Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Looking for a Partner
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It's a well-known fact that humans have the habit of forming groups.
The only reason children are a bit more cruel is that they unthinkingly cast out anyone who doesn't fit in.
I glance at Lucy beside me, her face etched with bewilderment.
In that sense, she's just another outcast.
Same goes for the people behind me.
But I couldn't just stand there and watch them.
Even back in the orphanage, I was the same.
Whenever a kid was being bullied, I never stopped trying to befriend them somehow.
I never imagined I'd still be doing this after becoming a prince.
I just couldn't shake this damn habit.
A wry smile tugs at my lips inwardly as I look back at the kids behind me.
There are about nine of them.
Not many are even close in age, yet they still managed to isolate them.
Thinking that, I shift my gaze elsewhere.
The cause of all this is probably...
"..."
I turn my eyes to a woman standing far off.
Blonde hair, dressed in a rather flashy gown.
Same golden blonde as Lucy, but...
The vibe is totally different.
Vicious, maybe? Vengeful?
What do you even call someone like that?
"...Villainess lady."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
I shake my head calmly at Lucy's question.
Villainess.
The antagonist noble lady who always blocks the protagonist's path and torments them.
Only to get thoroughly schooled in the end.
There were all sorts of ways she got her comeuppance...
Whatever.
Someone like her is headed straight for a twisted life.
She doesn't seem to realize it, though.
Staring blatantly at the girl like that, our eyes meet.
Her gaze flicks briefly to the people behind me, then she smiles softly and greets me.
This is the kind of girl who later fixates on one guy, goes off the deep end, and meets her ruin.
She really needs to find a good man.
If I get the chance later, I should give her some advice.
"...Anyway."
I turn back to meet the eyes of the others staring blankly at me.
"Why don't we do some introductions."
It's always easiest to start with introductions when meeting new people.
"Anyone want to go first?"
"Ah... I'll go..."
A girl raises her hand right as I finish speaking.
She had an ordinary look about her.
Looking at me with fervent eyes, she opens her mouth,
and I watch as each kid explains themselves.
Listening to their stories one by one, I reach a conclusion...
They all had some kind of flaw in a particular area.
One stuttered a bit, another was slow-witted, and some had talent but prickly personalities.
I nod as I listen to the others' explanations.
"Guess it's my turn now."
Cough, I clear my throat and begin.
"I'm Theodor, the First Prince."
"..."
The kids stare at me in wonder.
"I can handle Holy Power a little... something like that?"
Asking them to introduce themselves turned out harder than I thought.
Thinking that, I wrap up briefly,
"Any questions?"
I tilt my head and look at the others.
"Me!"
A girl shoots her hand up the moment I finish.
The talented one with the sharp tongue.
I nod at her, and she looks at me with shining eyes.
"I heard you defeated a demon with Holy Power. Is that true?"
"..."
Me?
Do demons even exist in the first place?
As I'm about to shake my head,
"That's correct."
A voice comes from behind.
What the—
I whip around to see
"Theodor's Holy Power is so immense it can purify even demons."
Mother standing there with a smile.
When did you get here, Mom?
And why are you lying without even licking your lips first?
"Every time Theodor uses his Holy Power, the Holy Kingdom is astonished, and the Empire is turned upside down."
Politically speaking, sure, but saying it like that makes the kids take it all literally.
But...
"Right, Theodor?"
"...Yes."
How can I stop Mother when she's winking at me with that gleeful smile?
I just have to go along with it.
It's just that the kids' shining eyes make my conscience twinge a bit.
"So these are Theodor's friends?"
Friends...
We're not quite there yet, but if I say no after gathering them like this, I'd be a total jerk.
So...
Mother looks at me without losing her smile, and I slowly nod.
"Yes, Mom."
"I see."
She smiles, scanning the other kids calmly, her gaze lingering a bit longer on Lucy.
"Good friends."
What does that mean?
Before I can dwell on it,
"Anyway. Have fun with Theodor, and ask him if you don't know something."
Huh?
Before I can say a word, Mother turns on her heel and leaves the hall.
She came just to say that?
Mom is truly unpredictable.
Thinking that, I turn back to the kids.
For now, I need to talk with them.
Building bonds is important, after all.
With that in mind, I spent the rest of the social gathering with these kids.
By the end, they were all looking at me with sparkling eyes.
"Thank you! Prince Theodor!"
"Thank you... Prince..."
They each thanked me profusely, and I smiled, accepting their gratitude before preparing to leave.
Preparing just meant joking around with Clue, really...
"Prince."
As I head toward Clue, a familiar voice makes me turn.
Lucy is walking slowly toward me.
"Lucy?"
Why is she suddenly here?
I look at her, and she mumbles while staring at me.
"I'll do my absolute best to help you."
"Ah, sure."
Help with what?
Before I can get my hopes up, she scurries off, and I just shrug and head back to Clue.
*
After the social gathering ended, Lily was sipping tea with one noble lady, chin propped on her hand.
A blonde noble lady.
The count's daughter Theodor had stared at and called a "villainess."
"...That was the rundown of this social gathering."
"Good work. Sorry to keep burdening you with these annoyances."
"No trouble at all. By the way... Prince Theodor is..."
She trails off, glancing at Lily, who clears her throat before speaking.
"Don't touch Theodor."
"Well..."
Hearing Lily, she closes her eyes briefly, lost in thought.
The forces Theodor had gathered were ragtag misfits by anyone's standards.
People she'd discarded in the first place.
Of course they lacked ability.
"If they're just those dregs, then like you said, no need to worry much."
"Huh? No, that's not what I meant."
Lily tilts her head at her words.
"...Meaning..."
Could it be the ones she discarded aren't dregs?
Her face pales for a moment,
"Oh, Catherine. You're not wrong. Those kids don't have any remarkable talents or abilities."
At Lily's gesture, the woman called Catherine sighs in relief.
Good, her eye for people hasn't failed her.
Wait, if her eyes are right, then what does that mean?
Catherine looks at Lily in confusion, and Lily smiles with her chin propped up.
"Those kids are misfits, but Theodor isn't."
Unshakable conviction was etched on her face,
"...Then shouldn't we keep him in check?"
Catherine asks logically, and Lily meets her eyes calmly.
"Don't touch him. Ever."
"...Princess?"
"Whatever Theodor or the people around him do, ignore it. If you can provide some conveniences, go ahead."
Lily murmurs coolly, and Catherine straightens her back.
It was the first time Lily spoke in such a chilling tone.
"Ah, understood."
"Keep a close eye on Ravire."
As if nothing happened, Lily smiles softly again, and Catherine, still rigid, speaks up.
"Got... it!"
"If you can, make Ravire's side harass Theodor."
"Uh, that..."
"Anyway. Don't touch Theodor."
Catherine nods at Lily's stern warning,
"I have to do at least that much for my dear little brother."
"..."
Catherine glances at Lily's mutter,
"Anyway. Don't touch Theodor."
"Yes."
She slowly nods at Lily's words.
Of course, Lily wasn't the only one acting this way.
"Theodor made some friends, huh."
Ravire rests her chin on her hand with a hum.
"What kind of kids?"
"Well..."
"Ah, don't tell me."
She waves her hand dismissively before the answer.
"I get it, so don't touch Theodor's friends or Theodor. Just don't make him mad."
Ravire nods as she says it.
"If Prince Theodor grows too big, or allies with Princess Lily..."
"Theodor?"
Ravire eyes her aide like she's spouting nonsense, and she chuckles.
"Theodor wouldn't do that."
Her aide could only shut up at her firm words.
*
"Lucy, where should we go for the next social gathering?"
After getting close to Lucy, she diligently helped me out whenever we met like this.
"Hmm. In my opinion..."
And she always answered earnestly.
In fact, the gatherings she picked always had lots of people and influential figures, which was pretty helpful.
As I'm looking at her thinking that,
"..."
Lucy is staring intently at something.
"Lucy?"
"...Prince, how about this one?"
Lucy hands me something.
I look at the paper she gives me,
and the title [Imperial Ball] catches my eye.
"...A ball?"
"Yes, a ball."
Lucy nods,
"And, um... if you don't have a partner..."
"Yeah."
"Would you go with me...?"
"Ah, sure. Got it."
A partner, huh? I probably don't.
But Lily had drilled it into me.
If there's a ball, make sure to spread rumors that you're getting a partner.
It's proper etiquette, she said.
So, for now, do as Lily said...
"Just in case, I'll ask around. Clue."
"Yes, Master."
"W-Wait a sec...!"
"You heard? Go spread the word everywhere."
"...Yes."
Clue vanishes with a whoosh, and Lucy stares blankly at where she disappeared.
"Why?"
"No... I guess I don't need to learn dancing after all."
What are you talking about?
And so, word spread that I was looking for a ball partner,
and starting the next day, letters poured into my room.
"..."
What the hell is this?