Chapter 10
“Why?”
“That is, well…”
Fay’s eyes sparkled like aged pearls. It seemed she was expecting a certain answer, but Dante’s mind, blank as white paper, couldn’t produce one.
Like a poorly oiled tin doll, he stammered slightly.
“Y-You can take your time thinking about it. Choosing a lifelong partner is no small matter—the more cautious, the better.”
The emotion in her violet eyes vanished instantly. He wasn’t sure what, but he knew he had made a mistake.
Fay, glaring at the unusually flustered Dante with a sulky face, shook off his arm.
“Fine, whatever.”
“Fay!”
“I’ll get married someday! Unlike you, who can just enter the temple, I can’t avoid it—you know that!”
Her words hit Dante like a bucket of ice water. His lips twitched, but no words came out.
Fay gazed at him silently, then let out a small sigh.
“Let’s look at outfits tomorrow. If we had more time, we could have them tailored, but I think we’ll need to visit a dress shop this time.”
“…Okay.”
“I’m going ahead today. See you tomorrow!”
With that, Fay turned and left. Dante, standing alone, rubbed his chest.
It felt heavy, like indigestion.
The sensation lingered even after classes ended and he boarded the carriage home.
Leaning his head against the window, Dante stared outside, his eyes distant with thought.
‘Objectively, everything Fay said is correct.’
There were three princesses in the royal family, including Fay. The two older ones, much older than her, were already married off to foreign countries.
And Fay was a woman. Unlike Princes Fabian or Leo, a princess of marriageable age in the Lorensia Kingdom who remained unmarried was prime gossip fodder.
He had vaguely thought stopping her marriage would be enough, but that was naive. Realistically, unless he forced her into the temple, preventing marriage entirely was impossible.
But Dante didn’t want to push Fay down a path she didn’t want. Above all, the temple was a rigid, closed-off group that prized discipline.
Fay, with her free-spirited nature, could never handle it.
‘So she has to get married eventually.’
Should he just prevent her from marrying that man?
Even if he stopped that marriage, there was no guarantee something similar wouldn’t happen again.
Fay was a bit unique, but royals were generally self-centered and ill-tempered. Just look at First Prince Fabian.
‘No foreign nobles or royalty, then.’
If something happened to Fay, he needed to be close enough to rush to her side. But limiting it to within the kingdom drastically reduced suitable candidates.
And as a princess’s husband, the groom needed at least a marquis’s rank to even be considered.
There were seven marquisates and four dukedoms in the Lorensia Kingdom.
Meaning, among them, there had to be a man of marriageable age, around Fay’s age, who would unconditionally cherish her.
“…This is difficult.”
As Dante wrestled with his thoughts, the carriage arrived at the estate. As he stepped down, a servant—Benjamin—rushed over in a panic.
Though called a servant, he was the butler’s son and Dante’s age, so they were quite close.
“Young Master!”
“What’s wrong?”
“A letter from the palace arrived. The messenger said to read it immediately.”
“Give it here.”
What now?
With a bad feeling, Dante opened the envelope and clicked his tongue lightly.
“Freddy.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The coachman who had just driven him bowed politely. Sounding apologetic for the troublesome request, Dante sighed.
“Sorry, but I need you to take the carriage out again.”
The letter contained just one line—direct and unmistakable.
> As soon as you read this, come to the palace to see me.
> —Fabian Efeldel de Lorensia
* * *
The carriage ride to the palace took exactly thirty minutes.
“I greet His Highness the Prince.”
Entering the audience chamber, Dante bowed politely to the man standing at its center.
Jet-black hair, crimson eyes. Though noticeably younger than his last memory, the sharp gaze remained unchanged.
Fabian Efeldel de Lorensia.
The current queen’s own son and the undisputed heir to the throne.
With striking looks and a sociable, relaxed demeanor that belied his age, he had been a sensation in high society since his debut.
If there was one small issue…
“You’re quite late.”
“It’s just past 2 o’clock.”
…it was that their relationship had never been good, not even in empty words.
He couldn’t recall exactly when it soured. When asked why, Fabian had only replied, You really don’t know?
Of course I don’t—that’s why I’m asking.
He had thought Fabian was a bit twisted even then. His attitude toward his own sister, Fay, was proof enough.
“Still as insolent as ever.”
“If that’s how it seems, I apologize.”
Dante bowed politely, but Fabian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Facing the clearly displeased expression, Dante thought:
What’s his problem, this guy?
Whether seven years from now or today, he was incomprehensible. Instead of trying to decipher him, Dante cut to the chase.
“So, why did you summon me?”
Regardless of their bad blood, asking him to come immediately suggested important business.
“I heard an interesting rumor.”
“What rumor?”
“That you’re attending the graduation party as my sister’s partner.”
Ah.
He had completely forgotten after getting Fay’s permission—but the news had already reached him?
“Is it true?”
“Yes, it is.”
No point denying the truth. Fabian narrowed his brow and added,
“And that you’ve given up entering the temple.”
“You seem very interested in me.”
“Any complaints?”
“I’m honored.”
Dante stared steadily at him. Though Fabian was tall, Dante was still slightly taller. Barring variables, he’d grow a bit more over the next two years.
The subtly lowered eye level made his return to the past feel real again. How did I treat the prince back then?
Fabian smirked and lightly patted Dante’s shoulder.
“Nothing else—just worried you might be harboring excessive expectations.”
When Dante only stared blankly instead of replying, Fabian gripped his shoulder tightly.
“Expectations like daring to become part of the royal family, that is.”
A faint contempt flickered behind his softly curved eyes. Releasing Dante’s still-silent shoulder, he smiled warmly.
“Know your place, yes?”
Why repeat a lecture drilled into him since childhood?
Instead of questioning it, Dante spoke.
“Is that why you called me all the way here?”
“My only sister is about to debut in society—how could I not be concerned?”
Royal family members traditionally participated in their debutante ball after turning eighteen.
Fay would turn eighteen at the end of December. Without her strong desire, entering the same year as Dante—who had a summer birthday—would have been impossible.
She had hidden her identity to attend the academy, wanting a normal school life.
“She’s now at the age to consider marriage. We should avoid unnecessary scandals from the start, shouldn’t we?”
“…”
“I’m sure a wise man like you understands my meaning.”
Dante stared at the man blatantly telling him to give up being Fay’s partner.
Even if their relationship was strained, Dante had tried not to antagonize him—Fabian was Giulio’s close friend and Fay’s brother.
Dante asked softly,
“Why should I?”
He couldn’t always comply, after all.
“What?”
“If I were some lowly dog beneath contempt, the princess would have already dismissed me. She’s far wiser and more discerning than I am.”
He couldn’t stand the pretense of caring for Fay. It was unbearable.
Especially recalling the future where Fabian had stood by during Fay’s death—even empty words came out harshly.
He wasn’t blaming him for a future yet to come, but after everything he’d been through, he couldn’t meekly accept overreach.
Fabian let out an incredulous laugh at the unexpectedly firm response. His hand tapped Dante’s cheek lightly.
It was a touch like handling a pet dog—subtly insulting, though not painful.
Even at the obvious intent, Dante remained statue-still, blinking only his eyes. Fabian slowly lowered his hand.
“You truly have a talent for being irritating, now and always.”
“You already know I’m a blockhead. For me, now and always, the princess’s wishes come first.”
He thought he had spoken politely, but Fabian’s expression suggested it hadn’t landed well.
“Do you understand how your words might be interpreted by me?”
“I am merely loyal to the royal family.”
“…Ha!”
Fabian raised his right hand and lightly gripped Dante’s throat. His large palm pressed gently against Dante’s Adam’s apple.
man u just need be the one who marry her 🤦♀️