TGBAP 52

Ria once again felt how quickly time had passed.

[You too, and Lucian too, are becoming adults. Somehow it feels refreshing and bittersweet.]

The more he became an adult, the seat by his side would be filled with people other than her.

It was different from when he had only her in his world. His world was widening, so she should be happy, but she couldn’t help feeling wistful.

[Three years will pass in no time, won’t it?]

-Those seven years passed in an instant too.

[……Yeah. I kept wondering when he’d grow up, but he’s already fifteen.]

Maybe the one who needed independence wasn’t Lucian, but her. Since she was already afraid of him leaving.

-He’s not leaving your side forever, so what are you so afraid of. Humans have short lifespans, so they can’t stay forever anyway.

[Yeah, you’re right too.]

The average human lifespan is sixty. Compared to Ria, who lived three hundred years, or a dragon who easily lives a thousand, it was absurdly short.

[All I can do is stay by Lucian’s side so he can form a happy family and die peacefully.]

-You’re the one sulking that Lucian is becoming an adult right now, and you’re talking about marriage and death? Stop talking like an old person and just pass along my regards to Lucian.

[What? You’re the one who isn’t even that much younger than me!]

And so, bickering with Kaiser, she chatted about trivial things.

Early summer in June. It was a bright day with lovely weather.

* * *

At the same time. Lucian had come to the capital for an outing with Dio and Leopold, and Harry.

Harry was Leopold’s friend, whom he had brought along two weeks ago.

Lucian had wondered if he was truly trustworthy, but since he was close to being Leopold’s loyal subject, he could quickly set aside his doubts.

If anything, Harry realized before Leopold did that Lucian’s existence must not be revealed.

‘Setting aside knowing his identity, if people realize the Crown Prince and I look the same, there will be those who try to use me.’

For instance, assassinating Leopold and putting Lucian forward as a puppet.

Of course, Leopold didn’t seem to think that far. Otherwise…….

“……Why do I have to be like this?”

There was no way Leopold would ever switch clothes with him.

Right now, unable to withstand Leopold’s insistence, Lucian was pretending to be Leopold, and Leopold was pretending to be Lucian—what they called playing Prince and Pauper.

He didn’t know where he got them, but he’d shown up with a wig and a potion that temporarily changed eye color.

He’d heard that using imperial traits was illegal, so where did he get them?

Of course, since all Lucian had to do was take off his necklace, he didn’t use them.

“Lucian! Are you still not ready?!”

“Haah, I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Looking at himself in the mirror—now exactly like Leopold—Lucian sighed and came out of the changing room.

When he pulled aside the screen, three pairs of eyes turned this way. Leopold had already finished disguising himself, wearing a brown wig.

“Ooh!”

“They really do look exactly alike.”

“……Even I wouldn’t be able to tell.”

Aside from Leopold, whose eyes were sparkling, Dio and Harry looked dumbfounded.

“Do we really have to go this far? What if someone notices?”

“Geez, what are you worried about. Harry rented out this whole place, so it’s fine.”

The place they were in now was a men’s clothing shop. They’d even sent all the employees out, practically renting it out entirely.

“And since I’m buying all the clothes you’re wearing right now, don’t worry about it.”

“What? M-my clothes too?”

Dio was wearing flashy, high-class noble clothing. And the disguised Lucian was the same.

Dio, who had never worn clothes this expensive in his life, awkwardly fiddled with them.

“Of course! Today we’re playing nobles, you know?”

“……Your Highness is imperial.”

“Anyway! Lucian and Dio, you’ve never gone to an art museum or a play, right?”

Such luxurious hobbies were something only nobles could have, so it was only natural that commoners couldn’t experience them.

“Alright, gentlemen! Shall we start having fun in earnest?”

“Yeeah!”

“……Haah.”

“Our future looks bleak.”

Only Dio, Leopold’s soulmate, cheered; Lucian and Harry were skeptical.

But no one could stop the headstrong Leopold.

And so the four of them began walking the streets, imitating nobles.

To begin with, Lucian and Leopold looked so alike they could be mistaken for twins, so Leopold pulled his hat low to avoid people’s eyes.

Lucian, who didn’t like attention either, tried to put on a hat too, but Leopold stubbornly stopped him.

“Today you’re not Lucian, you’re Leopold Odelion. Father granted permission for me to go out, so you don’t have to hide.”

Meaning he had to act the way Leopold usually did—dealing with escort knights, attendants, and nobles who recognized him as the Crown Prince and approached.

At first, since Lucian didn’t know how Leopold normally behaved, he fumbled, and Harry gave him advice from beside him.

“His Highness is the same person front and back. So if you simply imitate what you have seen of him normally, you will be fine.”

“……Is that an insult?”

“Ahem. His soul is pure.”

So it is an insult. Yeah, for a Crown Prince, his head is way too full of flower gardens.

Lucian had no choice but to smile broadly, making Leopold’s signature expression.

Seeing that, Dio covered his mouth and trembled, and the other two also desperately held back laughter.

People approached and spoke to Leopold…… no, Lucian.

“I never expected to see Your Highness in a place like this. I met you briefly at a party before—do you perhaps remember?”

“Your Highness, this is my daughter. She is around your age. If you do not mind, may I introduce her to you?”

Every time they changed locations, nobles appeared, creeping in like cockroaches. They were frantic to seize any connection to the imperial family.

Every time he dealt with them, his energy drained and irritation grew. Had Leopold always done this?

For the first time, Lucian felt Leopold was impressive.

Watching Lucian perfectly imitate Leopold and handle the nobles, Harry, observing from afar, clicked his tongue.

“He’s never dealt with nobles before, but he’s responding well.”

“I only told him as a joke, but he’s surprisingly good. No—doesn’t he have more refinement than the other nobles?”

“Refinement? Lucian?”

Chewing snacks, Dio suddenly stuck his head in.

“Come to think of it, Dio, you said you are Lucian’s long-time friend, yes?”

“……That tone. It gives me goosebumps, so stop. Why are you putting those bizarre honorific tags after people’s names?”

“Ahem! Just answer my question! Lucian…… has he ever learned noble etiquette?”

When Dio landed a hit on Harry, Leopold clutched his stomach and cackled.

“Who knows. I wouldn’t know. But he’s always been like that.”

“Like that, as in wandering around going bleh-bleh-bleh?”

At the remark that somehow jabbed at him, Leopold flinched and shot Harry a glare.

“No, not that. I mean he doesn’t speak bluntly when dealing with people. I don’t really know what that ‘etiquette’ is, but from what I see, he’s only copying Leopold’s way of speaking—he’s just Lucian like usual.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

If it was just Lucian as usual, there was nothing to say, but there was still something suspicious.

No matter how he looked, Lucian seemed like someone who had been properly educated by someone.

“Ah, he seems like a fallen noble. Maybe he learned in the past.”

“A, a fallen noble?”

“Yeah. Otherwise how would Lucian live in such a big mansion? They call it a ghost mansion, but it’s a house you couldn’t live in if you weren’t a noble.”

“Certainly…….”

“But shouldn’t you save him soon? At this rate Lucian’s going to explode.”

“How do you know that?”

Dio silently pointed at Lucian’s hand. He was clenching his fist so tightly it looked like blood might stop flowing.

He couldn’t show it, but he was suppressing his irritation as much as possible.

Leopold also figured it was enough and sent Harry in. But before Harry could wrap things up—

“You have company.”

Lucian firmly pushed the nobles back.

“I came out today to spend time with friends, so could you keep it reasonable?”

He was still imitating Leopold and wearing a harmless smile, but his eyes were cold.

Watching Lucian slip out from among the nobles, gentle but firm, Harry’s eyes widened slightly.

The moment Lucian turned his back on the nobles, he threw off the mask he’d been wearing and strode up to Leopold with a face full of killing intent. And without anyone noticing, he grabbed Leopold by the collar.

“Be honest. You suggested switching because you didn’t want to deal with that hassle, didn’t you?”

“Ah, you caught me.”

“Switch back right now. I can’t do this anymore—no, I won’t.”

“Ahahahaha! Dio, look at this! This is the first time I’ve seen him hate something this much!”

“Leo……! ……Grr.”

Since he couldn’t even say Leopold’s name, Lucian swallowed his anger down inside. Dio and Harry stuck close and calmed Lucian down.

Leopold laughed merrily, then, where no one could see, his eyes flashed.

‘Lucian, you really are the best!’

He didn’t show it, but just now, seeing Lucian coolly sweep away those annoying nobles with charisma was a fresh shock.

Maybe because he was disguised the same way Leopold was, Leopold had a gut feeling that if he copied him as-is, he could carry himself with more dignity.

At the unexpected gain, Leopold smiled faintly.

“Aww, don’t be like that—calm down~”

“Get away!”

No matter how Lucian shoved him, Leopold clung to him like a leech.

Leopold thought that if he had a sibling, he’d want a little brother like Lucian.

* * *

“……Even nobles can’t do this kind of thing.”

At Dio’s lament, Leopold and Harry, walking ahead, turned back.

Unlike the two of them, still energetic, Dio’s eyes were half-lidded.

“You’re tired already? We didn’t even do much today.”

“Indeed. We only visited an art museum, rode horses, and rested at a café.”

Looking at the Crown Prince and noble young gentleman who truly didn’t understand, Dio shook his head.

“It’s not like there’s only one or two things you have to watch out for.”

Your gait, how you drink tea, even the order you use your utensils—there’s no end to the things you have to mind.

On top of that, hearing all sorts of nitpicks and fixing them made him lose stamina faster than usual.

Leopold and Harry had been trained since childhood, fine, but why is Lucian, that bastard, perfectly fine?

“This is why I hate talented guys.”

“……I’m tired too, you know? At least you didn’t have to deal with nobles.”

Dio’s mouth snapped shut. True—there probably wasn’t anyone more harassed than Lucian today.

And the person people were actually trying to see was over there lazing around and having fun.

“Alright, alright, once we watch this, we’re done. They say it’s the most famous musical in the capital these days.”

“This time, we secured the royal box seats, so you won’t need to mind other people’s eyes.”

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”

Dio and Lucian, without realizing it, grew excited and followed the two toward the theater. And there, they ran into an unexpected obstacle.

“Oh my, Your Highness. To see you in a place like this.”

“……Who is that?”

It was a girl with pink hair that stood out even from far away. Seeing how she spoke to the Crown Prince without hesitation and plainly, she seemed quite close…….

Not knowing how to respond, Lucian glanced at Harry and Leopold beside him.

The two were visibly fidgeting. Especially Leopold’s eyes were trembling like an earthquake.

Harry, quickly regaining himself, whispered to Lucian.

“She is His Highness’s fiancée, Lady Lilis Sevans.”

Fiancée? Of all times?

Lucian forced himself to hide his fluster and began acting.

“Right. I didn’t expect to see you here. Did you come alone?”

“I heard many rumors that it’s entertaining, so I was curious and came. But there are people I don’t recognize at your side?”

Lilis’s gaze passed over Harry, then went to Leopold and Dio.

Leopold pulled his hat even lower.

“They’re friends I became close with while studying abroad. It’s only natural you wouldn’t know them.”

“Ah, I see. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lilis Sevans.”

“……Lucian Bain.”

“D-Dio Ferdin.”

They had already coordinated what they would answer if someone asked their status.

Fortunately, Lilis quickly lost interest in the two of them.

“Since it turned out like this, shall we watch the performance together?”

“……Huh?”

“Why do you look so surprised? Could it be…… you don’t want to?”

Cold sweat beaded down the back of Lucian’s neck. With Lilis making a thoroughly pitiful expression, the mouth that had been about to refuse closed.

“Lately, Your Highness hasn’t come to see me, and whenever I visit, they say you are always out. I was hurt. Could it be…… you’ve found another woman besides me…….”

“……Of course not!”

The real Leopold shouted. Everyone’s gaze snapped to him.