“I really met her.”

Michael’s eyes were filled with emotion as he muttered those words.

‘What’s wrong with him? Did he eat something strange in the forest?’

He suddenly appeared and had such a reaction.

I tried to free my hand, but he wouldn’t let go at all.

“Um, if you could let go and we could talk…”

“Step away from the young lady.”

As I struggled, Ludvion drew his sword.

Michael let out a yelp and gripped my hand even tighter.

“Even if you are royalty, having trespassed into the duke’s castle, I will consider you an enemy.”

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Finally, when the sword was pressed to his neck, Michael released me.

He hurriedly searched his body and pulled out something to show everyone.

“Please look at this. I was invited here.”

“…What is this?”

“Ah, it’s not supposed to look like this.”

Ludvion frowned at what looked like a crumpled paper ball.

Michael panicked and began to smooth out the paper.

What had looked like trash turned into a crumpled paper bird.

‘This is what Louis was making?’

It was exactly the same shape that had made my heart flutter.

Placing the paper bird on his palm for all to see, he mentioned Louis.

“Louis sent this to me. I was invited, but the magic was cut off midway…”

Michael’s voice trailed off.

‘Could it be that Michael is the secret friend Louis mentioned?’

To think he sent a magic bird all the way to the imperial palace.

And the new friend he made was the real male lead.

I wasn’t sure whether to praise him for this or not.

“Did you attend the sacred fire ceremony?”

“…Yes. I knew I shouldn’t go, but… I still wanted to. I’m sorry.”

Michael hung his head.

Looking at the pitiful handsome man made me feel like the worst villain in the world.

“No, well. You don’t need to apologize to me.”

It seemed Michael’s admiration for royal gatherings was strong even before the original story.

“Did you come here secretly? People will be worried about you.”

I couldn’t be angry since he said Louis had called him.

Moreover, he had been trapped in the fog when the magic was cut off midway.

‘What would have happened if we hadn’t found him.’

The female lead might have ended up alone.

Despite my concern, Michael murmured self-deprecatingly.

“Worried… you say.”

Then his blue eyes filled with a sorrowful light.

“No one would care about someone like me anyway.”

Unfortunately, Michael’s words were correct at the moment.

‘A prince who hasn’t awakened and is hated by the empress.’

That was Michael’s current position.

Not only did the empress and crown prince take out their anger on him, but even the servants in his quarters often disrespected Michael.

Looking at Michael with tears in his eyes, I genuinely wondered.

‘How could anyone mistreat this face?’

It was a face that couldn’t possibly harbor any malice.

After all, he was the one the female lead fell for at first sight.

The Michael I saw in person was made up of the following 3 elements:

‘Beauty, pathos, and frustration.’

With such clear components, he was fit to be the male lead.

Although there was virtually no connection between Michael and Kashar yet, you never knew.

‘First, I need to cheer him up and send him back.’

Then I would ask Louis what had happened.

I extended my hand to Michael.

“Take my hand.”

“…Pardon?”

He took my hand hesitantly.

Ugh. I used all my strength to help Michael up.

‘Now he looks a little less pitiful.’

It was a face that pricked one’s conscience even without any guilt.

“Don’t think like that.”

When I smiled as kindly as possible, Michael’s gaze wavered.

“Somewhere, there must be someone who cherishes Prince Michael. If you speak like that, wouldn’t that person be sad?”

“…Such a…”

“There’s no useless person in this world.”

Sorry, Elsius. I’ll borrow your line for a bit.

Having borrowed even the female lead’s lines, this should be enough consolation.

Glancing at Michael, I saw his expression had brightened considerably.

‘No, not just his face brightening…’

Michael was smiling so brightly it seemed he could illuminate the whole world.

“I’ve never heard such words in my life.”

“Ah, it’s nothing special.”

“You really are kind, just as Louis said.”

What on earth did those two talk about?

I planned to find Louis as soon as I got home.

Of course, I needed to send Michael back first.

“Now, you should return to your quarters…”

“People say that you saved Duke Bladis.”

The continuation of Michael’s words, seemingly drunk on emotion, was truly strange.

‘…Who saved whom?’

I don’t know what kind of people they were, but the embellishment was too much.

‘We’re just normal lovers.’

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Don’t you know?”

Despite my saying I didn’t know, this male lead persisted stubbornly to the end.

Eventually, Michael was kneeling in front of me again.

“No, Your Highness. You can’t do this here!”

“Please. Save me too.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know what that means!”

Michael’s eyes were still desperate.

I was starting to doubt if we were even speaking the same language.

“Prince Michael, I’m in a romantic relationship with the Duke. It’s not about saving anyone.”

If he wanted to pray, it would be best to go to a temple.

Even better if he could come to his senses on his own.

“I know.”

Did he really know?

While I was at a loss for words, Michael’s boldness reached its peak.

“I know, but could you not take me in as well?”

“…What do you mean by ‘take you in’?”

“I want to be with you too, my lady.”

Why was he saying such potentially treasonous words so casually with such a pretty face?

I had a momentary headache.

Rubbing my forehead, I grasped Michael’s shoulders.

“Prince Michael, please calm down and listen to me.”

“I’m being sincere.”

“No, I’m not asking for sincerity, I’m asking you to calm down.”

Suddenly, I remembered Kashar’s mention of bride lessons. These half-brothers seemed to share the trait of not understanding what they’re told.

“Your Highness, you must be having a hard time right now.”

“…Yes. It’s very difficult.”

His gaze fixed on the floor concerned me.

But I felt I needed to say what needed to be said.

“I don’t know if these words will comfort you, but Your Highness will see the light after waiting. You’ll be recognized by everyone. And a wonderful partner who appreciates such a prince will appear.”

It wasn’t just empty words, but the truth.

‘Well, he might believe it better if there was some evidence.’

As I was considering whether to bluff about being able to read fortunes, Michael’s shoulders slumped even more.

“I’m… not such a great person. Such a worthless…”

“Hey, stop that!”

At my shout, Michael’s already large eyes grew even rounder.

“What Your Highness needs to do now is not lose confidence. So straighten your shoulders. More, more. Straighten your back too!”

“L-like this?”

“Yes, you’re doing well. That’s right. You look handsome.”

I gave two thumbs up to Michael, who had finally sat up straight.

Michael looked puzzled for a moment before blushing at my praise.

“Th… thank you?”

Just like a child receiving praise for the first time.

‘Ah, this makes me feel bad.’

I wondered if it was right to send him back after he had come all this way, but for Michael’s own safety, it was best to send him back for now.

“Your Highness. I’m not trying to chase you away. If you stay here, it will cause trouble for you. Sir Ludvion, could you escort the prince back?”

“Understood. Let’s go.”

Ludvion helped Michael to his feet.

“…Ah.”

Michael’s face, which had been flushed from the praise, turned pale again.

He was quietly following Ludvion when he suddenly stopped and ran back to me.

“Please, just for one night.”

“Pardon?”

“Please let me stay for just one day. Then I’ll return immediately.”

A small runaway Maltese was now asking for one night’s stay.

‘If I refuse this, I’m not even human.’

After rubbing my face dry, I finally nodded.

“Just for one day, alright?”

“…Thank you so much!”

His blue eyes sparkled like jewels.

Looking at those innocent eyes, I made a decision.

I would somehow try to hide Michael well from Kashar’s eyes.

The carriage, now with increased occupancy, safely entered the duke’s castle after passing through the barrier.

‘Fortunately, the castle is empty right now.’

As luck would have it, Kashar was absent due to business matters.

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

The person himself was so unpredictable, appearing so suddenly.

Unlike me, full of worries, Michael’s expression was innocent as he looked out the window.

“So this is Duke Bladis’s…”

Michael’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at the castle.

Somehow, I felt foolish for being the only one worrying.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the main gate.

Dracu and Eschtra were waiting to greet me in front.

“Welcome back. Hmm?”

Dracu’s greeting trailed off into a question mark.

I smiled awkwardly and made a request to them.

“Could you keep this guest a secret from Kashar?”

“Oh my.”

Dracu, immediately recognizing the guest as royalty like Kashar, showed reluctance.

“One box of soy milk.”

“Alright. But if we get caught, you must take our side no matter what, okay?”

“Of course, that goes without saying.”

Contract established with Dracu.

Next was…

“What about Eschtra?”

“I’ll take chocolate. 99% cocoa, please.”

Eschtra, who had tasted chocolate beside me, had now become a 99% cocoa enthusiast.

“Alright. He probably won’t wander around, but please keep the other servants in check too.”

“We’ll be careful.”

The recruitment was complete, and next was the room.

‘Ah, I should have him share a room with Louis.’

I felt bad for not being able to offer a guest room, but that was the safest option.

‘They’re friends anyway, so it should be fine. But are they really acquainted?’

Just as I had a slight doubt, a cheerful voice woke me from my thoughts.

“Brother Michael!”

“Louis!”

Louis, recognizing Michael, ran up to him in one breath and hugged him.

“You really came!”

“…Yes, thank you for inviting me.”

Michael shyly replied to Louis’s greeting.

‘It would have been a big problem if I had just sent him back.’

Michael, unable to resist the child’s pulling, was helplessly dragged along.

“Let’s go to my room!”

“Okay, just slow down a bit…!”

“Louis, you’re troubling our guest.”

Evan, unable to watch any longer, intervened.

“Huh? Oh, sorry!”

“No, it’s alright.”

Evan was staring at the two of them.

Despite being of the same royal family, there had been no interaction between them.

I stepped in to mediate the situation.

“This is Prince Michael. And this is Prince Evan.”

At my introduction, Michael was the first to greet.

“Hello.”

“You can speak casually. You’re older than me.”

Flinch. Michael’s gentle eyes wavered.

“…Ah, shall I? You can speak comfortably too…”

“I’ll pass.”

“…Um, okay. Sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry. No, I mean…”

It was hard to tell who was the child and who was the adult.

“Since he’s a secret friend, it’s a secret from the Duke. Everyone understands, right?”

“Yes! This will be fun!”

Louis answered enthusiastically, and Evan nodded silently.

‘I hope they don’t get caught.’

I sighed as I looked at the three who resembled each other slightly.