The walls of Sunset Fortress towered high, crisscrossed with arrow scars and newly patched stones.
In silence, they told of the war’s brutality.
Like a giant beast crouched in the dusk, battered and covered in wounds.
The room Wendy Black now occupied—personally prepared by Princess Astreia—was on the third floor of the Main Keep.
A Copper Vanity Mirror sat atop the nightstand, and in the corner stood a Half-body Dressing Mirror.
Pushing open the creaking wooden window, one could gaze out at the heavy darkness beyond the fortress.
It wasn’t luxurious, but it was tidy and quiet.
[Knock knock knock——]
Wendy opened the door to find a neatly dressed young man standing outside.
He held a folded set of clothes in both hands and bowed slightly. “Greetings, Prince Wendy.
I am Edwin Veid, Her Highness Princess Astreia’s Secretary.
These are the clean clothes prepared for you.”
Wendy gave a slight nod and accepted the garments.
He walked over to the dressing mirror and casually held them up for comparison, but his movements suddenly froze.
A silk robe in a bright green hue, paired with a billowy pair of Lantern Pants.
“Ugh!”
Wendy shivered on the spot, goosebumps rising all over, nearly tossing the clothes aside.
This color, this style—if he put these on, wouldn’t he look like he’d turned into the Green Wild Fairyland on the spot?
And the kind that sings soprano with a Voice Changer, no less!
He could already imagine how absurdly flamboyant he’d look in such an outfit.
“Sorry, could I get something a bit simpler?”
Wendy handed the clothes back to Edwin.
“If there’s really nothing else, just a shirt and shorts would be fine.”
Mainly, anything that didn’t blind people with its color—especially not this shade of ‘forgiveness green’.
Edwin Veid’s facial muscles twitched, and his knuckles whitened as he gripped the clothes.
“Prince Wendy, do you think these old clothes are beneath your noble status?”
He lifted his chin, speaking in a tone that mixed forced politeness with barely suppressed anger.
“This is Sunset Fortress, a front-line stronghold! Not your long-fallen Royal Palace Rear Garden. There are no spare men’s clothes for you here!”
“These clothes were given to you only because Princess Astreia herself asked me to prepare them!”
“If you refuse to accept them, then don’t bother changing—or… just leave Sunset Fortress on your own!”
Wendy was caught off guard by this sudden outburst.
But when he saw the man’s handsome face, now twisted with emotion, and the way he struggled to maintain his noble bearing, Wendy understood at once.
‘Ah, the classic love rival template. Cannon fodder male side character number two.’
‘Looks like I’m standing in his way…’
‘But I never heard of this guy in the game. He must be a minor character.’
Before Wendy could come up with a retort, Edwin Veid stepped closer, his manicured fingers nearly poking Wendy’s nose.
“I don’t care what flowery words you used to deceive Princess Astreia into bringing you here! But let me be clear—this is a Military Camp, a Battlefield! We don’t need some pampered vase who does nothing but cause trouble and even has the gall to fuss over clothes!”
“What’s going on here?”
A clear female voice sounded from the doorway.
Astreia had changed into an indigo casual outfit, the absence of armor lending her a softer, everyday air.
She strode in quickly and stepped between the two.
The anger on Edwin Veid’s face froze instantly, then drained away, leaving him pale and awkward.
His noble arrogance crumbled in a flash, making him look like a rooster with its neck squeezed.
Wendy glanced at the Secretary’s sudden “face change,” secretly amused.
Tsk tsk tsk…
No skills, can’t manage his emotions—terrible rating!
He had no interest in wasting words on such a trivial matter, nor did he want to make things difficult for Astreia.
So, under Edwin’s disbelieving gaze, Wendy gently took Astreia’s hand.
“It’s nothing, Astreia.”
The Prince’s voice was gentle, perfectly mixing a hint of grievance with feigned strength.
“It’s just that, with a big battle coming up, these rags really aren’t much to look at. The new clothes Secretary Edwin brought are quite nice—I just wanted to wash up first, so I don’t get them all dirty with dust and blood.”
At these words, not only Edwin Veid, but even Astreia looked a bit surprised.
But at the mention of “washing up,” the First Princess’s cheeks inexplicably flushed bright red.
“Ah… s-sorry, Wendy… Your Highness. Sunset Fortress is a Military Camp, and the facilities are crude. There’s… there’s no bath specifically for men.”
The “Northern Lioness” suddenly sounded flustered.
“I-If you don’t mind, you’ll have to wait until the female soldiers are done before using the Public Bath. But it’s late now, so they should all be finished. I… I’ll take you there now.”
Wendy nodded slightly, tightening his hold on the Princess’s hand.
“Astreia, there’s no need for such formality between us. We already agreed—just call me Wendy.”
“Y-Yes, Wendy…”
Astreia lowered her head, her golden lashes trembling.
Seizing the opportunity, Wendy leaned in, bringing his lips close to Astreia’s ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“Then, while I’m washing up, could I trouble you… to stand guard outside the door for me?”
“After all, I’m just a defenseless Prince. If any other enthusiastic ladies barge in, I might not be able to handle it.”
His warm breath brushed her ear, making Astreia freeze, her ears burning.
“Here… you’re the only one I trust, Astreia~”
This spoiled, almost magical request shattered the Knight Princess’s defenses in an instant.
Astreia’s cheeks and ears turned so red it looked like they might bleed.
“Wendy, don’t worry!”
The First Princess straightened up at once, thumping her impressive chest with her right hand and vowing loudly, “With me here! I absolutely won’t let a—anyone go in and disturb you! I—I definitely won’t peep… Uh, I mean, I’ll definitely guard the door!”
Watching the “scenery” bounce with its owner’s excitement, Wendy curved his lips in satisfaction.
“Mm, very spirited! Then I’ll leave it to you, my brave Knight.”
With that, he glanced meaningfully over his shoulder at Edwin, whose face had gone from white to red to green, and who now looked like he was trying to kill Wendy with his eyes.
Then, Wendy naturally took Astreia’s hand and, with an elegant air, strode out the door as if nothing had happened.
Inside the room, only Edwin Veid remained.
His hands, still clutching the clothes, trembled from the force of his grip.
The silk fabric was wrinkled and misshapen, his manicured nails digging deep into his palms, leaving pale crescent marks.
A nameless rage surged up, burning away his reason.
“Why… Why!”
After a long while, Edwin Veid squeezed out a hoarse, envy-laced cry between clenched teeth.
“I was clearly… I was clearly here first!”
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