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Candice's
muttering had firmly reached Monfa. While giving rise to a massive
misunderstanding. To Monfa, Candice looked like a savior. She was
accepting them, who were in a cage, without discrimination, and was trying to
take them outside. That fact destroyed Monfa's previous sense of values
and greatly shook her heart.
（Hugo-san, I have understood your feelings for the first time. I,
too, want to stay by Candice, Imperial Princess-sama's side……）
At the same time she reflected on her own foolishness, she
was deeply moved by the words of Candice, who was much smaller than
herself. It was her first time feeling this way. Tears flowed naturally. The
connected hands felt warm and comfortable. While resisting her sleepiness, Candice
opened her mouth.
「I will not………… leave you alone.」
「…………!」
「Stay with me…… forever……」
Candice
fell fast asleep just like that.
「Thank you very much. Candice,
Imperial Princess-sama…… I will definitely protect you even at the cost
of my life.」
While gripping Candice's soft, small hand, Monfa
closed her eyes.
* * *
The sound of the curtains opening. Feeling the bright light,
Candice furrowed her brows.
「Uuu……」
Perhaps because she went to sleep late yesterday, she was
still unbearably sleepy. She pulled the sheets up to her head as if to avoid
the light. She rolled across the bed as if to avoid Eva and Rose,
who were calling out for Candice to wake up.
It was a morning at the White Palace, just like
always.
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama, it is morning! Please wake
up.」
「So you stayed up late, didn't you!」
「……Nnu」
While repeatedly blinking a few times, Candice raised
both her hands.
（I feel like…… I'm forgetting
something important.）
While spacing out and hugging a cushion, Eva and Rose
were moving about busily.
「Eva, Rose………… are you busy?」
「Because the White Palace is
constantly short on personnel.」
「His Majesty the Emperor is
also busy, and he is cautious about hiring servants, after all.」
「……That's right.」
（Short on personnel…… women…… I
wonder if it would be fine to just make the Ron clan into maids………… Huh? What
about Monfa…… Where is Monfa!?）
Hearing those words, she realized that the figure of Monfa,
who was supposed to be with her yesterday, was nowhere to be found.
「──Where is Monfa!?」
「The guard who was introduced to us
yesterday?」
「Might she not be hiding and guarding
Candice, Imperial Princess-sama again?」
「No, that's not it! We were together
right up until before I went to sleep yesterday! Monfa, where is Monfa!?」
There was no reply from Monfa. Candice dashed
out of the room still in her sleepwear.
「……Candice, Imperial
Princess-sama!」
「Where are you going!?」
She could hear Eva and Rose calling her to
stop, but Candice's feet headed toward the Violet Palace. She ran
desperately, but in the long corridor, she began to run out of breath. Running
at full speed right after waking up was tough.
（It hurts……hk! But the Violet
Palace is just a little further……!）
It was when Candice had closed her eyes and was
running at full speed. Even though she should be moving her legs, she didn't
feel like she was moving forward. Feeling discomfort under her arms, when Candice
opened her eyes, wasn't her body floating in mid-air?
「Huh……?」
「What in the world are you doing in a
place like this?」
A familiar low voice. When she raised her face, there was
the figure of Valentin, who was supposed to be her father. It seemed Candice
had been desperately running while being lifted up by Valentin. Behind
him, Hugo was smiling cheerfully as always.
「Hugo, what did you do with Monfa!?」
「Monfa?」
「She is a candidate for Candice,
Imperial Princess-sama's guard. However……」
「──Because Monfa is my guard!」
Hearing Candice's shout, Valentin stared
fixedly at Hugo.
「She is not suited to be Candice,
Imperial Princess-sama's guard.」
「I am the one who decides whether
she's suited or not!」
「I am terribly sorry. But this is for
Candice, Imperial Princess-sama's sake.」
「Otou-sama, please put me down!」
Candice
had Valentin lower her to the floor. Then she went to Hugo,
standing on her tiptoes and grabbing his clothes so he couldn't run away.
「Because I promised to protect Monfa
and the others!」
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama…… how much did you hear?」
Hearing Candice's words, the atmosphere surrounding Hugo
changed. Even though he usually had kind-looking, squinting eyes, now they were
open as if glaring at her. Candice frantically racked her brain,
thinking that her slip of the tongue might cause Monfa to be blamed.
「A-As her master, it's only natural
to know the circumstances of my guard! I…… um, um, ordered Monfa to
speak!」
「…………」
「Also, all the women of the Ron clan
who aren't shadows, I'll make them all my maids!」
「Wha……!?」
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