Hah... Hah... Hah...

I was sorely mistaken...

I forgot how spartan Hana was when teaching... It seems that my brain wiped all those traumatic experiences from my mind...

My entire body hurts so bad from being tense for hours! My cheeks are also hurting from smiling the entire time!

"Alright~ Good work, Risa-chan~ You've done very well~ Don't ever forget those lessons again, okay~"

"Y-Yes! Thank you very much, Lily-sensei!!!!"

Hiiiii! Her smile is terrifying!

You demon!

W-Well, I did learn something from her. The contents she taught me were similar to the ones I received from my own training, but Lily was so spartan and detailed in her teaching. She even gave me some tips and tricks that she uses herself to make herself look more elegant in the eyes of others. They were super useful.

Though, she did cram almost a week's worth of lessons into these few hours... We went on it non stop... Not even a minute of break...

"You've done so well, my lady."

Anne let out a small smile and poured me a cup of tea. Then, she also took out my absolute favorite dessert that we brought, lava cake!

"Ah~! Thank you, Anne~!"

"You are very welcome. Your highness, please enjoy our lady's greatest creation as well. Thank you very much for meticulously teaching our dear lady."

Anne bowed her head as Nina served another plate of lava cake for Lily.

"Hehe~ You don't need to thank me, Anne~ Risa-chan is my best friend, and I think of her as my sister as well. It is only obvious for me to help her with anything she need~"

Ah~ Hana, you're going to make me cry~!!!! I love you so much!!!!

"Yes... Thank you very much."

I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people~ I love all of you!!!!

Just then, a knock came from the door.

Nina went to answer it, going outside the door for a moment, before the door opened wide and revealed a familiar figure.

"Onii-sama?"

"Eh? Alexus?"

Why is he here? Also, why do you seem out of breath?!

His beautiful golden hair looked a bit disheveled, and his cheeks were blushing red. His eyes looked right at me and he began walking here after calming his breath slightly.

Alex stopped when he was in front of me. He glanced towards Lily, who was quietly enjoying her tea with a small smile on her face, and let out a sigh.

"Risa, why didn't you tell me you'll be visiting?"

Eh? What? Do I have to?

"I came here to visit Lily, and I figured out you'd be very busy today since you didn't have any plans to visit our mansion. I didn't want to bother you."

The days when Alexus didn't come to visit our mansion would be the day when he's super busy. I figured that out since he'd always come over to play every time he's free.

Since he told me he won't be visiting today, I suggested to come today to Lily while we arranged the time and place.

I was so considerate, right? So why does he look like he's trying his best to not show his expression after eating something sour?

After a while, he finally let out a sigh and smiled softly.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I've done all my responsibilities for the day, so may I join both of you for tea?"

"I don't mind. What about you, Lily?"

"Hehe~ Of course I don't mind~ Come, onii-sama~"

"Thank you."

...Eh? Why are you sitting next to me?

No! You can't! I-I'm sweaty from all my princess training! Why are you sitting so closely too!

"U-Uhm... A-Alex, can you please not sit... So closely... I-I'm a bit sweaty..."

"Hm?"

He looked at me for a moment with his eyebrows raised, befuddled.

W-What?! Is it strange for a maiden like me to worry about such a thing?! Even though we're kids, I'm still self conscious! I don't want anyone to smell my sweat, especially him!

We had a staring contest for a while, and finally, he let out a soft smile and moved slightly away.

Alright... That's better. He's still less than an arm's length away from me, but it's better.

"Dear brother~? You said you have finished all your responsibilities for the day, but did you really~? You seemed to be in a hurry to come see Risa-chan. Don't tell me you didn't complete the tasks you can delay,"

The tone of her voice seemed normal, but I noticed Lily's lips curling slightly up into a small smirk. It was a telling sign I figured out after being best friends with her for years. It's something Hana does when she's trying to tease someone.

But, unaffected by her teasing, Alex answered calmly after taking a sip of his tea.

" I finished everything, my dear sister. After all, Risa wouldn't like it if I abandoned my duties just to see her."

Umu, that's right. The heroine may think it's romantic, but Alexus is the future ruler of this kingdom. It'd be super bad if he abandons his official duties just so he can flirt with her.

"Hmmmm~ I see~ So you did your best to finish all your tasks quickly and then come running here, I see~? Ufufufu~ It seems like someone misses his fiancee very much~"

"T-That's-!"

"It's rare for me to come to the palace, after all~ And you must've been bored and tired from doing all your responsibilities, so you jumped on the first chance you got to escape before you're given even more tasks, right~? Hehe~"

Alexus is still such a child, after all~ It's fine, you know~ You can use me as an excuse to take a rest~ It's also fun for me to hang out so it's a win-win situation~

"Pfft!"

"..."

Hm...? What's wrong?

Why is Lily averting her face away? Why is her shoulder trembling?

Alexus too. Why are you looking at me like that?!

"Ufufufu~ I see~ It seems you are still just a child who wants to run away from his responsibilities, onii-sama~"

"Hah... I didn't run away from anything. I told you I finished it, didn't I Risa...?"

"Hm? Yes you did, and then you come here so that you won't have to do any additional tasks for the day, right?"

"..."

...What? Was I wrong?

"I did not..."

"Eh?"

W-Why is he coming closer again? Ah! Please don't look at me with such sad puppy eyes!

"I finished everything quickly so that I can spend this time with you, Risa."

Blood immediately rushed to my cheeks and I immediately felt them heat up. My heart went wild as his stupidly handsome and cute face came so close to me. His smooth voice doesn't help either.

W-Wha-?! W-What is he saying?!

I-I-Is that true?!?!?!

I immediately averted my face away from and raised my hands towards him to stop his advances.

"W-W-What are you saying! Don't say something like that so suddenly!"

A moment of silence passed before I heard him giggle.

I slowly turned and peeked at him.

"I see that my feelings have finally reached you."

My heart skipped a beat when I saw his dazzling smile. His cheeks were blushing so red, maybe as much as me. But his golden eyes were filled with immense happiness.

Kuh... T-This expression is so unfair!!! It's even more dazzling than the final scene of his route!! How is this even legal!!!!

"I-I get it already! P-Please move away! Y-You're too close!!! Lily! Help me!!!!"

"Ufufufu~ I think you should stop there, onii-sama~ Do more, and you may scare Risa-chan away~"

"...Okay."

...W-Why do you look so disappointed? Did you like making me panic like that?!

Kuh... So this is how it feels to be on the receiving end of a teasing Prince. No wonder the girls I flirted with in the past would have such a red face. It's too effective for pure, innocent maidens like me.

Does he do this to every lady he meets? I've been receiving glares from many noble ladies my age who seemed to be smitten by him. Did he flirt with them too?

No... That doesn't make sense. I'd believe it if it was Keith, but Alexus isn't like that. Even in the game, the only one I've ever seen him flirt with was the heroine and he never had any reputation of being a playboy like that red-haired boy.

Umu. They must be smitten from just looking at him.

"Your smile must've smitten so many ladies, huh...?"

"Eh?"

Hm? Ah, did I blurt that out?

I turned and saw his expression of utter surprise.

"Ah! N-No, nevermind! Forget I said that!"

"..."

W-What did I just do?! I can't believe I blurted something like that out!!! What if he got mad at me?!

"Onii-sama. Why are you freezing? Don't you need to resolve this misunderstanding?"

Hm? What misunderstanding...?

"Risa..."

"W-W-What?"

W-Why is he getting close again?!

"...I will never show such a smile to anyone else aside from you. Please believe me."

"W-W-Wha-! I-I know that! You're not a playboy like Keith! It's just... There are a lot of ladies who seemed to be smitten by you even from your regular smile. Ah! I don't mean you shouldn't smile to them! A-As the crown prince, you should have as many allies as you can! It's just-"

"Ahahahahaha!"

W-What?! W-Why is he suddenly laughing?! Is this funny?!

I stared at him, dumbfounded, as he laughed and slowly regained his calm.

Then suddenly, he took my hands in his and looked at me right in the eyes with his golden ones.

"Soon, everyone will know that we belong to each other. There is no need for you to fear anything. Okay?"

K-Kuh... As expected of the main capture target. His offensive capabilities are really strong. I can't believe he made the heart of an experienced prince like me to beat so quickly.

"I-I know! I understand!"

"Do you?"

W-Why is he the one doubting me now?!

"Y-Yes! Now please let go! Lily is here!!"

"Oh my~ Please don't mind me and continue~ I'll just stay here and enjoy the show~"

"Lily!!!"

Ahhh!!! I thought I had an ally with Lily here, but this is really the enemy's territory!!!













Afterword

Umu. It seems Alexus has followed his mother's suggestion(order) to be more offensive.

"Ufufufu~ I look forward to my dear brother's endeavors ~"

W-Wha?! H-How can you get here?! When did you-

"Oh my~ Of course I can~ Ufufufu~ Please don't mind me~ I'm just enjoying the show~"

...

I-I'll do my best to entertain...

"Ufufufu~ I look forward to it~"