Chapter : 11
The carriage ran past tall walls and into a place where a splendid garden unfolded.
With a garden like this, it could practically be the emperor’s residence…
That ominous feeling turned out to be correct. The person who opened the carriage door bowed politely and said,
“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is waiting. Lady Eloy Calat, Lady Viviana Erireon, and…”
When the servant—who seemed unsure—hesitated, the cruel-looking man who had shoved me into the carriage asked,
“May I ask for the young lady’s name?”
“I’m Selene Weddon…”
This name was starting to feel more familiar than my real one.
After hearing my answer, the servant greeted me and hurried down the corridor.
I shook my head at the lax security of the imperial palace.
They just let anyone in like this?
Shouldn’t they be standing guard strictly and refusing entry to anyone without an invitation or a known name?
That’s right. Actually, you weren’t invited! Please turn back immediately!
I desperately wished someone would say that…
But nothing like that happened, and I had no choice but to follow the man who introduced himself as the heir of Count Heidel.
As I walked down the corridor behind Heidel, exclamations of awe escaped me without realizing it.
Since we’d ridden in the carriage for quite some time after entering, this was clearly inside the imperial palace—and its sheer scale was overwhelming.
The corridor was made of arched openings without windows so the garden could be viewed clearly. In the garden, a massive fountain sprayed refreshing streams of water.
Between neatly trimmed hedges shaped like walls, flowers bloomed densely, creating a beautiful sight.
I began to wonder whether someone as shabby as me really belonged in such a precious place.
I quietly spoke to Eloy, who was tightly clinging to my arm.
“Um… I think it might be better for me to go home now…”
Eloy smiled gently and replied kindly,
“But we agreed to have tea together, didn’t we? Let’s have tea here, Selene.”
Viviana tugged on my other arm and added,
“They’re really good at desserts here.”
I don’t plan on eating, though…
…But what kind of desserts are they so good at…?
I was a little tempted.
I should see what kind of desserts the Crown Prince eats and ask someone to make something similar.
Without realizing how absurd that thought would sound to both the palace pastry chef and our estate’s cook, I continued walking diligently.
After a while, I entered a lavishly decorated room and couldn’t help but gasp.
Velvet sofas that looked soft even to the eye, and the desserts arranged on a round table in front of them, immediately caught my attention.
On a three-tier dessert tray—something I’d only ever seen at dessert buffets—were neatly baked breads, fresh fruit, slices of cake, and macarons.
And the most astonishing thing was that there wasn’t just one tray.
As I scanned the macarons to see whether they were thick “fatcarons” or not, a low yet refreshing voice sounded behind me.
“I hear we have an unexpected honored guest.”
When I turned around, a handsome man with great height and broad shoulders was smiling at me.
“Eloy Calat greets His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Viviana Erireon greets His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”
The two ladies spread their skirts gracefully and greeted him.
I quickly followed their lead and did the same.
The Crown Prince placed a hand over his chest and returned the greeting.
Oh, I’m actually getting pretty good at this.
Exchanging greetings like this really made me feel like a noble.
“Please, have a seat. I heard honored guests had arrived, so I wished to serve tea personally.”
The Crown Prince took a teapot from the tray and poured tea into the cup in front of me.
Without thinking, I lifted my cup—like I would when my boss poured me a drink.
Habits really are terrifying. I quickly pulled my hand back.
“I didn’t expect to meet you like this, Lady Weddon.”
Yeah… me neither.
“I am Noel Bradford, the Crown Prince of the Empire.”
Well, he certainly looks like it.
I watched Noel’s hands as he poured the tea.
Hmm?
There were scattered marks that looked like burn scars on his hands.
I’d imagined that a Crown Prince would either have pale, flawless hands, or calluses from wielding a sword.
Full of prejudice, I lifted my gaze upward.
Hair like golden thread neatly combed back, green eyes like a lake deep in an untouched forest, and a refreshing smile with soft lips.
Wow. He’s handsome.
I’d seen so many good-looking men lately that my eyes were getting spoiled, but no matter how many times you see one, a handsome man is still exciting.
The Crown Prince, who seemed like the type who would never lift a finger and only drink tea poured by others, turned out to be surprisingly skilled at it.
Handsome, cheerful, kind, and radiating some sort of warmth…
Is this what they call a “sunshine male lead”?
As I was thinking that, Noel smiled faintly at me.
“I may hold the position of Crown Prince of the Empire, but I don’t enjoy flaunting my status. I’d appreciate it if you treated me comfortably.”
Handsome and nice…
I simply smiled softly. How many times in life would I ever get to drink tea poured by the Crown Prince himself?
We might never meet again anyway. Thinking that way put me at ease.
Noel set the teapot down and spoke in a gentle voice.
“You must have been startled by your sudden visit to the imperial palace, yet you’ve taken the time to sit calmly like this. You seem to have inherited the late Count Weddon’s gentle disposition admirably.”
Caught off guard by the compliment, I smiled awkwardly and tucked my hair behind my ear.
A faint clinking sound came from my wrist. Noel’s eyes, which had been smiling at me, shifted subtly.
Wondering if I’d imagined it, I glanced at him—but the sharpness in his gaze had already vanished.
Noel turned his attention to Eloy and Viviana, who were elegantly lifting their teacups.
“Ladies, don’t you have matters to attend to?”
They exchanged confused looks.
“Do we?” one of them murmured.
I quickly lifted myself from the sofa and smiled.
“Oh, you have things to do? Then I’ll be going—”
“If it’s all right with you, Lady Weddon, could we speak a little longer?”
Viviana narrowed her eyes slightly.
“What kind of conversation are you planning to have with just the two of you?”
Noel tilted his head slightly and smiled charmingly.
“Didn’t you say it was rather urgent?”
Pretending not to hear, the two ladies looked down and sipped their tea, lips pouting beneath the rims.
I felt like the only one sitting on a transparent chair.
Eloy and Viviana set down their teacups and stood up. Awkwardly, I sat back down on the sofa.
Their footsteps gradually faded away.
* * *
In the quiet reception room, the only one fidgeting was Selene.
As silence settled in, Noel spoke reassuringly.
“Servants are standing by outside, and the two young ladies are nearby, so there’s no need to worry.”
Selene smiled awkwardly and stroked the sofa.
“Ah… I see. So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Noel paused for a moment, then lifted his teacup.
“That bracelet is quite lovely. Is it a specialty of the Weddon territory?”
Selene hesitated. She couldn’t exactly say she’d brought it from the possession-hotel world.
As she frantically worked her brain, a lie flowed smoothly from her lips.
“It’s not a specialty—I picked up some pretty stones and made it myself.”
Noel raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise.
“I see. Choosing stones and turning them into such a beautiful bracelet—your eye for things is impressive.”
“Haha… If you look closely at the ground, you can find pretty stones.”
Unable to endure the awkward atmosphere, Selene rambled.
He could have pressed her by asking how she drilled holes in the stones or where she found them, but Noel merely lifted the corners of his lips gently.
There was no need to provoke Selene’s anxiety unnecessarily.
Once she was on his side, the mystery of the bracelet would resolve itself naturally.
Telling someone you’d just met that they were destined to save the world would only get you treated like a madman.
Noel covered his mouth with the teacup and scanned Selene with his eyes.
Reading people’s tendencies by catching their expressions, complexion, and small gestures was Noel’s specialty.
He’d grown accustomed to watching others carefully from a very young age.
“…Is there anything else you wanted to say?”
Judging by the way her pupils darted about helplessly, she didn’t seem particularly resolute or bold.
She didn’t appear to have come to the imperial palace with any purpose.
That meant she was likely being dragged along by Lady Calat and Lady Erireon.
Despite sitting before the Crown Prince—someone most people would do anything to meet—she didn’t look particularly happy.
Likely because she was timid and disliked attention.
The type who would get pushed around and dragged along easily.
Start with a small kindness, then bind her with conditions she can’t refuse, and she won’t be able to move.
In the brief moment it took him to lift and set down his teacup, Noel finished his assessment of Selene.
“Please call me Noel.”
Selene looked confused.
“Using casual speech when we’ve just met? That’s a bit…”
“Then call me that the next time we meet.”
“Yes… well…”
That expression says you don’t think there’ll be a next time.
Satisfied that things were unfolding as expected, Noel relaxed his shoulders.
“I know this is sudden since we’ve only just met, but I would like Lady Weddon to become my person.”
Noel deliberately chose ambiguous wording.
Would she interpret “my person” romantically and blush in embarrassment, or take it politically and weigh the benefits of forming a connection?
Once Selene’s mind became tangled over the phrase, he could simply suggest being friends.
By easing the pressure like that, the proposal would feel much lighter than before, increasing the likelihood that she’d accept.
If he kept Selene close under the pretext of friendship, achieving his true objective would be easy.
Starting as friends and making small requests would suit a personality like hers—one that couldn’t easily refuse.
Noel’s mind was already calculating several moves ahead.
What kind of answer will you give me?
