Felyn was starting to get a headache.
Tonight, Dorothy looked especially cute—twin ponytails, a puffed-up skirt, and sparkly sequins on her cheeks. She looked like an adorable idol who had just stepped offstage.
If he had run into her in her royal bedroom, he might’ve been tempted to ruffle her hair.
But right now, he had absolutely no such thoughts.
“Miss Adelina, I didn’t expect to see you here. Did I walk into the wrong box…?”
Dorothy said this with an innocent look, but she didn’t back out of the room. Instead, she lingered—clearly waiting for Adelina to explain.
“Your Highness, this isn’t my box either. I… I just ran into a classmate and helped her over here.”
“Oh, I see. I see.”
Dorothy walked over to the sofa and picked up the bag she had left behind.
As she passed by Felyn, she slowed her steps and subtly brushed her pinky across the back of his hand.
Felyn took a quiet, steadying breath, trying to keep calm.
“And this is…?”
“This is Mr. Felyn. The one I told you about—the person who saved me.”
“Oh? So you’re Felyn?”
Dorothy feigned surprise and stepped closer to examine his face.
But her gaze wasn’t focused on him out of admiration—she was scanning his cheeks and neck for anything suspicious, like traces of lipstick.
Thankfully, Adelina hadn’t worn anything too bold tonight, so nothing was left behind on Felyn’s face.
“So Mr. Felyn is actually quite handsome.”
Dorothy nodded to herself, then turned and started walking toward the door.
Just as Felyn thought the whole situation was over, she paused beside Adelina and said with a smile,
“With looks like that and saving you like a true hero, no wonder you’ve taken a liking to him.”
The room, which had felt relatively calm, suddenly stirred with tension.
Adelina looked momentarily stunned, but she quickly regained her usual elegant composure.
She shook her head gently and smiled politely. “Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness. There’s nothing between us. He’s just an assistant assigned to me by the academy. That’s all.”
She was doing everything she could to protect Felyn from being targeted by the people of Claude. Their relationship needed to stay hidden.
“Miss Adelina, I won’t tell anyone else. This is just between us girls, after all. You can tell me~”
They looked like two close friends gossiping, but everyone in the room knew this was anything but friendly.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I just happened to run into Mr. Felyn here,” Adelina explained with a graceful smile.
Dorothy smiled as well, but her thoughts were far less innocent.
Happened to?
You just ‘happened’ to be in the same room. You just ‘happened’ to show up right after I left. And you just ‘happened’ to be blushing like a schoolgirl.
All just coincidences? Really?
Felyn, big brother… you’re being a little naughty tonight, aren’t you?
Hmph. Looks like I’ll have to punish you a little later. Your eyes should only see me. No other girls allowed.
But that can wait. I’m not done chatting with Miss Adelina yet.
When I’m done, I’ll help you wash up real good—so that no scent of another girl is left on your body. Only mine.
And if you don’t behave… I might just handcuff you, big brother Felyn.
Because you belong only to me…
Felyn noticed something odd in Dorothy’s gaze and shivered involuntarily.
“Well, since Miss Adelina says so, I’ll believe you—for now,” Dorothy said sweetly, sitting back on the sofa and twirling a lock of her lavender hair.
“But I must say, I’m a little excited to finally meet the famous Mr. Felyn.”
“Oh, I’ve only done what anyone would.” Felyn scratched the back of his head, playing along with the act.
“Repelling members of the Holy Church using only a seals. Mr. Felyn, you really do sound like a legendary Hero.”
For some reason, hearing his name from Dorothy made Adelina’s mood sour.
“You flatter me, Your Highness. I’m nowhere near worthy of that title.”
“But I believe in you. I think you’ll become a Hero someday.”
Dorothy sat with her legs swinging off the edge of the chair. “And you know… according to imperial custom, once someone becomes a Hero…”
Right. Even in this world, the role of the Hero was traditionally paired with that of the Princess.
Almost every princess of the Siveshus Empire had ended up marrying the Empire’s Hero.
Adelina knew exactly what Dorothy was implying.
She instinctively edged closer to Felyn, shielding him from the princess’s gaze.
“Mr. Felyn may be strong, but he still has a long way to go before he can be called a Hero.”
“Oh? Miss Adelina, you don’t seem to have much faith in him.”
Dorothy hopped down from her chair and stepped up to Adelina, lifting her chin slightly to meet her gaze.
The two of them—one tall, one short—faced off right in front of Felyn.
He dared not say a word.
Both were his clients. He couldn’t afford to take sides. In this situation, silence was the only safe option.
“I personally think Mr. Felyn shows a lot of promise.”
“I’m just stating the facts, Your Highness. Saying things like that might make him arrogant, and that wouldn’t help his future development.”
Adelina wasn’t backing down at all, even in front of a princess.
“By the way… is Mr. Felyn currently single?” Dorothy suddenly shifted the topic and smiled at him. “Would you like me to introduce you to someone? Or perhaps… there’s already someone you like?”
“Wow, Your Highness, you’re really interested in Mr. Felyn,” Adelina said with a polite smile.
“Oh, I’m just curious about his story. I might be a princess, but I’m still a girl. I get curious about these things too. Mr. Felyn, you’re not offended, are you?”
“Of course not, Your Highness.”
Adelina folded her arms and sat down on the sofa next to Dorothy.
“Felyn, come sit,” she said, patting the empty space beside her.
Felyn cautiously walked over and sat down, making sure to divide his gaze equally between the two girls.
“Since I’m so curious about Mr. Felyn’s preferences, how about you satisfy our curiosity a little?”
Hearing Adelina’s suggestion, Dorothy quickly chimed in.
“Yes! Mr. Felyn, tell us—what kind of girl do you like?”
Both girls looked absolutely certain of one thing—
That the person Felyn liked… was them.
(End of Chapter)