How To Save A Time Limited Young Master

“Are you going back?”

“Of course I have to go back. How can I not go back when His and Her Majesties are present?” 

“Hm, I don’t understand why you still have to give your greetings when you’re in this state.”

What should she do if the Crown Prince couldn’t understand this?

Before the dumbfounded Heloise could say anything at Blake’s words, who spoke in a tone that was used when humans observed insects or beasts, Blake raised a suggestion first. 

“If you absolutely insist on going back, shall I help you?”

“What?”

“I’ll help you here. I also have to go back anyway.”

“…….”

Blake wasn’t in the mood to alleviate her confusion, and didn’t wait for an answer before he placed an arm around her waist lightly.

While it was much easier to walk when she leaned her weight on Blake, it was rather burdensome to walk around the party which the king and queen were also attending, while leaning on the crown prince. 

However, the noble crown prince, who was unable to understand the mind of an ordinary human, left the drawing room without reservations as soon as he seized a hold of Heloise.

Perhaps because she was being firmly supported, they walked so quickly that she couldn’t even say anything. 

“Why are you walking so quickly?”

“It’s because the party can’t end while you’re dawdling. It’s all because of you.”

“Haah!”

She sighed and walked with him for a short while, before seeing the entrance to the ballroom that she hadn’t even entered before at the end of the hallway. 

“Were you over there up till now, before coming here?”

“Yes.”

Heloise became nervous due to the resplendent light leaking from the entrance. 

‘No matter what, I think this posture is going to cause some chatter.’ 

She was practically being held in Blake’s arms.

Heloise could acutely feel that even if she had to limp in front of everyone, she had to distance herself from him.

“Then, your arms, please…”

Just as she was about to grab the back of Blake’s hand and pull it away.

Blake strode a few steps forward indifferently and, creak—, entered the hall.

“Isn’t that the crown prince?”

“Oh my…”

Heloise, who was greeted with the light reflecting from the decorative glass of the glittering chandelier and several gazes, frowned. 

In an instant, the whispers from the buzzing people overtook the calm melody being played by the orchestra, and struck Heloise’ ears like a tidal wave. 

“Who is the woman in his arms?” 

“It’s my first time seeing that girl…”

“Ah.”

She bit her lip when someone recognized Heloise and let out an exclamation.

“Lorca. It’s the daughter of Viscount Lorca.”

‘I’m doomed.’

At that moment, she made eye contact with her parents, who’d recognised her from a distance. 

They had complex expressions, with surprise and delight tinged with excitement and joy.

‘The both of them are going to start again.’

Things like being that punk’s crown princess etc. will begin again.

However, as the title of the game <Princess Sienna> suggests, ‘Princess’ is an honour afforded to players that have diligently accumulated their stats.

It wasn’t a position that she could sit on just because she sprained her leg slightly and ended up hugging the crown prince. 

She was already beginning to worry about the storm of her parent’s false hope, but someone spoke to the two of them, who were stuck together, with a worried voice. 

“Crown Prince, what’s going on here?”

“Ah, Your Majesty the Queen.”

Heloise startled at those words and pushed Blake away.

When she turned around, the one that started a conversation was really Isabel, the queen that she’d actually met on Prince Astor’s birthday. 

Perhaps in commemoration of this special day, Isabel was wearing the real <Fairy Tears> on her neck, which looked exactly like the fake goods that Heloise had thrown to the wind.

When Heloise spotted the necklace, the back of her neck became stiff as she seemingly recalled bad memories.

The king and Zenon were behind her. 

Zenon.

Earlier, he looked at Heloise with a faintly warm smile on his face, but that expression disappeared without a trace as he looked at them with a frighteningly cold expression. 

Even during their first meeting, Heloise had never seen such an expression on Zenon, so she trembled in surprise.

The royal couple approached before she could even ask him why he was being like that. 

As they talked to Blake, their eyes remained trained on Heloise. 

“What’s your relationship with this young lady over here, for you to enter so affectionately?”

“Affectionately? I just lent her a hand.”

Blake spoke glibly in a duplicitous manner

However, such an excuse wouldn’t work in a situation where his actions were entirely witnessed. 

“Please let go of her now.”

“From both of your reactions, alright. It’s better if I let go.”

Blake let go of the waist that he was holding cleanly.

But unexpectedly, Isabel didn’t even pretend to listen to Blake’s excuse.

“Even so, you seemed rather close to each other. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”

“You’re right. I also thought that a pair of lovebirds was entering.” 

“What do you mean, lovebirds…”

When even the king agreed, Heloise covered her mouth and murmured quietly in a confused voice. 

In a situation where getting angry wasn’t enough, Blake, the crown prince, made an insincere excuse such as, “I lent her a hand because she seemed uncomfortable, but it ended up making us seem on closer terms.” 

At the same time, his smile also made him seem rather at ease. 

On top of that, for some reason, the royal couple were impatient because they couldn’t attach the Young Lady of a trivial Viscounty to the crown prince.

Heloise couldn’t understand the current situation.

“I know how much the crown prince has sacrificed for our royal family, so I don’t intend to meddle with your marriage.”

“Yes, you’re Miss Heloise, aren’t you? We met previously, right?”

When Isabel called her, the startled Heloise turned her neck so stiffly that creaking sounds appeared from her neck. 

“What?”

“You are that girl from back then. It’s so nice to meet you. So this is how our fate continues.”

“T, that’s…”

“Did you, perhaps, forget our encounter that day?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“I’m glad that I’m not the only one that’s happy to see you.”

As Isabel continued jokingly, Heloise replied with an awkward smile.

They acted as though the candidate for crown princess was right before their eyes. 

Isn’t it a norm to scold the crown prince for causing a scandal or find fault with the viscount’s daughter that has damaged the crown prince’s reputation?

Her inexplicably friendly attitude made Heloise uncomfortable.

Although it might seem strange, a low voice cut between the four of them just as she thought of escaping to her parents’ side.

“Pardon me.”

It was Zenon, who’d retreated back momentarily and watched them quietly.

The chillingly cold expression that she’d seen earlier was washed away, and an amicable smile was visible on Zenon’s face. 

“The separate dinner that’s specially prepared for the members of the royal family is ready. I heard that Prince Astor is already waiting, so why don’t you three head there now?”

It was like a ray of hope for Heloise, who wanted to run away because she found the situation uncomfortable.

“Yes, go! Go quickly!”

“Oh, is that so?”

Isabel frowned with a regrettable tone.

It seemed like she found it unfortunate that an opportunity to chat with Heloise was hindered.

“There’ll always be another chance to talk to the Viscount’s Young Lady, so let’s head for dinner first today.”

“Yes, there’s no helping it.”

Zenon tactfully saved Heloise from the moment of crisis.

She was so grateful that she stared straight at Zenon, but he didn’t even turn his head in her direction.

Did he miss her desperate gaze? Zenon must have been nervous about entertaining the royal couple. 

She could just postpone her words of gratitude for later.

Just as she retreated with a rather cautious greeting, unexpected words popped out of Blake’s mouth.

“Why don’t Heloise come along with us?”

“What?”

“Isn’t it only polite to keep a lady company until the end? Wouldn’t it be sad if Heloise was left here by herself.”

“No, I’m fine…”

“If that’s what the crown prince thinks, I’m alright with it.”

Heloise tried to deny it hurriedly, but it became useless as the king supported Blake’s words.

“What do you think, Queen?”

“You’re more than welcome to join us, Miss Heloise!”

“……”

Isabel responded joyfully.

Heloise looked at Zenon like he was her final remaining hope, but everything ended when his mouth remained shut. 

Heloise’s attendance at the dinner was naturally decided upon and they moved there while she was still dazed. 

The dining room wasn’t far from the ballroom.

Under the head maid’s lead, the servants brought out freshly made food. 

The king sat at the head of the table, while the queen and Zenon took the seats by his sides.

Heloise, who was naturally seated next to Blake facing Prince Astor, had a confused and tearful expression, like she didn’t know how things came to this. 

The king began his meal pleasantly and shared a couple of words of blessing.

The words were mainly well-wishes for Zenon, who was sick but finally managed to leave his sickbed. 

“I didn’t expect that you’d grow so dashingly in six months, Zenon.”

“My apologies.”

“Now that I look at you today, it’s probably about time to consider your engagement.”

At that, Zenon looked at the king with a startled expression

Normally, children from prestigious noble families like Zenon are bound to be attached ever since their childhood.

But up till now, Zenon has never had a fiancee.

What did that mean?

It meant that no one expected anything from Zenon.

The king’s opinion was no different from the people, so he left Zenon to his own devices.

But he seemed to have changed his mind today. 

“Isn’t it about time for you to leave your uncle’s shadow?”

“……”

“Let me know if you have a suitable lady in mind that can solidify your shaky position. I’ll help to build a bridge between you both.” 

At the king’s unconventional proposal, the blank-faced Blake, who had been using a fork to pick on the plate’s food with his chin in a hand, whistled as he showed interest in the king’s conversation for the first time.

It was rude, but no one berated him.

When Zenon heard the king’s suggestion, he set down the tableware, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, and gave a faint smile.

A princess would be difficult as the king doesn’t have any daughters, but despite receiving a good offer for an arranged marriage with a high-ranking lady, Zenon still looked rather calm. 

“I’m thankful for your offer, but I already have someone in mind.”