shouldn’t have, she felt awful.
“No, you weren’t wrong. I’m the one who should apologize. I’ll be honest with you from now on. You can still use your wish.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
Epherna’s eyes sparkled at his nod, but the light in them soon faded.
She stayed silent for a moment, lost in thought, before her eyes changed with a firm resolve.
“Then, Mister, promise me one more thing.”
“Okay, tell me.”
“Even though we made a promise, I know you still see me as a child. So, will you give me a chance to show you otherwise?”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to show you. I can’t explain exactly, but you’ll understand soon.”
Epherna pulled Ern’s hand and dragged him to the bed.
“And I’ll use my wish now. Sleep with me.”
Although Epherna invoked her wish, Ern hesitated.
Noticing the tension in his grip, she spoke up.
“Why? It’s not the first time we’ve slept together. We did it often when we lived at home.”
“It’s different now…”
“What’s different?”
Her body. Ern couldn’t say.
After the incidents in the cave and the hot spring, he felt that if he acknowledged something now, it would be like crossing a river of no return.
“Okay.”
Ern quietly accepted and let himself be led to the bed by Epherna.
As soon as Ern laid down, Epherna hugged him, just like when they first slept together in their humble yet abundant home.
“Your smell is nice, Mister…”
The scent reminded her of the fresh dawn breeze, like the smell one gets after taking a deep breath at the top of a mountain.
Epherna closed her eyes, intoxicated by it.
“What are you saying?”
Though he laughed, he felt the same way.
He, too, was intoxicated by Epherna’s scent.
Epherna smelled sweet.
It wasn’t like she wore perfume, but how could she smell this good?
He felt he understood why bees are drawn to flowers.
‘I’m getting sleepy.’
Perhaps it was because so much had happened recently.
Sleep was overtaking him.
Ern didn’t resist.
If sleep could wash away his complicated feelings, then it wasn’t such a bad thing.
With that in mind, he fell into a deep sleep for the first time in a long while.
*****
Merien, Epherna’s personal maid and chamberlain, was practically her other self. It was no exaggeration to say that Merien’s hands touched everything related to Epherna.
Waking her up was also part of her duties.
“…”
Merien looked at the sleeping Epherna and Ern with a cold gaze.
It was a heartwarming sight to see them hugging each other, but for some reason, Merien felt a burning sensation inside.
“Hah… when are they going to start dating already?”
It was obvious that Epherna liked Ern.
Ern didn’t seem to completely uninterested in Epherna either.
If they just waited, if enough time passed, they might be able to see them being lovey-dovey like a newlywed couple.
But the waiting.
The time was too much.
From Merien’s perspective, who was already married, it was too tiring to watch.
…Should I just spread the rumor?
Thinking that, Merien shook her head.
She almost made an extreme choice out of frustration.
“…It’s a good thing I’m her only personal maid.”
If other maids saw this, rumors would have spread everywhere.
Then they might really have to get engaged or something.
…
Wouldn’t that be okay?
Just as Merien was thinking about spreading the rumor, she heard a voice.
“Merien.”
Looking towards the bed, she saw Epherna was awake.
“Princess? You’re up…”
“Shh.”
Epherna put a finger to her lips, cutting Merien off.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
“Call the other maids so they can see this scene just as it is. Spread it as widely as possible.”
“…Excuse me…?”
“Please. You can bring the maids into my room.”
Merien blinked.
She didn’t immediately grasp the intent behind Epherna’s request.
“Spread the rumor.”
But with those words, Merien realized Epherna was thinking exactly the same as she had been moments ago.
“You can do that, right?”
Merien nodded vigorously.
The Princess, who had been shy, made up her mind.
Until now, all she could manage was holding hands and taking walks or wearing perfume.
But now, finally!
Feeling more energetic than usual, Merien called the maids. Using the small pretext of cleaning the princess’s room, there was no issue in calling them in.
The maids, following Merien’s orders, entered Epherna’s room.
It wasn’t long before the maids’ hushed voices filled the room.
*****
I admit it.
I’ve been too complacent.
Changing someone’s heart isn’t that easy. I’ve been trying to take the easy way out.
So now, I’m going to use whatever means necessary.
I need to make sure Mister doesn’t see me as a child anymore.
Before he sees me as a woman, he must first see me as an adult.
For that, I need to prepare properly.
The first task will be to establish a place that befits my position.
“…How did this happen?”
“It couldn’t be helped. How were we to know the maids would come to clean suddenly? We have to chalk it up to bad luck.”
The rumor that Epherna and Ern had spent the night together began to spread rapidly, starting from the Katia Duchy.
While Merien’s intentional spreading of the rumor played a part, it was impossible to stop such a story about the Empire’s First Princess, even for Damien himself.
“…I’m sorry. This is my fault.”
Ern blamed himself, while Epherna spoke nonchalantly.
“It’s okay. It’s not like there’s no way to resolve this.”
“There’s a solution?”
“We should get engaged. And we can spread the rumor as well.”
“What! That’s…”
“Do you want me to be known as a strange woman?”
“…No.”
If the rumors continued to spread unchecked, Epherna’s reputation would be ruined.
She would be labeled as a promiscuous woman in high society, someone who sleeps with men without being engaged.
All of Epherna’s efforts over the past three years to build a good image would be undone in an instant. With the only solution available, how could Ern choose anything else?
Ern asked with a worried tone.
“Are you okay with this?”
“I don’t mind. I don’t have any man I like anyway, and it’s actually a relief if it reduces the annoying marriage proposals and love letters I get every day.”
Her positive reaction allowed Ern to breathe a sigh of relief.
“…Alright. Since this is partly my fault, I’ll take responsibility. Let’s stay engaged until the rumors die down.”
“Okay.”
Snicker. Epherna smiled lightly.
