***

[7 years later, Basilinte Main Castle Butler’s Handover Journal]

[Author: Hallik Lockshire]

Perhaps the first young master likes men.

The Prince’s shawl was found under the first young master’s pillow.

Leticia cleared her throat as soon as she woke up at dawn, looking in the mirror.

“Ah. Ah. Ah.”

She shook the shoulder of Aina, who was nodding off beside her.

Aina yawned with a face that looked like she was dying of sleepiness and stretched.

“You’re already good at it by yourself, so why bother me?”

“Is watching yourself the same as having someone else watch you?”

“You’re so meticulous…”

“Listen quickly.”

Leticia cleared her throat again, deliberately lowering and roughening her voice.

Thanks to having learned voice modulation techniques when she was young, she could imitate the voice of a boy going through puberty quite convincingly.

“Ah, ah. Mentor good morning. Did Kalia sleep well? How was that?”

“Perfect.”

“Good. Then, how about my appearance?”

Aina looked Leticia up and down.

People here in the Grand Duchy were larger than those in the Empire, but by Empire standards, she was about average for boys her age.

Although her body had developed curves with the onset of puberty, fortunately, Leticia was a magician.

Thanks to Astrid, who couldn’t use magic until the curse on Basilinte was resolved, Leticia was able to cast magic secretly and had slightly modified her body.

It wasn’t anything too complex. Just adding flesh to her slender waist and limbs, creating an Adam’s apple…

That much was sufficient.

After all, no one would expect impressive muscles from a teenage boy.

“Perfect. You absolutely don’t look like a girl, so don’t worry.”

At Aina’s confirmation, Leticia grinned. A handsome boy was reflected in the mirror.

Actually, now wasn’t the problem. The problem would be a few years later.

If the curse on Basilinte were lifted in a few years, Astrid would be able to use magic.

If that happened, she would see through the magic Leticia was currently using, and her gender might be discovered.

Honestly, having received Astrid’s affection, she wouldn’t really care if her gender was revealed.

But while Astrid might love Leticia rather than “the Prince,” it was uncertain whether she would leave the Herta Imperial family alone for violating the hostage treaty.

If such a thing happened, those who would end up getting hurt would be the survivors of the Borba troupe in the hands of the Herta Imperial family.

Leticia had no intention of gambling with the family she had left behind in the Empire.

So, she had no choice but to keep hiding until the end.

***

[8 years later, Basilinte Main Castle Butler’s Handover Journal]

[Author: Hallik Lockshire]

The first young master likes men.

It seems he particularly likes blond, pretty boys.

His taste in appearance resembles His Grace.

“Kalia.”

When the Prince bent down and opened his arms, Kalia toddled over and fell into his embrace.

“Leti!”

“Yes, Kalia. I’m right here.”

The way she rubbed her face against the Prince’s chest was similar to her brothers.

The Prince hugged Kalia tightly and then stood up.

Kalia grabbed the Prince’s trouser leg and shook it as if asking for more hugs, but the Prince looked at Hallik with a troubled face.

“Hallik. Would you hold Kalia for me?”

“…Yes.”

Kalia would throw a fit if anyone other than the Prince touched her body, but the Prince didn’t know that yet.

Hallik cautiously reached out to Kalia, only to have his hand slapped away and retreat.

“No!”

The Prince’s expression became even more troubled.

Kalia reached out to the Prince again, asking to be held, but the Prince shook his head.

“Kalia, I need to leave now. I’ll be back after you sleep a hundred nights.”

“No!”

Eventually, Astrid picked up Kalia.

“This child certainly has good taste. Kalia, stop struggling. You’ll fall if you keep doing that.”

“No, no.”

“What do you mean ‘no, no’?”

Astrid held Kalia tightly in her arms and stroked the Prince’s hair.

“Give my regards to Isana. Travel safely. I would have gone with you if I could…”

“Chamuka is going with me. It’s not even a dangerous journey.”

“He’s a bit strange, too. Why is he going with you? He’s not even a magician; how could he help with the experiment?”

“Maybe he wants to see Gaien or Isana.”

Astrid snorted.

It would be more realistic for Ferik to sing a love serenade and make a tearful confession of love.

“Him?”

“You’re too harsh on Chamuka, Mentor.”

“You’re too generous. Anyway, have a safe trip. Be careful not to suddenly fall in love and bring back a woman from there, or Kalia will be jealous.”

The Prince burst into laughter at Astrid’s joke. His refreshing laughter spread pleasantly through the air.

At the end of it, Chamuka strode into the castle and asked, “When are you planning to come out?”

“I was just about to leave, Chamuka.”

The Prince gave Kalia one more eye greeting before turning to follow Chamuka.

Hallik quietly followed them out.

Both the Prince and Chamuka got into the carriage, and the Prince smiled and greeted Hallik.

“I’ll be back, Hallik.”

Of course, Chamuka slammed the carriage door shut without any greeting.

From behind the closed door, Hallik could hear the Prince scolding Chamuka.

“Why are you like this, Chamuka?”

“You have a tendency to be unnecessarily kind. What if the other person misunderstands?”

Hallik thought it was fortunate that his sour expression wasn’t visible to them, thanks to the firmly closed carriage door.

“Don’t act like that with Kalia either.”

What a roundabout way of saying don’t smile at other people. Hallik clicked his tongue and turned away.

***

“It’s been a really long time, Colin. I heard from Isana. I hear you’re already in charge of a branch of the merchant guild?”

A boy so handsome it was hard to believe one’s eyes stepped forward and extended his hand.

Colin dazedly shook hands with him.

Seeing his reaction, the other’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t you remember me? Well, I guess it’s been years since we last saw each other, so it’s possible…”

“No, I remember you.”

When doubt flashed in the other’s eyes, Colin hastily explained.

“Logically, there’s no way I could forget your face. I was just… surprised because you’ve become even more handsome than I expected.”

“Flattering me won’t get you anywhere.”

“Then take it as sincere.”

The Prince shrugged.

Somehow, he seemed less sharp than when Colin had seen him as a child. Like a stray cat that had become a house cat.

Colin was about to continue the conversation, thinking about what he had occasionally heard about the Prince from Isana.

That would have happened if Chamuka hadn’t silently appeared behind the Prince.

“Leti.”

“Ah, Chamuka. Do you remember? Colin Lefri. Isana’s nephew. It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, right?”

“Ah.”

A boy as tall as most adults slowly looked Colin up and down.

Colin suddenly recalled a childhood memory of Chamuka threatening, “If you touch the Prince, I’ll cut off your wrist.”

Colin greeted him while unconsciously touching his wrist, which felt strangely cold.

“It’s been a long time, Lord Chamuka.”

Chamuka nodded. Then he immediately looked at the Prince and said, “You’ve been in the carriage for a long time; aren’t you tired? How about resting a bit?”

“I should greet Isana first, then rest.”

“Grandmother isn’t at the mansion right now. She seems to have gone out for a while.”

“Ah.”

Colin stared with slightly incredulous eyes at Chamuka, who was blocking him with his broad back while conversing with the Prince.

It was such blatant disregard. It was so obvious that it didn’t even feel offensive.

“I’d like to rest too.”

After contemplating, the Prince nodded slightly at Chamuka’s words.

Immediately, Chamuka put his arm around the Prince’s shoulders and started walking.

The surprised Prince tried to look back at Colin, but Chamuka grabbed his chin, preventing him from turning his head.

“I’ll put you to bed.”

Watching Chamuka and the Prince quickly moving away, Colin dazedly thought the same thing he had thought years ago.

‘Why is he being so defensive against me…?’