PART 1.

Chapter 3. The Royal Scoundrel and the Fighter

「<Pepe: On the 76XXth day since birth!>

※ This propaganda novel includes scenes of smoking unsuitable for children.

※ Characters other than the Little Lord and her family are marked as XX.

About three weeks had passed since I became the prince’s exclusive caregiver. Time really flew by.And during that time, we fought a lot, to put it bluntly. (Mainly me arguing and the prince ignoring me!)

The frequent issue we clashed over was how much he smoked.

As expected, today was no different. The first thing I saw when I opened the door to the hospital room was the prince’s broad back leaning against the window. The window was wide open, and white smoke was billowing outside.

— Commander! Put out that cigarette immediately!

The prince blew the smoke out the window without a care. After he recovered faster than expected and could walk without crutches, I was able to leave the field hospital duty room and return to the dormitory.

And the prince, as if waiting for this moment, picked up smoking again. Despite the captain limiting his smoking for a speedy recovery, he smoked regularly.

— I said, put out the cigarette!

The prince only put out the cigarette in the ashtray after I slammed the window shut. Feeling triumphant, I snatched the ashtray from him.

— What the…?

The prince’s expression turned hostile for a moment but quickly became indifferent. He looked down at me with a bored gaze and then sat on the bed. He began flipping through the file folder the lieutenant had brought in the morning.I alternated my gaze between his right arm, still in a cast, and his left hand holding the file folder.

— Commander. May I ask you something?

— …Speak.

— Are you originally left-handed?

For the first time, his face, which had been full of annoyance, showed a hint of surprise. He glared at me with wary eyes, taking his eyes off the file folder.

— Why do you want to know?

—You seem to manage well with just your left hand. You eat well, write well.

And you light cigarettes well, hide the butts well… I mumbled softly, glancing at the prince’s reaction. He looked at his left hand, holding the file folder, and slowly began to speak.

— I was left-handed when I was young. I was corrected to use my right hand in front of others.

I tilted my head. Why correct that? It’s not particularly wrong.The prince’s expression darkened as he looked at the file folder. Maybe he had memories of being tormented by a very strict tutor. To lighten the heavy atmosphere, I clapped my hands lightly.

— So you’re ambidextrous now. I’m envious!

— Are you mocking me?

I shouted sincerely, but his reaction was unexpectedly sharp. Doubting my sincerity? I shook my head vigorously.

— I’m serious. Check tomorrow’s novel. See what I just said in my heart!

— You probably wrote something strange in parentheses again.

— What? Open parenthesis. Wow, that’s really strange! Close parenthesis. Like that?

— Now you admit it yourself.

— I told you I was serious!

Has he been deceived all his life in the palace? Why can’t he trust people?He looked at me suspiciously as I jumped up, then placed the file folder on the narrow table. He pointed at the file folder with an arrogant nod.

— Hold the file folder properly.

Thanks to getting used to his arrogant commands, I could hold the documents without feeling annoyed, unlike at first.The prince continued signing the documents while flipping through the file folder, and I held the cover, occasionally pulling out new folders to match his pace.

— The officer with glasses who interrogated you a few weeks ago.

How much time had passed? The prince suddenly spoke. It was the first time he initiated a conversation, and my heart sank.

— Yes? Who?

I unknowingly answered loudly. He frowned as if he was annoyed and continued slowly.

— That officer. Did you know she was my younger sibling?

— …If it’s Your Highness’s younger sibling… Could it be Princess XX?

I gaped. I never imagined that beautiful officer could be the princess!

— I didn’t know the princess was conscripted into the military!

— She volunteered. Like me, she lives under an alias.

— Wow. Volunteered…

That’s impressive… I murmured absentmindedly and then closed my mouth. I had nothing more to say. The prince frowned at my reaction.

— You didn’t know the princess’s face?

— I only saw Your Highness, no, Commander’s face for the first time at the camp.

— Don’t you read the newspapers?

— That’s right. I don’t read them much!

When I answered confidently, he twitched his eyes, seeming to be at a loss for words. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I added awkwardly.

— But I know the faces of His Majesty the King and the First Prince.

Those two frequently made the front page of the newspapers. It was impossible not to know.

— Anyway, today XX was…

When he suddenly mentioned his older brother’s name, the prince’s expression twisted strangely. It was a mix of frustration and regret.I asked as I organized the last signed file folder.

— What about XX? What happened?

— How dare you speak the Crown Prince’s name so carelessly?

— What’s the big deal? There’s an old saying: ‘You can criticize the king when he’s not around.’

When I recited what the captain often said, the prince shook his head in disbelief.

— Everything you say is recorded in the novel anyway.

He snapped irritably and then turned over in bed with an annoyed face.

— Talking with you is exhausting. Now leave.

— Commander.

— What?

The prince answered without turning around. I took out a white gift box from my pocket and poked his back with it.

— Here, this. It’s a discharge gift I prepared. Although it’s still far away for you to get discharged.

— A gift?

— I’ve been making it diligently, even cutting down on sleep since I returned to the dormitory.

He glanced over his shoulder to look at me. I placed the gift box on the bed. The prince squinted suspiciously.

— You made it yourself?

— Yes. Believe it or not, I majored in architecture and crafts at the academy.

— What on earth is this…?

— Use it as an ornament, and when you get tired of it, use it as a candle. Well, I’m off!

Is there anything more embarrassing than seeing the recipient’s reaction to a gift right in front of you? Imagining the prince’s delighted face, I dashed out of the hospital room.Just as I turned the corner that led directly to the backyard of the hospital, I bumped into a man walking from the opposite direction. The man quickly supported me before I could fall.

— Are you alright?

— I’m sorry!

I quickly shouted my apology and moved away from the spot. The man tried to grab me, but I was faster.」

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