…And then, the day after we all had fun playing in the mud.

Life isn’t that easy.

Even if I only had eleven days left to live, the responsibility of missing a whole day’s worth of lessons weighed heavily on me. Well, the teacher had no idea how long I had left, so there was no point in asking for leniency.

Even so, I just couldn’t accept it.

How could I waste my precious day off writing an apology?

Also, why was the crown prince, Sazanjill Lukino Lapisenta, who was in a different year, sitting next to me?

…He shouldn’t have come forward and say, “I’m an accomplice, too!”

I asked that idiot, tapping my pen on the desk.

“Hey, Your Highness. Have you finished writing?”

“Hmm. Almost there. What about Lelouche?”

“I’m having trouble because I don’t have enough material.”

“Material?”

The face that had been staring at the paper turned toward me. It was the dignified expression he showed during official duties. If only he showed it more often… more women would’ve been captivated by him. Even more so if he showed them his lapis lazuli eyes.

“I completely forgot how many tourists visit Asatida Beach every year. You see, if you want to spread mud beauty treatments, don’t you think it’d be faster if we were to target aristocratic tourists? If they like it, word will spread far and wide—”

“Lelouche, now isn’t the time to write a paper on commercial development. It’s time to write a letter of apology for the other day.”

Prince Sazanjill spoke the truth with a straight face.

In that case, it’d be rude of me not to respond with a straight face.

“But Your Highness, I haven’t done anything wrong?”

“…Puge?”

Hey, Your Highness. Please stop making that pathetic sound. It’s a waste of your handsome face.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to finish my train of thought, though.

“You threw mud at me with your right hand, so I threw it back with my left hand. In other words, in order to reflect on this, you’d have to explain the wrongdoings of your right hand first, right?”

Upon hearing that, Prince Sazanjill’s eyes widened slightly while he remained silent.

I’m glad that you’ve realized—if I admit the truth and repent for my actions the other day, then Lady Lala and the others, who started it, would be forced to reflect on their actions in the same manner, or worse.

If the trouble were to grow that much, then our parents would inevitably be summoned.

Our parents, the dukes. Besides, if Prince Sazanjill was one of the masterminds, then the king would have to step in as well.

…His Highness doesn’t seem to want to make a big deal out of this, either.

With a serious expression, he reached for a new sheet of paper.

“—After all, wouldn’t it be better to better understand this concept in our own country before targeting tourists? If we focus too much on the overseas market, there’s a possibility that we’d be eliminated domestically. It’d be easier for overseas tourists to get involved if we put up a clear sign such as ‘Royal Purveyor,’ and then focus on overseas market.”

“I see. In that case, would it be better if we presented a policy to develop products with the intention of having the queen use them?”

“Ah, that’s right. But before that, the Elcage family has never had any involvement in cosmetic development. Do you have any connections?”

“Hmm, maybe I can figure something out if I ask Father, but no clue.”

“In that case, it’d be best to ask Baron Alban through Lumiere. There are many different experts in the academy, so it might be interesting to approach beauty from the medical field—”

And so, we started drafting a bill to start a new business.

However, the more he spoke, the more I found myself listening.

After all, I was still far behind him in this regard. Approaching beauty through medical science? I hadn’t even the slightest bit of thought for such an idea. Certainly, the academy where Baron Alban worked seemed to attract scholars who were well versed not only in history, but also in medicine and pharmacology. It seemed that we could utilize that.

Really… I can’t compete with him.

Of course, a queen didn’t really need the know-how of commercial development, but she should learn a fair bit of it at school.

And so, just as I was about to bow down inwardly to the future king…

He burst out laughing, looking as foolish as ever.

“Pufufu!”

“Your Highness, since there’s no one else around, I’ll be frank with you… Gross.”

“I’m sorry—where were we again?”

“We were discussing how to develop a new industry in our kingdom of Lapisenta.”

“I’m impressed that you can say that with a straight face while sitting in front of a statement.”

“I’m honored by your praise.”

If I were standing, I’d have curtsied and bowed, but again, I was sitting down.

Instead, I smiled at him, and Prince Sazanjill placed his pen down on the desk.

“This is a good opportunity to report back on the other day. Thanks to the letter you brought, we were able to contact Duke Fable without any trouble. We discovered that the eldest son of Count Luct was the mastermind. It seems that he had connections with domestic extremists from the beginning… Well, to put it simply, he seems to have been instigated. From now on, my father and the others, with the cooperation of Duke Fable, will be thoroughly investigating those who were manipulating the situation behind the scenes.”

“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’ splendid work.”

I praised him like a lady, to which he replied with a wry smile.

“And now, a new industry for the Asatida region, which will inevitably be deserted for a while. It’ll take time to restore the fish farm, but you can always collect as much mud as you want, right?”

He looked at me with a grin, and I smiled, clapping my hands together.

“Well, that’s true! As expected of Your Highness, you have such foresight!!”

“You’re being too obvious, it’s a bit annoying.”

“Oh, are you having a stomachache? Shall I prepare some hot water for you?”

“…It’s fine.”

It was just a coincidence that we connected well. Even I, as expected, couldn’t foresee the future. It’d be embarrassing to say that out loud.

As I continued to smile, Prince Sazanjill straightened his collar with a serious expression on his face.

“Hey, Lelouch. Would you mind reconsidering the matter of breaking off our engagement?”

“…I don’t want to.”

“I just can’t imagine marrying anyone other than you.”

“What’s so good about a woman who’s still afraid of the queen?”

“Isn’t she adorable?”

“That’s just poor taste.”

How did the conversation turn to this?

I was so astonished that I couldn’t say anything more, but Prince Sazanjill refused to back down.

“What’s been ailing you all this time?”

“Like I said, there’s nothing—”

“—Should I ask what you’re hiding instead?”

I instinctively pursed my lips. At that slight reaction, Prince Sazanjill, with a desperate look on his face, took both of my hands. His hands weren’t strong, but very warm.

“Hey, Lelouche. Am I really that unreliable?”

“Well, you were so easily fooled by your brother’s sweet words that you overlooked the rumors of infidelity—”

—Damn!

Seriously, how many times do I have to blunder today before it’s enough?

No good, really. I’m letting my guard down way too much.

Hey, His Highness Zafield. You were right.

It seems that I’ve been relying too much on His Highness Sazanjill.

“So, you’re hiding something after all. What do you think of my smooth talk? Have you started to see me in a new light?”

His proud snort was adorable. His face was exactly the same as when he gave me that hair ornament. Even though it had been over ten years since then.

“I haven’t lived two years longer than you for nothing. I’ll be an adult, but… I can’t make light of those two years while you’re still a child.”

“…You say ‘child,’ but I’m already sixteen.”

“You were playing in the mud at school and now have to write a letter of apology. What is that if not a child?”

That’s right—even though more than ten years have passed, I’m still a child who depends on you.

“Don’t worry. I’ve noticed Zafield’s lies to some extent… I’m a little late in noticing, though.”

In response, he stood up by himself and bowed sincerely to me.

“If Lelouche was hurt because of that, I want to apologize. I should’ve looked after Zafield better… It’s all my fault. I’m really sorry.”

It was the same during the sword-fighting tournament.

You’re the kind of person who can bow for someone even when you aren’t at fault.

You…

I respect you more than anyone else. I adore you—and I also feel a little sorry for you.

“His Highness Zafield is His Highness Zafield, while His Highness Sazanjill is His Highness Sazanjill, right?”

There’s a limit to how much you can shield someone.

After all, it’s painful to just stand here and watch you get hurt all the time.

“If you act like a big brother too much, you’ll only make His Highness Zafield more resentful, you know?”

“But even so, I want to be his older brother—and your fiancée.”

“I can’t do that anymore…”

Because I don’t have time to get hurt for you anymore.

I shook off his hand and left the classroom. Just then, I bumped something with my toe and I looked down. I saw a paper bag. Inside were some delicious-looking sweets.

They were the fluffy and sweet-looking desserts that I really liked.

But there was no one in the hallway.

~End of the Secret Story

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