Chapter 110
Riana’s eyes widened as if she had just heard something unbelievable.
Her lips moved awkwardly, fumbling for words.
“I told you I needed time to think about my feelings for you.”
“…You did.”
“Take as much time as you want. A month, or even a year—it doesn’t matter.”
A year?
Riana had only imagined it would take her maybe two weeks at most, so she blinked slowly in surprise.
But she didn’t have time to protest.
“I’ll never force my feelings on you. But at least allow me the chance to try—try to make you love me, to like me.”
“So… you’re saying you’ll try to woo me…?”
“Yes.”
“…That doesn’t really sound like something you’d need my permission for…”
“Actually, I thought this way, you’d become a little more conscious of me.”
As he spoke, Ianheart gently brushed his fingers over the back of her hand.
Wait… was he already starting to woo her?
Riana felt so dazed from crying that her head now seemed to drift into a haze.
“So give me permission. Please?”
“…Do as you wish.”
In the end, Riana gave him a faint nod of permission, and with a small smile, she let him press his lips against the back of her hand.
Riana had been sitting blankly on the balcony for over an hour now.
Lora Gizel, who knew her mistress often sat out in the fresh air whenever her heart felt heavy, wore a faintly worried look.
And today of all days, Riana had returned with swollen eyes, practically carried back by the Emperor himself.
“Betty.”
“Yes, Head Maid!”
“Go to the kitchen and bring some tea. Her Highness seems lost in thought.”
“Ah…! I’ll go right away!”
Understanding perfectly, Betty hurried off toward the kitchen.
Inside, the head chef of the Emerald Palace, Sasha, was busy experimenting with recipes and cooking as usual. She had a passion for her work.
“Um, Head Chef?”
“Hm? Oh, Betty.”
“Hehe. Could you prepare a calming tea and maybe a few desserts Her Highness likes?”
Poking her head into the kitchen, Betty’s request made Sasha pause before waving her over.
“Open the second drawer on the left. On the third row, pick whichever you want.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Quickly and deftly, Betty selected the leaves and brewed a perfect pot of tea.
Meanwhile, Sasha took out a jelly dessert she had chilled in the icebox and sliced it into bite-sized pieces.
Betty blew gently on the tea to cool it—Riana never liked things too hot—and then spotted the jelly, her face lighting up.
“Wow, it’s jelly! Her Highness praised it so much last time she had it. You heard, right?”
“Fufu. This time, there are different flavors.”
Betty looked amazed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Wow… it’s so pretty. How do you make the colors and the cuts so clean? There aren’t even any cracks or bubbles!”
“Here, it’s ready. I’ll tell you later, but for now, hurry and bring it to Her Highness. If you dawdle, the Head Maid might scold you.”
Having been scolded a few times before, Betty pouted but quickly gathered the tray.
“Fine, but you have to promise to teach me later! I want to make it for Her Highness too.”
Sasha sighed and waved her hand.
“Alright, alright. I’ll teach you later.”
The truth was, she enjoyed hearing Riana’s delighted praise whenever she presented new dishes.
Riana was easy to please—she ate almost anything, enjoyed exotic spices, and only truly favored meat dishes a little more.
But what Sasha cherished most was Riana’s kind nature, always thanking and encouraging her for her hard work.
“…I hope she chooses me as her chef even when she moves to the Amethyst Palace.”
Smiling faintly at the thought, Sasha returned to her experiments.
Meanwhile, Betty carefully carried the tray, making sure neither the tea nor the snacks wobbled.
“Head Maid! I brought the tea and desserts!”
“Well done.”
Lora accepted the tray and carried it steadily to the balcony.
“Your Highness.”
Her voice was loud enough to hear, yet Riana didn’t respond.
‘…Something must have happened.’
Lora sighed inwardly as she carefully set the tray on the table. The small clink finally drew Riana’s attention.
“…Lora?”
“You seemed troubled, Your Highness. This tea is warm and will help you feel better.”
With practiced hands, Lora poured the tea and set the dessert plate before her mistress.
“…Thank you.”
“It is my duty.”
Her composed tone, combined with her graceful movements, made Riana smile faintly.
She realized that sitting out here and brooding over Ianheart must have worried Lora.
“Don’t worry. I’ll go inside soon.”
“…Understood. Call for me if you need anything.”
“Mm.”
Even as Lora left and closed the balcony door behind her, the worry on her face didn’t fade.
‘…Well, I did come back with a face swollen from crying. No wonder she’s concerned.’
It had only been an hour since she’d sobbed her heart out, her face puffed and red.
Even Riana herself had been startled by her reflection.
Yet Ianheart had still told her she was beautiful, swollen face and all…
‘…’
Her face flushed red at the memory.
She recalled his promise—that while she took her time sorting out her feelings, he would do his best to win her heart.
In just a few hours, he had made her cry, shocked her with his confession, and even made her heart race with anticipation.
Sadness, surprise, excitement—how many emotions had he stirred in her already?
‘…I’m such a fool.’
Riana instinctively knew tonight would be a long one.
Because the man filling her thoughts wouldn’t let her fall asleep so easily.
That night.
Riana wasn’t the only one with a mind full of thoughts.
“…”
Ianheart leaned lazily against the sofa, his eyes fixed on the moon outside the window.
“…Time.”
“I’m not saying I dislike you. I just need time to think seriously about how I feel for Your Majesty, so please don’t misunderstand.”
Those were Riana’s words from earlier, spoken with steady eyes as she looked straight at him.
It hadn’t been acceptance or rejection.
But Ianheart liked that answer even more than either.
Because it was an answer that showed her thoughtfulness toward him.
“…Of all people, why did you have to meet someone like me.”
Would she have been happier if she had met someone better, someone more whole?
Perhaps that sly fox, Rowoon—the one who looked straightforward despite his scheming nature.
He had grown up in a normal family, with loving parents. He could surely embrace Riana more gently and stably than Ianheart ever could.
They had known each other since childhood, so being together wouldn’t have been awkward either…
“…Ha.”
The thought made Ianheart curse under his breath.
Even imagining another man by Riana’s side was enough to chill his blood.
If Riana held another’s hand, smiled shyly, and whispered, “I love you”…
“…I must be insane.”
He shook the image from his head with a sigh.
In the end, he had already met Riana, and he already loved her.
He pitied her for bearing the burden of a broken man’s love, but he had no intention of letting her go. He couldn’t.
At least she had listened to his past and still embraced him with kindness.
And…
Ianheart slowly closed his eyes.
Though his face looked expressionless, if one looked closely, there was the faintest trace of a smile.
People believed Ianheart cared nothing for others’ emotions, that he was a cold, unfeeling man who couldn’t understand them.
That was partly true—and partly false.
It was true he didn’t care. But it was false that he didn’t notice.
He noticed others’ feelings sharply, almost too sharply. That was why he avoided paying attention.
It was exhausting.
But tonight, that sensitivity pleased him.
Because in Riana’s eyes, he had glimpsed fragments of her feelings toward him.
He knew she had trembled at his confession.
Even if she hadn’t realized it herself yet, Ianheart, who had devoted all his attention to her, could see it clearly.
Her feelings might not yet be as deep as his, but they were of the same kind.
All he had to do was make himself stand out in her eyes until she recognized it for herself.
“…Maybe I’m actually suited to this whole ‘wooing’ thing.”
He chuckled softly.
Once, he would never have thought of such things. But now, he welcomed it.
Because whenever he teased her, Riana would give him that baffled look… and then smile.
And one day, all those smiles would gather and rebuild themselves into feelings of love directed solely at him.
