TMLOH 27

Chapter : 27

How many times do you think Pession has been called “Hey” while living as the Crown Prince?

I’d bet my right hand it’s never happened. Not even once.

“Hey.”

“Uh? Me? Me??”

After years of being an outcast, I had developed a few tricks to deal with annoying people.

First, build a wall.

But if that doesn’t work?

Then, Plan B: be outright rude.

“Yeah, you.”

“……!”

Pession’s eyes went round with shock.

A chilly silence settled in.

From the nanny squad who had come when they heard I was out of bed, to Graham the chief attendant stuck to Pession like glue—everyone stared at me in astonishment.

Yes, this is exactly the kind of atmosphere I wanted! Cold and awkward. That’s the mood I was aiming for!

All that’s left is for the Crown Prince to get mad.

“U-Uh, Arellin? What did you say?”

“I said ‘you.’”

“……!!”

Cold and firm, just to drive the nail in.

Everyone heard that, right?

I spoke informally. Without permission. So rude. To the Crown Prince, no less!

Even if he was treating me casually, a difference in status still existed between us.

What I had just done was undoubtedly disrespectful. How dare I act as his equal?

Come on, get mad already!

Just blow up, Pession! Then go back to the palace and leave me alone!

As I waited calmly for his outrage to come raining down—

“Wow!”

“……?”

That’s… not the reaction I expected.

“Arellin!”

Tilting my head, I saw Pession suddenly beam at me.

“……??”

Why is he smiling?

Did I miss a joke or something?

“Arellin, you’ve finally gotten comfortable with me?”

“Pardon?”

“Wow, Arellin spoke informally to me! Finally! Oh my gosh!”

Wait, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

Excuse me, aren’t you supposed to be mad right now? Why do you look so happy? It’s just my imagination, right?

“Keep talking like that from now on!”

“……Um.”

No, wait.

This isn’t right.

“Your Highness. I just spoke to you informally—aren’t you mad?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?”

“Don’t you think I’m being rude? Or presumptuous? Don’t you want to show me the difference in our status and make me kneel or something?”

“Hmm?”

Pession tilted his head again.

“If it’s from you, I actually like it.”

What on earth are you trusting me with?

“Why?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“…….”

Utterly disarmed. All my barriers, all my defensiveness melted in an instant.

No! Focus! You can’t fall for this! If you keep going like this, you’ll just end up dancing to the Crown Prince’s tune again!

“I don’t like it. I’ll speak formally.”

“Huh? Why’d you switch back to formal speech? I said talk casually.”

“No. Go away.”

“No! You said you don’t like it, so I don’t like it either!”

…This guy.

“Ah, just leave me alone!”

“Nope~!”

“Ugh, seriously.”

Will someone please get him off me?

“Arellin, let’s go for a walk! Come on, let’s go!”

“No. Go by yourself.”

“Okay, but I got some advice that I need to exercise to get healthy! So let’s go exercise! You’re always cooped up inside—that’s why you’re sick! Let’s go outside―!”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this fitness-cures-everything nonsense even in another world.

“That’s a lie. People like me, with no muscle, shouldn’t be moving too much.”

“Huh? That makes no sense! You’re just making that up so you don’t have to move!”

“It’s not made up. Some very smart people wrote papers about it.”

“Who wrote them?”

“Well…”

“Got nothing, huh? Then let’s go for a walk! The weather’s amazing today!”

Pession grabbed my hand and pulled me.

“Don’t grab me! Go alone!”

“Nope~! Let’s go together!”

Even though I kept snapping and picking fights, Pession just smiled through it all.

Unbelievable.

Why the hell isn’t this working?!

* * *

“Huff, huff…”

The Crown Prince was a tough opponent.

“Wasn’t that walk great, Arellin?”

That guy…

Is he doing this on purpose?

Did he realize making me suffer like this is an even better way to mess with me than getting angry?

Whether he knew about my suspicious glare or not, Pession smiled brightly.

“Let’s do it again tomorrow!”

“No.”

“Aw, why the formal speech again?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

Pession’s eyes drooped sadly.

“But we’re close now. Speak casually again! I gave you permission, didn’t I? Speaking formally feels distant.”

“Yes. That’s the point.”

“Ha ha! Arellin, you and your jokes!”

Why does he think that’s a joke?!

“But hey…”

The Crown Prince stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes.

“Why haven’t you said my name lately? I told you to call me Pession.”

“…….”

“You keep calling me ‘Your Highness.’”

Pession puffed out his cheeks at me. The classic pout of a 7-year-old.

Cute.

“I’ve been waiting for you to call me Pession again.”

Like he’d been holding it in just for this moment, Pession burst out in frustration.

“Are you never going to call me Pession again?”

He looked like he’d chase me to the ends of the earth if I didn’t.

“…Pession.”

“Good!”

He grinned.

“Keep calling me that!”

If only I hadn’t been so physically drained from that stupid walk, I might’ve resisted a bit more.

Dragging my trembling legs like a newborn deer, I headed back to my room—feeling an urgent need for a new plan.

“I need something stronger.”

Who knew even informal speech wouldn’t work?

This guy… does he not realize he’s the Crown Prince? When I dropped the honorifics, he should’ve immediately forced me to my knees and reminded me of our difference in status.

“Something stronger…”

But what’s stronger than that?

“Ngh…”

Usually, when I acted rude, people just muttered “What’s wrong with her?” and walked away. I’d never planned for a next level.

While I was groaning to myself, I noticed the nanny squad watching us from afar with warm smiles.

“Ah, young love.”

“It’s such a sweet time~”

“So nice, really.”

None of you are helping!

“You’re all losing your gold star stickers!”

At my sudden declaration, the nannies freaked out.

“What?! No!”

“Why?! What happened?!”

“Young Lady―!”

Too late. I’m sulking.

* * *

After Pession started visiting the Halbern estate regularly, his daily schedule became even more packed and tight.

“So busy, so busy!”

Training, studying, practicing—and a routine that couldn’t be skipped:

“Mother!”

Tea time with Empress Ajeni.

“Oh, Pession. How many times must I tell you not to run like that?”

“Ah, I just missed you so much, Mother…!”

“Fufu. Well, if that’s the reason, I suppose I can’t complain.”

Normally, royal families and nobles hired professional nannies to raise their children, but Empress Ajeni was very hands-on with her parenting.

She hugged Pession tightly. After a moment of doting, he sat proudly in his seat.

“Did you go to the Halbern estate again today?”

“Yes! I trained, studied, and practiced too.”

“How is Arellin doing?”

“She’s not ready to go out yet, but they say she’s recovering. But honestly, it’s hard to tell. She always has the same expression.”

“The same expression?”

Like she’s always looking off into the distance, like she could disappear at any moment.

That must be why.

Even though he’d seen her many times, Pession kept wanting to check if she was doing okay.

That’s why he couldn’t leave her alone. Why he had to go sit beside her and spend time with her.

“I wish Arellin would smile.”

“…….”

The Empress’s smile slowly faded.

As she gently stroked Pession’s head, her tightly sealed lips finally opened.

“Pession.”

With a worried tone, the Empress gave her advice.

“Only like her a little.”

A sudden and unexpected warning.

Pession tilted his head.

“Huh?”

The Empress smiled.

“Just enough that you can let go at any time.”

“Um… huh…”

“That will be better for both you and her.”

A flicker of sorrow crossed the Empress’s blue eyes.

“If only that child were healthy… You think so too, don’t you?”

A cryptic line, full of questions. Pession looked to her as if seeking answers, but Empress Ajeni simply sipped her tea with a serene smile.

All she could give was advice.

“Don’t be too good to her.”

“Why?”

Why was his mother saying this? A sense of unease grew inside him. As she looked down at his confused red eyes, she answered:

“So it’ll hurt less for you later.”

Her eyes were so calm and blue that Pession couldn’t say anything in return.

* * *

“Arellin!”

“……?”

“Let’s both get healthy!”

The Crown Prince already looked healthy.

Watching him clench his fists in some private vow left me baffled.

Did something happen?

…But I don’t want to ask.

If I ask, I feel like I’ll trigger some weird emotional flag I can’t take back.

“I’ll do my best!”

Why are you trying hard for my health? You’re such a weirdo.

But it was then I should’ve realized—

This was the beginning of the end for my peace.