Chapter 80: Separation Anxiety Leads to Kidnapping

After Crown Prince Lucas arrived at the Duke’s residence, many things changed.

From his first day, the garden was devastated leaving the gardeners in tears, the kitchen staff was overwhelmed by the elephant beastman’s enormous appetite, and Xavier developed separation anxiety.

It was exactly like this:

“Yuria.”

From morning until night, he would crawl into my bedroom and refuse to leave my side. Gone was the cold and stern Xavier of before, now he clung to me like a puppy.

“Aren’t you going to work? Aren’t you busy?”

While I liked it, it was starting to get a bit annoying.

“I finished everything last night.”

“So that’s why you didn’t come to my room last night. You endured the pain and worked all night?”

“Yes, so I could stay by your side during the day.”

He whined while nuzzling his face against my stomach. My face suddenly flushed with embarrassment.

“Ahem, let’s not do this first thing in the morning, shall we?”

“But I want to. What if that raccoon shows up and interferes again?”

His hands gripped my waist heavily.

“Xavier, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Really? I don’t want to be husband number 2. That’s even worse than becoming a cat.”

Ah right, Xavier had gotten really angry at Lucas’s polygamy comment. He’s still bothered by what Lucas said. That crazy guy is causing trouble for everyone.

“You’re my only husband.”

I stroked his rough jawline with my hand. He must not have shaved as his skin felt bristly under my touch.

“Those words are so thrilling.”

“So hurry up and go work. If you get sick and collapse, Crown Prince Lucas will surely come running to me, don’t you think?”

“Ah…”

His teal eyes, like emeralds, darkened. As if he couldn’t bear to imagine it, he put his hand to his mouth and opened it.

“Right, I should get some sleep.”

“Go get some rest.”

Ah, now I can finally get some rest too.

For several days, he had been following me around like a baby duck, making it impossible to properly rest. However, Xavier spread his arms and lay down on my bed.

“Come, lie down?”

He gestured for me to lie down, pointing at his muscular arm.

This man, really.

“Xavier.”

Seeing me glare at him, he grinned and slipped his hand around my waist, laying me down on his arm. Though I had slept in his arms every night, it had been a while since I used his arm as a pillow.

Wrapping both arms around me, Xavier brought his nose to my cheek and whispered softly.

“Yuria, I can’t live without you.”

“I know.”

“Really. I’m nothing without you.”

I nodded while stroking his glossy black hair.

“Yes.”

“So don’t go anywhere… don’t go.”

After mumbling for a while, Xavier fell asleep.

Having stayed up several nights to keep Lucas away from me, he seems to have completely succumbed to exhaustion.

I bent down and softly kissed his cheek. After confirming that a golden light enveloped him, I quietly slipped out of bed.

*

Fortunately, thanks to Xavier’s complete blockade, I had barely encountered Lucas.

For some unknown reason, those born as beastmen seemed to avoid meeting Empire citizens during meal times.

The servants at the Duke’s residence, busy with the guests from Moirai, started developing dark circles under their eyes like Lucas. They said they were doubly busy with preparations for the upcoming Empire’s grand festival, the Founding Festival.

Maya and Rosetta were also so busy that except for bringing breakfast, they didn’t even show their faces in my room.

With the Founding Festival coming up soon, I wonder if the Crown Prince’s party will participate too. I suppose they’ll need to be guided around?

Ugh, I have a bad feeling already.

Walking along the garden path, I looked at the unsightly damaged rose beds. Seeing that makes me feel even more uneasy.

“What did you poor things do wrong? Sigh.”

Though the gardeners were working hard to restore them, the damage was so severe that progress was slow.

“What? Did these commit some crime?”

“Oh my goodness, you scared me! Hey!”

SLAP!

I was so startled that I hit the person’s back with my palm.

“Ouch! Why is your hand so harsh!”

Lucas jumped up, twisting his body like a squid.

Seeing him grimace and scratch his back vigorously, my hand must have really stung.

“I’m sorry. But why do you keep startling me?”

“Oh, were you very surprised? I’m sorry too, Duchess.”

I tried to hold back my laughter at how he consistently called me ‘Duchess’ and asked,

“While I like being called Duchess, is that really what you decided to call me?”

“Yes, since you, I mean, the Duchess doesn’t like it. Eaglin also lectured me about it for several days.”

Lucas scratched the back of his head and clasped his arms behind his head. Then he glanced at me and asked:

“What about the Duke? He was sticking to you like a leech, but he’s not here today?”

“Ah, yes. He seemed tired. He’s still sleeping.”

“Oh, then… free lady?”

“Pardon?”

His round black pearl-like eyes sparkled. I felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

What is this feeling like being trapped in a nightmare?

Damn.

This was the dream where I was tormented by the raccoon before.

“I heard tonight is the eve of the Empire’s Founding Festival, and I wanted to see it.”

“Ah, that’s what I heard too.”

On the eve of the Founding Festival, celebrations are held not only in the imperial capital but in every region. I don’t remember ever attending one. I only heard about it from Maya.

“Let’s go together.”

“Where?”

“To the eve festival! I heard Pins’ eve festival is more fun than the Founding Festival in the capital?”

“Who said that?”

“The kind servants here. When I asked with a gentle smile, they told me everything.”

Hmm, maybe they were just scared of the crazy person.

“Let’s go when Xavier wakes up.”

“That won’t do. That cat will definitely try to go without me.”

“He’s not a cat. He’s a good person.”

“Huh, look at you defending husband number 2. Husband number 1 feels hurt.”

Wait, when did we ever get married?

Feeling I needed to correct this at least once, I looked at Lucas seriously and said,

“Your Highness, as I said before, I’m the madam of House Auguste. Please stop joking around.”

“I’m not joking.”

“……”

“I’m serious.”

His gaze was straightforward. Though his words were absurd, I couldn’t easily respond when faced with that look.

“I don’t know enough about Moirai culture to comment. But I can’t go with you.”

“That’s too harsh. Even when I’m asking like this.”

For a moment, Lucas’s image overlapped with Lulu’s drooping ears. He lowered his hands from his head and put them in his pants pockets as he turned to walk away.

But I couldn’t leave the Crown Prince alone. Thinking I’d walk with him and then excuse myself, I followed him.

“This won’t do.”

Lucas stopped walking and turned around to look into my eyes.

“What?”

“No matter what you say, I’m going to do it anyway.”

Huh? Did he just say ‘you’ informally?

“I like you, Duchess.”

His black eyes stared at me intently without wavering. What followed was a wave of heat from embarrassment.

“I really, really like you. It was love at first sight.”

When I just listened quietly, perhaps thinking I hadn’t heard, he pressed on with his confession.

Our eyes met for only one or two seconds. I was the first to look away. Even with my head down, I could feel Lucas looking at me.

“I’m sorry.”

“What, am I already rejected?”

At those words, I looked up to see Lucas staring somewhere far off in the garden. His profile looked somewhat sad. Did he get hurt by the rejection?

“Your Highness.”

“Is there someone you like?”

“I’m married.”

“Tch, that Xavier guy, I’m jealous.”

Lucas walked a few steps and kicked a stone.

“Ack!”

Unfortunately, the flying stone seemed to hit some gardener’s head.

“Run!”

“What? We should go help them!”

“There’s a healer at the Duke’s residence! Let’s go!”

“That healer was sent to another country and isn’t here right now?”

Lucas looked down at me with a dumbfounded expression before breaking into a bright smile, dimples forming in his white cheeks.

“Well, whatever. Run quickly!”

“Oh my!”

He picked me up and started running.

“Put me down!”

I hit his shoulder with my fist and pinched his arm, but my nails couldn’t even make a dent. How are his muscles so hard?

“Let’s go to the eve festival like this.”

“What?”

His running speed was incredible. Is it because he’s from the beast royal family? His athletic ability was extraordinary.

“There’s a horse over there!”

“Horse?”

Where Lucas pointed, Friedrich was taking a walk with the coachman. He was still walking elegantly with his beautiful long curly mane.

Just as Friedrich noticed me and widened his nostrils in greeting, Lucas swiftly placed me on Friedrich’s saddle and jumped up behind me.

“Wait, you said you wouldn’t kidnap me!”

“This isn’t kidnapping, though? We’re just going to the eve festival?”

That’s the same thing, you crazy person!

Lucas gave a vague answer and grabbed the reins to start.

“Giddyup!”

The coachman fell flat on the ground, his hat falling off. I watched him run towards the Duke’s residence shouting “Your Grace!” before looking forward again.

“But Friedrich…!”

“What?”

He only carries handsome people.

Friedrich started running excitedly as if it was carrying his master.

“How can he run so well when you’re not even his master?”

Friedrich responded to my question with a neigh.

“No way.”

Is it because Lucas is handsome too?

I glanced up at the man holding the reins. His cute face shone mischievously.

Red lips curved in a smirk, large deep black eyes, straight nose, deep dimples.

Well, he does have looks that could rival an idol.

But still, what an unprincipled horse.

Friedrich began galloping at full speed while neighing excitedly.