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 just like that.”

From Elaina’s perspective, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Chez was someone who endangered her by colluding with Hister.

Moreover, looking back on the whole situation, Chez must have already known. The fact that Hister had tampered with the liquor Elaina gifted and Chez’s cup beforehand.

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

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

“……”

“He must have come all this way, mustering up the courage to say something, right? I want to hear what that is. I’m also curious about how he came to this decision.”

Chez had fled without even a chance to properly speak. If he’s come forward on his own like this, 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 soon returned to the bedroom with Chez.

And Chez…

“Pr-Princess Consort Your Highness……”

No sooner had he set foot in the bedroom than he knelt before Elaina.

Even while shedding tears profusely.

“I’m sorry……”

Chez sobbed and spoke as if spitting it out.

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

“……”

“Elder brother Hister… was so scary……”

Sinclair silently looked at his younger brother who was crying profusely.

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

For example, he might have sent a letter saying that he would poison the food, tea, or alcohol prepared at the prince’s palace, so Chez must drink it.

If something happened to Chez that way, he would have tried to pin it all on Sinclair.

“I was trying… 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 sneer.

“So as soon as elder brother Sinclair and Princess Consort Your Highness left, I looked for the antidote……”

The rest of the story seemed predictable without hearing it. The bruises on Chez’s face were telling enough. He probably couldn’t contain his anger, beat Chez with all his might, snatched the antidote, and left.

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

Now Chez was almost wailing.

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

“……”

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

With those final words, Chez bowed his head deeply.

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

“I’m really angry, Prince Chez.”

Chez raised his head 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 Chez hadn’t thought of at all.

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

“Pr-Princess Consort Your Highness…?”

Elaina, who had been sitting on the bed, slowly got up. Sinclair supported her, and Elaina, who had somehow approached Chez, bent her knees.

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

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

“……”

“You must have known. That as soon as you set foot in this palace, that fact would reach Prince Hister’s ears, and your safety would be immediately endangered. Right?”

Although Chez had lived trying his best not to stand out, unable to receive 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 prince’s palace was…

“I was so… angry……”

[Prince Chez?]

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

[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 soon anyway, if Prince Your Highness doesn’t mind…..]

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

“……”

“H-However, I didn’t come here to shamelessly ask for Princess Consort Your Highness’s forgiveness. I’m well aware of how dangerous the situation was for you… So you don’t have to accept my apology if you don’t want to……”

Chez’s following words couldn’t continue.

Because of the warm and affectionate hand that reached out, embracing the young boy and gently patting his back.

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

“Pardon…?”

“Prince Chez wasn’t hurt, and I’ve safely recovered. That alone is so fortunate, and now you’ve even mustered up the courage to come here and apologize in person, so is there anything more to be concerned about?”

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

“And to be clear, the one who should apologize is not Prince Chez, but 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 admit their mistakes and apologize in person.”

“……”

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

Chez couldn’t say anything. He just stared endlessly at Elaina with tears in his eyes…

…How did elder brother Sinclair find such a person? People who knew nothing were busy gossiping that Princess Consort Elaina Butler was a crippled illegitimate child, or that she was the black sheep of the Aswald family…

Of course, it had improved much since Elaina first entered the palace, but there were still people who consistently said such things.

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

Although she limped, she had a light that people without disabilities didn’t have.

A very kind and warm light.

One that could embrace everyone…

Even himself who had committed a wrongdoing.

“Elder brother will understand too, so please don’t cry anymore. Right, Sinclair?”

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

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 judged that it would be dangerous for you to be directly associated with me. But now it seems too late.”

Sinclair chuckled.

“Besides, since the Princess Consort has so obviously 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, Chez?”

“Yes… but it’s alright. I’m already out of favor anyway. And I don’t want to be used so cowardly 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 stick close to me. If you openly do so, it’ll be easier for me to protect you too.”

“……”

“And when I’m not around, having you by the Princess Consort’s side would put my mind at ease a bit. I’m making this proposal after calculating various factors too, so I hope you won’t feel pressured to refuse.”

Although he said it like that, Chez knew it was a kind consideration to protect his younger brother.

Elder brother wasn’t this kind of person at all before. Could it be that elder brother has changed like this because of Princess Consort Your Highness?

Could it be that her warmth has melted even elder brother Sinclair’s heart? Is that why he’s become so gentle?

“Th-Thank you……”

Chez sobbed, shedding tears profusely.

“Really… thank you so much. Elder brother, and Princess Consort Your Highness……”

As she turned her head, she saw Sinclair looking at her. Elaina smiled at him as their eyes met, and Sinclair also smiled briefly.

“Ah, 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 Chez and continued speaking while patting his back.

“At least in this prince’s palace, there will be no one who views Prince Chez in such a way.”

“……”

“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, Chez cried for a long time and then laughed.

Looking at Chez like that, the couple smiled infinitely warmly.