Prologue 5: The Mask That Slips

“Patti?”

“――I offer my greetings to His Highness Clive.”

“You don’t have to be so formal. Patti, you’re family.”

Clive F. Lorrelan is Alex El Laureran’s half-brother and the biological son of the current Empress. 

He is the same age as Patricia and shows a wide range of talents, holding the second-highest claim to the throne.

He is also the person Alex worries about the most.

Normally, from Patricia’s position, she shouldn’t be very close to him, yet somehow, Clive often initiates conversation with her.

“Your Highness Clive, I have told you many times to please stop calling me by my nickname…”

“Why? You’re family to me, so it’s fine. My dear Patti, I’m lucky to see your smile again today.”

“…That’s not something you should say so recklessly.”

Though still retaining a youthful appearance, his well-proportioned looks made Patricia feel a little embarrassed when he said such things.

Noticing her bashful attempt to hide it, Clive smiled happily and said, “I’m not saying it recklessly. It’s only for you, Patti.”

“…Enough already.”

She gave up early, wondering how many times this back-and-forth had repeated. 

No matter what she said, he probably wouldn’t stop using her nickname.

Suppressing a sigh, she started walking, and Clive matched her pace beside her.

“What brings you here today? To see brother?”

“…Yes. I wanted to talk a little with His Highness Alex.”

“Then where is he now?”

“…He had some business, so we parted ways a little while ago.”

“…Hmm. Leaving Patti behind, huh.”

Though she had grown used to it by now, from an outside perspective, it probably seemed strange.

She wondered how long it had been since Clive last saw Patricia off.

“He’s busy, you know. Especially now, with the Slave Emancipation Incident underway.”

She told herself it couldn’t be helped and left the Royal Palace with only a slight pang of loneliness.

When she smiled to convince herself she was fine, Clive reflected her expression with serious eyes.

“No, that won’t do. Pretending you’re fine when you’re not will only make things harder for you someday. I want you to keep smiling, but not with that sad smile.”

“…Your Highness Clive.”

“If you don’t want to smile, then don’t—for now.”

His kindness gently embraced her wounded heart. 

No matter how painful or sad things were, Patricia had to wear a mask as the future Empress.

It was something she had been sternly told since childhood and something she had firmly resolved in her heart.

No matter what happened, she must never stop smiling.

But he said this precisely because he understood her.

That when she was with him, she could take off that mask.

“His Highness Clive is so kind.”

“Me? Then it’s only for Patti.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

Everyone knew he was kind, especially popular among knights and servants who served him.

That alone showed how much he cared about those around him.

For someone like him to say such nonsense…

“Well then, I’ll believe that. That His Highness Clive is only kind to me.”

“――…Yeah, that’s right. Only to Patti.”