Chapter 360 For the Young Prince
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
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## For the Young Prince
”Ah… s-sorry for barging in so suddenly…”
”Don’t sweat it, Roland. It’s an honor that you’d turn to me when you’re in a bind, appreciate it,” I replied, leaning back.
In the middle of a rare moment of family time – well, it had been all of two days since the last one – the Crown Prince himself, Roland Canaria, showed up at my door. Now, I’m not saying it isn’t a bit surreal for the future King to just drop by, but he is my student. I suppose it comes with the territory.
He caught sight of my beloved Lily cradling our little Momo and suddenly looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. I’m not such a monster that I’d turn away a kid in the middle of a crisis, regardless of whether he’s a Prince or I’m his tutor.
”But seriously, how did you even get here?” I asked.
”…I-I used the underground passage. I heard it was finally open…” Roland muttered, looking at his boots.
The kid is aggressive, I’ll give him that. Apparently, he’d decided to beat his sister, the Queen, to the punch by being the first person to use the tunnel she’d built specifically so she could visit my place. Like sister, like brother, I guess.
”So, what’s the emergency?”
”Ah… well, you see…” Roland stammered.
I sat there, holding Lily while she held Momo, and waited for him to get it out. He just turned bright red and clammed up. Look, I wasn’t trying to flaunt my domestic bliss, okay? I just had a hunch about his problem, and I figured this “happy family” atmosphere was the best way to get him to spill.
”It’s about Lady Unia, isn’t it?” I asked.
”H-How did you-!?”
”With a face that lovesick? You’re not exactly a man of mystery, kid. I’m guessing since she’s heading back to her own country soon, you wanted to give her some kind of parting gift?”
”…! Am I really that easy to read?” Roland asked, his shoulders slumping.
”Painfully so,” I said.
”Hauuu…”
Roland looked away, his ears glowing a deep crimson. If this were a manga, he’d probably have steam whistling out of his head. It was clear the boy had it bad for Unia Greter, the Duke’s daughter who had come all the way from the Ferguson Kingdom¹ in the west.
”I mean, I can’t blame you,” I added. “Unia’s a beauty. In a few more years, she’s going to be absolutely stunning.”
”I-I don’t look at her like that! It’s not just about her looks!” Roland barked, his face practically exploding with color.
”Oho… is that so?”
I teased him a bit more, and he denied it with every fiber of his being. He had a serious case of puppy love. I was sure the Queen was aware of it, too… but since she hadn’t stopped him from sneaking over here, I assumed she was fine with wherever this crush was headed.
”My bad. So, what is it about her that you actually like?”
”Ugh, w-well…”
”Master… I don’t think teasing a boy in distress is a very becoming hobby,” Lily whispered, giving the back of my hand a sharp pinch.
Even Momo was looking at me with those judging, “Daaa…” eyes. Man, she really is my daughter. Does she actually understand us, or is she just copying her mom?
”Wait… are you making fun of me?” Roland asked, looking suspicious.
”I wouldn’t say ‘making fun,’ but this is important,” I replied, smoothing things over. “If I don’t know how you feel about her or what kind of person she is, I can’t really give you any advice, can I, Roly?”
I used his nickname to soften the blow. Lily and Momo were still giving me the side-eye, but the earnest Roland was easily swayed.
”I… I suppose you’re right. Well… she’s incredibly brilliant, and her curiosity is just boundless…”
”Give me an example,” I said.
”…She actually listens to me. She’s interested in everything I have to say. She even praised my ‘Social Studies Field Trip’² project. She said it was wonderful for a King to see the lives of his people firsthand. She told me she’d always wanted to do something like that herself…” Roland explained, his voice softening with affection.
Just as I thought, he started gushing once he felt safe. If he was telling the truth and Unia really meant all that, then she was quite the little firebrand. Then again, thinking back to how she carried herself during our meeting, I could see her saying something like that.
”So you told her about the field trip, huh?”
”Ah… sorry. Was that supposed to be a secret?” Roland asked nervously.
”No, it’s fine. Did she say anything else?”
”Um… she said it was a brilliant educational policy. She said the tutor who proposed it and the sister who authorized it must be wonderful people.”
”You don’t have to flatter me, kid,” I said with a shrug.
”It’s not flattery! I think it’s amazing, too, and so does she. We… we’re a lot alike. I grew up in the palace, and she grew up in a manor. Neither of us really knew the outside world… I think we both realized we need to know so much more…!”
Roland spoke with a slight, hesitant smile. He was completely infatuated. I was sure the Queen was keeping tabs on their conversations, so I wasn’t worried about the security of the kingdom, but as for the romance? I had a sneaking suspicion Unia might just be a total fangirl of the Queen herself.
I wondered how I should handle a boy’s first love. I glanced down at Lily. She remained composed, but it seemed Roland had finally worked up the courage to ask her something.
”Um… Lily-san? What was it about Kento-san that… well, that made you fall for him!?”
”Let me see,” Lily replied thoughtfully. “I suppose my favorite thing about Master is how ‘cute’ he is.”
”Kento-san is… cute!?” Roland gasped.
”Oh, yes. He’s quite adorable. He’s always worrying about how to make me happy, he remembers every little thing I like… and then he’ll play some silly prank just to see me react, looking so innocent and joyful whether I’m pouting or laughing,” Lily said, her eyes narrowing with warmth.
”Wait, that’s…”
I couldn’t take it anymore and buried my face in Lily’s pink hair. I’d held onto her specifically so she’d help me out here, but I wish she’d remembered I have a reputation to uphold. A little mercy would’ve been nice.
”But,” Lily added, giving me a bit of a save at the end, “despite how ‘cute’ he is, he steps up when it matters. Even when the shop was in trouble, I never felt a moment of doubt. Because no matter how pathetic he might act sometimes, I know that in the end, Master will always find a way.”
Roland looked at me through the gaps in Lily’s hair. I could see a genuine spark of respect in his eyes.
”Think about what makes her happy… and step up when it matters…” Roland repeated to himself.
”Yes. And in your case, Roland, I think you’re already on the right track,” Lily said. “Your desire to be a great ruler is exactly what makes you so charming.”
”A great ruler…”
”As for how to actually show her your feelings… I believe Master has a few ideas on that front?” Lily said, turning the spotlight back to me.
I finally lifted my head. Things had gone a bit off-script, but she was right – I had a few plans in mind.
”Right. Well, if Lady Unia is really the kind of girl who gets a kick out of ‘Social Studies Field Trips,’ I’ve got a couple of ideas.”
”Please! Tell me! I’ll do whatever it takes!” Roland shouted, puffing out his chest with a determined snort.
Whatever it takes, huh? Dangerous words for a guy to say, but for this, he’s going to need that resolve. I looked at the fired-up Roland and gave him my first proposal.
”First off, I think you should buy her a gift – using money you earned with your own two hands.”
”Money I earned…? But what would I… No, wait. I don’t think I can buy anything nice with the pittance I made the other day…” Roland said, his excitement wavering.
”It’s not about what you buy or how much it costs. What matters is the sweat and tears you put into the work, and the fact that you thought it through yourself to find something she’d love,” I explained.
”Work for it… think for myself… I get it! I’ll do it! Kento, I’m in your hands!” Roland’s eyes were sparkling with motivation.
Good. I’ll have to make sure the work I find for him is absolutely brutal.
”Glad to hear it. Now, for the second part of the plan… how about we ───────?”
”Wait, really!? Is that allowed!?” Roland cried out.
”We’ll have to jump through a few hoops for permission, sure… but I think we can make it happen,” I said.
”Kento…!” Roland gasped, his face full of hope.
And that was how I ended up going the extra mile for the sake of a young Prince’s first love.
—
Character_Insight:
Roland shows significant growth by admitting his own ignorance of the ‘real world’ and seeking a path to become a worthy ruler for Unia’s sake. Kento’s paternal side shines as he balances his role as a cynical master with that of a supportive mentor, while Lily uses the moment to reaffirm her deep emotional bond and trust in Kento.
—
Behind_the_scene:
The ‘Social Studies Field Trip’ is a recurring theme used to bridge the gap between Kento’s modern commoner knowledge and the insulated noble world of the Canaria royalty.
Glossary:
Notes:
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Unia – The third daughter of the house of Duke Greiter. Has blonde hair tied in an intricate style, dol-like beauty, and expressionless face.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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