Chapter 9
Cheroan stood still, eyes wide at the sudden kiss. Melina smiled in satisfaction, took his hand, and led him along.
Following the nutty aroma that tickled her nose, they arrived at a waffle shop.
“Yan, would you like to try that?”
When Melina pointed at the shop, Cheroan gave a small nod.
Round waffles were neatly displayed on the counter. Melina picked one, paid for it, tore off a piece, and popped it into her mouth.
The crisp texture instantly lifted her mood.
“Yan, you try some too.”
She beamed and held out a piece toward him.
“I’m fine.”
He shook his head and leaned back slightly.
“It’s not sweet. If anything, it might taste a bit plain. Come on, say ah.”
She coaxed him gently, holding the waffle near his lips.
Reluctantly, he accepted the bite. His expression shifted to one of surprise.
“See? It’s not sweet, right? At first it tastes bland, but the more you chew, the more you’ll notice the nutty flavor.”
These were waffles commonly eaten by commoners. They didn’t include expensive ingredients like sugar or milk, so the taste was mild.
Melina herself had only discovered this kind of waffle after becoming Berta. The waffles she used to eat were baked with chunks of sugar pressed into them, rich with butter and caramel, intensely sweet.
At first, she’d thought these plain ones were tasteless. But as she kept eating them, she found herself drawn to their crisp texture and savory flavor.
“I’ve never had anything like this. I thought all waffles were the same.”
No matter that he was called an ill-fated prince and that the current emperor kept him in check—he had been born a prince and was now a grand duke. When would he ever have had the chance to sample commoners’ food?
“If you pay extra, they’ll spread honey on it. Want to try?”
“No. I don’t care much for sweets.”
“Really? I love sweet things. Then eat this first. I’ll get another one with honey for myself.”
When she offered again, he hesitated before finally taking the waffle.
After finishing her piece, she turned to grab another. Cheroan gently caught her.
“Why?”
“I didn’t realize you liked waffles this much.”
Looking puzzled, Melina watched as he brushed the corner of her lips softly. He then casually put the crumb from his fingers into his mouth.
She stared blankly. Her gaze drifted unconsciously to his red lips—the same lips that had just stolen a crumb from her mouth.
Spellbound, she met his eyes, only to see him looking at her as if she were adorable. Flustered, she quickly turned away.
“Ahem. I’ll go buy another one.”
As she hurried back to the display, Cheroan laughed out loud.
I swore I’d be the one to make him flustered. And look at me.
Covering her burning cheeks, Melina lowered her head. But the racing of her heart—the awkward, unfamiliar sensation—wasn’t unpleasant.
Since Cheroan rarely smiled, the sound of his laughter drew murmurs from the surrounding crowd. Naturally, attention shifted to Melina at his side.
After that, the two of them bought drinks, browsed shops, and strolled leisurely down the street.
Though people’s gazes persistently followed them, neither paid it any mind. In fact, they sat on a bench in the open plaza, almost as if flaunting themselves, enjoying the attention.
“I don’t even remember the last time I could walk around so freely.”
Leaning back against the bench, Melina tilted her face toward the sky.
From the moment she became aware of the world, her father’s watchful eyes had followed her. After entering the imperial palace, her movements had been restricted even further.
Even now, people stole glances at them—but not to the point of restraint.
It almost felt like they were truly dating.
“Well, your position is rather extraordinary.”
Unaware of her circumstances, Cheroan seemed to be thinking of her as the head of Temno.
“You’ve never walked around like this either, have you, Yan?”
“No. I never had the leisure to wander idly.”
The Grand Duchy in the empire’s northwest was a place where vigilance could never lapse. To the west lay the border with the Harsen Empire, and to the north, the Tahan Mountains where monsters dwelled.
His lack of leisure was understandable.
“And besides…”
He hesitated.
“I was always alone.”
Cheroan gazed quietly at families and couples walking together.
Seeing where his eyes lingered, Melina read the longing and deep loneliness in them.
She suddenly recalled her own days of yearning for her family’s love—the times she had stood among them yet felt piercingly cold.
He must have been lonely too.
That thought made him feel a little closer.
“Then from now on, let’s come out often. You have someone to walk with now.”
The words slipped out before she realized.
Though it was a contract marriage, she hoped they could at least become comfortable enough to share a drink in hard times, to talk when loneliness crept in.
Wouldn’t that make the rest of their lives a little less lonely?
Holding that small hope, Melina watched the happily smiling couples.
“Someone to walk with… It’s been a long time since I heard that.”
Murmuring as if savoring her words, Cheroan turned to look at her.
The emptiness that had filled his eyes earlier was replaced by a soft glow, like starlight scattered across the night sky.
“Where would you like to go today?”
Seated in the carriage, Cheroan asked Melina.
It was their second date. As before, he had come to pick her up at the inn where she was staying.
“I heard there’s a street with shops selling unusual items.”
“You mean Jarde Street?”
“Oh, yes! That’s the one. They say it’s like a small museum—lots to see.”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Born and raised in the capital, she’d never had the chance to travel. Lately, she secretly delighted in exploring new places under the pretense of dating Cheroan.
Seeing her childlike excitement, he let out a quiet chuckle.
“Then let’s go there.”
Once he informed the coachman, the carriage began to move.
At the entrance of Jarde Street, a winding path stretched before them. Unlike the central boulevard, it was narrow, with small shops packed closely together.
“Have you been here before?”
“Occasionally. There are many interesting things.”
He seemed unexpectedly pleased, which put her at ease.
“Let’s go in here.”
The shop she pointed to displayed engravings and portraits.
“The unusual things are in other shops. This place only has paintings.”
His reluctance to enter puzzled her—until mischief sparked in her eyes. She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, making him flinch in surprise.
“There might be unusual paintings. I’m curious—let’s hurry.”
Reluctantly, he followed.
The shop was filled mostly with engravings—images printed from inked copper plates.
“Oh my…”
Browsing, Melina picked up one engraving and gasped.
It depicted her wedding to the Crown Prince in meticulous detail.
Seeing her younger self brought a rush of emotion.
Back then, she’d held hopes for life in the palace. Even for her husband, Mesed.
Bitterness lingered in her mouth.
“A painting from when His Majesty was Crown Prince. This place has many historical scenes and portraits of the imperial family.”
Looking around, she saw coronations and royal weddings engraved in detail.
“Oh? Then there must be pictures of you too.”
“Don’t look for them.”
Cheroan frowned immediately.
Now she understood why he’d resisted entering. Suppressing a smile, she said,
“That just makes me more curious.”
Like a treasure hunt, she searched until she found engravings of his birthday banquet and a parade.
“Wow, you were really little.”
In the picture, he was short, with chubby cheeks. She gently traced the image with her fingers, smiling fondly.
“I’m buying this.”
“Why would you buy something like that?”
“It’s your childhood. I’ve always been curious. I want to look at it whenever I like.”
After a lengthy struggle, Cheroan conceded. Victorious, she gathered the engraving.
“Oh, there are small portraits too!”
In a corner stood tiny hand-sized portraits.
“If you’re done, let’s go. There are other places to see.”
He stood in front of the display, oddly anxious.
“We’ve already seen your childhood in the engravings. Portraits are colored—they feel different.”
“The real thing is standing right here. Why look for a painting?”
“That’s not your childhood self. Move aside.”
When she nudged him, he stepped back reluctantly.
Among the portraits were not only Cheroan’s but also the former emperor’s, the current empress dowager’s, and the late empress’s.
She picked up every portrait of Cheroan she could find. There were yearly portraits up until age four—but few after that.
The fire incident had happened when he was four. Perhaps after he fell from favor, portraits were rarely commissioned.
“Ah, look at this expression. So cute.”
One portrait showed a tense little boy; another had him trying to look solemn beyond his years. She almost wanted to bite his chubby cheeks.
Cheroan watched her strangely as she admired his childhood self.
“That’s enough. Let’s go.”
Trying to hide her embarrassment, she held out the stack in her arms.
“I’ll buy all of these.”
He looked between her and the portraits in disbelief.
“What would you do with all of them? There are large ones hanging in the ducal castle.”
“You can’t carry those around. I’ll keep these with me.”
His expression shifted oddly at her words.
“Why would you carry my portraits?”
“You can’t see your childhood self again. So I’ll preserve it like this. You’re my husband now.”
At the words my husband, his eyes flickered.
“Don’t try to stop me. If you won’t buy them, I’ll use my own money. You know I’m rich.”
“…Fine. I’ll buy them.”
Realizing he couldn’t dissuade her, he sighed and went to the counter.
Taking the opportunity, Melina quietly picked up one small portrait from the display.
It was of Empress Melina—herself.
She would never see that face again. She wanted to keep it, at least like this. A trace of her former life.
There would be no one else left to remember it.
As they left the print shop and wandered into others, an unpleasant voice reached their ears.
“Hey, hand that over.”
“No! I barely earned this today.”
“Where do you think you’re talking back? If you make money in our territory, you pay a fee.”
“That’s ridiculous! This is for my mother’s medicine!”
“Ha. Do you know who we are?”
“Who?”
“Temno. Heard of it? Don’t get cocky.”
About to walk past, Melina froze at the word Temno.
