Chapter 21

Lapheche, striding along in a most unbecoming way for a noble young lady, broke into a triumphant grin as the thought crossed her mind.  

“Of course—I’m the center of the world!”  

From now on, everything will go smoothly. She was in a great mood—la la la!  

She even began humming a tune and bobbing her shoulders in rhythm.  

“……”  

Unbeknownst to her, Theodore had stepped out and was now standing in front of the library.  

He watched Lapheche walk away, wearing an expression as if he were witnessing something bizarre.

 

* * *

 

“Esadien.”  

After Lapheche had left, I planted both hands on my hips.  

“You’ve gotten close with Lady Celeste, haven’t you?”  

“Close?”  

Esadien tilted his head slightly to the side.  

“I’ve only seen her twice.”  

“For only seeing her twice, you two seemed very close.”  

“……”  

He fell silent the moment I snapped at him.  

What was with that silence?!  

From the side, Theodore chuckled softly.  

“Your Highness, I believe Lady Minuelle is jealous.”  

I answered right away.  

“That’s right.”  

“There you have it,” he said with a grin.  

Esadien still looked puzzled.  

“Jealous?”  

It was clear he didn’t understand why I would feel jealous.  

That hurt a little. It felt like even if the situation were reversed, he wouldn’t feel the same way.  

Trying to shake off that feeling, I dropped my hands from my waist and clenched them into fists.  

“When someone you like is alone with another woman, of course you’re going to feel jealous!”  

“But you watched the opera with Theodore, just the two of you.”  

“We’re just friends!”  

“Since when?”  

Taken out of context, Esadien’s question might sound like he was starting to get jealous too. But his face didn’t show a hint of that. He was just verifying a fact with a calm expression and an even tone.  

“……”  

I lost steam. So Theodore answered for me.  

“Your Highness, Lady Minuelle took pity on me after I was cruelly rejected, and kindly agreed to become my friend starting today.”  

“Rejected? By Lady Celeste?”  

“Yes.”  

“You’re a fine knight, Theodore.”  

“That’s exactly what Lady Minuelle said, Your Highness.”  

With a self-deprecating laugh, Theodore scratched the back of his head.  

“Now that I think about it… No matter what, it wasn’t right of me to let her go off alone. I’ll go see her off properly.”  

With that, Theodore left the library.  

It was probably a considerate gesture to give us some space. But by then, I had already lost my energy.  

Instead of saying anything more to Esadien, I turned around and trudged over to the window seat. It was the very spot where I had leaned on him just a few days ago.  

He followed me immediately.  

“Minuelle.”  

“…Yes.”  

I replied without looking up. If I saw his face now, I knew I’d forgive him right away.  

“I returned the book.”  

Seriously, that’s what you have to say right now?!  

So much for not looking at him. I snapped my head up in disbelief, glaring at him.  

“That’s all you’re going to say?”  

“Now, you’re looking at me again.”  

Of course that was his goal—Esadien was gazing straight at me as he slowly leaned closer. Resting one arm on the edge of the seat, he spoke softly.  

“I’m sorry for upsetting you.”  

“……”  

It was a sincere apology. Hearing it made my outburst of jealousy feel incredibly childish.  

As I lowered my head, feeling sheepish, Esadien called my name again.  

“Minuelle. Look at me.”  

He had crouched down completely to match my eye level. A Prince—lowering himself like this. It was unthinkable.  

“W-Why are you doing this? Just sit here instead.”  

I reached for his arm in a flustered attempt to pull him up, but he didn’t budge an inch. Maintaining his position, he asked,  

“What can I do to earn your forgiveness?”  

“You make it sound like you’d do anything.”  

“I would. Just say the word.”  

All I had to do was say, ‘I forgive you.’  

But…  

“You’d do anything?”

That was the most dangerous phrase in the world.  

Danger was always sweet. Addictive.  

Before I could stop myself, I did something I’d normally never dare.  

I gently cupped Esadien’s beautiful face in both hands and asked,  

“Then…can I kiss you?”  

My thumbs softly brushed over his full lips.  

“Right here…”  

I felt his breath catch.  

Last time—right here—he had coldly rejected me.  

But this time…  

‘He’s hesitating, isn’t he?’ 

His trembling eyes darted restlessly, uncertain.  

Then, after a brief pause, Esadien tightly shut his eyes and nodded.  

“…Alright.”  

“W-What?”

When he gave his consent, I felt… strangely off.  

I thought I’d be thrilled, but it wasn’t as exciting as I’d imagined.  

It didn’t take long to figure out why.  

With a faintly bitter smile, I lowered my hands from Esadien’s face.  

“Never mind. I’ll take it back.”  

“What?”  

As I tried to pull away, Esadien caught my hand.  

I thought he’d be relieved, considering how much he hated physical contact, but instead, his brows furrowed visibly.  

“Why?”  

“I don’t want it to feel like compensation. That would make it forced—mmph!”  

Something soft suddenly cut off my words—and then it pulled away.  

“D-Did you just…”  

What just happened?!  

While I stood completely rattled, Esadien calmly met my eyes and leaned in again.  

This time, his nose brushed gently against mine before his lips met mine again.  

My eyes fluttered closed.  

With my sight gone, everything else became sharper.  

His scent.  

The slight tremble in his lips.  

The pounding of my own heart, so loud it could burst my eardrums.  

Every time those soft lips pressed and shifted against mine, it felt like tiny sparks exploded behind my closed eyelids.  

But the moment of bliss was fleeting.  

Esadien gave my lower lip a gentle nibble—and then pulled away.  

“……”  

“……”  

A silence full of heat and awkwardness followed.  

Esadien straightened his long, bent frame and cleared his throat.  

I, meanwhile, buried my burning face in my hands.  

I… kissed Esadien!  

‘Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?!’

Peeking through parted fingers, I stole a glance at him.  

His ears were flushed red. Definitely not a dream.  

Oh my god. I kissed him. I really did!  

If we’d been on a bed, I probably would’ve grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.  

All I could do now was clench my fists and try not to yell.  

“Minuelle.”  

Esadien called my name again, clearing his throat.  

In place of beating up a pillow, I sprang to my feet like a spring uncoiling and threw my arms around him.  

He caught me effortlessly, as if he’d known I would.  

“I’m sorry for upsetting you,” he said again.  

All the jealousy and sulking had already melted away.  

With my face pressed to his chest, I murmured, “I forgive you.”  

“Thank you.”  

Even to that, Esadien responded with quiet sincerity.  

So I pulled away a little and looked straight into his eyes.  

It felt like I hadn’t said this to him enough lately.  

“I like you.”  

“……”  

Esadien didn’t respond.  

But after spending so much time with him, I could see just how different his reactions were now.  

Unlike before, when he showed clear discomfort, there was only a faint sadness in his eyes.  

So I said it again, this time pouring even more of my heart into it.  

Hoping that someday, I could reach that sadness and lift it away.  

“Esadien… I really, really like you.”  

“…I see.”  

His reply was soft—barely above a whisper.  

But I knew it wasn’t a reflection of his own feelings. It was only acceptance.  

‘And that’s okay.’

Because I could tell he was changing.  

That gave me strength to wait a little longer.  

“Why didn’t I think of your face…?”  

Esadien murmured, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible, as he gently rested his chin on top of my head.  

“Huh?”  

“Nothing. Never mind.”  

He began to slowly stroke my back, his movements almost childlike—like someone searching for reassurance.  

But at the time, I didn’t yet realize what it was he feared.

 

* * *

 

The next day, when Lapheche entered the office and saw how cheerful I looked, her expression showed clear surprise.  

‘Of course I’m in a good mood.’ 

I giggled quietly from an angle where she couldn’t see.

Now that I’d formed a platonic friendship with Theodore, there was no longer any chance of us being tied together through marriage.  

More importantly, I’d had my heart fully recharged yesterday just by being with Esadien.

‘Honestly, must you be so cheerful in front of someone freshly rejected?’

Theodore grumbled, but both Esadien and I knew it was all in jest.

“Lady Minuelle, all the RSVPs to the invitations have arrived.”  

“Yes. Were there any declines?”  

“No… ah, the Strauss family said they won’t be able to attend due to the head of the house’s funeral coinciding with the wedding.”  

“I see.”  

“Here’s the seating chart.”

Before I even asked, Lapheche handed it over.  

Well, at least she was good at her job. If she hadn’t been competent, I probably couldn’t stand working alongside her.

“Thank you.”  

Huh. Now that I think about it, she hadn’t brought up any unnecessary chit-chat today.  

“But, my Lady—”  

“Yes?”  

“Ah…”

I almost asked if something was bothering her.  

But I quickly shook my head. If she was going to stay quiet, that only made my day easier.

“Never mind. I just need to remove one table.”  

The Strauss matter was resolved by removing a table and slightly widening the gaps between the others.  

I also didn’t forget to give instructions to the butler regarding sending condolences.  

“Now, there’s only one thing left.”

The Emperor does not attend noble weddings, but he is always the first and the last person to receive a formal invitation.  

Particularly for the second delivery, the engaged couple must visit the Emperor in person and present the invitation directly.  

It was like receiving final approval—not only from both families, but from the Emperor himself.

‘It feels excessive, meddling even in marriages…’

But in truth, a noble’s marriage was also a merger between houses.  

Nowadays, it was treated as a ceremonial formality, but previous emperors had actively used this moment to veto marriages that could produce a faction strong enough to challenge imperial authority.

When I relayed the schedule to Sister Juela, she paused what she was writing and looked over at us.  

“We’re going to see His Majesty? It’s already that time, huh.”  

The wedding was truly just around the corner now.

My future brother-in-law had already moved his belongings to the Grand Duke’s estate.  

The banquet hall only awaited fresh flower arrangements to be delivered the day before the ceremony, and the dress was nearly complete.

“You’ve worked hard, Lady Celeste. And you too, Minuelle.”  

“No, it’s not over until it’s really over.”

It wouldn’t be finished until the very last guest had gone home and every detail had been wrapped up.  

That was my responsibility as the one preparing the banquet.