Despite being taken aback for a moment, Charlotte remained calm and only turned her gaze to Ethelbert.

Then, as if in response, he looked at her as well. His smile was so smug, she could almost hear him say, ‘Did I catch you by surprise?’

Although Charlotte didn’t let it show on her face, he probably knew she was surprised.

Is it magic…?

She couldn’t think of any other possibilities.

Save for the small number of magic tools circulating in the Kingdom of Lymore, the word ‘magic’ almost had nothing to do with her kingdom. As such, even though she had heard many times that the emperor’s younger brother, Ethelbert, was a prodigy in magic, that was her first time ever witnessing magic.

—Or to be more precise, experiencing.

It must be telepathy.

The royal castle, wanting to experiment with magic tools, had introduced some for communication purposes. In the future, they planned on increasing the use of magic tools for convenience and to deepen the understanding of different cultures. Thus, learning about magic became part of her duties. Fascinated by the subject, Charlotte studied it on her own time as well, so she had a broad level of knowledge.

She recalled that the type of magic for tampering with the minds of others was extremely difficult. As a result, there weren’t many practitioners.

Was it really okay for him to reveal he’s a practitioner of such a rare technique?

Even more so considering Charlotte was the next rule of a country with which his own had a less than amicable relationship.

“Is something…?”

The two held each other’s gaze without exchanging a single word until Juliet curiously spoke.

“…Oh, right.”

Ethelbert acted as if he had forgotten others were present besides Charlotte. Seeing how deliberate he acted, Charlotte couldn’t help but smile.

At the same time, she had mixed feelings.

On one hand, she had found a new and interesting toy. On the other, she knew that just like the others, it’d eventually be on its last legs. She was tired of seeing them meet the same fate over and over again.

Such contradictory emotions swirled inside her.

“I was in the middle of a work discussion with Her Highness Charlotte, so could you please leave us?”

Juliet, who’d been carefully raised and protected like a delicate flower, wasn’t accustomed to such malicious treatment. No one had ever asked her to leave before, so she had trouble comprehending the situation.

Juliet awkwardly tensed up, and after a few seconds, she finally moved, albeit failing to hide her agitation.

“I-I must’ve disturbed you. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t mind if you wish to participate. What steps should we go through before making education compulsory for children? What should we do about the issue of expenses? As you can see, we’re sharing our opinions about policy. Is there anything you’d like to add?”

Although Ethelbert asked with a friendly smile, his eyes were definitely looking down on Juliet.

Asking her is useless, anyway.

Although, Juliet was ignorant to the subtilities of others, so she wouldn’t notice.

In just a short time, Ethelbert had completed his evaluation. Surely, he had been able to accurately and objectively gauge Juliet as a person.

“I don’t think I can help with that… Sorry.”

When Juliet apologized again, Ethelbert curtly said, “I see. Then stop wasting my time, I’m not that free.”

“Hm…”

Juliet froze once again. His coldness must’ve been beyond her imagination.

How pathetic.

What? Did she expect him to comfort her? For him to say, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ or something along that line?

That was how everyone had been treating Juliet that entire time, so she must’ve expected the same from Ethelbert. Yet, as that didn’t happen, she was reeling from confusion.

Quentin, who stood next to her, furrowed his eyebrows. He was seething. However, the other party was the younger brother of an emperor. Even the son of a prime minister like Quentin had to be very careful with his words and conduct.

Even if the sight of Juliet being disrespected made his blood boil, he should how better than acting on said anger. If his careless choice of words offended the empire, the entire Kingdom of Lymore as a whole—including Juliet—would be at risk.

That was a basic premise, something that Quentin should be fully aware of. Yet, the effect of the poison called ‘Juliet’ had on the mind couldn’t be underestimated.

“Quentin.”

When Charlotte called his name, Quentin was stunned.

Her sharply narrowed gaze made him aware that he was being reprimanded. Upon realizing that his emotions were showing on his face, cold sweat ran down his back.

“Quentin Sargent, is it?”

Quentin shuddered when his gaze collided with Ethelbert. The latter wasn’t even glaring at him, yet it felt as if every pore in his body had opened, and his brain was about to stop working. Somehow, he managed to squeeze out a, “yes.”

Quentin was also acquainted with Ethelbert, but he never had he been made to feel so nervous—so small.

Ethelbert was making it that he held no interest in Quentin. He wasn’t even a nuisance to Ethelbert—just plain unnecessary.

That intention, akin to hostility, pierced Quentin.

“Hurry up and take her with you. Aren’t you accompanying her?”

Ethelbert wished that the two who intruded on them would go away at that second. Quentin understood and acted quickly. He couldn’t afford to show any more disrespect.

“Let’s go, Your Highness Juliet.”

“…B-but—”

“Please, excuse me, Your Highness the Imperial Brother, and Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Quentin bowed and forcibly took Juliet with him. Juliet seemed concerned, but since Charlotte didn’t stop her, she probably gave up halfway through and obediently followed him.

Only once the two of them were alone, Ethelbert rested his chin on his propped armwhile crossing his long legs in a relaxed manner. He gave a look of surprise towards the direction where Juliet and Quentin had disappeared.

“Say, I’ve always wondered why the second princess couldn’t hold an audience with me. Could it be because she hasn’t been properly educated as royalty?”

“…My apologies. She is frail, so everyone is more negligent with her.”

“It’s not something you should apologize for.” Ethelbert quickly denied it.

Juliet’s mistakes would always be excused by those around her, to the point that such had become a habit for Charlotte.

“But… She’s frail, hm?”

Stroking his chin, Ethelbert smiled in amusement, turning his gaze towards the direction where Juliet and the others had left, and spoke in a meaningful tone.

“Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing.”

She was curious, but he didn’t give the impression that he’d explain what those earlier words meant.

“All right, Your Highness Charlotte. There are no more distractions. Let’s continue our conversation.”

‘Distractions.’

Charlotte didn’t know anyone in her kingdom who’d call Juliet that.

At the same time, she realized that Ethelbert was a person from another country, he was someone who wasn’t corroded by that kingdom’s way of thinking. A sense of camaraderie began to emerge.

Such a strange feeling. It was as if after all that time, she had finally found the place where she belonged.

Whenever someone came into contact with Juliet, even those who initially harbored malicious intentions, they would eventually connect with her. Juliet just had that indescribable charm to her.

For that reason, Charlotte had been somewhat worried Ethelbert would end up being taken in like everyone else. As he spoke with Juliet, Charlotte wondered if he’d overlook her spoiled personality. However, those fears turned out to be unfounded, as he showed no signs of taking a liking to Juliet. If anything, he only grew to disdain her.

Ethelbert could be said to be unique, at least in that kingdom. After all, he shared Charlotte’s sentiments.

“Okay.”

How long had it been since she last felt so at peace? She could no longer remember, as it was during her childhood.

---

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E/N: If Ethelbert can usual magic that attacks the mind of others, wouldn’t it be possible he is using it to make Charlotte like him?? Then again, she might not need it.  Or, maybe Juliet has that ability and has been using it subconsciously.  If so, she might have gotten it from her father, in which case, he and Charlotte are immune to it.  Ethelbert being immune to it would be because he also has the ability.  That then leads to the question of why does the king dot on one daughter and not the other.  Charlotte probably resembles like his father while Juliet probably looks like his late wife.

***T/N: Exactly, should we be wary that the lover boy is using some kind of mind trick on our innocent Charlotte?

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