[IHTTMBW] Chapter 39

“Not dessert, but a meal.”

Euphil speared a piece of roasted pheasant with a fork and brought it to my lips. I signalled for a moment, then opened my mouth wide and took the pheasant he offered into my mouth. 

‘Delicious!’ 

The way it melted in my mouth—it was definitely pheasant. Now I understand why, in the past, they used to catch pheasants and make broth from them. Sometimes, they would serve the meat of a capon, which made me feel a bit sorry, but I remembered pretending not to know what castration meant. 

For dessert, in addition to the tart that had been served earlier, there was sherbet made from ground lemon and apple, along with whole grapes frozen in sugar. Each bite burst with flavour in my mouth. 

After finishing the meal and feeling full, I began to crave a nap. I cautiously observed Euphil. Normally, around this time, I would have napped with him. 

“I’m so sleepy! I want to take a nap.” 

“Princess, are you sleepy?” 

“Yes! I’m really sleepy. I want to nap!” 

As I loudly declared this for everyone to hear, she smiled warmly from my right side. She wiped the sauce from my face cleanly and said, 

“Shall we go lie down then?” 

“Yes, no. But I’m sleepy.” 

I glanced at Euphil. 

However, Euphil simply kept his mouth shut, not even looking in my direction. 

As I let out a deep sigh, Gelbart quietly spoke up. 

“Sleep with your grandpa?” 

“With Grandpa?” 

“Myrthi.” 

He sighed and gestured for me to come over. Before Gelbart could even call my name, I widened my eyes at the speed with which he patted the spot next to him. 

“Come here. I’ll put you to sleep.” 

“Wow! Why? Can I just sleep here with you now?” 

“Really, such a jealous one.”   “No, I’m not.” 

As Gelbart grumbled, Euphil immediately responded, then, after a brief pause, answered again. He must have taken some time to think it over. 

“I have something to say. It’s about the Academy.” 

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter. With a smile, I plopped down next to him, and we headed toward his palace. 

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Although it has only been a few days, the Palace of Euphil felt as if it had been a month since I last visited.  

The only difference was that the celestial map drawn in the sky during my childhood had now transformed into a series of famous paintings depicting myths.  

These were precisely the characters from the epic poems that Euphil used to recite so joyfully.  

With only four years left until adulthood, Euphil was surprisingly maturing in this country, where one becomes an adult at nineteen.  

Yet, despite still being only fifteen, his room overflowed with books. At this rate, instead of sending a trainee to the Academy, they should be sending a trainee from the Academy to Euphil’s palace.  

Inside, I lay back on the bed in one corner of the room, waiting for Euphil to arrive.  

Having grown well during our time apart, Euphil had become a handsome young man with flowing blonde hair, far from the baby he once was.  

Had swordsmanship transformed him? With a body that blended youth and manhood, he moved with a balanced and agile grace, showcasing defined muscles.  

He sat down on the edge of the bed, gently stroking my head. It seemed he was about to read me a fairy tale. However, he looked at me seriously and casually threw out a question.  

“Do you want to go to the academy?”  

Euphil said this while gazing into my eyes. Looking closely into those eyes, I tilted my head in confusion. Why was he so obsessed with the Academy?  

As I hesitated to answer, unsure of why, he spoke first, his gentle hand brushing my eyebrows.  

The pleasant sensation made my neck tingle, and I rubbed my forehead against his hand. He affectionately patted my head, as if finding me cute.  

Then, lowering his voice, he said, “Don’t go.”  

“Why? Is it boring?”  

“...You’d fail.”  

His sweet words could only be uttered when we were together.  

“Hehe.”  

I couldn’t help but hide my smile as I covered my cheeks. I felt my face flush with the delightful words he said.  

It seemed that he still disliked the idea of parting, just like when he was ten.  

‘Wow, this kid talks so well.’  

I desperately tried to brighten Euphil’s mood.  

“I won’t go! Being with you is the best!”  

“...Yeah!”  

Euphil smiled softly at the corners of his mouth. As a picturesque scene unfolded, I gazed at him momentarily, lost in thought.  

Even though he was doing this for me, the reason I remained wary of Euphil was simple: his appearance. Euphil was becoming increasingly alluring.  

Alluring? That sounds a bit strange.  

But it was also odd to talk about sensuality when referring to a fifteen-year-old.  

Despite being close to adulthood in this world, there was still a slight awkwardness. Yes, “alluring” felt appropriate.  

Euphil was a beautiful boy who seemed to belong in any myth. His short blonde hair made him look even more noble.  

His ruby-coloured eyes were incredibly beautiful but held an inexplicable danger within them. It was believable that he could be a tyrant in his childhood. The mesmerising aura in his eyes could easily captivate anyone who gazed into them.  

‘Like a monster.’