The Prince Is Actually a Princess?! Chapter 7

─── ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ───

[Scene: Adrian’s Study]

The fire crackles, throwing flickering shadows over Adrian’s desk. He should be reading the reports before him, but his mind refuses to cooperate.

A knock.

Before Adrian can respond, Cedric walks in uninvited.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

[not looking up] I could have been plotting treason.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

[grinning] And yet, here you are. Staring at the same page for ten minutes.

Adrian shuts the book.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Say what you came to say and leave.

Cedric strolls over, plucking an apple from the desk as if he owns the place.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

Fine. Let’s talk about your fiancée.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

[flatly] No.

Cedric ignores him, biting into the apple.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

She hates you.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

I noticed.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

She’s also been actively trying to make you miserable.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

I noticed that too.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

[grins] So… why haven’t you called off the engagement?

Adrian goes still.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

…It’s complicated.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

[raising an eyebrow] Oh? And does this complication have something to do with you hiding things?

Adrian does not answer.

Cedric leans in, watching him closely.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

Are you even interested in women?

Silence.

A long, painful silence.

Adrian stares at him.

Just… stares.

Cedric, absolutely oblivious to the danger, keeps grinning.

Adrian sets his book down very carefully.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

…Do you like breathing?

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

What?

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Do you enjoy the simple act of inhaling and exhaling without difficulty?

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

…Yes?

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Would you like to continue doing so?

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

…Also yes?

Adrian leans forward, eyes cold.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Then never. Ask me that. Again.

Cedric blinks.

For once in his life, he shuts up.

Then—

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

…That’s not a no.

Adrian grabs a dagger and hurls it.

It misses Cedric’s head by an inch and stabs into the bookshelf behind him.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

[wide-eyed] Message received.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Get out.

Cedric, for the first time in his entire life, actually listens.

Adrian exhales, rubbing his temples.

─── ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ───

If Adrian won’t end this engagement, Isla will force him to.

Her strategy?

1. Annoy him into hatred. 2. Be as unbearable as possible. 3. Make him regret his entire existence.

And she’s doing an excellent job.

The Breakfast Attack

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

You don’t talk much. Makes sense. Warlords are usually all muscle, no brain.

Adrian, chewing toast, pauses.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

…Did you just call me stupid?

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

Oh, not directly.

Cedric & Helena chokes on their tea.

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

Dramatic sigh] Oh dear, warhorses frighten me so! I’m just a weak little princess, after all.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

…You threw a dagger at me last night.

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

Did I? My, what an unladylike thing to do.

The Wine Incident

Isla accidentally spills wine on Adrian’s sleeve.

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

Oops.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

Slow blink.

Cedric, watching from across the table, whispers: “Incredible.”

The Dinner War

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

[loudly, over roasted pheasant] Adrian, do you snore? I simply cannot stand a man who snores.

Adrian Elivara ( Crown prince/mc)

[tiredly] Then don’t stand near me.

Isla Rosewood (princess/fl)

[mock gasp] Oh, what a cruel thing to say to your beloved fiancée!

By this point, the entire dining hall is listening.

Adrian exhales slowly, staring at Isla like he’s calculating the consequences of murder.

Cedric, absolutely enjoying this, leans toward Adrian.

Cedric Valmont (General/mc right- hand)

You sure you’re not interested in women?

Adrian throws his spoon at him.

─── ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧ ───

End of the chapter