Chapter 17
Franz let out a disbelieving chuckle.
‘That’s the most obvious tail I’ve ever seen—might as well shout, “I’m following you!”’
He already knew he was being followed. And yet the person behind him was still trying to act like a detective, carefully trailing after him as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.
Franz leisurely walked into a jewelry store. Upon seeing him, Hans rushed over with wide eyes.
“Your Highness! Where have you been?”
“Never mind that. Take this.”
Franz pulled a leather organizer from his coat and handed it to Hans.
“What is this? For me?”
Hans examined it, turning it over. It was bound with a leather string, so he couldn’t see inside.
“It looks like a notebook… Did you buy it?”
“Not exactly.”
“Pardon? If not, then…”
He looked at Franz with puzzled eyes, silently asking, Then what is it?
But Franz didn’t answer his question.
It wasn’t like he had committed a huge crime.
‘No, wait. Taking someone else’s property without permission is technically a crime.’
He had walked out of the art supply store, <Majello>, with the notebook in hand almost on impulse. It wasn’t planned—just a moment of sudden curiosity.
Iella Clarence had carried the notebook with her the entire time she wandered around the street, clutching it close as if it were precious. But after paying, she had left it behind on the table. Franz had suddenly found himself wondering what could be inside something so treasured. By the time he realized what he was doing, it was already in his hands and he had walked out with it.
He had received the best education growing up. Maybe he hadn’t always lived diligently, but he had at least prided himself on being honest.
‘And yet here I am, stealing.’
Franz couldn’t hide the look of bafflement on his face.
Now, unless there was something truly incredible inside that organizer—something that could justify his actions—he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
“I’m not giving it to you, so keep it safe.”
Franz scribbled something on a card from the counter, sealed it, and handed it to Hans.
“And this. There’s an art supply store called <Majello> on Manchester Street. Give this to the owner. If a woman comes looking for a leather organizer, give her this card.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I have other business. Go back first.”
“Was there something on your schedule I didn’t know about?”
“It just came up.”
“I see… Understood.”
Leaving Hans behind, Franz turned around and walked out. Not far off, he saw Iella standing as if waiting.
‘Now what?’
He figured he needed to lure her somewhere more private. Remembering a nearby outdoor café, he headed in that direction.
Just as expected, Iella followed him to the café and sat at a table not far from his. She used her maid as a human shield to sit facing him.
‘Unbelievable. I don’t even have the energy to laugh.’
Any guilt he had over stealing her notebook had vanished.
‘Why is she going so far? I don’t get it.’
It’s not like she liked him romantically. Was she a spy?
‘Yeah, right. What kind of spy is that obvious and clumsy?’
At this point, only one question remained—why was she doing all this?
Franz didn’t even glance in her direction, despite feeling her eyes on him.
‘Alright. Let’s see how far she takes this.’
He had set the stage. Now, he just had to wait for her to make a move.
Iella watched Franz place his order and once again felt validated in her decision to follow him. This felt safer than trying to run into him by chance at the Academy. Plus, with so many people around, she didn’t have to worry about being noticed.
“Betty, order anything you want.”
“What about you, Miss?”
“Just coffee for me.”
“Yes, Miss!”
Betty, completely absorbed in her role as the human shield, sat up straight and placed their order.
When the food arrived, Iella took only a sip of coffee before stealing glances at Franz again.
Even passersby seemed to sneak looks at the prince sitting there like a painting. Some even stared outright.
‘How can he not be embarrassed by all that attention? If it were me, my face would be beet red…’
But Franz’s face remained perfectly serene as he gazed out at the bustling street.
‘Ah well. Not my problem. If he’s fine with it, then who cares.’
“Miss, are you even watching him properly?”
Betty asked suddenly as she savored her earl grey cake.
“Huh?”
“I mean, how do you expect to make eye contact if you keep sneaking peeks like that? You need to look him straight in the eye—boldly!”
Betty sounded both frustrated and concerned.
“You followed him all the way here. Don’t you think you should accomplish something? This isn’t like you at all.”
Betty spoke firmly. Iella had no retort.
She knew better than anyone else—but it was all so overwhelming.
‘Yeah… Why am I acting so unlike myself?’
Her nerves just wouldn’t settle. She sat in thought, staring blankly at Franz. She didn’t even realize she was completely lost in watching him.
Then it happened.
‘Wait… Ocean Blue No.5…’
Iella was mesmerized by the blue in his eyes, utterly captivated.
She wasn’t mistaken. That was the color. No doubt about it.
‘So beautiful…’
“Ocean Blue No.5” was the only custom color she had ever created. She usually bought all her paints from the art store, but four years ago, she had visited the harbor town of Rosarito with her family. The blue of the sea had been so breathtaking that it stayed with her long after.
Back in Bilne after summer, she searched for paint that matched it—but nothing satisfied her. No matter how she mixed existing colors, it wasn’t quite right.
Eventually, she found a book about pigments and began experimenting. After dozens of failures, she finally succeeded.
Using pure azurite and a tincture brewed from tintoria flower berries, she recreated the blue she remembered. When she saw it, she’d almost screamed with joy.
She named it “Ocean Blue No.5,” attaching her favorite number to it.
She liked the number 5 because it wasn’t too little or too much. A sort of underdog, just like herself. Not the most radiant number to match a sun-drenched sea, perhaps, but for that very reason, she wanted five to shine.
Still, she had never once used the color in a painting. Not because she was saving it, but because she had never found a subject that suited it. Nothing she’d seen had possessed that kind of mysterious, dazzling hue—until now.
Her heart stirred slowly and deeply. The air around her seemed to hum with strange tension.
The ocean-blue eyes looked both cool and mystical.
‘Wait—his eyes?’
Just as her wandering thoughts snapped back, she realized too late what had happened.
“Ah!”
Her eyes met Franz’s. He was leaning slightly, staring straight at her. Only now did she realize their eyes had locked.
Embarrassment turned to panic.
She quickly looked down at her coffee cup, pretending nothing had happened. Her heart thudded strangely in her chest.
This time, Franz was the one staring at Iella.
He had felt her gaze and turned to find her just sitting there, blankly watching him.
Their eyes met, and her shimmering emerald-grey irises sparkled in the light. Neither of them moved. The air between them held still.
Franz’s expression slowly hardened, while a faint smile began to bloom on Iella’s lips. That smile only deepened.
Franz’s eyes narrowed sharply.
‘What is this?’
This was a completely different face than before. She looked like a girl in love, dreamy and flushed.
‘She looks like she’s fallen for me at first sight.’
He was stunned. If he hadn’t known her, he might have been fooled for a second. If this was acting, it was impressive.
‘That naïve-looking girl might actually be more cunning than Chloé.’
The thought of Chloé suddenly soured his mood.
Whatever Iella was after, if her goal was to catch his attention, she had succeeded. Normally, he would’ve dismissed her long ago—but here they were.
The reason? Probably this woman, Iella Clarence.
At this point, he had to admit—this seemingly insignificant girl was quite something.
Then, her eyes widened slightly. Her smile vanished. Her lips pressed into a firm line, making her face look even more expressionless. Somehow, it gave her an air of quiet stubbornness.
‘Better than that dumbstruck look she had before.’
Franz chuckled dryly, folded his arms, and studied her closely.
Only now did he see how uneasy she was beneath it all. It was a little pathetic—but also strangely amusing.
‘Too bad. I have no intention of making you feel comfortable. You shouldn’t have messed with me.’
His sharp eyes remained locked on Iella.
