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Chapter 36
I immediately took Friedrich’s hand and headed to the René Palace.
Friedrich’s hand was hot, as if I were holding fire itself, and he didn’t say a single word the entire way.
That enormous body of his followed behind me like a paper doll fluttering in the wind.
“Shall I help you prepare your bath?”
Elsa asked calmly, without the slightest hint of surprise, even though we had returned much earlier than expected.
I nodded and let go of Friedrich’s hand.
The moment I did, Friedrich flinched and looked at me.
“Wash up and wait. I’ll come by later.”
When I met his eyes and said that, he blankly nodded.
I went straight to my room and let Elsa assist me with my bath.
“You’re not asking why I came back early?”
Elsa only looked at me strangely.
“Were you expecting me to ask?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“I actually thought you came later than I expected.”
Ha… this René persona of mine, seriously…
Well, thinking back to what I’d done earlier, I didn’t have the right to complain. If anything, Elsa would probably nod and say she expected as much.
‘…Where did I even get that kind of courage?’
Just remembering it made my face burn. It was an impulsive act, done because I didn’t want René’s reputation to get any worse.
Maybe being in René’s body made me bolder. In any case, it left me feeling strange…
“Shall I apply some balm to your lips?”
“Huh?”
“You keep touching them.”
I finally realized what I was doing and awkwardly lowered my hand.
Elsa watched me for a moment, then shifted the subject.
“Either way, it was fortunate that you returned just as preparations to welcome you were finished.”
“Of course. Truly a lady-in-waiting befitting Princess René.”
I gave a half-hearted reply and finished my bath after a few more minutes.
With my hair thoroughly dried and feeling refreshed, I headed to Friedrich’s room.
As expected, I skipped knocking and opened the door. But Friedrich wasn’t immediately in sight.
“Friedrich?”
Puzzled, I walked further in—only to freeze at the sight before me.
On the white bed lay bright red rose petals scattered in a heart shape, and in the middle of it, Friedrich knelt wearing nothing but a robe.
I stood there speechless for a moment before finally asking,
“…What is this?”
“It was already like this when I came in.”
Elsa’s words from earlier suddenly resurfaced.
“It’s fortunate you returned when preparations to welcome you were finished.”
No way—that was the preparation?
My lips parted soundlessly before I frowned and asked,
“But why are you kneeling there? My maids wouldn’t have put you in that position.”
“I thought I should… like this…”
Friedrich lowered his head slightly, stammering.
“I thought Your Highness might like it.”
“…”
Elsa may be bold, but Friedrich outdid her.
It was clearly René’s taste, but I pretended not to know and sat beside him.
Friedrich flinched and looked at me. I waved my hand.
“Sit comfortably. Your legs must hurt.”
“…”
“Come on. It’s fine.”
He finally loosened his posture. I studied his face.
There was no trace of the tears he’d shed earlier. He stubbornly stared at the floor as if trying to avoid my gaze.
“Do you hate looking at my face?”
I teased lightly. Friedrich jerked in surprise and immediately looked up.
I smiled as naturally as I could, and he quickly dropped his gaze again.
A laugh escaped me, and I teased him more.
“Looks like you really don’t want to look at me.”
“…Please don’t tease me.”
He mumbled, bowing even deeper.
“You know why I can’t look at you.”
My smile vanished instantly.
W-why was he suddenly hitting me with that kind of line?
I struggled to hide my fluster, but when he lifted his gaze again, I forced myself to act casual.
“P-people keep saying weird things, you know. They think I’m bullying you.”
I tried to cover my embarrassment and continued.
“Anyway, I’m sorry for doing it without asking. I couldn’t think of any other way to show we get along.”
“…”
“Did I upset you a lot?”
“No.”
His answer came immediately—unexpectedly.
It wasn’t what I thought he’d say, so I blanked for a moment. Then he met my eyes squarely and added,
“It made me happy.”
“O… oh? Really?”
My mind went white, and I just said the first thing that came to mind.
“Well, I’m glad it didn’t upset you.”
“…So,”
Friedrich’s voice dropped slightly, low and husky.
“You can do it whenever you want.”
“…Huh?”
“If you teach me, I’ll learn.”
…Learn what? Did I mishear him?
I stared at him wide-eyed, but his expression was completely unbothered, impossibly calm for someone who had just said that.
“I learned knitting well, didn’t I?”
He continued, just as nonchalant.
“I’m not slow at learning.”
“Uh, well…”
W-what the hell? Why was he suddenly so forward?
‘Well, I guess he likes the idea of looking favored by me.’
And since Joachim caught the bouquet at my wedding and attended the banquet afterward, Friedrich must feel threatened.
I remembered Emperor Otto’s words—“Prince Friedrich’s position must feel rather precarious.”—and though I understood the logic, something about it felt bittersweet.
‘I never wanted him to struggle like that.’
My hand naturally reached for his head.
As I gently stroked it, Friedrich stared at me.
“Friedrich, you don’t have to try so hard to please me.”
He looked like an abandoned dog afraid of being left behind, and I sighed.
“I told you—your life is safe. I’m not going to discard you.”
“Even after Prince Anton becomes crown prince?”
“Of course. Even then, your life will be safe.”
But Friedrich kept looking at me, persistent.
“Will I still be by Your Highness’s side then?”
“…”
I was about to ask whether he didn’t want to be free, but suddenly he caught the hand I’d been stroking his hair with.
I froze instinctively.
Then Friedrich brought my hand to his lips and began pressing slow kisses along it. The feather-light sensation made me tense up.
“You can use me however you wish.”
His warm breath made my skin twitch. I frowned and looked at him, but he only looked more desperate, pleading.
“Please keep the vow you made today. Yes?”
It was the first time he’d ever demanded something from me this earnestly. I was startled—and confused.
“Why do you want to stay by my side so badly?”
Friedrich looked at me as if the answer were the simplest thing in the world.
“Because I like it.”
I stared at him, stunned.
“I like being beside Your Highness.”
As if he knew one confession wouldn’t convince me, he repeated it and pressed another devoted kiss to the back of my hand.
His kisses traveled upward—from the back of my hand to my wrist, then slowly along the inside of my arm, tickling me unbearably.
I looked at him in a haze of confusion as he reached my shoulder and began gently biting the strap of my dress.
“Fritz, wait—”
Alarmed, I grabbed his shoulder, but that only seemed to encourage him, and he kissed me more earnestly.
“…Friedrich.”
As always, when I called him like that, he immediately froze and lifted his head to look at me.
His eyes were flushed red, and for a moment my heart dropped. I wasn’t even sure what emotion it was.
But his gaze, filled with raw longing for me, made it hard to breathe.
“Can I try it again?”
After a long silence, Friedrich spoke softly.
“What you taught me earlier.”
