Chapter 64

Thanks to our brisk movement, the return to the Karnian estate was shortened to nearly half the time it took to get there—slightly exaggerated, but still. I barely had time to feel relieved at the sight of the castle gates when I heard the news of an unexpected visitor, and once again, I clutched the back of my neck.

“The Second Prince is coming here?”

He’s allowed to enter Preseria?

When I asked, my father gave a reluctant nod, his expression clearly showing he wasn’t thrilled either.

“The youngest prince of Chitrum is visiting Preseria, and he came along with him.”

What followed was even more shocking.

Apparently, Chitrum’s youngest prince, Gunnar Ambrosetti, had fallen in love with the Crown Princess. And now, this smitten young prince was requesting to become a concubine!*

“The royal family of Chitrum allowed that?!”

Preseria became a great empire two generations ago. Even with two emperor changes, Chitrum had always stood its ground behind desert walls. 

“Of course not. But the youngest prince even went on a hunger strike.”

I guess he was the royal family’s baby, much like me, spoiled by the elders. When he rebelled for the first time in his life, the king of Chitrum finally gave in.

‘Parents really can’t win against their kids, huh.’

“His Majesty the Emperor feels bad for Duke Lambert, but he’s secretly pleased as well.”

After all, Chitrum had always been a hostile nation. If they refuse to be absorbed into the empire, it was better to turn them into allies.

But what about the Prince himself?

“The Crown Princess agreed too? I thought she was close with Duke Lambert…”

Lambert is the Crown Princess’ husband. He was her knight from childhood and now commands her personal royal guard.

This time, my older sister Elga pressed her temples and replied instead of Father.

“Lumière will probably accept. Loving Lambert doesn’t stop her from appreciating a handsome exotic man who throws himself at her feet.”

“Uh…”

So the Crown Princess swings that way too?

As if reading my mind, Elga added smoothly: “Yes. Just like you, Minuelle.”

“Sis!”

Liking handsome men isn’t shameful, but it was still embarrassing to talk about it in front of our parents. But Father took it a step further.

“She gets that from Yugatis.”

“Huh?”

“She married me, didn’t she?”

He smiled gently, like a blooming tree in spring—without the slightest hint of smugness.

“I heard you were the one who pursued her.”

“I did. I fell in love at first sight during her coming-of-age ball. A noble lady in a black uniform instead of a dress…”

Ah, here comes the well-known love story of my parents. Sensing it, I quickly raised my hand.

“Hold on, Dad. Just a second.”

It was cute how my usually calm father became a total softie only when it came to Mom, and his story was always fun—but now wasn’t the time.

“I get that the Second Prince is returning home because of Chitrum’s youngest prince, but why is he visiting our duchy all the way up here in the north?”

“He said he wanted some fresh air.”

Fresh air? In this freezing place? Doesn’t Roquate have wind?

“We’re not thrilled about it either, but, Minuelle, His Majesty personally requested we look after him. It’s hard to say no to that.”

“His Majesty did?”

What, did the Emperor suddenly become fond of him?

As I muttered to myself, a face long buried in memory surfaced without warning.

Esadien.

Could it be that after he vanished, the Emperor felt obligated to watch over the Second Prince again?

No news had come about Esadien returning. What rose in my mind wasn’t just his face—his faint smile, how he looked up at me while kneeling, the hollow way he cried—all those memories flickered by.

‘Ugh, go away! Disappear!’

I shook my head violently to get rid of them.

‘Wherever you are, I hope you’re safe…’

Come back to the people who love you.

As if it were the most natural thing, I gently stroked El, who was lying across my lap, and thought so.

‘Hmm?’

But something felt off—El’s body was stiff, like it was tensed up.

“El, are you feeling okay?”

I stretched out his legs and massaged his body, but there was no clear sign of pain. He just laid still, quietly trusting me like usual.

“Strange…”

“Mya.”

He let out a soft meow as if to say he was fine, but I couldn’t shake off the unease. I wanted to coax him more, but Father called me, and I had to stop.

‘I’ll give him a snack later. Maybe make him a new toy too.’

I made a mental note.

***

I figured out how seriously my parents had taken the Emperor’s “personally look after him” comment the moment the Second Prince’s group arrived.

They had assigned two servants to every single attendant.

‘This isn’t service. This is…’

Surveillance? Basically a warning not to try any funny business in our domain.

But the real surprise was that among the Prince’s attendants was a very familiar beauty.

Wavy red hair. Eyes like golden coins.

“L-Lapheche? What is she doing there…?”

Isn’t the female lead bouncing around a little too much?

Unlike Theodore, Lapheche was completely unpredictable. Come to think of it, she was like that from the very start.

“What in the world is she thinking?”

I thought I’d never see her again after we left Roquate.

Just then, Lapheche’s golden eyes met mine—dead-on. Neither of us looked away. We simply stared.

The one to break it was the last to arrive: the Second Prince, Austin Roquate.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Grace.”

As expected, two attendants followed close behind. Glancing at them, Austin shrugged nonchalantly.

“Didn’t think the hospitality would be this intense.”

“His Majesty is quite invested in Your Highness.”

“I’m aware.”

He brushed it off like it was nothing, then turned to me with a smile after glancing at Elga.

“So this is the youngest lady of Karnian—Springtime of Karnian, was it?”

Excuse me? ‘Springtime of Karnian’?

Was that really a nickname people used? Or did Austin just make it up?

Before I could decide, his gloved hand extended toward me.

This wasn’t a private setting—everyone, from our retainers to his attendants, was watching. I couldn’t avoid it.

Then, as his gloved hand touched mine—click.

He clicked his tongue.

What?

I was startled, but he was already bowing, so I couldn’t see his face. Worse, I could feel his lips press firmly against the back of my hand.

‘Who kisses hands for real these days?!’

Thank the stars I was wearing gloves.

Austin looked up at me with a dazzling smile.

“I’m glad we finally met, my Lady.”

Oh, please.

Looking into his eyes up close, I could say with confidence:

They were a beautiful green, like sunlight through leaves—but behind them, something dark was lurking.

‘A rose with thorns, this one.’

Esadien had a face that crushed everyone’s standards, but Austin looked like he had been carved specifically to match my type.

Too bad he was a total scoundrel.

“You don’t look too happy, my Lady.”

“It’s hard to feel happy or not when we’re meeting for the first time.”

As my face grew cold and stiff, Austin laughed like a child observing something fascinating.

“Oh dear. How unfortunate we aren’t in sync.”

Then he dropped a bomb with that same smiling face.

“Marry me, Minuelle Karnian.”

“……!”

What did I just hear?

For a moment, my soul shot into the stratosphere. When it came back, my mouth was still hanging open like an idiot.

The room, of course, was in total chaos.

“Your Highness, I believe you’ve had no prior acquaintance with my daughter.”

Father’s verbal wall was relatively mild.

“Darling!”

Mother and Elga immediately reached for their sword hilts, and Father and my brother-in-law Sodiem had to hold them back.

We weren’t the only ones panicking.

“Y-Your Highness?!”

“What in the world are you saying?!”

Even his own attendants were flustered—it was clear this wasn’t pre-planned.

And—

‘Why is Lapheche glaring at me like that?!’

Her eyes burned with fury—hotter than when she found out I was the sponsor of Palos. No, this was worse.

‘Don’t tell me she had her eyes on the Second Prince next?’

This was nothing like the original story. She wasn’t supposed to be this ambitious!

“Lady Karnian—or rather, Lady Minuelle. Will you answer me?”

Austin kept his gaze locked on me, unfazed by the commotion.

‘You want an answer? You’ll get one.’

One extra serving of NOPE coming right up!

I looked him dead in the eye and said firmly:  

“No.”

Rejections must be clear. One thing I learned from dealing with Esadien.

But Austin was just as unshakable.

“Hm? I didn’t catch that.”

It was obvious he wouldn’t stop until he heard the answer he wanted. I tried to pull my hand free, but he held it in an iron grip.

His grasp only tightened, painfully so.

Still, I wasn’t about to say “Ow” in front of this guy.

So what did I do?

I leaned in closer, like I’d given up on getting my hand back. Close enough that my dress hem brushed against his legs.

Austin’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“Let me say it again.”

“So polite of you.”

I matched his smile with one of my own.

“Heeheehee.”

Then I kicked with all my strength under my skirt.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

A solid blow to the shin made him double over.

‘Bullseye!’

Thank you, spirit contract health buff.

I grabbed his collar like I was helping him up, playing it off with a concerned voice.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

Then I whispered in his ear, as promised:

“I said no, idiot.”

“What….”

Even Austin looked stunned this time, but I ignored him and turned to his attendants and servants.

“What are you doing? Assist His Highness. He seems exhausted from the long journey.”

That finally snapped everyone out of their stupor, and they scrambled into motion.

As he was escorted away, Austin looked back at me once.

“I showed you a bad side. Let’s meet again.”

The way he smiled—eyes narrowing like he was licking me all over—gave me actual chills.