“I apologize for calling you in front of so many. Have I offended you?”

After being led to a guestroom exclusive for honored guests, the crown prince asked with an apologetic look on his face.

“No, you don’t have to worry about that. Words regarding Your Highness’ fame often reach me. There’s no greater honor than being able to speak to you.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

Both his attitude and smile were friendly, but also impeccable. I couldn’t discern his true thoughts. Not to mention, there were his words to the princess earlier.

In short, he was willing to overlook her childishness, but only this time.

“Did you mean that?”

“…What are you referring to?”

After moistening his throat with black tea, the crown prince silently awaited my answer.

I looked at the entourage standing behind him before glancing at the cup he had just returned to the table.

He casually drank it without any suspicion, the tea prepared by an enemy country. However, I didn’t think he did it out of naivety—because that would have just been foolish.

Rather, it could be his arrogance manifested; that no poison from Paides could possibly end him. That, or a display of trust towards a country that’d eventually join his cause in the future. Either way, the act could’ve led to his death. Without extraordinary resolve, such a feat would’ve been impossible for him.

If I let my guard down, he’d go for my neck.

“Don’t be so wary, I was merely curious.”

The unsettling carefree crown prince continued.

“Aren’t you the lord of the Lowenberg territory? Not only did Elda ransack your territory, we also killed your family. Don’t you despise me, the prince of Elda?”

“Wasn’t that simply retribution? Paides was the one who started the war. Elda was simply defending itself.”

“Remarkable, but I doubt that the human heart is so objective?”

What a nasty guy.

He blathered on and on, trying to expose my heart.

“I don’t think it’s remarkable in any way. I simply don’t have such ambitions. I learned much from the war.”

“I see.”

◇◇◇

(POV: Milan)

“—I have no one to hate.”

A selfish and arrogant superpower. A greedy, shameless, and unprincipled country that waged war for mines of magic ore. Even if the war had ended, going to such a place was the same as courting death.

Some tried to dissuade me, the crown prince, saying that my younger siblings should go instead. Nevertheless, I insisted, for I was a man who’d eventually become the king of Elda. I wanted to see for myself—the appearance of the people we hurt because we had no other choice.

When I went to Lowenberg, where the damage was the heaviest among the people, the lord there told the people, “Hatred shouldn’t be passed onto the next generation. Neither should this tragedy repeat itself.”

Those words were like being struck by a blunt object, leaving me in shock.

There stood a girl younger than me, desperately acting strong and trying to put everything behind her.

I hated it—

—the overwhelming sadness and anger in her eyes.

The next second, she closed her eyes, concealing her feelings from everyone’s eyes.

“She’s a stark contrast to the royal family of this kingdom.”

They justified the princess’ uncouthness, “The princess spoke out on behalf of her country. Her heart goes out to her people.” and I was sent away without a single apology.

Judging from the words and gestures I’d seen so far, they seemed to believe that Elda was the villain who slaughtered countless numbers of their people, while they themselves were the victims.

“I thought I’d only be meeting with a bunch of haughty fools, but I was mistaken. There was a great catch.”

“I see. Are you acting up again?”

My milk brother, Noel, who came along as my attendant, skeptically gazed at me. However, I knew he was also interested in Iris. At a glance, he was expressionless like usual—but I, who had known him for long, saw through him.

“If she stays in this country, she’ll only suffer. However, she also doesn’t seem to be loyal to the state. She probably wouldn’t mind betraying Paides if it meant protecting her territory.”

Although, to be fair, Paides betrayed her first.

---

***T/N: Oh no!!!!!! A shitty princess and a yandere (read: shitty) prince!!!!!!!!! Passerby don’t read this chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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