Chapter 44: Just like he used to be
“Julian-sama.”
“What are you doing, Alise?”
“Just chatting.”
Bathed in the pleasant sunlight, he was shining as usual today. His gray hair looked truly mystical when illuminated by the sun, as did his eyes of the same color.
But today, for some reason, it felt like the atmosphere was different from usual.
“Who is he?”
Standing much closer to me than usual, Julian-sama glanced briefly at Tanatora-san. He shrunk his body like a frog being stared down by a snake.
“This is Wolle Tanatora-san. He’s a third year older than us and a herb maniac.”
“A-A maniac? That’s quite something.”
For some reason, he seemed embarrassed by my introduction. He truly was an enigmatic person.
“Tanatora-san, this is…”
“Of course, I know who you are! His Highness Julian Da Stratis, the fourth prince of our country! It is an honor to meet you!”
Tanatora-san gave a crisp salute, like a soldier. Julian-sama just glanced over and maintained his stern expression.
“Why are Alise and he so friendly?”
“Huh? Quatra-sama is the one who—”
“It’s a coincidence! We happened to hit it off!”
I cut in, laughing and trying to brush it off. For some reason, I felt like Julian-sama shouldn’t know.
He disliked hypocritical behavior, and what I was doing was entirely hypocritical—I was doing it for my own benefit, not for others.
“…Alise, are you hiding something from me?”
“I hiding something from Julian-sama? Of course not!”
I used to lie as easily as breathing, but now I was sweating and desperately trying to cover it up.
“By the way, would Your Highness like to join us? I was just inviting Lady Quatra!”
“Alise…?”
“Yes!”
Ah, Tanatora-san. I hate to say it, but I think I understand why you haven’t had any friends until now.
Despite the beautiful afternoon, only the air around Julian-sama seemed to have chilled.
I thought to myself that he might be the first person I’ve seen change so dramatically since reversing my life.
“I apologize in advance for saying this to someone who is my senior.”
Julian-sama said so as he pulled my waist towards him with a supple movement.
Suddenly, I froze, and for some reason, even Tanatora-san froze.
“It’s not a good idea to casually invite a woman who has a fiance. It won’t benefit either of us if unfounded rumors circulate.”
“Eh…?”
“Anyway, please refrain from inviting her in places where I’m not around.”
Despite his cold attitude, his palms holding onto my waist were warm. I was so busy suppressing my pounding heart that I didn’t have any room to think about Tanatora-san.
“I-I am terribly sorry, Your Highness Stratis!”
“We’ll take our leave now. Let’s go, Alise.”
“Uh, yes. Goodbye, Tanatora-san.”
I blushed and gave a slight bow. Julian-sama didn’t seem intent on letting me go, so I was pulled away by him as we left.
Once we were away from Tanatora-san, we arrived at the end of a deserted hallway. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I was dragged there.
“Julian-sama, what on earth was that? I can’t believe you would treat someone like that.”
“…Well, I just didn’t like him.”
“You didn’t like him? What do you mean?”
Julian-sama bit his lip as if pouting. I couldn’t take my eyes off that expression, as it was the first time I had seen it.
“It’s just that I really hate it when you smile at anyone other than me.”
That was the feeling I used to hold for Julian-sama.
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