Doesn’t it get tiresome repeating the same words every time? Or is it actually more comfortable? By the way, the Crown Prince’s consorts got along really well with each other. I guess it’s because they all aren’t receiving his favor.
In the original work, they tried to trample Rosenthal down but ended up getting stomped on instead. But I didn’t want to do that. Not only did I have no desire to compete for dominance over Eldon, my physiological needs were more urgent.
As soon as I got dressed, I ordered Raki not to follow me and flung open the door.
“Oh my, the Chendewden young master is already awake?”
The consorts wore elegant smiles as if they had never insulted me. I also smiled brightly as if I hadn’t heard anything.
“I woke up from the birds chirping since morning.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince likes birds.”
Melissa Brion, who boasted unparalleled dignity among the five consorts, said in a refined voice.
“I see.”
“Since you’re a man, I suppose you must lack delicacy.”
“Yes. I’m quite lacking. Then I’ll be going.”
I coolly acknowledged Melissa’s criticism and left. When I headed toward the Crown Prince’s bedroom, the consorts poured out insults calling me vulgar. But I let it go in one ear and hurried my steps. I didn’t have time.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Young master, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
When I offered my greeting while panting, the Crown Prince, who had been sitting on the bed reading a book, smiled mischievously. He must find tormenting me quite amusing.
“I came to receive the key.”
“Key?”
Are you asking because you don’t know?
“Yes. Please give me that key.”
“Did a guest come or something? What are you looking for so urgently?”
A guest, or more precisely, he hopes the Third Prince will come.
At first, I thought Eldon had put on the chastity belt to prevent my relationship with the Third Prince. But it was the opposite. He wants me to commit adultery. That’s also why he gave me a room next to the back door on the first floor. It’s consideration to make it easy for the Third Prince to infiltrate.
A love affair before marriage would only result in getting cursed at as a dirty scandal, but if the fact that the Third Prince and the future Crown Princess had relations in the Crown Prince’s palace is discovered, even Arleigh with his solid backing would inevitably take a hit. Moreover, if there’s clear evidence he can’t escape from, the situation would become even more serious.
I had wondered why he cast precious flame magic on the chastity belt, but the mystery was solved. This isn’t simply to humiliate me but a means to harm the Third Prince. If he gets hurt trying to forcibly remove the Crown Prince’s fiancé’s chastity belt, where could he go to complain?
He said he doesn’t want the power of Duke Chendewden’s household to go over to the Third Prince’s side. Those words are sincere. If I get caught up in a scandal I can’t handle according to the Crown Prince’s intentions, the Duke will immediately disown me. Because of his reputation, he won’t be able to side with the Third Prince either.
Eldon has no intention of forgiving me for trying to break off the engagement by attaching myself to the Third Prince, nor any intention of taking a loss.
But there was a fatal flaw in Eldon’s plan. He thinks Arleigh loves me madly, but it’s not to that extent. If he wanted the Third Prince to rush in abandoning his claim to the Crown Prince position, he should have chosen Seha as bait.
Of course, the three of them haven’t met yet, and if it were Seha, he wouldn’t have even thought to use him as bait.
“Didn’t you promise to give me the key if I told you?”
“I don’t remember promising that much.”
He raised the corner of his lips, spun the golden key around, then shifted his gaze to the empty teacup.
“I’m thirsty.”
It seems he has no intention of giving it easily today either.
Originally, this kind of errand should be done by servants, but there were only the two of us in the room. I walked to the table, poured tea from the teapot, and handed it to Eldon. After receiving the cup, he glanced up at me.
I was flustered at first, but now it doesn’t bother me at all. Eldon must have hoped I’d tremble in wounded pride at being given such menial tasks, but regrettably, there’s no impact at all. When I’m already wearing a chastity belt, what’s the big deal about running a tea errand?
As I was about to turn around after handing over the teacup, he wrapped his arm around my waist, put his hand inside my pants, and checked the chastity belt.
“It’s locked up well.”
Regret that he couldn’t frame me for adultery and kill me dripped from his words.
“Yes. No one has touched it.”
“Then why has it gotten so loose?”
“It must be stretching.”
I lost weight, but there was no need to explain that in detail. Eldon pulled on the chastity belt once more with a suspicious look, then lightly pushed me away.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s 6 o’clock.”
“I should go to the office.”
I picked up the shoes scattered under the bed and presented them before him. He naturally accepted the shoes I offered and put them on, then sat in front of the mirror.
I combed his hair on my own before being ordered, and attended to his clothes without complaint.
Kim Jigwang slept a lot in the mornings, so it was a war every time he went to work. Moreover, he insisted on eating breakfast. Not toast or salad, but only Korean food. Even though not having sex wasn’t even a crime, I somehow felt sorry and desperately read his mood and catered to him…. I was such an idiot.
Compared to that time, this level of service is a piece of cake.
In the Keltan Empire, they wear silk cloth slightly thicker than a necktie, and the method isn’t much different. After tying the red tie and smoothing out the cloth so it wouldn’t wrinkle, Eldon, who had been silent the whole time, spoke.
“You…”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You seem more skilled at this than nighttime activities.”
“……”
An accurate observation. But it’s not okay for Rosenthal to be like that, not Lee Minchan.
“Did you also attend to the third one?”
“Who would dare give such orders to the Chendewden young master? I simply became accustomed to it from dressing myself because I dislike fuss.”
“You must be displeased to dare receive orders.”
“No. Your Highness the Crown Prince is different. It’s an honor to serve you.”
I answered politely but dryly. It would be troublesome if he thought I had other feelings for him. After tying the tie, I stepped back and he threw me the key.
“Thank you.”
“It must be time for Fushi to be hungry.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I bowed deeply at the waist and went outside. Then I went straight back to my room, threw away the hideous thing, and prepared Fushi’s food.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is truly too much. Telling the young master to prepare dog food first when you haven’t even had breakfast yet. I’ll just do it. You need to eat something today.”
Raki was upset again today and his eyes welled up with tears, but I said I was fine and headed to the garden alone.
Eldon dislikes me receiving help from Raki. It wouldn’t be fun if a servant does everything when he’s going through the trouble of tormenting me.
To Eldon, my existence probably doesn’t even measure up to a single hair on his pet. So it was a natural demand that animal food takes priority over my food. Anyway, my appetite had completely dropped because of the chastity belt and I didn’t feel like eating.
However, one thing bothered me.
Originally, taking care of Fushi was Seha’s job.
“Grrrrowl!”
Fushi doesn’t follow anyone except Eldon. But Seha was an exception, and Eldon, finding it very curious, has him take care of Fushi. And Fushi plays an important role in bringing the two together.
But there was no way an event where an animal follows a mere villainous sub-uke would occur, and even after five days of giving him food, Fushi howled at me like I was his mortal enemy.
“Sorry I’m not His Highness the Crown Prince. I’ll just give you food and leave. Just food.”
“Kyaang! Kyaaaah!”
And unlike the description in the novel of being big but cute-looking, the actual Fushi was a huge wolf that made my legs go weak just from making eye contact.
What reaction would Raki show if I confessed that Fushi is actually a wolf, not a dog? He’d somehow try to give him the food himself. Then the Crown Prince would be furious. I didn’t want to just cause worry when there’s no solution.
By the way, could that wolf bastard also be included in my death flags? Is he showing off that there are many tools to kill me even if not a sword?
Just as I was steeling my resolve once again that I must leave the imperial palace by any means to avoid the brutal death ending, Fushi suddenly rushed toward me.
“Ahhh!”
I screamed and stepped back. My hand holding food for the bowl almost got bitten.
“Even though you’re fierce, I thought you don’t bite…”
“Grr!”
I made a tearful face, but Fushi howled even more threateningly as if telling me not to exaggerate.
“Right, there’s no way you’d like me when your master hates me.”
At least I was fortunate there was a leash on him. I retreated to a place where Fushi couldn’t reach. The beast only started eating after I moved away.
To think he tamed such a beast—whether it’s protagonist buff or whatever, Seha is truly amazing too.
After giving Fushi his food and coming out, the waiting head butler Bill approached and informed me of the full-fledged work.
“I’ll ask you to clean His Highness the Crown Prince’s stable.”
Starting with the stable today, I see.
Eldon blackmailed me with the chastity belt key and worked me all day long. He sent orders through the head butler, mainly assigning menial tasks that only low-ranking servants or imperial palace slaves would do.
As per his orders, I went to the stable to clean up horse manure, was organizing books in the library and got kicked out for smelling. After hastily washing by immersing myself in the lake and rushing back to the library, the head butler frowned and told me to go to the Crown Prince’s orchard to pick apples.
He’s been making me work for five days straight without giving me any break time. Why does it feel like the labor intensity is getting stronger and stronger? Is it just my imagination?
I looked at the trees with lush red apples hanging temptingly and let out a deep sigh. I couldn’t finish picking them all even if I stayed up for two nights.
The Crown Prince is truly greedy. With me being this busy, even if the Third Prince infiltrates the Crown Prince’s palace to see me, would we even be able to meet? He should choose either tormenting me or catching the Third Prince, but he’s trying not to let go of either option.
Though now isn’t the time for me to be worried about the Crown Prince. At this rate, I might die from overwork. Could that be what he’s hoping for? Goosebumps rose all over my body in an instant.
