<strong>Trantor:</strong> Happybear13 <strong>Editor:</strong> Rialm


    “Then, can I do whatever I want?” asked Dn.


    Charlize answered effortlessly because she had no feelings for her family:


    “Yes.”


    Dn was going to do what Charlize meant by power.


    The power of the Grand-Ducal family was high but still not as high as that of the Crown Prince.


    Dn didn’t know what exactly he was feeling right now. Because he had never felt this way before.


    He just wanted to listen to everything Charlize wanted and cherish it.


    “Do it,” she replied, not knowing what might happen.


    “Now that I have moved to the Crown Prince’s pce, I am most pleased with that. I like the old building I used to stay in too because it holds many memories.”


    Dn hesitated for a moment:


    “But it wasn’t enough to serve Master. Now you’ll be able to stay in a wider and morefortable ce. In particr, I urged you to decorate Master’s bedroom as luxuriously as possible.”


    “… You did.”


    Charlize’s eyes crinkled at the corners because she smiled:


    “Your Highness is the only one who cares about me all the time.”


    As she tilted her head, her hair fell softly.


    Dreamy looking hair, a mixture of gold and silver. The blue eyes that resembled the universe held warm energy.


    ‘Why does he stare so nkly?’


    Charlize thought inly while watching the silent Dn.


    As if he hade to his senses now, Dn quickly blinked and avoided her gaze.


    However, the gaze came back soon. It lingered on her lips.


    ‘What’s going on with you…’


    “Wait a minute, excuse me.”


    Dn was faster than Charlize. A finger that came close to Charlize’s mouth soon touched her.


    Her mouth was open, but there was no obvious contact. Her breathing stopped.


    Suddenly. She felt a sense of Deja-vu.


    Four years ago, in the mountains.


    Charlize pretended to be asleep at that time, but she was actually awake. So, she remembered everything. A boy who was wondering whether to remove the petals on her cheek or not.


    ‘Has our rtionship progressed?’


    The boy, who had hesitated at that time, was now approaching calmly.


    Charlize’s eyes slowly grew bigger.


    The lips that the maids put makeup on. The outer part was pink, and as it went further inside it is a reddish gradient.


    A liquid as sweet and rich as honey that shined when the light touched it.


    Dn slowly touched Charlize’s lips. A vivid sensation of touch. Charlize blinked her eyes.


    ‘Who is nervous?’


    Charlize couldn’t tell for a moment whether her lips were shaking or Dn’s fingers were shaking. Just because her breathing was heavy and slow.


    “…It was stained.”


    Dn said, showing the lint he had removed from Charlize’s mouth. ‘Ah.’ Charlize btedly gulped down her saliva.


    Just having a freshing-of-age ceremony, Dn looked a little strange today.


    ‘You really have be an adult.’


    The atmosphere was furtive.


    He was smiling refreshingly and shyly. It was strange. From somewhere a dangerous feeling wasing.


    For sure, her student was ridiculously excellent.


    Like a reserved tyrant, it was not an intense but still a breathtaking feeling. A man shaped by Charlize.


    Charlize answered slowly,


    “Thank you, Your Highness.”


    She felt Dn was trying to be considerate of her.


    “Why don’t you change your dress and meet me in the pavilion again? I’ll tell you to get ready for the night.”


    Dn had be the Crown Prince. To congratte him, she had to share a conversation. Charlize nodded,


    “Okay, let’s do that.”


    “It must have been very ufortable and heavy, so you can take a little rest.”


    Dn was gentle until the end.


    As he said, the dress was as ufortable as it was colorful, and the head decorations were heavy, so she was a little tired.


    “Yes, Your Highness.”


    He cared about even the smallest detail. Charlize smiled softly.


    ***


    The water was full of white waterlilies.


    Charlize climbed up the marble steps. A bright moonlight illuminated the pavilion.


    The night meal was ready. Dn, who had arrived first, stood up.


    “Have you arrived?”


    Dn was dressed in the Crown Prince’s robes. It was amazing. Did it not take some time to get used to it?


    Charlize sat face to face with Dn.


    “Because you have be the Crown Prince I sincerely congratte you.”


    “It’s all thanks to Master.”


    Dn looked modestly at her. The maid next to her began pouring tea while kneeling down.


    Gently.


    The moonlight shone on the surface of the tea water.


    “I thought of giving you a present but changed my mind. Instead, I will grant your wishes.”


    “… Wishes, you mean?”


    “Your Highness’s wishes from me. There are only three.”


    Dn looked at Charlize.


    “If you tell me here today, I’ll listen to whatever it is.”


    He didn’t want anything. Except for Charlize.


    Any congrattory gift would have been very much appreciated. It wouldn’t have been much needed.


    But if Charlize wanted to hear it. The story was different.


    “… A little, would you mind if you thought about it?”


    “As much as you want.”


    Dn wondered if he had ever thought this way in his life.


    Three wishes.


    Even now, at this ce.


    Dn didn’t want to step on Charlize’s line.


    He wanted to wish properly so that he wouldn’t feel rude.


    With the night sky behind her, Charlize was as beautiful as ever. Her eyes, resembling the universe, look at him. Dn said,


    “I think I have to say it really carefully, Master.”


    “I’m fine with anything.”


    Charlize was calm.


    Suddenly, when her eyes met his, Charlize picked up the silver teacup. Sipping the teacup with a calm, indifferent face.


    The long silence drew to an end.


    Dn opened his lips.


    “Then, can I ask for indulgence?”


    “… Indulgence?”


    “It’s not big. I don’t even intend tomit a crime. I think I’m just going to be a little rude. I hope Master will forgive me at that time.”


    ‘A little rude, what could it be?’


    Charlize was curious. But she epted it as much as he had said it first.


    “Okay.”


    When she lightly gave permission, Dn looked surprised.


    As if he was very nervous, he held the bottom of his hand and opened it repeatedly.


    No rudeness wouldpare to the rudeness of the 9th prince in the past.


    Charlize believed in Dn.


    At best, he would apologize and ask for forgiveness for being rude; or he’d ask her to stroke his head and say sorry.


    Charlize didn’t take it seriously.


    “The second one?”


    “The second is…”


    Dn lowered his gaze. Clear ck hair. In contrast, the white skin resembles the moonlight.


    “I want you to give me the name of the knights I will lead.”


    “Name…”


    The number of knights that had chosen Dn as their lord was now exceeding dozens. If Dn became emperor, he would organize them into a new knightage.


    “If Master gives me the name, you will be honored.”


    Charlize didn’t refuse Dn’s request. Because…


    ‘I saved some beggars and ves who were starving on the streets and sent them to Dn.’


    Charlize returned in time.


    So that’s why she knew a lot of them who would reveal their brilliant talents in the future.


    For example, a boy from a diator family who was released on the ve market, begging on the street and dying.


    They approached and saved them when they were in the most difficult times. She gave Dn the boys who were thrilled and loyal.


    [It will be worth trusting and raising them, Prince.]


    [If it’s Master’s will.]


    Dn obeyed Charlize’s will.


    Since he took them in at Charlize’s rmendation, he said that they should treat her appropriately and that they had given up their old lifes and valued her.


    Those were all the knights who now reached the level of a master under Dn.


    “Were their names, V and Hugo?”


    She remembered them as boys who were so dramatic that they didn’t want to be apart from Charlize.


    Now, like Dn, they were already mature.


    It was not so bad to see those who try to follow blindly. Maybe they were doing well.


    Charlize quietly drank her tea:


    “If you don’t mind an intuitive name.”


    “Any name is fine,”


    Dn answered firmly.


    Charlize said,


    “Shadow.”


    Shadow Knightage. It was certainly an intuitive name. Dn was smiling with his whole face, perhaps satisfied.


    “Thank you, Master.”


    Charlize didn’t know. The name she gave him while drinking tea would be a name that would bend over the empire and spread throughout the continent.


    “Then there’s thest one left.”


    “Oh, is that so?”


    Somehow, Dn’s nape was red, so Charlize was a little puzzled. She nced at Dn and took a sip of the tea.


    Dn put the meatballs that only Charlize had touched until now in his mouth. The Crown Prince, who hesitated, asked carefully,


    “Master sing the song… I want to hear it.”


    ‘What’s that simple request, he’s so shy.’ Dn was not looking at Charlize.


    Charlize slowly closed and then opened her eyes. She sang slowly,


    “Don’t reveal the secret.”


    The songs title was ‘Secret Hello’. The subtitles for the song went ‘There are thorns on roses.’


    It was a song that she sang as if she weremunicating with the Dn, who was 14 years old.


    Dn back then had hesitated and yed the piano. Charlize had added her voice, singing in harmony.


    But now it was only Charlize’s voice.


    “Only allow me, because I’m the only one who knows you.”


    The calm voice of Charlize was enchanting.


    Rose, in terms of fragrance. Red, in terms of color, describing the sun. If there was a shape, a fire that burns coldly.


    “Don’t run away. I won’t hurt you. Come here. Please look at me.”


    The song reached the end. It was calm, then passionate, then slow. Now it was small as if whispered.


    It was then.


    For the first time, Dn sang quietly to the end of the song. A chorus that people don’t know well,


    However, Charlize’s favorite part:


    “I will have you by swallowing even poison.”


    Eyes met in the air.


    Charlize looked at Dn. She couldn’t do anything. She thought to herself:


    ‘Even the song is good.’ The soft Crown Prince’s voice was strangely passionate.


    Charlize carefully retorted,


    “If you have a thorn, you’ll be stabbed, and if you’re addicted, you’ll fall apart.”


    “I will have you by swallowing even poison.”


    Dn replied with a chorus.


    “I don’t care if I throw my life away.”


    “I will have you by swallowing even poison.”


    Then a distant silence fell.


    In the past, Dn did not speak with his voice but indirectly spoke to Charlize with a device called a musical instrument.


    However, this time he sang using his own voice.


    Was it a hint of change?


    “… Congrattions,”


    Charlize said, breaking the silence. The artistic atmosphere was dreamy thanks to the snugness of the pavilion.


    Dn, who had been quiet for a long time, smiled slowly.


    “It was more impressive than any other congrattory gift, Master.”


    “If Your Highness has a crown…”


    At the suggestion of the emperor’s ession, the maid, who was beside her, flinched greatly.


    Charlize smiled with her eyes.


    “At that time…”


    “…”


    The words did not end.


    Dn thought he was thirsty.