40
「Oh my? Her Highness Candice, Imperial Princess, you were visiting the Violet Palace, were you. How rare.」
Candice's shoulders trembled upon seeing the squinty-eyed man smiling sweetly. It is Hugo, Valentin's right-hand man who serves as his guard as a Shadow. An unpleasant guy who often gave Candice warnings, he was not a noble; Valentin had picked him up when he was a slave and kept him by his side as a guard.
Because the color black is considered a symbol of a curse in this country, Hugo is exposed to curious eyes. However, hailing from a northern warrior race, after being kidnapped by human traffickers at a young age, he was picked up by Valentin and had sworn his loyalty. He is the only one Valentin trusts and keeps by his side. Even now he is floating an affable smile, but there is no doubt that he is the person she should be most wary of.
Candice hated Hugo incredibly much. The reason was because of his black hair and black eyes, and because, just like Arthur, he was not of noble birth. Even though he was always floating a frivolous smile, the way he spoke words as if seeing right through Candice also got on her nerves.
After her mother died of illness, Candice strongly wished to be loved by her father. She could no longer obtain love from her mother for eternity. However, she realized that her father was nearby. Candice had been barging into the Violet Palace since she was twelve when her mother died, but Valentin never made time for Candice or spoke with her.
The one who chased Candice away in place of such a Valentin was Hugo. Candice absolutely hated Hugo's playful behavior. Complaining and cursing about Hugo's upbringing and appearance before leaving was her usual pattern.
（In the Exact Opposite Strategy, I must not make a fool of Hugo, right. Since there's probably no need to be…… kind to him, I just have to treat him normally, just like with Arthur.）
Having one's trusted confidant made a fool of wouldn't be a pleasant feeling, after all.
Lately, Candice also thinks she likes Eva and Rose. Even though they have only been together for a short time, if there were someone who made a fool of them, she probably wouldn't forgive it. Valentin never protected Hugo, but he must have certainly received reports about it.
To Candice, Hugo was a nuisance who hindered her relationship with her father, but in reality, it was a sad pattern where Candice was the one being treated as a nuisance. Valentin continued to send his gaze toward Candice in silence. Absolutely no emotion could be read from his handsome features.
Out of nervousness, Candice swallowed her saliva with a gulp. Hugo reached out his hand in front of Candice. Before, she would have swatted it away while saying, "Do not touch me," but this time she took Hugo's hand without hesitation and stood up.
「Thank you, Hugo. You saved me.」
「……!」
Candice dared to thank Hugo while floating a cheerful smile. At such an action from Candice, Valentin's eyebrow twitched. Hugo was also surprised for only an instant, but his expression immediately returned to normal as he said, 「You are welcome, Imperial Princess-sama.」
And then, after catching her breath, Candice pinched the hem of her dress and bowed her head to give her greetings. And she waited like that without saying anything until Valentin spoke to her.
（Don't talk to me! You don't need to talk to me, so just pass by as you are……! Just remembering that day makes me feel like crying.）
Normally, unless spoken to by a superior, one isn't even allowed to offer a greeting. Before time rewound, Candice would talk to him aggressively on her own accord whenever they met, using the reason that she was his daughter, but now, because of the Exact Opposite Strategy, she had to avoid having any involvement with him. Perhaps from nervousness, sweat gradually oozed onto the hands holding the hem of her dress.
There were no words, just a silent gaze directed at her. Keeping this posture was becoming difficult for a child's body, and her limit was approaching soon. The moment her legs wobbled, a clinking sound was heard, and Candice's shoulders gave a start.
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