Chapter 39
Crown Prince Bairan sat on a golden throne adorned with massive gemstones, as if flaunting his wealth. With an intrigued expression, he listened to the report being delivered by his subordinate.
“So, you’re saying Kardin went on a date with his fiancée?”
“Yes. He rented out an entire restaurant famous throughout the Empire, and we confirmed with the staff that the Duke of Letorno personally prepared and gifted her three bouquets.”
“Wow. That duke who looks like he’d bleed blue blood if you stabbed him gave someone flowers romantically?”
“They were rose bouquets, each a different color.”
“Oh?”
It had all started when he saw Kardin dancing affectionately with his fiancée at the ball. Since then, his curiosity had been piqued by the drastic change in the duke—who had lived completely detached from the world.
Just what kind of woman could possibly charm a man as stiff as a block of wood like Kardin?
“Interesting. You may leave.”
At Bairan’s words, the man bowed deeply and vanished in an instant.
Left alone, Bairan hummed to himself as he walked toward the mirror. Sweeping back his dazzling golden hair, he smiled in satisfaction at his handsome reflection, as he did every day.
As the greatest man in the Empire, the only rival Bairan acknowledged was Kardin. A woman who managed to make him fall for her was impossible to ignore.
“Then I should go meet her.”
It was time to see with his own eyes just how remarkable she was.
* * *
Three days had passed since I told Father and my brother that I wouldn’t eat with them anymore after they’d done something so dangerous as threatening a duke.
Sitting alone in my room, I took out the velvet box Kardin had given me and opened it. The radiant gemstone immediately brought his face to mind. The image of him smiling warmly at me filled my head, and I hurriedly shut the box.
I mustn’t fall any deeper. If I gave my heart to him, I’d be the one hurt in the end.
Still, it was hard to deny how shaken I’d been by the date and the gifts Kardin had prepared. I smiled bitterly as I glanced at the dried orange rose bouquet hanging in a visible spot.
Did I already have him in my heart, even though I knew I shouldn’t?
Letting out a small sigh, I fidgeted with the necklace around my neck. It was Arsene’s necklace—something I now clung to like a charm whenever I felt anxious.
“He said he’d come once things were done…”
If I’d known it would be like this, I would have insisted on sending knights with Arsene, even if he said he’d be fine.
Worrying endlessly about him, I grew restless and opened the window.
The weather was beautiful again today. The sky was clear blue without a single cloud, and the air carried a gentle warmth. As a soft breeze flowed into the room, a knock sounded at the door.
“Harna, your brother has to return to the Imperial Palace this afternoon.”
I listened to the familiar voice outside the door but didn’t answer.
“I’m truly sorry for worrying you, but… won’t you at least let me see your face today?”
At the desperation in my brother’s voice, I shifted my gaze to the tightly closed door.
Since telling them I was angry, I hadn’t eaten with them—or even left my room so they could see me.
At first, Father and my brother waited to see how long I’d hold out. By the second day, they were pacing restlessly, begging me to open the door. Now, on the third day, they were using my brother—who was about to leave for the palace—to get me to come out.
I’d planned to stay firm for at least a week, but the thought of my brother leaving softened my resolve. It wasn’t easy to see him once he returned to the palace.
“…Sigh.”
Letting out a small breath, I stepped away from the window and walked toward the door. I hesitated with my hand on the knob before finally pulling it open.
“Brother?”
The moment he saw my face, his eyes widened—then drooped.
“Harna. I’m sorry.”
I was about to snap at him, asking why he’d come, but the sight of how gaunt he looked after just three days stopped me.
“What happened to your face? Don’t tell me you skipped meals.”
“When you wouldn’t come out, how could I eat?”
His cautious expression revealed cheeks sunken far more than they’d been two days ago. If my brother looked like this, I didn’t even need to see Father.
“…Did Father not eat either?”
“He couldn’t even drink water.”
That extreme behavior made me incredulous, but dragging this out any longer might actually make them collapse. Reluctantly, I took my brother’s hand.
“Let’s go eat.”
“Harna…”
Seeing him wipe his eyes in relief at my words was so absurd I nearly laughed. I turned my head away to hide it.
When we entered the dining room together, the table was already filled with food. Father, whose face had visibly shrunk, was sitting at the head seat. The moment he saw us, he stood up.
That only made me angrier.
“Why didn’t you eat? I heard you didn’t even drink water!”
At my interrogation, Father replied softly, like a guilty man.
“What could I do when nothing would go down without you? That aside… Harna.”
“Yes?”
“…Are you not going to call me ‘Father’ anymore?”
“And I’d like to hear ‘Brother’ again too.”
My brother chimed in immediately, placing his spoon on the table as if he’d been waiting for the moment. I turned away sharply and replied coolly,
“I’m still angry. I’ll think about it.”
“I see. I’ll wait.”
Seeing the two of them slump dejectedly, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Pfft—haha!”
At my sudden laughter, two identical pairs of eyes turned toward me.
“I lose, Father. Brother. Is that good enough?”
“Haa… thank you.”
“I can finally breathe easy.”
Their emotions swinging wildly at my smallest words made me smile.
I knew why they’d lost their heads and pointed swords at Kardin—it was all to protect me. But the thought of Father and my brother putting themselves in danger because of me terrified me.
They were truly my family now. And I wanted to protect them.
“First, Father—drink some water. Today, just have thin soup. And Brother, don’t eat anything hard to digest.”
At my nagging, the two large men nodded enthusiastically like obedient children.
“If you ever do something dangerous again, I won’t forgive you this easily. Understood?”
“Yes. Never again.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Then shall we eat?”
They began drinking water and soup as instructed, while I leisurely started with my salad.
Unlike the two of them, who’d been starving, I’d eaten properly thanks to Vera. Still, I found that meals tasted better when eaten together as a family, and we enjoyed the time peacefully.
* * *
That early afternoon, my brother’s short leave ended, and Father could no longer delay inspecting the knight order. The two of them returned to the Imperial Palace together.
They apologized repeatedly for leaving me alone again, but I sent them off, telling them not to worry.
Left alone in the now-quiet mansion, I enjoyed some long-overdue leisure. I read books in the library, drank tea and chatted with the maids, and finally took a walk in the neglected garden.
Resting indoors hadn’t been bad, but people really did need to step outside now and then. The warm sunlight lifted my mood.
I sat on the wooden swing in the garden. As it swayed, my dress rustled softly, and I smiled at the sight.
The fragrant scent of flowers carried by the breeze, the green grass, and the chirping of small birds—it was a moment of pure healing.
My mood would have stayed perfect if I hadn’t noticed a servant running toward me in a panic.
Oddly, the sight wasn’t unfamiliar. Thinking back, it reminded me of the servant who’d rushed in to announce Kardin’s sudden visit when I’d first become Harna.
“…Don’t tell me.”
Did Kardin come?
Realizing that part of me hoped it was him startled me, and I quickly schooled my expression.
Or maybe Arsene came? That would be nice.
Honestly, it didn’t matter who it was. Having fully mastered noble etiquette by now, I could greet anyone properly as a member of the Jurn family.
The servant quickly reached me. I stepped off the swing, straightened my dress, and waited for him to catch his breath.
After panting for a while, he spoke urgently.
“Miss, it’s terrible!”
Of course. I expected this. Calm and confident, I waited for the rest.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has come to visit!”
“…What? The Crown Prince?!”
I’d been bragging internally about how well I could host any guest—yet at the title Crown Prince, I seriously questioned my hearing.
“For now, he has been escorted to the reception room.”
Of all times—Father and my brother were gone, and he came without notice!
Cursing the unannounced visit internally, I grabbed my skirt with both hands.
“Take me to my room first.”
I couldn’t possibly receive the Crown Prince in a casual house dress. I hurried back, changed into the outfit Vera had prepared, fixed my hair and makeup, and rushed to the reception room.
After taking a long breath to steady my racing heart, I opened the door.
A man sat elegantly on the sofa, one leg crossed, sipping tea.
It was the Crown Prince I’d glimpsed briefly at the imperial ball.
With golden hair—the symbol of the imperial family—he possessed a beauty closer to that of a pretty youth than a rugged man. Long lashes framed his eyes as if he’d stepped straight out of a comic. He lowered his teacup and lifted his gaze as he sensed my presence.
When our eyes met, he narrowed one eye and spoke.
“So, you’ve come. Young Lady Jurn.”
“I greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”
Lifting the hem of my dress with both hands, I bowed and approached him.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting. Your visit was sudden, and I was unprepared.”
“You flatter me. It was my fault for arriving without notice.”
The Crown Prince squinted so intensely it made me worry his eyes hurt.
“May I ask why you came so suddenly?”
“Would you believe me if I said I wanted to become friends?”
His eyes examined me as he continued.
“With you, Young Lady Jurn.”
His large eyes curved briefly—then narrowed again.
I wanted to ask why he’d suddenly decided to befriend someone he’d never met, but instead I forced a smile and sat across from him.
Feeling uncomfortable, I kept drinking tea until my cup was quickly empty. Vera, who’d been waiting behind me, stepped forward to refill it—
—but suddenly, a head of golden hair appeared in front of me.
“You seem to really like tea.”
Startled, I watched as the Crown Prince picked up the teapot himself and poured tea into my cup.
Reflexively, I stood and accepted the cup with both hands, as if receiving a drink from an elder.
The Crown Prince watched me with a strange expression before stepping back once the cup was full.
Was that wrong?
I didn’t know how to react when someone of higher status personally poured tea for me, but I smiled as naturally as I could.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince didn’t respond—he just stared at me for a long moment.
Then, as if out of habit, he narrowed his eyes again.
…Are his eyes hurting or something?
That odd question lingered in my mind.
