I was having tea with Romeo when someone suddenly came visiting.
At the sound of a knock, Rellia showed a pleased expression, and Romeo asked.
"Waiting for someone?"
"...Yes, I have something to receive from Sir Lute."
"...."
However, when the door opened, it wasn't Lute who entered.
"P-Princess?"
It was Princess Yurianna.
Rellia was flustered and took a few steps toward her. Yurianna had an expression cold as ice.
Her frigid appearance, as if cold breath might flow from her, somehow also seemed to emit flames.
In fact, anger was surging in her eyes.
Yurianna glared at Rellia for a moment, then strode in and immediately slapped Rellia's cheek.
Smack!
It didn't hurt, but the sound was loud.
However, just because it didn't hurt didn't mean it wasn't shocking. Rellia was so bewildered she could only move her lips wordlessly.
Tears welled up in Yurianna's eyes.
I'm the one who got hit, so why are you crying?
Rellia wanted to ask, but soon squeezed her eyes shut. Because Yurianna's palm was flying toward her other cheek.
Smack!
However, that palm didn't reach Rellia's cheek. Romeo, who had approached within arm's reach, grabbed Yurianna's wrist.
"What do you think you're doing right now?"
"How dare you grab a princess's wrist?! Let go!"
"What kind of wild colt behaves like this..."
"Let go! I said let go! Guards!"
When Yurianna struggled, Romeo held her arm and lightly pushed her away.
As a result, Yurianna stumbled backward and nearly fell.
Perhaps because a dizzying memory surfaced at that moment, Rellia quickly caught Yurianna's arm.
"...."
Thanks to that, Princess Yurianna didn't fall, but the situation became a bit ridiculous.
As soon as Yurianna straightened her posture, Rellia released her hand.
It wasn't like she was concerned for a cat caught by a mouse. Watching Rellia, who had just been slapped, catch someone so they wouldn't fall, Romeo was dumbfounded.
The words 'what an utter fool' rose to his throat.
"...."
Rellia touched her swelling cheek and took a step back.
She had her own reason.
Because the moment she saw Yurianna nearly fall, a terrible memory from the past had resurfaced.
When she was young, Rellia had to make an enormous apology for the sin of pushing Yurianna.
The memory of that day remained as trauma, which was why she had grabbed Yurianna who was about to fall.
Afraid that day's events might repeat.
Of course, since the one who pushed her was Romeo, such a thing wouldn't happen.
As a prince, there was no way Romeo could receive the same punishment Rellia had received.
But Cedric, Damian, and Emperor Perseus were people who lost their rationality when it came to Yurianna's safety.
She wanted to prevent any harm from coming to Romeo.
Because if that happened, she felt she truly wouldn't be able to forgive them.
"How rude!"
Yurianna huffed and immediately shouted while looking at Rellia.
Rellia didn't understand. If she only knew the reason why she had to be slapped, it would be less frustrating.
Fortunately, Yurianna soon explained the reason.
"As if taking Lady Grace's side to make things difficult for me wasn't enough...!"
Tears dropped from her brimming eyes. Princess Yurianna looked as if she was the most wronged person in the world.
"...Did I commit such rudeness that I deserved to be slapped?"
"Not knowing that is even more absurd!"
Princess Yurianna clenched her fists tightly.
She had never felt her pride this wounded before.
Actually, when Rellia openly looked after Grace at the ball, she wasn't this angry.
At that time, rather, she found it funny and cute.
Thinking he was doing that to get her attention, it was entertaining.
So she asked her father to consider him as a fiancé candidate so she could see what kind of person he was.
But Sir Raymond reportedly returned after only praising Lute.
Saying to connect Lute and Yurianna.
Hearing that story, Yurianna was dumbfounded and her pride was deeply wounded.
It was virtually no different from an outright rejection. Moreover, who was he to dare meddle in a princess's marriage?
Originally, Yurianna liked Lute.
Even so, she had intended to give him a chance.
Seeing it come to this, Sir Raymond truly had no feelings for her.
As soon as she realized she had been in a misunderstanding all along, Princess Yurianna was so ashamed she couldn't lift her head.
Since hearing that news yesterday, she couldn't even talk to her maids and had to suffer alone.
Yet Sir Raymond didn't even come to apologize, let alone send any news.
Because of that, unable to bear it, she came looking for him.
Having grown up being revered as a princess since childhood, she had very strong pride.
"...."
Thinking he had no interest, but seeing him catch her so she wouldn't fall was confusing.
If he truly had no feelings, he wouldn't have caught her even after being slapped.
'Is he hiding his feelings because of his friendship with Lute?'
If so, she disliked it even more.
She absolutely detested cowardly, foolish men.
Princess Yurianna huffed for a while longer, then turned around and left.
Rellia and Romeo, who had suffered this indignity, looked at her retreating figure in disbelief, then looked at each other.
Romeo frowned and asked.
"You... you're not actually fond of that princess, are you?"
He asked just in case. Since 'that thing' was attached to him, he wondered if he truly liked Princess Yurianna as a woman and had lost his mind.
"...No."
Rellia answered while holding her cheek.
Honestly speaking, she really hated them.
Emperor Perseus, Cedric, Damian, and Princess Yurianna too.
She hated them terribly.
That was when it happened.
The door that Princess Yurianna had slammed shut burst open.
When Rellia reflexively flinched and shrank back, Romeo stepped forward to block the way.
Fortunately, it was Calix who opened the door and entered.
Rellia breathed a sigh of relief seeing him. She had flinched thinking Yuriana was coming in again...
But the moment her eyes met Calix's.
Pop! Pop! Firecracker sounds and fanfares rang in Rellia's ears.
Bapabam bam-bam!
[Quest Complete! ✧*.◟(ˊᗨˋ)◞.*✧ Receiving rewards!]
∙ Affection Check Ticket x10
∙ Special Recipe Puzzle Pieces x5
∙ Lv. 3 Random Gift Box[?] x2
∙ Quest Jumping Coin
Rellia was bewildered by the sudden fanfare.
It seemed that during the time she hadn't seen him since yesterday, Calix's affection had risen enough to complete a quest.
[Make Special Affection Target
※ Quest Story Progress: 40%
When the next quest appeared, Rellia mentally commanded to accept the quest.
Meanwhile, Calix stood there blankly.
"...What? Why are you standing like that?"
His appearance looked so foolish that Romeo furrowed his brow.
"...."
Calix blinked, then narrowed his eyes. He had discovered Rellia's reddened cheek.
"...What is this? Who did this? What bastard hit you?"
He approached Rellia heavily like an angry bear.
"W-well..."
"Just now, the princess passed by looking like an angry bear. Was it her? Did you get hit by her?"
Rellia, who had thought of 'angry bear' looking at Calix, flinched and tightly closed her lips.
When Rellia didn't answer, Calix looked at Romeo. Romeo nodded, confirming it was true.
"How dare she touch my little brother?"
Calix fumed and tried to pull out the dagger he had tucked in his clothes. It was the large sword that Rellia had helped him resize.
Romeo calmed Calix down.
Calix, who was already impulsive by nature, needed to be stopped before he caused a major incident.
Rellia also noticed this and tried to calm Calix.
"You don't need to worry about it. I acted too much like a playboy at the ball... that's why this happened."
Even though she deliberately said it was her fault, Calix's eyes were fierce.
"By the way, where's Griffith? Did you handle what he asked for?"
When Romeo changed the subject, only then did Calix calm down a little.
"...Yeah. I looked into it roughly. Hey, open your mouth. Let me see if the inside is torn or not."
"N-no. I'm fine."
"I said open it."
Calix eventually made Rellia open her mouth and checked the inside.
Romeo tilted his head watching this.
'Calix, hasn't that guy figured something out?'
Is there any reason to worry this much and treat someone so well?
It seemed he really thought of Rellia as Leo's younger brother. Calix was acting exactly like a little kid excited to have a younger brother for the first time.
Like an older brother who steps forward when his sibling comes home after getting beaten up somewhere.
"You kid... getting hit by a woman and running around. That's why you should act like a playboy in moderation, you punk. Don't go around hurting women unnecessarily and just avoid them entirely like me. Huh?"
"...Yes."
"A man shouldn't throw his body around carelessly. You... you... just because you're somewhat confident in that area, you shouldn't act recklessly. The more you have, the more careful you should be. Got it?"
"Yes... big brother."
Rellia answered that way because it seemed like Calix was hoping for that title. Then Calix's expression immediately brightened.
'Simple guy.'
Not knowing what Rellia was thinking inside, Calix spoke without hiding his thoughts.
"If anyone bothers you again, tell me. Your big brother will handle everything. Understand?"
"Yes, yes..."
Romeo rubbed his forehead with a headache as he watched Calix.