For Leon Fernand Barthelemy's younger brother, the midsummer ball is a word of patience.
When the prince's uniform is worn as a formal wear, gold ornaments and jewelry are worn and the shoulders get stiff just by wearing it. Moreover, because of his position he is always exposed to the public, so he has to wear a smiling "mask" from beginning to end.
Fernand, who does not want to attend such a troublesome ball as much as possible, ran away after finding the reason why it was somehow.
"...And my grandchildren had a hard time flirting around! It's a problem because the maids don't come back even when it's time for tea, and they mess around with the maids."
It is unlikely that there will be a boastful story about the grandchildren of the Elder Countess. Moreover, it is said that his royal brother, who is famous for his rare appearance in the social circles, acts as the hearer, so he can speak as a countess. In fact, he is somewhat annoyed, and is twice as talkative as usual.
"Well, I'm envious of clever grandchildren."
"Really. We are all girls, so it would be exciting and fun to have boys."
The gorgeously dressed ladies are enveloping the Countess and Fernand, suffocating. A group of young ladies and gentlemen seemed envious of it and looked at it in a distant winding.
Tonight, Fernand is dressed in a cool military uniform based on light blue, and the front button of sapphire that decorates his white-fringed jacket further accentuates his deep blue eyes. In addition, the hair like gold thread reflects the light of the chandelier on the ceiling and shines brilliantly.
Fernand graciously carried the flute of white wine into his mouth, and quietly smiled and urged "Why?". Then, not only the Countess of the speaker, but also the people around him sighed.
――This is the one you want to sigh.
Fernand emptied the glass, biting his yawn. There is a reason why she bothers to show her face even though she hates socializing. It is because of his beloved prince.
That was two days ago.
Two men, buried in a pile of paperwork under a poor taste chandelier, in an old-fashioned interior office in a stone fortress, east of the Royal Palace of Barthelemy.
"I wouldn't know what a single boy would appreciate," he said.
Colonel Brundle lifted his face out of the papers as he was amazed.
"What I mean was that I would be happy if I gave it to my lover, It is not limited to boys."
Fernand put his feet on his office desk, staring at the man's face who was his subordinate.
"You have a lot of lovers, What do you always give ?"
"Don't say anything uncomfortable to you. Whenever I'm dating, I'm always alone. The gifts I give are just ordinary things. Flowers, sweets..."
"I gave it, but it didn't work."
"What does it mean? They didn't like it?"
"No, I mean... is that a matter of taste...?"
Fernand attached his cheeks to the glass window with the heavy curtains. I couldn't see the outside because it was clouded by the traces of rainwater.
"When I gave them a bouquet, they looked into the vase every day and worried about the "cutting point."
"Are you seeing it?"
"When I wasn't there, It was a report from the head maid. Moreover, when I tried to dispose of it because it had begun to die, he was crying and stopped me from throwing it, so I buried it in the garden."
Colonel Brandle frowned.
"Somehow...it's painful in many ways."
"Ah. It was a "dying flower with its legs cut off" for that child."
Fernand took a big sigh and stood up violently, and scattered the documents in the room and started walking with Urouro.
"How about sweets? Girls and children are usually happy."
"It's no good either. That girl is still afraid to eat foods that she doesn't know... I can't get used to how sweet I am, especially when it comes to eating."
"I see. This is quite formidable."
"I wonder!? I don't know, what do you give me?"
"Do you have any idea what you like only boys? You see, lovers of your past... There are many people who are selfish, but I hear rumors."
Fernand wrinkled between his brows, staring with frosty eyes at Colonel Brundle with his arms folded in a funny way.
"Flowers and sweets were enough. I was happy to give you anything."
"It's peaceful"
"Abhor"
"No, I'm sorry to say that there was no such thing as a bargain for love... anxiety, suffering, and passing each other. This is the real pleasure of love. Yo"
Fernand deepened the wrinkles between his eyes in response to Colonel's words, whether he was joking or serious. It seems that I have to do something myself.
That's why I immediately started a listening survey. At the outset, I decided to come out to various social gatherings and collect useful information from conversations with various people. That is why I attended this ball.
"By the way, how many grandchildren did you become this year?"
"I'm eight years old. It's so clever and I have a good memory, so my tutor is also talking."
Fernan laughs in his heart, saying to the Countess who laughs lightly, "If you're a clever eight-year-old, then you're glad you're just as naive as the fifteen-year-old."
"Hey, let's be a boy. There are things that are unpredictable because we are interested in funny things and are interesting."
"How, for example?"
"You can see it when you take it outside. You can play around without getting tired of a weird stick and jump around everywhere... but you're still studying, so nowadays you have a lot of time to play outside..."
Fernand did not hear his wife halfway.
-Do you take it outside?