Seraphine's POV

I couldn't sleep a wink last night because I was preoccupied with my thoughts about that stunning orange-haired girl, probably the same age as Makkun. They seemed to know each other and what confused me the most was the look in her eyes while looking at him, pure fear and helplessness.

Imogen-san came inside pushing a trolley of food as she always had these past few days.

"Good morning himesama!!"

"Hn. Likewise." I replied with a grin.

"What would you like to do today?" She beamed out a smile. "Will you spend your spare time with His Majesty?"

"Me. Sure. Not." I replied. "Orange girl. Me. Curious."

"You mean the daughter of the human Duke Mantissa?!" I nodded. "Indeed, she is a very interesting human..!"

"Why?" I asked in curiosity.

"Well, she is the beloved little Lady of the Mantissa ducal household and currently the flower of human noble society. Inspite of that, she isn't two-faced unlike someone I know..." She trailed off and stared at something seemingly distant.

"Who?"

"Sorry himesama, I spoke wrongly..!"

*ehehehe

"I brought you food and I apologize, the royal physician advised us not to feed you with foods difficult to digest. For now, you'll be satisfied with this."

"Thanks." I saw her face redden in embarrassment.

"Himesama..."

I was about to place the spoonful of porridge when the door was slammed open and the girl from last night was spat.

"... ah..?"

"Sorry for rudely intruding into your quarters, Your Highness!!" She bowed. "I'll introduce myself again in case you forgot--"

"No. Me. Remember. Name. You." I signaled for her to fix her posture. "Hestia..?"

"I'm glad you remember me, Your Highness!" I hummed in response. "I know it's too presumptuous of me given that we just met not too long ago and it was not a good experience for you..." She started fidgeting her fingers and her cat-like orange eyes were tightly closed.

"?"

"Please by my friend, Your Highness..!"

"Okay..."

"Really?!"

"Really."

"Yatta!!!" She screamed in happiness.

Is it really deserving of actions like this? Welp, I'm practically the only princess of the strong dragons in Daemonorops and she's just a human Duke's daughter so forming a good connection with me is the best option.

"Hestia..."

"Please call me Tia, Your Highness!!"

"Tia, call me Sera." I countered that a figurative lightning struck her. "What..?"

"Your Highness..." Her eyes were suddenly brimming with tears. "I can't believe Her Highness granted me permission to address her casually, I can finally die on 'his' hands..!"

"Ehh?"

"I'll prepare a will and a coffin now..!"

What the hell is this girl saying?! Why is she so prepared to die?! Isn't this going too overboard just because she called me by my petname?

"What nonsense are you speaking now, Hestia-ojou?" I saw Tia flinch hearing Makkun's voice; he was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed making him look so handsome.

"Y-Your Imperial Highness..!" Makkun slowly strided to my bedside with a smile plastered on his face.

Your Imperial Highness?

"Sese-chan, does it hurt anywhere?"

"No. Me. Fine." I replied as I shook my head. "You..?"

"Thanks for asking about my well-being, but I'm fine too. I hope I'm not disturbing your talk with Hestia-ojou..." He looked downcasted that I hurriedly grabbed his hand and looked at him straight in the eyes.

"You. Not. Bother."

"You're really kind..."

*cough 3x

We both turned to Tia.

"Tia...-chan..?" I called her.

"A-Ah..! I apologize Sera-chan, Maxentius-ouji..!"

And now 'Maxentius-ouji'... is that his real name? And he's even a prince!! 'Imperial Highness'... the Crown Prince of Coelacanth?!!

"Makkun... prince..?" I hesitantly squeaked that he turned to stone while Tia's figurative soul left her body.

"I misspoke..!!! I'm so sorry!! Maxentius-ou-- I mean, Maxentius-san , please don't kill me!!" She bowed once more that made me uneasy.

What's with her? Why would Makkun kill her?

"Relax. Makkun. Innocent. Not. Kill. Anyone." I assured her but her eyes only widened in shock. "Ehh..?"

"She's been deceived already..." She muttered under her breath but I didn't hear her, but Makkun's aura darkened. "Eek..!!"

Why is she so scared of him?

"Hestia-ojou, I think we have something to talk later. Don't you think so?"

"Y-Yes..!"

"Sese-chan, what's your favorite color?"

"Etto... violet..." He smirked and it was only a few seconds that I realized, I mentioned his eye color subconsciously. "Etto..!"

"Hmm..."

"B-But... is Makkun... a... prince..?" I stuttered, being cautious about his reaction.

"So you found out?"

*hehehe

"Yeah, I'm the Crown Prince of Coelacanth. My name is Maxentius Eliécer Pristine Lixivius von Coelacanth, but you can still call me 'Makkun'." I shook my head in disapproval.

"No..."

"Uh-oh." Tia commented.

"But Sese-chan?"

"I... can't..." I declined.

"But you can, you already have yesteryear?"

"Now I... can't..."

"Sera-chan, maybe you should just treat him as a friend." Makkun gave me a pitiful puppy look. "Please do it or I'll be killed..!"

"Etto... Makkun." His face brightened up and hugged me immediately. "Makkun..?"

"I'm so, so happy!!"

"Anno... human prince? Can you let Her Highness go? She still needs to eat her breakfast."--Imogen

"Can I feed her?!" Tia asked excitedly so I was about to nod when Makkun swept the porridge off from the trolley and held out a spoonful of it.

"I'm terribly sorry Hestia-ojou, but I'm afraid I can be only one who will do it. You don't have any objections, do you?" Makkun squinted his eyes and Tia nodded.

"Of course Your Imperial Highness." She dragged Imogen with her. "Well, see ya~" As they left, I glared at their retreating back for leaving me alone with him.

Why? Why are they doing this?

*bathump

"Sese-chan." Makkun called me in a low voice.

"Ehh..?"

"You're mine, okay?" He locked his deep amethyst eyes with my golden ones. "You know that right?"

'Mine', what does that mean? Does he mean being his friend? Well, I see him as a little brother so let's just compromise for now.

(A/N: You're a lover in his eyes btw.)

"Hn." I gave him a sincere smile but I never failed to notice how his eyes glinted dangerously.