Chapter 361 An Incognito Date in the Capital ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A few days later. Having scrambled to get everything ready, I was waiting in a particular mansion northwest of the capital. The guests I was expecting were, of course, the next in line for the throne, Prince Roland Canaria-and Lady Unia Greter, daughter of the Duke.
To put it simply, I had proposed an “incognito castle-town date” for Roly and Lady Unia. You know what they say, right? “Memories over things.” Okay, maybe that’s a marketing slogan and not a classic proverb, but you get the point.
Getting to this stage was more of a headache than I’d anticipated. First, I had to secure permission from Her Majesty the Queen, and then, naturally, from King William of Ferguson. King William put up quite a fight, protesting, “What would my uncle say about this?!”
King William looks up to the Greter Duke-who absolutely dotes on his daughter-as a mentor, though the actual blood relation is quite distant. Apparently, the Duke had given him a very firm “please take good care of her” before they left.
I eventually wore the King down using a combination of the “Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphereⁿ” and some under-the-table samples from my shop. I finally closed the deal by framing it as “a necessary venture for international diplomacy.” He’s probably going to have a hell of a time explaining this to the Duke when he gets home…
Beyond the politics, the women of my household and the palace maids all chipped in to design the perfect date itinerary. Roly had to work his tail off to earn enough pocket money for the expenses and a gift, and I had to handle all the logistics. Even Muse, the maid, went above and beyond to coordinate the security detail.
Basically, a small army of adults was running themselves ragged just to satisfy a young boy’s crush. As I oversaw the “Grand Operation,” I couldn’t help but think that if this romance actually blossoms, it’ll probably be turned into a hit opera or a novel for future generations. I just hope the kid can pull it off without a hitch.
”H-here, take my hand, Lady Unia,” Roland said.
”Oh, my. Thank you, Roland-sama,” Unia replied.
Just then, the hidden door to the underground passage creaked open, and our two leads made their entrance. Roly immediately stepped up to escort her like a proper leading man. Not a bad start, kid.
”I’ve been expecting you, Roland-sama, Lady Unia,” I said.
”Right. Lord Harvest, I appreciate the effort you’ve put in today,” Roland replied.
”Think nothing of it. For your sake, Roland-sama, no task is too great for Harvest,” I said.
I gave a deep, respectful bow to Roly, who was doing his absolute best to puff out his chest and act the part of a dignified prince. He was clearly a nervous wreck, but Lady Unia didn’t seem to notice-or if she did, she didn’t mind. She turned her attention to me.
”…So, you were Roland-sama’s tutor. I was disappointed we didn’t get a chance to speak during the earlier meeting. I hear you are a magic toolmaker of some renown,” she said.
”Just a humble shopkeeper dealing in magic circuits, my lady. I simply happened to catch Her Majesty’s eye, and she uses me as she sees fit,” I replied.
As she mentioned, she had been ushered out of the previous meeting before it was my turn to speak, so this was our first real introduction. I could have sworn her eyes flashed with a sharp, calculating glint when I mentioned “catching the Queen’s eye,” but I decided to ignore it and turned back to Roly.
”I’m sure you remember the rules: stay on the route. If you want to change the plan, let one of the staff nearby know. Good luck out there,” I told him.
”R-right…” Roland muttered.
He was probably running the entire itinerary through his head for the hundredth time. Roly gave a stiff, tense nod. Well, even if he messes up, it’s all part of the experience-a sentiment that’s easy to have when you’re not the one on the date. I gave him a quick, encouraging pat on the back where Unia couldn’t see and saw them off.
”Well then, please take care. Have a wonderful time,” I said.
”Right. L-let us depart, Lady Unia,” Roland said.
”Yes. I am in your care, Roland-sama,” she replied.
Surprisingly, it seemed Unia had been looking forward to this too. A radiant smile broke across her porcelain-perfect face as she took Roly’s hand and followed him out. Roly’s face was already turning beet-red from the sudden physical contact. Man, I’m worried about this kid…
”Shall we follow, then?” Muse asked, appearing out of nowhere.
”Yeah. Let’s go,” I replied.
Muse, the Queen’s maid, had materialized beside me. Our job was to tail them and monitor how the date was progressing. For Muse, that also meant ensuring their literal safety.
It felt a bit like being a professional peeping tom, but it was an essential task. The Queen wanted me to judge if Unia had the mettle to be the future Queen Consort, while King William had specifically requested that I play chaperone to make sure things didn’t get too heated between them.
Honestly, being royalty is such a pain. Just as that thought crossed my mind, Muse stepped close and took my hand. Suddenly, the world went dark.
”Whoa, what is this…?” I asked.
”Shadow Stealth magicⁿ. A secret technique passed down through my family to protect the crown,” Muse explained.
Muse waved her hand, and the outside world appeared before us like a projected window. It seemed we were literally submerged in the shadows. She’s a total ninja, I thought to myself.
”…Is it actually okay for me to know about this?” I asked.
”Well, if you’re asking if it’s ‘permitted,’ the answer is no. But if you’re asking if it’s ‘fine,’ the answer is yes,” she replied.
”Which one is it!?” I wanted to yell, but I figured it was better not to poke the bear. Worst case scenario, she’d just say something like, “You’re practically part of the family now anyway, so it’s fine.”
”You’re practically part of the family now anyway, so it’s fine,” Muse added.
”You actually said it!?” I snapped.
”Hehe. Even if you hate it, I’m never letting you go. So you’d better be prepared for what’s coming ♡,” she teased.
Bickering like an old married couple, we followed in Roly’s wake. Moving through the shadows felt just like walking. I realized we could probably run, too. Moving from shadow to shadow felt like flying, and physical obstacles didn’t seem to exist. If someone trained specifically for this, they’d be terrifyingly fast.
I was curious about the mechanics-how it worked at night, how much mana it drained-since I’m a magic user myself, but again, better not to ask. I settled in to eavesdrop on the kids’ conversation.
”T-this way, Lady Unia. From the park up ahead, you can see the entire capital,” Roland said.
”Oh, I can’t wait,” she replied.
Roly led her to the same park I’d taken him to before. He’d been adamant about including it in the route. It seems he really cherished the time we spent there. It made all that walking worth it.
”Wow…!” Unia gasped.
”W-well? What do you think…?” Roland asked.
”It’s breathtaking… There’s the main thoroughfare, and the Canarias Cathedralⁿ… When I arrived by carriage, they wouldn’t let me look out the window. To think I’d be able to see it all like this…”
”Hehe. We aren’t just looking. Let’s head down there today,” Roland said.
Wow, the mood is actually pretty good. They have that awkward, heart-fluttering distance typical of young love. Part of me felt guilty for spying, but seeing things go smoothly was a relief.
Now, if only Roly didn’t forget the first thing he was supposed to do… I held my breath as he suddenly stopped. Unia, still holding his hand, tilted her head in confusion.
”Roland-sama…?” she asked.
”Um… From here on, people in the streets might recognize my name. So… instead of Roland, please… call me Roly…”
Roly was fidgeting, his face a deep crimson. Unia seemed to catch the vibe immediately. She pressed a finger to her lips and gave a soft, melodic giggle. Seeing her laugh made Roly turn even redder. Man, this girl is dangerous-she’s like a concentrated drug for a boy his age. One smile like that and our little Prince is a goner.
”Then, Roly… what are you going to call me?” she asked.
”Uh… U-Uni… maybe?” he stammered.
”Yes. Call me that from now on,” she said.
”Y-yeah. Uni, let’s go!”
”Of course. Let’s go, Roly,” she replied.
Lord, save me. This is so sweet I’m going to puke. And so, accompanied by the sound of Roly’s innocence hitting the point of no return, their incognito date truly began.
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Summary:
Harvest organizes an incognito date for Prince Roland and Lady Unia to the castle town. After navigating difficult diplomatic hurdles with King William, the secret mission commences with Harvest and Muse tailing the pair. The chapter concludes with the two youths successfully dropping formalities and using nicknames, much to Harvest’s amused chagrin.
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Character_Insight:
Prince Roland shows significant growth in his willingness to step out of his comfort zone and royal persona for Unia, even displaying proactive effort to secure funds and plan. Unia Greter is revealed to be more than just a doll-like noble, showing a calculating glint and a playful, assertive side that easily flusters the young prince.
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Behind_the_scene:
The use of ‘Ddo-Buddy Economic Sphere’ suggests the protagonist is integrating his modern business sense into the fantasy world’s politics. The ‘shadow magic’ segment highlights the hidden dangers and high-level protection surrounding the royal family even during a simple date.
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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.
• Unia – The third daughter of the house of Duke Greiter. Has blonde hair tied in an intricate style, dol-like beauty, and expressionless face.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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