Chapter 08:
National Day afternoon.
After finishing all the required events, Adrian sat at the bar of a tavern he often visited, waiting for Hugo.
Adrian usually didn’t pay attention to gossip that people talked about for entertainment.
He had no interest in stories people made up for fun, and they never really reached his ears.
But when he realized that half the conversations in this tavern were about Giselle, his nerves slowly began to tighten.
“I heard Gus recommended Theodore as a marriage candidate for Princess Giselle.”
At the table behind Adrian, five or six men were drinking and chatting about Giselle as if she were their snack.
“What? Theodore of Sonoden?”
“That’s right. Since Princess Rosa was once almost engaged to Theodore, it seems Gus is strongly recommending him.”
“What do you mean? He’s trying to turn his former rival into his brother-in-law?”
The men around them grew interested and gathered closer.
“As you know, Theodore is incredibly handsome—exactly the type women love. On top of that, he’s a brilliant businessman. Railways, mines—everything he touches makes money. Of course Gus would want a great business partner like Theodore as family, and at the same time make sure his wife doesn’t waver toward him again.”
Another man objected, fueling the curiosity.
“But would Theodore even like Princess Giselle? He used to be quite the playboy. And I heard Giselle is very timid—doesn’t seem like a good match.”
“That’s exactly why they’d match. A strong woman like Princess Rosa would clash with him, but a gentle one might suit him better. And Theodore doesn’t seem to chase women like before—he’s too busy with business these days. You don’t even see him at salons anymore.”
Adrian thought the rumor about Rosa searching for a husband for Giselle was probably true.
Because when he ran into Rosa at the palace a few days ago, she had looked at him sharply.
‘You rejected my sister? I must have misjudged you, Sir Adrian. She may be a bit naive, but she’s not lacking in looks or status as a bride. You’ll regret losing Giselle.’
Listening to the continued chatter about Theodore and Giselle, Adrian grew increasingly irritated.
Just then, the door from the corridor opened, and Hugo approached.
Seeing the whiskey bottle already half empty, Hugo looked surprised.
“It’s still afternoon—how have you already drunk this much? You don’t even like whiskey that much.”
“Just felt like it.”
“Why? Something bothering you?”
“……”
Adrian silently poured another drink and downed it in one go. Then he looked around with a frown.
“Why are there so many people here? It’s unbearably noisy.”
“Well, it’s National Day. There were parades and events all day, so people flooded into the capital.”
Even so, for this quiet tavern to be this crowded…
Adrian sighed and poured another drink.
Hugo took the bottle from him and filled his own glass.
“On my way here, I saw Knox and Tristan enjoying themselves with some ladies.”
“Hah… everyone’s busy with romance.”
Adrian smirked as he lifted his glass.
What was it Giselle had said to Tristan? That he’d meet beautiful women at the parade?
Marriage… romance… what’s the big deal anyway?
He chuckled.
Naive, was she? Rosa was wrong.
Giselle might actually be the smartest person in the world.
She had the courage to end a marriage he himself couldn’t properly refuse because of the king.
She must have already seen through him—that he was a coward who couldn’t act.
Adrian laughed again and shook his head.
Maybe he’d had too much to drink.
Just then, that irritating voice rang out again.
“If Theodore says no, should I make a move? I saw the princess at the last ball—she’s stunning. Girls like that, all innocent on the outside, are actually more passionate at night! And if I become the prince consort, just the land and wealth I’d receive would last generations. The more I think about it, the more tempting it is!”
This bastard…
Adrian shot up from his seat and walked straight toward the red-haired man who had been talking.
Hugo tried to grab his arm, startled—but Adrian was faster.
He swung his fist.
Thud!
“Ahhh!”
The tavern erupted in screams as staff and guests panicked.
The red-haired man fell to the floor with his chair, making a loud crash.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!”
Blood trickled from his mouth as he shouted.
Looking up, he saw Adrian—Giselle’s former fiancé—glowering at him with bloodshot eyes.
Adrian snarled,
“You dare speak of the princess with that filthy mouth? You crazy bastard!”
Still not satisfied, Adrian lunged at him again.
Soon, the red-haired man’s companions rushed over, and chaos broke out in the tavern.
***
“Hm?”
I slowly blinked as I looked at the sharply handsome man standing in front of me.
He looked familiar… but also not. With a face like that, how could I not remember him clearly?
“Oh my, what a coincidence! How delightful!”
Rosa’s voice sounded oddly forced.
Her stiff smile and awkward expression were almost funny.
“Gus… said the cakes here are delicious, so we came out… but I never expected to run into Sir Theodore here.”
The moment I heard his name and realized they knew each other—
Ah.
This was Rosa’s first love. The man she had almost been engaged to.
I remembered hearing rumors about them at a ball a few weeks ago.
And how all the noble ladies had kept glancing at Theodore.
“Gus recommended this place…”
Why does she keep repeating that?
Hmm… judging by my still-sharp deduction skills, it seems Gus really did recommend this place, and Rosa had no idea this would happen.
That flustered expression definitely wasn’t an act.
And since I told her about “natural encounters,” Gus probably brought me here to make it seem like one.
But instead, she ended up meeting her first love… what a cliché setup.
Gus might actually be a pretty scary man.
Theodore had slicked-back black hair and strong, sharp features—a handsome man with a composed and experienced air.
Dressed in a fine tailored suit, he stood straight and alternated his gaze between Rosa and me before lightly kissing our hands.
“It’s been a while, Princess Rosa. And Princess Giselle.”
I found the situation amusing but held back my laughter and greeted him politely.
Rosa spoke first.
“Hehe, have you been well? But how are you here? I heard you’ve been busy.”
“Well, your husband, Sir Gus, kept insisting I come here on National Day with cake for his new office.”
“M-my husband?”
Wow… this is getting interesting.
So Gus and Theodore already knew each other?
Judging by their expressions, none of them knew at first—but now they all understand what’s going on… and that everyone else understands too.
Well, that happens.
Still, even if old feelings are gone, I wouldn’t arrange for someone to meet their first love like this. I couldn’t figure out Gus’s intentions—but honestly, I was enjoying this.
Rosa smoothed her hair several times, then turned to me.
“This is my younger sister. Do you remember her?”
“Of course. Though she always kept her head down, so this is the first time I’ve properly seen her face.”
Yeah… Adrian was right. Giselle had zero social skills.
“Princess Giselle, I heard about your broken engagement. My condolences.”
Theodore smiled slightly as he looked at me—his words sounding like comfort but feeling like a subtle jab.
So he’s already figured out what this meeting is about.
I waved it off casually.
“Oh, not at all. It’s actually a relief. Why hold onto someone who doesn’t want you?”
Rosa secretly pinched my arm and laughed exaggeratedly.
“This girl… no shame at all. What’s there to brag about being rejected? Haha!”
“You’re the embarrassing one.”
“Ahem…”
At Theodore’s suggestion, we moved to an outdoor terrace for tea.
“Did you enjoy your honeymoon?”
Rosa, now a bit calmer, took a sip of tea.
“Yes, of course. How did you know we went on a honeymoon? Did my husband tell you?”
“The ship you took—the Mode—is mine.”
Oh? So he’s rich too.
Rosa’s eyes widened like the moon.
I clapped my hands.
“Wow!”
Rosa quickly smacked my hand down under the table.
“I… see.”
Theodore looked at me and smiled.
“You’re more interesting than you appear, Princess Giselle.”
I shook my head with a grin.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I’m actually quite the loner…”
Rosa pinched me again.
“Ow!”
“Haha, she’s been a bit unwell. She just needs to recover fully.”
Rosa looked conflicted—unsure whether to push this match or not.
But I already knew how this would end.
It was a failed blind date.
First of all, this wasn’t even a natural meeting. And Theodore wasn’t someone I could handle.
I could feel it through my intuition—he was ambitious and very cold.
So I decided to act a bit more foolish and end things clearly.
Even if I didn’t, everyone here already knew we weren’t a match.
But at least this way, I could avoid having to meet him again.
Just then, a loud commotion rose from below the terrace.
