CHAPTER 30
“Living long enough, I guess I get to hear even this from the Crown Prince.”
Claire swallowed dryly, keeping her composure.
It was unsettling that he had changed how he addressed her without any prior agreement, but—
Since the Crown Prince was playing along so seriously, she had to keep up with the act as well.
- Claire lightly tilted her head, smiled sweetly, and took Theodore’s arm.
“Whatever Your Highness wishes to call me is fine. I like your voice, after all.” - “This feels like fate,” Theodore replied, his once-deep voice turning honeyed.
- His eyes curled up with delight.
“I like your voice too. I could listen to you talk all day.”
The crowd was stunned.
The notoriously stoic Crown Prince—who was known for dry responses even to compliments—was actually smiling like he was melting.
‘Your Highness, you’re so handsome!’
‘…Right.’
‘You look amazing as always!’
‘I see.’
‘You even have intelligence to match—how impressive!’
‘So it seems.’
This was the same man who had always responded with that cold three-piece combo!
Now, wrapping an arm around Claire’s shoulders and looking down at the crowd arrogantly, Theodore declared:
- “I hope everyone treats Lady Ravello with extra care.
Otherwise… I might get quite—very—uncomfortable.”
In other words: “If you mess with my girl, you’re dead.”
- “I always repay what I receive—especially when it concerns someone of mine.”
Translation: “If she sheds a tear, you’ll all be bleeding.”
Everyone was struck speechless—except Theodore, who looked utterly pleased.
Crown Prince Theodore.
Among the ladies of the social circle, there wasn’t a single one who hadn’t at least once admired him.
It was widely agreed that everyone had fantasized about him at some point.
- Despite his immense popularity, Theodore had neither courted nor been engaged.
- Evelyn Muton, a duke’s daughter, had once obsessed over him, guarding him like a hawk.But that all changed when Theodore humiliated her at a royal party:
“Don’t misunderstand, Evelyn Muton. You and I aren’t even friends. Don’t cross the line.”
While Evelyn secluded herself in heartbreak, countless other ladies made their moves.
But Theodore, ever aloof, opened his heart to none.
- This sparked endless gossip:
- “I think His Highness is secretly in love with Lady Lennox!”
- “No, I heard from a friend’s cousin’s uncle—he fell for a foreign princess as a child and has stayed faithful since!”
- “You’re both wrong—His Highness actually likes… men!”
Since the eligible Crown Prince remained single, even brushing against a woman would ignite a firestorm of rumors.
Everyone assumed he’d remain an unattainable ideal… until—
“The Eccentric Mage’s Daughter Plucks a Flower on the Cliff!”
Claire Ravello, of all people, became his official lover—completely upending expectations.
- “Lady Ravello is my beloved. Treat her as you would treat me.”
- “The Crown Prince and I are meeting with sincere hearts—please support us warmly.”
After the Marquis Mitchell’s party, they proudly flaunted their relationship.
Tabloids overflowed daily with stories of their outings.
Naturally, attention shifted to Claire—this mysterious, half-noble woman whom no one had expected to stand beside the Crown Prince.
Opinions clashed:
- “Has His Highness gone mad? He needs a mental evaluation!”
- “Her father’s a famous eccentric mage—maybe he used a spell!”
- “Maybe the Ravello family and the Prince struck a secret deal!”
But some were convinced:
- “Look closely—Lady Ravello resembles the late Duchess Muton. She’s even more beautiful, if you ask me.”
Indeed, Claire visually complemented Theodore more than anyone before:
- She, radiant like the midday sun—elegant and warm.
- He, cold and lonely—like a wolf in a moonlit forest.
- And the way Theodore gazed at her—as if she were a fragile glass doll—left no doubt he was smitten.
Socialites fell head over heels for the romantic fantasy:
A kind-hearted princess melts the icy prince’s heart.
Claire’s every move was monitored. What she wore, what she ate—everything became a trend.
This became the perfect opportunity to promote Darling’s Atelier, which resulted in:
- A flood of preorders.
- Mari doubling her team of tailors.
- Nearby Minerva merchant guild seeing record sales.
As 4th Avenue’s commercial district shifted toward these stores, Claire solidified her place in high society.
- “Lady Ravello has a mysterious aura, don’t you think?”
- “Hmph. She’s just a pretty face. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Even with mixed reviews, she was no longer rejected anywhere.
As Claire became a fixture in society, Mari grew even busier.
She worked at the atelier, designed for Claire, and barely slept.
- “Mari, you must be exhausted.”
- “Not at all, my lady! I’m happier than ever!”
Despite the shadows under her eyes from 72 sleepless hours, Mari grinned manically.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Claire dressed up:
“To dress my muse however I want… This is the peak of joy.”
Her previous muse had placed too many restrictions.
Now, fulfilled and creatively free, Mari was thriving.
- “If I can dress you forever, I could die happy!”
- “Please don’t say creepy things. Just go get some rest.”
After sending Mari off, Claire prepared to go out.
- Today’s plan: meet Nina Merrison, Alex’s fiancée, before exposing his affair.
- Nina would attend Countess Gordon’s exhibition, so Claire and Theodore planned to go together.
- “My lady, His Highness has arrived,” said the now fully obedient Becca.
Claire picked up her purse and headed down.
Theodore stood there, slouched with one hand in his pocket.
When he sensed her approach, he lazily turned his head.
- Sunlight hit his dark hair, highlighting his striking, sharp features.
Claire was once again reminded—this man was no longer the boy she remembered.
Despite being younger in physical age, the image of the Theodore she knew as Priscilla was still vivid.
- “You’re here?”
- “Yes, let’s go.”
- “You didn’t wear a necklace today.”
Noticing her bare neckline, Theodore glanced at her collarbone.
- “I didn’t find anything that felt right. I don’t own many accessories,” she said casually.
He stared briefly at her pale, elegant neck before turning away.
At Countess Gordon’s prestigious salon exhibit:
- “Look, it’s His Highness and Lady Ravello!”
- “They’re together again, as expected.”
Their entrance drew all attention.
Countess Gordon greeted them warmly:
- “Oh my, you’re here! I’ve been waiting so eagerly for you two.”
- “Thank you for inviting us, Madam.”
- “Oh no, not at all! I really wanted to get closer to Lady Ravello.”
Her transparent eagerness to form a royal connection made Claire chuckle.
People this obvious are actually easier to deal with.
After the countess left, Claire scanned the room.
- Where is she…?
She couldn’t find Nina Merrison anywhere.
Claire chatted with the crowd—most conversations were predictable:
- “You two are a great match.”
- “Come to our next party.”
- “Let’s be friends!”
As Claire politely endured the small talk, she noticed a young noble awkwardly fighting with finger food.
- He struggled to tear off a chunk of bread using just one hand (his other held champagne).
Oh dear…
Feeling sorry, Claire reached out to help—only for a large hand to swoop in first.
- Rip!
The bread was torn in two and placed in front of the stunned young man. - “…?”
- “Darling,” Theodore whispered into Claire’s ear, leaning close.
- “This kind of thing—only lovers are allowed to do.”
- “I just wanted to help. It’s not like I was feeding him…”
- “Still,” he smiled faintly, eyes cool as ever,
“since we’re head over heels for each other, I hope you’ll stay mindful.” - “Whether it’s a stranger struggling or eating comfortably—it’s not our concern when you have your lover right beside you.”
