“Choosing clothes sure is fun. Up until now, when it came to clothes, they were usually hand-me-downs or leftovers from shops. I’ve never had any real need to choose.”

“I haven’t seen any of Geo’s clothes, though…?”

The conversation took place at a café that they stopped at for a break after visiting several shops.

“What kind of dress should we try next?”

“What do you mean, ‘we’…?”

In front of Geo, who was completely absorbed in choosing a dress, Lithia stirred milk and sugar in a tea cup with her head hanging in a somewhat dejected manner.

“It’s much more enjoyable picking out dresses for Lithia than for anything for me? And much more meaningful, too.”

“Enough!”

By that point, she had almost resigned herself.

Nevertheless, that didn’t make her any less happy.

Until then, for Lithia, the notion of “dressing up” was synonymous to “being ridiculed.” After all, whenever she attended dance parties, all dressed up, she’d only earn scowls from her surroundings.

It used to be such a hassle.

However, Geo got excited seeing Lithia in a new dress. Every time she put on a new one, his face would light up—and that alone made her happy.

Hence why Lithia couldn’t really say anything back to him.

“Come to think of it, the store I used to work at also had dresses, but they didn’t go as far as selling them to aristocrats. I’m sure those dresses would suit Lithia nicely, too!”

“That’s where Geo used to live and work, right? Was it an apparel store?”

“No, not really. They sell everything from books to food. If you ask me what kind of shop it is, it’s the kind that has everything.”

“Huh…”

The flow of the conversation shifted to Geo’s past. While he had mentioned it a few times, that was her first time hearing the details.

“What kind of work did you do there?”

“Deliveries, sorting inventory, simple bookkeeping… Basically that. Although, come to think of it, everyone used to compete with each other for customer service—especially my peers.”

“I see…?”

“Even though usually, people aren’t that invested in their jobs…”

He must had been reminiscing about his old buddies. As he spoke nostalgically, Geo smiled with his eyes.

“—After all, whenever I tried to serve customers, everyone’d rush and try to switch places with me. They must’ve really loved serving customers.”

“Maybe, that isn’t really the case…”

Apparently, Geo hadn’t changed all that much from back then.

Lithia chuckled as she imagined the friends who tried to gatekeep Geo’s honesty to avoid offending the customers.

　◆◆◆

Inside a certain room in the royal castle when it was almost evening…

“Your Highness, I have something to report.”

“Go on.”

Andrew Lafizard sat in a chair with armrests as he received a report on a matter he’d ordered his attendant to investigate.

“Leave.”

“Understood.”

After confirming that there was no mistake with the report, Andrew spoke without sparing a glance.

“…I see, he truly didn’t intend to heed my advice. Well then, what should I do…?”

While reading the report, Andrew’s beautiful blue eyes became frosty. In a room surrounded by luxurious furniture, his words rang terribly.

“…I’m pretty sure there’s a place in the Far East that’s suitable for you.”

A merry, yet heartless soliloquy.

It hinted at the cruel future that’d befall a certain man.

“Geo Wales, there won’t be a third time.”

From a cheerful tone, Andrew’s voice took on a frigidness that matched his gaze.

Be it during the dance class and yesterday’s call—he had already warned him twice.

Yet, that man chose to ignore him.

“If you’re that oblivious, I’ll teach you a lesson—I’ll show you the kind of fate that befalls men who dare try and approach my Fairy Princess—my Lithia.”

Then, there was a flash.

Andrew picked up a dart he had carelessly left on top of his study and swiftly threw it at the wall.

Afterwards, he turned away as if nothing had happened.

Behind him, the dart was embedded at the right side of the wall where the map of Lafizard hung.

---

***T/N: Gee I wonder what this totally not toxic prince is planning. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with forcibly removing his love rival.

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