61
He
must have realized that Candice was speaking her true feelings. Hugo
answered while scratching his black hair, 「I
don't really understand, but alright.」
Looking at Hugo, Candice opened her mouth to convey what she
thought.
「Looking closely, your black hair is
lovely, huh, Hugo.」
「……!」
「I want to try touching it!」
「…………Just what are you thinking, Imperial
Princess-sama?」
「I just thought I wanted to try
touching your hair, Hugo, you know?」
And
when she signaled for Hugo to crouch down, Hugo reluctantly knelt
down on one knee in front of Candice. The silky, flowing hair, different
from Arthur's, was smooth and addictive.
「It's glossy and looks like obsidian.」
「Wha……!? Imperial Princess-sama,
what has gotten into you?」
「Don't move for a bit!」
「~~~hk!」
Seeing
Hugo's composed expression unusually crumble, Candice floated a
wide grin. Candice used to discriminate against Hugo just because
he was born with black hair and eyes, but she realized he was no different from
herself. Besides, being able to see such an expression wasn't bad. Candice
was always sneered at by Hugo, but she was in a good mood.
（This is also the Exact Opposite
Strategy……! Hugo is not used to being praised, is he.）
Finding
Hugo's unexpected weakness, Candice was satisfied.
「Imperial Princess-sama, please do not tease me……!」
「I am not teasing you. I am praising
you!」
「…………You are a strange person, huh.」
「Fufu.」
And
perhaps thanks to praising Hugo, he returned her to the White Palace
right after that.
「「Imperial Princess-sama!」」
「You two, thank goodness.」
「We were worried, you know」
「I'm so glad you're safe~!」
Eva and Rose cried while
rejoicing at their reunion with Candice. Both of them were apparently
about to be transferred to a different palace at one point, but it seems they
pleaded to return to the White Palace again.
And
Arthur, whose eyes were swollen bright red perhaps having received the
news that Candice had returned to the White Palace, clung to Candice
while shedding large drops of tears.
「Arthur!? What's wrong……?」
「……hk!」
「Arthur?」
「Candice, Oneesamaa!」
Arthur called Candice's name over
and over again, and even after that, he wouldn't leave Candice's side at
all. Jeanne, just as Candice had predicted, seemed to feel
responsible, immediately apologizing and keeping her head bowed.
「Because I took rash actions, I put Imperial
Princess-sama in danger…… I am terribly sorry」
「It is not your fault, Jeanne.」
「But……」
「I do not mind it.」
Candice said it wasn't Jeanne's
fault, but she didn't seem convinced. At seeing Jeanne in this state for
the first time, Arthur's eyes grew teary. At Arthur's anxious
expression, Candice felt her chest tighten.
She
didn't want to see it any further…… Thinking so, Candice explained that
it would make Arthur anxious, and Jeanne finally closed her
mouth.
She
had been wondering what Arthur did since people had vanished from the White
Palace, but it seemed he had continued studying with Lucas while
frequenting the archives, and had secretly been taken care of at the Blue
Palace.
Candice was surprised to hear that after Lucas
went to church with his mother, they went to the archives where Arthur
was taught letters, and he ate meals together with Lucas. She thought
that if Lucas, following Candice, also grew close to Arthur,
then Arthur's treatment might continue to improve.
（I will have to thank Lucas-oniisama, won't I.）
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