At Schuler’s cautious words, Sinclair looked at Elaina.

“Do as you wish, Elaina.”

Then he said to her.

“If you don’t want to meet him, I’ll send him away.”

From Elaina’s perspective, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Chaz was someone who had sided with Hister and put her in danger.

Moreover, looking back on the whole situation, Chaz must have already known. The fact that Hister had already applied poison to Chaz’s cup, which Elaina had gifted with the liquor.

Elaina didn’t respond for a moment. She seemed lost in thought, then finally looked at Sinclair and said.

“I’m fine. So if it’s okay with Sinclair, tell him to come in.”

“……”

“He must have come all this way with the courage to say something, right? I want to hear what it is. I’m curious too.”

Chaz had fled without even a chance to properly speak. If he has come forward like this on his own, he must surely have something he wants to convey.

“……Let him in.”

Sinclair nodded as if understanding and conveyed his intention to Schuler.

Schuler left for a moment, and shortly after, returned to the bedroom with Chaz.

And Chaz……

“Yo-Your Highness, Crown Princess……”

As soon as he stepped into the bedroom, he knelt before Elaina.

Even crying profusely.

“I’m sorry……”

Chaz sobbed, spitting out the words as if vomiting.

“I, I knew everything from the beginning…… but there was no way to refuse……”

“……”

“Elder brother Hister…… was too scary……”

Sinclair silently watched his younger brother crying heavily.

It’s not that he didn’t understand Chaz’s position. Hister’s scheme must have been obvious. He probably made his move before Sinclair could assign people to Chaz’s palace.

For example, he would have poisoned the food, tea, or alcohol prepared at the Crown Prince’s palace.

You must drink it without fail.

If something happened to Chaz because of that, he would have tried to frame it all on Sinclair.

“I was going to bring the antidote…… It was the birthday gift elder brother Hister gave me……”

Ah.

So that’s why he told me to make sure to check the gift he gave.

Elaina’s face hardened as she recalled the words Hister had uttered with a smirk.

“So as soon as elder brother Sinclair and Your Highness the Crown Princess passed away, I looked for the antidote……”

The rest of the story was predictable without hearing it. The blue bruises on Chaz’s face told the tale. Probably unable to control his anger, he beat Chaz with all his might, snatched the antidote, and left.

“If I had known Your Highness would drink that liquor…… No, I was just a coward……”

Now Chaz was almost wailing.

“Knowing from the start that it contained poison, I let Your Highness take the cup… Not only that, I even poured the drink with my own hands……”

“……”

“Even if you were to strike off my head right here, I would have nothing to say……”

With those final words, Chaz bowed his head deeply.

Elaina stared down at Chaz for a while, and only after a considerable time had passed did she slowly part her lips.

“I’m really angry, Prince Chaz.”

Chaz looked up and sobbed as if it was only natural. It was an unavoidable reaction. Anyone in the world would be angry like that.

But Elaina’s next words were something Chaz had never expected.

“How could he do such a thing using Your Highness’s life as leverage… I already knew what kind of person Crown Prince Hister was, but… hah……”

“Yo-Your Highness the Crown Princess…?”

Elaina, who had been sitting on the bed, slowly rose. Sinclair supported her, and Elaina, who had approached Chaz, bent her knees.

Then, matching Chaz’s eye level, she continued speaking.

“I know that coming here to apologize like this is an incredibly courageous act, Prince Chaz.”

“……”

“You must have known. That as soon as you set foot in this palace, that fact would reach Crown Prince Hister’s ears, and your safety would be immediately endangered. Isn’t that right?”

Although Chaz had lived trying his best not to stand out, barely receiving any proper treatment, he was still a member of the royal family.

So he knew well. As Elaina said, that this visit would pose an enormous danger to him in the future.

Despite knowing all of this, the reason he still came to Sinclair’s palace was…….

“I was so angry……”

[Prince Chaz?]

“The only person who treated me kindly in this palace was…… Your Highness the Crown Princess……”

[You’re sweating a lot. You should return to the palace soon. If you let the sweat cool like this, you might catch a cold.]

“Instead of being grateful, I put you in danger……”

[Or would you like to rest a bit in our palace? We’re about to have dinner anyway, if it’s alright with Your Highness……]

“The anger and shame were much greater than the fear of what might happen to me right away……”

“……”

“Ho-However, I didn’t come here to beg for forgiveness from Your Highness the Crown Princess. I’m well aware of how dangerous the situation was for you…… So you don’t need to accept my apology……”

Chaz’s words trailed off.

It was because of the warm and affectionate hands that reached out to embrace the young boy and pat his back gently.

“But Prince Chaz, everything turned out well, didn’t it?”

“Pardon…?”

“Prince Chaz is unharmed, and I have safely recovered. That alone is so fortunate, and you even had the courage to come here in person to apologize. Is there anything else that could be a problem?”

Elaina, who had released Chaz from her embrace, said with a smile as bright as the sun.

“And to be clear, the one who should apologize is not Prince Chaz, but Crown Prince Hister. There aren’t many people who can prioritize someone else’s life over their own in such a situation. And there are even fewer who would acknowledge their own mistakes and apologize in person.”

“……”

“So Prince Chaz, please don’t blame yourself anymore. I have never once been dissatisfied with or resented Prince Chaz from the beginning.”

Chaz couldn’t say a word. He just stared endlessly at Elaina with tears in his eyes……

……How did elder brother Sinclair find such a person? People were busy gossiping that Crown Princess Elaina Butler was a crippled illegitimate child, or that she was a half-wit from the Aswald family……

Of course, it was much better than when Elaina had just entered the palace, but there were still people who consistently said such things.

But to Chaz’s eyes, Elaina seemed completely unrelated to such rumors.

Although she had a lame leg, she had a light that normal people didn’t possess.

A very kind and warm light.

One that could embrace everyone…….

Even someone like him.

“Elder brother will understand too, so please stop crying now. Right, Sinclair?”

“……I know you’ve suffered for a long time, Chaz.”

Sinclair, who had been listening to their conversation, slowly moved his lips.

“In a way, it might be my fault too. If I had taken care of you earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“El-Elder brother Sinclair……”

“I had judged that it would be dangerous for you to have a direct connection with me. But now it seems it’s too late.”

Sinclair chuckled.

“Besides, since the Crown Princess has so clearly forgiven you, I have no choice.”

Then he said in a slightly playful voice.

“You must have anticipated that coming to my palace like this would put you out of Hister’s favor, right, Chaz?”

“Yes…… But it’s fine. I’m already out of favor anyway. And I don’t want to be cowardly used like that anymore, even if I can’t do anything else……”

“Then that’s settled.”

“Pardon?”

“Since you’re already out of favor, you might as well stay close to me. If you openly do so, it’ll be easier for me to protect you too.”

“……”

“And when I’m not around, I think I’d feel a bit more at ease if you were by the Crown Princess’s side. I too am making this proposal based on various calculations, so I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable.”

Even though he said it like that, Chaz knew it was a kind consideration to protect his younger brother.

Elder brother was never like this before. Could it be that elder brother has changed like this because of the Crown Princess?

Has her warmth melted even elder brother Sinclair’s heart?

Is that why he’s so kind now?

“Th-Thank you……”

Chaz sobbed, tears streaming down his face.

“Really…… Thank you so much. Elder brother, and Your Highness the Crown Princess……”

As she turned her head, she saw Sinclair looking at her. Elaina met his eyes and smiled brightly, and Sinclair also showed a brief smile.

“Oh, and please don’t say things like you’re dirty. You can promise me that much, can’t you?”

Elaina turned her gaze back to Chaz and patted his back as she continued speaking.

“At least in this Crown Prince’s palace, there will be no one who looks at Prince Chaz with such eyes.”

“……”

“If you’re still worried, I’ll prepare some liquor for you again. Of course, this time it will be safe without any poison.”

At Elaina’s words, Chaz laughed while crying. Then he cried again while laughing.

Watching Chaz like this, the couple smiled with infinite warmth.