The Doll and The Prince - v3 Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Akari (2)
Despite being closer to Akemi's castle from the building with the surgical facility, Hiiro returned to the detached villa first and went to Naru's room.
He stopped the guard from saluting and quietly opened the door.
Rikimaru's voice and occasional responses from Naru could be heard.
Rikimaru was sitting on the sofa, holding Naru on his lap, and they were both smiling and chatting.
There were two juice glasses on the table.
Hiiro closed the door softly.

"Is that alright?"
"Yes."
"He’s quite the rival."

Hiiro chuckled.

"They're best friends."
"Naru never says he wants to drink juice when he’s with us."
"Rikimaru will never realize."

He laughed with a mischievous expression.

"True."
"Indeed."

The line between friendship and love is a simple thing, but if no one tells them, their friendship might last forever.
And that too is happiness.

In the corridor of the Royal palace, accompanied by a single guard, we met Sanjou Uika.

"Good day to you, Prince Hiiro."

She greeted us happily. She either didn't want to greet someone of lower rank first, or she truly didn't see me at all.
I then remembered I was intentionally disguised to look like a servant.

"Hello, Lady Uika."
"Oh, it's you, Lady Shichijou? I thought you were a servant."

After scrutinizing me, Sanjou Uika responded.
Since Hiiro remained silent, I checked his reaction—he looked like he had no idea who she was.
Oh dear.

"Your Highness, she is Prince Sekitora's fiancée."

I whispered softly into his ear, and finally, he seemed to recognize her.
It's true she often wore trendy makeup, making her less recognizable, but not remembering his own brother’s fiancée's face?

"I am just returning from breaking off my engagement with Prince Sekitora."

Without being asked, she began to speak, her eyes downcast. This might be interesting.
Hiiro tilted his head, so I signaled him to listen quietly by placing my finger on my lips.

"My Father was furious, saying that I shouldn’t be married to a thug who would blow up a research facility. I was also frightened when I heard about it."

She raised her face with a look of sorrow.
Internally, I remarked, "But it was Hiiro who did the blowing up."

"When I brought it up with Prince Sekitora, he amicably agreed to dissolve the engagement, and I am relieved."

Since the engagement was a political maneuver by the Sanjou family, there was no significant conflict.
The ambitious Sanjou had no use for the now unroyal Sekitora.
Besides, this girl...

"And then, my Father told me he would propose to Prince Hiiro on my behalf as soon as the engagement was dissolved."

Her shy smile seemed happy. Indeed, she had liked Hiiro since she was a child. Though she had been made Sekitora’s fiancée by family order, now she could finally express her feelings.
Blushing, it was as if she were confessing her love.