The Kids Have Changed - Chapter 42

Ah. I leaned on the couch as much as I could. I was trying to increase the distance that I had subconsciously closed between me and the prince.

At some point, I completely forgot the feelings that disturbed me before.

“It’s nothing. Drink more tea. Madame DeJoue prepared it for us, and it smells nice.”

Julien poured me a cup and handed it to me. Warm steam came rising up.

I took a sip.

“Ah… It’s nice.”

I felt my suddenly taxed muscles begin to relax. It was different from the iced tea that Madame DeJoue gave me earlier.

My body went slack. I ignored Julien as he rested his chin on his hand and laughed. However, my peace did not last long.

Phew. Everything was so busy right from the morning.

“Lady Sharon! It’s your turn now!”

Madame Berna returned to the parlor as Madame DeJoue called for me and ushered me away.

“Your ladyship should also dress up now.”

I said that I was pretty even if I didn’t…

The prince lightly waved his hand at me.

“Go and make yourself pretty.”

I obediently turned my head. It would be better to spend time in front of a mirror than in front of a prince who kept treating me weirdly!

***

“Why are you here?!”

Carol asked Julien, who had come to join us for breakfast.

Was it a question or was it bullying?

I wasn’t sure.

The terrace where we were having our meal was covered in glass windows, so the cold morning wind fortunately did not come in.

“To escort.”

Carol folded her arms and widened her eyes, finally eliciting a reaction from the prince.

“Ehh?”

She must have been glad that he came to pick her up. I smiled happily.

At the same time, I pressed down the strange thumping in my heart.

Was it heart disease?

The prince popped the yolk of a runny fried egg.

“The imperial household is too noisy, and my many stepmothers are visiting the empress’s palace for a sit-in. Arguing whether it’s reasonable to spend so much money for the crown prince’s birthday,

saying that renting Levina Hall is too much.”

Carol became heated by Julien’s calm tone.

“Huh? Look at them saying whatever they want since it’s not their kid. And there’s no way that the imperial family can’t spare this much money!”

Carol’s words weren’t wrong. Renting Levina Hall for the crown prince’s 15th birthday was not a big problem.

They just didn’t like it that Julien’s status would rise.

“Hey, eat more food. They’re being so hard on your birthday. How sad.”

Carol maturely consoled Julien.

Ah, just because her birthday came a little earlier.

“You should eat a lot, too. But it looks like your cheeks have gained some weight these days?” the prince said wickedly.

…Why was he doing this. Really, what was wrong with my kid?

Sure, Carol gained some weight recently, but she had been so thin that I thought she looked wonderful like this.

Also, this was a time when she would grow a lot.

Why was Julien pointing out her cheeks when Carol was cute no matter what?

Oh… I got it.

Julien probably wanted to make fun of Carol’s chubby cheeks because she was so cute.

That was how boys his age expressed their feelings, right? He should just be honest!

Cautiously, I picked up some figs, which were my favorites, along with a few croissants.

“What? Hey! That’s the last out of you, jerk!” Carol yelled. She threw the bread that she was holding.

…I had been mistaken. Carol was far from becoming mature.

I should teach her more about patience in the future.

In this situation, the cheeky prince who had stuck his foot in his mouth looked to be enjoying himself, just like a 15-year-old boy.

Did he like getting bread thrown at him?

Well… He must have been happy since he was seeing Carol.

I munched on the bread I had saved.

Ah. I already felt tired.

***

Carol, Julien, and I were perfectly groomed under the care of Madame Berna and Madame DeJoue.

It was also thanks to Julien’s aide, who came running teary-eyed with the prince’s outfit.

“You’ve gone through a lot.”

Haru sighed at my greeting. “Thank you for noticing.”

He must have a lot of hardships too; he looked like he was about to cry.

He was like me.

Haru’s future would be full of suffering as well. He was a pitiful character that would accompany the crown prince until the end of the novel.

He would take a sword for the prince, and, unable to return to his homeland for several years, he wandered abroad.

“Sir, did you already have breakfast? Would you like anything?” I asked, struck by pity and compassion.

Haru shook his face with a kind expression.

He should eat properly, at least…

“I’ve already eaten, Lady Sharon. Thank you for your kind invitation.”

“Why are you holding her hand for so long?” Carol asked, taking away Haru’s hand from me with a ferocious look. “I’m going to hold her hand!”

I stroked the head of the cute puppy that was hanging off my elbow and growling.

Haru seemed to be taken aback.

“This child of mine is still young… Please be understanding, Sir Haru.”

“I-it’s no problem.”

Julien, now in ceremonial dress, walked over and grabbed the back of Haru’s ruff. “How did you know I was here, Sir Haru?”

“…Because it was obvious.”

It must have been true that they were friends studying under the same swordsmanship instructor. They acted comfortable with each other.

“You two are close friends, right?”

“What?”

“Oh, so you’re best friends!”

Julien’s face minutely contorted at my words.

“As if.”

“…I’m not very happy about it, either.”

Teenagers.

Together with Haru, we four headed to Levina Hall.

Was it me, or were the number of kids increasing?

I was just imagining things, right…?

***

The prince’s birthday party was luxurious.

It must have been true that the empress had gone all out as Levina Hall was shining brightly. The curtains overhead, well-arranged tables, and decorative flowers—everything was carefully calculated, and it showed.

“The food is delicious, too…!”

I was thrilled.

Wow. How was this made?

Carol, who paid no attention to her other friends that were looking for her, stuck by my side and added more food onto my plate.

“It’s the pride of Levina Hall. Now, try this too.”

“You should also eat! You have to try it,” I told Carol emphatically, clenching my fists.

Carl burst into laughter. “Sometimes you act younger than I am.”

…Age didn’t matter in front of food.

I was won over by the mouthwatering taste on my tongue a long time ago. I even thought for a moment that entering society wouldn’t be so bad.

Carol and I had come into the hall first because Julien was today’s main character and had to enter later. Carol wasn’t formally his fiancée yet, so she was allowed to accompany me.

An attendant cleared his throat and yelled, “Now, our star, Crown Prince Julien, will enter. Everyone, please stand!”

At that signal, everyone who had been eating began to stand up from their seats and get ready to bow.

But I needed just another moment—

“Sharon. Your mouth’s going to burst!”

I knew that. I couldn’t respond to her because I had to finish swallowing quickly.

Just in time, I was able to gulp down everything just before Julien entered.

“Greetings to the crown prince of the empire.”

Everyone spoke in a chorus. Wow. They were like an army with their backs in perfectly matched angles.

This was the first time I’d seen something like this, so I had been a little lost on what to do. I soon posed like the others.

From my spot, I could see the face of the prince smirking at me.

What was he laughing at?

***

In contrast to its glamorous appearance, the prince’s birthday party was lifeless.

Most of the progressive nobles attended, following their leader, Duke Gratoni, but none of the conservative nobles dropped by. Furthermore, not even Julien’s half-siblings, the princes, were here.

“Wow. Those punks.”

“Yeah. How could none of them come?”

Carol and I were in agreement upon seeing Julien’s unfortunate state. I didn’t even see where he went.

Just then, a young lady in a pink dress noticed me and put her hand on Carol’s arm.

“Carol.”

“Ah, Aruna. Long time no see.”

“Indeed. Carol, what happened to your leg? It looks a little uncomfortable. Do you know how much you’ve upset the social circles recently? My heart hurt so much when I heard that you were also being exiled…!” Aruna closed her mouth and checked Carol’s reaction.

“There’s no way that would happen. I’m here, aren’t I? Now, go to the other kids.”

“They want to talk to you. You didn’t approach us even though it’s been so long.”

Aruna glanced at me and pouted. “You there… Sharon, right? Would you like to come talk with us?”

“No, Sharon’s not going. I’ll check in with you later, so go back first.”

Carol pushed away Aruna before I could even respond. Aruna left as if she had expected it. Thankfully, she didn’t seem offended.

Those kids were probably overwhelmed with just Carol and Julien, so I didn’t intend to get involved with them.

I stretched my back. Oh, I really ate too much.

“Carol, I’m going to rest and digest for a bit. Go greet your friends. They’ve been calling for you.”

“But Sharon, you’ll be alone.”

I patted Carol’s cheek as she whined like a puppy. “It’s all right. I’ll stay quietly on the terrace.”

“…Really?”

“Yup.”

“Then, I’ll come back in a moment. I don’t really want to go…”

“I’ll be fine, I told you. Come back quickly.”

I waved to Carol, who kept looking behind as she left. I didn’t want to ruin the connections that Carol made.

Seeing Carol naturally blend into the crowd, I stepped out to the terrace. I planned to metabolize what I ate and then eat some more. But when I went on the terrace, there was someone already there.

“Huh? Julien?”

Kids these days definitely grew up fast. The crown prince was hiding in a corner of the terrace, secretly smoking a cigar.

Oh my.

I hastily tried to turn away, but I made eye contact with him.

“Ouch!”

He should be more careful. What did he drop the cigar for?

“Hey! Are you okay? Let me see.”

I grabbed the prince’s hand. Fortunately, the ashes of the cigar were quickly brushed away and his skin was only slightly redly reddish.

“You have to be careful! What if you get hurt?”

“I-I get it. So let go of my hand.”

I paused, then removed my hand. I was a little surprised because I wasn’t used to Julien pushing me away.

“Sorry. Carol might have misunderstood if she saw that.”

Julien inhaled sharply at my words. “…It’s not because of that,” he said. He sighed. “Just keep your mouth shut.”

I pouted my lips at the prince’s reply. Even if he was shy, how could he say that to me?

I tried to hold in my disappointment.

Julien was drifting away from me. He was still holding a cigar case in his hand.

It was said that cigars are like a favorite food. I didn’t even want to try stopping him. From my experience, drinking and smoking were habits that didn’t change easily no matter how much I nagged.

Some of the kids I had taught began to smoke when they were young. But even if I nagged, they would just keep smoking behind my back.

So I turned around without saying anything.