“—Iris.”

Just when I thought I was finally free, the princess spotted me. How troublesome, even more so considering that I couldn’t just hide. If the lord of the territory that suffered the most damage didn’t make her appearance, various speculations would arise.

“It’s been so long, Iris. I’ve missed you.”

The princess, who came with the various members of her entourage, greeted me with a very friendly smile.

“It has been a long time, Your Highness. I’m honored that you remember me, even though I only met you a few times.”

Apparently, some of her entourage were trying get close to me through her.

The princess, who considered me her friend, seemed to take my words as they were.

“Well, of course. You’re a rising star. I’m interested in your shop, so I asked my maid to purchase some treats there for me. They were so delicious!”

Swept away by my words, the princess merrily carried the conversation.

“As it’s been so long, why don’t you become a royal purveyor?”

A royal purveyor. A title that everyone craved. Normally, it wasn’t something that could be attained this easily. After all, only the most carefully selected dishes were allowed into the mouths of the royal family. Even the fact that a shop was operated by a duchess shouldn’t be enough to warrant that title. Nobles plotting the assassination of the royal family was a tale as old as time after all.

“It’s truly an honor, but I’m afraid I’ll have to turn it down for I am unworthy of the title.”

“No way! Aren’t we close?”

Did you offer me such a title because we’re friends? I’m afraid it isn’t that simple.

“I know where I stand. Moreover, I’ve only ascended to the title of duke. I don’t want to incite unnecessary resentment. Unfortunately, I can’t accept this honor.”

“Oh, is that so? What a shame.”

The princess should be four years my senior. In spite of that, her gesture and expression of cupping her cheek as she sighed resembled that of a child.

“You seem to be enjoying yourselves, may I join you?”

The princess’ entourage became excited when a handsome man with sideswept, silver hair called out to us.

He was none other than Milan Magnoyer Elda.

Many aristocrats had seen him greeting the king earlier, so there was no one who didn’t know who he was.

When I looked around, I saw three types of people: those who regarded him with hostility, those who swooned at him—just like the princess’ entourage—and those who were apathetic.

Those with hostility probably lost family members on the battlefield, or had their territories burned to the ground, but otherwise lived in places unrelated to war.

For one, the princess—who should’ve been sheltered from anything related to war—frowned at the crown prince. Perhaps, due to her status as a member of the royal family. Regardless, I didn’t think she should be that blatant about it.

“I refuse, I have no intention of befriending you.”

At the princess’ words, the other ladies blanched and casually distanced themselves from her so as to not get caught up in the matter. In contrast to the princess’ rudeness, the crown prince showed the same friendly smile as when he called out to her.

…However, what kind of emotion hid beneath those smiles? Or the smiles displayed by his aides?

Isn’t she aware that she’s the princess?

One wrong move could prove to be fatal.

“I see, that’s a shame. Please don’t worry about it. The duchess piqued my curiosity, so I called out to her.”

—me?

Well, it was natural, considering he wanted to visit my territory.

“Your Highness, is there anything you’d like to talk to me about?”

“I—” “—Not a chance!”

The princess interjected loudly, before latching onto my arm. The smile on the crown prince’s face had vanished.

I was sweating profusely.

Does the princess want to resume the war?

A vain battle where there would be only losses and no gains. Except there wouldn’t be a next time. If the war resumed, Paides would be doomed.

“How dare you show yourself in front of Iris! Are you unaware of what you’ve done!?”

—What are you saying…?

Stop it!

“—It’s your fault that Iris lost her parents! If not for you, Iris wouldn’t have suffered so!”

“Your Highness!”

Why are you acting so haughty about it?

She didn’t know anything. She held a tea party in the middle of the war. She didn’t care about the lives that were lost in the flames of war.

“Please stop. You’re making a commotion. Your Highness the Crown Prince, I apologize for the discourtesy. I’m truly sorry. Please, can you find it in you to forgive me?”

“Iris, what are you doing? Raise your head.”

The princess couldn’t understand why I was bowing to the crown prince, and became very upset. But it didn’t matter. We were on the brink of darkness, and a single misstep would cause me to fall into the abyss.

“Raise your head, Duchess. I’m not petty enough to be offended by an ignorant child at a soiree. Come, let’s talk.”

“Of course.”

I quickly brushed off the princess’ hand and left the place with the crown prince before she could recover.

---

***T/N: Nah Passerby, the princess is the asshole this time around. Ha.

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