Chapter 17
From behind me, among the people surrounding Rudolf, I heard shocked voices.
“Did… did the 12th Prince just smile?”
“I’ve never heard him speak so kindly before.”
“My goodness, so the rumors were true…”
I was curious about what rumors were going around, yet at the same time, I didn’t want to know. Holding onto that contradictory feeling, I kept up my earnest, innocent-little-sister act.
“Rudolf, you’re here too!”
I tugged Richard’s hand toward Rudolf. The moment Richard’s gaze landed on him and his expression began to turn fierce—
Grip.
I tightened my hold on Richard’s hand.
“You’re going to greet him, right?”
Please, let’s not make a scene and just get through this quietly.
I looked up at Richard desperately, hoping my thoughts would reach him through some beast-like instinct of his.
“What a night filled with imperial grace, Richard.”
It was Rudolf who approached us first to exchange greetings. While Richard bowed his head and straightened, I was so tense I could hardly breathe.
“Yes, it’s been a while, brother.”
Richard smiled as he greeted Rudolf.
Of course, his crooked lips and faintly cocky tone couldn’t be called perfect manners, but compared to the way they used to lunge at each other every time they met, this was incredible progress.
“Was the dress a gift from you, brother? You have quite an eye.”
Gasps rose again from the surrounding crowd. Richard was complimenting Rudolf? I could clearly hear the whispers—this was the first time since their estrangement that such a thing had happened.
“Thank you for saying so.”
“Think nothing of it.”
But Richard was still Richard.
“However, I’ve decided to take care of Lucillia from now on. So, if you plan to bring her to places like this, you should let me know.”
The atmosphere, which had been softening, instantly turned rigid again. I clearly heard Luke sigh softly from behind Richard.
“Take care of her? I wonder if Lucillia agreed to that. I’m quite good at looking after my sister myself.”
Rudolf, too, refused to back down.
The tension between them was taut, like a piano wire pulled to its limit. A few people even took hesitant steps back from us.
In the middle of it, I closed my eyes for a moment to escape reality.
Hello, dear heroine. I thought things were already over, but apparently, there’s something worse. I hope we’ll meet again someday.
By tomorrow, rumors would spread not only through the imperial palace but across all of high society—that the 5th and 12th Princes had clashed over a single princess. I wanted to evaporate into thin air.
“You’re the one who didn’t get her consent.”
But I couldn’t run from reality for long. Richard’s voice was starting to carry a hint of anger.
My eyes flew open.
Wait—this is dangerous, isn’t it?
These two had nearly fought in front of everyone before. Richard had drawn his sword halfway, and Rudolf had already activated magic, just waiting for Richard to make a move.
That scene comes much later in the original story, but since their tempers hadn’t changed, this was just as dangerous now.
In a hurry, I grabbed Rudolf’s sleeve with one hand and Richard’s with the other. Both men flinched and looked down at me at the same time.
With the solemn heart of Mother Teresa speaking for world peace, I said:
“Brothers… are you about to fight?”
I put on wide, teary eyes and spoke in a trembling voice.
The imperial princes and princesses tended to be more mature than their age, but I was a twelve-year-old who’d never set foot outside my palace, much less attended a social gathering. Right now, from lack of food, I probably looked about ten.
“Please don’t fight. I like you both…”
That should be fine to say, right?
I glanced between the two of them, on the verge of tears, then lowered my head.
Now, if only I could actually cry…
I managed a sorrowful expression, but squeezing out real tears was another matter. While I was fidgeting in frustration, an older woman’s calm voice broke in.
“My, my, princes. Making a child feel troubled? That’s grounds for having your ‘big brother’ license revoked.”
At her words, others, as if they had been waiting, chuckled and added their own remarks.
“That’s right, Your Highnesses. The 17th Princess is still far too young to understand these things.”
“At twelve, she should be playing with dolls, not worrying about politics, haha.”
“And it’s her first party—don’t push her so hard. Today’s supposed to be a happy occasion.”
The on-edge atmosphere loosened again. No one wanted the birthday celebration to be ruined, and that message was clear even to the two princes.
“I apologize, Richard. My concern for Lucillia got ahead of me.”
It was Rudolf who apologized first, turning himself into the magnanimous older brother graciously backing down from a younger sibling’s provocation. Richard, however, still didn’t look pleased.
Ah, maybe it’s because Richard’s still young—he’s not as slippery as Rudolf. Given his personality, I doubt he could ever become as shameless as Rudolf, no matter how many years pass.
“I understand your feelings, brother. Let’s discuss this another time.”
Still, Richard must have realized that making a scene here wouldn’t help him. When he stepped back, Rudolf also nodded.
“Yes, I look forward to it.”
And that was the end of the conversation.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. See you later.”
Richard walked past us after a polite farewell. When I watched him go, he suddenly turned his head to look at me as if he knew everything.
His red eyes flashed at me.
You’re dead.
He didn’t speak, but I could almost hear the words.
What would become of me? The next time Richard came to my palace, I might have to give all the servants the day off.
Still, I had managed to prevent the worst-case scenario, and that was a relief. As soon as I relaxed, a fierce hunger gnawed at me.
Oh, right—this is a party, and I haven’t eaten a thing because I’ve been busy greeting people.
Starving someone like this was cruel. I shot Rudolf a glare, and he smiled as if reading my thoughts.
“You must be tired.”
I quickly hid my annoyed expression and nodded weakly.
“Let’s rest a bit. Have something to eat.”
At his words, Rudolf gave a discreet signal to a nearby servant, who disappeared and then returned with several others.
I thought Rudolf had ordered food, but instead, the servants brought over a garden table and chairs. They set them down beside us and began swiftly arranging food and drinks on the table. Finally, they set up a decorative screen around it for privacy before leaving.
It all happened so smoothly that I couldn’t help but stare like a child watching magic.
So this was what a garden party was like—not you going to the table, but the table coming to you. Now this was the true nobility experience.
I sat down, entranced.
When I saw the spread of food before me, my eyes widened again. It looked like something out of a movie—every dish gleaming under the light.
Rudolf, however, seemed uninterested in the food, holding only a champagne glass and not touching any cutlery.
No appetite? Well, if he gets hungry, he’ll eat.
I reached for a small, fluffy-looking cream puff and popped it into my mouth.
It melted softly on my tongue, and when I bit down, the smooth cream burst forth.
Oh no. It was too delicious.
After something sweet came something salty—a cracker topped with cheese, olives, and crispy bacon. The salty, savory flavor filled my mouth.
Then came whipped cream pudding, then a ham-and-cheese sandwich, then a strawberry tart…
Enjoying the alternating sweet-and-savory bites, I dove into the food with glee. The taste was so good it was almost intoxicating.
I nearly forgot Rudolf was even there—until, just as I bit into a scone piled with butter and jam, he poured tea into my cup.
When I looked up, our eyes met.
How long had he been watching me?
Feeling awkward, I avoided his gaze and took a sip. The tea’s fragrant aroma was exquisite.
“The budget for the Opal Palace must not be very generous.”
Was that Rudolf’s way of saying, Do your servants starve you?
Worried he might cause another storm in my palace, I quickly shook my head.
“I just haven’t eaten much today because of the party preparations.”
Since dawn, I’d been washed and dressed in a frenzy, and aside from a few pieces of fruit Miriam had slipped me, I’d had nothing.
“I suppose so. I was the same.”
Unexpectedly, Rudolf nodded in agreement.
He went through the same chaos since dawn? Well, this birthday celebration was one of the empire’s two grandest social events, along with the New Year’s festival. He must have had plenty to prepare for, too.
“Brother, aren’t you going to eat?”
“I’ve eaten.”
I hadn’t been watching him while I was absorbed in my food, but that sounded like a lie.
“This is really good.”
Feeling generous, I placed the chocolate pudding I’d been saving for last onto his plate.
If you’re only going to eat a little, it should be something high in calories—you’ll need the energy to get through the rest of the party.
But Rudolf didn’t touch the pudding. Instead, he gazed at me and asked:
“How much of that is an act, and how much is real?”
“…Sorry?”
I blinked.
“That silly little-girl act you put on earlier in front of Richard.”
I swallowed the food in my mouth.
Was he really dropping this kind of direct question now? While I’m eating?
“Richard might have fallen for it, but do you think I would? And yet… when I look at you like this…”
Rudolf studied me quietly, then said:
“…you almost seem like a seven-year-old. It’s strange.”
So basically, he’d seen right through my act of playing the innocent, naive twelve-year-old?
“I’m not sure what you mean, I—”
I tried to laugh it off, but Rudolf ignored me.
“I wasn’t certain up until Carlisle’s Three Questions. But after coming here, I knew for sure.”
Resting his cheek in his hand, Rudolf’s lips curved into an amused smile.
“From your eyes.”
“My eyes?”
This time, my surprise was genuine. How could he tell just from my eyes?
“You showed no interest in most of the nobles.”
He poured champagne into his empty glass.
“No matter who introduced themselves, I could feel you didn’t care—though you seemed to listen politely. But among them, there were a few people you watched closely… with shining eyes.”
He looked at me over the rim of his champagne glass. His blue eyes shimmered like gold champagne catching the light.
“Because they were far too interesting.”
