IPWDP 09

Click. The sound of the door opening woke Ephelia.

“Mm… Regios?”

“I’m not Regios.”

It was a boy with a mischievous expression. His black hair was tousled, and his simple, easy-to-move-in clothes were smudged with dirt. He didn’t look like either a servant or a noble—something in between.

“Hello, Ephelia.”

The boy who called her name was a stranger. How did he know her name? Ephelia tilted her head curiously.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Hailen.”

“But how do you know me?”

“I heard a lot about you from Meristo and Kairan. …I knew it was you the moment I saw you.”

“I see. Hello, Hailen.”

A faint blush flickered across Hailen’s cheeks and vanished, but young Ephelia didn’t notice.

“But I’ve never heard your name before.”

“Well, that’s because…”

He couldn’t exactly say “because your brothers are extreme sister-complexes.”
Then Ephelia asked an unexpected question.

“Are you really my brothers’ friend?”

She was the cherished youngest daughter of a duke’s family, doted on since birth. And as such, she’d always been told to be cautious of strangers.

“…You’re more wary than I thought, Ephelia.”

The boy’s playful face dimmed a little. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, he revealed his identity.

“I’m a prince.”

A prince meant the emperor’s son. That reminded Ephelia of something she had forgotten—there were two princes in the imperial family. So this boy must be…

“Then, you’re Regios’s younger brother?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier? Do you have proof?”

Seeing her cute, round face remain serious and cautious to the end made Hailen burst out laughing.

“You’re very clever, Ephelia.”

“That’s right.”

Pleased, Ephelia puffed out her little chest and proudly lifted her chubby face.

“Will this do?”

He showed her a necklace engraved with the imperial crest. She couldn’t tell real from fake, but no one would dare forge such a thing inside the palace. Ephelia nodded.

“But where’s Regios?”

“Uh, shouldn’t you know better than I do, since you were just in his sitting room?”

“He was there before, but when I woke up, he was gone. Maybe he left because he was mad that I fell asleep?”

Ephelia hung her head, looking downhearted. Hailen hurriedly made an excuse on his brother’s behalf. Regios was absolutely capable of that sort of thing—but Hailen didn’t want to see Ephelia sad.

“He wouldn’t leave you. It must’ve been something important.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. I’m his brother, right? You can trust me.”

Since it came from Regios’s own brother, it sounded convincing.

“Hehe, thanks, Hailen.”

She hadn’t expected Hailen to show up while Regios was gone.

“So, why did you come here?”

“I had some business with my brother. …Didn’t know you’d be here. I hadn’t heard you came to the palace today.”

“I visit sometimes, but it’s my first time seeing you.”

“I’m glad I got to meet you, Ephelia.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you hungry? Want a snack?”

“Snack? I’d love to!”

Though she was the duke’s beloved daughter, Ephelia wasn’t allowed to eat sweets freely. She loved snacks too much and often skipped meals, so her mother only let her have them occasionally.

The duchess had even asked Regios not to give his sister too many treats. If Ephelia begged tearfully, Regios would sometimes cave and give her a little more—but never as much as she wanted.

Hailen, however, knew nothing of this. Today’s snack quota was already used up—but since Hailen asked, she could eat more. He pulled the bell cord to summon a servant.

“Y-Your Highness, did you call?”

Since this was the crown prince’s sitting room, the servant had assumed the crown prince was inside, then quickly corrected himself upon seeing the younger prince.

“Bring something Ephelia can eat.”

“Yes, right away.”

Soon, the servant returned with desserts. Ephelia picked up a cookie and took a bite—munch, munch. Hailen watched her puffed cheeks fondly.

“Ephelia, you’ve got crumbs on your mouth.”

“Mm.”

She turned her cheek toward him naturally. Hailen instinctively reached to wipe her face but stopped when he noticed dirt on his own hands. Instead, he handed her a wet towel. Ephelia dabbed at her cheek carelessly and went right back to eating. Cookie crumbs fell onto the lace of her dress.

“Ephelia, crumbs on your dress.”

“Mm.”

She answered but didn’t bother brushing them off, so Hailen did it himself. The prince was practically waiting on her hand and foot. It was easy to see just how spoiled her brothers had made her—and why they’d tried to keep her hidden.

Ephelia was irresistibly adorable. If he had such a little sister, he’d probably hide her away too.

“Ephelia, you’re like a baby.”

“Ephy’s not a baby.”

That clearly struck a nerve. She stopped chewing and answered firmly.

“Of course, I know that.”

Still, when Hailen lifted a teacup to her lips, she obediently sipped from it. Just then—click—the door to the sitting room opened. Its owner, Regios, had returned.

“Ephelia, you’re still awake? Sorry, Father called me for—…Wait. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, of course.”

“Why me? No, hold on—Ephelia, come here.”

When Ephelia hesitated, Regios repeated gently,

“Ephelia, come here, please.”

Regretfully setting down her cookie, she walked to him.

“Regios, what’s wrong?”

Smiling softly, he brushed crumbs from her cheek.

“You shouldn’t sneak snacks.”

“Ah! It’s a secret from Mother, right?”

“Alright. But don’t do it again. And don’t eat what strangers give you, either.”

Hailen almost burst out laughing. Technically, Regios wasn’t wrong—but stranger? He was her own brother! And Ephelia had even verified his identity earlier.

“Sorry for leaving without telling you.”

“It’s okay. Hailen played with me.”

“Hailen?”

“Yeah.”

“…I see. That’s good.”

“You could’ve told me she was here.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I want to get along with her too.”

“You didn’t know each other, that’s all.”

Their exchange seemed ordinary enough—each had a point from their own view. Then Hailen turned to Ephelia.

“We know each other now, right?”

“Yeah. Hailen’s my friend.”

He gave her sweets, after all.

“So why were you looking for me?”

“You didn’t come to class, so I came to find you.”

“I had permission from the tutor.”

“I figured there couldn’t be anything more fun than class… but now I see why.”

He understood perfectly why his brother had skipped lessons.

“Since Ephelia’s here, can I stay and play too?”

“Sure.”

The three spent the afternoon playing simple games together. The boys let Ephelia win often, and she beamed with delight. The sun drifted toward evening—time for Ephelia to return to the duke’s estate.

“I’ll see her off.”

“Why? I want to too.”

“I have something to tell her. Next time, we’ll go together.”

Hailen had no choice but to back down.

“Alright.”

“See you next time, Ephelia.”

“Yeah, see you, Hailen.”

Regios took her hand and led her toward the palace gates where the duke’s carriage awaited. The royal halls were empty—servants weren’t permitted in this wing.

“Did you have fun today? Let’s play again next time.”

“Next time? You mean with Hailen too?”

Regios looked down at her.

“You want to play with Hailen again?”

“Yeah. Hailen’s nice. He gave me cookies.”

“You like him?”

“Mm-hm.”

Regios stroked her soft, downy hair.

“Ephelia, don’t get too close to Hailen.”

“Why? He’s your brother.”

“I just… want you to be close to only me. …You don’t mind, do you?”

Neither of them understood the possessiveness behind those words. So Ephelia answered innocently, without fear or hesitation:

“No, I don’t mind. I like that.”

“Lady, may I kiss you?”

At Regios’s words, Ephelia’s round cheeks flushed red. She had seen something like this before—not heard, but read it.

In a romance novel she’d found lying around the mansion, there had been a scene where a gentleman asked a lady for a kiss, with a beautiful illustration beside it. The maids had passed the book around, and Ephelia had picked it up after someone dropped it.

She nodded, puckered her lips, and closed her eyes.

Regios stifled a laugh and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

It wasn’t quite like in the story. There, the kiss had been on the lips. Ephelia opened her eyes, pouting slightly.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a real kiss?”

“That’s for when you’re older, Ephelia. When you’re older.”

Those days were beautiful and filled with happiness.
But they would not last for long.