“Aeyaaa!” I hear my name called softly and sweetly. It breaks the weird balance in the atmosphere and I turn around in time to see an angel lunging herself into my arms.

“Ceres!” Crying out in surprise, I can’t help but notice how fluffy she is…! Ah! It should be illegal to be this angelic!

“The winds of autumn brings you to me again as the cores of seeds are peeled away.”

A cold sweat begins forming on my back, but her cute amethyst eyes peering up at me blow any concerns away. “Haha, is that so?~ I was also looking for you two.”

“Your answers are burrowed in snow and ash.”

Hmn hmn, as cryptic as ever you are~ I hug her tightly and snuggle into her soft face. So cuteeeee!

“Ehehe~”

“…You’ll have a hard future ahead of you.” Sigyn mutters under her breath.

“Huh!? You’re mistaken! Also, I don’t want to hear that from you, you Leila freak!”

“W-W-W-What are you saying!? If anything, you’re the freak! I have n-no i-i-idea what you’re even implying!”

Liar! Your face is beet red!

After expending great effort at separating with everyone. At long last, I somehow manage to grab Mercurius off to the side.

“So what is it that you wish to talk about, Lady Aeriea?”

“Well, I do hope you’ll forgive me for overstepping my bounds, but I will be completely honest with you.”

He quirks his head in interest, “Hmmm… Please go ahead.”

“Ever since last night, my thoughts have been in disarray and I am in constant worry…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is true. I do hope you will use discretion and not speak of this to anyone.”

“Of course, I would never speak of a lady’s worries to another.”

Gathering my courage, I grab his hands and look him in the eyes. “Prince Mercurius! The truth is-!”

Although he’s still smiling, I notice him shifting uncomfortably. “Lady Aeriea, please hold on a moment. I think I know what you’re about to say…”

“R-Really?” Breathing a sigh of relief, it feels like a weight lifts from my shoulders. Thank Twice, I didn’t really know how to explain.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but you must already know that the Linette family has an extremely close relationship with the Freys. As such-”

“Eh!? Does the Linette family also have something to do with Prince Juler, Sir Trais, and the events of last night!?”

“H-Huh?”

“…Huh?”

“…”

“…”

What…

Did this guy actually think I was about to…

I’ve only met you once before, you narcissist...!

Doing my best to seal away my deadpan stare and judgemental eyes, I’m not completely sure it works for his face suddenly reddens, “I-I seem to have misunderstood your intentions.” Clearing his throat, he awkwardly prompts me to start over.

So in the end, I will have to explain it…

“…To think it wasn’t like the other girls.”

“Hmn?”

“A-Ah, nothing. This is indeed quite a serious matter.” He looks deep in thought, “In all honesty, I do not think I can help you as much as you think I can. It seems my brother is doing this of his own volition and is keeping it private. Not to mention, I didn’t have any prior knowledge of his excursion last night or what could have possibly prompted it.”

Oh… I see… Well, I was prepared for this, but even still… I thought I might be able to get at least a bit of information… Sigh.

“Please do not look so downcast Aeriea.”

“Even if you say that…”

Mercurius suddenly turns on his dazzling charm, “It would be such a waste to hide away your beautiful smile.”

“…”

I can’t believe I ever thought this guy would be reliable… Looking away, I sighhhh even more deeply.

“H-Huh…?”

My already low expectations of Princes somehow manages to plummet even further.

I understand that at this age, more and more of my peers will concern themselves with romance. After all, it is standard for nobles to be engaged at the age of thirteen and married by fifteen… However, I don’t really have any interest in that quite yet. I’m honestly a little embarrassed that he even entertained the possibility…

Wait.

Now that I think about it, he was getting ready to reject me, wasn’t he…? Even though this wasn’t even a confession in the first place…! I suddenly feel absolutely mortified.

Urgh, why are all princes so-!?

Sol may look serious and competent, but he’s really just an air-head.

Nott has anger issues and is quick to get violent.

Mercurius is a narcissist who thinks a girl he just met would confess to him.

Even Juler was carried out of the flames by Sir Trais.

Are all Princes just completely incompetent or something?!

The harsh words in my head are further amplified by exhaustion and lack of sleep. Feeling a bit light headed at the revelation that the future of the Human and Kindred nation is bleak, I shake my head in utter disappointment.

“A-Aeriea?”

Excusing myself from Mercurius’ presence as platonically as possible, I walk away hastily. I really don’t want a misunderstanding or weird rumors to come from this…

“W-Why do I feel so bad…” I hear him mutter in distress.