They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I’d barely regained my senses when I was about to ask Elhart why he’d moved my sleeping bag, but he spoke first.
“We’ve been moving since dawn. I’m hungry and have no strength left.”
Then he buried his face back into the pillow.
I had no choice but to leave the room without asking a single question.
“….”
Only when I left the Separate Palace did my mind finally begin to function again.
‘What was that?’
Did he move me to the bed simply because the floor looked uncomfortable?
It would be ridiculous to connect it to the conversation we had last night, wouldn’t it?
‘…I should just accept it as a gesture of goodwill and not overthink it.’
In conclusion, nothing really happened.
We merely shared a bed without even holding hands.
But there was something else I needed to worry about right now.
‘I’ve stopped being so wary of Elhart.’
No matter how similar he was to Manarang, he was not Mikhail.
Yet while he approached my sleeping form and moved me to the bed, I slept soundly the entire time—it was unbelievable.
Had I already given him the same level of trust I’d built with my Expedition Team companions?
‘Something’s really wrong with me.’
I swallowed a sigh and moved my hands busily.
My hands….
‘Huh…?’
When did I even arrive at the Central Palace Kitchen?
“The Crown Prince certainly has quite an appetite….”
At the trembling voice of the kitchen maid, I looked down at the basket, which was already overflowing with the food I’d gathered.
“Yes, well. He hasn’t been eating well lately.”
I brushed it off vaguely and quickly left the kitchen.
‘Get your head together. This isn’t the time for this.’
I needed to think about when the Crown Prince would use that ‘love potion’ synthetic poison, and if I was delayed, where I could obtain an antidote….
‘Good grief.’
When I reached the dining hall entrance, I let out a hollow laugh.
“We meet again.”
The Crown Prince was standing in the exact same spot as yesterday.
‘There’s no way this is a coincidence….’
I made an effort not to show my wariness outwardly as I bowed to him.
“Good day, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yesterday was coincidence, but today is not.”
“…?”
What? Did he read my thoughts?
“You agreed to attend the banquet, didn’t you? I heard you needed a dress.”
“That is, well….”
The Crown Prince gestured to a steward passing through the corridor and called him over.
“Take this basket to our guest at the Separate Palace.”
“Oh, I can deliver it myself and return right away.”
“Ser.”
He spoke to me with a faint smile playing at his lips.
“Even if we prepare everything right now, time will be tight.”
It was strange for the Crown Prince to personally arrange a maid’s dress.
He could have simply ordered a steward or maid to handle it—why was he doing this himself?
Combined with what happened yesterday, it left me deeply unsettled…
‘He has no intention of backing down.’
I read unwavering resolve in his gaze and expression.
If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do about it.
I had no choice but to yield to his authority.
‘He won’t cause trouble right now.’
The location was essentially already determined. I had the clue of “West Corridor closed off.”
I silently handed the basket to the steward.
“…?!”
The steward flinched at the unexpected weight of the basket, but I simply smiled as if I knew nothing.
After the steward left with the food basket, I followed the Crown Prince.
The place he led me to was none other than the Crown Prince’s Palace.
‘I thought it wouldn’t be easy to set foot in here.’
Should I consider myself fortunate that an opportunity came so quickly?
I diligently observed the layout and security system of the Crown Prince’s Palace.
‘It doesn’t look as easy to infiltrate as the Central Palace.’
The face of an expedition team member with exceptional stealth and infiltration abilities suddenly flashed through my mind.
‘That guy could probably even steal the Emperor’s seal.’
Though it wouldn’t matter much in the end.
“You seem quite fond of that tapestry.”
As I was examining the location of the defensive magical formations reinforcing the outer walls of the Crown Prince’s Palace, he spoke to me.
“Yes, would you give it to me?”
“Hmm…?”
The Crown Prince’s carefully composed smile faltered for a moment.
“The Separate Palace is so bare. Even something like that hanging on the wall would make it look brighter.”
The Crown Prince, momentarily at a loss for words, issued an order to the steward attending him.
“Have it brought to the Separate Palace.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. After all, the Separate Palace’s furnishings belong to the Cradian Empire anyway, so there’s no loss, right?”
As I spoke with a brightened expression, the Crown Prince chuckled and nodded.
“Of course. It’s been so long since we’ve had a guest that I fear I’ve overlooked many details. Please request anything you need at any time.”
“Wow, your generosity knows no bounds. I’ll be sure to return it the day I leave for home.”
As I said this, I thought to myself.
“You’ll come to regret those words,” I thought to myself.
The Crown Prince’s Palace held so many precious and valuable things.
Selecting exactly what I wanted from among them was an extraordinarily enjoyable task.
The Steward who came rushing in midway grew increasingly grim, yet the Crown Prince remained composed throughout.
‘I couldn’t tell if he was merely pretending or if he genuinely didn’t care.’
By the time I’d crossed off roughly half the list of necessities for comfortable living, the Crown Prince stopped walking.
“Go ahead and choose something.”
As he stepped aside, what came into view was a spacious chamber overflowing with dresses of every conceivable variety.
“…?!”
The jewels adorning each dress gleamed with their own resplendent brilliance, bright enough to dazzle the eyes.
“I’ve summoned maids with excellent taste, so if choosing proves difficult, you’re welcome to accept their assistance.”
Did an empire of this scale maintain spare dresses in such quantities?
Or perhaps.
‘Could these be the late Crown Princess’s dresses?’
Selecting the wrong one could cause serious offense. If I assumed it was a trap, it was a plausible enough theory.
‘Besides, believing in pure goodwill would be foolish.’
After all, I harbored no goodwill toward the Crown Prince either.
“Then, I’ll see you at the banquet later.”
Having already wasted considerable time because of me, the Crown Prince departed first, and I began leisurely examining the dresses.
The maids he had specially brought regarded me with anxious eyes.
‘Is there something I shouldn’t touch?’
I observed their expressions carefully before finally selecting the one that provoked the most interesting reaction.
“I’ll go with this one. Is that alright?”
“Y-yes, of course.”
Their faces went pale as though something terrible had happened, yet they didn’t try to stop me.
Now that I thought about it, the Crown Prince’s Palace attendants were the same way.
Unlike before, I hadn’t done anything to them. I hadn’t had the opportunity to.
Yet no one stopped me, a maid from Bardia, from acting as I pleased.
‘The Crown Prince’s control must be quite considerable.’
Elhart had also warned me to be cautious of the Crown Prince.
It meant that the true nature of someone who behaved so kindly as to be mistaken for a libertine was far more frightening than expected.
“Allow me to assist with your grooming.”
Entrusted to the maids’ hands, I immersed myself in fragrant water and underwent massage, which proved far more pleasant than anticipated.
‘Do maids normally provide massages? Should I do the same for Elhart?’
I requested that the maids bring various types of the oils they used for massage to the Separate Palace.
While they were at it, I also asked for the massage bed and several soft robes.
‘This was exactly the kind of daily life I’d anticipated upon my return.’
Yet somehow I was experiencing it in the heart of enemy territory.
The makeup and hair styling were somewhat tedious.
The dress I was wearing for the first time in ages felt cumbersome.
What struck me as odd was that there were barely any alterations needed.
It fit me so perfectly, as if it had been tailored for my body, that the adjustments didn’t take long at all.
Of course, even so, the entire grooming process demanded considerable time, and by the time everything was finished, it was already late afternoon.
‘Ugh, this won’t do. I can’t live like this.’
I decided to indulge only in bathing and massage.
Any further aristocratic luxuries simply didn’t suit me.
“Ah yes, it truly suits you wonderfully.”
Someone must have sent word, for the Crown Prince had come to see me.
“Would it be alright if I chose the accessories for you?”
Playing dress-up with a doll, are we.
“Surely there’s no need for further adornment? I’m merely a maid, after all.”
“That’s not true.”
The Crown Prince answered with firm resolve.
“Whatever it was like in Bardia, today you’re attending the banquet as a guest of the Cradian Empire’s royal household.”
With that, he began fastening various pieces upon me, insisting I not refuse.
“Oh my, they’re all so beautiful. However shall I choose? It’s as though everything was prepared solely for you, Ser.”
‘…What, what did he just say?!’
Hearing such unsettling words tumble from a face bearing Mikhail’s resemblance made it difficult to bear.
‘Smile and get this over with quickly.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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