PRKE 24

CHAPTER 24………………………………………………

The way he looked at me—as if inspecting the quality of a product I had personally chosen—made me feel strangely uncomfortable.

Right. To a king, I must look like merchandise.

“Anyway, Lady of the Lorenst family—no, perhaps that’s too stiff. Even so, we are father and daughter. May I call you Igrain more casually?”

I widened my eyes.

Between a father and daughter, calling someone by name was nothing special—but the other party was the king.

It was highly unusual for a king to address someone without a title by name.

I bowed my head politely.

“It would be an honor, Your Majesty.”

So he’s really planning to act close now.

After that, the king began calling me by my name without ceremony.

It was an indirect way of showing that he did not regard me as a princess in name only—at least, nominally.

“Count, you’ve done a fine job hiding such a lovely young lady all this time.”

“She’s quite diligent by nature, Your Majesty. She always has plenty to do at home.”

Hubert replied with an easy smile. Apparently in a good mood, the king let out a hearty laugh, his gaze shifting to Aris beside Hubert.

Noticing his attention, she lightly lifted the hem of her dress and offered a courteous greeting.

“And this young lady?”

“Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Aris Dolencia.”

“Ah, yes… the Lorenst family’s priestess.”

With a generous smile, he looked back at Hubert.

“Indeed, as beautiful as the fairy of Marta. Worth cherishing.”

Hubert’s smile deepened, clearly proud.

“Aris is exceptionally capable as well. She oversees the rain-invoking rituals at our estate, so you will likely see her again before long.”

“I see. I’ve heard of Lorenst’s promising priestess myself. I look forward to the next rain ritual.”

What distinguished this kingdom from the Empire and other nations was, without question, the Temple of Water and the priestesses who called down rain. Priestesses were of divine blood—officially recognized talents of the kingdom.

Sensing that it was her cue, Aris’s blue eyes sparkled.

“Even if my abilities are meager, I am grateful to be able to use them for the kingdom.”

“The Lorenst family truly has many capable people. Continue your good work, Miss Dolencia.”

“Please call me by my name. Since you are my sister’s father, you’re no different from a father to me as well.”

As Aris smiled softly, dimples appeared on her cheeks.

She was sufficiently charming and cute, but the king’s expression stiffened awkwardly. Hubert’s did as well.

“Well, I am the father of all my people, after all.”

His tone turned cold, as if the warmth from earlier had never existed. Startled, Aris glanced at Hubert.

The king spoke bluntly.

“Count, send some books on etiquette to my private residence. I believe they’ll be necessary.”

Hubert’s expression twisted subtly.

After that, without sparing Aris another glance, the king led me toward the center of the ballroom.

This is where Aris’s foolishness really shines.

Few people disliked an affectionate personality.

But this time, Aris had chosen the wrong opponent.

Despite his kindly appearance, the king was an extremely authoritarian and selfish man.

Unless he himself permitted it, no one would dare call him “father.”

Ignorant of his true nature, Aris had mistaken the king’s favor toward me for something that would naturally extend to her as well.

It was her mistake.

Hubert’s affection, her beautiful appearance, her selfish yet coquettish nature, and her blessed talent with water—

All of that had made Aris the center of the Lorenst family. Naturally, she had never experienced a situation like this before.

A situation where she was treated as lesser than someone else.

The king attended to me with great care, as if I were not merely a princess given a title, but his real daughter.

Yet my heart sank coldly.

The king’s inorganic eyes told me that all of this was nothing more than a show.

The audience, of course, was the people of the Empire.

It doesn’t hurt me, so I’ll play along.

As I kept calling the king “Father,” the nobles stared at me with startled expressions.

Inside the hall, filled with elegantly dressed guests, reactions fell into several categories.

Most were shocked by the king’s excessive hospitality toward a princess in name only.

And the most important group—the imperial delegation—

The first person who caught my eye was Kichev, wearing a displeased expression.

He probably thinks the king and I planned this act together.

I shifted my gaze.

The Fifth Prince stood with his arms crossed, surveying the ballroom with a bored look.

Just seeing his face made tension rise instinctively within me.

What was he thinking?

He neither drank nor ate, nor spoke with anyone—he simply stood there silently. I found myself watching him absentmindedly.

Then I noticed something rather interesting.

Those around him fell into two groups: those whispering from afar as they looked at the two bronze-skinned men, and those hovering nearby, trying to strike up a conversation.

They were divided into those who despised him and those who admired him.

Regardless of their feelings, however, the attention focused on the desert prince never waned.

He wasn’t dazzling anyone with eloquent speech, nor did his expression change much—yet his massive physique drew the gaze of the kingdom’s nobles.

Even Kichev, who was taller and broader than most men of the kingdom, looked unimpressive standing next to the prince.

Judging by looks alone, he seems about Hubert’s age…

The combination of his heavy gaze and enormous build created an oppressive presence, making it impossible to guess his age.

“Is this your first time meeting the prince today?” the king whispered.

I stopped watching Giovanni and glanced at the king. He wasn’t looking at me, wearing only a benevolent smile.

I replied, barely moving my lips.

“Yes.”

“Then it’s good that your first impression will be favorable.”

What exactly was fortunate about that?

When I looked at him with a puzzled expression, the king lifted one corner of his mouth.

“You look quite beautiful today.”

Though it was praise, it didn’t make me feel good at all. It was nothing more—or less—than an appraisal of merchandise.

The king led me toward the prince.

“Prince, are you enjoying the banquet?”

The prince nodded.

“That’s good.”

The king placed a hand on my shoulder—remarkably familiar.

“Allow me to introduce you. This is my daughter. I hear you even asked her for a dance in return for the gift she sent? How fortunate that your tastes align. She’ll be of sincere assistance to you throughout the banquet.”

I smiled inwardly.

So this was what it meant to receive the delegation in place of Princess Laratou.

Stick close to the barbarian prince.

Being able to converse with him naturally was a good opportunity for me, especially since I had been waiting for the right moment anyway.

I held my skirt and bowed slightly.

Treating someone I had already met as if I were meeting them for the first time required a bit of acting skill.

“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness.”

The prince tilted his head subtly.

When his beast-like gaze followed me, I felt as though cold sweat might break out down my back.

“Well now—so this is the kingdom’s new princess!”

Kichev exclaimed in admiration, speaking in place of the taciturn prince.

The king asked curiously,

“You know my daughter?”

“Of course I do! It’s just that adopting a fully grown maiden as one’s daughter is something I’ve never seen before.”

His exaggeratedly cheerful tone instantly chilled the atmosphere.

It was clearly meant as sarcasm.

Hermannon hesitated for a moment, apparently not expecting such a blunt remark.

But he was, after all, a king. Without the slightest hesitation, he shrugged casually.

“It isn’t common. But it’s not entirely without precedent either. The kingdom is generous to vassals of deep loyalty. Though not bound by blood, we’re tied by bonds even stronger than that.”

Kichev’s lips twitched.

“My, how magnanimous you are.”

At last, a vein stood out on the king’s forehead.

This is like sitting on a bed of thorns.

The most uncomfortable person here was me. Afraid the sparks might fly my way, I kept my presence as small as possible.

Just as the king seemed about to lose patience and say something to Kichev—

“The kingdom,” Giovanni spoke up.

The king’s gaze turned to him.

“Values bloodlines, I hear.”

“……”

“You’ve made quite a decision.”

At those meaningful words, the skin around the king’s eyes trembled. But he quickly composed himself and burst into hearty laughter.

“Even so, she’s just as important to me as Princess Laratou. What does blood matter?”

Without realizing it, I looked at him. The kindly face with its faint smile sent chills creeping up from my toes.

“What do you think family is?” the king asked.

The prince replied indifferently,

“I’ve never really thought about it.”

“Of course, blood is important to royalty like us. But what truly matters is devotion and sacrifice for one another. That’s what family is.”

…What?

I almost looked straight at the king.

“I’ve spoken too much.”

“……”

“Well then. I imagine my daughter would be more interesting to you than an old man like me. Young people communicate better among themselves.”

With the push on my shoulder, I stepped forward without meaning to.

It was too strong to resist.

“Please take good care of our Igrain.”

Our Igrain?

At the subtle tone in his voice, cold sweat ran down my back.

“Get along well. Don’t mind me.”

If I really were merchandise, wouldn’t this be close to forced sales?

Or perhaps dumping unsold goods on someone.

“Now then, the young people of the kingdom are waiting. Don’t keep them any longer—begin the first dance.”

My face grew hot.

If you want to use others, I suppose you have to be that shameless.

Shaking off the humiliation, I lifted my head.

And smiled brightly.

As if I couldn’t do that.

At that moment, the prince’s gaze met mine.

Without hesitation, he extended his hand. I looked down at it instinctively.

It was large and thick—and rough.

Unlike the kingdom’s nobles, he wore no gloves. His hand was covered in calluses, hard as stone.

Feeling the king’s gaze, I placed my hand in his. It was firmer than it looked—and warm.

“Then let us go. As your king desires.”

The last words were spoken so softly that only I could hear them.

As expected, the prince knew the king’s intentions all along.