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78 Chapter

As I gazed intently at Serenon, he turned his eyes to me and smiled broadly. It was a bright and refreshing smile.

“It’s a shame, Princess. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t just play with your brother and also play with me.”

His voice was kind, as if seeking permission. No insincerity could be sensed.

‘Am I being too prejudiced against Serenon?’

Although I had only briefly seen him a few times at official events, this was the first time I was having a proper conversation with him, yet I found myself harboring preconceived notions. I reflected on my own narrow-minded perception and smiled gently.

“It is an honor, Your Highness. Please call on me anytime.”

Curiosity about Serenon began to bloom in me. Serenon, who had looked slightly surprised at my smile, soon returned a smile even brighter than mine.

“Haha! Well then, I should take my leave. It seems your brother is waiting.”

After giving Serenon a brief nod, I signaled the attendant with my eyes to guide me. The attendant, who had been fidgeting between Serenon and me, now wore a bright expression as he led me.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. We have brought Princess Crisis.”

Upon arriving in front of the large barracks, the attendant spoke softly at the door.

“Let her in.”

The attendant stepped back from the door, and I walked slowly inside the barracks.

Contrary to its grand and ornate appearance, the inside of the barracks was tidy and clean without any embellishment. After taking a quick look around, my gaze landed on a place adorned with shimmering golden threads.

Rather than the flamboyant royal uniform typically worn at official gatherings, Diego, wearing a wine-colored tunic that covered his backside, gave off a relaxed aura as he leaned back in a chair and tilted a wine glass toward me.

I often think about it, but Diego’s eyes seemed ready to sink into sleep, holding a color reminiscent of the mysterious depths swallowed by sailors venturing forth for adventure. The waves swirling in his gaze were intimidating yet, in that moment of engulfment, extraordinarily enchanting.

‘Indeed, no one fits the throne as well as Diego.’

Not shying away from Diego’s gaze, I stepped forward. Each gesture of his exuded an aura of mastery.

Finally standing before Diego, I bowed slightly.

“I am honored to meet Your Highness.”

Crown Prince. A title that suited the man standing before me perfectly.

All of a sudden, it struck me that he was the future sun.

“Thank you for coming, Shushu.”

After staring at me for a while, he finally replied, a hint of urgency in his gaze as he nervously inspected my attire, and then awkwardly smiled.

“What brings you here?”

As I tilted my head and asked, he seemed momentarily dazed, then suddenly stood upright.

“You, you are participating in the upcoming hunting tournament.”

“Yes, I am.”

“As a friend, I cannot simply let you go without something.”

Except for a slight hint in his voice when pronouncing “friend,” Diego finished his statement neatly and grabbed a box from the table, extending it toward me.

“This is a token for the hunting tournament.”

A graceful smile bloomed over Diego’s red lips. I felt a strange sensation as I stared momentarily into his sparkling eyes before averting my gaze to the open box.

Inside the box was a long strip of deep blue velvet, a ribbon resembling the color of Diego’s eyes that looked as if it was meant for tying back hair.

‘What a kind person.’

My heart swelled with gratitude at Diego’s thoughtful gesture in preparing the token. I smiled brightly at Diego, who was observing my reaction.

“Thank you, Didi. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to go safely.”

In this world, it is said that warm-hearted objects embody magic. Initially, I was far from the North, and there weren’t any monsters in the forest that could harm me, but with Diego’s token, I felt I could venture out even more safely.

After staring at my smiling face for a while, Diego let out a long sigh. Seeing his breath mingling with a sound similar to a sigh, I blinked, feeling as if I had done something wrong, but he simply smiled, indicating it was nothing.

“If you don’t mind, may I tie your hair with this?”

‘Can I really let the Crown Prince do… this?’

I hesitated for a moment, seeing Diego holding the ribbon and looking up at me with sparkling eyes, but thinking it wouldn’t hurt to allow him, I nodded readily.

“If you’re okay with it, of course.”

With a bright smile, Diego stood behind me. I felt his gentle breath against my nape as I slowly closed my eyes, taking in the familiar vanilla scent that filled the barracks while accepting his touch as he began to run his fingers through my hair.

Swish. Swoosh.

Instead of a comb, Diego’s long fingers neatly parted my hair. It would indeed be annoying to comb my long hair that flowed down to my waist, yet Diego meticulously and quietly took care of it, his gentle caress making the fragrance of the oil I had used spread throughout the barracks and mingle with the surrounding vanilla scent.

‘I feel a bit… strange.’

It’s common for maids to comb my hair, but this was the first time a handsome man had done it with his own hands.

His careful touch was reminiscent of handling a fragile glass figurine. As he brushed my hair, occasionally grazing my nape, I felt a strange atmosphere rising within the barracks.

“…Your hair is quite soft.”

After silently tending to my hair for a while, Diego murmured. As his softly sunk voice brushed against my ear, I slowly blinked and muttered a faint thank you.

“I’m going to tie it now.”

The hand that had been brushing my hair began to gather it together. I felt a gentle tug on my scalp and blinked drowsily. His soft touch almost made me fall asleep.

“Would you like it tied high or low?”

“I prefer it tied high.”

Usually, I would let my hair flow freely, but when tied, I preferred a high ponytail. Nodding, Diego started to gather my hair from above. A cool breeze brushed against my nape, which had been hidden under my hair. Feeling a bit awkward about my bare nape, I touched it softly.

Suddenly.

Diego’s hand that was gathering my hair paused. I felt his sensitive eyes, like those of a sword master, drifting from my hair to my neck. As his once-flowing touch stiffened, I turned my head in confusion.

“Didi?”

I met his partly dazed blue eyes. As our gazes locked, a slight tremor passed through Diego’s eyes, and his throat bobbed.

“Aren’t you going to tie it?”

As I tilted my head and asked, Diego snapped back to reality and brought my hair, which he had been holding high, down abruptly. I stared at him curiously, and he subtly avoided my gaze.

“…It would be better if you tied it low.”

Even when I looked at him with a questioning expression, he didn’t answer, instead turning my face forward. The tips of his ears looked faintly red. Diego started loosely tying my hair, allowing it to drape over my nape.

‘Then why did he even ask?’

Though I felt somewhat exasperated, I decided to remain patient as I was receiving a gift. As I played with the hair that was tied together, I slowly opened my mouth to voice a question that had come to mind.

“I have a question. Is it okay if I ask?”

“Anything.”

With his prompt response, I cautiously continued.

“I met the second prince at the front of Didi’s barracks.”

“With Serenon? That could happen. His barracks is right next to mine.”

Diego spoke of Serenon with a tone that bore no hint of displeasure. I nodded subtly, careful not to interrupt as he slowly tied the ribbon.

“Yes. He asked where I was going and mentioned he wouldn’t stop me if I was headed to see you. It surprised me because I thought you and the second prince might not get along well…”

Diego’s hands paused as he tied the ribbon. A sigh escaped him, brushing against my hair.

“Yes, in essence, Serenon and I don’t have a bad relationship. In fact, we get along fairly well. Serenon… has no ambition for the throne.”

“Are you talking about the second prince?”

“Yes.”

I was taken aback by the sudden revelation. Diego’s brief affirmation, conveyed with a somewhat heavy tone, made me ponder deeply.

Now that I thought about it, I had never seen the second prince express a desire for the throne publicly. He stood silently at the center of numerous rumors, cloaked in many falsehoods, while the actual power dynamics around the second prince’s succession rested with the nobles aligned with the House of Cypros.

“I don’t like it, Shushu, when you get close to others.”

Diego murmured in a low voice. Before I could ask why, he continued.

“However, I think it would be nice if you got a bit closer to Serenon. He is a rather unfortunate child.”

‘…Unfortunate?’

That’s certainly not a term you would use to describe a rival fighting for the throne. It struck me as peculiar, and I decided I should learn a bit more about Serenon.

“That’s settled then.”

Diego slowly withdrew his hands that had been busily tying my hair. As he fiddled with the neatly tied hair, he smiled subtly.

“Thank you for tying my hair, Didi.”

I felt a sigh-like breath from behind me. As Diego slightly lowered his head, something soft touched my nape and then fell away.

I flinched slightly at the sudden sensation and turned around. Diego, who had just kissed my nape, was smiling nonchalantly. Blinking in surprise, I watched as he chuckled softly and brushed aside the fringe tickling my eyes.

“This is a kiss for good luck. It means you must not get hurt and bring back a game big enough to flatten Frama Young Lord’s nose.”

His warm words sent a flutter through my heart. Looking into his bright blue eyes that brimmed with affection, a deeper, more complicated feeling brewed inside me, making me smile brightly.

“Of course, I will bring back victory.”

I am Mir, a mercenary who has spent a lifetime slaughtering monsters.

In the first place, there is no being in this forest that could challenge me.

“Shushu.”

“Father?”

As I accepted Diego’s token and was heading toward the barracks of Crisis, I happily approached Caesar, who had appeared after mysteriously vanishing due to the Emperor’s summons. Caesar, who had been staring at the ribbon that tied my hair, smiled faintly when he saw me.

“It’s about time for the hunt to begin. Are you prepared?”

“Yes. I am fully prepared.”

I beamed proudly as I looked at the bow on my back and the sword at my waist, which Caesar had gifted to me. Caesar stood beside me.

“Alright. Then let’s go together to the edge of the forest.”

Accepting the arm he draped over my shoulders felt natural now as we matched our stride, heading toward the gathering crowd at the forest’s edge.

 

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