Chapter 17

“Really?”

When Minuelle’s gaze landed on him, Esadien gave a small nod.

“I’m full… but okay.”

Compared to Ramande’s plate, Minuelle’s looked nearly untouched—like a brand-new dish.

Esadien found himself sympathizing deeply with the butler and Lady Juela.

‘No wonder she keeps losing weight every time I see her.’

She seemed to eat even less at home than she did at the Prince’s palace.

While Minuelle struggled to make progress with a particularly stubborn meatball, Esadien quietly called the butler over and whispered instructions regarding a café located in Caduren Square.

At least there, she had managed to finish an entire half of the meat and cheese sandwich.

* * *

It was a happy moment.

With both Esadien and Ramande—two of the people I cherished most—by my side, it felt like a dream, and I might’ve even grown a bit of an appetite from the joy. I did my best to eat as much as I could, but…

“Ugh, I really can’t eat anymore.”

Placing a hand on my bursting stomach and leaning back in my chair, I let out a sigh. Ramande gave a small laugh.

“Then give it here. Still, you really ate a lot for once.”

Ramande took my plate as if it was second nature. Watching him cut the leftovers into big bites and eat so heartily was oddly satisfying.

‘How does all that fit in there?’

Even more amazing was that, no matter how much he ate, Ramande’s stomach remained perfectly flat. Truly one of the mysteries of the human body.

‘Ahem.’

While I was marveling at Ramande’s feast, Esadien cleared his throat. Judging by the barely raised eyebrow, he was clearly displeased about something.

But no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why.

“What’s wrong?”

Had I stared too openly? Esadien’s gaze rolled toward me, having noticed my attention.

“Esadien, should I ask them to bring you another plate?”

His plate had been empty for a while now.

“I’m fine.”

“Hmm… Was the food not good?”

Like those people who say, “There’s nothing to eat here,” after stuffing themselves at a buffet?

“Ah… no, that’s not it.”

Well, if not, there was only one thing to do: ask directly.

“You don’t look very happy.”

Esadien paused at that, gazing at me quietly before gently shaking his head.

“Of course not.”

‘That’s why I’m asking.’

After watching him for so long, I’d developed a kind of Esadien-exclusive intuition. His  expressions weren’t that varied, but I was starting to read them just fine.

Still, as soon as he opened and closed his eyes with that soft, gentle look, I decided to let it go.

Shortly after, Ramande set down his utensils and the meal was over, but I didn’t want to part with Esadien just yet.

‘I can’t let him go this soon, not when we just reunited!’

Given his personality, I knew his visit wasn’t by his own volition. Now that lunch was over, it was clear he’d want to leave soon.

“We have a library in the estate. Would you like to see it?”

I offered a topic he wouldn’t easily refuse—books. At the very least, I could stay with him while he read one.

“Library?”

Sure enough, his interest was piqued, and he nodded.

‘Yes!’ I cheered inwardly.

‘Future me, please take care of all the work I’m pushing off!’

My family loved books. At our northern estate, the entire first floor and basement of a separate annex were a library.

“I can see why you called it a library.”

Esadien looked around, impressed at the space too large to be called a mere study.

“It may be small compared to the Imperial library…”

“But that place is always so crowded. This is peaceful. I like it.”

The smile that lingered on Esadien’s face was beautiful. If I could see that expression more often, I’d do anything.

“Please feel free to visit whenever you like.”

I beamed at him, and he hesitated before asking,

“I appreciate that, but… shouldn’t I get the Grand Duke’s permission first?”

“Of course not, Your Highness.”

That reply didn’t come from me, but from someone with the same pink hair—my father, the Grand Duchess’s husband.

“Dad!”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

He already had a couple of books tucked under one arm.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“My apologies for visiting without notice.”

“No need. The doors of the Grand Duchy are always open to you. A book truly comes alive when it’s read and shared.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, enjoy your time together.”

With a gentle smile, my father left us alone.

I waited until Esadien had picked out a book, then led him by the hand to a hidden window seat tucked in the back.

I even opened the wooden shutters—usually closed to block the strong sunlight—and snuggled right up next to him.

“Hehe.”

It felt like happiness was bubbling up from the tips of my toes. I couldn’t stand the ticklish feeling, and eventually, a soft laugh escaped me. Esadien looked over, as if wondering what was so amusing.

“It just feels like we’re on a date.”

I whispered it quietly, covering my mouth. At that, the tips of Esadien’s ears flushed bright red.

“Oh… Why are you embarrassed?”

It wasn’t the first time I’d said something like that. Tilting my head, I asked, and he hurried to deny it.

“N-no, I’m not.”

“But your ears are red.”

“Ugh…”

The way Esadien rubbed his forehead, not knowing what to do with himself, was honestly the cutest thing in the whole world.

“Esadien.”

When I called out cheerfully, he sighed and replied with his hand still over his eyes.

“Haa… What now.”

“Can I kiss you?”

For a moment, Esadien froze completely.

Then, after a few seconds, he lowered his hand and, with a serious expression, scolded me in a low voice.

“You really are—!”

But I was a Karnian—I didn’t miss my chances.

The moment the obstacle of his arm disappeared, I leaned right in and kissed Esadien’s cheek.

Smooch.

That was the second kiss now.

The sensation of my lips pressing against his firm yet soft skin was delightful. And even more satisfying was watching his face gradually turn red.

Esadien stared at me in a daze for a moment, then grabbed my shoulders firmly and set me back in place.

“Let’s… read.”

His voice came out haltingly, and I giggled.

“So you are embarrassed?”

“Minuelle.”

But Esadien quickly returned to his usual self. When he called my name with that resolute tone, I decided it was time to stop teasing.

“All right. I won’t interrupt any—”

But then, a chill climbed from the nape of my neck to the top of my head, and I shivered violently.

“Eek!”

Startled by my reaction, Esadien quickly closed his book and reached out to touch my forehead and cheeks, concern written all over him.

“Minuelle, are you unwell?”

“N-no… I just had a really bad feeling…”

My voice trembled on its own.

Every instinct in my body screamed the same thing: ‘Lapheche is nearby!’

“A bad feeling…?”

Esadien murmured, sounding slightly perplexed. And then came a voice as sweet and delicate as a harp melody.

“Oh my, Minuelle. There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Of course. It was her.

My back immediately went stiff.

“L-Lady Celeste… how did you get here…?”

I barely managed to greet her, my words creaking out. But then—nothing. None of the usual responses I’d come to expect:

“You look so lovely in that outfit today!” or “I brought something for you to try!”

Instead of that, Lapheche just stood there, dazed, murmuring like someone who had their soul stolen.

“My goodness…”

Her eyes had lost focus, fixed firmly on Esadien’s face. Her cheeks were flushed, her smile dreamy with excitement.

I knew immediately—Lapheche had fallen for Esadien.

She looked exactly like I must have the first time I met him.

‘Why? Lapheche is supposed to end up with Theodore—why…’

In the original story, there was a time when Lapheche and Esadien got unusually close. But that only happened because she was emotionally devastated from her issues with Theodore, and Esadien had gotten drunk and made a mistake.

‘No. Please. Not Esadien.’

Even as anxiety gnawed at me and I bit my lip, I reflexively turned to look at Esadien.

He was staring at Lapheche with a strange expression—one I’d never seen on him before. Not cold, not stiff. Just… captivated.

I’d never seen him look at anyone like that before. Not even me, despite all my efforts.

“….”

A wave of sorrow hit me, and I couldn’t speak. All I could do was gasp for breath in short, shaky bursts.

My heart felt like it had slammed onto the floor with a resounding thud.

Even the books surrounding us, lining the walls of the library, felt like they were crashing down on me.

The protagonist is the heart of the story—the rightful owner of its spotlight.

‘If Lapheche wants Esadien… could I really win against her?’

I… had no confidence.

From the beginning, I had told myself not to fall for the male lead—because I didn’t want to be swept along by the fate of fighting with the female lead. The original story had already proven that no matter how much happiness surrounded me, I could never win against Lapheche, the rightful protagonist.

That’s the only reason I avoided it. So why had it come to this?

“…El, Minuelle.”

“Ah, yes? Yes!”

“Are you all right? Your face went pale.”

Before I realized it, Esadien had leaned forward slightly to check on me.

“……”

When our eyes met—those deep sea-colored eyes that seemed to see into the depths of my soul—my scattered thoughts finally began to settle.

“Ah, yes. I must have gotten lost in thought for a moment.”

I took a shallow breath and forced a smile onto my face.

“Esadien, this is Lady Lapheche Celeste. She’s here to help with Juela’s wedding preparations.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”  Lapheche held her skirt delicately and gave a slight curtsy.

“Lady Celeste, this is my fiancé, His Highness the Third Prince, Esadien Roquate.”

“A pleasure.”  Esadien dipped his head slightly.

But Lapheche—who had looked so taken with him just moments ago—now stared at us, visibly startled.

“Y-Your fiancé…?”

“Yes.”

“Minuelle, you’re engaged?”

Her clear golden eyes darted frantically between Esadien and me.

“With Esadi— I mean, with His Highness the Third Prince?”

“Yes.”

“When did this happen?”

She asked again and again, clearly in disbelief. Even Esadien seemed to find it strange and responded rather stiffly.

“Is there a problem?”

“N-no. E-excuse me.”

Lapheche looked back and forth between us with trembling eyes, then bowed her now pale face and quickly retreated.

‘What do I do.’

Lapheche had fallen for Esadien too. I could barely breathe.

I wrung my hands together and dug my fingers into my palm. In letting myself fall for Esadien—just a little, just because he was slowly starting to accept me—I had forgotten.

That anyone could fall for him.