Chapter 5.1

I changed into my pale pink pajamas, just a shade darker than my hair, and sprawled out on the bed. I had no idea how many dresses I’d changed in and out of today.

Putting aside a dance partner, this imperial ball was my official debut into high society, and I wanted to make sure I prepared properly to uphold the duchy’s reputation. Thanks to that, even before the invitation arrived, I was swamped with getting dresses tailored and picking out accessories. Ten bodies wouldn’t have been enough.

I hadn’t told my family. I specifically warned Alberto, who was fiercely loyal to the Grand Duke, not to say a word.

“Did this guy get the letter or not? If someone contacts you, you’re supposed to reply, aren’t you?”

I muttered to myself, glaring at the ceiling as if it were Jeras’s face.

It had been three days since I sent the letter to Jeras. The content could be summed up as, ‘You, be my partner for the ball!’ I swallowed my pride and wrote it with great difficulty, but there was no reply from Jeras. Not a single line. Not even a simple ‘I got it!’ Nothing!

If it were a messenger, I’d at least know if he’d read it and ignored it, or not read it at all. Not knowing the situation was driving me crazy. Since my competent butler Alberto couldn’t have failed, he must have received it.

‘I’ll only wait until tomorrow. If there’s still no reply tomorrow, I’ll either storm the imperial palace or just take Grandpa Mason as my partner.’

Ugh, I’m so tired. There’s a lot to worry about. As I lay there, my eyes slowly closed. My heavy body felt like it was sinking into the soft bed.

I didn’t resist and slowly drifted into a dream…

Tap, tap, tap.

‘…Did I imagine that?’

Tap, tap, tap.

I didn’t imagine it. My sleepiness vanished, and the hairs on my body stood on end. The sound was coming from the window, and my room was on the fourth floor!

‘A ghost…? It’s a ghost!’

What, what, what do I do? Sudden terror turned my body and mind to stone. I couldn’t even think to pull the cord connected to the bell to call someone.

Every second felt like an eternity. No, it felt like time had stopped. Cold sweat ran down my back.

Tap, tap, tap!

The knocking on the window got louder. It must be true that you can’t even scream when you’re too scared.

I held my breath and tumbled out of bed. Then, I crawled on all fours toward the door.

Someone should be guarding the door outside…

“What are you doing on the floor?”

“Kyaaaah! Begone, demon! In the name of Heaven, Allah and Namu Amitabha*, grant me salvation from—mmph!”

[T/N: Buddha]

“Shh.”

A cool scent wafted faintly from the long fingers gently pressed against my lips.

The eyes looking down at me were a familiar shade of red. Those eyes crinkled in a smile. As uselessly seductive and gentle as always. That’s when all the tension drained from my body.

As the strength left my eyes, the fingers on my lips quickly pulled away.

“Feel free to keep screaming if you want rumors to start that you spent the night in the same room as me.”

The sight of this guy, who was worse than a demon, smiling brightly in my room was the height of unreality.

***

“My butt hurts.”

“I don’t have a chair to give to an inconsiderate, uninvited guest who knocks on my window in the middle of the night.”

“Give me a cushion.”

“…Are you for real? You’re so shameless.”

“That’s my charm, isn’t it?”

I will not talk to him.

I threw a cushion at him. Jeras skillfully snatched it with one hand and sat on it. He looked so comfortable perched on the window ledge, as if it were a sofa, which only twisted my guts more. I deliberately didn’t give him a chair.

“But, Princess, aren’t you being too harsh? To someone who took the time to come see you.”

“I didn’t ask you to come. You could’ve just written a reply.”

“I thought you’d be waiting with bated breath. And there are some things I wanted to talk to you about in person.”

But is it normal to knock on a window in the middle of the night? Is it? I wanted to snap at him but held it in.

“It’ll be difficult for both of us if we get caught, so just tell me what you want and leave.”

“You’re so cold. To someone who might be your first ball partner.”

Oh, good grief. Anyone listening would think I liked you and begged you to be my partner.

I just stared blankly at Jeras. I was on the bed and he was on the window ledge, so there was a good distance between us. The room was brightly lit, so I had no trouble seeing his expression.

Jeras’s playful face, which had been there since he burst into my room, now became serious.

“I don’t understand your intentions.”

Jeras, with the laughter gone from his face, looked quite sharp. His keen, blade-like gaze scrutinized me slowly. It was a persistent gaze, as if trying to dig into my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions one by one.

It was uncomfortable and unsettling. But I didn’t want to lose by averting my gaze. I met his eyes directly.

After a moment of silence, Jeras spoke again.

“What are you thinking?”

“About what?”

“There must be a reason you asked me to be your partner.”

I sighed internally. Jeras opened his mouth again, as if rushing me for an answer.

“You said it’s your first ball.”

I wished he’d just let it go, but I knew his curiosity was justified. For Eloe, this ball was like a debutante’s ball. A debutante’s partner is usually her fiancé or betrothed, and if she doesn’t have one, a close family member or relative takes their place. This is a common custom because, by the time a lady is of age to have a debutante ball, she is usually engaged.

So, it wouldn’t be strange for a huge scandal to break out if I showed up with a partner who was neither my fiancé, family, nor a relative.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know that when I asked Jeras to be my partner. But I had a secret weapon.

This world’s female protagonist, Siliya.

The moment Siliya enters the stage, Jeras will fall in love with her, and our scandal will become a brief blip, quickly forgotten. It would be even better if I could play the part of the tragic princess toyed with by the scoundrel prince and get a hefty sum out of it.

I’m risking a scandal just to stop Jeras from running wild, so it’s only fair that I get something out of it.

But I couldn’t, nor did I need to, explain my grand and lofty plan to Jeras. I was at a loss for what to say to Jeras, who was staring at me intently, his form silhouetted against the pale moonlight.

“It’s just…”

“Don’t try to gloss over it. Tell me the truth.”

Tsk, I hate guys who are quick on the uptake. Jeras’s increasingly ominous aura was no joke. It seemed he wouldn’t let it go without a proper answer.

Ugh, what a mess. It would be advantageous to say something like, ‘Sob, you fool…! You’re such a fool, Your Highness, for not understanding my heart after all this!’ if I wanted to get something out of him later.

But I’d have to be crazy to do that. And the possibility of Jeras falling for it was even more remote.

I just couldn’t think of a plausible excuse. I scratched the back of my head, desperately racking my brain.

The moment Jeras’s eyes narrowed to a point, I found the perfect answer. I answered with the resolve of a general promising to return with the enemy’s head before his cup of tea gets cold.

***

No matter how high and sturdy the palace walls were, they were no match for the expert runaway, Jeras.

Among the servants of the palace, there was a legend-like joke that the palace’s fortress-like structure was a result of efforts to stop the troublesome prince who scaled the walls as often as he ate. For Jeras, scaling the Grand Duke’s iron gates was easier than breathing.

Jeras left the Grand Duke’s residence as easily as he had entered and returned to the Sword Palace where the princes resided.

He flopped onto his bed and closed his eyes. He couldn’t sleep, maybe because of the night air. He lay in the silence and darkness, lost in thought. Of course, he was thinking about Eloe, whom he had just met.

After reading the letter from Eloe, Jeras was confused. She had rejected his marriage proposals countless times, and now, she was asking him to be her partner for her first ball. If this was what she wanted, why didn’t she just get engaged to him then?

But Eloe’s letter was so straightforward that it was difficult to understand her intentions or feelings. The tone was clearly a request, but it felt more like a business proposition.

That’s why Jeras had squeezed in time and, knowing it was an impolite thing to do, went to see Eloe. He had the invitation that Consort Florese had sent to Eloe through her lady-in-waiting, tucked in his pocket.

‘Maybe she just needed an excuse.’

Jeras slowly opened his eyes.

She was a strange and intriguing woman. There was no law that siblings had to be alike, but Sion and Eloe were too different. She was loud, cheerful, and uninhibited. There were only a handful of people who wouldn’t be intimidated by him and would say whatever was on their mind. Most people were first cowed by the difference in status, and then by his overwhelming presence.

Eloe was neither.

At first, he thought it was because her title as a princess was her armor. The duchy’s prestige was by no means inferior to the empire’s.

But after meeting her several times, he realized something was different about her. Eloe seemed to have a very vague concept of social status. He was certain of it when he saw her playing freely with the children from the temple. It was a different issue than just being kind and good-natured.

Is that even possible? Even for a princess who was kept confined to the castle because of her illness and knew nothing of the world?

Of course, Jeras didn’t care. What mattered was that Eloe intrigued him, and he was never bored when he was with her.

It wasn’t hard to be entertained when every little poke and prod resulted in a fiery reaction. The way she would counterattack in an unexpected way when she was pushed to her limits was also amusing.

Jeras’s eyes sparkled like a child who had found a favorite new toy, then grew serious.

‘I’m one thing, but what is that squirrel’s true motive?’

When he pressed her for her intentions, Eloe finally answered after a long pause.

‘For our future.’

He thought it was a vague, empty phrase, but Eloe had a truly serious expression. She looked so solemn, like a knight who had prepared for death.

The mood became so heavy that he couldn’t bring himself to joke. He also couldn’t ask any more questions, so Jeras just said he understood, gave her the invitation, and left.

‘Who’s “we”? Her and me?’

Were they close enough to be thinking about their future? Why was she thinking about that alone? If she wanted to think about it, she should have thought about it with him.

As a first ball partner… It wouldn’t be strange to say they were people who would spend their future together. Then why didn’t she just get engaged to him?

Why now?

His thoughts spiraled, going around and around in circles.

Jeras nervously ran a hand through his hair and rolled onto his side.

‘Did she fall for me after I came to Rivai? A woman’s heart is hard to understand. Ha, it’s a problem being too handsome.’

Jeras grumbled softly and forced his eyes shut. But his heart thumped for no reason, and he couldn’t fall asleep.

For our future…

Eloe’s voice kept echoing in his ears.

***

“Princess, you are truly… so very beautiful.”

The maid who had just pinned a corsage into my hair exclaimed in admiration.

I just stared at myself in the mirror, speechless.

It wasn’t that I was ignoring the maid; I was left speechless by how ridiculously beautiful I looked in the mirror.

For the past few days, I had been searching every dress shop in Rivai. I was worried because I couldn’t find a single one I liked, but by chance, I discovered a small shop tucked away in a corner near the mansion. With an old sign and an even older, tattered door, it was a shop that one would never guess was a dress shop from the outside.

The maid with me wanted to leave, but with my slight inclination toward the unusual, I went inside, thinking there was nothing to lose.

Hmm… I’ll admit it. Maybe my inclination isn’t so “slight.”

In any case, that’s where I found my destiny dress.

It was a beautiful pink at the top that faded to a light blue around the waist.

It had a full and ornate ball gown skirt, with lace and flowers that looked more vibrant than real flowers thanks to magic. The large floral decorations gave it a youthful and lovely look from the front, while the back was slightly scooped to show off a hint of maturity, with satin ribbons crossed in an X to cinch the waist and add a nice touch.

…Or so the dress designer explained.

The designer concluded by saying that with its color and concept, there was no other lady more suited for this dress than me.

It was probably just a sales pitch, but she was right. The dress looked like it was made for me, a perfect fit.

“Oh, my goodness. You’re so beautiful, Princess, I almost forgot!”

The maid flusteredly pulled a necklace and earrings from a jewelry box and put them on me. They were made of blue sapphires that matched my eye color.

Lastly, she placed small pearls throughout my hair, which was neatly braided and pinned up. They sparkled in the sunlight, looking like sprinkled stardust.

‘I knew Eloe was pretty, but she’s excessively pretty.’

“It’s done, Princess. Shall I inform Sir Alberto?”

“What time is it?”

“It’s 5 PM.”

“Wow, after all the commotion since dawn, it’s already this late? We should get going soon. Tell Alberto. Hilda, you worked hard all day.”

“The sight of your dazzling beauty has washed away all my fatigue. I can’t wait to see how much others will gasp in admiration when they see you!”

An excited Hilda opened the door, her face flushed, and let out a startled gasp. Alberto, whom we hadn’t called, was standing tall just outside the door.

Wow, the Grand Duke’s butler must be able to read minds.

“Princess, His Royal Highness the Second Prince is waiting in the drawing room.”

“Who’s here?”

“His Royal Highness has come to escort you, Princess.”

It had been 10 days since he barged in and left an invitation in the middle of the night. I never imagined that Jeras, who had been completely silent, would show up.

I checked my appearance one last time and followed Alberto to the drawing room.

Alberto opened the door. I saw Jeras’s back on the sofa. A loose white jacket was draped over his broad shoulders. It seemed Jeras had put some effort into his appearance, too.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Your Highness. I should have gotten ready faster.”

I was a bit hesitant to be snippy with Jeras in front of Alberto. I said what I didn’t mean and gave Alberto a meaningful look. The quick-witted Alberto bowed and left the drawing room.

“Would it have killed you to call ahead?”

Jeras got up from the sofa without a word and turned toward me. I unconsciously drew a sharp breath and held it.

Wearing a white dress shirt, a vest, and a coat that was almost a uniform, Jeras had a much cleaner and more refined air than usual. His pants were a deep gray, and with the black boots that tightly hugged his calves, his long, straight legs were clearly defined. A reddish-brown brooch on his white cravat added a touch of flair.

Even with no skin showing, Jeras’s lean and solid physique was completely visible. He looked like a perfect, elegant, and flawless beast.

But what surprised me most was Jeras’s hair.

The wild, unruly hair that reflected his personality was gone. Instead, his naturally styled bangs that fell forward suited him far better than I expected, making him look so handsome it was embarrassing.

As I studied Jeras, he scrutinized me from head to toe. His red eyes moved slowly, ever so slowly.

His persistent gaze was fixed on me. It was just a gaze, but for some reason, wherever his eyes landed, an inexplicable warmth would rise.

Ugh, it must be because I’m embarrassed. I straightened my back and tilted my chin up.

“Will you stop staring? It’s rude to stare at a lady.”

“You can do it, but I can’t?”

“No. You can’t. If you want to look at me more, you can pay for it.”

“Full of confidence, aren’t we? You’re not all that, you know.”

What? Is he saying Eloe isn’t pretty?

I narrowed my eyes, and Jeras replied with an unbothered expression.

“You’re about average for a princess. In other words, mediocre, ordinary.”

I was speechless. What in the world? He must be blind, completely blind. I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t say a word.

Jeras strode past me, opened the drawing room door, and gestured with his chin. As I passed him, I muttered loudly enough for him to hear.

“He thinks he’s so handsome. My brother’s elbow is way more handsome than him.”

“What?”

I gave him a playful smile and quickly got into the imperial carriage waiting outside the mansion.

To think I found a guy like that handsome, it’s not Jeras’s eyes that are broken, it’s mine. Yeah.

The carriage took off the moment Jeras sat opposite me. I ignored his blazing stare and just stared out the window.

We didn’t say a word to each other, nor did we make eye contact once, all the way to the imperial palace.