The Northern Grand Duke’s Hamster

“Alright. Raise your arms and stay still.”

I awkwardly lifted my arms in front of the mirror. The tailor, who had been unfolding a long measuring tape in what was clearly a high-class boutique for nobles, had been moving back and forth between my shoulders, chest, and waist for quite some time.

“You’ll need a few suits, won’t you?”

“One is enough.”

“But what if you end up getting drenched again, like last time? That would be quite inconvenient.”

“…You’re so stingy.”

“You’re the one who always drags me into these petty arguments.”

He never lets anything slide, honestly.

I shot Kyle a sullen look, then lowered my arms when the tailor announced he was finished. Kyle, who had been standing nearby with his arms crossed, went ahead and ordered two tailcoats instead. One was simple and elegant, while the other was extravagant and luxurious.

“Oh. Now that I look at it, I probably didn’t even need to measure again.”

“Pardon?”

“The measurements match closely with the suit His Highness Kyle previously ordered. Just in case, I had already prepared a sample, and there’s hardly anything that needs adjusting.”

“…No way.”

So he really managed to get it this accurate just by eyeing it?

I turned to Kyle with a suspicious gaze. He merely shrugged nonchalantly and mimed wrapping his arms around empty space.

“Your waist is about this much. Shoulders… around here.”

“……”

I opened my mouth, then shut it again. My ears were burning, which meant my face must not have been its usual color either.

So all those perfectly fitted clothes I’d received until now were because Kyle personally… as in, he had measured me himself like this?

“Who the hell tailors clothes so haphazardly?!”

“But it was accurate, wasn’t it?”

“…I have nothing more to say.”

I firmly grabbed Kyle’s hands and pulled them away from where they were once again hovering around my waist. Then, I made sure to stress my next words.

“From now on! You must! Absolutely! Come with me to get measured!”

“Is that really necessary…?”

“Absolutely!”

“…Alright.”

This wasn’t just a matter of size. The real problem was that every time he went to a new tailor, he was estimating my waist and chest measurements like this.

If he could get them this precisely just by eyeballing it… just how much had he been observing me?

I stared at Kyle’s face before quickly turning my head away. Then, I mimicked grasping at empty air with both hands.

…Hmm. Was my waist about this much?

[(¬‿¬)]

Don’t make that face. I can tell exactly what you’re thinking.

I cleared my throat and looked outside the boutique. The festival atmosphere had the streets brimming with excitement, filled with bright energy and the sound of laughter.

However, at the heart of all that celebration stood the Imperial Palace, tense as a drawn bowstring—like a ticking time bomb with its fuse already lit.

I sensed Kyle approaching and glanced around. The tailor had disappeared, likely to finish up the suits.

It was the perfect moment to bring up a conversation that had been put on hold for too long. Things had been so hectic lately that I hadn’t found the right time, but now seemed appropriate.

Still, there could be ears listening, so I instinctively lowered my voice.

“About that chandelier that fell in Blake’s territory.”

“Yeah.”

Just mentioning the chandelier was enough to make his expression sour. His brows subtly furrowed, as if recalling the incident.

The wound had long since healed, yet it still clearly bothered him. I smiled faintly and continued.

“The mastermind behind it was Duke Klein. After some digging, I found out that the only craftsman in the Meinhardt Empire capable of making that kind of chandelier works for the Klein Ducal House. They deliberately sent an old, weakened one. Their goal was to drive a wedge between Prince Belial and Your Highness.”

Or, if possible, they would have preferred Belial to be crushed beneath it and die.

“I see. So that was Lorenz’s doing as well.”

“You say ‘as well’…?”

“Lorenz was also behind the attack on Belial and Sen. When we interrogated their knights, they confessed surprisingly easily. Seems like despite all the trouble he’s caused, he isn’t well-liked.”

Kyle’s voice carried a hint of cold amusement. Even if his relationship with Belial wasn’t good, he clearly didn’t approve of underhanded tactics like this.

“More than that, I find it surprising that Belial has been so quiet.”

“…What?”

“Whenever I visit the Imperial Palace, he usually finds some way to torment me. This time, he only sent an invitation to a tea party. He must be holding himself back.”

“Ah…”

He must have been tormented quite a bit to say something like that so casually.

I glanced over at the Imperial Palace where Belial resided, then cleared my throat and replied as if it was nothing.

“He probably doesn’t have the time to worry about it. Right now, Prince Belial has to keep an eye on both Prince Lorenz and his maternal family. As long as Duke Klein is backing him, Prince Lorenz isn’t someone he can just ignore.”

“Does Belial know that Lorenz was behind the attack on him?”

“Yes. It looks like he investigated it himself.”

Kyle gave a thoughtful nod. He must have already sensed that trouble would break out before the engagement ceremony.

A plan was necessary. Of course, it wasn’t something that could be decided entirely here and now.

I tilted my head toward the door, gesturing for us to step outside.

“This won’t take long, right? I’ll go ahead and step out for a walk. The perfume in here is giving me a headache.”

“Alright. Just walk straight to the right.”

“Got it.”

I nodded and exited the tailor shop. With the overpowering scent of perfume fading away, my head felt noticeably clearer.

Now, what’s the next move?

I stretched out my stiff shoulders and, as Kyle had directed, walked down the path to the right, lost in thought.

Since the flow of events had deviated considerably from the original story, the information I could get from the system was likely becoming limited. It would still help me find a way to save Kyle, but I wasn’t sure yet which side I should take in the battle between Belial and Klein.

Not that either of them are particularly appealing options.

As I continued walking, lost in my own thoughts, Kyle eventually caught up. He had a naturally long stride and easily carried a stack of neatly packed boxes in one hand.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Of course.”

Well, as long as you’re happy. I don’t even need to check—I can practically see the little heart points going up.

I quickened my pace while scanning my surroundings.

This part of the city looked quite different from the alleyways I had passed through yesterday. It seemed this area catered more to nobles, with its cleaner streets and more elaborate decorations.

As I admired the luxurious stone pavement and the finely carved, elegant pillars, I suddenly caught a whisper from somewhere nearby.

“Isn’t that Kyle Blake?”

The voice was soft but not too quiet to hear.

I instinctively turned my head, searching for the source.

A small group of noblewomen, fanning themselves, were looking in our direction, murmuring among themselves.

“…Hah.”

It was clear at a glance that they weren’t saying anything pleasant.

Some things you could just tell from the look in someone’s eyes.

[(￣へ￣)!]

I casually started walking toward the alley where they had partially hidden themselves.

They were so absorbed in their gossip that they didn’t even notice me closing the distance.

“Oh my, you mean that prince, the son of a mere maid?”

“That maid was caught trying to give Lady Serena a poisonous flower and was thrown out.”

“A mere servant dared to attempt to assassinate a duchess-to-be? The future empress?”

“As if doing that would somehow make her Serena instead. Honestly…”

“The son of such a lowly maid… It’s obvious what he’d be like.”

“Exactly. Like mother, like son. He’s probably harboring venom in his heart. A filthy common-born bastard!”

Alright, that’s enough.

“Might I have a word?”

There was no greater insult than this.

Even if Kyle was willing to endure it, I wasn’t.

I refused to let him be judged for something he never did.

Suppressing the anger boiling inside me, I forced a smirk and rested one hand on my hip. My voice dripped with sarcasm.

“You must be exceptionally bold. Talking so freely about a Grand Duke right outside the Imperial Palace. Oh, or is someone here of higher status than a Grand Duke? Is that why you’re not afraid? You all seem to think noble status is incredibly important, so I’d love to hear exactly what exalted ranks you hold.”

At first, the noblewomen scowled, ready to snap back.

But then they flinched, hesitating as they instinctively shrank back.

Covering their faces with their fans, they suddenly looked incredibly cowardly.

I pressed forward, voice sharpening.

“Do you really think His Majesty is an idiot? That he can’t even recognize his own son? Do you find it fun to spread baseless rumors like this? And tell me, does being born to a maid automatically make someone inferior?”

Since when is nobility determined by birth alone?

Coming from a country where the class system had long since been abolished, their words sounded even more absurd to me.

If they were going to cower at the slightest pushback, why start gossiping in the first place?

My irritation flared, and I stepped forward again.

“Go on, then. Tell me your illustrious names. Why are you all suddenly—”

“Shh.”

My vision went dark.

A warm hand covered my eyes.

Before I even realized it, Kyle had come up behind me, gently placing his palm over my forehead and eyelids.

“Enough. Calm down.”

“……”

When did he get here?

I hadn’t noticed his presence at all.

Maybe I was just too caught up in my anger.

As I leaned slightly back, my shoulder brushed against his chest.

He was broad—unnecessarily so—and in this moment, oddly comforting.

“You may leave now.”

His words were directed at the noblewomen.

Without hesitation, they turned and fled.

Their heels clicked against the stone pavement, then faded completely.

Only then did Kyle gently place his hands on my shoulders and turn me toward him.

“Doesn’t this make you angry at all? They’re speaking so carelessly about things that don’t concern them.”

I pouted, my frustration clear.

“Just because Your Highness’s mother was a maid, does that mean she ever harmed anyone? Did any noble house suffer because of her? They’re nothing but cowards.”

My face twisted in frustration.

The real reason I was so angry was probably…

“Hey, isn’t that kid’s mom a housekeeper?”

“Look at them, all cleaned up and proper with money they earned doing someone else’s chores.”

It didn’t matter that the money was earned honestly—people were always eager to judge.

Once they found something to mock, they’d tear into it without hesitation.

“Judging people for things they never did… That’s the work of small-minded fools.”

Kyle chuckled softly.

“I’m used to it. It’s alright. So don’t waste your energy on them.”

“I just wish it wasn’t something you had to get used to.”

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how painful it had been, the years it must have taken for him to become accustomed to this kind of malice.

Just as I was about to say more, his large hand reached out again.

It rested atop my head, ruffling my hair gently.

“I have you. So it’s alright.”

His voice was so deep and warm.

So warm that, for some reason…

…I felt like I might cry.