Chapter 26
6
Blooming
I first met Dandelion at the entrance ceremony of the Royal Academy.
He was a friend with a slightly eccentric side.
At times, he seemed far too mature for his age—yet his tastes were endlessly childlike.
More than anything, what stood out was that despite being a young man of marriageable age, he had absolutely no interest in women.
Even though anyone could see that he possessed striking looks and remarkable talent, he always kept his distance from young ladies.
That was precisely why he caught my attention.
He was the only friend I truly felt in sync with.
The other academy classmates—or those connected through family ties—talked about nothing but money and women whenever we met.
Which mine had struck gold this time, which baron’s daughter they’d gone on a date with at the opera house, which count’s wastrel son was juggling how many women.
Some days, they would even whisper about secretive, erotic salons in the capital, bragging as if it were privileged information.
Jade found such conversations dull and tedious.
In contrast, time spent with Dandelion was always enjoyable.
Neither of us was particularly talkative or humorous, yet when we crossed swords or rode horses together, laughter came naturally.
And the same was true for Dandelion.
He almost never smiled—but when he was with me, he would at least smile faintly.
Jade took pride in being Dandelion’s closest friend.
That was why this situation shocked him more than anyone.
Who was the woman hiding behind Dandelion’s back, wearing a sky-colored dress?
Curiosity stirred within him.
But just as Jade unconsciously stepped closer, Dan stopped him.
“Jade.”
With one hand, Dan wrapped Sienna protectively, and with the other, he blocked Jade.
“I don’t think today’s the day.”
Sienna was trembling.
“She’s shy around strangers.”
“…Really? That’s a shame.”
“You’ll meet her soon.”
“Ah, then I’ll see her at the debutante ball.”
Dan tried to change the subject for her sake.
But it was the wrong choice.
“I’ve been hearing rumors that you’re getting married to the princess soon.”
At those words, Sienna perked up her ears.
“Yeah… that’s been giving me a headache, actually.”
“Why?”
“That crybaby—no idea what she ate wrong, but she’s completely changed.”
“No matter what, calling the princess a crybaby is a bit much.”
“You’re so rigid. Fine, I’ll correct myself. That princess has gotten strange. Suddenly saying she doesn’t want to get married, raising her voice when she never used to—anyway, she’s weird.”
“They say people get emotionally unstable before marriage.”
“Are you mocking me right now? I’m not going through with this marriage. No—I can’t. You know who’s in my heart.”
“Jade, let’s talk about this later.”
Dandelion cut off the conversation, conscious of Sienna standing behind him.
It was rude to speak like that with someone present.
Jade realized it belatedly.
“My apologies.”
He gave a light bow and turned away.
“Then I’ll see you in three days.”
Naturally, he didn’t forget to land a final blow.
After confirming that Jade had walked away, Dandelion turned back to Sienna.
But she was already completely out of it.
Why is this happening to me?
She wanted to demand an explanation from someone—anyone.
What kind of ridiculous melodrama was this?
What kind of suffering and adversity did a side character’s life need to endure?
Why now, of all times…
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
She wasn’t fine at all, but the words slipped out on their own.
Watching her closely, he asked carefully,
“Why were you hiding?”
Why was I hiding again? Oh, right.
She was embarrassed by her previous mistake.
And it would have been awkward if Jade recognized her first.
She wanted to reveal her identity to Dandelion in her own words.
But how did things end up like this?
Since Jade was deeply infatuated with Eleanor, she thought the engagement would end smoothly and everyone would go their separate ways.
A marriage that neither party wanted couldn’t possibly happen.
She had planned to resolve it cleanly, then approach Dandelion without any baggage.
But—
“You said… you’re friends?”
With Jade Valencia, of all people?
“Yes. We’ve been friends since the academy.”
“…Are you very close?”
“What?”
She hadn’t meant to be like this, but she ended up sounding childish.
“Closer than you are with me?”
After spending the previous night resenting everything under the sun, Sienna was utterly exhausted.
What happens now?
Just the king pushing for this marriage was overwhelming enough—but Dandelion being her fiancé’s closest friend?
This isn’t love or war—it’s chaos.
How would Dan see her now…?
If they were friends, there was no way he didn’t know that the princess had once liked Jade.
Come to think of it, it was strange that Dan hadn’t recognized her name when she first introduced herself.
He probably always used a nickname—or deliberately referred to her only as “the princess.”
Or perhaps she’d never even been mentioned in private at all.
Skipping breakfast, Sienna clung to her bed, hugging Shushu tightly.
But Shushu, still protesting being left alone in the library yesterday, boldly rebelled—flailing her cottony fists at her mistress’s cheek.
—How could you leave Shushu behind?!
“I’m sorry…”
—I was all alone in the library yesterday! Do you know how flustered I was?!
“I’m really sorry…”
—Some strange old man came and pulled my ears! My ears!
“I see…”
—Mistress? Are you even listening to me?
“Yes. I’m listening.”
—Ugh, I can’t even stay mad anymore.
“I’m sorry.”
Her defenses were practically nonexistent.
She felt so fragile that a single tap might send her rolling away.
Her friend’s fiancée. Her fiancé’s friend.
Does this relationship even have a chance?
Sienna’s sighs only grew deeper.
Watching her, Anna sought out Arthur, who was standing guard outside the door.
“Why has Her Highness suddenly sunk so low? She looks like she might collapse into the ground. Sir McKenzie, do you know anything?”
“I did see Lord Valencia heading toward the library yesterday.”
“Lord Valencia?”
Did he say something cruel to the princess again?
Worried, Anna felt something was off and turned back to Arthur.
“Wait—why did you say ‘saw’?”
“Well, I always escort Her Highness only to the library entrance. After that, per her orders, I was engaged in a lengthy discussion with Jeon Howard.”
“So you didn’t see what happened?”
“That’s… one way to put it.”
Just what had happened in the library?
Anna quickly decided on a drastic measure for the Sienna who looked ready to dig a hole into the ground.
Hmph. When you’re depressed, shopping is the answer.
“Helen!”
Anna hurriedly summoned Helen and instructed her to deliver a letter with additional requests to the designer scheduled to visit that day.
Just as Sienna finished lunch with nothing more than a cup of warm milk and was about to crawl back into bed—
“Your Highness.”
“What is it, Anna?”
“Today is the day the dress for the final night of the ball arrives. The designer is waiting outside right now.”
“Is that so? Let her in.”
