(Back to Seri's point of view)

Today, the tsundere prince is being even more tsundere. Whenever he becomes flustered he feels the need to insult me.

Luckily I have read a lot of books with tsundere's in them. I know that if they say one thing, they probably mean the opposite.

For example, William told me I was going to be fat and unloved, but still pushed more cake over to me.

So by translation, he means I'm going to be skinny and beloved.

I'm like the tsundere Prince whisperer.

We walked through the Imperial City and I sighed, "Ahh. I'm so tired."

William looked over to me, "Should we stop and rest somewhere?"

I nodded and we moved to the middle of the town square with a fountain. The Royal guards that were assigned to accompany us also followed. It was like being escorted by the secret service.

There were just too many guards for me to have a good time. They were constantly by us, not even trying to be conspicuous. It was too annoying.

I sat on the edge of the fountain, "Ahh. That's the stuff. My feet are killing me."

William crossed his arms and smirked, "I can't believe you're so tired after walking around for a little bit."

I groaned, "A bit? We've been walking all day!"

"Well hurry and rest up. There's so much we need to see. We have an appointment to tour the academy soon."

"Well if I'm that much of a bother, why don't you carry me?"

William's face twitched in embarrassment, "Haah? Carry you? After you just ate your weight in cake?! No way!"

Bertram stepped forward, "If you'd like, I can carry you on my shoulders."

My eyes lit up, "Good boy Bertram! That sounds amazing!"

He nodded and took a knee. However, due to his immense height, I still couldn't reach his shoulders. He picked me up and put me on them. He stood up.

I pointed forward, "Onward men!"

William frowned, "We aren't your army."

I smiled down at him, "Are you sure? Should I sic Bertram after you then?"

Bertram turned to him and glared. He took a step back and put his hands up.

He shouted quickly, "N-no! That's fine!"

I smiled, "Good! Then let's go!"

As we marched toward the Academy, I glanced down at William and Dante. Dante kept glancing over at William, who kept on ignoring him. I could tell Dante was worried about William.

I didn't blame him. In fact, I was a bit worried too.

Just a bit though.

William wasn't acting like himself today. His mood changed drastically after the meeting with his parents. I wonder what happened during it to make him so forlorn.

He barely ate his food today and keeps sighing. He's been sighing so much I want to smack his back until they stop coming up.

I did notice that he also started ignoring Dante. Usually he always makes sure Dante is within his eye sight at all times. However, now he's purposely trying to avoid Dante.

After hearing his father talk to him at the dinner, I fully understood. His father had nothing good to say about William. Instead he just kept talking about Dante's accomplishments.

Doesn't the King know that can be detrimental to a child's self esteem? I guess the King should be taught a psychology lesson.

Looking at William's sad puppy dog face, I feel like I should say something. He looks like he needs some encouragement.

I scratched my arm deep in thought.

I don't really like giving people encouragement though. It's not like I could gain anything from it.

But UGH! That face he keeps making is so annoying!

Maybe I should say something.

Bertram turned his head toward me, "Are you alright, Young Miss? Why do you keep scratching your arm? Perhaps you got a bug bite? Or did you get poisoned?!"

I stopped myself and sighed, "Relax Bertram. I haven't been poisoned. I was just thinking about something and didn't know I was scratching."

We made it to the Academy where a man stood outside wearing small circular glasses. He smiled at us and raced forward. The guards jumped in front of us protectively.

William spoke, "Relax. I know him."

The guards nodded and stepped to the side. The man wasn't even fazed by their movements. He smiled and threw his arms up, "Little Willy! I've missed you so much!"

William flinched in disgust as the man hugged him tightly.

I snorted with laughter, "Little Willy?!"

William's face grew dark. The fluffy man stood up smiling like an idiot. He looked over at me, who was still placed on top of Bertram's shoulder.

"Ah~ You must be the little Seri I've heard so much about! You are even more adorable than they described."

He grabbed my hand and planted a kiss on it. I ripped it away in disgust. "Gross! Bertram! Kick this pervert!"

"My pleasure." Bertram started kicking the man.

The man put his arms out defensively as he was kicked. "Ahhh~ Don't kick me! Kyaa~"

My face grew even more disgusted. This man is enjoying it!

William rushed forward, "Wait stop!"

Bertram stopped kicking him almost relieved to have someone stop him.

I frowned, "William. Do you know this creep?"

He nodded in disappointment. He sighed, "Yes. This is my older HALF brother."

The man sat up covered in dirt and smiled fluffily, "The big brother you love the most~"

"HALF brother." William corrected firmly.

I looked at Williams brother. He had straight long black hair that was pulled back neatly. His dark brown colored eyes weren't anything unique. He was a handsome teen, but it wasn't so handsome that he could turn heads.

I shook my head, "I don't see it."

The man whined, "Aww don't be so harsh. Doesn't my darling little brother look exactly like me?"

William's face twitched, "Please don't joke."

"Ahh. So cold." The man stood up and brushed himself off. He bowed, "Hello. My name is Joel. As you know, I am the brother to this ADORABLE little man."

Joel tried to squeeze William's cheek but his hand was smacked away quickly.

Joel sighed, "Anyway. I was assigned to give you a tour of the Academy today."

I frowned in irritation, "Why are you giving us a tour?"

He smiled, "Don't you know? This mighty brother is an administrator at the Academy."

I looked at him suspiciously, "Why would a Prince be working at the Academy?"

William looked away slightly embarrassed. Joel chuckled dryly, "Well, I'm not technically a prince. I am descendent from royalty, but there's no way I could sit on the throne. So unfortunately, I need a job."

"Oh."

I didn't know you had to be full blooded to be considered a Prince here.

We began to tour the Academy with Joel as our guide. Surprisingly he was quite knowledgeable despite his fluffy annoying personality.

He had a history fact for just about everything. I began to nod off with the history lesson. Luckily, Bertram still carried me so I was able to nap.

After the tour, we returned back to the Palace leaving behind Joel, much to everyone's relief. Just being around him for a few hours completely depleted me of all my energy.

As we waited for dinner to be prepared, we went out to the Palace garden to wait. I laid out on the grass with Dante and William.

I groaned, "Ugh. I'm so exhausted."

William frowned, "How can you be so exhausted?! You fell asleep during the tour."

I frowned, "That's because Joel kept bringing up the history of the building in too much detail! I hate history!"

I sat up and looked at him. I changed the topic, "Now that we are alone I've been wondering something."

William's looked at me in irritation, "What?"

"What happened at the meeting with your parents? Ever since then, you've been acting weird."

His face twitched, "Huh? That's not important."

I nudged him and batted my eyelashes, "Come on.. Tell me. What happened during the meeting?"

His face flushed and he became flustered, "The meeting? I just asked to cancel my engagement-"

I slapped his arm, "WHAT?! It's about time!!! Congratulations!"

Now he can marry Mary in the future without any issue.

His face twitched, "Congratulations?! Why are you congratulating me?! Why do you even care! You want to marry Simon!"

"Huh?" I blinked at his sudden outcry.

Then it was as if the floodgates began to pour out. All of the stuff he had been trying to ignore came rushing out.

"You said you want to marry Simon! Why do you care that I'm not engaged anymore?! I'm not sad because of the talk with my parents! I'm upset because you want to marry that cruel bloodthirsty man!"

I was speechless against his yelling. I couldn't help but glance at Dante, but Dante also didn't know what to say.

William continued, "Why do you even want to marry him?! Is it because he's older?! Or because he's a bad boy?! Well I am older! I can be a bad boy too!"

Finally I found my voice, "William... You're no bad boy."

"I can be!"

I frowned, "Oh really? Then how are babies made?"

William's face blushed instantly. I shook my head, "See? You have an innocent heart. There's nothing wrong with that. Why do you even want to be a bad boy?"

He glanced down sheepishly, "Because good girls like bad boys. I thought that's what you wanted. That's why you like Simon."

Simon's no bad boy. He's more like a psychopath.

I pointed to myself, "Do you really think I'm a good girl?"

"..." William thought about this for a moment. Realization crossed his face as he realized I wasn't.

I frowned, "Seriously? Can't you even try to say I am a good girl?" I shook my head, "Nevermind. What's important is that you're perfect the way you are. You don't need to change for anyone."

He shouted, "If that's true then why do you want to marry dumb Simon and not me?!"

William froze for a moment realizing what he just said. He stood up quickly turning red. He ran away still yelling.

I blinked in confusion.

Was that a confession?

Dante looked at me, "Shouldn't you tell him you don't really want to marry Simon?"

I recalled his embarrassed face and chuckled. I shook my head, "Nah. Let's not tell him."

It's too amusing to see him like this.

_____

I laid in bed at night more then ready to fall asleep. As I snuggled in I heard some noises, causing me to wake back up. I sat up rubbing my eyes.

A hushed voice spoke, "This doesn't look like the Prince's room. It's clearly a spare bedroom!"

"I told you! This is the bedroom they told us about! It's not my fault!"

"Well it has to be someone's! It's most certainly not my fault."

I got out of bed and walked over to the two dark figures. They were dressed head to toe in black. They looked like ninjas.

No sh*t. There really are assassins here.

I yawned, "If you're looking for William, he's next door."

One spoke, "Oh thanks."

They both froze at the extra voice and jumped into an offensive position. One cursed, "F*ck! There was someone in here! why didn't you check?!"

"You didn't check either!"

I looked back and forth as they argued.

One sighed, "It doesn't matter. We have to kill her now. We can't have any witnesses."

I frowned, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The other nodded, "Get her."

I jumped out of their reach and shouted, "Bertram!"

In the blink of an eye, Bertram flew in and knocked them to the ground. He nodded at me, "Yes Young Miss?"

I replied indifferently, "Kill these two. Actually, just kill one. Then hold down the other one for me."

Bertram nodded, "Understood."

One stood up, "Don't make me laugh."

As he charged at us with a jagged blade, Bertram calmly and easily snatched it away. He sliced swiftly and the man collapsed gurgling while holding his neck. His twitching body eventually stopped moving.

Seeing his colleague dead, the other man charged at Bertram with ferocity. However be was no match for Bertram. Bertram grabbed him and held him down without any problem.

I went to the curtain and pulled off the rope that was used to tie it. I nodded, "This will work."

I grabbed a chair and dragged it over, "Alright Bertram. Put him on this."

Bertram nodded and followed what I asked. I pulled out the rope and began to tie him to the chair.

I stood back and nodded, "There."

Bertram frowned, "Young Miss... I understand tying him up... But why did you have to tie him in such a suggestive position?"

I shrugged, "I only know how to tie people up from reading bondage novels."

Bertram shook his head, "Seri. You are too young to read such things."

"Bertram. I'm 26. Actually, I'm even older than that now."

"You f*cking bastards! Let me go!"

We both looked at the man tied up to the chair in an embarrassing position. I chuckled, "Looks like someone's impatient."

I walked over to him and put my hands on my hips. I spoke firmly, "Who sent you to kill Prince William?"

He spat at me, "Like hell I'd tell you."

I wiped off the spit in irritation. I looked up at Bertram with an innocent smile, "I guess we will have to torture him then."