58 – Because this world does not love you (3)
I had no idea what answer to give. But at this point, it seemed clear what reaction should never be shown. You should never ask questions back.
And you can’t laugh.
“…”
I clenched my fists and filled my mouth with laughter. But the look in Claes’ eyes was so serious that it was extremely difficult to bear. I felt like a squirrel standing in front of a tiger with an acorn hidden in its cheek.
“Why is there no answer? Are you laughing at me?”
“No, no. That’s possible. But are you serious? You’re not joking, are you?”
“Do I look leisurely enough to tell you a joke?”
I wanted to answer yes. But I couldn’t exercise the virtue of honesty at a moment like this, so I deliberately turned around my answer.
“I was just surprised that you asked me that.”
“But what can I do? There is no one but you to ask.”
“Really? But don’t you have a lot of friends? You have a lot of subordinates like that guy out there.”
“That has nothing to do with it, you ignorant bastard. What do such ignorant knights know about women and love? And they can’t ask other nobles for help with such a shallow topic. Asking Elise directly means “It’s nonsense. In the end, the only option I have left is you.”
There was clear sincerity in the story told in every detail. And even if it was just for a moment, I felt sympathy for Claes. Because he is the crown prince of an empire, is it not possible to carelessly share even the smallest worries of daily life?
“So, I think you should help me. I think you can show that kind of usefulness. No matter how ignorant he is, he at least seems to have a knack for pleasing women.”
…Or is it just a personality issue? I think I just need to fix that unlucky way of speaking. I swallowed back the words that flowed back like vomit and tried to smile.
“I know what you mean, Claes.”
“So. Are you saying you’ll help me?”
“Of course. I’ll help you. If that’s all I can do for you, then of course I will.”
“Okay. Then sit back down. Don’t stand there so awkwardly.”
I sat down obediently, as Claes said. And before he opened his mouth, he asked a question.
“But before I help you, I’d like you to answer one question first.”
“What?”
“So what exactly is the problem with Elise?”
“…Ugh.”
When I asked, Claes twitched his body as if he was stung. However, he seemed to want to maintain a relaxed attitude and raised his eyebrows calmly.
“Why is that?”
“No, well… The reason I’m asking is obvious. It’s because something isn’t going well with Elise, isn’t it? So what exactly is the problem? I need to know that so I can help.”
“That’s…”
There was suspicion in Claes’ eyes. However, the belated vigilance soon lost its strength and crumbled away without a trace.
“…Okay. What’s the use of hiding it now? As you said, my relationship with Elise is a little uncomfortable these days. Of course, it’s not my fault. From the past…I’ve been a little negligent in my treatment. Because there is.”
“What exactly do you mean by uncomfortable? Are you saying that the way Elise treats you is strange?”
“That’s not true. Elise’s attitude hasn’t changed from before. But… Rather, that’s the problem. Now that we’re engaged and probably going to get married, we shouldn’t continue to remain in a romantic relationship. Isn’t that right?”
“So you’re saying you wish Elise would like you more?”
“Yes. If you’re a fiancé. There has to be something more than just a lover, right? I hope it’s at least like you and Yuna. That’s my wish.”
“Aha…I see.”
It’s okay as a couple, but if you think about it as a couple, they lack affection. I nodded, fully understanding what the problem was. Although I was not an expert in dating as Claes said, I still felt like I could give at least some basic advice.
“First of all, Claes. You said you treated Elise negligent in the past. What happened then? You said something harsh… Or you hit her.”
“What… What? You hit me. Do I… Do I look like a robber who beats up women?”
“No, that’s not necessarily true. I’m just asking if something similar has happened. Because the wounds of the past tie up the present and become an obstacle to the future. Has something like that happened?”
“Well… That never happened. I was just a little negligent. I guess I should say my interest waned for a very brief moment…”
Claes shook his head, denying my words to the point of exaggeration. As someone who knew the truth to some extent, I couldn’t help but smile vaguely. It seemed like it would be more complicated than I thought.
“I understand. But anyway, I think it’s necessary to apologize for things in the past. Even if something really isn’t that big of a deal, if you leave it alone, there’s a chance that it could cause serious harm.”
“Hmm… I see. What next?”
“And I need to reaffirm your affection. If you want the other person’s attention, it’s right to show interest here too, right?”
“That’s right. But what should I do specifically?”
“So to speak… Confessing?”
“What? Confess? But you already did it. And in front of so many people!”
Claes’ cheeks turned red as he remembered what happened in the ballroom. I couldn’t tell if it was because of embarrassment or anger, but it was clear that he was feeling extreme rejection.
“That’s right. But it’s better to make a formal confession before getting engaged. And what you did back then was only done while you were drunk, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“So, from Elise’s point of view, she may feel uneasy inside. This is a relationship that has already become distant once, and the confessions she received at best were not made when she was sober. So, it is better to give her confidence by confessing your true feelings once again.”
“Are you telling me to do that again in front of people?”
“Well, there’s no need to do it in front of people, but… No. It would be better then. It’s quite meaningful for the crown prince to confess in front of many people. There’s no better way to convince Elise than that. “It will be an opportunity to reaffirm to the public that you are indeed getting engaged to a commoner. You don’t plan on calling off the engagement now, do you?”
“That…Of course not. How can I say I’m giving up when things have come to this point?”
There was a clear mixture of regret and regret in Claes’ answer. At this point, I wondered if I was really helping him, but as he said, it was too late to regret it. I nodded with a calm expression.
“The answer is unclear. But I’ll take it as such. Now, what should I do with my confession? What do you want to do? You can do it in front of people like I said, or you can do it alone in a quiet atmosphere. Which one is better? ?”
“Hmm… Still, it would be better to do it grandly, like the crown prince of an empire. Like you said, it might be an opportunity to convince people. Even if you prepare something to silence those who oppose it. It would be good.”
“I want you to pay more attention to Elise than to other people. Well, okay. Elise might like that kind of thing. So, we should prepare quickly. Don’t you think so?”
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“There’s less than a week left until the engagement…So I guess we need to hurry. That’s right, exactly as you said.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you agree.”
I smiled brightly. Then Claes opened his mouth as if he was very surprised.
“He’s smarter than I thought. He’s also considerate in his own way. He’s completely different from what I saw at the ballroom that day.”
“Is that so? Nothing has changed for me.”
“Slowly, I’m starting to think that you might actually be a good guy. I think it’s clear that she’s at least much better than the flatterers around me.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Of course it’s a compliment. Then what about the event… First of all, it will have to be held at the Academy. It should be as flashy as possible, befitting my dignity. There will have to be a carriage… Yes, firecrackers. Firecrackers are fine too.”
Claes was lost in thought for a while, tapping his chin. When I saw that, I slowly lifted his butt because I thought there would be no chance to escape now.
“Um…Then that’s it now, Claes? Can I go?”
“Yes. It was a bigger help than I thought. It was a great help.”
“Okay. Then let’s go now…”
“No, just wait a moment. I’ll still need your help.”
But unfortunately, it seemed like I still had a role to play. He made me sit down again with his eyes and then grabbed my arm and said,
“You’ve probably done a lot of events like this before, right? I guess you should help me. This is my first time doing something like this.”
“Uh…I’ve never held an event this large before. And people in the imperial family probably know better than me. So…”
“That’s true, but you need someone who can think from the perspective of a commoner. And aren’t you an expert in winning a woman’s heart, to the point where you even accept money from Miss Yuna? Of course, your skills will be more certain than those of the royal family. Is not it?’
“Ah…hahahaha…”
Does this mean that I am falling for my own tricks? I let out a choked laugh, weighed down by the karma that returned like a boomerang. However, Claes seemed to have taken it as a sign of agreement and nodded his head arbitrarily.
“Okay, then let’s do that. Let’s start quickly. Starting today.”
“I see…”
I sighed in resignation as I watched Claes jump up from his seat. It seems like I have no choice but to get caught up in it. It looks like he’s attached to the crown prince’s closest associates, which Yuna told him to avoid.
…
“Wait a minute, Claes.”
“Huh?”
Then something flashed past his head. I didn’t know if it was a good idea, but at least it was definitely not a bad idea. Naturally, a mischievous smile appeared on my lips, and heat began to flow to my fingertips.
“Instead of helping me, please do me a favor. Like you said, I’m a paid expert, right? If you don’t give me an appropriate reward, it’s probably hard to expect the best.”
“Your guy…”
At my words, Claes gave a disdainful look. But he soon shrugged his shoulders as if he had expected it.
“Well, I thought so. So you want money? Can I just pay what I received from Yuna?”
“No, I don’t want money. I’m richer now than I thought. Give me something else instead.”
“It’s something else. What?”
“Let me be your friend.”
“What?”
He trailed off, perhaps a little embarrassed. Then he waved his hand away as if he was annoyed.
“Ah, ah. Okay, I understand. I’ll be your friend. Okay? You’re not afraid that I’ll retaliate against you later. I told you. I’ll forgive you. So don’t worry about that…”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“If it’s not like that, then what is it?”
It was an irritating tone, but there was a hint of fear mixed in the voice. A vague fear that can often be felt in the unknown. I responded with a thin smile to counter that fear.
“I, like Elise, want to be acknowledged in front of many people. As the crown prince’s close friend and helper.”