~Chapter 42~
“I asked, who are you?”
Klein’s voice sounded again, warning and firm.
‘Didn’t he have a meeting? Why did he come here again?’
The person who had suddenly appeared was Klein.
Aveline quickly let her hair fall over her face to hide her identity.
When she didn’t answer, heavy footsteps came closer.
“Who dares enter my palace…?”
“Ah!”
A strong hand grabbed Aveline’s arm. At the same time, her face was exposed to Klein.
“You…!”
Klein’s eyes grew wide with shock when he saw Aveline’s face.
* * *
“Miss!”
When Aveline came to her senses, someone was calling her.
“Miss!”
She opened her eyes and saw Yoni’s worried face above her.
‘What? Am I awake now?’
Just moments ago, she’d run into Klein. But now she was back on her bed.
“You were sweating so much. What kind of dream did you have?”
Yoni gently wiped Aveline’s face with a damp cloth.
“Ah, I guess I had a nightmare.”
“Makes sense. You’ve been going out a lot these days—you must be tired.”
Yoni nodded like she understood.
Even after Yoni left, Aveline couldn’t clear her head.
‘I definitely saw Klein’s surprised face.’
It was that expression from her dream that bothered her.
The usually cold and uncaring Klein—who never showed emotion to anyone but his sister—looked shaken when he saw Aveline’s real face.
‘No way he figured it out, right?’
Klein had seen Chloe with pink hair before.
He was sharp, so maybe he realized the grown-up face in front of him was Aveline.
‘No way.’
Maybe he just thought a crazy woman in pajamas had wandered into the palace hallway and got startled.
Aveline tried to shake off her uneasy feeling.
But the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got at Theron.
‘Why did he just abandon me like that and run off?’
Aveline grumbled, not understanding why Theron was suddenly in a bad mood.
* * *
Theron, having no idea what happened to Aveline, was sitting in his study.
“Why do you have a flower?”
Barom asked as he saw Theron staring at a small yellow rose in his hand.
Theron didn’t reply, just kept looking serious.
“Did something go wrong? You were reading all those books before and seemed fine.”
Barom glanced at the stack of child-rearing books on Theron’s desk.
As soon as Theron had figured out where the girl with his magic was, he’d started reading parenting books seriously. He’d left looking confident—so why did he look so gloomy now?
Barom was about to say something when Theron suddenly put the rose down and spoke.
“I’m not in a good mood.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
Barom shrugged.
“What does it mean for the heart to matter?”
“…What?”
Barom couldn’t believe his ears.
Did Theron hit his head reading all those books?
“She said she liked this single rose more than the huge bouquet I sent.”
“Ah…”
Barom realized it was about his pride.
He tried not to laugh as he looked at Theron’s frown.
“She must be a picky lady.”
He knew Theron had sent a bouquet before and expected her to be charmed, but it hadn’t worked out that way.
“You’ve met a lot of women, right? Why would someone like this be better than an expensive bouquet?”
Barom wanted to say he couldn’t read her mind, but he just played along.
“Is the yellow rose from someone else?”
“Yes.”
That was one.
“Is it the lady’s favorite flower?”
“That’s right.”
Barom kept guessing.
“Then maybe… it’s because the person remembered what she liked and gave it to her.”
“She did say something like that.”
Barom almost couldn’t believe it.
“If you already know, why are you asking?”
“But it’s just one flower. There was a yellow rose in my bouquet, too. I don’t get the difference.”
“Ah…”
Barom sighed.
Theron was great at magic and palace stuff, but completely clueless about feelings.
“Listen. The yellow rose in your bouquet didn’t mean anything—because you didn’t know she liked it. But if you remember what she likes and give it to her, that action has meaning.”
“So it’s not about the flower itself. It’s about remembering and showing you care.”
Theron nodded slowly.
“So you have to give what she really likes.”
“Exactly.”
Barom felt relieved that Theron finally understood.
“But why do you care who gives her a flower?”
Theron only needed to pay attention to the magic inside her.
“Because I’m courting her.”
“Pffft!”
Barom spat out his tea.
“Why are you surprised? You knew already.”
Theron asked calmly.
“You didn’t say that to her face, did you?”
Barom was suddenly worried.
No way, right? Even Theron wouldn’t say that directly to the girl he was trying to woo.
“Of course.”
Theron nodded.
Barom felt relieved for a moment.
“I told her.”
“…What?”
Barom was shocked.
He’d really declared it directly?
“What did she say?”
“Hmm…”
Theron was quiet for a moment.
Barom could tell he hadn’t gotten a positive answer.
“Just give up.”
Barom sighed deeply.
* * *
Meanwhile, Aveline was facing Count Herols.
“Where do you want me to go?”
Aveline asked, and the count frowned.
“You got an invitation from the palace.”
“For me?”
“…Yes.”
Wasn’t this too sudden? The ball Marquis Nor held just ended yesterday, and now the palace wanted her to come right away.
“Who’s the one inviting me?”
“The Crown Prince.”
The count looked displeased.
“Your name is the only one on the guest list, but I’ll send Ares with you. If anyone asks, just say your brother is worried since you’re new to society.”
That was a relief—at least she wouldn’t have to be alone with the prince.
‘If I have to face Serio again, it’s going to be suffocating…’
No matter what, it was troubling to meet the crown prince so suddenly.
“By the way, who was the invitation addressed to?”
Aveline asked about something that had bothered her.
Her father had said the invitation was for her, but it was delivered to him, not her.
“I received it.”
The count replied.
“But it’s addressed to you. I think the palace seal made the staff give it to me by mistake.”
“I see.”
‘Something’s not right.’
She hadn’t paid attention before, but now she was suspicious—especially of Lisa, the maid in charge of the mail.
“I’ll get ready to go right away, and I’ll tell Ares myself.”
“Alright.”
After leaving the study, Aveline hurried to find Ares.
“Ares!”
Ares was training in the yard.
He stopped sparring with a knight and turned to his sister.
“What is it?”
He came over.
Aveline handed him the palace invitation.
“You have to come too—as my guardian.”
“What, today?”
“Yeah.”
Aveline nodded and quickly looked around.
The servants’ quarters were nearby, and all important mail and packages came through there.
Lisa, the mail maid, was probably close by.
Aveline raised her voice and called out.
