"I have a task to assign you alone."
"Yes. Please, go ahead, Count."
"You’ll need to go see the princess while we eat."
"..."

At Aslan’s nonchalant order, Yuria’s face twisted in disgust.
Was he saying that while I enjoy a cozy dinner with Charlotte and Yulia, she should go run around?
The very thought of leaving Charlotte and Yulia with Aslan was unappealing.

"...Why?"
"You’re the only one who can persuade the princess."
"Wouldn’t it be better for you to persuade her, Count?"
"I'm not an option. The princess probably sees me as being on the same side as the Duke of the North. Once such an impression is formed, no words will reach her ears."

That was... quite a reasonable point.
The princess clearly had quite a rebellious streak.
It was likely that someone her own age would be more effective in breaking down her walls than an adult.

To Yuria, that was about the only advantage.

"I understand. Should I persuade her to join us for the meal?"
"Yes. But you have no eloquence, so if you just try to persuade her, you’re bound to fail."
"..."

Yuria fell silent.
"You have no eloquence." That was something she had heard countless times from those around her.
To put it nicely, it meant she got to the point directly; to put it harshly, it meant she condensed everything to the point of losing all meaning.
Once, on the roof of the academy, she had told a student precariously sitting on the edge, "If you keep sitting like that, you might fall and die, so why not sit somewhere safe?" — and that had led to the student being too scared to leave his house for a week.

"That’s definitely true..."
"So you need to use your weapon."
"My weapon? The training sword I brought from the training ground...?"
"No, not that. Your annoyingly handsome face."

"...?"

Huh?
For a moment, I was slow to understand, and Yuria froze in place.
My handsome... what?

"Surely it wouldn’t hurt to pull your mask aside for a moment. Pretend it’s an accident or that you’re wiping sweat, and take it off briefly. Then your words will hold tremendous persuasive power for the princess."
"..."

So in other words, you want me to use my looks to seduce her?
Are you saying that if I show my face a little, the princess will fall for me right away?
Ha! That’s absurd!
Does this guy see me as some kind of pretty boy?

I had often heard from people who didn’t realize I was cross-dressing that I was cute for a guy,
but I had never heard anyone say I was handsome.
Fueled by rising anger that pierced through the ceiling, Yuria shook her fists with rage.
If I hadn’t been wearing a mask, I might have been fired long ago.

"Yes... I’ll give it a try..."

I was angry, but it looked like I had to do it.
Of course, it probably wouldn’t be of any use, but what’s the point in doing it anyway...?

Leaving behind the bustling and extravagant banquet hall,
Yuria headed toward the dimly lit estate.

...

"Adults are all fools..."

Thud.
Plopping down onto a neatly laid mat,
Merilda expressed her irritation in a frustrated tone.

The sun had already set, and the estate was dark, and while there were no flowers to be seen,
Merilda still wouldn’t leave the estate under the pretext of flower viewing.
She didn’t want to go to the banquet.
She didn’t want to be in a place filled with adults.

After all, all the adults were anxious to send her off to the academy.
They were making a fuss like fools.

"No one cares about my opinions..."

Esther wasn’t dangerous at all.
I couldn’t understand why everyone kept trying to send me away.
It was a complete waste of money and resources.
Spending lavishly on unnecessary things was unfit for a ruler.

I just wanted to walk the path of a ruler who would inherit my father’s legacy.
It seemed that the adults had no intention of giving Merilda that opportunity.

So this was a kind of protest.
I wouldn’t eat or show my face until my opinions were considered.
I didn’t care if it offended Count Vermont.

After all, that man looked somewhat suspicious,
and I didn’t want to get close to him.

"...Is someone there?"

Rustle.
At the sound of the bushes stirring, Merilda quickly turned her head.
What appeared was a masked guard.
Ugh. That was the person who came with Aslan Vermont.

"What business do you have?"
"I heard you were alone, and I thought I might keep you company."
"Sorry, but I don’t need it. You didn’t misunderstand me, did you? Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I want to be escorted to the academy. I was just saying that I don’t need a guard. I didn’t expect to see young guards like you in Vermont."
"That’s not what I meant. Upon meeting you for the first time, I thought you were a very thoughtful person. I just thought this would be a good opportunity for the two of us to meet alone."

"Hmm..."

So he came because he was interested in me?
Hmph. He realizes I’m pretty.
But somehow...
I’m not interested in a kid like you.

'After all, all men are simple-minded.'

Men are so foolish and one-dimensional.
Having grown up with my father and brothers, Merilda had no romantic notions about men.
This guard would probably be just like any other man.

Just as Merilda scoffed at the thought.

"Huh. Wearing a mask for too long makes me sweaty."
"...!"

Clunk.
The guard slowly took off his mask.
At the same time, the clouds that had been covering the sky shifted.

Swoosh.
The dark clouds parted, revealing the bright moonlight pouring down through the glass ceiling of the estate.
The moonlight illuminated the face of the guard who had removed his mask,
and without realizing it, Merilda found herself captivated by his face.

"W-What’s your name...?"

Maybe not all men are the same...
I had always thought men were all burly, hairy brutes like my father and brothers,
but in front of this face, which resembled that of a girl, Merilda found herself utterly enchanted.

"See? I told you it would work."
"..."

Yuria, with her arms crossed, turned away without responding.
That brat. How rude.
It seemed she was quite upset with me.

If you have any complaints, you should say them directly.
This blatant sulking was exactly that of a childish girl.
Seriously, just get a grip...

I was starting to genuinely worry.
Was my mental state shifting along with my cross-dressing?

'Should I suggest we go to the bathhouse together sometime?'

With the protagonist in this state, I felt uneasy leaving Charlotte and Yulia in his care.
Should I perhaps hold a gathering just among the boys and give a long lecture on masculinity?
That was a serious concern.

"Merilda! Now that you’re here, let’s formally greet each other! This is Count Vermont!"
"It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Merilda Friedrich. And please don’t misunderstand. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I intend to be escorted to the academy. I’m just a little hungry..."

Glancing casually at me, she quickly shifted her gaze to Yuria.
When looking at me, her eyes were cold, but they were now dripping with honey.

"I’ll go get some food. U-Yuria, haven’t you eaten yet? Shall we go together?"
"Merilda...!"

Merilda, seemingly shy, twirled her hair around her fingers as she moved closer to Yuria.
As they left together, the Duke of the North let out a desperate wail.
He glared at Yuria, gritted his teeth, and soon swallowed his tears, managing to calm down.

"Is this the Count’s plan? At least you managed to bring the parasite to the negotiation table. But how do you intend to persuade my daughter? Merilda is strong-willed. While you might temporarily sway her, you won’t be able to break her resolve...!"

With a solemn expression, the Duke of the North declared confidently.
Indeed, Merilda is strong-willed... right?
Considering she’s smiling happily next to Yuria, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
Realizing he had just said that, sweat began to trickle down the Duke of the North’s forehead.

'If I keep pushing with the beauty strategy, I might be able to get her to the academy for protection.'

Using Yuria’s chance continuously could be a method.
If Yuria really set her mind to it, I thought Merilda would come around quickly.
But that was too much of a deceptive method, and Yuria wouldn’t appreciate it either, so that was off the table.

"Don’t worry. I have a plan."

However, since Merilda had come to the negotiation table of her own accord,
persuading her would be as easy as pie.
With my experience dealing with stubborn children, it would be no exaggeration to say I had reached a level where I could see through all of their psychology.

"Uncle. Uncle."
"...?"

At that moment, Charlotte quietly tugged at my sleeve, calling me softly.
She had been eating well, so what could it be?
Bending down, I put my ear closer to Charlotte, and she whispered in my ear.

"I think Yuria is really anxious, so I wanted to tell you..."
"Hey! We said that would be a secret...!"
"She said it’s not good to target the princess just because she’s cute!"
"...Rest assured. That won’t happen."

What do these kids think of me?
Do they think I’m insane enough to covet the only daughter of the Duke of the North?
More than anything, after seeing the princess’s perfect etiquette and sharp personality, my interest had completely evaporated.
After all, a wife should be someone I can teach and mold myself...