His Royal Highness's cats are very hairy.

"You can't let His Highness go inside in awe."

The samurai was a young man of the same age as Rutvias. No, maybe a little younger than Rutvias.

His hands and lips were trembling, but only his will was not wavering at all, letting Rutvias go ahead - to the king's bedroom.

"Rude! Back off!

The Chancellor, who was right behind Rutvias, reprimands the samurai, but the samurai does not move.

"No! I won't back down!

"Don't be silly! Get out of the way!

The samurai chief, who was beside him, tried to get the samurai's shoulder off him.

"I'm not going anywhere! Your Highness Rutvias resents your father... Your Majesty!?

"What are you talking about! Don't you dare!

The chief samurai pulls the samurai's sleeve, kneeling in a momentum that may lie flat in front of Rutvias. The samurai also knelt to be pulled by it and collapsed.

"My lord Rutvias, I apologize for the poor guidance! Punish me..."

Ludovias looks down blurry at the two bowing heads.

-... well, when I'm trying to kill your father... is that what you think these guys...

There's a faction thinking about that, and the Prime Minister next door told me it was just over the border. Long before I returned home, I was prepared, some three years ago. I knew you wouldn't be welcome with your hands up. I see. Between the earlier refrains, I say there are more enemies around me than I thought. Rutvias, like other personnel, analyzed it that way.

Rutvias looked at the young samurai being forced to kneel.

I'm sure he has a sincere oath of allegiance to the King. That's why he tried to protect his dear husband from Rutvias, who said he resented his father. It's not strange to be handbeaten on the spot, such as standing in front of a royal family, but also standing in front of a prince who wants to be a king prince. That is a life-threatening act.

Let me through.

Everyone on the spot breathes into a calm and quiet voice. Rutvias was no exception.

That voice, which is neither loud nor harsh, has for some reason calmed people down and had the power to obey.

"Don't worry about it."

The serene voice of his father, heard from behind the door, was to a young samurai who had made it through Rutvias.

"Your Majesty..."

"Let Rutvias through."

Rutvias was terrified for some reason and suddenly wanted to escape.

- ……… deline….

I looked back unconsciously. Expect 'someone' there.

But there he was, the chief secretary at the top of the Buddha.

"What's wrong?

"... no"

To Aurio's inquiry, Rutvias shook his head and turned forward.

I felt the bottom of my stomach boil when I was reminded of Adeline's smile, who trusted Aurio.

-... sticky...

Nothing, I didn't want you to be in Adeline. I didn't think Adeline would calm down if she was there for me.

Nobody helped me at all times. You'd be anxious to be scared, but I had to stand alone. That's how Rutvias has lived. Whether Adaline is there or not, it doesn't matter if she's alone. It doesn't matter, such as Adeline.

-... irrelevant.

"... excuse me"

Rutvias opened the door to the father king's bedroom.

"It was a disaster the other day, Your Highness."

It was the Grand Duke who stopped Rutvias in the hallway after a lengthy meeting with you and tried to return to the office.

-... oh, shit. Gotcha.

Hiding his inner tongue, Rutvias smiles.

"Big uncle. What do you mean by disaster?

"You know, they stopped you from entering His Majesty's bedroom."

"Is that so?"

That happened, in the wind, Rutvias nodded.

"I do not care because it is an act of profound loyalty to His Majesty"

"Your Highness is kind."

"Terrible. I'm just apprenticing my great-uncle."

Rutvias had no choice but to be stroked by the Grand Duke, who approached Rutvias with a cat stroke.

For Rutvias, the Grand Duke has long been a big uncle who doesn't care. He has always held Rutvias and Rutvias' father in his arms when his own foolish son deserved the throne, as he struggled with his grandfather's charm. And when the father of Ruthvias reigned, he began to follow him as if he had transgressed his hand.

And this attitude toward Rutvias. I guess you're going to get well into Rutvias and intervene in national politics.

I cannot leave the Grand Duke, one of the few elders of the royal family, a wretched man.

-... because I don't want any more enemies.

The samurai, who stood in front of Rutvias, was apparently expelled from the royal palace, I heard. Standing in front of a prince is usually an extreme sentence, but Rutvias instructed the prime minister to treat him with affection because it was a mistake from loyalty. Clearly, it is a measure of condescension towards the Kings. I don't think this will eliminate the hostility that can be directed at me, but it would be better than not doing

After that, Rutvias reunited with his father.

"Rut."

It's nicknamed and stops by the pillow.

The gentle, gentle eyes stayed the way they used to be, but shocked that his father was even thinner than he was ten years ago, he didn't know what to say.

"Welcome Back Rut"

'... just now, I'm back'

That's all I said, finally.

"... if Leena were here... how happy I would have been..."

Father's king's eyes shade.

At that moment, a cat jumped on Rutvias' head. If you realize it, you were wearing a cat against your father, taking unusual words, and Rutvias was fleeing the bedroom early.

I knew this would applaud the rumor that I resented my father, but I couldn't stay long in front of my father's king.

-... you're worse off betting on your father when you're 20.

Repeated in my heart, that's an excuse for the lonely look my father gave me when Rutvias left.

"You say something pleasant. By the way, Your Highness..."

Speaking of which, I was just caught by this irresistible big uncle. Rutvias starts calculating in his head trying to get away with something good. But the calculation ended in vain.

"Excuse me while I talk to you. Your Highness, I have received the documents that I would like you to decide in haste."

Aurio blocked the Grand Duke's story from the side.

Uncle Big Uncle, I'm not going to do this anymore.

Strongly speaking, Rutvias walks out to the Grand Duke.

-... All right, thanks.

I just turned the corner of the hallway and thanked Aurio for following me in silence behind me.

"I thank you. Thanks for your help."

"No."

Aurio shuts up again, depending briefly.

-... hard to do...

Wearing a cat in front of the Chancellor was hard to do, but I didn't know it was harder than that in front of that nephew...

Aurio, who was nominated by the Chancellor to become Rutvias' chief secretary, is outstanding without complaint.

Economics, politics, history and knowledge are broad and deep, manipulative of most of the languages used on the continent, and perfect reading and writing for imperial languages. It would be thanks to Aurio to read a few hands ahead of the instructions Rutvias gives, get the necessary maneuvers in place, and Rutvias, who is still unfamiliar with the administration, can rule without accumulating documents.

Moreover, he forcefully strips away from Rutvias those who, like the Grand Duke just now, do not lean on Rutvias. Honestly, it helps, but I'm so busy that I'm worried that Aurio might be punished.

Excellent, grasping secretary.

But Rutvias couldn't grasp this man, Aurio.

Normally, Rutvias cats are preferred by most people. It looks and behaves well, so everyone likes it. Well, that's how I calculate it. Rutvias has a cat.

But Aurio doesn't try to soften his attitude towards Rutvias. According to the samurai with Rutvias, Aurio doesn't have a very good reputation in the Royal Palace because he doesn't accommodate and doesn't have a loving laugh or flattery. Because of its coldly sober character, he was tall and facetious, and despite being seen as the successor to the Marcelio family, he also found himself so hated by the women, including the courtiers and female officers of each house.

-... there seems to be an exception...

Between the refrains that the Kings and the anti-imperial argued flashly.

The smile Adaline showed Aurio.

To avoid thinking, the less he remembered, the more frustrated he thought and remembered, Rutvias laid his eyes down.

At that time, I couldn't tell you what I was talking about, but Adeline's smile was something to show the very close, trusting person.

I was a tutor for Adeline, and Aurio himself told me that since Adeline left the royal palace. Yeah, so while I'm convinced that Adeline is connected, that doesn't bother me for some reason.

It's natural to be closer to your cousin, who was a tutor, than your fiancée, who is unlimited to meet you. Even if your head knows, in Rutvias, the irritation keeps smoking.

"Adeline, the lady has come to greet you."

Back in the office, the samurai reported that. To the news, for a moment the smoking flame of Rutvias' heart goes out.

"Adeline did?

He said he wanted to say hello again.

When the samurai said so, he spoke to the new samurai who was behind him.

"Let the lady know that Your Highness is back."

"Yes, sir."

Aurio enters the corner of Rutvias' sight, where the new samurai was dropping his head off with a stick and then trying to go.

If Adeline comes here, she'll face Aurio. And Adaline smiles. Against Aurio.

"-... no!!

Rutvias' sudden shouts, the samurai who were indoors, the knights, the Second Secretary and Aurio, stopped by surprise. But the most surprising was Rutvias himself.

"Ah... no..."

Rutvias hastily put his overhead cat back on. Smile and smile at the samurai with good taste.

"You don't have to go get it. I'll go."

"Your Highness?

"Do you mind? Aurio."

When Rutvias confirmed, Aurio replied pale.

"Fine."

I'll be right back. You can stay here.

"Yes, sir."

With Aurio and the samurai to thank, Rutvias left the office.

"... feminine..."

"Your Highness? Did you say anything?

A knight who follows for his fortitude, tilts his neck.

"No. Nothing."

To Rutvias, who smiled and looked back, the knights withdrew without any doubt.

-... why am I such a small-timer...

What a feminine little worker I am.

Even like this, as long as Aurio is Rutvias' secretary, he'll have plenty of opportunities to talk to Adeline, and if it's a gathering within the Marcelio clan, they'll definitely make him face to face because they're cousins. Clearly, it's a wasted scratch.

The frustration that I thought disappeared begins to burn with a shimmering sound in Rutvias.

-... oh, shit!

Every time I blink, Adeline flickers smiling at Aurio.

Cold Aurio for humans, including Rutvias, also loosened his expression against no heart or just Adeline.

-... cousin...

Aurio is five years older than Adeline. If Adeline hadn't even been engaged to Rutvias, the blood muscles would have been close and Aurio, a good year-round, would have succeeded the Marcelio family as Adeline's son-in-law.

…………

With ten more steps to go, Rutvias stopped at a place called in front of the door to the room where Adeline was.

I feel like I can hear Adeline laughing, whether it's an illusion or whether she's actually hearing an indoor voice leaking out of the door gap.

…………

I don't want Adeline to see Aurio.

I want you to look at something other than Rutvias and don't laugh.

If you can't do that, I want you to keep your black eyes closed like that night.

"... how selfish you are. I..."

"... you know? His Royal Highness Rutvias?"

One of the knights reluctantly calls out to Rutvias, who does not move while standing still.

"Adeline, that's where the lady's room is..."

"Run errands."

"Huh?"

"Reminded me of an errand"

Roughly, Rutvias returned his heel.

"Shiva"

Shiva bumps, and she snorts.

There is no such thing as errands, and there is certainly no such close person as to visit. It was Shiva's stables that Rutvias escaped into.

No matter how much for an escort here, the knights don't come in. Because the stables of the Holy Beast are also private spaces of royalty, so to speak. Nevertheless, in his capacity as Prince Wang, it is also unfortunate that the only escape place is the stables. Rutvias dropped his sigh.

"... what's up?

Repeat the way Shiva rubs the hyena in Rutvias' hand.

Seeing it involves a long hyena near his ear.

"Do you care?

Even Tenma is a nervous creature. Shiva is particularly fine and prone to stress.

But when Rutvias reaches out, Shiva turns her neck away and lets her touch it.

"... what the..."

Disgruntled, Shiva snorted again. Rutvias sighs sick and tired of the way it looks.

"... there's no Adeline. Don't be selfish."

Ownership of Heavenly Horse is a privilege allowed only to Royal Rude Saxony direct line boys.

Shortly after the birth of Rutvias, the eggs about the size of both palms, removed from the nest of Tenma in the plateau, grew as Rutvias grew, and on Rutvias' fifth birthday, Shiva came out from the inside, smashing her shell.

The wings had not yet grown, and called it its size, Shiva was more like a white puppy than a Heavenly Horse, and as if she were a chick going around following her parent bird, Shiva followed Rutvias around.

On nights when the moon does not come out, it rings badly, so Rutvias strokes Shiva on the bedside. Then you stick to Rutvias and start freshly resting.

Because Rutvias spoiled him, and even then Shiva was unfamiliar with no one but Rutvias, and even when Rutvias went hostage to the Empire because of it, he had to take him in the end.

Rutvias thought that this was not good for Shiva, and she had Shiva hyenas for stables, knights who happened to be on the street, etc. to get people other than herself used to it, but Shiva remained silent, but she still never missed anyone other than Rutvias. What's wrong with this, and Shiva's familiarity with people was Rutvias' covert concern...

Shiva, however, lightly connected to Adeline.

Besides, they've decided to rub the hyena with Adeline, and they won't even let Rutvias touch it these days.

I wonder what Shiva liked so much about Adeline.

Is Adeline doing better, or is she responding to her husband's..., Rutvias's heart -...?

………

-... I don't like it... feel.

Rutvias holds his chest down, as if it were also a lesion there.

Rutvias was aware that his mind was beginning to lean towards Adeline.

- … 3 years….

It's been three years.

One woman swung me around, polished my mind down, but in the end, I didn't get one.

The day I lost my first love.

Rutvias swore that such a foolish act would never be good again.

I was wondering if it would tip your mind to anyone.

"Damn..."

Rutvias buries his face in Shiva's hyena.

The sun and the smell of hay.

Shiva turned to Rutvias as if to comfort him.

The door of the stables was opened when the noise of the gii was heard.

You don't have to look to find out who came in, in footsteps.

"Was it this way after all"

……

The bottom of my stomach clings to words like Rutvias' behavior and other prospects.

In fact, maybe it's a prospect for her.

My mother said a long time ago that when I lie, the darkness of night strikes me. Adeline's eyes are that night color. Everything, maybe it really sees through. And the weakness of Rutvias.

Regardless of the silent Rutvias, Adeline strokes Shiva's nostrils.

Shiva, it's been a while.

Shiva hissed happily.

I felt betrayed by my beloved horse, and Rutvias flashed.

Every time Adeline moves, her hair shakes and glosses.

I have seen a grey blue dress with crystal beads on the chest worn once even on my journey back from the border.

This dress suits Adeline's vibe well.... but Rutvias thought the same thing as he had thought before about whether his chest was just a little too open.

A white shoulder that hasn't burned in the day is in my eyes.

"Your Highness, the..."

From Adeline, who accidentally turned this way, Rutvias deflected his face reflexively.

"... Your Highness?

"... sticky"

The fact that Adeline is here means that she knows that your meeting is over.

I mean, did Adeline come to Rutvias' office or did Aurio go to Adeline's room looking for Rutvias who wouldn't go back...

Either way, Aurio saw this white shoulder too. Before Rutvias.

-... after all, it was a waste of money...

Even though I knew it, I couldn't help but be frustrated.

――…

"Well, I heard the other day about your admiration of His Majesty the King."

Adaline cut out a little reluctantly.

-... Oh, you mean...

It's about Adeline. You must have been very curious to hear the story.

I want to reassure you.

I think so, but on the other hand, the frustration doesn't subside.

"It's not what you care about."

The words that came out of Rutvias' mouth contained thorns as they protruded.

Sensitively perceiving the thorns, Adaline's expression is slightly distorted.

"... well, yeah..."

Adeline grinned as she deluded the pain.

"Heh, what have you talked to Your Majesty about? It's been 10 years. They played the story, didn't they?

"That's none of your business."

There's a crack in Adeline's smile.

"Excuse me..."

At last, Adeline leaned down.

-... already, go.

Rutvias clenches his fist.

I wanted Adeline to escape quickly. Even if I'm around any more, I'm just going to bump Rutvias' frustration. Even though Adeline is nothing wrong.

"Um... I was supposed to have my dinner party dress made in the workshop... and I was worried about the color, and, uh"

Adeline stays down. An impossibly bright voice, yet painful.

"... why don't you talk to Aurio"

Adeline looks up to Rutvias' cold rejection.

Rutvias didn't know what the look was on. Even at the edge of her sight, she turned away, and even fastened her gaze to Shiva's feet.

"......... I... will excuse you today because I seem to be disturbing you..."

When I gently broke my knee and thanked him for the abbreviation, Adeline took a few steps back as it was, twirling and redirecting. And I tried to run halfway, and I walked out of the stables.

Batan and the door of the stables are closed and Rutvias crouches on the spot.

"-... eh"

Adeline went as she wished.

Yet the air in the stables suddenly felt cold and I froze. And so heavy a guilt that it's going to crush you.

-... hurt...

I couldn't stand very well.

Buru, Shiva turns to Rutvias.

Feeling like he was being blamed, Rutvias uttered an excuse.

"... that's okay. Now."

If you can stay away, avoid it, run away, and not look at your face, you're sure to keep your mind balanced.

That would make even myself unnecessarily frustrated and not hurt Adeline.

As just someone in a political marriage, I can treat her while maintaining a moderate distance.

-... I don't want you to look like that.

I don't want to hurt you.

I want you to laugh.

So you must not upset your mind's equilibrium.

If my mind leans on Adeline any further, I will crush Adeline.

But Rutvias knew.

I'm leaning, which means I'm already leaning.

While I felt it was too late, there was nothing I could do to Rutvias other than keep Adeline away.