Chapter 07
When Sienna opened her eyes again, the sky was already completely red.
Is Arthur still not here?
Something must have gone wrong.
And today, the dandelion still did not appear.
Is this how it ends? I don’t even know his name.
Just as disappointment made her bow her head deeply,
“Haa…”
At the same time, a deep sigh escaped.
Was that… me?
Sienna shook her head immediately.
No!
She quickly turned around.
Behind a huge tree, their eyes met—his startled eyes and hers.
“…I found you.”
The dandelion she had been searching for was right behind her.
Under the burning evening sky, the scene looked like a watercolor painting.
It was blurry from too much sunlight, but that only made it feel more unreal.
Huh?
The skin under his eyes was red.
His eyes were moist, and tears clung to his eyelashes, sparkling.
“Did you cry?”
Sienna asked bluntly again.
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and the tears fell.
Ah!
They were clearly tears, but Sienna felt as if her own heart was falling.
Everything replayed slowly, like a dream.
…Could this be another dream?
But he turned away, like running from reality, pulling her back to the present.
Even from behind, she could feel his embarrassment.
His broad back flustered, unsure of what to do.
Feeling like he might disappear at any moment, Sienna grabbed his sleeve without realizing it.
“Don’t go!”
“……”
She had stopped him, but what to say next?
“I- I mean… if you leave so suddenly, I, I… feel embarrassed!”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
It worked.
It worked? Really?
She hadn’t expected him to respond so sincerely.
He looked genuinely apologetic.
She felt a little guilty, but she couldn’t back down.
We just met.
She took a deep breath and asked again.
“Last time… we made eye contact, right?”
In Stern, it was polite to at least exchange a light greeting when eyes met.
“Then why do you keep running away? Why do you avoid me?”
“That is….”
He couldn’t continue speaking and avoided her gaze.
Thanks to that, she could look at him straight on.
His red-rimmed eyes were incredibly adorable.
I feel like a little pervert.
Even the sound of swallowing felt loud to her.
But this dream was painfully short.
In the distance, she saw Arthur.
His refreshing face was quickly approaching.
“Wait a moment.”
Sienna pulled him behind the tree, hiding her body.
Here, Arthur wouldn’t be able to see them.
“What are you…?”
“Yes?”
“Too… close…”
“Ah!”
Before she knew it, they were in a trapped position.
Realizing it, Sienna panicked and fell back.
As he said, they were far too close.
The sunset stayed on both their faces.
For a moment, she wanted to hold onto this impossible time.
But she let go of his sleeve with regret.
“If you’re not avoiding me… please come here again tomorrow.”
She insisted, in her own way.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Promise.”
After making the selfish promise, she ran away from the spot.
“In the morning, she had her dress measured again for the ball. After lunch, she went to the library.”
“So she went to the library again? Hmm… there must be something there.”
Zeon had followed Sienna diligently, keeping watch, but the princess moved like a squirrel in a wheel, coming and going to the library at roughly the same times every day.
There was nothing suspicious to see.
So the rumors were a bit off.
“So, what books did Sienna read?”
“There was always a guard nearby, so I couldn’t get close. I didn’t see the titles, but she stayed mostly in the history section.”
“History? Why suddenly history?”
Why are you asking me that?
Zeon stayed silent, pretending not to hear.
Pierre always asked questions and answered them alone anyway.
But if thinking took too long, it was painful—
having to stand still, unable to breathe freely, especially in front of the crown prince!
It was torture.
After a long while, Pierre finally gave his order.
“Keep watching her. If she does anything reckless, report it immediately.”
“What reckless…?”
“Zeon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’ll make the judgment. You report everything. Understood?”
“…Yes, I will remember.”
“…Peach fairy.”
Back in the princess’s room, Sienna kept muttering about peaches.
“Do you want peaches?”
Even when Anna asked, Sienna only shook her head with a smile.
Anna poked Arthur’s side again, but sadly, he didn’t know anything.
He left looking wronged after being scolded for a while.
Alone in her room, Sienna kicked and flopped onto her pillow.
“Time, you really have no sense.”
Why aren’t you here yet? When will morning come?
It was an unusually long night.
Even closing her eyes, she kept seeing him under the sunset.
Seeing him trying to hold back tears, she unconsciously called him “peach fairy.”
Dandelion and peach fairy—she didn’t know his name, but nicknames kept piling up.
“Ah!”
She jumped from the bed.
“I wanted to ask your name.”
How distracted had she been?
Will he come tomorrow?
He really had no reason to. She hadn’t even notified him properly.
“Still… I hope he comes.”
She buried her face in the pillow again.
But her heart was racing—sleep would not come easily.
The saying “half the battle is just beginning” suddenly made sense.
On a slightly chilly morning, Sienna finished a warm bowl of potato soup and went straight to the library.
She got ahead of Arthur.
“Arthur. Don’t call me ‘Princess’ outside.”
“Huh? Then what should I call you?”
“Call me ‘Miss.’”
“Huh? Even so…”
“Myeong-i.”
“No, Miss!”
“Good job, Arthur.”
She gave him a thumbs-up.
Truly, rank didn’t stop her.
She solved the problem and walked lightly to the library, and… of course, he appeared.
“Good morning!”
Even as Sienna greeted him, he only bowed lightly and went past her to the shelves.
He picked up a few books and started reading.
Hestia Empire History, Volume 1?
It was the first of five volumes about Hestia’s history.
All the books nearby were also about Hestia.
Did he just come to read? But why these books… He’s probably not planning to flee abroad like me. Ah! Maybe reading is his hobby? How perfect can someone be?
His excellence wasn’t just in his looks.
Sienna stared at him reading for a while, but gradually, her smile faded.
He really just read books.
