Chapter Sixty

"Don't come in!" Arthur, who had already reached the bathroom door, suddenly heard Shadow Moon's voice. He hesitated, his steps too hurried; he stumbled and almost crashed into the door, his brows twitching in annoyance, yet his concern remained. "What's wrong? You were fine just now!"

His question was met with silence, and Arthur grew even more anxious. "If you don't tell me, I'm going in."

"Don't—" Shadow Moon, hearing his threat, hurriedly stopped him.

"Then what on earth is wrong?" Arthur felt like banging his head against the wall. What was going on here? She wasn’t saying a word, just making him worry.

"I... I... I didn't bring... sanitary pads..." Just as Arthur was about to push the door open, a voice as soft as a mosquito came from inside the bathroom. Arthur was visibly stunned when he heard it.

Not hearing a reply, Shadow Moon anxiously asked, "Are you still there?"

Arthur snapped back to attention. "I... I'm here."

"Could you help me fetch some?" As she spoke, Shadow Moon's cheeks burned crimson, and even though Arthur wasn't standing before her, she almost wished she could disappear into her own arms.

Outside the door, Arthur’s face turned bright red. He stammered, "I... I’ll get them for you right away."

He took a few steps, then suddenly went back. "Um, where did you put them?" Hearing Shadow Moon’s answer, he rushed off as if wolves were chasing him.

After finding what she needed in Shadow Moon’s room, Arthur hurried back, but despite his swift pace, several maids and the butler saw him. Under Arthur’s fierce gaze, the maids’ expressions twisted awkwardly.

Arthur knocked on the bathroom door and passed the sanitary pads through the gap, then sat on the edge of the bed with his head lowered, his feelings unreadable.

A moment later, Shadow Moon emerged from the bathroom, her fingers nervously tugging at the corner of her nightdress. She walked up to Arthur, glanced at him, then said, "Um, I think I'll sleep in my own room tonight."

"Why?" Before Shadow Moon could finish, Arthur raised his head anxiously, staring at her.

Shadow Moon quickly looked at him, then dropped her gaze. After a pause, she murmured, "It's not very convenient."

"Not convenient? Why not?" Arthur pressed, his mind racing, desperate to understand what was inconvenient.

Shadow Moon rolled her eyes inwardly. Was he really a man? How could he be so clueless?

What wasn’t convenient? Everything was inconvenient, wasn’t it?

She ignored this blockhead and turned to leave. While Arthur was racking his brains, she returned to her own room.

By the time Arthur recovered, she was long gone. He was about to get up to chase after her when something seemed to occur to him, and he summoned the butler.

The butler stood before Arthur, his face dark. What was wrong with His Highness lately? Was he too idle, and now bored enough to ponder such nonsense? If the young lady said it was inconvenient, she must have her reasons. Besides, what did men like them know about girls’ matters? His Highness was actually asking him? Oh, Lord!

The butler grumbled inwardly as Arthur continued to ponder.

"Go call Lily here," Arthur said after a moment.

The butler’s vision blurred and he quickly replied, "Your Highness, I have some things to attend to, so I’ll be going now," and hurried out the door, ignoring Arthur’s calls behind him.

Your Highness, please have mercy on me! I’m not young anymore; I really don’t want to lose face at my age.

As he fled, the butler instructed the castle’s maids not to have direct contact with His Highness for the next few days.

Poor Arthur, unaware, found himself isolated by everyone in the castle.

———Extra———

Kind readers passing by, please add this humble story to your collection.