Chapter 68 ….
The people of the northern fief had always loved and cherished the Steren family, who had managed their lands for generations, even more than the royal family, and often looked up to them with admiration.
Because of this, the communal cemetery of the Steren family had long been constructed in the style of a shrine, receiving the memorial attention of the fief’s residents.
So when he shouted for whoever had come to pay respects to step forward, a man covered entirely in a cloak obediently came outside.
Since he was so large, relatively short Kavil ended up looking up at him. Through the hood of the black cloak, he caught a glimpse of the man’s face—and it looked exactly like Crown Prince Lucius.
Kavil also had family working in the royal court, so he was well acquainted with the Crown Prince’s appearance, and it was certainly not a face that could be easily confused with a commoner’s.
“So?”
“That’s all there is. I tried to confirm if it really was him, but he had already disappeared.”
“Why are you telling me this only now?”
“I told Sir Russell first, but he said there would be no reason for him to come secretly and told me not to speak uselessly to Your Grace.”
“…He’s right. If he came officially, he would just come—there’s no need to hide. I guess Kavil must have been mistaken. Anyway, you only saw him from behind, right?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Well… at some point, if we can, we should ask him. If he really was Crown Prince Lucius, I’d like to know why he came in secret.”
I only trusted the maid’s story about fifty percent.
But even so, Lucius did not have a common appearance or physique that could be easily mistaken for someone else, so it was somewhat believable.
The reason I took the rumor seriously was because I suspected that Lucius might have some other motive.
He had merely suggested a marriage contract, ostensibly to avoid family pressure or for mutual benefit, but surely there was a deeper reason he wanted to hide.
Lucius wouldn’t have extended his hand to me for such a simple reason. No, absolutely not. Knowing his personality…
A cruel, cold, calculating man who only values self-interest—every one of Lucius’s actions carries meaning. He is never someone who acts simply.
Ultimately, the best way to know is to ask directly.
So I decided to ask him myself.
“Did you unofficially attend your brother and new sister-in-law’s funeral on the last day?”
“…That’s the first thing you ask me the moment we meet on our first date?”
“So, did you?”
“I see, I have to answer if we want to proceed with the date.”
I asked him as soon as we got off the carriage. Lucius seemed quite taken aback.
He wasn’t the type to worry all day about when to ask something, so I simply waited, staring at him, until he suddenly smirked and replied:
“Let’s walk a bit while we talk.”
“Yes, Your Highness… But why are you alone? You should at least have an aide with you.”
It had been strange from the moment I met Lucius.
For a crown prince of the empire, standing there without an aide or a single guard seemed unusual.
“No. It’s annoying to have people trailing me. Daphne, you should step back with your maid. I want to walk just the two of us.”
I had the maid step aside and began walking with him through the park.
He walked silently for a while before finally speaking.
“To be honest, yes, I did attend unofficially.”
“Then why didn’t you announce your presence and came secretly?”
“I thought if I arrived late and more nobles gathered, you might dislike it.”
Crown Prince Lucius was not only the heir to the empire but also a clear idol in high society.
He had followers everywhere, male and female alike, so I understood his concern.
Even though he attended late, people who had not received an invitation would have flocked just to see him.
Yet my suspicion didn’t completely vanish. He was not usually so considerate.
Arriving late in a flashy outfit would have suited his usual image perfectly.
“Why are you looking at me like that? As if you think I’m suddenly considerate.”
“…You’re not exactly the kind, affectionate type.”
“It’s strange. I’ve always treated you kindly, yet you call me a hypocrite every time.”
“Me?”
“I don’t think you can claim you don’t remember.”
Of course, I did remember. I had been more than eager to ‘put Lucius in his place.’
Though it didn’t really hurt him, he knew I treated him with a sharpness that was unique to me.
“Well, I couldn’t help it.”
“Yes, I suppose not. After all, I was your beloved brother’s rival.”
“Everything’s in the past now.”
“Anyway, don’t judge me solely on those memories,” Lucius said, looking at me. His gaze was clear… not the cowardly look of someone plotting schemes, but genuinely smiling.
“I understand.”
“Hmm. And even with a smile like that, you don’t blush. Daphne, you’re the first. Are your standards that high? Or have you already gotten used to my face?”
“Overconfident, aren’t you?”
“And calling me arrogant as a crown prince, too.”
“I never said you were arrogant.”
“Isn’t overconfidence the same as arrogance?”
At that moment, my stomach growled loudly. Lucius, matching his pace to mine, stopped walking and looked at me as if suppressing a laugh.
“I haven’t eaten since dawn, coming to the capital…”
I felt unfairly treated. Someone sent a letter to meet in the capital early in the morning, so I had hurriedly prepared on an empty stomach for our date.
“Your hunger is your responsibility too, Your Highness.”
“Now that you mention it, yes. Enough chatter, let’s go eat.”
“Do you have a favorite restaurant?”
“You still insist on that strange word, ‘favorite,’ don’t you?”
“A restaurant renowned for its taste.”
“Well, I usually eat what the palace chefs prepare.”
“I won’t get my hopes up.”
“You say that on our first date—Daphne, you never fail to surprise me.”
“You’re too fixated on the first date. Surely, you’ve dated before?”
“Perhaps. But this is your first time experiencing one with me.”
“First official date, I suppose.”
I couldn’t possibly not know how many women he had met unofficially. Despite my sharp tone, he held his ground.
We entered a nearby restaurant.
Since we hadn’t reserved, the staff and even the chef seemed panicked at the news that the crown prince and duke would dine there.
“Until we leave, make sure no one else is seated as a customer.”
“Yes, Your Highness, Your Grace! It’s an honor to serve such high-ranking guests!”
The chef, manager, and staff all bowed, sweating profusely. At Lucius’s gesture, they hesitated but quickly cleared the way.
“Next time, I’ll come to the palace for our meeting.”
“No need. I specifically chose this place so we could have a normal date. A date at the palace or Steren Castle is nothing but a parade of attendants and followers.”
Lucius was right—at the palace or Steren Castle, we would be under the watchful eyes of countless attendants.
As if he hadn’t finished speaking, Lucius tapped the teacup handle with his fingers, then smirked at me.
“And at Steren Castle, Puppy would be there. I wouldn’t want to run into my date’s mistress unintentionally.”
I nearly spit out my tea laughing.
I quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe the spill from his clothes.
“Seeing you flustered is amusing too.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect you to mention that name so suddenly…”
“You seem like the type who dislikes fretting about when to bring up a scandal all day.”
“I’ll skip to the point and apologize. For dragging you into a scandal and tarnishing your honor. If punishment is necessary, I will accept it.”
All I could do was bow respectfully and apologize.
Lucius stared at me with a smile, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Was he planning to get back at me, or did he enjoy scandals?
He didn’t seem angry, though it was impossible not to be.
“Oh, Daphne. You don’t need to apologize that much. Punishment? Someone might think I summoned you here just to exact revenge.”
