Chapter 24 – ​24

Because ​the ​conversation ​with ​the ​dragon ​had dragged on, ​Euro ​had ​fallen ​further ​behind schedule than expected ​and ​hurried across the ​central plaza.

‘Come to ​think ​of ​it, ​I ​didn’t ​ask for their ​name.’

He ​had ​played the part ​of a brazen, simple-minded ​human with ​a thick ​skin quite ​well, but ​he ​had ​been so focused ​on the ​act that he forgot ​to ask for a ​name.

Even in the novel ​or the ​setting, ​the dragon was simply “the dragon”; ​no proper name ever ​appeared. ​He ​speculated ​that ​since the dragon ​only appeared ​in ​flashbacks or dialogue, ​the ​author might not have given ​them a ​name ​at all.

He had ​intended ​to ​ask ​for ​a name ​because ​he was ​afraid that if he kept thinking “dragon, ​dragon” in his ​head, he might ​accidentally blurt out, “Hey, ​Dragon!” during ​the conversation.

Even if ​it ​wasn’t a real ​name, since the ​dragon was ​polymorphed, ​they surely ​had ​a fake ​name ​they used.

“Next ​time, ​I ​must make sure ​to ​ask for ​the ​name ​first…”

“Your ​Highness!”

As he murmured with his head slightly bowed while heading toward the carriage, someone called out to Euro energetically. They ran up and stopped right in front of him, gasping for air.

“Your Highness! Uh, did—you—come—whew… back! I’ve been—looking—for you—for so long!”

“Courtney, breathe. Just breathe.”

Courtney’s face was as red as a ripe carrot, a testament to how much she had been running. Euro quickly tried to soothe her.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just, I didn’t tell you what flavor I wanted. So I followed after you, but as I was walking, I noticed my pockets felt strangely light.”

“…Pardon?”

“I lost my money.”

“…”

“I think I was pickpocketed.”

Euro intentionally let out a silly, sheepish laugh. Facing this, Courtney failed to maintain her composure. Seeing her face distort in real-time right before his eyes made Euro feel awkwardly self-conscious.

Judging by her completely crumpled expression, it seemed his act as a clumsy idiot had been a bit too excessive. But what could he do? He had just come from handing over every cent he had to the dragon.

Since he had spent all the money he had suddenly acquired, he could no longer use the excuse of having no money whenever it came time to pick out gifts. So, what else could he do but brush it off by saying he lost it?

Courtney was flabbergasted by the sight of Euro scratching his head and laughing heartily despite having lost such a large sum of money.

It was the first time in her life she had seen a real prince up close, and she had been so fluttery because he was as handsome and gentlemanly as someone straight out of a fairy tale.

And yet, he had this loser-like unauthorized copyside [unauthorized copy]to him. She had never seen someone so scatterbrained in her life.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Please stay right here. I’ll go to the security force immediately…”

“No, no, Courtney! You don’t have to do that!”

As long as Euro was fine with it, it was money that didn’t matter if it was lost. From the moment that money passed into Euro’s hands, whether he spent it or threw it on the ground was entirely his business.

However, Courtney had no intention of letting this pass as a funny mishap. To think that the future Duchess, who had come from afar, had been pickpocketed in the middle of her own territory. There was nothing more embarrassing in the world.

“No? I absolutely cannot allow this! Your Highness is a precious guest in Silon, and you are the person who will become the Duchess tomorrow!”

“…”

“And yet, you were pickpocketed in a place that is practically your own front yard, and I’m just supposed to say, ‘Oh, is that so?’ and let it go? Moreover, how dare they ruin Silon’s image like that… when I should be doing everything possible to create a good first impression…”

Courtney clenched her small fists and grit her teeth. Her courageous expression and spirit put most heroes to shame. Without a hint of exaggeration, it felt as though she would actually do it if asked to hunt down a dragon.

“I’ll drag them back and tear them to pieces…”

“No! No, I misspoke. I mean, it’s possible I was pickpocketed. I’m not saying I was. I think I just stupidly dropped it. Really!”

Euro broke into a cold sweat as he tried to calm the enraged Courtney.

“I mean, anyone who doesn’t pick up a money pouch dropped on the street is the real fool! How would they know whose it is? It’s not like it had a name on it.”

“…”

“Don’t be too angry… and thank you so much for worrying unauthorized copyabout unauthorized copyme. I’ll [Read on Read BL Novels]explain it well to Raymond.”

“You don’t have to explain. From the moment it was given, it became Your Highness’s property, so he won’t mind at all how you use it. He won’t even be curious.”

Perhaps because his efforts to soothe her had paid off, Courtney replied with a much softer expression. At this, Euro beamed and said,

“Really? That’s a relief. You were worried, weren’t you? I’m sorry, I should have just gone back to the carriage and waited. Since it was money you gave me out of kindness, I felt too embarrassed to say I lost it.”

Courtney nodded reluctantly at Euro’s words. At the same time, realizing that she had revealed her true nature without filter in front of him, she suddenly felt incredibly ashamed.

“O-oh, no. I was just worried that something might have happened to you…”

“You must have waited a long time to buy them, the ice cream must have all melted.”

Euro deliberately changed the subject, and Courtney nodded slightly.

“Then let’s go buy them again. Together.”

“Pardon? But you said you lost your money…”

“I didn’t lose the money I originally brought.”

“…”

“Let’s go, quickly. You must be thirsty.”

Smiling, Euro asked Courtney to lead the way to the ice cream shop. As she walked side by side with Euro, Courtney murmured to herself.

‘…He really is like a prince.’

ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ

“He went out?”

Sitting at the dining table, Melione frowned slightly. Raymond answered while pouring wine into his glass.

“Yes, he mentioned that there was something he needed.”

“What could a fellow who does nothing but eat and sleep in the mansion all day possibly need?”

“He did not specify what it was.”

“And you didn’t ask?”

“No, I asked what it was, saying I would procure it if it was something I could get… but he declined, saying it was something he wanted to choose and buy himself. Therefore, I did not press further.”

Raymond relayed the conversation he had with Euro exactly as it was to the Duke. As he listened, Melione’s movements as he picked up his wine glass were laced with irritation.

He had been finding it tedious how Euro sat beside him every lunch and chattered away. He had even regretted telling unauthorized copyhim to come find stolen contenthim if there was something he wanted to say.

It was because he feared that if Euro continued to visit and chatter at all hours, he would eventually lose his patience and his temper would explode.

Yet, for some reason, the absence of Euro in the dining room felt strangely irritating. Normally, he should have felt relieved that the nuisance was gone.

“If he can’t ask for it to be procured and wants to see it with his own eyes before buying, there’s only one thing it could be.”

“…”

“It seems he went to buy a gift for Clope Leches.”

Melione spoke with uncanny precision, as if he had already heard Euro’s excuse. As expected, all that talk about falling in love at first sight or loving him was nothing more than an excuse.

It wasn’t that he had been completely fooled, but his pride was wounded by the fact that he had been shaken, even for a moment, by that clumsy acting. Yes, the reason he felt unpleasant now wasn’t because Euro wasn’t in front of him, but because he had been toyed with by such a pathetic lie.

“He’s not just brazen, he’s audacious. The wedding is literally tomorrow, and he [stolen content]unauthorized copycan’t [visit our site]even hold back for a single day…”

Raymond watched Melione in silence before speaking cautiously.

“Could it not simply be a token to show he arrived safely? Moreover, since he will be delivering the news that the marriage had to happen in haste, he might have felt it was awkward to send only a letter.”

“They are family, so a letter is sufficient.”

“…”

“As long as they’re alive, isn’t that enough? If he were that worried, he should have sent a servant along. What was he doing until his own brother had to travel this long distance all alone?”

Melione replied irritably and drank his wine. Raymond wore a somewhat subtle expression at Melione’s reaction.

Melione hadn’t believed Euro’s claims of liking him from the start anyway. It was safe to say he was convinced that Euro had come to marry in Clope Leches’ stead.

That was why he could immediately suspect that Euro had [stolen content]gone to [stolen content]buy a gift for Clope upon [visit our site]hearing he had gone out.

Even if that were the case, this was a marriage he had accepted with the mindset that it didn’t matter. Yet, this reaction was somehow contradictory. In Raymond’s eyes, this didn’t seem like an emotion stemming simply from resentment.

It was because he was adding words that strangely showed concern for Euro, who had come all the way to Silon alone. Thus, instead of adding further comments, Raymond kept his mouth shut.

It was because the corners of his lips were creeping upward for some reason. He felt that if he spoke, he might accidentally laugh, and then Melione’s interrogation would surely follow.

“What a ridiculous brat, all talk…”

Regardless, Melione continued to vent his irritation, picking up and putting down his spoon. Raymond secretly turned his head away and wore a satisfied smile.

Even last night, while complaining that Euro was “all talk” regarding the soup he had requested be brought, Melione had eaten every last drop of it.

‘I should suggest that he have dinner with His Highness as well.’

Raymond planned inwardly as he quietly stepped back. He Read on Read BL Novelshad a feeling that the wind that had [Read on Read BL Novels]suddenly blown into the mansion might change more things than expected.