Chapter 47
From a short distance away, someone who had been watching approached with long, purposeful strides.
Under black hair swaying in the breeze, a pair of blue eyes was fixed steadily on me.
“I pay my respects to the Second Sun of the Empire.”
For a moment, I was startled by that gaze, but I quickly bowed my head in return.
“Your Highness… What brings you here?”
Ah, he doesn’t know I was invited.
As I thought this and lifted my head to respond, the Imperial Princess stepped forward before I could speak.
“This is my guest,” she said. “For this tea party. So… what is the matter?”
Her tone was sharp and cold, which made me pause.
Just moments ago, she had seemed so fond of Haelon during our conversation—why now, in front of him, did she adopt such a stern expression?
I tried to keep the question to myself, but Haelon, familiar with her ways, merely nodded as if he understood. Then, pointing toward the path I had come from, he answered her question.
“It seems a petition has arrived. Regarding this event.”
The Imperial Princess’s face, which had not lost a single smile since I first saw her, instantly stiffened.
This event… she must be referring to the banquet she hosted.
“Is that true?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Ah…”
She sighed and swiftly turned, taking my hand.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I have some matters to attend to and must leave first.”
Her golden eyes, slightly drooping, caught the glow of the sunset, making her appear even more delicate and pure.
“That’s alright. It’s already quite late anyway.”
I had been planning to leave soon as well, so it mattered little to me.
“I’ll see you next time. I’ll call for you again.”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
The Imperial Princess bowed slightly and smiled at me before quickly departing from the garden.
Perhaps I should head back too.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, Haelon called.
“Your Highness.”
I turned my gaze back to him.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Has your throat healed?”
Though his expression remained stoic, I noticed his eyes lingered on the mark from the necklace that had scratched me.
Is… that the concern?
“Yes, much better now.”
“I hear the previous matter was resolved well.”
“Yes, thanks to your help.”
I answered politely, keeping my tone measured, and Haelon, after asking a few more things, fell silent, simply observing me.
“Do you have something to say?” I asked.
He blinked as if surprised to realise he had been staring at me.
“Ah, my apologies. I was momentarily distracted by other thoughts.”
“If you have nothing to say, may I return to my carriage?” I asked, gesturing toward the carriage waiting behind us.
“You’re leaving?”
For some reason, his blue eyes seemed to soften, and his movements became lighter.
The Crown Prince seems to care a little more about me than usual.
I couldn’t explain why the thought crossed my mind, but for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to imagine that he was paying attention to me.
I clenched my hands tightly. The one who had avoided me while I pursued him now seemed concerned as I tried to avoid him—how absurd.
Suppressing the frown that threatened to appear, I forced a smile onto my face.
“Yes, it is late. I will take my leave now.”
As I turned abruptly to walk toward the carriage,
“May I see you off?”
It was him again. I wanted to ask why, but I had a feeling that no matter the answer, I would accept.
“Of course.”
It might have been slightly rude, yet he didn’t seem to mind, simply walking beside me at a leisurely pace.
We walked to the carriage in silence, the only sound the crunch of grass beneath our feet.
We had walked like this before, though never speaking. I remembered trying to match my steps to his slightly faster pace, struggling not to fall behind.
What does he think of me now? Or of the Crown Prince…
The Imperial Princess’s question flashed through my mind.
The Crown Prince…
If someone else had asked me that, could I have answered then?
Haelon had never been defined by just one meaning in my life. At times, he had been my lifeline, my reason for being, someone I needed to follow, and a fragile hope that might one day return.
At other times, our bond had turned into a wrong connection and, simultaneously, a relationship that needed to end.
But now?
Now… how did I feel about him?
There was no longer resentment, malice, grievance, or sorrow. Yet my feelings for him were undeniably full, though I could not define them.
It was as if countless colours had merged into one deep black.
“…Eh?”
“Your Highness!”
“…”
Startled by his sudden voice, I lifted my gaze and bumped into something.
Yet it didn’t hurt. It felt soft and warm.
When I pulled away, my eyes widened.
“Your Highness!”
A massive pillar stood before me, and Haelon, who had been keeping his distance, now stood close, one hand shielding my shoulder from impact and the other protecting my head from hitting the pillar.
“Where are you staring so absentmindedly?”
For the first time meeting his gaze up close, his blue eyes felt deeper than ever.
“I… I hope your hand isn’t hurt…”
When he removed the hand shielding my head, the knuckles were slightly reddened.
I felt strange.
“It’s fine, nothing serious.”
He hid his hand from my view, then motioned toward the carriage in the distance.
I looked where he indicated and saw those waiting by the carriage flustered, probably having witnessed the near accident.
I let out a soft laugh.
“Your Highness.”
Haelon extended his hand toward me.
“If you’re alright…”
I lingered on his hand, noting the subtle warmth.
This is as much kindness as I can define him as having toward me.
I placed my hand atop his. The peculiar sensation at my fingertips sent a faint shiver.
Before long, we arrived at the carriage.
“Return safely,” he said, slowly removing his hand.
Perhaps because my feelings toward him had settled slightly, I returned his gaze with a gentle smile.
“Thank you.”
A gratitude encompassing today and all past events.
“I’ll take my leave now. Please return safely as well, Your Highness.”
I stepped into the carriage, and even as it drove away, Haelon remained, unmoving.
The Imperial Princess had not lied when she said she would call for me again.
After I left, she occasionally sent letters, and after a few exchanges, she invited me to her garden to spend time together. It felt as if we truly had become friends.
Naturally, my interactions with the Imperial Princess increased, and the time I spent with Rael and Ellie lessened.
Rael seemed understanding, saying it was fine, but Ellie was different.
Though she said it was okay, I could see a faint trace of disappointment. She tried to hide it, but it was obvious.
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
Perhaps I should prepare a gift for Ellie… and for Rael as well.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed the Duke tapping on the table in front of me.
“What are you thinking about?”
I chuckled softly, noticing that he was looking at today’s newspaper.
“Have you been reading the newspaper lately?”
“Yes… I’ve been reading it more recently…”
After that day, reading the paper had become a hobby of mine.
The first page of today’s paper was about the Magician Tower.
“Seems they’ve been making interesting things at the tower. It appears frequently in the news.”
“Yes.”
I glanced at him and said, “It would be nice to have Kicel here at times like this, wouldn’t it?”
“…You have a sly side, Your Highness.”
Karl looked at me as if realising why I had placed the newspaper there, then smiled as if admitting defeat. That day, his violet eyes appeared even more beautiful.
“You needn’t ask me about the Kicel investment anymore. I came here agreeing with it, and ultimately, the decision rests with you.”
“…! I knew you would agree. Thank you.”
I closed my eyes and smiled, adding silently, ‘I won’t regret this.
I imagined the day I would meet Blaizer.
