[PleaseShakeACarrot: Let’s go apologize]

[Gold2: Go, go, go, go!]

“You guys are just doing this because you think it’ll be fun.”

[Plong: Obviously, it’s PleaseShakeACarrot]

As usual, these angels were consistent.

But I hesitated, worrying that going immediately might trample on Jamon’s pride even more. I did have at least a shred of conscience, and I felt a bit sorry.

[OnlyFinley has donated 30,000 points!]

– Let’s go!!!

Starting today, I am a person without a conscience. As soon as I received the points, I rushed towards where Jamon had gone.

Despite my earnest search, I couldn’t find any trace of Jamon.

It bothered me not to fulfill the viewers’ expectations after even receiving points.

Just then, as I was searching with determination, I spotted familiar blonde hair.

My face brightened as I called out.

“Your Highness!”

Jamon turned around.

Contrary to someone who had just been in tears, he had a very composed expression.

Perhaps that’s the prince’s way, to sort out his emotions quickly. I couldn’t help but admire him anew.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to apologize for what happened earlier.”

“……?”

A question flickered across Jamon’s face, as if pretending nothing had happened.

Was he feigning ignorance out of wounded pride? 

Nevertheless, I had to deliver my apology properly. The viewers had instructed it, after all.

“I didn’t intend to hurt you.”

It was meant just to upset him, not to cause actual hurt.

“If I offended you, I apologize. I am sorry.”

“……”

Jamon cracked a sly smile at my words.

“Are you really sorry?”

“Yes, of course.”

“How about spending the day doing as I ask, then?”

“……?”

I looked at Jamon, puzzled.

“What are you going to ask me to do?”

“Go on a date with me for the day?”

“…….”

I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing the person before me.

“You’re the Crown Prince, aren’t you?”

“Ah, how did you know?”

Irmin dropped his act and smiled as he usually did.

He hadn’t planned to keep up the pretense to the end. I couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

It was tricky with them looking so similar. If they acted, it was hard to tell them apart.

“But why apologize? What happened?”

“…….”

I hesitated, realizing I might inadvertently reveal to Irmin what had happened with Jamon.

I tentatively said,

“Well… I made His Highness cry?” 

“What?”

Irmin’s eyes widened in disbelief, then he burst into laughter.

“Ahaha, impressive, you! It’s not easy to crack Jamon’s pride!”

He seemed genuinely amused. It was odd that he found it amusing that I made his brother cry.

“What exactly did you do to make Jamon cry?”

“Well, I… made a comparison with Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

As I said it out loud, I felt like a terrible person, although it wasn’t untrue.

Irmin clapped his hands in approval.

“You know his weaknesses very well. I did well entrusting Jamon to you.”

“Even though I made him cry as soon as you did?”

“That means you’ve got a good grasp on Jamon. Now, try being a bit kinder to him.”

It’s tough to be this positive. He was truly something.

Meeting Irmin like this, I decided it was a good opportunity to ask about Jamon.

“What kind of person is His Highness?”

“As you can see, he’s proud and prickly. That’s about it.”

I knew that much. It was evident from the first time we met.

Irmin then added something unexpected.

“But he’s also incredibly sensitive at heart. He’s been compared to me since we were young and carries a lot of scars from it.”

“It did seem like that…”

He was on the verge of tears just from our conversation.

“And isn’t he incredibly cute?”

“Cute, even though he looks just like His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Not the looks. I mean in other aspects. His jealousy is quite endearing.”

Irmin blushed and chuckled.

‘This guy…’

He was a serious case of sibling affection.

It was intriguing to find that even Irmin had a weak spot. His affection for his brother was evident.

Ironically, Jamon seemed to detest Irmin quite a bit. Their brotherly relationship was a real mess.

“If there’s a place where Jamon might be… There’s a small garden he often visits. Try going there.”

“You know him very well.”

“I know everything about Jamon.”

It was beyond brotherly affection; it was almost stalkerish. I shrugged off the uneasy feeling and followed a maid assigned by Irmin to the garden.

The maid left after showing the way, leaving me alone to enter the garden. It was indeed a small garden, as described.

I would have thought Jamon preferred grand and lavish gardens. This was an unexpected taste.

It was a small garden, but I still had to find my way.

Since it had come to this, I decided to earn some points.

“Which way should I go?”

[Isaac: To the right]

“For points.”

[Isaac has donated 1,000 points!]

– Sorry

I obediently moved as directed by the viewers.

[Poppopo has donated 1,000 points!]

– Go straight

[AsparagusCharm has donated 1,000 points!]

– Go straight, then turn left

[Stress has donated 1,000 points!]

– Ok, right there

I ended up in the woods, far beyond the garden.

What’s okay about this? I’m lost. But I had received plenty of points, so I decided to let it slide.

How am I supposed to find Jamon like this? I should’ve ignored the angels’ directions and just gone my own way.

Then, I heard rustling from the bushes.

Startled, I flinched.

“…….”

What jumped out was a black cat.

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Wow, a cat]

[OnlyFinley: It looks like Jiha!]

[Gold2: MJ resemblance]

These people claim anything black resembles me.

I’m not particularly fond of cats, so I planned to just walk by.

But then the cat came over and rubbed against my feet.

[LLoading has donated 30,000 points!]

– So cute!!!

Well, playing with the cat for a bit wouldn’t hurt. I squatted down and started petting it.

The cat purred and rolled onto its back, showing its belly. A cat with no pride.

‘But it’s unusual for a stray cat to be this friendly.’

Before the possession, I lived in a studio apartment, so I knew a thing or two about stray cats.

Maybe it belonged to someone.

But if it’s a cat from the royal garden…

“Lady?”

I heard someone’s voice from behind.

It was Jamon.

His face was clean, showing no trace of the tears from earlier.

He frowned the moment our eyes met. He was openly showing his dislike.

“Did you follow me here?”

“Yes, well… it just happened?”

“It just happened?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince directed me here.”

“Ha…”

Jamon sighed deeply, as if he expected as much.

As soon as Jamon appeared, the cat went to him.

I stood up and looked at Jamon.

“Is the cat yours, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

“It’s cute. What’s its name?”

“Why should I tell you?”

As prickly as ever. He seemed even more guarded than before. But after making him cry, it was to be expected.

I had to apologize anyway, so I slowly started.

“About what happened earlier…”

“Forget it. Don’t mention it.”

He cut me off before I could even begin.

Jamon seemed to dislike even the mention of the recent incident.

“Are you embarrassed?”

I asked bluntly, and Jamon glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.

Ah, I’ve inadvertently provoked him again. This time, it wasn’t intentional.

“Is he a stray cat that you take care of?”

I continued the conversation, not willing to give up.

I expected him to ignore me, but Jamon gave a terse response.

“No.”

“Then?”

“This garden is Nemoh’s home.”

“…….”

I had assumed too much like an ordinary citizen. That’s when I realized why Jamon often visited this small garden.

“His name is Nemoh.”

After refusing to tell me the name earlier, he now revealed it naturally. I couldn’t tell if he was being kind or naive.

I smiled faintly.

“That’s cute.”

The comment was more for Jamon than for the cat.

Naming the cat Nemoh seemed endearingly cute. Certainly, compared to Irmin, Jamon had a certain purity about him.

“Such compliments don’t please me at all.”

“I was just expressing my thoughts spontaneously. It wasn’t exactly a compliment.”

“Do as you please.”

Jamon picked up the cat and walked away.

Ah, an opportunity to be alone together, and I should have used it to get closer.

Just as I was about to stop Jamon, a donation notification popped up.

[Manager has donated 100,000 points!]

– Don’t go.

“…….”

The hefty donation startled me.

I lowered my hand that was reaching out for Jamon. He continued walking, disappearing past a tree.

[OnlyFinley: Isn’t this the first time Hans directly donated points like this?]

[Gold2: Must’ve been desperate lol]

[Gold2 has been banned from chatting for 5 minutes.]

“…Hmm.”

I scratched my cheek.

It wasn’t just the points that made me stop. It was because Hans, the one who spoke, donated them.

[Manager: No, sorry]

[Manager: Do what you want, I won’t interfere]

After dissuading me, Hans seemed to have second thoughts, changing his statement. It was almost as if Hans, the manager, was intervening in the broadcast with his personal feelings.

I looked at the chat window with a discomfited expression.

‘…On the broadcast―’

A romance only seemed to be an obstacle.

This realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.