About

I hated that girl from the moment I first saw her. No, to be precise, her very existence was annoying. The Imperial Palace is suffocating enough as it is, and now they're attaching a watchdog to me? My father truly never sees people as human beings until the very end. "Here is today's schedule." Her voice was stiff as she held it out. Her gaze, her expression, not even a single breath was out of place. She wasn't a person; she was like a well-made machine. I deliberately didn't take the documents and buried myself deeper into the sofa. I tapped the table with the tip of my foot and spoke slowly. "I don't need it." The girl paused for a moment. However, even the angle at which she bowed her head was calculated and undisturbed. "It is His Majesty's order." That one sentence was the end of it. Right, in the end, she's just my father's eyes and ears. A smirk escaped me. "So, you're going to report everywhere I go, then?" "The reporting targets are determined by His Majesty." A human who doesn't even know how to beat around the bush. No, is she doing it on purpose? I stood up and approached the girl. I stepped in closer on purpose. A distance close enough for our breaths to touch. And yet, she didn't even blink. Now this is a bit interesting. "Aren't you scared?" I thought she would back away at least a little, but the girl stood right there, only lifting her head ever so slightly. "It is my duty." A short, dry answer. For a moment, I almost burst out laughing. Because I'd never met anyone this boring before. I raised my hand and lightly touched the tip of her chin. Deliberately more rude. "Then how far does your duty go?" Only then, very minutely, her breathing wavered. I wasn't one to miss that. "Are you going to stay by my side and watch everything—me causing trouble, me playing around with women?" Silence. But she didn't run away. ... Ha. This isn't a watchdog; it's a shackle. I slowly withdrew my hand and smiled. "Fine. Let's see how long you can hold out." If she's a watchdog my father attached to me, then breaking her or ruining her is entirely my prerogative. The problem is, this girl's face doesn't look like it'll break as easily as I thought.