This story is told from Gordon’s perspective.
On the same day that Kent was summoned to the Duke’s family, Gordon, the 2nd Prince of this country, decided to put a certain plan into action.
“I believe Mother told me the passage is behind this shelf by pulling this pin… and pushing this wall… A passage really did appear!”
Gordon had come to a rarely used room within the castle, hidden from view. Numerous boxes filled with unknown contents were piled up, and it was impossible to tell what lay beyond from the entrance. It was so cluttered that one wouldn’t think to enter unless necessary, effectively serving as a storeroom. Weaving through the clutter, Gordon stepped deeper inside and found the secret passage that Queen Margaret had told him about. This passage had been neglected for years, and Margaret was the only one who knew of its existence. Though the mystery of how she learned of it remained, it seemed she had used it to escape the castle and venture into town on occasion.
“So Mother went missing within the castle because she was using this passage to sneak outside.”
Gordon muttered to himself, a sense of understanding dawning on him. Entering the secret passage, he found a small anteroom near the entrance that widened slightly, leading to a narrow corridor beyond. In this small room, a surprisingly clean box, seemingly placed there recently, was present. Gordon opened the box to investigate. Inside were clothes similar to those Margaret wore when she went out, suggesting she changed here before leaving. Before enacting his current plan, Gordon had prepared a set of commoner clothes, so he wouldn’t look suspicious when he went into town. Gordon changed his clothes there, just as Margaret had, and placed his discarded attire into the bag he brought, setting it atop the box.
“Alright, the preparations are complete. Let’s head out.”
Having finished changing, Gordon, filled with anticipation for his first time leaving the castle, proceeded through the passage with a lit lamp in hand, his excitement growing.
“It’s rare for us to have the same day off, isn’t it, Mother?”
“That’s true. When I have a day off, Patty’s usually working at the shop.”
Meanwhile, at Patty’s home, a rare day off coincided for Patty and her mother, Eliza, creating a leisurely holiday for the entire family except for their father.
“Speaking of which, how is the family’s debt coming along?”
“Ah, that. Honestly, it should have been paid off sooner if we had received the remittance from your father. But recently, the remittances have stopped, and I haven’t received any replies to my letters. Because of that, it’s taken longer to pay off the debt than I expected, but we’ll be completely debt-free after the next payment.”
“I see. You’ve been working very hard, Mother.”
In the past, Patty’s parents had incurred a large debt for their own enjoyment. As a result, Patty and her younger siblings had run away from home. Their parents, regretting their actions, changed their ways and began working diligently, gradually reducing the amount of debt. Although it was slightly delayed compared to their original plan, complete repayment was now within reach.
“I’ve been wanting to ask, but is it okay if I do?”
“What is it, dear?”
“Are you perhaps dating someone right now? At first, I thought you and Kent were in a relationship, but it doesn’t seem like it.”
“M-Mother… While it’s true that there is someone…”
Without a formal announcement, Patty found herself at a loss for words, knowing that admitting she was dating a prince from a foreign country while she was a commoner would likely not be believed.
“Oh my, it seems things haven’t progressed enough for you to introduce them to me yet. I see.”
Eliza, though far from the truth, seemed content with her conclusion.
“Well, whenever you can introduce them, please bring them to meet me.”
“Okay. I’ll introduce them when the time comes.”
At this point, Patty thought it would be some time before she would be able to introduce him, but her prediction would be wildly off the mark.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Oh? Someone’s at the door. I’m coming!”
As they were talking, there was a sudden knock at the door, and Eliza went to answer it.
Gordon had arrived in front of a certain house. He had confirmed the location on the map he had brought multiple times, and he was sure he wasn’t mistaken. If the map was correct, this was the house where Patty lived. While it was a downtown area where aristocrats rarely ventured, the street in front of Patty’s house was wide, and carriages laden with goods occasionally passed by. It was a place where ample sunlight reached and the area was relatively safe. Since their company retreat, Gordon and Patty had begun dating. Though they had grown comfortable enough to chat casually after a few meetings, there hadn’t been any significant progress. Gordon was naturally shy and not particularly adept at social interactions. When acting as a prince or performing his public duties, he would engage in a bit of acting and maintain the appropriate demeanor, but outside of that, he found it difficult to initiate conversations. Therefore, this current action required him to muster a great deal of courage. The catalyst for this decision was a single remark from Josette.
“There’s a world of difference between nobles and commoners. What nobles consider common sense may not be understood by commoners, and vice versa. I would appreciate it if you would consider these matters carefully.”
Gordon had a profound lack of understanding of the lives of commoners. Recently, in an attempt for Patty to experience noble society, he had requested an invitation to a party from a lower aristocrat with whom he had a friendly relationship. His plan was for her to understand the atmosphere by attending the party. He had given Patty the invitation, expecting her to attend after receiving it. However, he learned that most commoners lacked the financial means for such events and, naturally, did not possess the education in etiquette. They also wouldn’t have the attire to wear to a party. This was something he discovered through Josette’s pointed remarks. Fortunately, thanks to Josette’s help, preparations were completed in time, and the party concluded without any issues. He was relieved to hear from the host that she had performed admirably. To receive such praise from the host in a short period indicated not only Josette’s excellence as an instructor but also Patty’s remarkable ability to absorb the lessons.
(Is this outfit odd?)
Usually, when meeting Patty, for security reasons, he would have a carriage pick her up and they would join each other. However, this time, he had left without informing anyone in the castle, in a manner akin to escaping. To avoid attracting suspicion from those around him, he wore commoner clothes and came without any guards. Margaret, who frequently left the castle, was a user of water magic and was strong enough to protect herself, but Gordon had only received a minimal amount of sword training, could not use magic, and was in danger of being quickly abducted if targeted. However, Josette’s words remained in his mind, and he decided to risk danger to meet Patty, to further his understanding of commoners.
“All right, let’s do this.”
Gordon solidified his resolve and knocked on Patty’s door.
“I’m coming! Just a moment.”
A woman’s voice could be heard from inside. Although it was Patty’s house, he knew other family members lived there. Judging by the voice, he imagined it was her mother. He had no idea how to speak to someone he was meeting for the first time, but having already knocked, there was no turning back. Gordon waited for the door to open with a nervous expression.
“Thank you for waiting. Um, who might you be?”
The door opened, and Eliza, whom he had never met, asked Gordon.
“U-Uh, nice to meet you, Mother. I am G-Gordon, and I am dating P-Patty. Is Patty at home?”
“Oh, so you are the one dating my daughter. You’re quite handsome, aren’t you? My daughter has certainly snagged a prize! Patty, someone named Gordon is here to see you!”
“Gordon? I’ve never heard that name before. Wait, what’s wrong, Gordon? You’ve come to my house dressed like this.”
Eliza, who came to greet him, was surprised by Gordon’s exceptional handsomeness. Patty, surprised by Gordon’s visit, rushed over in a fluster.
“Nee-chan, who is this person?”
“Is he your boyfriend? He’s your boyfriend, isn’t he?”
“He’s so handsome. Why don’t you date me instead of me, Nee-chan?”
Patty’s surprised exclamation was so loud that her younger siblings, Bry, Antoni, and Till, had gathered around.
“You must be Patty’s younger siblings. If I recall correctly, you are Bry, Antoni, and Till. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Gordon knelt down on the spot, meeting the eyes of the younger siblings as he greeted them.
“My, what a well-behaved child.”
Eliza, who was watching, murmured with admiration. It seemed Gordon was good with small children, even when meeting them for the first time.
“Did you come alone? It must have been cold outside. This is a humble home, but please, come in.”
“Thank you, I’ll be imposing on you.”
Guided by Patty, Gordon entered the house.
