Rozalia invited Renwild to study together under the pretext of preparing for the first-term test. Of course, there's no way they'll be left alone, so this time, Cade followed them into the study room.
Among the Royal Knights, Cade belonged to the Royal Guards, so it's not easy to earn his trust. However, it's just as Rozalia planned.
When Rozalia thought about the first time she used the study room with Folse, she came up with this idea. A fairly small space is perfect for shortening the distance between them.
There are five subjects in the first half of the test: mathematics, ancient Lestilian, political economics, sociology and world history. In the middle up to the last part, eight more subjects are expected to be added, so the first half of the examination, as Renwild says, is relatively easy.
"I wonder if I should start with sociology. What would you like to do first, Prince Renwild?"
When Rozalia asked him while preparing her writing tools and a few pages, Renwild brought out a thick stack of papers as well as textbooks.
"I'm going to study political economics. The economy is changing rather quickly, so I have to keep track of what's going on."
"Prince Renwild, I'm afraid that what will only come out in the political economics test is what's written in the textbooks. The current economy is merely a matter of the government."
"It seems you're not interested in studying when you said that."
Renwild was giving off a nonchalant expression while Rozalia sent him a frosty stare after his remark. On the contrary, he seemed to see through her ulterior motive, so she will overlook it and keep quiet for now.
After half an hour of studying, Renwild suddenly stood from his seat.
"I'll go to the library for a bit to see if there's a book I need there. Ah, I'll leave my escort, so Cade— You should stay here. I'll be back soon."
Renwild immediately called out to Cade, who was about to follow him.
As he left, Renwild gave a casual glance at Rozalia, who immediately understood his nuance, and she lightly nodded in response.
—I won't miss this opportunity my friend had given me.
When she finished seeing Renwild off, she turned to smile at Cade.
"Sir Cade, why don't you take a break? If you don't mind, I've got some sweets ready."
Her behavior was a bit out of proper etiquette but it didn't faze Rozalia and immediately invited him to sit.
Cade scratched his bright red hair with a troubled look.
"But I'm on duty,"
"I think His Highness won't mind and will consider you taking a break for a while."
"But Lady Rozalia has only just begun her studies. I can't be bothering you."
"Not at all."
And with that, Rozalia abruptly took out the confectionaries that are said to be popular in the capital. She's actually good at making things by hand, but it would be a problem if she went too aggressively from the start.
She even busied herself knowing the latest trends so if they ever go out given the chance, she wouldn't become ignorant.
Cade sat down beside Rozalia with a confused behavior.
Because fresh snacks are hard to eat during study, she prepared cookies, macarons, and layered cakes. Unfortunately, she didn't prepare any tea, but more importantly...
—Will we ever get to be closer a little bit if I just act being me?
Rozalia immediately offered the snacks to him, and shortly after, Cade stretched out his hand timidly. Cade seemed to like the cookies filled with strawberry jam, and he ate several in a row.
"You like sweets, don't you?"
The sweettooth Rozalia eats sweets to replenish her energy and all of it were full of numbing sweetness. Many women find it difficult to eat this kind of sweetness, let alone men.
Rozalia was glad to find something in common with him, but he regretfully lowered his hand after his fifth try.
"I'm sorry. A tough-looking man eating sweets like this seems wrong, isn't it?"
Rozalia tilted her head as she looked at Cade, who put on a bitter smile on his face.
"Why would you say that? There's no right or wrong when it comes to people's tastes."
He said that the jam-filled cookies she brought were delicious, even though most people avoided it. Rozalia was quite happy that the one person who'd appreciated it was Cade.
To his surprise, Rozalia drew near to whisper in Cade's ear and he instinctively shrank in his seat.
"—You know, I really like snakes."
"S-snake?"
"Yes, it's a secret, okay?"
Perhaps because he was surprised, the openmouthed Cade doesn't seem to care about how close they were to each other. Rozalia smiled slightly at the sight.
"My maid doesn't like it, and she said that most of them are had deadly venoms, so I don't have a chance to touch it when I see one. When I find them in the garden, I only try to look at them at least."
"Is it fun looking at it?"
"Yes, it's the best. With its scaly patterns, moist sheen, and dark squinty eyes, even the slithering movements seem lovely to me."
Frogs are cute, but she like reptiles more. Rozalia talked deeply about her love for snakes and tilted her head mischievously at the dumbfounded Cade.
"People's tastes are strange, aren't they?"
It was only one of the little secrets of Rozalia, but it was enough to relieve his tension. His sharp, firm expression loosened up.
At this moment, Cade looked a little younger than his real age, though it didn't matter to her at all. His lovely golden eyes finally gazed straight at her and said,
"Actually, I think I had... memory loss a few months ago. It doesn't interfere with my duties, but I forgot what I used to say and think and what I liked and hated."
"Oh, I see..."
While she was surprised, her inner doubts seemed to melt away.
Originally, Cade is a promising Royal Guard, but he was a womanizer who's rumored to be having affairs with noble women. It was a bit odd when she heard that it had stopped a few months ago.
Rozalia felt skeptical that there might have been a real woman involved, but when the reason was finally revealed, it seems that he had lost his memory, which was more concerning than she had expected.
Cade narrowed his golden eyes as if he's in agony.
"Is it improper for me to say that I like sweets? Is it wrong to feel afraid of hurting people with my sword? While I was always wondering if I felt any discomfort from other people's opinions... I just couldn't figure out what sort of person I was or if I really existed."
Perhaps he has not been able to talk to anyone until now that he reveals what's inside his heart as though she had broken his wall.
Cade was so cornered that he felt inferior to one jam cookie sandwich.
Even cookies are a concern for his heart. Rozalia was ashamed of her superficiality by bringing up stories of snakes.
"I'm sorry that this ignorant one did not know that there were such circumstances,"
When Rozalia tried to lower her head in apology, he stopped her abruptly with a most concerned look on his face.
"No. Rather than that, thank you, Lady Rozalia. Thanks to you, the blur that was covering my eyes feels like it's finally cleared up."
"Well, I..."
It seemed that Rozalia had somewhat made a good impression on the gentle Cade. If it's time to attack here, it might be a good idea to strike aggressively.
With much resolve, she touched his hand gently and looked at him with modest eyes.
"...It must have been hard for you all this time, but you are you, no matter how much you've changed."
Rozalia deliberately chose words that would touch his heart.
It doesn't matter if someone would think badly of her for being quite cunning. She's determined to make Cade hers.
As Rozalia had expected, Cade opened his eyes in awe. A gentle smile slowly spread across his face, innocently, and vividly like the blue sky.
When Rozalia had been caught by his smile, she felt the heat spreading all over her face. Perhaps because of the color of his hair and eyes, he seemed to be a part of the flame. Nevertheless, the way he suddenly springs up from being depressed just a moment ago is just so adorable.
Rozalia smiled at the warm feeling that slowly filled her heart. She wanted to protect that smile similar to that of a blue sky. It has to be her that makes him happy.
When Renwild returned, they greeted each other calmy but deep inside her was an emotion brimming with great determination.
Cade immediately stands up and quickly returns to his place at the corner of the room.
"... Did you two talk for a bit?"
Renwild asks in a low voice as he assumingly reached for a cookie.
Rozalia smiled back at his mere glance.
"Unfortunately, this strategy of yours has failed, Your Highness, despite your kind consideration, nonetheless I have fallen deeper even more."
Renwild bites on the jam sandwich cookie and instantly frowned. It was because of the sweetness that spreads through his mouth that seemed to be filled with high sugar content.
"I feel dizzy..."
Rozalia giggled at the sight of her friend, muttering while suffering from a headache.
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