**Stalker Duchess Episode 23**
**Stalker Duchess Episode 23**
* * *
The next day, an invitation arrived from the Imperial Palace.
The sender was none other than Crown Prince Raven.
What? I saw him just yesterday.
If he had business with me, he could just come himself. Why summon me like this during my vacation?
His position made outright refusal impossible, so I could only gripe inwardly.
Grousing to myself, I still had no choice but to head to the Imperial Palace.
Having to see my boss's face two days in a row, even during vacation.
Spotting the Crown Prince lounging leisurely, I openly furrowed my brow.
Fortunately, he was looking at documents and seemed not to notice my expression.
"Uh...... the treasure of the great Seirakia Empire......"
As I tried to offer formal greetings, the Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.
I'd crammed them in a hurry on the way to the palace.
"Sit there and wait a bit."
The Crown Prince pointed to a sofa in the corner.
Calling a guest and treating them so perfunctorily.
But since I was his subordinate, I sat obediently without voicing complaints.
While inwardly badmouthing the Crown Prince vigorously, he finished his duties and approached me before I knew it.
"Follow me."
He strode off without waiting for my reply.
I was brimming with dissatisfaction. Being marked by my boss two days straight during vacation was one thing, and his habit of acting like I should guess his unspoken intentions instead of saying them outright was another.
While inwardly ripping into the Crown Prince nonstop, we arrived at his destination before I knew it.
For some reason, the Crown Prince had looked tense the whole way here.
The place he'd brought me was like the Imperial Palace garden but enclosed by a transparent glass barrier from the outside.
What on earth does he plan to do bringing me here? As I eyed him suspiciously, he cleared his throat awkwardly, still tense, and extended his hand toward me.
From his plainly empty hand, blue flames began flickering.
They soon took human form, then dragon form, soaring high into the sky.
"Whoa-."
This was my first time seeing magic in person.
So he'd dragged things out until now just to show me this.
It was a mystical sight impossible in the real world.
The Crown Prince's refined mana felt awe-inspiring.
All my prior dissatisfaction melted away like snow.
I even felt slightly grateful for the rare spectacle.
Gauging my expression, the Crown Prince cleared his throat again and asked proudly.
"......Impressive, right?"
"Yes."
Affirming his question, his face brightened.
Emboldened by my reply, he asked more actively.
"Want to learn it?"
"I do. If the chance arises, I'd like to try using it."
I agreed without hesitation.
His face lit up even more.
Usually prickly, his already pretty face brightening made it seem like flowers were blooming around him in illusion.
Pretending nonchalance, he crossed his arms.
But he couldn't hide his subtly upturned lips.
"Yeah? If you ask nicely, I wouldn't mind teaching you."
"Ask what?"
His constant subject-dropping and roundabout talk was frustrating me now too.
What exactly was he telling me to ask for?
The Crown Prince still eyed me expectantly.
His expression said he absolutely had to hear something specific from me today.
Mixed with a hint of resentment, like 'How can you not get it after all this?'
I racked my brains for what answer he wanted from me.
Oh, right—I hadn't thanked him yet.
Being forcibly summoned during vacation was unpleasant, but he'd shown me a sight most people never see in a lifetime......
Magic existed in this world, but those who could access it closely were limited.
Learning was difficult, so mages were rare enough to count on one hand.
Moreover, as the Crown Prince said, the few mages holed up in the Mage Tower or secluded in forests for training, impossible to encounter casually.
Perhaps a trait of geniuses, their personalities were all eccentric.
Commoners couldn't even dream of it, and nobles rarely saw mages outside imperial coronations.
Showing such a rarity just for me warranted thanks.
"Thank you for showing me something wonderful."
"......"
His expression soured further at my words.
I must have messed up.
Did the Crown Prince have some illness where hearing thanks from me spelled disaster?
From yesterday, he always looked displeased at my thanks.
I resolved never to thank the Crown Prince again.
Anyway, if not thanks, maybe he wanted praise?
No matter his high status, he was still a child.
Maybe he just wanted to show off how amazing he was.
Plus, why do men tend to flaunt their strength before women?
I'd thought the Crown Prince far from such posturing.
But perhaps he'd shown me magic in that context too.
Despite superhuman abilities, inside he was just an ordinary boy.
In my most excited voice, I said,
"You're really amazing."
"......"
He couldn't hide his disappointment this time either.
......Was my praise insufficient?
Well, 'amazing' was probably commonplace for him.
The Crown Prince was a magic genius but not one to flaunt it casually.
He'd likely pondered long before deciding to show me for my sake.
'Amazing' alone might have felt lacking in sincerity.
I wracked my brains for flattery.
"Uh, Your mana is blue, so the color's pretty, and it's flashy too......"
"Haah. Enough already."
The Crown Prince sighed in a thoroughly deflated voice. Nervously raking back his bangs, he said with a resigned expression,
"What was I expecting from you...... I must've lost my mind for a moment."
For someone saying that, his disappointment was too evident.
This seemed to conclude his business.
I bid farewell to the still dejected Crown Prince and said I'd return to the Duke's Mansion.
Expecting him to let me go, he incredulously retorted,
"You're leaving?"
He reacted as if I'd said something absurd.
Was returning to the Duke's Mansion that outrageous?
Tilting my head, I said,
"Do you still have business with me?"
"......N-no, not really, but......"
He mumbled evasively.
After hesitating long, with a flushed face, he said,
His voice so tiny it was hard to catch.
"If, by chance, you haven't eaten yet, I...... I haven't either...... so."
Ah. Even I could understand that much.
He wanted to invite me to a meal but was too shy to say it outright.
If only he were always this roundabout.
I'd finally caught his intent, but had no plans to accept the meal invitation.
Dining alone with the Crown Prince.
The thought alone suffocated me. And suddenly why? From someone who'd fasted rather than eat my cooking?
I decided to decline as politely as possible.
"Thank you for the offer, but I already ate before coming to the Imperial Palace, so I'm fine."
At my words, he gaped blankly, looking shocked.
Was it shock I ate already, or that I'd refused outright?
While he reeled, I turned to leave.
Regaining his senses, he urgently tried to stop me.
"......Th-then, how about a light tea before you go? Some tribute just arrived from the southern lands. You've always been unable to resist sweets. Consider it atonement for what happened before, and let me treat you."
I didn't know Duchess Serabi's tastes, but I hated sweets.
The Crown Prince didn't seem the sweet-loving type either.
I had no idea his motives, but I wasn't about to accept such a suspicious invitation. Turning to refuse again,
"......"
Facing him again, I inwardly startled at his uncharacteristically earnest gaze looking up at me.
This wasn't a trap......?
Did this guy really want to eat sweets alone with me, no ulterior motive?
No way that old-soul brat had the social awareness for such a cute proposal...... He hates me, right?
Yet his golden eyes shone with pure earnestness, untainted.
I'd realized he had no scheme, but we weren't close enough for friendly tea chat.
Decline with a 'busy' excuse.
Saying I had to feed the cat at home should suffice.
So thinking, I opened my mouth—but met his golden eyes.
"......"
I froze, mouth agape.
His anxiously trembling pupils seemed to sense I'd refuse.
He'd probably rarely been rejected in life.
Who could refuse the Crown Prince going this far?
If refusal left my lips, he'd die of embarrassment right there—such was his expression.
He likely didn't realize what face he was making.
Meeting his pleading eyes, I grimaced troubledly.
This...... even I can't refuse.
