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Chapter 22
Ruined.
That was the only word echoing in my head. When had time flown by so quickly?
I’d been too busy pretending to drink casually, keeping up appearances, to even notice the passage of time.
Alright. Calm down. Friedrich isn’t stupid — he would’ve slipped away somewhere quiet before midnight, out of sight.
‘…Which is even worse.’
I had no way of finding him now that he was a child. I couldn’t ask anyone for help, either.
‘Still, he couldn’t have gone far.’
I hurriedly broke away from the followers hovering around me and began searching for Friedrich.
“Your Highness doesn’t look well. Is something the matter?”
“Maybe the men your followers prepared weren’t up to her standards.”
“Well, she sees Prince Friedrich every day — who else could possibly compare?”
I ignored the idle chatter and confirmed that Friedrich wasn’t anywhere in the ballroom.
‘Could he have gone back to René Palace?’
That was the best-case scenario. But what if he’d been on his way there when midnight struck?
‘If I consider travel time… there’s a good chance he hid somewhere nearby instead.’
That meant I couldn’t recklessly return to René Palace.
If Friedrich wasn’t there, people would start to wonder.
With an ordinary couple, I could pretend we’d had a lovers’ quarrel, but our relationship didn’t allow for that kind of excuse.
‘I’ll search the rooms nearby first. If he’s not there, then I’ll go back to René Palace.’
That seemed like the safest plan for now.
‘Let’s start by checking all the guest rooms in the palace.’
The palace hosting the ball had set aside empty rooms for guests to rest in during the event.
The problem was…
“Hmm… Kyaa! Your Highness?”
“…My mistake.”
I quickly shut the door. Ah, I’d seen something I really shouldn’t have.
Given who usually used these rooms — couples who’d hit it off during the ball — it was inevitable.
‘Fine, but could you at least lock the door next time?!’
I had to endure several more similar encounters after that.
Watching half-dressed couples drop to their knees before me, faces flushed in panic, was not an experience I wanted to repeat.
But even after witnessing all that awkwardness…
‘Where on earth is he?’
Friedrich was nowhere to be found. Maybe he had gone to René Palace after all? I was thinking that when—
“Your Highness.”
A quiet voice came from behind me. Joachim. Ah, of all people — not now.
Still, I couldn’t afford to seem panicked. I turned around, forcing a calm expression.
“Lord Rommel.”
Joachim looked much more gaunt than the last time I’d seen him.
No wonder rumors said he was lovesick — that pitiful face explained everything.
“An honor to see the shining star of Stade. Are you looking for someone?”
“No.”
I lied without hesitation.
“I just stepped out for some air.”
Joachim watched me silently, then said,
“I notice Prince Friedrich isn’t with you tonight.”
“I sent him back to René Palace ahead of me.”
I lied again, smoothly.
People already assumed I’d be spending the night with one of the men from earlier, anyway.
“You should know why, Lord Rommel.”
“Should I?”
He kept watching me, voice calm.
“Is it perhaps… because of this?”
From behind him stepped a small child — a face I knew all too well. My expression froze before I could even think to control it.
“Because of this appearance?”
There he was — Friedrich, now a child. His face was filled with shame and humiliation as he bowed his head.
I stared blankly at Joachim, who, surprisingly, looked composed.
“…Yes.”
There was no use pretending anymore. I’d just have to play the villain.
“I did this to him.”
Joachim laughed — clearly, he didn’t buy it.
“Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness. But…”
After a moment, he smoothed away his smile and said quietly,
“Even with Your Highness’s formidable magic, transforming an adult into a child is a different matter entirely. And besides…”
He smiled faintly as he ruffled Friedrich’s hair.
“…I know your tastes don’t run toward children.”
“…”
“So when you announced you’d marry a barely-of-age prince, I couldn’t make sense of it.”
Joachim still looked as though he hadn’t fully accepted it. He sighed softly.
“What should we do? A curse that turns him into a child at night — strange and ominous indeed.”
“What do you want?”
I dropped the act entirely, frowning as I asked.
Joachim looked into my eyes and replied,
“You already know what I want. Keep me close. Let me serve you.”
“Lord Rommel, that’s already over—”
“How long do you think you can hide the prince’s curse?”
His voice was calm, measured.
“There will be more and more official events that last past midnight. Tonight, you were lucky I was there to help you avoid disaster. But next time?”
“…”
“How will you explain it when your partner keeps disappearing after midnight? Do you think no one will notice?”
He had a point. If it happened more than once, people would start to question it. I fell silent for a moment, then asked,
“What difference does it make if you become my lover?”
“I’ve already told everyone this child is my relative.”
The shock must have shown on my face — he’d already exposed Friedrich’s altered form. Joachim met my gaze steadily.
“With me around, at least two of us can coordinate our stories after midnight. I can take the boy back to René Palace under the pretense of family business.”
“…”
“You need an ally, Your Highness. If you truly wish to protect him.”
Friedrich glared at Joachim every time he called him “boy,” but Joachim ignored him, waiting for my answer.
I narrowed my eyes and asked,
“How can I trust you to cooperate?”
Joachim gave a weak smile, a little wounded but understanding.
“I’m not foolish enough to forget what happens to those who betray Your Highness.”
Fair point. I nodded, conceding it was a stupid question, then motioned for him to follow.
“Come with me.”
I led them to one of the unoccupied guest rooms I’d checked earlier.
They hesitated at the doorway until I gave them a look that clearly said, What are you waiting for?
Finally, both stepped inside, and I locked the door firmly behind us.
Their eyes flickered uneasily.
“You said you wanted to be my lover.”
Joachim nodded, a beat late.
“Since we can’t return to René Palace like this, the three of us will spend the night here.”
Fortunately, the bed looked big enough for three.
I took the left side and gestured for them to get on.
Joachim approached hesitantly, but before he could move, I spoke in a firm voice.
“Friedrich, you too.”
Child-Friedrich blinked at me in disbelief. His eyes seemed to ask if that was really okay, and I couldn’t help a short laugh.
“What, you’d rather sleep on the floor?”
He shook his head quickly and scrambled onto the bed — faster than Joachim, even.
He boldly claimed the middle spot, and Joachim gave him an incredulous look.
“That seems like my spot, kid.”
“Let him sleep in the middle. The bed’s small — if anyone falls off, it’ll be him.”
Joachim was momentarily speechless, then gave a patient smile.
“I suppose I can be understanding — he is a child.”
Friedrich glared daggers at him again, but Joachim only met it with a smug grin.
…They both suddenly seemed like children now.
I sighed softly and cupped Friedrich’s cheeks with my hands. Both men froze, eyes wide.
“It’s rude to glare at adults like that, Friedrich.”
Friedrich gaped at me, speechless, while Joachim struggled not to laugh.
“You too, Lord Rommel — stop teasing him and go to sleep.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As I reached over to turn off the bedside lamp, Joachim’s quiet voice came again.
“…Are we truly sleeping like this?”
“It’s late. And Friedrich needs his rest — he’s got growing to do.”
Friedrich stared at me, dumbfounded again, while Joachim nodded, smiling faintly as if restraining a chuckle.
“Then… sweet dreams, everyone.”
And with that, perfect darkness descended.
