Chapter 5
A Hard March
“Are you awake, my lady?”
“Ah! You startled me. Where’s His Highness?”
“I apologize, I didn’t mean to frighten you. His Highness is waiting in the garden.”
“The garden?”
“Yes. He’ll personally teach you the waltz there. As for other lessons, I’ll be your tutor.”
H, the attendant, explained calmly.
Lucy scratched her head, feeling oddly uncomfortable with his polite apology.
“You’ll be the one teaching me?”
“Yes. But first, let’s go. His Highness has been waiting for you to wake up.”
Following H’s lead, Lucy went to the garden and found Prince Pierre.
Seeing him made her nervous, worried about what might have happened yesterday, but she quickly smiled.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Of course. Did you, Lucy?”
“Uh… y-yes.”
Their greeting was awkward. After bowing, H stepped back.
“From now on, I’ll be the one teaching you how to dance,” Pierre said.
“But… I’m terrible at it. Even when I was married to Theodore, I almost never went to formal banquets.”
“That’s fine. You may not be used to it, but I am. I’ll teach you step by step.”
Pierre gently held out his hand.
Heart pounding, Lucy carefully placed her hand in his. He looked at her tense face and chuckled softly.
“W-what? Why are you laughing?”
“Relax. Don’t be so tense. Trust me. I won’t bite.”
At his words, Lucy tried to let go of her stiffness and allowed herself to follow his lead.
Pierre slowly moved his steps in rhythm.
“See? Just move carefully in time with the music. As long as you don’t make a big mistake, small errors will be hidden by your dress.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So don’t overthink it. Like this—one, two. One, two.”
Though she stumbled at first, Pierre held her hand firmly and guided her smoothly.
Their bodies grew closer, their eyes met often, and Lucy’s cheeks turned red.
‘Ugh, why is my face heating up like this?!’
Flustered, she stepped wrong and accidentally stepped on his foot. She gasped and pulled back.
“Are you okay?!”
“It’s nothing. You’re so light I barely felt it.”
“Don’t say that… It must hurt, even if I just stepped on your shoe. What if it bruises—”
“Lucy.”
“…Yes?”
“Whatever you do, it’s fine. Even if it hurts, if it’s you, I don’t mind.”
Lucy stared at him in surprise.
‘Why… is he treating me like this?’
Pierre wasn’t just kind—he acted as if he had known her for a long time, as if he had always cherished her.
But she couldn’t ask him why. Not yet.
“Now, take my hand again. Let’s try it once more.”
Hiding her complicated feelings, Lucy placed her hand in his and let him lead again.
Later that morning, after hours of dance lessons, Pierre left for an outing. H then took Lucy to the library.
The moment she saw the mountain of thick books waiting for her, her mouth dropped open.
“What… is this?”
“These are the materials you need to memorize,” H replied.
The stacks of books were taller than her head.
“All of this?!”
“Yes. Even if it’s just one book a day, you must learn them thoroughly. A crown princess must know the empire’s etiquette and history.”
It was an overwhelming schedule.
“Think of it as a necessary step. After all, didn’t you agree to His Highness’s proposal to take revenge on Theodore Garnet?”
“Well, yes, but still…”
“I heard a rumor that Garnet is about to marry the youngest daughter of House Leatis.”
“What?!”
Lucy’s stomach twisted in anger. Theodore and Miel—the ones who ruined her life—getting married?!
“It’s a remarriage, yes. But with the power and wealth of both families, it’s no surprise. Nobles rarely stay unmarried for life.”
“…I knew they wouldn’t stay apart forever, but… after only a year since the divorce…”
“So if you want to stand tall in front of them, you must work harder, my lady. You need to become the perfect crown princess, someone no one can look down on.”
Fueled by that, Lucy grabbed a book without hesitation.
H smiled faintly, seeing his words had fired up her resolve.
“Will His Highness return tonight?” she asked.
“Perhaps not. Since I stayed here to assist you, I don’t know his detailed schedule.”
“Then we’ll need more people to help me. You need to return to His Highness soon.”
“His Highness will decide that. For now, I’ll leave you to study.”
Once H left, Lucy sprawled on the floor beside the books.
“Well… this is better than scrubbing rags and dusting furniture.”
With determination, she opened the first page.
Later that day, H knocked.
“My lady, it’s H. May I come in?”
Silence.
“…Then I’ll enter.”
Inside, he found Lucy asleep among the scattered books.
Her face looked so peaceful and pretty—long lashes, rosy cheeks, soft lips—that H couldn’t help but stare.
‘No wonder His Highness…’
Though his prince wasn’t one to judge people by appearance, Lucy’s beauty was undeniable.
Just then, her eyelids fluttered. H quickly looked away.
“You’re awake, my lady.”
“Ah… I must’ve dozed off. Sorry.”
“No need. Since it’s your first day, this is enough.”
“Can you tidy the books on the floor? I’ve finished those.”
“…What?”
H was stunned. She’d really read all of them? In just one day?
“These aren’t simple books. They’re essential knowledge for governing. You should—”
“Are you saying you don’t believe me?” Lucy frowned.
“….”
Then, to prove it, she recited passages word for word:
“The first rule of imperial etiquette: walk with dignity, striking your heel firmly, neither too lightly nor carelessly.”
H’s eyes widened.
“And this was written by the first empress, Lady Kaede, correct? Did I get it wrong?”
“No, but…”
She went on, quoting another emperor’s teachings with perfect accuracy.
By now, H was speechless.
“My lady, that’s enough—”
“Believe me or not, I am going to be the crown princess. If you can’t even trust me on something so small, how can you truly serve His Highness?”
Her sharp words made him bow immediately.
“My apologies, my lady. I wasn’t doubting you, I just couldn’t imagine anyone reading all that in a single day. Please forgive me.”
Lucy suddenly laughed.
“Pfft! Don’t look so serious. I was mad, yes—you treated me like a liar. But since you apologized, it’s fine.”
As she walked out smiling, she glanced back at him.
“Don’t doubt me. I won’t lie.”
H leaned against the wall, his knees weak.
Lucy had not only amazed him by reading so much, but her presence itself was overwhelming.
‘It must be because I’ve been away from His Highness for too long. I need to return to his side soon.’
With a deep breath, he masked his feelings with his usual blank face and followed her out.
Lucy, meanwhile, sat at the dining table, staring out the window, wondering when Pierre would return.
