Chapter 44
Outside Aguila Palace, Daniel was pacing back and forth. He had been waiting for me to come out.
“What did you talk about?”
Was it something like bite back if they bother you?
I couldn’t exactly say that, so when I hesitated for a moment, Daniel came to his own conclusion.
“If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to tell me.”
“That’s not it, exactly…”
I murmured quietly. As we walked together, Daniel spoke.
“If negotiations with the Empire have begun, then I probably don’t have much time left here.”
He looked down at me.
“The days I’ll get to see you as well.”
There seemed to be an inexplicable hint of regret in his gaze. We had spent six months together, so parting ways must feel disappointing to him too. If Daniel left, I’d feel regretful as well.
We’d grown quite attached to each other…
And faces as handsome as his weren’t exactly common. He was the one who had tempted me so much, yet now that I thought about not seeing him anymore, it felt disappointing.
Daniel tilted his head and asked,
“Do you feel regretful too, Princess?”
“Of course. We’re parting ways, after all.”
“Then why don’t we just… not part?”
Daniel said something impossible. The date wasn’t set yet, but he really would be leaving soon, wouldn’t he? I looked at him with a bewildered expression.
Clara thought it was impossible, but Daniel wanted to believe it wasn’t.
At least she likes my face, right?
Thinking about how it was only his face made his chest ache, but still—better than nothing. Daniel wanted to stay by her side as much as possible.
‘But how do I use that?’
He had never once thought about such things, so he had no idea. Back in the Empire, he’d never needed to win someone over with his looks. His status as a crown prince had been enough.
But what good was being a crown prince?
Right now, he’d rather be a starving janitor at Canario Palace than a well-fed imperial prince.
At least then he could see the Princess.
If the Emperor found out, he’d probably clutch the back of his neck in shock. Daniel even thought that would be worth it.
But how was he supposed to win her heart?
As he walked with Clara, he pondered briefly. Then, he found one idea.
‘Right. I’ll show her my feelings honestly!’
He could show that feeling right now. Daniel slipped his hand into his clothes. Clara immediately recognized what he was doing.
“Huh? That’s…”
“A gold dragon!”
Daniel said proudly. It was the handkerchief Clara had given him on the day of the hunting competition. With a dramatic “Ta-da!”, he pulled both corners taut.
“Isn’t it yellow?”
He asked with a grin. Clara made a face as if she didn’t understand what he meant.
She didn’t know it had been red until recently. To make it this color, Daniel had gone to the laundry room tirelessly. The maids there had looked at him oddly, but he had stubbornly kept washing it anyway.
“I should have shown you earlier.”
The day he went to see Clara, he’d run into Erby and forgotten all about it. But today was finally the day to show her!
“I’ve always kept it close to my heart. Because it’s something you gave me, Princess.”
“Your Highness…”
Seeing Daniel instinctively smile, Clara looked genuinely moved. But just then, Marquis Sapatero approached from the opposite direction.
“So you are Princess Clara.”
He greeted her, then looked at the handkerchief Daniel was holding out and asked,
“But why is there a snake on it?”
“It’s not a snake…”
Clara flinched and said. The Marquis asked again,
“Then is it an earthworm?”
“……”
That serious question meant he genuinely didn’t know. Those words stabbed straight into Clara’s heart.
Daniel called it a dragon. But no matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t a dragon. It was just a winged snake.
‘Why does my embroidery look like that?!’
Embarrassed, Clara lowered her head. And then—
“Princess?”
Leaving everyone behind, she ran off. Clara shouted over her shoulder,
“Your Highness, don’t follow me!”
“Princess!”
Sarah hurried after her. Daniel was left feeling awkward.
We’re going to the same place anyway…
But if she told him not to follow, he couldn’t exactly chase after her. With a wronged expression, Daniel turned to the Marquis.
The mood had been just about to get good…
The Marquis flinched and said,
“Now that I look again, it does seem like a dragon…”
“You’re far too late.”
For the first time, Daniel understood why Bastian used to shout “Drag him out!”
After some time passed, Daniel went to Clara’s room. She greeted him with an embarrassed expression.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I think I acted too emotionally earlier…”
“It’s fine. Everyone has moments when they feel down, don’t they?”
Daniel smiled lightly. He was holding a book in his hand. The moment Clara saw it, her gloomy face instantly filled with curiosity.
“But why a book?”
“I’m going to help you sleep.”
“A nap?”
“When you’re feeling low, waking up after a short sleep often makes things feel better.”
It really was meant to comfort her. But he also wanted to recreate the time she had once put him to sleep.
Revisiting memories wouldn’t be bad, right?
But Clara tilted her head.
“Hmm… I’m not really the type who falls asleep just because someone tries to put me to sleep. I’m more the type who puts others to sleep.”
He didn’t even think to ask who she meant. All Daniel could think was, I’ll put Clara to sleep!
He grinned.
“I think you’ll fall asleep.”
After all, he’d chosen an incredibly boring book on purpose. Daniel even drew the curtains himself. He laid her on the bed and sat down on a chair, opening the book.
“Philosopher Cornelius states…”
He began reading aloud sincerely. As he read, Daniel was impressed.
“This is the most boring book I’ve ever read.”
He even felt like he skipped a few lines because he was getting sleepy.
‘If I’m like this, the Princess must be extremely sleepy.’
Expecting to see her asleep, he turned to look at Clara.
Her eyes were wide open, staring straight at him.
This couldn’t be happening!
Their eyes met, and Clara smiled brightly.
“I’m not sleepy at all.”
So it was just me? Daniel’s expectations crumbled to dust.
“Is there anything you’d like to do?”
The reason I asked Daniel that was simple.
Let’s make some memories before he goes back.
I was willing to do anything within my means.
Daniel answered as if he’d been waiting for the question.
“I want to go to the night market with you, Princess.”
His response was so quick that it would’ve been disappointing if I hadn’t asked. I blinked and asked,
“How did you know the night market was open?”
“I heard it from Emily.”
Daniel urged me on, saying it wasn’t open every day and that it just happened to be tonight.
A night market…
I hummed and thought about it for a moment.
‘I am curious, though.’
Living as Clara, I hadn’t gone out much. I wondered what Verona’s night market was like.
Then suddenly, the biggest problem came to mind. It wasn’t safety or escorts.
I looked at Daniel and asked,
“But will His Majesty allow it?”
“No.”
I knew it. When I went to Bastian and asked, “Can I go to the night market with His Highness?” he rejected it immediately. And the reason was me.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous it is outside? A night market, of all things!”
“We’ll have escort knights.”
“Didn’t you see that maid last time? What if someone bribes them and they betray you?”
Then Daniel, who had come with me to ask for permission, supported me.
“If you give me a sword, I’ll eliminate any threat that comes near the Princess.”
It sounded incredibly reassuring. But Bastian glared at Daniel irritably.
“While someone’s stuck in his office working nonstop, you want to go to a night market?”
At that perfect provocation, I realized it.
Bastian was sulking.
I laughed softly and said,
“Well, Your Majesty is the king, so you’re busy!”
Bastian fell silent, looking at me as if betrayed.
Was it because the truth hit too close to home?
After a brief pause, I carefully asked,
“Would you like to come with us too, Your Majesty?”
Maybe this was the answer he wanted all along. Bastian frowned slightly and replied curtly,
“I’m busy.”
With the Emperor awake again, Bastian had been swamped with work lately. Even our dances had been reduced to once a week.
I smiled sweetly and tried once more.
“But I’d be really happy if you came with us. If you’re too busy, you can come later.”
At that, Bastian cleared his throat.
“How late are you planning to stay out?”
And just like that, Bastian joining us was decided.
The night market I visited for the first time was incredibly crowded. Rows of tents, noisy music, and people moving about with something in their hands.
“It smells so good!”
Clara exclaimed brightly. Since Bastian was coming later, she had come out first with Daniel. Looking at what people were holding, she asked,
“What would you like to eat?”
Daniel, wearing a hat like hers, glanced around.
“I can eat anything.”
“Then I’ll get you something I like.”
She bought him skewered chicken. Given Daniel’s situation, Clara paid. Daniel felt embarrassed.
‘Coming to a night market is nice, but… I have no money.’
It made the outing feel meaningless. Daniel felt truly regretful.
“If His Majesty had given me time to bring some jewels…”
“Then that wouldn’t be kidnapping anymore.”
Clara laughed, saying that would be running away instead. She was right. Daniel smiled playfully.
Clara offered him the skewer.
“Hurry and eat it. It’s best when it’s fresh.”
‘Didn’t she say she hadn’t gone out much?’
Yet Clara spoke like someone very familiar with these things. She took the first bite herself. The way her small mouth moved as she chewed was adorable.
Without realizing it, Daniel stared at her.
And then he saw it.
The sauce smeared on her lips.
“Princess.”
“Yes?”
Daniel hesitated, about to point it out.
What if she gets embarrassed?
The old him would’ve said it right away. But he wasn’t the same anymore.
He was Daniel Cortes, deeply in love.
He had to be careful to make a good impression. As he stared at her, thinking about what to do, Clara thought,
‘Is there something on my face?’
Because he was staring so openly, she grew nervous and ate faster and faster. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and asked,
“Aren’t you going to eat, Your Highness?”
At that moment, Daniel made his decision.
Right—just wipe it off quickly!
“Princess, His Majesty is over there!”
Daniel pointed elsewhere. Clara turned her head.
Now’s the chance!
Daniel quickly reached out toward her lips. With his index finger, he lightly wiped away the sauce from her lips.
‘Huh?’
Bastian wasn’t there, but something brushed against her lips. Clara turned back to Daniel and saw him with sauce on his index finger.
“Your Highness?”
Daniel had nothing to say. So he put the finger into his mouth.
Between his red lips, his long index finger disappeared.
