What the hell is this situation?!

"Obasan, etto--" A not-so calloused hand covered my mouth, stopping me from continuing my speech. "Mmph!! Mmhm hm hmmph..!!"

"Let me." He whispered to my ears that I stiffened like a wooden doll. "It really is a misunderstanding, obasan."

"I understand~~"

She's just implying that she'll pretend she didn't see us like this! Mou, why is this old woman so hard to persuade?!!

"Mmph..!!"

"Well, goodbye~" He closed the door with a loud 'bang' and let go of my face. He flashed a proud smile that annoyed me even more. "You jerk!!" I smacked his arm. "How dare you make her misunderstand?! You wanted it to turn that way, didn't you?!"

"Sese-chan, why can't you remember?"

"Remember what?! Maxentius-ouji, I don't know what you're talking about but you need to stop seeing me as a replacement for your dead fiancée!"

"Sese-chan..."

"And stop addressing me like how you did to her, I am Selestine Villin, not the draconic princess Seraphine!"

"I... sorry..." He sadly walked out the door with imaginary droopy fox ears that made me a bit guilty. I twisted the doorknob to ensure that the door is locked before plopping myself on the bed.

"That prince, aren't I just a commoner? Why would I dare pretend to be Seraphine-hime? Isn't that lesé majestè?"

***

Third Person POV

Selestine woke up even before the sun could rise and proceeded to take a full bath. She changed into a spare uniform and munched on a croissant as she ran outside the foor with her bag on hand. She met the old lady from before, still frolicking with her black cat, said to bring bad luck to its owner.

"Morning obasan!!"

"Good morning, Selestine-chan~"

"Where are you headed with Tessia-chan, obasan?" Tessia is the name of her cat. "Are you going to buy her some food from the pet store across the street?"

"Truly an observant girl you are, Selestine-chan~ Can I ask about that young man from yesterday?" Selestine's entire face reddened and she started to fidget her fingers while averting her gaze. The old woman, who actually has the name Sanahlot, just grinned in amusement at the shy girl in front of her.

'That young man has a chance. Children today really like to act like love birds, I wonder how far he could go just to get Selestine-chan's deep affection. I bet I would see him soon~'

'What is this old woman saying?! She really enjoys to tease me, doesn't she?! Mou, I'm in the verge of reaching insanity if she keeps this up!! That perverted prince, I hate him to the core!!'

"Wh-Who?!! I don't know what you're talking about..! He's just an older brother of mine..!" She stammered.

'Oh-ho, this... is gonna be complicated. Who knew she would deny his existence that much, unaware that he's standing behind her. Look at that smug smile...'

'Sese-chan, so I'm just a brother to you, is that it? Well, we're not blood-related so it doesn't matter...'

"What brings you here, young man~?" Sanahlot asked intentionally that Selestine slowly turned around. "How cute~~"

"Well, I'm here to fetch my 'sister'..."

*gulp

'It's good that you know what you did wrong, Sese-chan~~'

'I... I didn't mean it that way..!! Ugh, why wasn't he saying anything?! Did he enjoy watching me drown in shame?! Such cruelty from the so-called 'Saintly Crown Prince'!!'

'This pair of love birds, really... is it my divine punishment from the gods to be fed by dog food first thing in the morning?'

"Yo-Your I--" Maxentius quickly covered his beloved's mouth, not wanting to reveal his identity to his possible helper in courting Selestine. "Mmph!! Hmm mmm mmph!!"

"Not on my watch~~ We'll get going now, obasan. Let's go!" He grabbed her wrist and dragged her away. They stopped at the entrance of Shomin Nomi and an extravagant carriage decorated with purple gems greeted their eyes. It was sparkling under the morning sun and many people crowded around it. "Sese-chan?" He held out his hand.

"Ehh?"

"Your hand."

"O-Oh, no need..! Your Imperial Highness not need to care for me..!"

"I don't like being ordered, though."

*snap

She suddenly teleported inside the carriage.

"There~" He turned to the coachman. "Let us depart here!!"

"Yes, Your Imperial Highness!"

*neigh

*tag-a-dack 2x

*slap 2x

"So Sese-chan, tell me about yourself. About your likes and dislikes, your happy and embarrassing moments, your childhood, anything..."

"Why, Your Imperial Highness? Why do you look at me in sadness?" She asked in a straightforward manner that his eyes slightly widened in surprise. "You know that Seraphine-hime is dead!"

"... she's not... she's not dead..!"

'Why is he being so melodramatic? Is he getting in the denial stage? Seraphine-hime is already dead..!'

"She's dead, Maxentius-ouji, move on..!" He slammed her against the wall of the carriage. "Snap out of it, Your Imperial Highness, face the reality of her death..!"

"Sese-chan, you're still dense despite being amnesiac. You really... never changed." Despite putting so much force in his hand, he showed a nostalgic expression that confused her. "That's what's really cute about you~"

"Pa-Pardon?!!"

"And seeing you this close is really, hmm... bringing back the old days."

"Maxentius-ouji..."

"I already told you, call me Makkun~ You wanted this--"

When they stepped out of the carriage in front of the gate of Centifolia Academy, there was already another red mark on her neck. Her whole body was very hot so she attempted distancing herself from the so-so perverted Crown Prince, but he caught her just in time.

"Lock." Purplish black chains appeared and tied itself around their hands. "Now you won't be able to run away from me~"

*gulp

*kyaaaahhhh

'What do they see in him?'

"Kaichou, kyaahh!!"

"They look like a painting!" A sharp pang made its way to her chest.

'What was that? I suddenly felt something painful inside of me. What's happening?'

"Sese-chan..?"

"I am... fine."

"Don't lie."

"Why would I dare lie to a member of the imperial family?"

"Call me Makkun, or else~" She stepped back.

"I'd rather not, Yo--"

"Makkun." He cut her off. "I told you to call me that, or do you want what happened earlier to repeat right here?" Her face heated up.

'Thi-This prince.!! Why does he like teasing me?!! Mou, can I slap his face?!'

"Okay, fine..! Ma-Makkun..!"

"Disappointing, tsk." He said dejectedly while staring at her reddened neck and turned around. "Come, I'm accompanying you to your classroom."

"Ye-Yes..!" She nodded and followed behind him.