There Was No Such Thing
Edward sat at Golden Honeycomb with a sour expression on his face. To carry out his plan, he first needed to lure Sisilia outside. He'd devised quite an elaborate scheme for that—but.
—...Understood.
To his surprise, Sisilia had obediently agreed to end her hunger strike at Edward's request.
Why the hell? You're not the type to bend just because I asked.
Having successfully drawn Sisilia out, Edward scanned the surroundings.
"New menu item! Care to try one?"
"My goodness, it looks absolutely delicious."
Bianca's admiring voice rang out. Fanning herself with a fan, she added,
"Please wrap two to go. F-For... a friend. As a gift."
"Oh my, what a kind heart you have."
Edward turned his gaze away.
"Wow, it's so good...!"
"Golden Honeycomb's desserts really are the best in the world."
The other young ladies were happily devouring their treats. It was the new menu item, perfectly timed for its launch—Edward's divine stroke of genius to hook Sisilia.
You had no choice but to come.
From analyzing Sisilia's patterns over time, he'd learned she dropped everything on new dessert days and rushed over. Plus, after her hunger strike, she'd be craving sweets like crazy. Knowing Sisilia, she'd bite even if she saw the trap.
"Juliana, how's it feel to have a boyfriend in the Royal Knights?"
"Ugh, I'm so jealous. I want a famous knight boyfriend too. Wonder if any Windsor Knights are rolling around loose."
Edward sipped his tea leisurely as he overheard talk of "rolling" Windsor Knights. Fortunately, no one recognized him in his perfect disguise.
"I've actually been worried lately."
"Worried? About what?"
"He's so busy we barely meet. What if he's cheating?"
"No way. A Royal Knight values honor—they wouldn't stoop to that trash."
"I hear Windsor Knights cheat all the time, though."
"That's just the Windsors."
"Honestly, if it were Sir Leo Ric, I'd happily be his fifteenth wife."
"Agreed."
The young ladies nodded vigorously in agreement.
...Time to punish those tarnishing the order's honor.
Edward thought darkly as he listened.
"But Royal Knights aren't that busy, right? Maybe he is cheating."
"Nah. Haven't you heard? An imperial delegation's coming from the Empire. Can't be helped if they're swamped."
"...The Empire? First I've heard."
Edward's lips curled into a smirk. That was his prepared move.
Sisilia. You still know nothing.
The world came in many colors. Sisilia had only seen the brightest ones, thanks to the desperate efforts of the Windsor Knights to shield her innocence.
It's time you learned.
But in just a month, she'd be an adult. Edward planned to show her the world's harsh truths. That humanity couldn't foster things like compassion in its structure.
"Oh, it's Lady Sisilia."
"Ugh, so cute...!"
"Guess the hunger strike's over!"
Whispers rippled as Sisilia walked in with Beatrice, her face expressionless. She took her reserved seat by the window—the one always kept empty no matter how busy the shop got, a gesture of respect.
She sat quietly, waiting for the server.
"Two Royal Charlotte de Chocolat Frêzé Deluxe Strawberry, please."
Leina smiled brightly.
"Oh dear, the new item's down to one—ingredients ran out."
"Lady Sisilia, I'm fine with whatever."
"Yeah. Me too."
"...Lady Sisilia?"
"Then just one. Extra whipped cream."
Edward's eyes narrowed coldly at Sisilia's eager expression. Just then, the door burst open with a commotion.
"His Imperial Highness, Seventh Prince Kashutar von Eschwald of the Empire, graces us! All bow your heads!"
"?"
The dazzling imperial prince and his escort knights entered. The slightly squat, pot-bellied prince crossed his arms, chin haughtily raised.
"??"
Citizens and nobles of Liannen stared with What the hell are these idiots? faces. They couldn't understand the imperial tongue.
As no one bowed even after time passed, the escort knight's face flushed with rage.
"Does Liannen Kingdom know no manners?!"
"Eh, whatever, Sir."
The prince waved lazily with a smirk.
"These lowly things can't even grasp human speech. We, come to enlighten them, must simply understand."
"Indeed! Such magnanimity befits the Empire's great prince, master of the world!"
"Haha, just obvious stuff."
Kashutar von Eschwald, Seventh Prince—a notorious wastrel even in the Empire.
Rumors didn't do him justice. Who knew he was this vulgar?
No nobility or intellect whatsoever. His knights were the same low caliber.
"Heard Liannen girls are pretty."
"Didn't expect this level. Can we take a few?"
"Of course."
They looked weaker and less dutiful than even the Royal Knights' grunts, let alone Windsor Knights.
"Um, this disturbance is a problem."
The prince pointed at Leina.
"What’s this wench saying?"
The interpreter swallowed hard.
"Sh-She says welcome."
"Hmm? Then bring the best here."
The interpreter mangled Liannen speech:
"Bring the most delicious menu item."
"Who might this be?"
"Seventh Prince Kashutar von Eschwald of the Eldritchion Empire."
Now aware of his identity, mouths clamped shut. The Empire—undeniable superpower claiming half of Arcadia continent. Reckless action meant personal ruin, family disgrace, even national trouble.
No Liannen folk lacked patriotism. They disliked the arrogant foreign prince but suppressed it.
"W-Well then, Golden Honeycomb's all-time hit, chocolate parfait?"
At that moment, another server placed the new item before Sisilia.
"Hm? That smell."
(Note: The prince loved desserts. He spotted the new item's value instantly.)
"Oho, looks tasty. Hey, bring that one."
Leina smiled awkwardly at the translation.
"Ingredients are out."
"Out of stock."
"Oh?"
The prince shrugged casually.
"Grab it. Quick, before enlistment."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Sisilia beamed and reached for her cake—
A knight snatched it in a flash, heading to the prince.
Sisilia swiped at empty air, blinking.
"???"
"L-Lady Sisilia."
"My cake's gone."
As Sisilia reeled in shock, the cake-thief prince eyed her intently.
"Beautiful."
"Tr-Truly, sire. In my 35 years meeting countless beauties, I've never seen or imagined one like her."
"...Think my brother would like her as tribute?"
"Wise, sire. A girl like that would satisfy Crown Prince. And further—"
"My power would surge."
Disgusting.
Edward fought nausea. But he held back—this was what he wanted. The wastrel prince needed to stick around Terezia, stirring trouble.
Sisilia would choose: kingdom's people or national interest?
Unreadable but highly intelligent, she'd grasp the diplomatic fallout, even from a wastrel prince. Likely, she'd do nothing.
And at the critical moment—Edward would intervene, guiding her to the perfect wrong path.
He'd fill her first regret with his ashen gray.
"A boon from the Empire's great prince would honor this backwater wench."
Even so—
Crunch.
Edward barely contained his fury. A foreign prince—no, a powerless seventh son—acting like this abroad showed the Empire's utter contempt for Liannen.
"Give it back. My cake."
Edward's eyes shifted to Sisilia. She'd approached the prince's table, speaking flatly.
"What’s this wench saying?"
"Sh-She wants the cake back."
"Pretty, but rude. Daring to insult a prince...?"
The prince scowled.
"Deal with her."
Edward watched, chin in hand. What choice would she make? Probably back down. Just a cake theft wasn't worth provoking a prince...
"Mmm, this cake's delicious. Hey, kidnap the maker now, bring to Empire as my personal chef... Gahk!"
Thwack!
"How dare you...!"
"P-Prince! Run... Aaaagh!"
BOOM!
"Juliana. People are flying around."
"As expected of Windsor Knights! Gotta break up with my boyfriend now."
"...Is that important right now?"
...Not worth it? Edward's eyes widened in horror. He couldn't believe it.
Thud thud thud.
She was madly pummeling the prince.
**
"I-I'll report this faithfully to my homeland!"
The battered-faced prince stormed out in rage.
Drip drip.
Sisilia broke into cold sweat.
Queen Lydia hugged her from behind with a bright smile.
"You caused a huge incident, Sisilia."
"......"
"Don't worry. This queen will smooth it over. But you'll have to, right?"
H-Hate you.
Sisilia shot a teary glare at Edward, whose eyes had shrunk to dots.
You said you'd help!
"Humanity's proxy."
"...!"
"Or handle it yourself."
Lydia pinched Sisilia's cheek lightly.
"If you can."
"I-I'll do it."
"Hm?"
"I'll smash the Empire's capital right now."
Lydia smiled awkwardly.
"...Joking, right?"
Sisilia was utterly serious.