Chapter 56: An Intrepid Smile
Something amusing must have happened.
Vered, leaning against the door with a grin plastered on his face, approached Faustina and Bernhard as they blinked at him.
He sat down beside Faustina.
“Prince.
Ciel-sama is done talking with the duke, so get ready to head back.”
“O-Okay.
But you don’t have to sit right next to Faustina!”
“Hm?
Why does it matter?
Miss, do you not like me sitting next to you?”
“I don’t dislike it, but your face is totally grinning.”
“Yeah.
Something interesting happened.”
The kind of “interesting” Vered meant always felt ominous.
“Something interesting?”
Bernhard asked.
“Yep.
Something interesting.
You and the miss should’ve seen it too.”
“What did you see?”
“Secret.
Ask your brother.”
“….”
It was obviously Elvira and Cain.
Faustina slumped her shoulders in defeat.
Elvira had run out of the room screaming for their mother.
It was obvious she went straight to Ludmila.
Vered must have witnessed Cain following after her and explaining the situation.
“Where’s Uncle?”
“Ciel-sama went to get a souvenir for the miss.”
“Tea and bath salts?”
“Exactly.”
He had promised to give them to her later that night since she liked them.
When Faustina explained the context to Bernhard, he puffed his cheeks in displeasure.
“…You should’ve woken me up too.”
“But waking Your Highness while you were sleeping—”
“That person was woken up by Uncle, wasn’t he?”
“Listen.
Do you have any idea how unpleasant it is to be shaken awake when you’re sleeping soundly?
I’m sure a prince wouldn’t understand.”
Born as the First Prince, Bernhard had never been treated roughly.
Even being grabbed by the scruff of the neck like a dog by Ciel had only happened this once.
He had also never been forcibly woken up before.
Just as Vered said, it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
Vered let out a small yawn and noticed the tea and strawberry tart on the table.
He stared at them intently, so Faustina rang the bell.
A different maid entered instead of Trisha.
Faustina instructed her to bring a fresh teacup and a strawberry tart.
When the maid left, Faustina turned back to Vered.
“Wait just a moment, okay?”
He hadn’t said he wanted any, but his gaze clearly did.
He yawned again, then nodded.
The repeated yawning suggested he was sleepy.
He had sprawled across the seat sleeping the whole way from the church to the castle.
The maid soon returned with a teacup and strawberry tart.
Faustina had them placed in front of Vered.
She lifted the teapot resting on the saucer and poured tea into the cup.
“Excuse me.”
Once the maid left, Faustina said,
“Go ahead.”
“Okay.”
Vered pulled the sugar bowl closer.
He opened the lid and plopped in cube after cube of sugar.
“I-Isn’t that too much?”
Bernhard tried to stop him when he reached six cubes, but Vered kept going.
He stopped at ten.
He stirred the tea with the teaspoon.
Setting the spoon down, he lifted the cup by the handle and drank without hesitation.
Faustina and Bernhard watched him closely, curious about his reaction.
“It’s good.”
Tea with ten sugar cubes.
Even Faustina, who loved sweets, wondered if she could drink it.
She added ten sugar cubes to her own tea.
“Faustina!?”
Ignoring Bernhard’s shock, she stirred the tea and took a sip.
“…It’s good.”
She said with a surprised expression.
Bernhard, though curious, decided not to try it, lacking confidence he could finish it.
“You like sweet things?”
“So what if I do?”
“I’m not saying anything.
I was just curious.”
“Oh.”
“….”
So curt.
It was the same bluntness Vered showed toward Ciel, but experiencing it directly stung a little.
Ciel probably felt nothing since he was used to it.
“Cain went after Elvira, but it doesn’t seem like they’re coming back…”
“Should we go check on them?”
“There’s no need, right?
The tea will get cold.”
Was “the tea will get cold” really a valid reason not to go?
Faustina and Bernhard both cut into their strawberry tarts.
The door knocked and opened.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Ciel said as he entered, carrying a paper bag and wearing a far gentler smile than when they first arrived.
“Bell.
Once you’re done eating, we’ll return to the castle together.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, that doesn’t mean you need to rush.
Take your time.”
“You just don’t want to go, Ciel-sama.
The king you thoroughly crushed is probably recovering by now.”
Faustina looked up in surprise as Vered ate his strawberry tart with flawless, elegant movements.
For someone who claimed to be a slum orphan, his table manners were impeccable.
Perhaps Ciel had taught him.
At the mention of the king’s recovery, Bernhard inwardly thought it might be better if his father stayed dejected a little longer.
Still, he swallowed his tart and nodded.
Ciel moved to Faustina’s side and handed her the paper bag.
“Thank you very much, Priest-sama!”
“Mm.
If you run out, tell me anytime.
I’ll have more delivered.”
“Who are you planning to have deliver them?”
Vered asked while eating.
“Well now, who could that be?”
“Why not just deliver them yourself?”
“If I came every time, it would burden the duke and duchess.”
“Oh.”
“Then I’ll have a tea set prepared for you as well, Priest-sama.”
Faustina reached for the bell thoughtfully, but Ciel gently stopped her hand.
“It’s fine.
I’ve already had plenty of tea during the night and while traveling.”
“Is that so?”
“Mm.”
“Thank you,” he said, patting her sky-blue head.
Unlike when Citrine patted her, this touch brought a deeper sense of comfort.
It was warmer, gentler, and somehow nostalgic.
In her previous life, she had no memory of interacting with Ciel like this—
“Here.
I prepared lots of your favorite sweets, so eat up.”
“Yay!
Thank you—sama!”
“Hey, Ciel-sama, what about my share?”
“There’s plenty for you too.”
There was none.
Yet the fleeting memory showed Faustina a few years older, sitting with Ciel and Vered around a table of sweets.
There were so many things she simply didn’t remember.
This kidnapping must be the same.
As Ciel patted her head, Faustina secretly resolved that no matter the headache, she would remember everything tonight.
In those memories, what had she called Ciel?
That part alone was missing.
Once he finished patting her head, Ciel sat down beside Bernhard.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“What did you discuss with the duke?”
“The kidnappers who took Faustina-sama, and her health.”
“The kidnappers… Cain…”
When she was told the man who abducted her was Cain, the long-serving butler, she had wanted to believe it was a mistake.
To Faustina, Cain had always seemed quiet and diligent.
They exchanged greetings, but nothing more.
He was polite, precise, punctual, and uncompromising in his work.
Everyone, starting with Citrine, saw him as a model servant.
She sipped her tea with ten sugar cubes.
Sweet.
Very sweet.
But still enjoyable.
Seeing Bernhard finish his tart and tea, Ciel placed a hand on his silver-violet hair.
“Alright.
Let’s return to the castle.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
As the two stood, Faustina rose as well.
Vered had already finished eating but remained seated, letting out a small yawn.
“You’re not coming?”
Faustina asked.
Vered didn’t answer.
He looked up at Ciel with an annoyed expression, sending Faustina a meaningful glance.
With a sigh, he stood up.
“I’ll go call my father and mother.”
“No need.
I already told the duke we’d be leaving.”
“But an escort—”
“There’s no point in having the duke come after being thoroughly scolded by Ciel-sama.”
“Huh?”
Why would her father need to be scolded so thoroughly?
As Faustina tilted her head, Ciel smiled softly.
She smiled back instinctively.
Since there would be no escort, Faustina volunteered to see them off herself.
Accompanied by a maid waiting outside, she walked with them to the main gate.
The carriage they arrived in was waiting.
The coachman opened the door.
“Come on, Bell.”
“Yes.
Ah, Faustina.”
Before boarding, Bernhard stopped in front of her.
“Once things settle down, let’s talk properly again.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll invite you to the castle, so come.”
“(Ah… there’s no escaping that…)
Yes, of course.”
While screaming internally, “Nooo! I can’t escape!” she agreed with a lady’s smile.
Relieved, Bernhard gently patted her head before boarding the carriage.
She froze.
Bernhard had never patted her head before.
In her previous life, he only ever did that to Elvira.
A sharp ache pricked her chest.
Even if she ignored it—
It hurt.
“Whoa.”
As she watched Bernhard board, a strong hand pressed down on her head, nearly making her lose balance.
The voice above said, “Hey,” and she realized it was Vered.
“Do you remember what you told me earlier, before Ciel-sama arrived?”
“Y-Yeah.”
She was doomed.
In despair, she remembered blurting out to a stranger that her engagement to the Crown Prince would eventually be transferred to her sister.
Thinking back, it wasn’t something to say in that situation.
But what was done was done.
“Watching you and the prince today made me wonder.
Do you really believe the prince will fall for your sister?”
“…I do.”
Because that’s what happened before.
“He looks like he likes you though.”
Because unlike before, she didn’t bully Elvira and wasn’t selfish.
“And you still believe he’ll fall for your sister?”
No matter how much she had tried, no matter how she pleaded, Bernhard had never once shown her affection in her past life.
Though confused by Vered’s questions, she nodded.
“…I see.”
Vered removed his hand from her head.
She adjusted her messy hair and looked up at him.
Rose-colored eyes smiling boldly.
“Then it’s decided.”
“What is?”
“…You’ll find out soon.”
Ciel was cryptic, but Vered was no better.
“Vered?”
Ciel called out to him.
Shrugging, Vered passed by Faustina and followed after Ciel into the carriage.
The coachman set the horses into motion.
Faustina watched the carriage disappear into the distance until it was completely out of sight.