Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Ritz - Prince of Secundati - Main Story
Chapter 1 - The Cheerful Him
Kingdom of Spirits, Secundati, Tonitrus, November...
In the land that rules over the power of thunder, the Tonitrus household, a new prince has woken up from a deep slumber.
Ritz: Mm~, I've slept well... Huh, you're...
The moment his half-awake emerald-colored eyes looked at me...
Ritz: You're cute! Hey, want a kiss?
MC: !?
(Uh... Did I hear him correctly just now? Although, I did hear him say kiss...)
Aside from being surprised, he wasn't like all the other princes that I have awakened.
Ritz: ...?
(This person is Prince Ritz of the Tonitrus household...)
His bright blonde hair that was slightly tinged with green reached his shoulders. While feeling that extreme cheerfulness, his round eyes moved a lot...
Ritz: ...What's wrong? Did I surprise you?
MC: Y-Yes.
Ritz: Ahaha! To think that you would turn this red, how nice, how nice! That fresh reaction makes you even cuter. You woke me up, right? What's your name?
MC: It's MC.
Ritz: I see, thank you, I'm Ritz. Anyway, let me invite you to the Tonitrus castle.
Just as he showed a toothy grin...
MC: ...!
Ritz-san grabbed my hand and lightly hugged me.
(S-So close...!)
As his face was so close at a point-blank range, the body warmth that I was feeling in a man's arms was higher than my own... Due to the sudden action, I became speechless again.
MC: Um...
Ritz: ...It's fine, right? You saved me, so saying goodbye... That'll make me a little sad.
Caught up in the middle of Ritz-san's cheerful tempo, I accepted his invitation to his castle...
Chapter 2 - A Grandma's Boy
A few days later since I was invited to the Tonitrus castle by Ritz-san... As I was curious about the unfamiliar kingdom, I went to the courtyard to see the flowers. Then...
Young Woman 1: Geez, it's all because Ritz-san was in a good mood!
Young Woman 2: But, despite being included like this, it's hard to hate him.
Ritz: Eh, why? Isn't it more fun to have everyone play together?
When I looked towards the walkway from the courtyard, I saw Ritz-san being accompanied by a lot of girls. Ever since I was invited to the castle, I've been seeing the same scene many times now.
(I'm always seeing a different girl with him every time...)
As I lightly sighed, my eyes met with Ritz-san's.
Ritz: Hey! You come join us too!
MC: ...
Ritz-san waved his hand greatly as he shouted that. I...
///Choices///
- Force yourself to smile (☽)
As I was unsure on how to respond, I just forced myself to smile.
Ritz: ...?
Young Woman 1: Hey, Prince Ritz, let's hurry and go.
Ritz: Hm? Yeah, sure.
While Ritz-san left me behind with a worried look, he left as his arm was being pulled by a girl that was accompanying him.
- Decline and wait until next time (☼)
MC: I'm sorry, we can do something next time.
Ritz: Really? Well, if you're interested, I'll wait for your response.
When he responded cheerfully, he blew a kiss to me with a vague smile.
///Choices///
(He doesn't seem to be a bad person, but I'm kind of weak against him...)
After I thought of that, I passed the time in the courtyard by myself...
......
The next day... When I left the room that I was staying in, I heard a pleasant-sounding conversation from somewhere.
??: ...My, really?
Ritz: Haha, it was surprising, so I thought...
(Ritz-san's voice... Is he talking to girls as usual again?)
I quietly took a peek as I showed my face from the shadow of a pillar. Although, the person that Ritz-san was talking to was a senior noblewoman.
(Ah... Ritz-san looks like a child as he's talking to that old lady.)
With an unusually gentle air around him, he was looking at her warmly... As I was thinking about who that person was, I appeared from the shadows...
Ritz: ...!
Ritz-san noticed me. At that moment, his eyes widened as he blushed. After a while, he parted from the senior noblewoman when he was finished talking to her and approached me.
MC: I'm sorry for eavesdropping... That person just now was?
Ritz: ...So, you were watching, uwah... How embarrassing. That was my grandmother just now. I'm actually a grandma's boy.
(Ritz-san's grandmother... In other words, this kingdom's crowned princess.)
Ritz: Haha, this is the most embarrassed I've ever felt this year! Although, Grandma has doted on me ever since I was little...
When he moved his gaze from me, he looked towards where his grandmother headed towards just now. That expression was really soft...
(I never knew that Ritz-san had this kind of side to him.)
MC: You looked like you were enjoying yourself. Both you and your grandmother.
Ritz: Pretty much! I like listening to Grandma's stories.
Ritz-san smiled as he rubbed his nose in embarrassment. As I felt the same kindness towards his grandmother from that smile, me gave me warmth...
Chapter 3 - The Happy Him
After I heard from Ritz-san about his unexpected side...
-Flashback-
Ritz: That was my grandmother just now. I'm actually a grandma's boy.
-Flashback-
When he told me that bashfully with a gentle look, it felt like the distance between us has gotten a little bit closer. After that, we went to the courtyard and talked about all sorts of things. It felt like we were getting close to each other...
......
Ritz: Because of that, I forget about the time while listening to Grandma's stories and end up staying in her room for a long time. That's the reason why I became a grandma's boy.
When Ritz-san pretty much told me everything in the end, he made a nostalgic look.
MC: What kind of stories do you hear from your grandmother?
Ritz: Stuff about my grandfather... In other words, the late last king. Grandma tells me how she fell in love with Grandpa. Even though so much time has passed since his death, she said that her heart still races every time she remembers it.
Towards Ritz-san talking about something so important...
///Choices///
- How cute (☽)
MC: Your grandmother sounds like a cute person.
Ritz: Yeah, I want to be like that when I fall in love with someone for real someday. I don't expect that now, but... It'd be nice if it was with you.
MC: Eh...!?
(Is he... joking?)
I wanted to ask him that, but I couldn't as Ritz-san was smiling happily.
- How nice... (☼)
MC: How nice, being in love for so long.
Ritz: That's what I think too. Even now, Grandma looks the most happy whenever she talks about Grandpa. That's why I like listening to Grandma's stories.
///Choices///
Ritz: Although...
Suddenly, Ritz-san, who was smiling while talking made a gloomy expression.
Ritz: ...Grandma may look well, but lately, her condition has gotten worse. She told me that she left the castle to see a doctor... So, I want to give her something that'll make her happy for her birthday this year, but...
MC: Is her birthday coming up?
Ritz: Yeah, it's on the national holiday next week. But, I haven't made a decision on what I should do...
When Ritz-san said that with a frown...
///Choices///
- How about celebrating with a large crowd? (☼)
MC: How about having a large crowd celebrate it with your grandmother?
Ritz: You think so too!?
When Ritz-san raised his face, his expression brightened up.
MC: Yes, I was thinking that she would cheer up with everyone around.
- How about celebrating with just the two of you? (☽)
MC: How about celebrating it together, with just you and your grandmother?
Ritz: That sounds like fun.
MC: Yes, I'm sure it does. She might be happy with it being just the two of you.
Ritz: I see... I never thought of that. Thanks.
///Choices///
Ritz-san gave me an odd look as he stared at me.
MC: ...? Is something wrong?
Ritz: Even though I've been talking about the same thing with girls up till now, I feel more lighter...
MC: Eh?
Ritz: Talking about Grandma. The girls from before weren't that interested in that.
Ritz-san smiled brightly at me...
Ritz: Somehow, I'm feeling happy! Hey, can we kiss?
MC: Eh, n-no!
Ritz: I see, that's too bad! Then, how about on the lips next time?
Then, Ritz-san approached my forehead...
MC: ...
(Just now...!)
Due to the soft sensation that I've felt, my cheeks became warm... I quickly took a step back away from him and looked up at his face. When Ritz-san placed his index finger on his lips, he made a mischievous smile...
Chapter 4 - The Troubled Him
The next day, it was very clear...
As I was in my room, I remembered what Ritz-san told me yesterday.
-Flashback-
Ritz: ...Grandma may look well, but lately, her condition has gotten worse. She told me that she left the castle to see a doctor... So, I want to give her something that'll make her happy for her birthday this year, but...
-Flashback-
(Something that'll make her happy...)
When I tried thinking of all sorts of things, I couldn't come up with a good idea. For a change of pace, I went to the courtyard...
......
(Huh...?)
Ritz: Hmm.
With a serious look, Ritz-san was standing still in the courtyard by himself with his arms crossed.
(Ritz-san?)
I...
///Choices///
- Call out to him (☼)
MC: Ritz-san.
Ritz: Hmm.
When I called out to Ritz-san, he didn't notice me...
(It looks like he's thinking about something...)
- Watch him (☽)
(It looks like he's thinking about something... I probably shouldn't bother him.)
Instead of calling out to him, I only watched him.
///Choices///
Then...
Ritz: Ah... No good! I can't think of anything!!
Ritz-san shouted that loudly as he scratched his head.
Ritz: Huh?
That is when he saw me for the first time with his big eyes.
Ritz: Hey! What are you doing?
MC: Ah... Just thinking a little.
Ritz: I see~, is something troubling you? If you'd like, I can help!!
MC: Nothing's troubling me though...
Ritz: Then, what is it? Tell me! I want to know more about you.
(...!)
When he approached me with an innocent smile, I turned away in embarrassment.
Ritz: Hey, what is it?
MC: U-Uh... It's about what you talked about yesterday, your grandmother's birthday...
Ritz: !
Ritz-san's eyes widened.
Ritz: You were thinking about that?
MC: Ah... Yes.
Ritz: ...
Ritz-san didn't say anything as he stared at me.
(Ritz-san?)
MC: Could it be that... I'm being meddlesome?
Guessing how he's feeling, I timidly asked him that...
Ritz: No!
The next moment, Ritz-san smiled like a flower blooming.
Ritz: I'm really happy!!
(Ah...)
Warmth was spreading within my heart from that happy smile.
Ritz: How troubling! I can't come up with a good idea by myself. On the other hand, there's no one I can ask for advice from.
MC: Even though you have a lot of friends?
Ritz-san lightly sighed from what I said.
Ritz: Didn't I tell you yesterday? Everyone doesn't take it seriously. Thinking about what to do with a serious look, you were actually thinking about Grandma.
When Ritz-san looked straight at me...
Ritz: You were thinking about it seriously, right? Thank you.
MC: ...
Ritz: You gave me some advice yesterday too. Then, let's think about it together!!
Suddenly, Ritz-san held out his hand to me.
MC: ...Okay!
I held that hand.
(What a strange person... Despite that I thought he might be hard to deal with when we first met.)
From his hand, I could feel his warmth...
Chapter 5 - The Warm Him
Afterwards... The two of us were thinking of an idea on how to celebrate his grandmother's birthday.
Ritz: Anyway, I think a party is the best way though...
MC: That sounds nice.
Ritz: Yeah, I can call all of Grandma's acquaintances and mine too since they're all lively and fun guys. Grandma is usually in the castle, which makes me think that she's lonely...
As Ritz-san scribbled on the paper in front of him with a pen, he said that happily.
Ritz: But, since she's already at her prime, Grandma must be tired. Hey, do you have any good ideas?
When Ritz-san asked me that...
///Choices///
- What are you grandmother's favorite things? (☼)
MC: What are your grandmother's favorite things?
Ritz: You mean like food?
MC: Hmm, something like that, but... For example, things that are important to her or something that she enjoys regularly.
When Ritz-san nodded repeatedly...
- What does your grandmother like? (☽)
MC: Is there something that your grandmother likes?
Ritz: Hmm... Currently, she's always in her room. In the past, she would go to the flower field with Grandpa...
As I listened to him, Ritz-san looked up as if he remembered something.
///Choices///
Ritz: Come to think of it, Grandma likes flowers. Even though she can't go outside the castle now, on days when she's feeling okay, she would always go see the flowers in the courtyard.
MC: She likes flowers...
After listening to what Ritz-san said, I told him about the idea that I just thought of in my head.
MC: Ritz-san, um...
......
Ritz: ...
When I told Ritz-san my idea, he took his time to think again...
Ritz: Okay, then let's go! If it'll make Grandma happy... Then, let's do it!
MC: I'm sure that it'll make her smile.
Ritz: You're amazing! Thank you!
Just as Ritz-san's face got closer... He lightly raised my bangs and placed a soft kiss against my forehead.
MC: ...!
Aside from last time, the kiss was more gentle and warm...
MC: R-Ritz-san...
Ritz: Ah... I...
As Ritz-san was surprised himself, his big eyes blinked, but...
Ritz: ...
Then, he made an embarrassed, but happy smile.
(This is the first time that I've seen him make that kind of expression...)
That smile gave me a ticklish feeling.
(What is this feeling...)
From the window, the warm sunlight was softly shining in...
Ritz: Now then, let's go make some plans!
After that, we started to think up some concrete plans. While we were doing that, Ritz-san was showing a joyful smile the entire time...
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