At first, it started as silentughter which led to chuckles and then all-outughter.


    .Your Highness?


    Ahaha!


    Damian continued tough with amusement.


    I looked at him with a confused face.


    Whats so funny?


    You reminded me of something. Of that.


    That? What isthatsupposed to be?


    Eventually putting a lid on hisughter and rposing himself, Damian spoke up.


    Why, youre like a kitten. You think youre grown up when you still have a lot of growing up to do.. Damian added as he smirked.


    This seems trivial at this point.


    What? I beg your pardon?! I eximed.


    First, a squirrel, now Im a kitten!


    Will I ever escape all these animal nicknames?!


    We bickered for some time before heading back to the crown princes pce.


    On our way there, we walked side by side in peaceful silence.


    I gazed at him from the side and felt a feeling of contentment.


    I remembered how scrawny he was when we first met.


    Damian, youve grown up so much!


    ***


    By the time Damian finished washing up, we were greeted by a familiar friendly face.


    It was the Empress.


    Wow, your Majesty!


    I ran to the Empress, happy to see her.


    The Empress smiled at me.


    Lize!


    What brings you here, your Majesty?


    Damian walked in right behind me as I asked the Empress a question.


    Come to think of it, I feel Ive been seeing the Empress a lot more at the cetely.Or am I just mistaken?


    I tilted my head in thought.


    Ah, actually Im here on business today.


    Huh? Business?


    I looked up at the Empress with a quizzical look.


    You do know were having a harvest festival to celebrate Thanksgiving this time, right?


    Yes, I know.


    Damian, on the other hand, seemed distracted though.


    Harvest festival.


    It was a festival to celebrate the bountiful harvest this year as well as offer our gratitude to Aurelia, the divine beast who protects our empire.


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    It was not just a gathering for the royal family but nobles and officials would be attending too, however


    Theres a chance, the Emperor might not let Damian attend the festival.


    That thought alone made me feel miserable.


    Im usually worried when ites to Damian, he often doesnt stand up for himself when he should.


    The Empress continued to speak.


    Therefore, Im thinking of meeting with the candidates who will apany me during this festival.


    Wow, shell be organizing the event yourself even down to the candidates?


    I blinked my eyes in surprise.


    Only the immediate royal family has the right to offer tribute to divine beast Aurelia during a festival.


    There are children though who are tasked with serving the royal family, they are called pages orpanions.


    Also, the event needing to be organized by the Empress meant


    It means that the harvest festival will be held on a fairlyrge scale.


    Then, the Empress suddenly posed a question to Damian.


    Id also like the crown prince toe with me, what do you think crown prince?


    Sorry?..Me?


    Damians eyes widened at this unexpected proposal.


    The Empress smiled at his stunned reaction, nodding her head.


    Yes. Rather than doing things on my own ord, I think itd be better to listen to the opinions of others.


    The Empress shrugged her shoulders as she said so.


    If you dont want to, feel free to refuse.


    No!


    In an instant, Damian raised his voice.


    Good grief, he scared me. Why would he scream all of a sudden?


    The Empress and I both looked at each before looking back at Damian.


    Damian was clearly shocked that he shouted at the Empress, his silence conveyed his disbelief.


    After a while, Damian regained hisposure and opened his mouth.Erm, Id like to go too..unless its rude.


    Both of his cheeks were burning red.


    Why, if its rude..I wouldnt have asked the crown prince in the first ce.


    The Empress gave a reassuring smile.


    I thought to myself about the Empresss offer to Damian.


    The Empress probably started the whole candidate thing in consideration for Damian.


    As the Empress is a daughter of the Rochester bloodline, the noblest family in the empire.


    She could just lift a finger and any child of any noble family would be able to attend.


    If anything else, all the children of aristocratic families would long to go with the Empress.


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    I shrugged lightly.


    Under such circumstances, the Empresss proposition to Damian is simply Proving to the whole world that her Majesty, the Empress considers the crown prince to be an immediate royal family.


    After all, only a member of the royal family can begin the ceremony.


    The Empress herself had said she wanted Damian to apany her and ask for his opinion.


    That means the Empress considers Damian to be equal to me.