Chapter 88: The Imperial History Museum, Will It Be Alright?

Xavier finished preparing early to go out. Today, he had to accommodate the hastily added schedule as Crown Prince Lucas had expressed his desire to visit the Imperial History Museum.

Despite his neat appearance in formal attire and well-groomed hair, he was extremely tired from not getting proper sleep last night.

He was sure he had been well covered with the blanket while sleeping, but he woke up when the morning chill hit him.

Xavier glanced at Yuria getting her hair done by Maya in front of the mirror.

‘As expected…’

Yuria had been avoiding his gaze since earlier.

‘It’s certain. She’s avoiding my eyes.’

When they arrived at the lodgings with Crown Prince Lucas’s party last night, the couple’s room was dark.

Yuria was lying in bed wearing her nightgown, her back turned to him.

He carefully got into bed and embraced her turned body. Her small frame felt warm and soft in his firm embrace.

Since they hadn’t kissed, he could feel the curse’s energy fading as he buried his nose in her shoulder. Her fragrant scent was almost dizzying.

But she squirmed out of his arms and escaped to the far edge of the bed. Though the bed was large enough that she wouldn’t fall off, his empty hands felt lost without her.

Normally he would have tried to embrace her again, but faced with her cold back, he couldn’t bring himself to reach out.

Naturally, he couldn’t hold her after that.

When he finally woke up shivering from the cold, Yuria was sitting at the vanity chair instead of beside him.

As he was about to get up to apologize again for yesterday…

She threw something like a white cotton ball at his reflection in the mirror!

Yesterday he had even apologized first, thinking he had gone too far. Yet she dared to throw something at him?

Suddenly, his apologetic feelings vanished and his insides began to twist. Abruptly, yesterday’s conversation came to mind.

‘Yuria, don’t you know how I feel?’

‘No, I don’t. But I clearly know that Crown Prince Lucas likes me.’

How dare she compare that raccoon’s feelings to mine!

After all this time of holding and cherishing you, saying I can’t live without you, that you’ve conquered me — how can you doubt my feelings? What about how desperately I searched for you?

That’s when Yuria looked at Xavier for the first time and spoke in a clear voice without inflection,

“I’ll go down first, Xavier.”

“Do that.”

“Maya, let’s go.”

“My lady? I’ll come with you.”

Maya, looking flustered, gave Xavier a quick bow before hurrying to support Yuria.

An unprecedented chill lingered in the room after Yuria left. Xavier stood stiffly, staring blankly at the door she had disappeared through before roughly messing up his neat hair.

*

“That’s the Imperial History Museum.”

The carriage carrying me and Xavier stopped in front of an imposing building.

I was momentarily stunned by the overwhelming presence of the massive building visible through the carriage window.

‘So this is the largest museum in the empire.’

“It’s big.”

“That’s right.”

Then came silence. The conversation cut off.

I could feel Xavier staring at me intently, but after what happened yesterday, I couldn’t properly meet his eyes.

Xavier, who had been constantly trying to make eye contact with me in the room, was now just calmly looking straight ahead. He had quite an irritated expression.

Xavier was the first to break the silence.

“Where’s Maya?”

“I left her behind. She seemed very tired from taking care of me.”

“I see.”

“……”

The awkwardness returned. It was suffocating.

Apart from being angry at Xavier, this atmosphere was truly the worst.

I endured the slowly passing time by tapping my enamel shoe tip against the floor. Xavier too just silently stared ahead without saying anything more.

‘Why is Xavier acting like this? I clearly confirmed that I rejected Lucas’s confession, didn’t I? What reason does he have to be angry? Though I did say some harsh things too…’

I couldn’t understand.

My frowning face was reflected in the enamel leather.

How pathetic. After getting lost worrying that Xavier might die!

Having resolved to protect Xavier regardless of his feelings, I really am foolish.

‘This won’t do. Get it together. I need to break Xavier’s curse.’

I steeled myself and looked into Xavier’s eyes who was sitting across from me.

“Xavier, about yesterday. Thank you for coming to save me.”

“Ah.”

Xavier’s tightly closed lips parted slightly. He covered his mouth, cleared his throat once, and slowly began to speak.

“Ah, about that… I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have demanded an answer from you like that.”

“I understand. From your position, it’s natural to be curious. We are in a contract marriage after all.”

“Right…”

Contract marriage.

Those mere words stabbed at my bare chest.

Awkwardness flowed between us again. Our hands reached for the carriage door at the same time before quickly pulling away. Thinking it would be better to get out quickly, I awkwardly suggested,

“Shall we get out now?”

“We should. The Moirai party will be waiting.”

I descended the carriage steps with Xavier’s escort. As it was still during the founding festival, the square in front of the museum was packed with people. The Moirai delegation had already gotten out of their carriage and were waiting for us.

“Really now, are you going to keep making us wait? You disappeared first yesterday!”

Lucas called out as he quickly ran towards us. I could see Eaglin and Eli slowly walking behind him.

“My apologies.”

“Not you, Duke. I was talking to the Duchess.”

“Right. Aren’t you special.”

While the two were bickering, Eaglin and Eli bowed to Xavier. Receiving their greeting, Xavier began speaking in a solemn voice,

“As you three know, unfortunately, unlike in the duchy, here in the imperial capital, there is strong antipathy towards Moirai. Especially Your Highness, please refrain from showing your ears or tail.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Eaglin and Eli nodded readily.

‘Ah, so this is why we’re touring with minimal personnel.’

How many imperial citizens would be happy to hear that beastmen from Moirai, who frequently wage war against the empire, have come for a tour? I recalled Xavier’s words about needing to complete the tour as inconspicuously as possible.

“I understand.”

Lucas answered confidently while standing between the two beastmen. However, the expressions of Eli and Eaglin watching the back of his head weren’t so confident. Their eyes said they hoped he wouldn’t cause any trouble.

Xavier must have felt the same, as he only let us enter the museum after getting Lucas to confirm three times.

Many people were walking along the colonnade lined with massive pillars supporting the museum. Going inside, the interior was also bustling with people appreciating the artifacts.

“I can’t believe I’m at the Imperial History Museum.”

Eli looked around with sparkling round eyes. He was wearing a robe due to his unavoidably distinctive skin color.

“Ah, that’s! The Empire’s founding memorial!”

The huge body over 2 meters tall jumped up and down in excitement.

Ah!

The vibration made the statue and vase next to me shake. At that moment, Xavier quickly steadied the statue with his palm, and I managed to catch the vase.

‘N-nice catch!’

[Early Brillante Empire Vase, 500 years old]

The exhibition information read.

‘Oh, 500 years!’

Cold sweat ran down my back. This schedule was sure to be thrilling and heart-attack inducing.

“Eli, you know this is a museum, right?”

“Ah, Miss Eaglin. I’m sorry.”

When Eaglin sighed heavily and hit Eli’s arm, a red-faced Eli quickly apologized.

“That’s right, Eli. You must be quiet in museums! Didn’t you hear what the Duke said earlier?”

Lucas hopped over to my side as he scolded Eli.

“Isn’t that right, Duchess?”

“Yes, that’s right, Your Highness.”

You’re the one I’m most worried about.

A crazy raccoon crown prince and a history buff elephant knight over 2 meters tall.

Will today really be alright?

“Duchess.”

“Yes?”

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Lucas asked with a smile. Wondering if my lack of sleep showed, I unconsciously touched my face.

“W-why?”

“Oh my. You have dark circles!”

Lucas made a fuss, putting his palms to his cheeks.

“R-really?”

Is it from not sleeping? Ah, how upsetting.

“I have them naturally, but this is terrible for the Duchess! Your face will become ugly!”

“What did you say?”

Really, this raccoon crown prince has absolutely no sense! Who’s fault is it that I’m like this?

My voice rose automatically.

“Hey, Your Highness?”

“You’re too pretty, you need to become a little ugly.”

“What?”

His obsidian eyes gazed at me steadily. Those pitch-black eyes like an unfathomable abyss seemed ready to swallow me whole.

“I hope you become ugly and get dumped by the Duke. Then I’ll run to you on all fours and snatch you up quick.”

“……”

Is this supposed to be a compliment or what?

“I’m saying you’re too pretty.”

“E-enough.”

I quickly looked away from him. After fighting with Xavier, I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.

“Hmph, you like it though.”

Lucas, who had been smiling cutely, suddenly lowered his voice and said,

“Do you know why I wanted to come here?”

“I wonder.”

When I turned my head, his bead-like black eyes were sparkling.

“There was something I wanted to see with you, Yuria.”