Chapter 43
“If you keep frowning like that, you’ll get wrinkles.”
I pressed between Lant’s brows with my fingertip. His head tilted back from the pressure, but the worry clouding his eyes did not fade so easily.
“Lant Bairon Elliant.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to become the head of the family.”
Lant looked at me in surprise. I smiled at the child.
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? I want you to be happy.”
The authority to decide on an heir lay with the marquis, but if Lant truly didn’t want it, I had no intention of making him head of the family no matter what it took. To me, the Elliant family meant nothing compared to Lant’s happiness.
“I’m not making you learn so much because I want you to become a marquis.”
I had made sure Lant could study broadly—not just swordsmanship, but also academics and the arts. I spared no expense in hiring the finest teachers, those called the very best. And the child kept up far better than I had ever expected.
“It’s only so that when you find something you want to do later, you’ll have more options to choose from. So just do what you want. Whatever you choose, you’ll have my support.”
Lant threw his arms around me. I embraced him back.
“No matter what anyone says, you are my little brother. You know that, right?”
“Yes.”
He mumbled the answer into my clothes, rubbing his face against them. I patted his back.
“That’s all you need to remember. You are the one and only younger brother of me, Bionne Rossa Elliant.”
Even if Lant got lost along the way and wandered, it didn’t matter. I already had more than enough wealth to support one Lant. If my precious puppy wanted something, I was ready to give it to him.
I was reading comfortably in the study when the butler’s report made me frown.
“Who has come?”
“His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“For what reason?”
“I do not know either, my lady. What shall we do?”
With a sigh, I closed the book I’d been reading. The sun was high at noon. The marquis would already be at the palace by now. With the marquis absent, I was the only one left in the house to receive the Crown Prince.
“Show him to the drawing room.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I rose, slipped the book back into the shelf, and considered. This morning I had even sent a box through a servant—what reason could he possibly have to come in person?
Regardless, a guest had arrived, and as hostess I had to receive him. I glanced down at my dress. It was a simple gown for wearing around the house, not nearly fitting to host royalty. But changing would be troublesome.
The thought didn’t last long. I had no desire to go through the fuss of changing just to meet one crown prince. He wouldn’t care about my dress anyway. And if he did, so be it. I simply had my maid tidy my loose hair, then went to the drawing room.
Inside, the Crown Prince lounged casually on a sofa. When he saw me enter, he stood with a bright smile.
“You are as beautiful as ever, Bii.”
“I greet Your Highness.”
I lifted my skirts slightly and bent my knees in a curtsy. He looked displeased at the formality.
“There’s no need for stiff greetings between us.”
“What brings Your Highness here?”
I ignored his frivolous words and asked directly. He chuckled, shaking his head.
“To demand my business the moment we meet—isn’t that a bit too cold?”
Unlike yesterday’s fiery temper, he was all sly charm today.
I had told him to try and seduce me, but I hadn’t thought he would act so quickly. And certainly not that we would be face-to-face again the very next day. His visit left me unsettled.
I glared silently. He shrugged, as if helpless, and spoke.
“Perhaps the saying is true—that the one who loves more is the one who loses. Would you accept ‘because I wanted to see you’ as an answer?”
“Have you gone mad?”
The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them.
Too late, I realized what I had said. I glanced at the butler; he was setting down the teacups with a perfectly blank face, as if he had heard nothing.
I gestured for him to leave. After a bow, he withdrew with the waiting maids, leaving only the Crown Prince and me alone in the drawing room.
“Is it madness to come see my fiancée?”
Once we were alone, he dropped his polite speech again, fixing his gaze on me as he sat down.
“Stop playing around and state your business.”
“You don’t believe me.”
He chuckled softly, lifting the steaming cup of tea. After inhaling the aroma, he sipped. I could hear the sound of it sliding down his throat.
“Won’t you sit instead of standing there?”
He gestured toward the sofa across from him. I sat down, facing him. Again, that sly smile curved his lips.
“It’s true. I came because I wanted to see your face. The moment I woke up, it was all I could think of. I suppose I’ve fallen hard for you. Avoiding the questions about this scar was just a bonus.”
He tapped his left cheek. The thin line across his pale skin stood out clearly.
The scar from when I slapped him yesterday. Unlike a bruise on the shin or foot, a mark on the cheek was far harder to conceal.
Even though I was his fiancée, if the Crown Prince pressed the issue, I could be charged with assaulting royalty. In history, there were cases where even an empress who scarred the emperor’s face was deposed.
He was already designated as the next emperor. A scar on his face, no matter how much he forgave, could not be easily swept aside.
Yesterday’s slap had been accidental, provoked by his actions. But the kick to his shin and foot—I had aimed deliberately, hoping it might give him reason to break off the engagement. It hadn’t worked out that way.
It seemed he intended to brush off the cheek scar as well, just like the others. Which meant he had no desire to annul the betrothal. Was it, as he said, because he loved me? Or simply because he needed me?
“Your skin must be more delicate than I thought.”
“Or perhaps your strength is greater than I expected.”
He smirked. He was smiling far too much today, and I found it irritating.
“I am a little strong.”
My shamelessly bold reply made his eyes widen before he burst into laughter.
“Ha! Then I’ll just have to be more careful next time.”
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
“You often catch me off guard in ways I don’t expect. I can never let my guard down. Do you do it on purpose?”
“Why would I?”
“Well, I’m the one who has to seduce you, not the other way around.”
He leaned on his hand, looking lazily at me.
“And yet, I find myself falling deeper and deeper for you.”
His golden eyes softened, curving in an alluring smile. I leaned back against the sofa, forcing my tense body to relax.
“Are you trying to seduce me now?”
“Would you fall for it?”
“Perhaps you should practice more first.”
“So even this won’t sway you.”
“I’m fairly resistant to pretty words and charms.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
He clicked his tongue, though his face seemed to enjoy this exchange rather than be disappointed.
“Don’t tell me you came just to spout nonsense like this?”
“Of course not. I came, as you said, to make you fall for me. Whether through coaxing or persistence, I need to see your face before I can do anything.”
He arched an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. In just two days, he had shown me so many sides of himself. Most likely, all of them were his true self.
Perhaps back then, I had only seen what I wanted to see of him. Or perhaps he had hidden his true face from me. But what did the truth matter now? He was no longer who he had been, just as I was no longer who I had been.
“You must have plenty of free time.”
“For the chance to see your face, I’ll make time.”
He gave me a small smile. I lifted my teacup, sipping the cooled tea. The faint fragrance filled my mouth. After swallowing, I set the cup back down.
“I am not so idle as to sit around playing with Your Highness.”
Still smiling faintly, he leaned back slowly on the sofa. But though his lips curved, there was not the slightest hint of laughter in his eyes.
“Why do you dislike me so much? Have I wronged you somehow?”
His calm expression belied a tone that sounded genuinely aggrieved. I avoided his gaze, drinking more tea instead. He watched me silently, the air between us heavy.
“I do not dislike Your Highness.”
“Then what?”
“You’re… bothersome.”
“…What?”
He furrowed his brows, clearly not understanding. I finished the last of my tea. He waited patiently for me to continue.
I didn’t hate him. Even though back then he had not loved me, I bore him no resentment.
Back then, I hadn’t thought to do anything for the man I loved—never wondered what he thought, what he needed. I only begged for his love, like a spoiled child, while giving him nothing. What man could love such a woman?
Even so, he had at least shown me courtesy. As empress, he had treated me with respect. Even while his beloved wept in misery, he had never interfered in the inner court. His only fault was that he did not love me.
I could not resent him for that. But he still weighed on me. My heart still beat for him. Whether it was my feelings from then, or feelings from now—I no longer knew.
