Chapter 71
Only then did she realize just how unaccustomed she was to being rejected. Unaccustomed? No—this was her very first time.
Why are there so many firsts lately? And more importantly, how dare he reject me? Is he in his right mind?
Franz calmed his emotions, took a step back, and instead set conditions.
“Fine. Do as you please, for now.”
I’ll do as I please, then.
With a fresh smile curling at his lips, Iella suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Of all people, she knew best how dangerous that smile could be.
Dangerous. I must not let my guard down.
Franz secretly enjoyed Iella’s unease as he continued with utter seriousness.
“I understand you’re uncomfortable around me. But I wasn’t exactly at ease either. I’m sorry for what’s happened so far.”
The genuine apology in his earnest gaze made things difficult for her. Now it was hard to respond coldly.
Why is he acting like this? Did I do something wrong again? Honestly, there were countless ways he could drive someone insane.
Without realizing it, Iella fiddled with her neck. The memory of his lips brushing against her skin kept resurfacing, vivid and stinging, leaving behind a faint ache.
When they reached the deck, Hans greeted them politely.
“Did you enjoy the boat ride?”
“Hello, Mr. O’Neil. We seem to be running into each other often.”
Iella greeted him warmly. Hans smiled back and bowed.
“My lady, your beauty seems to blossom more each day.”
“Oh, come now. Don’t tease me like that. Please don’t say such things.”
Iella blushed furiously, flustered by the compliment.
“This is no joke. Even now, the eyes of all the gentlemen present are fixed solely on you. Surely I’m not exaggerating.”
These days, whenever she appeared, she drew attention everywhere she went. But she knew well—that was only because of Prince Franz.
Today, the stares felt especially intense, making her unusually tense. Iella adjusted her bonnet once more, steadying her fluttering heart.
Watching the two of them interact so harmoniously, Franz frowned slightly, displeased, and asked Hans curtly:
“What is it?”
The prince rarely displayed emotional swings, so even the slightest change was noticeable. Having served him for so long, Hans caught on immediately.
He quickly stepped away from Iella and spoke.
“Your Highness, I was instructed to deliver an urgent summons to the palace. It has already been some time since the message arrived.”
Franz straightened his attire and nodded.
“They really don’t give me any rest, do they?”
“Well, there’s also the matter that…”
Hans hesitated mid-sentence, glancing nervously at Franz. Finally, Franz looked at him directly, raising an eyebrow as if to say, Well? Out with it.
“You are to bring the young lady with you. By His Majesty’s command.”
“What?”
While Franz’s lips curled into a knowing smirk, Iella gasped in shock. Suddenly being summoned to the palace? Her heart plummeted with a thud.
“Your Highness, what do we do?”
Her small shoulders hunched as she turned to him with a pitiful look. Franz’s expression immediately softened.
His eyes grew deeper, kinder—almost as if to say, I understand exactly how you feel.
In this moment, Franz was the only one she could rely on. Desperately, she put on her most helpless expression. Ironically, she seemed to have forgotten all his coldness and unkindness until now.
Franz stepped closer and discreetly signaled Hans to leave. Hans, quick on the uptake, excused himself from the cloying scene.
Unbelievable.
Even knowing the act, Hans was still unsettled. The prince wasn’t just flawless in looks—his insincere performance was flawless, too.
My lady! This is a trick! Don’t fall for it!
Hans’s silent cries echoed only in his heart.
“Don’t want to go?”
“…Yes. His Majesty the King? Is he going to scold me? Oh, what should I do?”
Iella was nearly in a panic, overwhelmed by fear. Seeing her so flustered actually put Franz at ease.
“It’s His Majesty’s order. You can’t exactly refuse.”
“I know, but what do I do? I feel like I can’t breathe.”
Her face had gone pale as she clutched her chest, and it didn’t look entirely like an act. Franz, amused, decided to dangle a carrot.
“Are you really that afraid? You think you can’t go at all?”
“I don’t think I can manage. I’ll surely give us away.”
“Well, well… what should we do then?”
Iella, on the verge of tears, clung to him.
“Your Highness, please. I’m begging you…”
Franz gazed down at her earnest face, sighing softly. Outwardly, he wore the look of a man torn with conflict.
“You’re pleading so sincerely. How can I ignore you?”
After pausing as if in thought, he allowed a smile to tug at his lips, speaking magnanimously:
“If I grant your request, what will you give me in return?”
“…What do you mean, give you in return?”
The sudden condition startled her.
What exactly was he expecting? She blinked in confusion as Franz pressed her further.
“I’ve never once disobeyed His Majesty’s word. To go against it now would not be easy for me either.”
At his added remark, Iella hesitated, then spoke firmly.
“As long as it’s not asking me to date you… and you don’t touch me, then I’ll grant you one thing you want.”
Those were the greatest risks, and she thought they’d surely be the issue. But Franz looked entirely indifferent.
“That’s all?”
“Yes. Just not those things.”
“Very well.”
His lips curved into a charming smile, as though it were nothing difficult.
Iella found herself puzzled. Strangely, his smile looked genuine—not one of his usual insincere, polished acts, but real enjoyment.
Did I overreact?
Thinking it over, perhaps she had been too harsh in her interpretation of yesterday’s events. For now, he was trying to help her, after all.
Franz pulled out a pocket watch, checked the time, then leaned close to whisper in her ear.
“Come to Grenville tomorrow by eleven.”
His warm breath brushed her ear as his low voice poured in.
“In the morning? But tomorrow is…”
Tomorrow was the day they were to leave for Manchester Street. He couldn’t possibly not know that.
“No, you’re coming. You promised me one thing, didn’t you? You don’t have the right to refuse.”
“….”
“This time, keep your promise.”
And then—whether by accident or design—the corner of his lips grazed her ear. The spot burned as if seared.
Her heartbeat thundered wildly. Despite her confusion, her body betrayed her feelings all too clearly.
I mustn’t like him. I mustn’t.
She repeated the vow to herself over and over, but her heart refused to obey.
On the way back to the carriage, Iella had countless questions she wanted to ask Louisa, countless answers she wanted to hear—but her mind was too clouded to find the energy.
Feigning sleep, she closed her eyes to avoid conversation. Thankfully, Louisa respected her mood and left her alone.
Is what I’m doing really the right thing? The thought crept in. But the answer was obvious.
Even if it wasn’t the right thing—what’s done was done. Thinking about it now wouldn’t change anything.
“Do you perhaps like me?”
“No.”
And yet, what was with his sudden talk about dating? She couldn’t make sense of it.
How could someone say such a thing if they didn’t even like her? Of course it left her doubting every word and action.
Everything about the prince was riddled with questions. And there was no one she could ask, nowhere she could go for answers. It was suffocating.
No matter how often she vowed to control her heart, she failed. The emotions rose and flickered like a mirage, refusing to be suppressed.
“Louisa.”
“Yes?”
“What do you do when your heart wavers—when it’s not the solution you planned for yourself?”
“Hmm… what’s so complicated about that? As long as you don’t forget your original goal, that’s all that matters. If it still feels complicated, just list out all the worries swirling in your head. If the reasons not to outweigh the rest, you pull yourself together. But if you still can’t stop hesitating, then forget pros and cons—just go for it. You only live once, not twice, right? That’s what my sister always said.”
My worries…?
Iella Clarence likes Prince Franz.
I should give up, but I can’t.
Above all, I don’t want him to discover my mistakes.
I like him, but I haven’t given him my whole heart—not enough to bet my life. Hmm… not certain, so leave this pending.
The prince doesn’t like me. I’m just a convenient partner. That much is clear.
Knowing that, I must let go before it turns pathetic.
As promised, I must stop at the right boundary. Give what I can, take what I can, and no more.
Listing everything out in her head, she saw only reasons why it couldn’t work. It strengthened her resolve to hold firm.
“Why? Your heart keeps wavering?”
“No.”
It wasn’t confusion, just her conviction shaking. Her core belief hadn’t collapsed yet.
“Whatever you choose, you’ll regret it somehow. So when that happens, just do what you want. Why care about anyone else’s eyes?”
The problem was, doing whatever she wanted wasn’t always so easy. She knew her flaws better than anyone. She had no intention of making matters more complicated than they already were.
