Chapter 111
The next morning.
After a light breakfast, Riana began preparing herself for the tea party she was scheduled to attend.
Even though she had gone to bed late, she had slept deeply and wasn’t feeling too tired.
With quick and precise hands, Daisy braided Riana’s hair and pinned it up neatly.
To Riana—who only knew how to tie her hair loosely or make a simple braid—it seemed almost magical.
But still…
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Daisy was putting in twice as much effort as usual.
At that, Daisy jumped as if she had just heard something outrageous.
“Not at all! It looks perfect. It honestly looks like the outfit and hairstyle were designed as a set!”
“That’s right! Anyone would fall for you at first sight!”
“Even women would fall for you, Your Highness!”
The maids, who always did their best within the given means to make Riana look beautiful, strongly agreed.
Riana sighed inwardly.
The children of the Emerald Palace were all lovely, but sometimes a little too much.
She wasn’t sure if maids serving other princesses or noble ladies behaved like this too.
Are they all usually like this…?
Watching her maids focus once more on dressing her up, Riana closed her eyes with a small smile.
To her, the hairstyle still felt a little excessive, but she had to admit—it matched today’s outfit quite well.
Didn’t they say this was a new dress that came in a few days ago?
The wide sleeves and the skirt with long slits revealed loose-fitting trousers underneath. She had never seen this outfit before.
It carried a foreign charm while still looking elegant and refined.
What Riana liked most about it, however, was that it allowed her to move around comfortably.
“Should we use this hair ornament?”
“Something sturdy. I feel like that would be better today.”
“Ehh, but that one isn’t very pretty.”
“Are you kidding? Her Highness looks beautiful and graceful no matter what!”
“…When did I ever say otherwise? Don’t put words in my mouth.”
The girls squabbled lightly but kept working with careful hands.
“Hmph. Anyway, not that one. Remember the jewelry box that came from the Ruby Palace a few days ago?”
“Oh, that? Wait a moment!”
…Hm?
Riana opened her eyes at the words Ruby Palace.
Did that mean Ianheart had sent a jewelry box?
“Daisy.”
“Yes?”
“Did His Majesty send me a jewelry box?”
“…Ah!”
Daisy’s round eyes widened as she quickly covered her mouth, but her reaction gave Riana the answer she needed.
So he really did… without telling me.
“Did His Majesty send anything else?”
Daisy hesitated but eventually confessed after Riana pressed her a second time.
Every week, new things were delivered.
In fact, even the outfit Riana was wearing now had been personally chosen and sent by Ianheart.
No wonder I liked it so much.
“…And why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because His Majesty asked us not to. He said it might make you feel pressured.”
Riana was dumbfounded.
So he had been secretly filling her dressing room with his gifts?
“And also…”
“Yes?”
“His Majesty told us what to say if you ever found out.”
“…What was it?”
Somehow, Riana already had a vague idea.
Daisy cleared her throat and lowered her voice unnaturally to mimic Ianheart’s tone.
“I chose everything with you in mind. It’s like a gift I’m giving myself, so please don’t refuse it.”
“…”
“That’s what he said.”
Riana’s ears instantly turned bright red.
She understood exactly what he meant.
It was the same kind of words he had once said to her in Roan when giving her clothes.
“He must be insane…”
Riana lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
How could he shamelessly say things like that—and even have Daisy pass on the message?
While she was trembling with embarrassment and an odd flutter in her chest, Daisy chuckled softly as another maid opened the jewelry box.
As expected, His Majesty’s taste is impeccable.
As Riana left the palace to head to the tea party, she encountered someone waiting at the entrance.
“Riana.”
“…Your Majesty?”
It was Ianheart, dressed in his imperial black uniform.
“Did you sleep well?”
“I did… But what are you doing here so early?”
“To take you there.”
Before Riana could protest, Ianheart gently took her hand in his.
“It would hurt too much to be rejected this early in the morning.”
His playful grin was enough to make her sigh.
“…Fine. Then let’s go together.”
Riana was weak against this kind of faux-affection.
Ianheart accompanied her only as far as the entrance to the garden where the tea party was being held.
“You’re heading to a meeting after this, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
His short reply carried a hint of reluctance.
The weekly meeting with the nobles was one of the things Ianheart disliked most.
Some nobles, who still dared to test his patience, endlessly barked for their own interests while watching his mood.
“You look like you’d rather be anywhere else.”
“…I don’t want to go.”
He brushed his hand gently across the back of hers.
Riana smiled faintly at his childish sulk.
“You don’t have to attend, do you?”
“Normally, no. But today’s agenda is about the strange events in the southeastern region.”
Riana’s expression hardened slightly.
“…That’s near the Forest of Death.”
“That’s right. The report was brief, sent only two days ago, so we don’t know much yet. The scouts arrived in the capital early this morning. I’ll learn the details during the meeting.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious…” Riana murmured with worry.
“Are you that concerned?”
“…Of course I am.”
Until just a few months ago, Riana had lived right next to the Forest of Death.
She knew all too well how dangerous it was.
It could remain quiet for months, only to unleash thousands of monsters in a single night.
“If it were something big, I wouldn’t have the time to be standing here with you. Don’t worry—I’ll tell you everything later.”
Ianheart’s voice was soft, almost like soothing a child after a bad dream.
Riana now understood what kind of feeling lay behind that gentleness—one he only showed to her.
Then, Ianheart lightly traced her hand with his fingers.
“I’ll come pick you up after the meeting.”
“…Why?”
She knew the answer, but asked teasingly anyway.
Ianheart looked at her carefully, gauging her reaction.
Usually, she would have immediately said All right or I’d like that.
But this time, she simply tilted her head playfully.
“I’ve had lunch with Reteum and Belleum’s people for the last four days. Maybe I should today too…”
…Is she still upset with me?
He knew she was only teasing, since she had forgiven him yesterday. But still, the thought crossed his mind.
It was natural for the guilty party to watch their words more carefully.
“…Honestly, I can’t eat properly when I’m alone.”
Ianheart hunched his broad frame and rested his head against her shoulder, trying his best to look pitiful.
Riana had a soft spot for anything that seemed weak or fragile.
Even if Ianheart was only pretending.
In truth, his stomach was strong enough to digest steel if needed, but there was no need to bring that up.
Thankfully, Riana let his ridiculous act slide.
“Good grief. If anyone else heard that, they’d be shocked.”
And not only did she let it slide, she even laughed and gently brushed her fingers through his hair.
Anyone who saw this scene would probably faint in disbelief.
But Ianheart hardly cared about appearances.
He had never really worried about his reputation anyway.
Now that he knew this little trick worked, he planned to use it often.
“It’s true. I haven’t eaten properly for four days.”
He kept up his shameless act.
Riana knew he was exaggerating, but she didn’t dislike it.
In fact, watching a man as fierce as him tuck away his claws and act like a helpless rabbit was oddly charming.
“You do look a little thinner… But honestly, whose fault is that? No one told you to avoid me.”
“…I regret it now.”
Her fondness for this side of him was strange, but such things usually went unnoticed by the person themselves.
“So please, just eat with me. Yes?”
His lazy, pleading voice carried against her neck.
Suddenly, yesterday’s memory flashed in her mind—how they had stayed in each other’s arms for so long.
…Oh no.
Feeling her face heat up, Riana tapped his arm as a signal for him to straighten up.
Slowly, he lifted his tall frame again.
“…You should go now.”
“Why are you trying to get rid of me so quickly?”
The sulky note in his voice instantly cooled her flustered feelings.
Was he actually thinking of ditching his work just to stay with her?
Although, to be fair, his whining face and voice weren’t unpleasant…
“Doesn’t your meeting start soon?”
“There’s still plenty of time.”
“…Since when is ten minutes considered ‘plenty’?”
Riana narrowed her eyes. Ianheart looked away, muttering, “Ten minutes is plenty.”
Riana could only laugh in disbelief.
“Are you five years old, Your Majesty?”
“…No.”
“Then hurry up and go.”
Though he still looked reluctant, he gave up at last and sighed.
“But you’re having lunch with me.”
At his firm demand, Riana laughed softly and nodded.
Only then did Ianheart turn away, looking half-satisfied, half-displeased.
“Don’t be late.”
He sighed again and walked off, just a fraction faster than before.
Does he really hate going that much?
Riana watched his retreating back with a faint smile.
