With The Fifth Loop, The Third Prince Has Been Added To The Cast. - Chapter 10

This story takes place a little before I married Lord Camus.

“Haaah…”

It was around the time I was finally getting used to calling him “Lord Camus.”

After graduating from the academy, I was given a room in the royal prince’s palace.

Lord Camus sat on a plush sofa placed in that room and let out a grand sigh.

“Is something the matter? Are you tired?”

As far as I knew, he hadn’t been particularly busy lately.

As I worked on the assignments given by Her Majesty the Queen, I thought back on how Lord Camus had been acting recently.

Then, I heard yet another dramatic sigh from him.

“Sheryl, we finally get to live together, and all you do is study.”

He sighed again as he said that.

It was a little comforting to realize that the reason for his sighs wasn’t fatigue or illness.

“But it’s just so fun right now. Everything I’m learning from Her Majesty the Queen is stuff we never studied at the academy. And since I’m learning for our future together, I feel much more motivated than when I used to study for Lord Franz.”

Her Majesty the Queen never imposed strict deadlines.

She told me that being the consort to the Third Prince was a relaxed role and that I could take things at my own pace.

Still, I found myself so absorbed that I made rapid progress, surprising even Her Majesty.

That’s how rewarding the studies to become Lord Camus’s bride felt to me.

“I’m really glad you feel that way, but, Sheryl, you hardly spend any time with me! ”

“That’s not true. We have breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner together every day.”

“That’s all food-related! ”

“But I enjoy talking with you over meals, Lord Camus…”

Maybe he didn’t feel the same way. That thought made me a little—no, quite—sad.

Am I the only one who finds joy in living and spending time together like this…?

“I never said I didn’t enjoy our meals! Of course every moment with you is fun!”

“I’m glad. Then we feel the same way.”

“Yeah.”

Relieved by Lord Camus’s gentle smile, I turned back to my assignments—but then, bam, a loud noise rang out.

Looking up, I saw Lord Camus had slammed his hand on the table in front of him.

I hoped it didn’t hurt his hand.

“No, wait, that’s not the point!”

He stood up with energy, strode over to the desk I was working at, and bam—slammed his hand down again on the mountain of papers.

Some of them even tumbled down.

“We finally get to live together, but it feels like we spent more time together when we were at the academy!”

“I don’t think that’s true…”

Back at the academy, we only had lunch together.

We were in different classes, so we never saw each other during lessons.

We only got to spend time together during breaks or after school.

“At the academy, I even got to eat your homemade lunches!”

That was still food-related, but I didn’t say anything—it might upset him.

“Do you… want a bento?”

Since graduating, we’ve lived entirely at the prince’s palace.

There, we’re surrounded by chefs far more skilled than anyone in my count’s household. Our meals are always exquisite.

In such an environment, the idea of making a lunchbox never even occurred to me.

In fact, I haven’t cooked at all since graduation.

“I do!!”

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

But I wasn’t exactly thrilled.

“Hmm… If I go into the kitchen, won’t the chefs find it troublesome…?”

“Of course not! You’re the future royal consort—there’s no place in this palace you can’t go!”

He was strangely passionate about it.

And since he insisted so earnestly, I couldn’t find it in me to refuse.

“Well then, I suppose I’ll borrow the kitchen and try making one for the first time in a while.”

“Really!? I’m so happy!”

I was sure the palace chefs would make a better lunch than I ever could.

But seeing Lord Camus genuinely overjoyed made me want to try my best—while also making me worry a bit more about messing it up.

“I’m sorry for suddenly intruding on the kitchen.”

I felt terrible for interrupting the chefs in the middle of their work, but when I arrived, it seemed Lord Camus had informed them in advance.

Everyone welcomed me warmly.

“Please let us know if there’s anything we can help you with.”

Grateful for their offer, I let them prepare the ingredients and help me here and there, and I set to work on making a bento.

“Oh? So His Highness Camus likes this kind of food?”

Some chefs curiously examined the dishes I made, which was slightly embarrassing.

But now that they knew his preferences, it seemed likely the palace menu would reflect that going forward.

“Wow, it feels so nice.”

The breeze and sunshine were gentle, and the weather was perfect.

“Right? On a day like this, it’d be a waste not to eat outdoors.”

He brought me to the garden in the prince’s palace.

It reminded me of the academy courtyard where we once ate lunch together, but this garden was incomparably larger.

And with just the two of us here, the atmosphere felt even more peaceful.

“I had no idea this garden was here.”

“How long do you think you’ve been living here, Sheryl? I can’t believe you didn’t know!”

Thinking back, I really had spent all my time studying—either in classes with Her Majesty the Queen, with the tutors she selected, or doing review and assignments.

Time flew by while I was buried in it all.

Of course, outside of the lessons, I was free to rest or work at my own pace.

But somehow, I had ended up using every bit of time available to me.

“Taking it easy like this once in a while is nice.”

As soon as I said that, Lord Camus grabbed both of my shoulders.

The sudden closeness made my heart race.

“You finally… finally realized it!!”

He looked like he was about to cry, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Ever since you got here, it’s been nothing but studying! Not that I dislike how dedicated you are—I love that about you too—but…”

He trembled as he spoke.

Was he cold? Feeling unwell? I leaned in to check, and then—

“I want to flirt with you more!!”

He blurted it out with all his strength, and my face instantly flushed.

There was no one around, and yet I couldn’t help but glance around.

“L-Lord Camus!”

My face was probably bright red, while his was calm and cool—which was somehow frustrating.

“Hey, will you make bento for me again? Not every day, of course—I know it’s a lot of work.”

“Of course. If it’s something you want, Lord Camus.”

I had just assumed it wasn’t necessary anymore.

But if it makes him this happy, then I want to do it again, too.

“Also, next time… let’s go on a date.”

“A date?”

“Yeah, let’s go into town. Think about where you want to go.”

“Huh!? Will that be okay, with you being a prince? ”

“Even my older brothers sneak out for outings—it’ll be fine.”

He insisted that if the First and Second Princes could do it, then surely the Third Prince could too.

And honestly, when he put it like that, it seemed convincing.

“Where would you like to go for a date, Cheryl? ”

I thought for a bit.

Having read so many romance novels, I had lots of ideas about ideal date spots.

“Maybe the opera, a park with a nice view, shopping together, afternoon tea, and then…”

I listed one thing after another, and Lord Camus smiled and listened to it all.

“Let’s do them all! We’ll need more than one date, so let’s go on lots of them!”

He seemed determined to fulfill every wish I thought might be impossible now that I was engaged to a prince.

“There are lots of other things I want to do with you, too.”

“I do too—so many things I want to do with you, Lord Camus.”

“Then let’s do them all! ”

“Yes!”

Today, tomorrow, and every day after, I’m sure I’ll always be happy—because of Lord Camus.