Chapter V-III:

Second Prince of H'arkin

Mithius lowered his head even more, “This humble knight requests Your Grace’s forgiveness. However, I will never ignore another person’s earnest plea for help, whether they be an ordinary citizen or even the Queen herself.”

What Mithius said seemed a tad off to Eilane, but she brushed it aside thinking a musclehead's words could have no double meaning.

Murmurs spread through the hall at the great hero’s bold statement. Even Joaquin looked shocked at his audacity - He had just equated the importance of the Queen with that of a lowly commoner.

The two men stayed motionless.

On one hand, it seems the great hero will not move until I grant forgiveness.

On the other, H’arkin’s second prince also doesn’t look like he will back down first.

I could dismiss either at any time, but… A smirk played on her lips, Let’s see what happens if I do nothing instead.

Like this, Mithius stayed kneeled, while Joaquin stood proudly and smiled as if there were nowhere else he would rather be. A very awkward ten minutes passed.

Tch.

This is a waste of time.

Glancing at the unmoving brick that was the great hero, she knew nothing could be done about him. He was basically a statue at this point, part of the decor if you will.

So Eilane looked directly at Joaquin and locked eyes with him instead.

Joaquin at first responded in kind, looking innocent and playful. But as the seconds started to drag on, he could no longer ignore how cold and unflinching those oceanic depths were.

At that moment, he realized: Big bro was right, Eilane Erst is seriously scary.

The prince ended up looking away first.

She felt a self-satisfied sense of pride at having won.

Winning what exactly?

…Well, she couldn’t say, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she won.

Closing his eyelids for a moment’s respite, Joaquin internally sighed before reopening them to its previous clarity and masked intentions. “Since we have been interrupted, I hope we will be able to continue this at a later time.” He smiled charmingly before walking down.

Of course, Eilane had no intention of continuing anything with that two-faced loser.

Thus, the Queen procrastinated the idea of marriage [with suitor 2/100] today as well.