Adjustment period (not really) (Part 7)

The Prince of Britannia turned his gaze toward me!

“Why did you scuttle my ship?”

“Why indeed, why would I scuttle your ship?” I scratched my cheek with my index finger, too guilty to meet his eyes directly.

A sudden realization dawned on him!

“Could it be that you…”

My face flushed involuntarily at his words.

‘Had he guessed that I didn’t want him to leave, and that was why I’d deliberately scuttled the ship? Ugh… how utterly mortifying!’

Immediately after, he pointed at me with the air of someone identifying a culprit.

“Oh! I know! You must have calculated for the ship I was on to sink precisely when it reached the deepest part of the ocean!”

I was so exasperated I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Do you suffer from paranoia?”

“What else could it be?”

“…Are you an idiot?”

‘Did he really want me to voice such an embarrassing reason?’

Just then, another wave of guards appeared in a grand procession.

I stared in utter bewilderment as they brought yet another girl along!

This time, it was the Prince of Britannia’s turn to lose his ‘composure’.

“Your Royal Highness, Prince from Britannia, we’ve finally found you!”

“Is this your maid? We caught her in the act of scuttling the ship as well.”

The Prince of Britannia was speechless.

Slowly, my face turned towards him, surprise etched upon it.

“Hey, what kind of move is it to scuttle your own ship?”

I watched as his handsome face grew redder and redder.

“That’s because… because…”

Seeing this, his maid quickly patted her chest.

“It was my own decision to scuttle the ship! His Royal Highness did not instruct me to do so!”

‘Hold on, doesn’t it sound like your explanation is just a cover-up? I bet you were acting on your Prince’s orders!’

Then, gathering her courage, she declared.

“Because I think my Prince and Princess Fubai are quite compatible! It would be such a shame to miss out on a match just because of a small argument!”

I: “…”

He: “…”

I secretly glanced at him, only to find him secretly looking at me too!

After our eyes met, we both shyly averted our gazes.

‘This Maid really is something else! Why say such embarrassing things in front of so many people?’

A certain Rabbit-eared Maid weakly raised her hand.

“I also think you two are quite a good match…”

“That’s enough!”

The guards collectively chimed in.

“Yes, yes, they are quite compatible.”

“All of you, that’s enough!”

‘Ugh! Is there a crack in the ground? Let me crawl into it!’

‘This farce needs to end—now!’

“Alright, alright! Let’s all pretend nothing happened tonight! Do you hear me?”

I declared, adopting the dignified air of a Princess, though the blush on my face was likely still undeniable.

“Yes, yes, Your Highness! Nothing at all happened; it was another calm and peaceful night!”

The guards dispersed in a flurry.

‘So this is the true extent of power? I never realized my words as a Princess carried such weight!’

‘Hey, hey, hey! Luo Bing’ai’er, why are you leaving too? And his maid as well! Doesn’t that mean it’s just the two of us left here?’

Given the situation… he and I simply stared at each other.

He gazed at me nervously, his lips parting several times as if to speak, only to close again.

‘Honestly, for a boy, why is he even shyer than me at such a critical moment?’

‘Pah, I’m a boy too!’

“Alright, you don’t need to explain anymore. I understand everything.”

“Isn’t it simply because—you didn’t actually want to leave, but felt obliged to save face, which is why you scuttled the ship?”

Haha, my words hit him squarely!

‘Watching his face flush crimson with mortification, he looked utterly adorable~’

“Th-then why did you scuttle my ship?”

It was my turn to feel utterly mortified…

“Hmph, can’t you tell why? Do you really think I’m that wicked?”

“W-well, if that’s the case, then let’s not mock each other!” he stammered.

“We’re even!”

I quickly seized the opportunity to smooth things over.

“Yes, yes, we’re even.”

“Then… see you tomorrow!”

After saying this, he turned to leave, but I suddenly remembered something crucial!

“I still don’t know your name!”

He glanced back at me, his face still flushed.

“Maple Syrup.”

“Huh? Your name is Maple Syrup, so can you be eaten?”

“Your name is Fubai, so can you be drunk?!”