Chapter 77

“You said you weren’t interested before. So what brings you here now?”

 

As she said that, the Empress glanced at me. Then, as if pleased that he had come, she gestured toward us with her chin. Bastien offered a gentle smile, perhaps feeling burdened by the sparkling gazes of the young ladies fixed on him.

 

“I seem to have ruined the ladies’ intimate tea party. I’ve finished my business, so I’ll take my leave.”

 

“N-no, not at all.”

 

The young ladies hurriedly shook their heads. Their cheeks flushed as they cast coy glances his way.

 

“He’s my son, yet he knows nothing about women’s hearts.”

 

“……Mother.”

 

“Sit.”

 

“…….”

 

Bastien frowned awkwardly, but the Empress urged him insistently to sit down.

 

“These young ladies may one day stand by your side. Shouldn’t you at least exchange a few words with them?”

 

“Isn’t that simply Mother’s one-sided opinion?”

 

I looked at him in genuine surprise. He was not one to argue with the Empress so openly—especially in front of others. The other young ladies looked equally startled.

 

“I don’t know which young lady you are considering as my partner, but there seems to be someone here who has nothing to do with that. I will take her with me.”

 

I had been sitting quietly, watching the situation like an uninvolved bystander, when Bastien pointed at me and said that. All eyes instantly turned toward me.

 

“My lady, shall we go?”

 

I stared uncertainly at the hand Bastien extended toward me, tilting my head in confusion.

 

“M-me? You mean me?”

 

“This works out well. I’ve already told Lady Clies about the matter concerning the Delta family. Since you’ll be moving together, it would be good for you to talk.”

 

While everything proceeded smoothly without my input, I looked around in bewilderment. What? What is this?

 

“Lady Clies. Please take good care of Bastien.”

 

The tone sounded as if she were entrusting her son to me, which left me dumbfounded.

 

“Mother…….”

 

“Let us dismiss this gathering.”

 

The young ladies’ incomprehending gazes pricked at me from all sides.

 

‘This is going to cause an uproar in high society, isn’t it?’

 

As I stared blankly into space at how absurdly things had resolved themselves, all I could do was let out a hollow laugh. With no other choice, I followed Bastien. Even so, I couldn’t escape the stares.

 

I kept a polite distance as we walked, but it was rare enough to see the Crown Prince walking side by side with any lady. Naturally, servants’ gazes gathered on us.

 

Unable to bear it any longer, I spoke.

 

“Your Highness, where are you headed? If you have no particular business, I’ll take my leave.”

 

I wanted to get out of here before the rumors evolved any further.

 

“Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment….”

 

He’d looked deep in contemplation, but I hadn’t thought it was genuine.

 

“It’s fine. Then I’ll be going.”

 

I assumed I was free to leave—but Bastien grabbed my wrist.

 

“W-wait a moment!”

 

I frowned and looked at him questioningly. Bastien scratched his cheek awkwardly.

 

“Would you be willing to talk with me for a bit? There’s a place I’d like to show you.”

 

“I’m….”

 

“It will only take a moment. I feel bad for constantly causing you trouble.”

 

It didn’t seem like a very convincing reason to stop me, but his resolute attitude left me no room to refuse. In the end, I nodded.

 

“…Very well. Just briefly.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

After walking together for a short while, a vast lake came into view. I let out an unconscious gasp of admiration. The emerald-hued lake was breathtaking. Wait—hold on. If my memory served me right, this place was…!

 

Noticing my stunned silence as I stared at the lake, he spoke.

 

“This is a place I like. When I’m feeling down or lost in thought, I often come here. When I look at the rippling surface that reflects me as I am, I feel as though I might understand feelings I didn’t even know I had.”

 

“…….”

 

“You don’t need to feel burdened. I think Mother has her own agenda, but… I’ll sort out my course properly. The reason I came to this decision is thanks to you.”

 

Bastien was telling me to ignore what had been proposed to him. Yet I couldn’t focus on his words. What occupied my mind wasn’t the Empress or Bastien—but this place itself.

 

‘No… it can’t be. He probably just brought me here because it’s a place he likes.’

 

I tried to dispel the thoughts bubbling up in my mind. Bastien continued calmly.

 

“Do you remember what you once said? That the person you most wanted recognition from never acknowledged you, yet you’re recognized by countless others. And still, that person remains unsatisfied—always wanting more, trying to grasp everything.”

 

I listened quietly at his side.

 

‘Is he really stepping out of the Empress’s shadow this quickly? Well, it’s something to be celebrated—but still.’

 

Something had clearly shifted within him, and I had played a significant role in that change.

 

He was expressing gratitude toward me—clear goodwill. He was trying to confide feelings he hadn’t shared with anyone else.

 

“I’m nothing more than a coward who can only watch from the sidelines.”

 

I bit my lip.

 

‘Hey… please don’t do this.’

 

Coward. A familiar word. A familiar scene.

 

This was the place where Bastien confessed his true feelings to Elena. So why was he doing this with me?

 

I had said something that could raise affection—but it was only once.

 

‘To be blunt—why me? Did I really have that much of an impact on him?’

 

I was torn. Bastien fell silent, as if waiting for my response.

 

‘No matter how I think about it, his feelings toward me seem excessive. But…’

 

I wanted to rake my hands through my hair. I should never have come here in the first place.

 

“Your Highness, a coward? That can’t be true.”

 

I had little choice; I had to respond somehow. I had absolutely no desire to enter the Bastien route.

 

So I spoke in the opposite direction. Elena would have said that even such a man was fine, that they’d overcome it together—but I wasn’t Elena.

 

“If you were a coward, you wouldn’t have told me to ignore Her Majesty’s words. And to begin with, does the word ‘coward’ suit you at all?”

 

I carefully chose my words—hoping to keep him from developing feelings beyond goodwill, while also pushing him out from under the Empress’s shadow.

 

At my reply, Bastien chuckled softly.

 

“I thought you’d say that. You have a way of moving people. Strangely enough, what you say resonates deeply with me.”

 

“……!”

 

When I stood stiffly without responding, perhaps sensing he’d become too serious, Bastien rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

 

“That’s all I meant.”

 

He brushed it off, as if to say I shouldn’t take it seriously—but his earlier words were too shocking to simply ignore.

 

Anyone overhearing him would misunderstand completely. In what way? Obviously, that he liked me.

 

‘No—he’s Evan’s close friend. And yet he says things like this to me? He didn’t outright say he likes me, but his actions…’

 

I opened my mouth, overwhelmed. My thoughts were in chaos.

 

Just what about me had affected him so deeply?

 

“My lady? Are you feeling unwell?”

 

Feeling a light sheen of sweat on my palm, I looked up at him. He was gazing at me with nothing but concern.

 

I answered in a slightly trembling voice.

 

“No, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

 

“That’s a relief. Um… what I wanted to say is that if fulfilling my mother’s request is difficult, you may refuse.”

 

“It’s all right. I already told Her Majesty I would go. I can’t take that back now.”

 

Besides, it wasn’t as if she would let me withdraw so easily. Bastien seemed to know that too, his expression darkening.

 

“That’s true….”

 

“If there are people in danger, I should help them. And besides, aren’t you my fiancé’s close friend?”

 

At that, Bastien murmured in a flat tone. For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.

 

“There’s no opening at all.”

 

“What?”

 

It was a subtle tone—regretful, almost wistful.

 

“Ah, I’ve taken too much of your time. As an apology, shall I show you something beautiful?”

 

Before I could ask what he meant by that fleeting remark, I nodded. Bastien suddenly took my hand and led me closer to the lake. I flinched.

 

“It’s not something frightening.”

 

That’s not what I meant…. I looked down at the hand holding mine.

 

I hesitated. Should I leave—or stay?

 

I could guess what he was about to do. I didn’t particularly like the Bastien route, but the atmosphere of that illustration—the scenery—made it one of my favorite visuals.

 

A show using spirits. A beautiful performance of dancing water droplets. One second felt like an entire minute.

 

At last, I made my decision.

 

Staying with him while feeling this unsettled was impossible. For reasons I couldn’t fully grasp, he was trying to earn my affection.

 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can stay. Maybe next time—”

 

Just then, footsteps approached us. I glared toward the interruption—only to widen my eyes in shock.

 

“…E-Evan?”

 

“So this is where you were.”

 

He looked furious, his face like that of a demon. Yet the shock faded quickly, replaced by a surge of relief.