*thump*

The younger girl ended up gasping while her face turned bright red and she moved away in shock – so preoccupied in the scene playing right in front of her that she was half-falling off the bed – while her torso was on the floor, her feet were still on the mattress somehow…

"Nnnn-ugha…! Patishi?! Are you alright?!

"

Horeo flinched and pulled away from Veo to check on the younger girl, hurriedly moving to the edge of the bed.

"I… I'm fi-fine…!

"

"Don't scare me like that, what if something happened to you?

"

Patishi gasped still extremely embarrassed, while Horeo breathed out in relief and helped her back onto the bed…

"…eh…?

"

…where Veo froze over in the position that the first prince left her.

"Well, well, well, would you look at that, guess I wasn't the one to put my hands on you.

"

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Since Veo always loved to tease him o that subject, Horeo teased back with a cheeky smile – but right then someone started knocking on the door to the prince's bedroom.

"My prince! We have an emergency! My prince! Please wake up, you have to talk to the king!

"

"It can wait.

"

Horeo furrowed his brows and scoffed but also instantly picked up and throw the blanket over the stunned Veo while motioning at Patishi to hide – whoever might have come for him might decide it's okay to get inside the room and see the rather questionable sight.

Although Horeo, Patishi, and Veo actually just slept through the night and nothing more – but the rumors didn't quite reflect the truth, did they…

"My prince, it's an emergency!

"

The messenger wasn't giving up and from his voice, it was clear that the situation was serious.

"D-did the king learned that you agreed to my selfish request and wants to punish you…?!

"

"!!!

"

Patishi got teary-eyed and trembled, feeling terribly guilty.

"What? Nonsense. Even if that was the case I will deal with everything. Patishi, Veo, get dressed and wait for me to return.

"

Horeo said and rushed to the door.

If the messenger decided to bust through the door and saw the scene this whole situation would blow up into a full-scale scandal, Horeo had to prevent that, after all, for him as a first prince the consequences would have been minor, but for his attendants…

Horeo grabbed his clothes and made sure that he looks somewhat presentable before opening the door just a little.

"What is…

"

"My prince!

"

The golden-haired knight Karestas grabbed Horeo's arm and pulled him out of the room and started dragging him along without any warning.

"What's going on! Explain!

"

Horeo had barely any time to close the door.

—-

Veo was sitting on the bed, staring at the door with a completely vacant expression.

…not for long though…

The next moment before Patishi could even open her mouth the older girl's face turned crimson red before Veo ended up leaning down and hiding it into the mattress.

"Veo…!

"

"I am so shameless! I actually kissed our prince! I hugged and kissed him! But I am only an attendant! He's the prince! What was I thinking?! I thought this was just a dream!

"

Patishi finished dressing up and walked over to the devastated Veo.

"Nooo! What will I do if he will fire me…? No, what will I do if he will say that he hates me?! I am so stupid…!

"

"…

"

The older girl continued to wail while the younger one watched her with concern.

"Our prince is so good to us, but even a good person has his limits, I messed up! I messed up so ba…!

"

"Veo – if our prince hated, or even disliked you or the kiss he would have pushed you away or at least try to struggle…

"

"!!!!

"

Veo still couldn't pull herself together and that had prompted Patishi to raise her voice at the older attendant – and succeed in making her shut her mouth.

"…wait… but that means…!

"

She gasped and her eyes widened.

——-

Horeo was still thinking about his attendants while Karestas was dragging him through the long corridors.

What if this whole summon was about them spending the night in his room?

That certainly wasn't something appropriate to do for an attendant… could it be that his father – and mother – would try to force him to send the two girls away…?

Impossible.

As long as Patishi and Veo would want to stay by his side, he would never allow anyone to take them away.

|…ah… I guess that the number of people I care about like that had increased, huh…|

The gold-haired boy scoffed to himself in a quite pleasant realization.

"My prince, you better wake up as soon as possible, the situation is extremely bad!

"

Seeing Horeo's absentminded expression Karestas shook his arm.

"Tsk… Then will you tell me what is it about?

"

Horeo sighed and clicked his tongue at the knight.

"Xeonith Zarble Derizno was killed by the serial-killer ice-magician. The damages were so severe that even the commoner girl with healing magic couldn't save him despite fainting from mana depletion!

"

The gold-haired knight explained with a serious face.

"Oh no, that's terrible. Anyways, what does it have to do with…

"

The first prince shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent expression, completely unbothered because of the death of some trash.

"And Zoemi was found on the scene of the crime! He was found unharmed but unconscious – but the problem is that the higher-ups are discussing why he even was there in the first place and if he is somehow responsible for Xeonith meeting the murderer!

"

But Carestas continued his explanation regardless, finally dropping the bomb of relevant information on the unsuspecting Horeo.

"WHAT!? That's nonsense! Zoemi doesn't have enough mana to pose a threat to a transcended earth magician like Xoenith! Who even came up with such ridiculous idea…!?

"

"Your mother.

"

The gold-haired prince let out a shock of disbelief and got an immediate and very worrisome answer.

"…!

"

A sentence more fit to be a joke ended up rendering Horeo speechless.

|That damned hag! What is she even thinking!? Is it like with the Marigotiee Kingdom!? Who is she sucking up to now!?|

The gold-haired prince bit his lips so hard that the metallic taste filled his mouth.

"We need to talk some brains into those fools.

"

Horeo growled and hastened his peace so Karestas didn't have to drag him anymore – now it looked like it was the other way around.

"That's why I came for you.

"

The gold-haired knight nodded and let go of the boy's arm.