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Chapter 58
“I want you to plant a few men in the palace where that person is staying. If anything seems off, or if it looks like he’s plotting something, report to me immediately. Can you do that?”
Mousey puffed out his chest and thumped it with his fist, looking terribly proud of himself.
“So that means you’re confident, right?”
Mousey nodded so vigorously it looked like his head might fall off.
“Good. Then I’ll count on you, Mousey.”
Harry was staring at me quietly.
“Uh… right, Harry…”
I hadn’t actually thought of anything for Harry. I quickly wracked my brain.
“Ah, there’s a small, old palace behind the Crown Prince’s residence. In there, you’ll find a woman with pink hair and green eyes. Keep an eye on her!”
I was curious about her, so I needed to know beforehand.
If there weren’t too many people around on the way to Swan’s palace, I even wanted to meet her directly.
“It’s very important, so I’ll be counting on you.”
Just as I was about to bow to Harry and Mousey, the two of them suddenly rolled across the floor and darted under the bed in the blink of an eye.
What the—?
“Luna. What are you doing there?”
“Wished? You’re here already?”
It was just past noon.
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Where are you going?”
I asked absentmindedly, but Wished suddenly smirked.
That smile—I’d seen it before.
It was the exact same one he wore before attending a banquet in a dazzling dress coat and glittering jewels.
Unconsciously, I stumbled a step back.
“…No. No, right?”
“Let’s get you ready for the banquet.”
I was doomed.
“His Highness the Crown Prince himself is hosting a banquet. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?”
“Judging by the invitations being sent out just yesterday, it seems he has something up his sleeve…”
“Even so, don’t you think it’s remarkably well prepared for something arranged so hastily?”
Sending invitations only the day before a banquet was considered terribly discourteous—guests might not have dresses ready, or they might already have plans.
If the invitation had come from anyone else, it would’ve been ignored. But the host was none other than the Crown Prince.
No noble in their right mind would turn down a summons from him—especially not when seeing the Crown Prince even once a year was considered rare.
Besides, the official, grand banquet was the following day. The nobles had already prepared countless outfits, so they were more than ready.
“Will His Highness the Second Prince be coming?”
“If he does, I doubt it will be out of good will.”
No one said it outright, but by now there wasn’t a soul among the nobles who didn’t know the truth.
“By the way, my lady, you weren’t present at the first day’s banquet, so you must not have heard, right?”
“Heard what?”
“Well…”
The young lady covered her mouth with her fan and whispered.
“Good heavens. We’ve all secretly envied the Duke of Persia’s hair countless times, and yet…”
“That’s why it’s all the more shocking. Ah, and I have one more piece of news. Apparently Duke Hercule has taken a lover… and it’s a rat beastman!”
“What? Truly? It’s shocking enough that Duke Hercule has a lover, but a rat beastman? Isn’t he… a snake beastman?”
“Exactly. Ah, Duke Hercule may be handsome and hold a lofty title, but his tastes are certainly… peculiar.”
They didn’t dare insult him directly, but everyone understood what was being implied.
They had all seen and heard enough about him firsthand.
“Surely he won’t show up today with his lover perched on his shoulder again?”
“No way.”
A young lady who had attended the last banquet quickly agreed.
Then she glanced around, leaned forward, and whispered even more quietly. The sudden shift made everyone else huddle close, listening intently.
“There’s a rumor that Duke Hercule’s lover isn’t even a beastman at all… but an actual animal.”
“What? Truly?”
“Yes. They say he doesn’t allow a single palace servant near him, only using maids he brought from his own estate. And according to the steward of his palace, it all seems very suspicious.”
“You mean Malon, the steward? That man has such a loose tongue, I wouldn’t trust a word of his.”
“Still, haven’t half his rumors turned out true?”
“So which half are lies, then?”
A strange, unfamiliar word rang out from the corner. All the young ladies turned their attention that way.
It was a noblewoman with striking pink hair—but they could’ve sworn they hadn’t seen her until just now.
“My lady? Might we have your name—oh, my lady?”
But the pink-haired noblewoman simply turned on her heel and walked away.
The others hardly had time to be surprised before the herald announced Wished’s arrival.
“Duke Hercule enters!”
The doors opened, and Wished appeared.
But everyone’s eyes were on his profile, not his front. He was leaning toward someone at his side, bowing slightly as he spoke.
A moment later, the doors opened fully, revealing the woman beside him.
Her hair, long and curling, spilled down to her waist in a cascade of snowy silver. Her round eyes, sparkling with curiosity, gave her an air of innocent charm that captured everyone’s attention at once.
Even standing beside Wished, her beauty held its own, and the hall rippled with whispers.
“Could that be… the Duke’s lover?”
“They’ve noticed.”
“R-really?”
My voice cracked from nerves as I asked.
I’d told him that if people began to notice, he should let me know. Hearing Wished say it out loud was almost a relief.
He nodded.
“Yes. They’re quicker than I expected.”
His voice carried a strange hint of regret, but I had no room to dwell on that.
“Everyone’s staring at you, Luna.”
“Really? I feel like I’m about to die from nerves.”
Wished, who had been leaning close, drew his face back slightly.
“Don’t ever say things like that, not even as a joke, Luna.”
His tone was firm, but my brain wasn’t even processing it properly. My stomach was in knots, my head spinning.
I clutched Wished’s hand tightly—my only lifeline.
With a pale face, I looked up at him.
“Wished. Don’t leave me alone. Promise me, okay?”
“…I promise.”
His answer came half a beat late.
Thankfully, no one approached us right away. We moved off toward a quieter corner, though the stares didn’t lessen.
Only when the Crown Prince entered did I feel like I could breathe again.
“I-I think I can finally breathe.”
“Not yet. The Crown Prince is coming this way.”
“What? Why?”
“Because among everyone here, I outrank them all.”
Damn it. Why did Wished have to be a duke?!
Just as he said, the Crown Prince came directly toward us. The nobles in his path stepped aside naturally, and he didn’t pause once as he approached.
“Your Highness.”
Since this wasn’t an official gathering, Wished’s greeting was brief. I, seeing him bow gracefully, hurried to copy him.
“Your Highness.”
“And this is… who, Duke? I don’t believe I’ve seen this young lady before.”
“Ah, it makes sense that Your Highness wouldn’t know. She is my lover.”
“L…over?”
Cautiously, I followed Wished’s lead and raised my head.
My eyes met the Crown Prince’s.
But something was wrong. His gaze was vacant, dazed, almost like he was lost in a trance.
What’s wrong with him?
