Chapter 48
“Pardon?”
A dazzlingly handsome man was standing there, holding out flowers as he said those words. Clara’s heart fluttered in an instant.
Feelings for me? Daniel… likes me?
Now, even if her heart raced because of Daniel, there was no longer any reason to desperately avoid it. Holding in her pounding heart, Clara looked up at him. Daniel spoke confidently, meeting her gaze.
“And the words I said to you yesterday—those were sincere.”
Huh?
It seemed Daniel’s feelings were connected to what he had said the day before.
What had Daniel said yesterday? Clara recalled the biggest thing he had said.
‘Please accept me as the cleaning fairy of Canario Palace.’
…No way. That couldn’t be it. Trying hard to deny it, Clara asked,
“Which words do you mean?”
“The Canario Palace—”
“That’s impossible!”
Clara gasped in shock.
So these beautiful flowers were actually a bribe to be accepted as a cleaning fairy?!
“What do you mean? I’m completely serious.”
“Serious…?”
Alex was waiting outside the door. As a result, he heard everything clearly. They kept repeating words he couldn’t make sense of.
“Did it sound like a lie?”
“It’s just hard to believe.”
One thing was clear.
Failure?
To think someone could fail even with that face and those flowers. Alex was astonished. Come to think of it, the last attempt hadn’t gone well either.
Maybe the gods are fairer than I thought…
Alex came to a new realization.
Bastian demanded an enormous sum from the Empire. The reason he asked for such an amount was largely due to the unofficial actions Matthias had taken.
The Empire readily agreed to pay. The delegation would return to the Nerha Empire first, and Daniel’s official date of return to his homeland was set.
The time for parting was truly approaching. Daniel felt genuinely sad.
If only I had a little more time!
He had put in so much effort to win Clara over, yet every attempt had failed. Clara’s attitude hadn’t changed. Just like before, she still blushed—but that was all.
So what if she blushes… that’s where it ends.
Daniel’s spirits sank. He had hoped Clara would stop him, but instead, she seemed eager to send him away as soon as possible. Daniel had no idea that it was all the result of his own actions.
“Haa… I’m lonely.”
As he sat alone, steeped in loneliness, someone came to Daniel’s room. It was Alex. Daniel welcomed him.
“Care for a drink?”
Daniel took a bottle of wine from the rack. Considering the room had once been completely empty, it was impressive progress. He felt oddly proud.
“I even have wine in my room now.”
“…Pardon?”
Alex stared at him as if asking what he was talking about. Of course he wouldn’t know. Could he even imagine what this room used to look like?
Daniel decided not to explain, not wanting to worry him. As a result, Alex looked at him even more strangely, but Daniel didn’t care.
Regaining his composure, Alex spoke.
“I came because I have something to say.”
Alex was always serious, but today he was even more so—like someone who had made up his mind. Daniel already had a guess as to what he wanted to say. Without a word, Daniel poured wine into Alex’s glass.
“Go ahead.”
“Your Highness… do you perhaps have feelings for Princess Clara?”
“That’s rather sudden. Even if we are close.”
Daniel chuckled lightly. Still, it was essentially a yes. Alex sighed and continued.
“Your Highness is the only person who can keep the Crown Prince in check.”
“I’ve never tried to keep Matthias in check.”
That was true. Daniel had never intended to oppose Matthias. His teasing attitude may have angered the other side, but he’d never harbored ill intent.
“As long as Your Highness is the Empress’s son, the Crown Prince will continue to see you as a threat.”
“And you won’t give up either—trying to place me in the Crown Prince’s seat.”
The power struggle between Daniel and Matthias existed because of imperial law.
In Nerha, primogeniture was the rule. Nobles passed everything to the eldest son, and the throne was meant to go to the first prince.
However, the first prince of this generation was not the Empress’s son. Though he was the eldest, he lacked legitimacy due to being born of a concubine. Opinions were divided over whether he should rightfully become Crown Prince.
It’s time to choose sides!
From then on, the nobles split into factions supporting either the first or second prince. Since the concubine was also from a noble family, she had strong backing as well.
In the end, Matthias ascended to the position of Crown Prince in accordance with imperial law—but he continued to watch Daniel closely. Daniel held greater legitimacy, and until one became emperor, nothing was certain.
“Honestly, the King of Verona might have the better marriage arrangement.”
Daniel spoke suddenly. Seeing Alex’s confusion, he explained.
“He married the nation itself.”
So there would be no need to worry about conflict between children, right? An unexpected advantage born of devotion.
But if the king marries the nation, how are heirs produced…?
Alex looked puzzled, then returned to the topic at hand.
“Since Your Highness went to Verona, our faction has weakened greatly.”
“That’s only natural. How can they support a prince who isn’t even in the Empire?”
Daniel sympathized with his followers’ situation. No matter how much he wanted to stay by Clara’s side, it could only remain a dream—because he was an imperial prince.
Why did I have to be born a prince?
A spoiled thought, perhaps—but unavoidable. Having enjoyed countless privileges since birth, he had a duty to fulfill his role as royalty, no matter how much he wanted to become the cleaning fairy of Canario Palace.
With the delegation here, wouldn’t it be irresponsible to refuse to go back?
It was time to choose. He didn’t want to leave—but he loved his homeland too. The problem was that he couldn’t choose both.
Give up love and return to the Empire.
That was what Alex was saying. But Daniel didn’t want that. He thought long and hard.
The Princess still only likes my face…
Thinking as rationally as possible, Daniel finally reached a compromise.
What if I return as a proper Crown Prince and stand before her then?
First, he would go back! And once there, he’d strike back hard at Matthias, who had gone so far as to threaten him across the border.
Matthias would be furious if he found out—but Daniel thought it wasn’t such a bad idea.
What if, on the day before he left, Clara fell for him and begged him not to go?
The thought crossed his mind, but it seemed about as realistic as Bastian suddenly becoming kind.
For now, I am leaving the Princess behind…
That realization filled him with guilt. Shaking his head to dispel the thought, Daniel spoke aloud.
“I’m not giving up on the Princess…!”
“…Yes?”
“It’s just postponing things!”
“…Yes?”
What was wrong with him? Alex frowned, completely unable to follow Daniel’s train of thought, while Daniel continued muttering.
“That’s right. First, I’ll settle the Empire’s situation.”
Better to become a firm Crown Prince than a prince under suspicion. Fulfill his duty as royalty, then stand proudly before Clara again…
Wouldn’t that be better than stubbornly clinging on like this?
Daniel made up his mind.
On the day Daniel departed,
Before leaving, Daniel took a walk through the Canario Palace gardens with me. I’d asked what he wanted to do one last time, and he said he wanted to walk.
“So today is the last day I can take a walk with Your Highness.”
When the emperor had awakened, I’d been nothing but happy—but now that Daniel was leaving, I felt regret.
Was it because I wouldn’t see his face anymore?
No, that sounds like Emily’s reasoning.
I came up with my own explanation. For six months, I had seen his face every single day. That was why it felt sad to see him go.
Daniel sighed softly.
“I can’t believe it. That I won’t be able to see you anymore, Princess.”
“I feel the same…”
I replied in a gloomy voice. Then he said to me,
“As a final gesture, there is a gift I wish to give you.”
Daniel stopped walking. Since the delegation arrived, he’d been buying me various things—what would it be this time? I felt slightly nervous.
From his coat, Daniel took out a small box.
“I chose something that I thought would suit you.”
Inside the case was a ring set with a violet gemstone.
A ring?
Seeing the ring shining brilliantly, I felt dazed. Wasn’t this too much for a farewell gift…? I looked up at Daniel.
“You’re giving this… to me?”
“I sincerely hope you like it.”
He even added that he hoped I would say I liked it even if I didn’t—clearly, the answer he wanted was already decided.
But there was no need to force myself. I truly liked the ring.
My heart fluttered pleasantly. Smiling brightly, I thanked him.
“I love it. Thank you so much, Your Highness!”
Daniel smiled softly in response. For a moment, something around him seemed to sparkle.
Wow…
Even more beautiful than the ring, I found myself staring at him without realizing it. With a gentle smile, Daniel said,
“There will be a day when we meet again.”
There was a strange sense of certainty in his words. I made my own guess as to why he could say that.
He’s really sad to leave, isn’t he?
Just like me.
Daniel took my hand and kissed the back of it.
“When you look at this ring, please remember me.”
“Of course. I’ll never forget you.”
At my words, Daniel smiled faintly.
And so, Daniel left Verona.
That evening, Bastian raised a celebratory toast.
“With that nuisance gone, we should drink!”
Anyone would think Daniel had volunteered to come to Verona in the first place. If they hadn’t dragged him here to begin with, this wouldn’t have happened.
“You seem a little too happy…?”
Holding a glass of orange juice, I clinked glasses with Bastian.
