Chapter 37
“What’s going on here?”
Prim carefully put down the easel she had been holding awkwardly. Her face was clearly full of surprise.
“Prim!”
Elina smiled brightly and hugged Prim tightly. Standing there in an awkward pose, Prim embraced Elina in return.
“I’m so upset, Prim. You didn’t even tell me you became a palace-affiliated painter.”
“I’m sorry. I was so busy that I completely forgot to tell you.”
“If I hadn’t come looking for you, would you have never told me?”
“No.”
Prim shook her head vigorously. Elina pouted her lips but nodded as if forgiving her just this once.
“I’m just so happy to see you again.”
Elina held Prim’s hands tightly. Her ruby-like eyes sparkled as she looked at her.
Prim smiled back, and at that moment…
“You’re standing way too close.”
A voice full of caution reached them. It was Rain. He gave a small smile while glancing at their joined hands.
Elina, smirking coyly, squeezed Prim’s hand. Rain’s eyebrows twitched.
Crack—an invisible spark seemed to fly between them.
“Wait. Just wait a second.”
Prim raised her hands to stop them.
Meeting Elina was a joyful and welcome event. But the situation of Rain being there together with Elina was unexpected.
‘Have the two of them been together this whole time?’
Prim looked at Rain with wide eyes. Rain, who had been staring at Elina with an annoyed expression, suddenly relaxed his face as if nothing had happened.
‘No way…’
Rain looked into Prim’s sparkling eyes with expectation.
‘Even that expression looks cute.’ A small smile tugged at Rain’s lips.
‘…If only that woman weren’t here, I could hold her without excuses.’
He clicked his tongue quietly, recalling the conversation he had had with Elina.
Elina’s face was shocked as she asked,
“Wait… I need to sort this out. So, the prince… l-love me…?”
“You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to.”
“Ah, thank you. Anyway, so you’re pretending, right?”
“Yeah.”
“…Why?”
Elina asked, clearly confused.
Rain had no choice. To stop Prim from running around everywhere searching for a beautiful woman, this was the only method.
‘Prim really wants someone to stay by her side.’
‘But the prince… am I imagining things?’
Rain clicked his tongue, irritated.
‘You don’t need to know that part. There’s a reason I can’t say.’
“…May I ask why it has to be me?”
‘You want to see Prim often, and I don’t want to go through explaining it to someone else.’
Elina nodded at the simple, straightforward answer. It was certainly not a loss.
She would have the opportunity to come and go freely in the palace using Rain’s name. She could see Prim and also admire the palace painters’ works.
It was a little disappointing that Rain would be present whenever she met Prim, but that was a small price to pay.
“…Alright.”
Elina finally nodded, and thus their “contract” was established.
Prim, unaware of the background of this incident, rejoiced alone.
‘Elina really is a beauty!’
My instinct wasn’t wrong!
Prim couldn’t contain her joy. Seeing her cheeks flushed red, Rain felt troubled.
Seeing the face he liked was pleasant, but at the same time, it upset him that she seemed to have completely excluded him.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Prim, who was standing by the door, opened it.
“Excuse me. Is Miss Elina here?”
It was one of Elina’s attendants. Seeing Elina in Prim’s arms, the attendant looked embarrassed.
“The baron will be arriving soon.”
“I don’t want to… we haven’t even talked properly yet.”
Elina pouted, and Prim gently stroked her back to comfort her.
“She’ll come again later. She can come again.”
Prim gestured to Rain. Elina, fidgeting, reluctantly nodded.
“Okay… but you have to make time, alright?”
“Of course.”
After confirming the promise several times, Elina left.
Just as Prim was looking at the closed door with satisfaction, something rested on her shoulder.
“What’s so good?”
Rain had rested his chin on her shoulder. Though his face was full of mischief, Prim was too happy to care.
“A beautiful lady appeared on her own. What a relief. Honestly, I was a bit at a loss.”
“Oh… really?”
Rain pouted as if dissatisfied. Prim tilted her head in confusion.
“Why? Aren’t you happy?”
“If I weren’t crazy…”
Muttering to himself, Rain closed his mouth. Now that he had coordinated with Elina, some acting skills were required.
‘Then…’
Rain decided to use this situation to his advantage.
“But there’s a big problem.”
He put on a mock sad expression.
“It seems she doesn’t love me.”
Rain clenched his fists at the word love, but Prim didn’t notice.
“What? Isn’t it mutual?”
Prim’s eyes widened. Rain’s corners of his eyes drooped in a pitiful expression.
“I haven’t had much experience with women. Sure, you taught me a bit, but I guess I’m still clumsy…”
“Ah…”
Prim’s expression clouded. It was the perfect moment. Rain subtly held her hand; their warm fingers intertwined.
“So… what should I do? Teach me. I don’t want to show my clumsy side.”
His eyes, like lakes, blinked at her.
“You’re my teacher… so I want you to teach me.”
Prim nodded in understanding. Surely, when it comes to someone you like, you want to show only your perfect side.
“Of course. I’ll help you.”
Rain’s face lit up. His already handsome face looked even more radiant when smiling.
Then Rain furrowed his brows. Prim noticed the change immediately.
“Does your eye hurt again?”
“Yeah… it’s happening again.”
Rain rubbed his eyes with a frown. Prim stopped him.
“You’ll hurt your skin. I’ll take care of it.”
Rain leaned forward immediately. His eyes remained clear.
Why does it keep hurting? Prim bit her lip in frustration.
But this pain wouldn’t last long.
The beauty and the beast had met. Their love was bound to come true.
“Don’t worry. I’m here.”
At her reassurance, Rain nodded. They looked at each other, smiling happily.
Elina and Rain were now sitting across from each other, each with a scowling, frustrated expression.
‘This isn’t what I meant by asking him to teach me…’
Rain sighed. Standing between them, Prim alternated glances at the two with a heart full of excitement.
She couldn’t ignore their expectant eyes. Rain forcibly parted his lips to speak.
“…We meet again today. I am very pleased.”
Rain did not look pleased at all. His stiff smile, struggling to rise, looked almost pitiful.
“…It is an honor to meet you as well.”
Elina bowed politely, hiding her grimace. She raised her head only after straining to hide her expression. When their eyes met, both quickly looked away.
‘What a pair of youths.’
Unaware, Prim smiled contentedly, mistaking their desperate emotions for shyness.
‘I suppose it’s up to me, the elder, to guide them.’
Prim pointed to the tea set she had prepared in advance.
“Please, sit here. Let’s have some tea.”
They obediently followed Prim.
Prince Rain, of course, took the seat of honor. Noblewoman Elina sat alone a little further away. Prim sat across from Elina.
“I prepared some fragrant rosemary tea.”
Prim presented the teapot. Elina’s face brightened.
“It’s my favorite tea.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Our tastes match so well, Prim… amazing.”
Elina blushed shyly. She hadn’t even mentioned it, yet Prim had perfectly matched her taste.
“Same here.”
At that moment, a low voice interrupted.
“I like this tea too. How fortunate.”
Elina’s smile immediately froze. Their eyes met.
Rain shrugged as if asking, Is there a problem? Immature. Elina pouted.
“Here you go.”
Prim handed them the tea she had brewed. The two of them took their cups, now smiling again as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
They took a sip together.
“….”
“….”
And froze.
The tea tasted burnt. How could rosemary leaves make tea taste like this?
‘This isn’t tea—it’s poison.’
