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“No, I mean… why would anyone like a man who’s so blunt, self-centered, and not even that interesting?”
“Uh, well… you see…”
Angelica didn’t know how to respond to Alexandra’s cold and sharp critique. Tilting her head slightly in thought, it was easy to see why she hesitated.
The Reyel that Alexandra was talking about must be a little different from the Reyel Angelica knew. Alexandra’s assessment might only be half-right for Angelica, based on what she and I had seen of Reyel so far.
“Of course, Brother Reyel is handsome, the emperor, and wealthy. I won’t deny that there’s no man like him in this empire. But I don’t think Lady Verner would be concerned with those things. She’s not like other young ladies who cling to those qualities, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then… what is it about him that you like?”
“Um… he’s fun.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s an interesting person.”
“…You mean… Brother Reyel? Are you serious?”
Alexandra asked with a flustered look, as if she couldn’t believe it. She tapped her ears, wondering if she had misheard, which made Lucius and me burst into laughter.
Seeing that, Angelica awkwardly smiled and said,
“It’s true. At least from what I’ve experienced, he’s fun and kind.”
“Kind…? In what way?”
“Well…”
Hesitating, Angelica slowly began to explain under Alexandra’s expectant gaze.
“At first, he seemed scary… no, I thought he was scary. But after meeting him, I realized he wasn’t. He talks more than I expected and even laughs.”
“Oh, come to think of it, I did meet him at my tea party, didn’t I?”
“Yes. After we first met, I somehow ended up involved with him.”
“You mean the engagement rumors?”
“Yes. I thought he would be angry. Even though it wasn’t intentional, it was an unpleasant matter, so I expected him to be very upset—but he wasn’t.”
Of course. Reyel would never be angry at her. He might have been upset with the baroness and the Hvizet baroness who maliciously spread the rumor, but never with Angelica. He even took the engagement rumors as an opportunity to discreetly help her and her family.
Angelica, not knowing this, had every reason to think he might have been angry.
“My father later told me that he helped to resolve the trial quickly.”
“Brother Reyel?”
“Yes. I don’t know the details, but he helped a great deal.”
“I see… His Majesty did a great thing.”
I already knew exactly what Reyel had done, but I quietly added to Alexandra’s words, pretending not to. Catching Lucius’ eye, I winked at him, and he gave a small, knowing smile while sipping his tea.
“Yes. I was very grateful. I never expected him to help our family. So later, when I found out the truth and met him again, I thanked him. But he said something completely unexpected…”
“What did he say?”
“That it was as easy as exercising your fingers, so I didn’t need to thank him. He said he just… patted the judge on the back of the head.”
“…What does that even mean? Brother Reyel, really…”
Alexandra let out a sigh of disbelief and then a short laugh. I couldn’t help but laugh along. It must have been easy for Reyel to gather the evidence, but… patting the back of the judge’s head? That sounded half like intimidation. I inwardly admired his boldness. He didn’t even think about hiding that he had intervened.
Angelica, seeing our reactions, smiled lightly and continued.
“He said it so casually, but I couldn’t help but find it funny. How he framed what he did and spoke around it… it was amusing. I thought he’d be more straightforward about it.”
“I think he was pretty straightforward already…”
“I mean, not just ‘I did it,’ but more like ‘Actually, I was the one who did it.’ When I first thanked him, he pretended not to know. After meeting a few times, he told me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I think he was a bit shy, but he also wanted to admit it himself. Otherwise, he would have either told me right away or kept it secret completely.”
Indeed. This Reyel was different from the original version—more assertive and deliberate. He seemed to act with the knowledge of how Angelica would react.
Whether letting the baron know he had helped or pretending not to know before revealing it to Angelica, he appeared to want to see her reaction. In the original story, Reyel was typically blunt and cold, gradually falling in love, but now he seemed like a strategic, calculating lead.
‘Well, I thought something was different about him from the start.’
It was clear now that Reyel in this world was different from the original.
I was also surprised at how much Angelica seemed to understand Reyel. They had met often enough for her to form her own judgments.
“In any case, I was truly grateful for everything he did for me and my family. Even afterward, meeting him occasionally at the palace, I saw sides of him that I hadn’t expected.”
“What kind of sides?”
“He’s surprisingly affectionate. He really cares for animals.”
“Oh, Rose, right? Brother Reyel does care about Rose.”
“Yes. Truly.”
Angelica smiled, and Alexandra didn’t notice any incongruity in her words, so the conversation moved on lightly.
“Caring for animals… I could tell she wasn’t just talking about Rose.”
‘So she knows about the secret garden. She must have seen those animals too.’
A secret and a weakness Reyel was hiding—this would be why they make a contract in the original story. Judging by Angelica’s attitude, she probably didn’t see it by accident this time; Reyel likely showed it to her intentionally.
“Yes. I understand now what you mean by kind. Even someone like him treats me well. It’s just… I’ve never seen him be that kind to any other young lady besides Rose, so it’s hard to accept. How does he treat Lady Verner?”
“Hmm… he treats me like a typical lover. He holds my hand when I might fall and always considers my well-being first.”
“Brother Reyel… like a normal lover?”
Alexandra, again in disbelief, blinked and asked Angelica suddenly,
“And… physical affection? Expressions of love? Did you hold hands, hug, kiss?”
“Uh? Well…”
Angelica’s face flushed as she was caught off guard. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded slowly, her head bowed, avoiding our gazes. I couldn’t help but smile at her shyness.
“Huh… alright. I get it now. I understand perfectly.”
Alexandra exhaled deeply, as if summarizing everything she had just learned. Now she could fully grasp their relationship.
Although I hadn’t seen their first kiss, it was enough to understand how far their relationship had progressed. I could be sure not to miss any more important moments in the future.
Alexandra, sipping her now-cold tea, continued,
“I still find Brother Reyel’s actions hard to believe, but I have a rough idea now. Thank you for telling me, Lady Verner. And though it’s late… congratulations.”
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Going forward may be tricky, but I think you’ll be fine. You suit each other, and Brother Reyel must have chosen you for a reason. All I can really say is to stay strong. I’ll support you.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
Angelica smiled faintly, nodding in response to the encouragement.
“Oh, could you come by soon for measurements? Now that we know who will wear it, we can start the work quickly.”
Alexandra said cheerfully, picking up a sketchbook from the table. Angelica glanced at her quietly as she lightly sketched a design.
This time, Alexandra’s lips were slightly downturned, unlike before.
By the time the sun was setting, their long conversation ended, and they left Alexandra’s palace. On the way back to the Verner estate, Angelica and I rode together in a carriage.
Looking at the palace disappearing behind her through the window, I asked,
“Angelica, you don’t look well. Are you alright?”
“…Yes. I’m fine. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“No, it’s fine if you say so… but…”
Even forcing a smile, her stiff expression made it clear she wasn’t alright. I remembered her face from earlier—her lips downturned, her expression tense, and her eyes darkened. Understanding why, I sighed inwardly and said,
“You’re not really fine, are you?”
“Huh?”
“Actually… you’re scared, right?”
“….”
Her expression froze as if I had hit the mark.
