117. Why on earth are you doing this?
Because I like you.
“Milady, a letter! A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace!”
The very next day, the maid Lia came running with a letter from the Crown Prince.
I reluctantly opened it.
“His Highness wants to see me.”
“Didn’t you meet the Crown Prince not too long ago?”
“That’s right. I saw him at the estate.”
“And yet he’s invited you again? That must mean something, don’t you think?”
“Kyaa—how wonderful, Milady!”
The maids squealed as if they were witnessing some grand romance of the century.
But I was certain Ferwyn wasn’t seeking me out for anything so romantic.
‘He probably wants to continue the questioning he didn’t finish that day.’
I touched the ring on my finger.
He’d said he’d summon me soon—and it looked like Ferwyn intended to keep that promise right away.
‘Troublesome.’
Since he seemed to be under some outrageous misunderstanding, I supposed I did need to clear things up…
But it felt like I was being forced to finish a homework assignment I really didn’t want to do.
The appointed day soon arrived.
When the day finally came, I reluctantly made my way to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Ferwyn himself was waiting at the front gate to greet me.
“I greet the Empire’s little sun.”
I offered a polite bow, but he merely looked me and my attendants over with indifference.
“You didn’t bring that servant boy with you this time?”
“Ah, no.”
So he really was bothered about the last incident.
I gave a short reply, and Ferwyn looked away.
“You seemed attached to him.”
“If anyone heard you say that, they’d get the wrong idea.”
“Hmph. Wrong idea, my foot.”
He shot back bluntly.
Correction: he wasn’t just bothered—he was very, very bothered.
“I’ll apologize for my servant’s rudeness last time.”
“Why is the Lady apologizing instead of that servant?”
“Because as his master, it’s only right that I take responsibility for his mistakes, isn’t it?”
Besides, Cayenne would rather die than apologize.
Ferwyn muttered under his breath, almost as if in passing.
“Hmph. That’s why you should’ve been more careful when taking in someone of low birth.”
“…What?”
How did Ferwyn know about Cayenne’s origins?
I paused, unsettled, but only for a moment.
“Come, let’s go.”
Ferwyn calmly extended an arm toward me.
“….”
‘Hmm.’
Reluctantly, I accepted his escort.
He led me into the gardens behind the Crown Prince’s palace.
There, lush greenery glistened with dew.
From a fountain by the pond, water gushed forth, scattering droplets that sparkled in the sunlight and lit the emerald foliage all around.
At every step, the fragrance of grass and flowers greeted us.
“This place is always so beautiful, no matter when you come.”
Strolling through the garden calmed my unsettled heart.
I stopped in my tracks, captivated by the blooming hydrangeas.
Ferwyn stood still too, his gaze fixed on me.
“You like those that much? The palace is littered with flowers like that.”
Such a terribly unromantic man.
“It may be nothing special to Your Highness, but a garden this beautiful is rare even across the whole country.”
“Then you can have it.”
“…Pardon?”
I blinked, startled, but he replied casually.
“If you officially become the Crown Princess, you’ll be staying here at the palace for some time. You can arrange the garden however you like.”
“….”
“If you like hydrangeas, you can fill it with them. From there to here—everywhere.”
He pointed from the entrance of the garden across the entire path.
“That’s a bit sudden. I’ve never really thought about such a thing.”
“What’s sudden about it? It was inevitable from the moment we became betrothed.”
“That may have been so then, but not anymore.”
I drew a clear line, and Ferwyn’s face soured.
“Hmph. Is this because of that servant?”
…Why was Cayenne coming up now?
“No. I’ve told you before—I think we should reconsider our engagement.”
“And I’ve told you clearly—I have no intention of letting you go.”
“Why on earth not?”
“What?”
“This engagement is just for appearances. If anything, it must be more unbearable for you than for me, Your Highness. So why—”
“Because I like you.”
“…!”
“Why else would I be doing this?”
“T-that’s…”
Sweat dampened my palms.
I’d suspected he might like me.
I’d even confirmed it with the Favorability Gauge, so I had half given up on avoiding the issue.
But to have him hurl the confession straight at me left me utterly speechless.
“You probably don’t care at all about my feelings. That’s why you toy around with another man.”
“….”
“But I don’t care. Even knowing you don’t feel the same, I still want to cling to you pathetically.”
His eyes locked firmly on mine.
“Why?”
Rogelia asked, as though she truly didn’t understand.
From the moment she’d stepped into the palace, she’d been tense.
She had sharpened herself, as if unwilling to show even the slightest weakness.
Yet once they entered the garden, she seemed to finally breathe.
And there, she carefully broached the subject of breaking their engagement.
“What?”
“This engagement is just for appearances. If anyone hates it, surely it’s Your Highness. So why—”
“Because I like you.”
“…!”
The words slipped out, unvarnished.
He had thought about it countless times.
Why he kept showing up before her without reason.
Why he lingered, waiting endlessly for replies that never came.
Why he cherished the gifts she gave.
It was expectation.
Maybe he could see her face, just once.
Maybe today, he’d hear from her.
Maybe that gift carried some hidden meaning.
Faint expectations, budding amid layers of resentment and misunderstanding.
But every time, she disappointed him.
At first, he felt anger. Then disappointment. And eventually, sorrow and resentment.
And at the end of that spiral of emotions always came longing.
‘Insanity.’
He had fought desperately against this engagement, and now he was clinging desperately to it.
He must be utterly mad.
The love he had witnessed all his life had been pathetic.
A father consumed by mistresses, making disgraceful decisions as a ruler, abandoning his only son, and breaking his wife’s heart.
A mother, who in the name of maternal love, stained her hands with blood, only to be cast aside from power and left to await a lonely death.
No wonder he didn’t want to admit it—
That he too was being swayed by something this irrational, this pitiful.
“You probably don’t care about my feelings. That’s why you amuse yourself with another man.”
But once emotion had bloomed, it swayed helplessly in even the faintest breeze.
“But I don’t care. Even knowing you don’t love me, I still want to cling to you like a fool.”
The man praised as the noblest in the Empire spoke his truth in pitiful words.
And in the stirring breeze, late spring blossoms scattered in the air.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was far more cheerful.
The Emperor, Marquis Balton, and Lady Shylo sat together at a banquet table.
The Emperor poured wine for the Marquis.
“I always knew you had great skill, Marquis, but I never expected you to secure a sea trade agreement with Phaeron so easily.”
The Emperor’s satisfied smile did not fade.
“I am honored, Your Majesty. It was thanks to my sister in Phaeron lending her support.”
The Marquis bowed his head respectfully.
His sister had long since moved to the Kingdom of Phaeron, where she had married the heir of a powerful family and established herself as a true noble.
Her influence had been crucial in securing this diplomatic success.
Including not just silver, porcelain, and jewels, but also magic stones among the traded goods was another achievement worth praising.
“Indeed. Since you have ties in Phaeron, their king must have shown us his trust. Thanks to you, a great burden has been lifted. I shall not forget this service.”
“I am unworthy of such words, Your Majesty.”
Clinging to the Emperor’s arm, Lady Shylo chimed in sweetly.
“Your Majesty, when those rare goods from Phaeron arrive, you must tell me first, won’t you?”
“Of course. As much as you desire.”
At that moment, a courtier carefully entered the hall.
“Your Majesty, Lady Serteia has arrived at the palace.”
“Now? Ah, that’s right—today was the day. Is the Crown Prince with her?”
“Yes, they are currently in the gardens of the Crown Prince’s palace.”
“Good, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her. Bring the two of them here at once.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
【SYSTEM: Achievement Unlocked! ‘Blossomed Sincerity’】
【SYSTEM: You have earned 300 Luck Points.】
[☞ Use Points Now ☜]
Just as I was hesitating to answer his sudden confession—
“Your Highness, there you are. His Majesty urgently requests your presence.”
A courtier spotted us at the garden entrance, glancing between me and Ferwyn.
“Father? Tell him I’ll come later. I have a guest.”
“His Majesty asked that you bring the Lady with you…”
“Are you deaf? I said later.”
Caught between the Emperor’s command and the Crown Prince’s curt reply, the courtier fidgeted nervously.
I tugged on Ferwyn’s arm.
“Your Highness, let’s go.”
“What?”
“I think we should go see His Majesty.”
At that same moment, a system window popped up before my eyes.
【SYSTEM: Partial reward for mission success has been granted!】
[Special encounter achieved.]
Where the Emperor waited—there, the mission reward awaited as well.
“Rogelia”? XD That might be the most surprising variation I’ve seen for her name this far, and she’s had quite a few. Not as often as poor Gotte/Goth/Gothe (etc.) when adjusting for appearance frequency, though.