Prince 21

#21.

To Prince Archie Albert William Rendike Ellington Baelish Winterton,

Just when I was finally memorizing your long name, I see another character has been added—congratulations!

This is your lonely friend, Cordelia, greeting you at the tail end of the Pale Green Moon.

How is it? Am I following court etiquette well enough?

If you’re sitting at your little writing desk right now, please answer me, Prince.

6.25. Evening.

– Coco, who remembers all the names that might choke you if called upon.

P.S.: If you’re sad that you don’t have a nickname, shall I make one for you? Archie can’t be shortened any further, so how about Albie, Bertie, Willie, Will, or Liam? No, that won’t do. Liam has become someone else’s name for me, and the others are too common for a prince like you. Just stay as my Prince Archie.

* * *

To Miss Cordelia Flora Grey, who I can imagine making an awkward and strange bow even without seeing you.

It’s been a while since I’ve called out your full name. Of course, I could write it without needing to find our first letter. If memorizing each other’s names is proof of friendship, it would be a much easier game for me than for you.

By the way, don’t you think we really match well? I just escaped Florian and sat down at my writing desk. As soon as I opened the bookshelf, your letter arrived with a swish. Such delightful coincidences make my day happier.

I think most things in this world are completed or ruined because of timing. The thought of having someone there to hold your hand when you fall—that’s fate, isn’t it?

Though I’m not falling, nor do I need you to hold my hand, the comfort of knowing you’re there when I sit at my desk is much greater than I imagined.

On a night when your June and my Pale Green Moon are ending,

– Your friend who will always be there if you need, Archie Albert.

* * *

To my friend Archie, who faithfully answers my call,

So, has Florian gotten any better?

If you start the letter this way, you, who are subtly possessive and were reluctant to even allow my letters with Bedder, might explode, but at this point, with both of us sitting at our desks after so long, I can’t help but be honest.

What I’m most curious about now is Florian’s identity.

A boy with cheeks like fruit, popping up from deep within the forest?

And Princess Cecilia has fallen for him? Just how charming is Florian?

Well, even in your letters filled with hostility, I could sense how lovely Florian Elfindel must be, so I can understand why everyone might be smitten with him.

But that doesn’t mean I’m disregarding your suspicion of Florian, my prince.

It’s certainly strange that nothing has been properly explained—from how he appeared at the hut to how he survived.

Don’t show too much hostility; observe Florian carefully. Take your time and have deep conversations with him.

Archie, you’re someone who found the letter I sent to Bedder hidden in a 600-page book, so if Florian is a fraud, you’ll see through him right away.

Yes, I have a bit of a vengeful side. To ease my endless resentment over you snooping through my letter, please go to Bedder soon and ask for the continuation of the story.

Oh, and why not take Florian to the monastery while you’re at it?

To make sure he’s really not a dark magician, sprinkle some holy water on him at the monastery.

…Hmm, maybe that’s not the right idea? I saw a scene like that in a movie yesterday.

At the end of June.

– Coco, your friend who honestly knows nothing about dark magic.

P.S.: I somewhat agree with your theory that timing is almost everything. But don’t intense emotions sometimes transcend time? Just as we’ve become such close friends, ignoring time and space.

Honestly, Archie, even if you’re not right beside me when I’m crying, I’ll remember your heart. Because you’re the kind of person who always tries to be at the desk so I’m not lonely.

* * *

To Coco, who feels lonely too often to be hated,

Did Marianne hit you by any chance?

Did Mark or Liam make you cry?

If it’s time for me to play the role of your big brother again, just tell me.

I’m worried because your postscript, which you added with excitement about Florian’s news, is too lonely, and even your handwriting seems uncharacteristically subdued.

My dear Coco, your Archie was so concerned that I almost thought of sticking my hand into the bookshelf. But judging by past experience, what would reach you would likely be a decayed, skeletal wrist with only a handsome bone structure left.

But aside from the loneliness, did you really say you liked Florian even after reading my entire letter?

Without even seeing that pretty face in person, if you were to see his portrait, you’d start defending him just as fiercely as Cecil does.

Still, the suggestion to sprinkle holy water on him at the monastery was a bit cute, and since your handwriting seems so weak and sunken, I’ll generously forgive you this time.

To lift your spirits, I’ll tell you about the recent whereabouts of that fruit-like, flower-like young man you’re curious about.

Florian, who seems to be incredibly lucky, didn’t suffer any major injuries except for a broken leg. I even used healing magic on that, so it won’t last long. He’ll probably be running around again by the end of the week.

By the way, Cecil is still extremely protective of Florian. Did I mention she moved his quarters right next to her own room? Florian’s insistence on not using a servant is still well accepted too.

In fact, I felt a bit guilty, so I visited Florian’s room this morning. It’s customary that royal chambers don’t have doors, and even if they do, it’s not customary to knock before entering, so I simply opened the door without making any noise. But Florian, seeing me, screamed as if I were some kind of monster!

I was so startled by the high-pitched scream that I turned around like a scoundrel intruding on some lady’s chamber.

A while later, when the lad told me I could turn back around, I found Florian glaring at me with narrowed big green eyes, treating me as if I were a rude, uncouth fellow.

Was he in the middle of changing clothes?

I tried to explain that in the Arle royal family, the rooms don’t usually have doors, and since his room is a temporary residence, it’s unusual to have a door, so I wasn’t accustomed to knocking, but it was no use.

“Oh, there was no such rule in the cottage. Doors are meant to be closed! And closed doors should be knocked on, Prince Archie Albert William!”

“Are you embarrassed because you’re so skinny?”

“What?”

“I think your body has excellent lines, perfect for dancing. But if you’re shy about your skinniness and uncomfortable showing your bare body, I could teach you some light swordsmanship. It would give you a more impressive physique.”

He pondered deeply over my words, and then he told me this:

“Swordsmanship sounds good, but I’d rather learn it from Princess Cecilia.”

It seems they’ve grown close enough after moving their rooms closer that he even knows how well Cecil handles a sword. Well, considering his height and build, it seemed more appropriate for Cecil to teach him than me, so I just nodded.

To be honest, I kind of liked him then. Here in Winterton, young men full of vanity often disregard Cecil and other female knights.

Several of them have already been put in their place by Cecil’s or other outstanding knights’ swords after saying things like, “I can’t follow a woman’s command,” or “I don’t want to be under a female captain of the guard.” Though Cecil is very cold to me, she’s as sweet as honey to the women under my care.

Anyway, in a situation where there are many young men full of arrogance, I liked that Florian volunteered to learn swordsmanship from Cecil. So I tried to engage him in conversation once more.

“So, is there anything else you need?”

“You threw me out of the window, and now you ask that?”

He puffed up his chubby cheeks, which didn’t match his thin body, like a pufferfish, and pouted his small lips, making it clear he was still upset. Quite a grudge holder, isn’t he? He doesn’t even realize I immediately healed him with magic.

But for someone like me, who’s become immune to young Lady Noel’s wrath, his expression wasn’t very intimidating. I just smiled and replied.

“Let’s get the story straight, Florian Elfindel. I didn’t throw you; you jumped.”

“That’s, well, because, you were…”

“What did I do, Florian? What did I do to make you…”

His face suddenly turned red, and he turned away, saying, “I don’t know.” Even Noel wouldn’t be this childish. But I still felt a bit guilty, so I asked him one more time.

“Would you like me to teach you to dance if you think swordsmanship is enough?”

“Dance…?”

“Yes, you might be able to learn swordsmanship from my sister, but dancing could be difficult. You’d need a female partner…”

As I said that, I looked him up and down.

“Wh-what?”

“Have you never learned proper steps?”

“Is that a bad thing?”

Like a kitten hissing at anyone, the little rascal glared at me with wide eyes, not realizing it didn’t scare me at all.

“Not at all. But if you stay at the palace, you’ll end up going to a ball or two, whether you like it or not, so I thought you might need it. It’s better to learn with a female teacher as your partner, but learning the steps is the first priority.”

“Steps? But I have no sense of rhythm.”

“It’s fine. If the steps get tangled, you just untangle them. As long as you know how to step, you can dance.”

When I said that, Florian’s green eyes sparkled, and he grabbed my hand, saying, “That’s such a wonderful idea! Please teach me to dance. I’m confident I can tangle the steps!”

He’s really a hopelessly quirky fellow. Honestly, I only brought up dancing because, as you suggested, Cordelia, I wanted to talk more with Florian. But seeing him so happy made me feel good too.

Coco, you may not know this, but in Winterton’s courtly etiquette, there’s nothing better than dancing for observing someone.

There’s rarely a time when you can be so close to someone, gazing into their eyes, even catching the hidden truths within them. The only other time might be when crossing swords.

Anyway, things have turned out this way, and I plan to start teaching Florian Elfindel to dance from tomorrow. Perhaps the intimate conversations we’ll have while dancing will help reveal his true intentions?

-Your Archie, trying to be as cunning as a snake.

P.S.: But aren’t you going to tell me more about meeting Liam? Or is he just as foolish as Mark?

* * *

My pure-hearted snake, Archie,

Even if you were a snake, you’d be one with gentle eyes, a snake that doesn’t bite.

You grumble about “that Florian kid,” but all you ever do is treat him kindly.

Maybe you don’t have a mean bone in your body.

Honestly, while I adore Princess Cecilia, I love your gentle nature even more. The way you’re kind even to those who are suspicious or disagreeable.

But it might be tough for you to become a cold, sharp detective like Sherlock Holmes.

Still, do your best, Archie Albert. I’ll always cheer you on.

But Detective Archie, didn’t you ask what Florian whispered into Cecilia’s ear? What words did he say to make her hug him so quickly? He must have held her like a dashing knight from a story, right? Oh, Cecil really is something else.

6.25.

-Sincerely, Cordelia, who still thinks you’re the best among the entire Winterton royal family.

P.S.: It’s funny, but I felt embarrassed after babbling on about Mark. So I think I’ll keep what happened with Liam a secret. My mother always said the best things are secrets.

But since I feel like telling you everything, I’ll share just one thing: tomorrow, Liam and I are going on a day trip to Stratford to see Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*. It’s a day trip, but I might be a bit late, so don’t be upset if I’m not at my desk tomorrow night, my prince. I’ll be back by dawn, I promise.

*Hamlet* is a story about a prince endlessly mired in anguish, so I’ll lend you this book too. Read it if you start feeling lonely while waiting for me.

———= Afterword ———=

To all my readers,

I initially decided to do a continuous update to try and get into the top 30 on Tubey, but I never expected to make it into the top 10 on the first day of August. Thank you so much for finding it entertaining. I thought I was the only one having fun… sob. This quiet attention-seeker couldn’t be happier.

P.S.: Thank you for the short cheers in the comments, for catching my clumsy hints, for talking to me, for reading each other’s comments, and for all the favorites, recommendations, typo corrections, and feedback. I’ll do my best to visit you at midnight every day until all the hints are collected.

P.S.2: Please click on the next episode. There’s one more!

<– Go away, Archie, you pathetic guy –>

Continuous Update (2/2)