Chapter 74
At Iella’s words, Franz let out a small laugh. It sounded like the kind of compliment he’d heard so many times that it no longer felt like one—something between a compliment and not. It didn’t really make him embarrassed anymore, yet somehow, hearing it now felt new.
“This is my own place. No one can come here without my permission. It’s also my favorite spot. Whenever I feel suffocated, I come here, and it feels like my chest opens up. I feel free… healed, even.”
Iella thought she understood what the prince meant. She felt the same way whenever she stood at the cathedral stairs and looked down at the square and the city.
“I think I know what you mean. When I feel stifled, I climb the stairs at Perga Square. It’s the highest point in Bilen, isn’t it? No matter where I walk, I always end up there.”
“Ah, right. Last time, you lost track of time there, didn’t you?”
Maybe because of the atmosphere, but even though Franz had brought up that day, Iella didn’t feel embarrassed.
“You can see the sunset really well from there. I like it because it clears my mind of everything.”
She smiled quietly.
“Having a place like that is a great comfort. When will you show me the sunset there?”
It was somewhere he could go anytime if he wanted. Yet Franz asked Iella for permission.
“But it’s not mine.”
“No, what I mean is—I want to see it with you.”
The air shifted ever so slightly as Franz’s gaze lingered on her, his blue eyes flickering with something deeper.
Somehow, Iella knew that if she asked “Why?” she wouldn’t be able to handle the answer. So she only nodded.
That was close.
She let out a silent sigh of relief.
The intense look in his eyes vanished in an instant, as if it had only been her imagination. Franz took an indifferent sip of wine.
Thinking she had imagined his persistent gaze, Iella was about to brush it off when he offered the wine again.
“If you want, try some. It’s far better than the wine we had at the cabin.”
He gave the bottle a slight shake, and a soft fruity fragrance filled the air. Tempted, she hesitated, but soon shook her head.
“I really don’t need to.”
“Since then, have you had any at all?”
“No.”
She shook her head again. Franz hummed thoughtfully, lifting the corners of his lips. For some reason, he seemed pleased with her answer.
The bottle was already more than half empty, but despite his lounging posture, he didn’t look tipsy at all.
“You really won’t try it? This wine is on a different level. You’d be wrong to think all wine tastes the same.”
“I’ll be satisfied with that adventure. It’s not the time for naps, after all.”
Her biggest fear was falling asleep again—like before.
“Too bad. You were cute then.”
Cute? Where on earth?
All she had done was grin foolishly after a few sips, then pass out cold. She shot him a look, clearly doubting him.
“You don’t believe me, huh? That day, you really were cute.”
He didn’t mean she wasn’t cute now. It was just… she had been so memorable that he sometimes thought back to it. Sometimes, the memory of her warmth made him relive it alone.
Since he had no intention of forcing her to drink, he let the matter drop, though with some regret.
“Are you teasing me?”
“You’re bound to hear it that way. I said you were cute because you were cute. But if you’d rather think I’m teasing you, then believe what you like.”
“Right. Then I don’t believe you. No matter how I think about it, there wasn’t a single ‘cute’ thing about me then.”
She was convinced he was teasing. Better to reject it than accept it and later hear, “I was only joking.”
“You still can’t remember, I see. What a pity.”
The small hint of disappointment in his voice went unnoticed by her.
“Did something happen that I don’t remember?”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. Don’t ask. If you’re truly curious, try remembering it yourself.”
She could sense that something had happened beyond what she recalled, but judging by his expression, the prince had no intention of helping her out. Worried she might have done something foolish in a drunken state, she asked again.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Franz shook his head, taking another sip.
“No. Nothing at all.”
As he tilted the bottle back, she quickly turned her gaze away.
“If, just in case, I did make a mistake… please forgive me.”
“Shameless as it sounds, I’ll forgive you, my lady.”
His eyes met hers as he smiled lazily, his grin effortlessly charming.
The problem was, even his sly smile looked attractive to her. Clearly, she was hopelessly infatuated.
Iella gave up pressing him about what had happened. Instead, she asked what had piqued her curiosity.
“What were you writing earlier?”
She gestured toward the notebook beside him. Franz sighed lightly.
“Business ideas.”
“Ah.”
“Why? Interested? Want to see?”
He had been focused for quite a while, so she had been curious. But since it was about business, she wouldn’t understand anyway.
“No, it’s fine.”
“I wouldn’t mind showing you.”
“Even if I looked, I wouldn’t understand.”
“Fair enough.”
Time flowed peacefully. It had been so long since they’d spent time together without tension, without sharp edges.
So much had happened in a short time. She had met a prince she thought belonged to another world, and feelings she hadn’t expected had taken root.
Iella gazed at Franz quietly.
Maybe now… maybe now she could tell him the truth. Maybe he would accept it without a problem.
If he could understand the secret she had carried all this time, then perhaps afterward… she could confess her heart as well.
“Um…”
The blue eyes that had been watching the distant sky turned toward her, kind and gentle. He raised an eyebrow slightly, as if to say, Go on.
“…I just wanted to thank you. For bringing me here today.”
In the end, she couldn’t say what she wanted. She didn’t have the courage to see his warm gaze turn cold.
And she realized—she would never forget him, for the rest of her life. These feelings were hers alone.
I must treasure them well.
“I think I’ll never forget this. I’ll remember this moment forever.”
“That’s nice to hear. Thanks to you, I came here for the first time in a while. Thank you for coming with me.”
Iella hid her fluttering heart, fixing her gaze only on the scenery before her.
Eventually, the time they had agreed upon arrived, and noise began to stir below.
After gazing at the view for a long while, Iella looked toward Franz—and found his blue eyes already on her.
Unlike her, he didn’t look flustered when their eyes met. He simply held her gaze.
“Oh…”
How long had he been watching her?
She wished—foolishly—that it had been long before she’d noticed. But that was only wishful thinking.
In the stillness that felt almost timeless, Iella parted her lips but couldn’t find words.
At last, Franz dropped his gaze, pretending to check the time.
“It’s gotten late already.”
“Yes. I guess time’s up.”
“The sunset here is truly beautiful. Next time, then.”
In the spring, let’s come see it again.
His words, which sounded like a promise for the future, reminded her of something else he had once said. Words that had deeply moved her—and yet left her feeling guilty.
Because her feelings for him, though real, were ones she felt she wasn’t allowed to have.
The guilt tightened around her heart more and more.
The next destination was a historic opera theater on the southern bank of the Luer River, just outside Bilen. It was also well-known as the home of a troupe Franz himself sponsored.
Dozens of carriages were lined up at the entrance.
“Why are we here?”
Looking at her mix of expectation and curiosity, Franz smiled faintly.
“Do you like plays?”
“I do.”
On the poster hanging on the wall, she saw the words Romeo and Juliet.
“Oh, it’s Romeo and Juliet?”
“Have you seen it before?”
“When I was little, I watched it at a theater in Centaur. I loved it so much that I went several times, and eventually I even bought the book.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m excited. It’s been so long since I last saw it.”
Her eyes sparkled as she bounced on her feet. Seeing her so genuinely happy made Franz feel as if he’d received an unexpected gift himself.
When the carriage stopped, Franz stepped out first and extended his hand to her. It was an offer of escort.
“Thank you.”
She placed her small hand atop his large, elegant one, and he gently closed his fingers around hers. His soft gaze fell upon her face.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
As he escorted her kindly from the carriage, the eyes of many around them turned toward the pair.
