Chapter 56
The pond was as still as a mirror.
Even though a breeze was clearly passing through—light enough to lift strands of hair and make them dance—the clear pond reflected the scenery above it perfectly, like polished glass.
Thanks to the bright and clear weather, the trees and sky were mirrored vividly on the pond’s surface. The perfect symmetry made it seem as though it belonged to another world entirely.
White-barked trees with leaves dyed in brilliant reds and golds, and the deep blue sky—all of it blended together into one breathtaking painting.
“Wow… I didn’t know a place like this existed. The imperial palace isn’t just made up of grand buildings and noble bloodlines—it has such beautiful nature too?”
Agnès murmured absentmindedly, her gaze lost in wonder.
The buildings of the palace were elegant, tranquil, and refined, of course—but the hills she’d seen earlier had been refreshing in their own way. And now, this pond Teowin had led her to was so stunning it felt almost dreamlike.
“From now on, I’ll follow wherever Teowin takes me.”
Still dazed, Agnès spoke without thinking—then gasped, clapping both hands over her mouth. Her eyes widened as she slowly, very slowly, turned to look at him.
“I—I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ve been careless and… called you by name… Forgive me, I’ll be more careful.”
She must have been so lost in the moment that she’d let her thoughts slip out loud. The name she only dared whisper to herself—never aloud in his presence—had simply tumbled from her lips.
Agnès was instantly on edge, unsure how he would react.
Even though she had confessed her feelings to him, Teowin was someone who hated crossing boundaries.
Would he scold her? Probably.
She thought she’d managed to keep the mood gentle and soft up until now, but was she about to ruin it and have to leave in embarrassment?
Sure, she could come back to the pond alone someday—but being here with him made it special.
Yet, contrary to her endless spiral of worry, Teowin’s expression didn’t change at all.
In fact, he looked… a little dazed.
He’s shocked… oh no…
Knowing his personality, there was probably no one—except maybe the Emperor himself—who dared call him by name so easily.
As Agnès realized the seriousness of what she’d done, her heart sank further.
She’d probably just spoiled a perfectly good day. The sky was so beautiful—when would they get another day like this?
And if he was angry… how could she ever make it up to him?
Her thoughts tangled so tightly they couldn’t be unraveled. The knot in her chest felt impossible to cut through.
“Hmm… Teowin…”
To her surprise, he softly repeated his own name—as if tasting the sound of it for the first time.
Wait… is he really that shocked?
But as she cautiously looked at him, Agnès realized something was off.
Why did his face look like… he was enjoying the sound of it?
And then suddenly, he looked straight at her.
She nearly jumped in surprise—barely managing to swallow the yelp that rose in her throat.
When she finally refocused, Teowin was still staring at her—with eyes that sparkled.
“I’ve been wondering what it was that always felt missing,” he began. “I knew something was lacking… something that left me unsatisfied. I just couldn’t name it.”
His words came quicker now, almost as if he were excited—and Agnès blinked, confused.
“Agnès.”
When he spoke her name, his firm, clear voice seemed to resonate deep inside her chest.
It was the most wonderful, most intoxicating sound she had ever heard someone make when saying her name.
“Call me,” he said.
“…Your Highness?”
Her heart fluttered so wildly she almost forgot how to breathe, but she managed to respond.
At once, his brows knit together.
“That’s not it. Teowin. Try again.”
“Your High—how could I…”
“I don’t want the woman I love to call me Your Highness.”
His tone was low, but earnest. “It makes me feel like you’re with me because I’m the Crown Prince—not because I’m me.”
He was utterly serious now. He wanted her to understand.
So Agnès could only open and close her mouth, unable to respond right away.
“Every time you call me that,” he continued, “something feels off—stiff, distant. Just when things are about to soften between us, it freezes again. That’s what it was.”
And then she realized—she had felt the same thing too.
Every time she said “Your Highness,” she’d sensed the distance between them.
He’d told her he loved her. She’d accepted that love.
And yet, there was always that invisible line she couldn’t cross.
She had thought it was because of their stations—Crown Prince and future Crown Princess.
But no—it was the title.
Of course.
Whenever he wasn’t around, she always called him “Teowin” in her heart.
No wonder it had slipped out so naturally—it was what she truly wanted to call him.
“I see now,” she thought. “I’ve always wanted to say his name… like this.”
“Come on, once more, hmm?”
Teowin didn’t wait in silence—he gently urged her again.
He wasn’t asking as the Crown Prince of the Kropfen Empire, but as himself.
“Teowin…”
This time, Agnès spoke it fully—with permission, and with all her heart.
It wasn’t a name she’d never spoken before, but saying it now—while looking into his eyes—felt completely different.
She spoke his name, but the sound of it seemed to fall into her chest, filling her with a warm, glowing fullness.
Teowin smiled tenderly.
“Now I’m satisfied. I never imagined being called by name could feel this good.”
“Me too,” Agnès admitted softly. “I never knew calling your name… could feel like this.”
At that, Teowin’s brows furrowed again—not in anger, but in deep emotion.
“If you feel what I feel… then I think I could truly be happy.”
Hearing him say the word “happiness” struck her heart deeply—it sounded so unfamiliar coming from him.
What is this feeling…? she thought.
How can I feel so happy—just because of one person, one name, one word?
“Um… I don’t know if you’ll believe me,” she said, voice trembling a little, “but what you just said, Teowin—it made my heart ache. Like… I was moved.”
Instead of laughing at her dazed honesty, he only looked at her—eyes soft and full of affection.
Agnès fumbled for words, then sighed lightly.
“So this is what love feels like. Maybe we were both just too inexperienced to recognize it.”
In her old world, she’d never felt anything like this.
Even her feelings for Marquis Lizerne—she realized now—had been closer to familial affection, the kind a daughter might feel for her father.
Back then, she’d never known what it was to have her heart tremble because of someone else.
She’d grown inside a shell that only matured in body, not in soul—learning emotions only through words, never through experience.
But after her soul crossed into this world, merging with Agnès’s body—she finally felt like a complete human being.
Whoever had written this world, she silently thanked them with all her heart—for giving her the chance to truly live.
“If you say that’s love,” Teowin murmured, “then it must be. Because I feel it too.”
He stepped closer.
Their hearts, already joined, drew their bodies together as he slipped an arm around her waist and lowered his head—claiming her lips.
The sudden, deep kiss didn’t make her flinch or pull away.
Instead, Agnès rested her hands against him, parted her lips slightly, and waited.
For his warmth.
For the way it would send electricity through her whole body.
Her arms, once resting at his sides, rose to wrap around his neck.
And as he tightened his hold on her waist, bending her back as if she might break, his kiss deepened.
Even though they’d kissed before, this one felt entirely new—because now, they both understood.
Grasping and accepting their feelings made everything burn brighter.
They held each other tightly, unwilling to ever let go.
Whoooosh—
Then suddenly, a fierce wind swept across the pond, distorting its mirror-like surface until the reflection shattered completely.
The gust was strong enough to break the perfect calm—but not strong enough to break their embrace.
And then—
A voice echoed in Agnès’s ear, breaking the silence.
“The rain clouds are massive! The dam won’t hold—it’s going to pour!”
