Chapter 47
To the prince, it might have been nothing more than a casual suggestion, but for her, that one remark carried deep emotion. And yet, it only made her feel all the more guilty.
She had approached him with impure intentions, so a faint ache lingered in her heart. So this is why people say you can’t live with guilt. The more she got to know the prince, the more she felt as though she were committing a crime.
The gentle kindness in the way he smiled and answered even her trivial questions—she had never expected that. Now she understood why he was so popular.
A man you’d want as a lover. A man you’d want to marry. A man you’d want as a son-in-law. A man you’d want to spend the night with. He ranked number one in every category for a reason.
After some thought, Iella decided to add another category: the man you’d want as a friend. She remembered a childhood friend from her hometown of Centaur, but that relationship had faded long ago, leaving her with regret. She had always disliked the idea that men and women could only be categorized as romantic partners or marriage prospects.
This leisurely walk and casual conversation felt so comfortable, so ordinary, that she thought how wonderful it would be to have a friend like this of the opposite sex.
At that moment, Iella wasn’t seeing Franz as the prince of Lapland but simply as another person. And ironically, just the thought of having a royal friend gave her a sense of reassurance.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?” he asked.
“Mm… I was just wishing this moment could last forever.”
“I didn’t expect you to enjoy it this much.”
“Did you know? Recently, the academy ran a survey, and you ranked first in every single category.”
At her words, Franz gave a small laugh.
Of course he knew. That survey had been the subject of many conversations among the men for weeks.
“The only category I ranked dead last in was ‘the man you’d want as a friend.’ Do you know what kind of disgrace it was? The first time in my life I ever placed last.”
He shook his head with mock bitterness.
“Which one did you vote for?” he asked, half-curious. He suspected she hadn’t voted at all.
“I didn’t vote,” she replied.
“I thought as much. That’s very you, Iella.”
Satisfied that his guess was correct, Franz smiled faintly.
“But it wasn’t because I thought the survey itself was ridiculous. I just didn’t like how people judged only by appearances without really knowing the person.”
“And now?” Franz asked, glancing at her.
“If it were now, of course I’d vote for you. But that would be unfair.”
“Unfair? How so?”
“Voting’s supposed to be fair, isn’t it? You’re the only one I actually know. It wouldn’t be fair to the others.”
“Sounds like you belong in parliament,” he teased. “But you do realize—life is unfair.”
“I suppose so. I mean, just look at how the Creator went all-in on you.”
Iella smiled brightly and, for once, didn’t argue.
“Franz.”
Franz spoke his name with emphasis. The suddenness of it made Iella blink in surprise, then she smiled softly.
“Don’t you think it’s about time you called me by name?”
“But… I’m only your shield. If I did that outside of this situation, it might come across as disrespectful.”
“Disrespectful how?”
“I just… think it wouldn’t be right.”
“What nonsense. If I say it’s fine, then it’s fine.”
“Still…”
“Iella, this is important. If you can’t even drop the formalities when it’s just the two of us, how will you manage outside? From now on, that’s an order. If you use honorifics or formal speech again, I’ll punish you.”
“What? No way!”
“Well, since you don’t seem willing to try, I’ll just have to think up punishments.”
Her eyes widened. His mischievous expression, so boyish, erased the pleasant mood they had a moment ago, leaving her flustered and indignant.
What can I even protest? I’ll have to do it sooner or later anyway. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and go along with it.
The pressure was shaking her resolve.
“Then at least… I’ll drop the formal speech, but let me keep using honorifics,” she bargained.
“No.”
“Ah! Please, just let me, hmm?”
The playful glint in her narrowed eyes made Franz chuckle in disbelief. It didn’t suit her, but strangely enough, the cuteness wasn’t unpleasant.
“Just speak comfortably,” he said, ruffling her bangs lightly.
That small touch brought her dream from the night before crashing back, and her face turned red.
No! Not now! Forget that dream. You have to forget it!
Sensing her sudden tension, Franz stared at her closely. Startled, she turned her head away in a panic. That only made it more obvious, but she was too flustered to notice.
His sharp gaze didn’t waver. Unlike her usual boldness, today she seemed uncharacteristically nervous and avoided his eyes.
He was used to people avoiding his gaze, but seeing Iella act this way irked him.
As he kept staring, her ears turned bright red.
This is bad. I’m going to lose it.
She felt as though even her thoughts were being read. Desperate, she wished she could just jump out of the carriage to escape.
“Iella.”
His cold voice made her shrink as she slowly turned back.
“Y-Yes?”
“Did you commit some crime behind my back?”
“No!”
The speed of her denial only deepened his suspicion.
“I-It’s just awkward! This is my first time being alone with a man like this, and… we’re so close, too. I try not to think about it, but sometimes I panic without meaning to…”
The dream hadn’t been because she liked him. It was just that the first real physical contact of her life had shocked her so deeply that it even surfaced in her subconscious. But no matter how much she tried to rationalize it, the guilt clung to her stubbornly.
“That’s all it is! I absolutely, absolutely do not like you, Your Highness. I don’t even like men!”
At that, Franz’s brows furrowed. Alarmed, Iella rushed to explain.
“Ah! I don’t mean that I like women instead! I just mean—I’m a lifelong single. I’m not interested in dating or marriage. Honestly, that’s why I agreed to this shield role. Not that I had much choice, anyway.”
“A lifelong single?”
“Yes. I don’t care for romance or marriage. That’s actually why this works. People may gossip about the woman you’re seeing, but it fades. And who would want to marry someone who’s had a scandal with a prince? My parents will eventually give up on marrying me off.”
In other words, she was admitting that she was using him too.
“I see… you make a convincing point.”
“Right? Since I’ll never fall for you, I’m the perfect partner.”
“Partner?”
“Yes. It’s rare for interests to align this well. Partner—or maybe… ally?”
Franz felt something strange. Until now, he thought of their relationship as one-sided, with him using her. But now it was clear she was using him as well.
So that’s why…
She hadn’t accepted because she was cornered. She had never intended to refuse.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. The purity in her gaze told him she was being sincere.
Clever little thing.
Oddly enough, rather than anger, it amused him. There was a spark of competitiveness, an odd sense of exhilaration.
With a casual sweep of his hair, Franz composed his expression. In the end, it wasn’t troublesome. She wouldn’t cling afterward, and it wasn’t something he could object to, since he was the one who had proposed it.
“Bluntly admitting you’re using me—bold, but refreshing.”
“Oh my! That’s not how I meant it. Did it sound that way? I only wanted to help however I could, and if that incidentally helps me too, then so be it. I never intended to use you. Besides, it was your idea, not mine!”
Her words flowed like a stream, impossible to pin down.
Franz gave a small nod, as though he understood. Watching his profile, Iella exhaled in relief. Her face still burned, but it seemed the crisis had passed.
The unexpected honesty had worked out, and she was glad. But being with the prince was dangerous—he kept drawing out truths she hadn’t meant to reveal.
Just then, a soft tap-tap of raindrops on leaves made them both look up. A drop splashed onto Iella’s face.
“Oh? Raindrops…? Your Highness, I think it’s going to rain!”
“It’s a shower.”
“A shower? Do you think it’ll stop soon? The drops are getting heavier.”
Worried, she looked up at the sky. They were too far from the palace to turn back now.
“It won’t stop quickly. There’s a gamekeeper’s hut nearby—we’ll take shelter there.”
Seeing the black clouds roll in, Franz urged the carriage faster.
Moments later, just as a small hut came into view, the rain began to pour down in heavy sheets.
