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Chapter 22
Anyway, the other party was the queen consort, and she was the daughter of a baron—lovely, clever, and cute, but still the daughter of a baron.
After slowly assessing the situation, Abel skillfully put on an innocent smile.
“You’ve come.”
“Your Majesty, the Queen Consort.”
“You must have been surprised to be called here so suddenly.”
“I was a little surprised, but more than that, I was very glad.”
The maid guided her to a garden combined with a greenhouse.
The place where the twelve-year-old once dared to step in and got scolded heavily.
“You speak so prettily, young lady.”
“Is that so? I was just speaking sincerely, but thank you for the compliment—I don’t know what to say.”
Her slickly honed tongue moved smoothly.
“Well then, how is Lord Delafion doing?”
“He is well.”
“The weather is hot. Was it hard to come all the way to the palace?”
“I have strong legs.”
Abel smiled gently, looking around.
There was only the queen consort and the maids in the garden.
In other words, Abel was the only one invited to this impromptu tea time.
“What is her real intention?”
Rather than going around five times and crossing a field, she was terrible at beating around the bush.
Abel took care to keep her composed face from twisting as she drank her tea.
Fortunately, the queen consort quickly got to the point.
“I heard you’ve been visiting the palace often lately.”
“That’s because I’m Prince Crown Prince’s playmate.”
“Her Majesty, too… At your age, you should be spending time with other girls. It’s quite a pity.”
“It’s okay! I have fun playing with the prince.”
“No, no. Still, girls at that age are much more comfortable company than boys.”
‘Why is she asking this?’
The queen shook her head gently, as if sincerely pitying her.
At that moment, she even looked somewhat pitiful.
“You may not understand now, but childhood friends are said to be friends for life.”
“That’s not true. I know that too.”
“Oh? You do?”
“Of course.”
Otherwise, why would I be circling around the Crown Prince like a fool?
The grown Crown Prince was like a fragile little thing in his hands.
But if that fragile thing had been by his side for over ten years, things were different.
Instilling normal ethics was a priority, but otherwise, they had to be in a relationship worth preserving out of affection.
‘Everything was fine until just now.’
Abel’s gaze finally shifted to the queen consort who had asserted her authority over the prince.
Without knowing the emotions tangled in that gaze, Felcia Lagracio opened her mouth.
“Then this will be an easy conversation.”
“Huh?”
“As you know, Miss Delafion, sometimes the company one keeps reflects who they are.”
Her lips curled smoothly at a perfect angle.
The queen consort held her teacup with textbook-perfect posture and spoke kindly.
“You may be too young to understand, but listen carefully to what I say.”
“Yes.”
“Friends are people you should associate with who suit you. Forcing yourself to get along with those who don’t fit will only lead to breaking apart.”
“……”
“I think you’re a very cute and smart child. More mature and kind than others your age.”
Several flattering remarks passed by.
For having met only a few minutes, it was quite grand lip service.
“Anyway, in my eyes, you’re a pretty fine child. Almost too good for your status.”
“Yes……”
“But think about the Crown Prince. Is he truly worthy of being your friend?”
Friendship is not a government-certified qualification exam—what nonsense is this?
The nonsense dragged on.
Abel tried to cut off the conversation forcibly, but the queen was quicker.
“Does Prince Cesa Lagracio treat you kindly?”
“Um……”
“I heard he hasn’t even offered you a cup of tea. What kind of rudeness is that?”
Even as empty words, the Crown Prince’s hospitality couldn’t be praised.
Until recently, it was considered lucky if the order to ‘get lost’ wasn’t issued.
But this…
‘It’s because of you.’
More precisely, because of the king and queen consort.
They were the main culprits who abandoned the child born in a corner of the palace.
They turned the separate palace into a place without even a dedicated servant, where low-ranking servants brought food or tea a couple of times a day and tidied up a bit.
‘The order of priorities is wrong.’
The separate palace didn’t even have tea leaves fit for entertaining guests.
Ignoring such logic, the queen consort spoke boldly.
“Miss Delafion, you may not know well because you’re young, but this is a huge insult.”
“Is that so?”
“Does Lord Delafion know this?”
‘Suddenly?’
Mentioning family, the queen furrowed her brows with genuine concern.
“If he knew, he’d be very sad. To know his beloved daughter is treated like this.”
“Uh, yes?”
“A father wouldn’t welcome his daughter unable to drink a cup of tea comfortably.”
“Um……”
That interpretation seems off.
When rummaging through the mansion to take unused carpets, Dein gave permission as he pleased.
Though he sighed long and hard, isn’t that something a guardian should endure?
Abel shrugged with a vague smile.
“It’s okay. If I drink too much tea, I can’t sleep at night anyway.”
“Oh dear, you’re already used to it. That’s not right.”
“Is that so?”
Her plump fingertips gently stroked the edge of the teacup.
The purpose of this conversation had yet to be revealed.
“What should I do then?”
“I will introduce you to a suitable friend.”
“A friend?”
“My nephew has been studying in the kingdom recently. He’s a little older than you though…”
The queen consort’s nephew.
A royal from a neighboring country.
She brushed her hair back without a single stray lock, smiling kindly.
“He has a gentle temperament and is intelligent. You’ll get along well.”
“Get along well?”
“I mean, as a friend, he’s better than the Crown Prince.”
Stop being the Crown Prince’s playmate and befriend my nephew instead.
Once that clear statement sank in, Abel had only one thought.
‘Why is she pretending to be close?’
It was only the second meeting.
Such an excessive proposal for a girl without backing.
Her gentle face clearly showed confusion.
“I don’t know. What do you see in me to say such a thing? I’m, um, ordinary…”
Trying to use humble words tangled her tongue.
Abel stopped trying to sound humble she didn’t feel.
“I heard you fought a duel with Count Lucio’s daughter.”
“Oh.”
“They say you defeated that genius at once. Where do you get such spirit?”
Her slender face flushed as if truly pleased.
How does the queen consort even know about kids’ fights?
Do you really have nothing else to do?
Abel suppressed the urge to ask and answered instead.
“Is that all?”
“Yes, in a way it’s trivial. But I quite like it. Is that an answer?”
“But being the Crown Prince’s playmate is a position commanded by His Majesty the King.”
“That’s not a problem. I’ll speak for you. His Majesty will understand kindly.”
“First,”
Her black eyes shut tight.
She was the type to handle her own affairs!
“I’ll ask my father!”
“Heh heh. Really amusing.”
The eyes staring at the empty seat traced a gentle arc.
Felcia Lagracio’s words were mostly truthful.
He was genuinely grateful to that commoner girl.
‘For a while, I might even bear to look at the Count’s face.’
He had knocked down the arrogant brat’s nose who always looked down on the foreign-born queen consort.
‘His proud daughter suffered that humiliation!’
The cheerful humming echoed through the garden.
‘She’s quite a likable child.’
He was happy to see her flirt with such a charming appearance.
“I’ll go to the separate palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Though confusing for one so young, unable to tell heaven and earth apart…
If the father helped her understand the situation, she wouldn’t refuse.
The step toward mocking the lowborn illegitimate child was as graceful as usual.
“Will you do it or not?”
A small grumble echoed quietly.
What good comes from being involved with foreign royalty?
“Oh, if only it wasn’t the boss’s wife!”
In the long run, she should have refused outright.
The only reason she didn’t was her father’s job.
He already couldn’t get promoted due to being common-born!
The offer was from the president—no, the queen consort!
Deep worries settled on her broad forehead.
“How do I refuse…?”
She pondered all day but found no suitable answer.
So for now, she focused on her duties.
Still, Abel Delafion’s most important mission was to stick close to the Crown Prince.
Upon arriving at the separate palace, she immediately ran to the library.
“Your Highness, the prince!”
No one.
Reception room,
“Prince?”
—still no one.
This room, that room,
“Crown Prince!”
No one.
The only remaining room…
One Abel was forbidden from entering.
Her soft cheek twitched as it crumpled.
Burying her face in both hands, she quietly sighed.
“Ah, why again…”
The child she had worked on for months locked the door again.
Damn it.
