Chapter 5
The night-sky-colored eyes trembled precariously.
No… this can’t be real. Is this a dream?
If it wasn’t a dream, then it had to be the work of some divine trick.
In short, she had… fallen for him.
“…Who are you?”
Sienna asked him outright.
Her curiosity was overwhelming, so her phrasing lacked any subtlety.
Who is he? I thought this place had no visitors… No, more importantly, how did I only just notice him? When did he even arrive?
She wanted to ask at least his name, but he seemed uncomfortable in the situation and hurriedly rose to leave.
“Wait!”
Sienna grabbed him in haste, but he bowed slightly and slipped away like he was running from something.
That evening, she skipped dinner and lay in bed, dazed.
Anna had called Arthur to ask what happened, but he had no idea.
What could have shocked her so much that she was rendered speechless?
By now, everyone was beyond worried—they were maddeningly curious.
Meanwhile, Sienna kept replaying “The Bells of Stern” in her mind.
“The most handsome man in this world should obviously be Pierre.”
Of course, Pierre was handsome, but that was all.
The man she had seen earlier, however, had not left her thoughts since the moment he appeared before her eyes.
Who on earth is he?!
If she didn’t know him, he was likely not even a supporting character.
“Curly black hair, jet-black eyes, and ah!”
He had carried a sword.
“A knight?”
Yet his clothing seemed too simple for a knight.
And he wouldn’t be here during working hours.
I wonder if I’ll see him again…
Her heart was dizzy with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
I at least want to know his name…
Sienna stayed awake all night.
That charming dandelion kept ambushing her thoughts.
Anna and the maids, carrying water for washing, were horrified by Sienna’s condition.
Her skin had become irritable, and dark circles stretched far down her face.
Spring is supposed to be full of events, so I should be keeping her in check!
Anna’s head ached, but nothing else mattered to Sienna at that moment.
“Anna, who do you think is the most handsome person in this castle—or in all of Stern?”
“Of course… that would be Prince Pierre…”
Anna answered reluctantly, though she thought, Annoying, but true.
She agreed, but that wasn’t the answer Sienna sought.
How does no one know that face?
The dandelion yesterday must have already made his name known just by looks. He was no less striking than Pierre.
Desperate, Sienna began explaining in painstaking detail.
“Do you know a man with curly black hair, jet-black eyes, carrying a long sword? Black hair isn’t common.”
Anna was taken aback.
Flushed cheeks, trembling lips, and nervous eyes.
No way…
Still, Anna had to ask.
“Did you… perhaps meet someone you liked yesterday?”
“Liked?!”
Sienna, slightly flustered, continued.
Liked? That was putting it mildly.
“I can’t even think straight!”
Those watching her nervously stole glances, dumbfounded.
The princess, who had recently been crying over Jade, had changed her affections so suddenly—and with such exaggerated reaction!
Yet Sienna didn’t care and pressed on.
“Anna, his name is ‘Re.’”
“‘Re,’ like in Do-Re-Mi?”
“Yes, that ‘Re.’”
“Why?”
Anna repeated, completely baffled.
Sienna placed her hand over her heart, recalling the moment she met the mysterious dandelion holder.
“His beauty is insane—almost maddening.”
She knew exactly what that feeling was.
Once again, she had suffered a heart-stopping love shock in this life.
With neither his name nor affiliation known, she had no choice but to find him herself.
After a quick breakfast, she headed to the library with Arthur.
Prepared for any long hours, she brought a lunchbox and snacks in case they had to stay there a while.
The white-haired librarian was awake today.
“P-Princess?”
“Good morning.”
Although she had never seen him before, he immediately recognized her.
Is it her hair color?
Sienna exchanged awkward greetings and sat at the same spot as yesterday.
“Will you be reading all day again, Princess?”
“That’s the plan.”
“May I ask why you’re reading these particular books all of a sudden?”
She couldn’t answer, “I’m trying to chase someone,” so she gave a polite excuse.
“I feel like I’ve been too ignorant of my own country all this time.”
A decent answer. Quite commendable—taking interest in her own nation’s history was basic yet admirable.
“A nation that forgets its history has no future.”
She added a familiar saying to make it sound even wiser.
“Princess…”
Arthur seemed genuinely moved, despite Sienna’s attempt to sound impressive.
She scratched her cheek and returned to reading.
The book analyzed Hestia’s foreign relations with Stern, and a word caught her attention.
Rebellion? Assassination attempt on the second prince and princess? Hestia’s supposed to be well-policed…
Danger lurked in unstable regions.
Sienna read intently.
Hestia’s ally and second in line to the throne, the Merhen Kingdom, had invaded Hestia.
The overwhelming military difference allowed swift suppression, yet the unexpected attack caused heavy casualties.
Citizens who lost their families were enraged, and rumors spread that the princess consort had colluded with Merhen, escalating the tension.
The royal family dismissed it as nonsense, but rebel forces emerged, culminating in an assassination attempt on the second prince and princess.
Public outrage only subsided after the second prince and princess died in a carriage accident days later.
The book ended by noting Hestia lost a trading partner, which in turn increased exchanges between Stern and Hestia.
Being a foreign account, the internal details weren’t included.
Sienna carefully closed the book.
Despite the tidy ending, the aftertaste was bitter.
Assassination… it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.
She tried opening another book, but her mind wouldn’t focus.
Finally, she woke Arthur, who had been dozing beside her, and they went outside.
Spreading a mat under a tree, she took out the lunchbox Beni had prepared.
“A sandwich.”
Her favorite—tomato, olive, ham, and plenty of lettuce.
The only problem was: one portion.
Sienna handed one half to Arthur.
“Let’s eat together.”
“N-no… I shouldn’t…”
“There’s no law against eating with the princess, you know.”
“That’s true, but…”
Sienna didn’t argue further and simply handed him the sandwich.
Eating well was important, even if nothing else went right that day.
Arthur hesitated briefly but sat beside her and took the sandwich.
“Tomorrow, make mine too, please.”
“Then leave out the tomatoes in mine.”
With that, Arthur devoured his sandwich in just two bites.
Sienna barely held back her laughter.
Is this really the same man who just refused? He eats so well.
Bold, picky, and cute…
She had momentarily forgotten he was a knight and had that solemn expression.
He was also, in truth, a nobleman who had been raised delicately.
“Arthur, you’re twenty-five this year, right?”
“Yes.”
Bright brown hair fluttered in the wind, faint freckles, and a mischievous curve to his lips.
