Chapter 64
My Heart Is the Same as Yours
Riena let out an involuntary high-pitched sound at the unexpected words.
“Pardon?”
Anais gave her a look as if wondering why she was so surprised and continued explaining.
“If by any chance His Majesty suddenly loses his mind and breaks off your engagement with the Duke to push for marriage with me, I’ll do everything in my power to stop him.”
What should Riena say to that?
Thank you? That’s unnecessary?
Neither seemed like an appropriate response.
Fortunately, Anais didn’t seem to be waiting for her reply and continued.
“Anyway, setting that aside, I just wanted to say that I want to get along well with you. What do you think?”
“…Huh?”
This time her voice automatically rose.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Me? With Your Highness?”
“Yes. Is that not allowed?”
Anais, on the contrary, seemed unable to understand Riena’s reaction.
“As you probably know, there’s no woman my age in the Imperial Dukedom. The Duchess and the ladies are either much older than me or absurdly younger.”
Riena nodded slightly to indicate that she understood.
“But then you appeared. A noblewoman my age. Finally, someone my age with a status I can casually interact with has appeared. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Anais winked.
“That’s the external reason.”
“…?”
“I want Winkler through you.”
“W-Winkler?”
“Yes.”
Anais’s smile disappeared from her face.
“Do you know why His Majesty wants to pair me with Duke Winkler?”
“Because Duke Cass would be a good match for Her Highness, the Princess?”
“Wrong.”
Anais playfully tapped Riena on the tip of her nose.
“Of course, that reason exists to some extent. There aren’t many men with a rank suitable to marry a princess like me. Otherwise, I’d go abroad. But I’ve firmly said I’ll never go abroad, so they had to find someone within the Empire. But that’s not the real reason.”
“Is that so?”
“His Majesty wants to tie my hands and feet. By marrying me into the prestigious Winkler family.”
Riena tried to understand Anais’s words.
“To prevent you from interfering in Imperial affairs?”
“Exactly.”
Anais tapped Riena’s nose again.
“More precisely, it’s to drive me away. Essentially an exile.”
“…”
“If I marry Duke Winkler, I’ll live not as an Imperial Princess but as the Duchess of Winkler. I won’t be able to actively voice my opinion in Imperial matters anymore. No matter what I say, people will think I prioritize the interests of the Winkler family above all else.”
“…”
“But ironically, His Majesty can benefit from Winkler because of my marriage. It’s a marriage solely for His Majesty, without considering my position at all.”
There was no room to interrupt or agree. Riena just quietly listened.
“I don’t want to end my life as just a Duchess, you know.”
The title of Duchess wasn’t something to dismiss as “just,” but it was possible because it was Anais speaking.
Looking into Anais’s golden eyes, burning with ambition she couldn’t hide, Riena realized:
This person wants to become Emperor.
She had been growing up that way and would continue to strive for it.
But to aim for the throne meant rebellion. So neither Anais nor Riena spoke it outright.
Even so, Anais’s intent was clear to Riena.
She felt like she had inadvertently been drawn into something extraordinary.
What on earth should she do?
Riena frowned, pondering, while Anais softened her intense expression and smiled.
“Well, that’s that. So I thought it would be nice if Winkler stayed by my side. But as you know, would the Duke fall for mere temptation?”
“…No, he wouldn’t.”
“So I’ll aim for you instead. I think the Duke would do anything for your words.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. That wouldn’t happen.”
“Well, we’ll see about that.”
Anais shrugged.
“But after talking with you a bit, I realized I don’t care about Winkler at all. I just want to know you.”
“…Huh?”
Anais gently brushed Riena’s cheek with her thumb, causing her to fluster.
“What do you think? Kick Duke Winkler aside and come to me? Isn’t I better than a Duke who can’t express his feelings properly? I’m confident I’d treat you well too.”
“No, it’s just…”
Anais burst out laughing.
“Just kidding. From earlier, I realized teasing you is fun.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I like men too. Strong, handsome men.”
That seemed sincere.
Riena could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“But when I say I want to get to know you, that’s sincere. As a friend. I think we could be really compatible friends.”
Riena didn’t know why Anais was so confident, and honestly, she doubted whether they could truly be good friends.
Anais, being a Princess, had no need to consider anyone’s opinion and was excessively honest.
But Riena couldn’t respond so directly, so she nodded appropriately.
“Yes, me too.”
“You can tell from your expression that you don’t feel the same.”
“….”
Finally, Anais tapped Riena’s nose one last time and stood up.
“Shall we go? If people find out we were alone together for so long, they might misunderstand our relationship.”
“Another joke, Your Highness?”
“Oh, are you not fooled anymore?”
Anais laughed as she drew the curtain aside. Holding the curtain until Riena exited, she said:
“I’ll invite you to my palace soon, so we’ll meet again.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Satisfied, Anais left the hall without hesitation. Even after just a brief conversation, Riena felt dizzy.
Sighing, Riena noticed Cassel approaching from afar. Reaching her quickly, he looked at Anais’s departing back and asked:
“Were you with Her Highness, the Princess?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what you talked about?”
“Nothing special.”
Riena decided not to relay Anais’s warning that she wasn’t interested in Cassel.
“She said she wants to get along with me and will invite me to the Princess’s palace soon.”
“….”
“Apparently, there are complicated circumstances. I’ll respect your wishes. If you don’t want to go, I’ll refuse the invitation even if it arrives.”
“I think it’s fine for you to build a relationship with Her Highness. She could even be a support to you.”
“Really? Then I’ll meet her.”
Their conversation ended just as the waltz signaling the first dance began.
Cassel bent slightly and extended his hand.
“Ria, may I have the honor of sharing your first dance?”
“I’d be delighted.”
Riena lightly placed her hand in his, and he led her to the center of the hall. All eyes were on them, but Riena no longer felt nervous or timid.
With Cassel before her, she felt capable of overcoming any adversity.
They assumed a standing position and moved slowly. Even though their rhythm had been slightly awkward during practice, today it was perfect. They moved as if born for each other, not a single step out of place.
Riena pressed closer to Cassel and whispered:
“Today, I’ll only dance with you. Even if others request a dance, I’ll refuse.”
“…?”
At parties, dancing was just a social activity. Even married or engaged people could dance with others without any problem. No one would look down on them.
So it wouldn’t have been strange if Riena danced with another man.
Yet somehow, she didn’t want to.
She added shyly, aware that Cassel hadn’t noticed her intent:
“So I hope you don’t dance with any other lady either.”
Even if it meant nothing, she disliked the idea of him holding another woman’s hand and dancing closely.
“I want you to look only at me.”
“….”
“Do you dislike me for saying this?”
“How could I dislike you?”
“Jealousy is one of the emotions that the doctrine of God Karwin emphasizes should be avoided.”
Cassel leaned closer, whispering softly into her ear:
“If I said I find even your jealousy endearing, would you dislike me?”
“Of course not.”
Riena answered with a voice laced with laughter, and Cassel smiled in return.
“My heart is the same as yours.”
