Chapter 227
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227
Flustered, I swallowed hard without even realizing it.
“I’ll have to think about that. I mean, we’re on a bed…?”
Ferdinand lowered his head and chuckled as if the suggestion were utterly absurd. His light brown hair swayed gently, and his red eyes sparkled like jewels.
Is it because his attitude has softened a bit?
He almost felt… cute.
For some reason, my palms were starting to sweat. I was appalled at myself for thinking, even for a split second, that the "Ice Prince" was cute.
Ferdinand spoke up.
“What exactly do you think I can do in this shrunken body?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just worried Your Highness might decide to lop off my head…”
Humans are truly fickle creatures. How could we be so easily influenced by outward appearances?
When Ferdinand was in his adult form, I could barely speak properly, crushed by the sheer intimidation of his gaze and stature. But now that he had transformed into a boy smaller than me, the conversation flowed quite easily.
Of course, the fact that he had come to rescue me helped bridge the psychological distance between us.
And objectively speaking, the physical distance has closed quite a bit, too.
Thud! Thud!
It was then that I heard a sound—not so much a knock as someone trying to break down the door.
“Hey! Tuliaaaaaagh!”
“…!”
I bolted upright. Before heading to the door, just in case, I began rolling Ferdinand up in the duvet like a cocoon.
His eyebrows shot up immediately; he had likely never been treated like this in his entire life.
“What on earth do you think you’re—”
“Shh! Be quiet, just for a second.”
Is this what it feels like to get caught by your family while secretly meeting a man at night? No, that was technically what was happening, but the Crown Prince wasn't exactly in a state to do anything with me!
I hid Ferdinand as best I could and rushed to the door.
“Ahem. Leon? What’s going on?”
“Seriously, I can’t believe this!”
Leon was clearly irritated. He grumbled about how difficult it had been to get in because the priests wouldn't let him through easily.
He probably kicked his way past all of them.
If it weren't for his handsome face, this guy would have made a perfect villain.
Wait, wait.
“Leon? Where do you think you’re going?”
“Into your bedroom!”
“Why? Weren’t you assigned your own room?”
“I was.”
“Then why? Why are you coming into mine?”
“Ha.”
Leon Frezier shot me a look of pure condescension.
“Tulia Frezier. Do you really think you can sleep alone in a temple?”
“What?”
How did he know?
“Dream on. I’d bet my entire fortune that within an hour, you’d be clutching your pillow and running to Father’s room because you’re scared.”
“…!”
Was I really that easy to read?
But right now, absolutely no one could be allowed to set foot in my room! I forced the kindest, softest smile I could muster. Leon’s face immediately contorted in disgust.
“What’s with that? Why are you smiling so fake?”
“…”
“Look at her, her fist is already clenching. Look, I’m actually really tired right now, okay?”
“Leon, Leon.”
“What? Ugh, seriously, let’s just sit down and talk. I’ll sleep on the sofa…”
I stood my ground, refusing to budge, still wearing that smile. Facing his bewildered expression, I finally spoke.
“You have no idea, do you? How much the nobles compare me to Corico?”
“…What?”
Step one of manipulating an idiot: Remind them of a common enemy!
“Corico became the Saintess, right? So now the nobles are all over her, saying things like, ‘The Saintess has such elegant grace,’ or ‘I feel purified by her innate divinity’… They’re making a huge fuss.”
Step two: Act as pitiful as possible!
“But what about me? I’m not the Saintess, so I don’t have any innate divinity.”
“Uh, well. Hmm…”
“So what else can I do? I have no choice but to win them over with the steadfast, aristocratic dignity of a Grand Princess…”
“…And?”
Finally: Just crank the volume to the max!
“So, while we’re at the temple, I am absolutely sleeping alone! Tell Father and Lisian clearly! I am the Grand Princess of Frezier! I won’t lose to anyone! No, I can’t lose!”
With that, I slammed the door shut. Bang!
If nothing else, those last words would have definitely worked on Leon.
As expected.
I heard some grumbling from outside the door, but it faded away before long. When I peeked out again, Leon was finally gone.
Drained of all energy, I slumped back toward the bed.
“Your Highness, do you have any idea what I just went through because of you…”
I was muttering resentfully when I looked at the bed and clamped my hands over my mouth. I barely managed to stifle the laughter bubbling up.
Because…
Ferdinand was waiting for me with his usual cold, expressionless face.
However, there were two problems. One, his body had become far too small. And two, he was still rolled up in the duvet like a tiny snowman.
It seemed he hadn't moved an inch from the state I’d left him in.
“Are you finished laughing?”
I immediately straightened my face.
“No, Your Highness. I was just taking a very deep breath.”
“You were laughing.”
“Your Highness. You must have heard me making all those excuses just now. I used up all my energy, so I was just taking a deep breath to recover…”
Using the same skills I once used to win over Grandfather, I smoothly slid past the crisis.
Which is to say, I unrolled the duvet Ferdinand was trapped in. And then…
I sat back down beside him.
If it were the usual Ferdinand, there’s no way we could have shared a bed.
As expected, his younger appearance made me let my guard down.
“Lady Tulia.”
It was then that Ferdinand called my name in a low voice.
“Yes?”
“You called me by my name earlier.”
It seemed Ferdinand felt the same way.
“Why aren't you calling me by my name now?”
“Ah…”
I scratched my head. Back then, I probably would have called out his name even if Empress Carmi herself had appeared.
Feeling a bit awkward, I let out a small laugh.
“If you say I can call you by your name even in public, then I will.”
“Do as you wish.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, do as you wish.”
“…”
He had agreed far too readily…
“…Ferdinand.”
“Yes.”
Ferdinand gave a soft smile.
It was a first. I had only ever seen the Crown Prince wear a cynical smirk or a cold, blank expression.
Even as a boy, he looked like a living statue. Which meant he was just as breathtaking now.
I stared at the beautiful boy for a moment, mesmerized, before asking, “So, how are you going to take the divine power?”
“Lie down.”
I genuinely doubted my own ears.
Not only did I doubt my ears, but I also looked at Ferdinand as if he were a piece of trash.
“My Lady.”
His scowl deepened significantly compared to before.
“I’ll say it again. What exactly do you think I could possibly do to you in this body?”
“I’m sorry. I was just so surprised…”
For now, I carefully set aside my pillow while still wearing my shawl. That’s right! I had been clutching the pillow this whole time.
This is a bit embarrassing.
Ferdinand didn't say anything as I crawled under the covers without taking off my shawl. It was a relief; if he had told me to take off my nightgown or something, I might have actually lost it and kicked him.
“Are you fully settled? My Lady.”
“Yes.”
“Do you usually pull the covers up that high?”
“Of course. I tend to get quite cold.”
“The room is this warm and you’re cold? I suppose that thick shawl you’ve wrapped around yourself is just for decoration, then.”
“…Ahem.”
Finding myself speechless, I just cleared my throat repeatedly.
A moment later.
Through the duvet pulled up to my forehead, I felt the room grow dim. Just as I realized he had turned off all the lights and was about to speak—
A warmth like a ball of fire pulled me into an embrace.