Weeping Men: The Innocent Princess's Secret Delight - Chapter 2.3
“Kaizen must be busy adjusting to his duties as Commander, so it might be good for him to give up his guard position, and the young duke could take his place instead. Haha!”
She wondered what they were trying to say by setting up the conversation together.
‘So this is it.’
It was to preemptively undermine Kaizen, fearing he might gain too much power by being close to the Princess.
Of course, Kaizen can’t give up his position as the Princess’s guard just because of words like these. After all, it’s also an imperial decree.
So they’re trying to build public opinion one by one for now. To make Kaizen appear unsuitable for the position of the Princess’s guard knight. For that purpose, they deliberately made a dangerous joke while chatting with other nobles.
The noble standing in front of the Duke laughed awkwardly. Whether to agree or disagree. Either way, it would mean insulting the Duke’s son. It was wiser to say nothing at all.
But the noble lady standing behind him covered her mouth with a fan and whispered to the person next to her while glancing at Kaizen. What comes out of that mouth is certainly not in defense of Kaizen.
‘I can’t let this slide.’
Judith decided to overturn the situation. This time too, her public image would be quite useful.
“What are you saying! I already feel bad for relying on Lord Kaizen’s help, let alone the young duke’s.”
“……”
She waved her hand as if she had heard an amusing joke. The Duke frowned, at a loss for words.
If he pushed this topic further, it would imply that the young duke is less busy than the newly appointed Knight Commander.
“Ahem. I just meant……”
In the end, the Duke took a step back.
“I meant you should serve Your Highness better.”
Then, as if frustrated that his attempt at flirtation ended fruitlessly, he took it out on Kaizen.
“……”
Despite the sudden scolding, Kaizen simply bowed his head without a word.
Judith wanted to step in for him, but she held back this time. Interfering further here might raise unnecessary suspicion among the nobles.
“I will serve diligently.”
Kaizen, who finally occupied the empty spot while Froyzen had retreated, bowed his head.
At last, an opportunity to go to a secluded place with just the two of them had come. Judith asked with a smile.
“I’d like some fresh air. Would you guide me to the terrace?”
“Yes. This way.”
Kaizen led Judith stoically.
However, he didn’t accompany her onto the terrace, instead guarding the door. Even if he was out of touch with social circles, he seemed to know that staying on a terrace alone with the Princess could easily turn into a scandal.
“Lord Pentmian! Can you come out for a moment?”
She needed to draw him out first to do anything. Judith deliberately lowered her voice, pretending to be urgent, and called for Kaizen.
“What is the matter?”
The answer came immediately, but he didn’t come out.
“I want to talk face to face. It’ll only take a moment! It’s really urgent.”
But Judith didn’t back down. She filled her voice with urgency and embarrassment.
“……”
After a brief silence, the doorknob moved. Kaizen came out onto the terrace, mindful of his surroundings, and immediately asked.
“Did something happen? I made sure the security was thorough……”
“There’s something I want to show only to you. Can you see my earrings?”
The only piece of jewelry dangling right next to her face couldn’t have been invisible. Kaizen nodded.
“I can see them.”
“Look. If I cover them with my hand……”
“……”
“Ta-da! They glow!”
“……I’ll be going back inside.”
He was more merciless than expected. Judith almost laughed at the look of exasperation that flashed across Kaizen’s face, but she held it in. Instead, she hurriedly clung to his arm.
“No! Stay with me.”
“It might tarnish Your Highness’s reputation.”
“Don’t worry. You came out here avoiding others’ eyes, right? I trust that.”
“……”
“I came here to fulfill ‘visiting a friend’s house’, but what kind of social activity is it if I can’t be with my friend! I want to be with you. Please?”
She attacked with her most confident expression. Eventually, Kaizen let go of the doorknob he was holding.
“If anyone comes out, I’ll go back in immediately.”
“Alright.”
Judith gladly accepted. She knew no one would come to the terrace for a while.
Since Froyzen had broken the ice with the ice cream, the nobles would be busy for a while contemplating whether they could turn Northern products into a business.
‘Meanwhile, I’ll play with Kaizen.’
Having read the situation that would unfold and chosen the terrace as a resting place, it was a leisure she deserved to take.
Glancing at the hall across, she saw Froyzen being stopped by nobles at every step, giving advice on business ideas.
Watching this scene, Judith’s face unconsciously soured, and she blurted out,
“Why does everyone put Lord Pentmian on the back burner?”
Perhaps the sight of Kaizen standing like a wall decoration was quite shocking, as an unplanned comment slipped out without her realizing it.
Sympathizing and getting angry that a friend wasn’t receiving the treatment they deserved was barely befitting of a princess. So she didn’t bother correcting her words. Judith pouted her lips, adding a touch of aegyo.
“……It wouldn’t be good for you to look after me in front of the Duke.”
At that moment, Kaizen, who seemed like he would just stand there silently, opened his mouth.
“Why?”
“……”
He didn’t explain the specific reason after saying that. Instead of prying, Judith tried to guess the reason herself.
It was probably due to the cold treatment he had received from the Duke. He might just be intimidated in front of him and not want to draw attention to himself.
‘But I don’t need to care about that, do I?’
Judith softened that thought into something more princess-like, to the level of being cute but stubborn.
“I don’t know. I just like Lord Pentmian.”
“……”
Kaizen fell silent again and turned his head away. Judith secretly smiled as she caught a glimpse of his earlobe.
‘How cute.’
His earlobe, visible beneath his black hair, was tinged red.
Around the time when the silence that had settled between them made the sound of the wind seem louder, Kaizen spoke again.
“……Didn’t you call me Kaizen earlier?”
What’s this? Is he asking me to call him that again?
Judith covered her mouth, pretending to be surprised.
“Ah! That was unintentional earlier… I’m sorry, was it uncomfortable?”
“Not at all. It’s just……”
He hesitated for a moment, uncharacteristically.
“You can call me as you please.”
In other words, it was a roundabout request to keep calling him by his name. This must be the most expressive Kaizen could be.
‘How endearing!’
“Alright, Lord Kaizen!”
She responded with a bright smile. Gradually obtaining permission one by one, it seemed the day when they would develop into a relationship where they could show even their intimate sides wasn’t far off.
Not wanting to waste their precious time alone in silence, Judith eagerly struck up a conversation.
“Have you tried the ice cream?”
“I have experience from the North.”
“I see! Was it similar to what I just ate?”
“I don’t know about what the young duke served, as I didn’t eat it.”
It’s not that he didn’t eat it, but that he couldn’t. Because no one offered him any.
