I Did a Good Job For the Villain's Early Education - Chapter 48.1
Chapter 48.1
Proper socializing is good for mental health.
‘I was worried he’d just hole up in his wing of the palace after he returned.’ It was a relief that, unlike when he was younger, he was going out on his own. ‘He even suggested it first!’
Despite the time apart, the bond they had built hadn’t disappeared. Avel smiled brightly and gave her younger brother a quick glance.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Despite his curt tone, he gripped her hand tightly. ‘So cute.’ Avel, holding her brother’s hand, trotted over to the prince. The prince’s green eyes, watching the two siblings, were strangely subdued.
***
The shopping trip progressed smoothly.
“What do you think of this color?”
“A slightly darker shade would be better.”
“Really? What do you think, Your Highness?”
Avel, browsing curtain fabrics, held up a piece embroidered with small flowers.
“It’s fine.”
“No. It’ll get dirty easily and need frequent washing. It’ll also need mending more often than other colors.”
“Hmm, that’s a problem.”
New fabric, tea leaves, a cake to order for her birthday… There were many choices to make, and the two boys readily offered their opinions each time.
“Left?”
“The left one is better.”
“Hmm… I still like the one on the right!”
Of course, whether Avel accepted their opinions was entirely up to her.
The offer to be her porters had been a joke, so all the packages ended up in Avel’s arms.
‘What if I actually let them carry everything and one of them collapses?’
It was better to carry the packages herself than to carry her brother home on her back—not that she couldn’t.
“Shall I carry some?”
“Carry them? You, Your Highness? My packages?”
“Is there a problem?”
“A problem? My goodness! When did Your Highness grow up so much that you’d offer to carry someone’s packages first! And ask so politely!”
“I’m two years older than you.”
“And in such a gentle tone!”
“.…”
“But it’s alright.”
At her sudden composure, his green irises widened slightly. His eyelashes lowered, casting long shadows.
“We’re heading home now. If it gets too heavy and I think my fingers might break, I’ll give some to you.”
“…Home? Together?”
“Yes. Why? Do you want to come over, Your Highness?”
“…Can I?”
The prince had taken the bait of her jokingly thrown question. Frowning slightly as if bothered by the sun, Cheza Ragrachio rubbed his lower lip with his thumb and forefinger.
“Of course you can! Absolutely!”
It was a surprisingly enthusiastic acceptance, enough to startle the one who had extended the invitation. That day, Avel and Cheza boarded the carriage, each carrying half of the purchased goods. Sananeth leaned back and closed his eyes as soon as he sat down. A whispering voice reached the boy’s ears.
“Sana, are you tired?”
“A little.”
“I guess it’s because you came straight from the Academy.”
“It’s not that… It’s okay, I had fun.”
“It’s been a while since we went out shopping together, hasn’t it?”
“That too.”
Stealthily opened grey eyes glanced sideways. The prince, seated to Avel’s right, was also pretending not to be, but glancing at Sananeth. Avel, gently stroking her brother’s ruffled hair with one hand, turned her head.
“It’s your first time on a carriage, isn’t it? It’s a good thing we narrowly avoided the evening rush hour.”
“I’ve ridden one before.”
“When?”
“When I attended the Academy.”
“Don’t you want to go back?”
“.…”
“You know, they say your school days are the best… But seeing your handsome face, I guess not for you.”
His narrowed eyes seemed to say, ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Well, if he had enjoyed it, he wouldn’t have graduated early.’
