**Episode 18**
Jereon released my hand and looked down at me, gaze steady and unreadable.
“If you saw me, you should’ve greeted me. Why were you trying to leave without saying anything?”
“I thought you looked tired, so I planned to greet you later.”
Despite what I said, Jereon didn’t exactly *look* tired. Dressed not in his usual imperial uniform but in full armor, his entire aura had shifted. The gentle impression he usually carried had been replaced by something sharper—his gaze cold, edged like a blade.
And then there was the bloodied scabbard at his waist.
He leaned toward me slightly, and the sheer weight of his presence made me instinctively take a step back.
“Do it now.”
“N-Now?”
He didn’t look pleased. Did he seriously expect me to greet him with a cheek kiss in this mood?
I hesitated, uncertain, and looked up at him. That’s when Jereon lowered his head, bringing his face closer to mine—close enough that the soft clinking of armor echoed between us.
Maybe he was impatient. I should just get it over with.
I leaned in, aiming for his cheek, but stopped short when I noticed a small speck of blood there. Instead of proceeding, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.
“Your Highness, you have blood on your face. May I wipe it for you?”
“Ah… leave it. I’ll do it.”
Thinking he meant to take the handkerchief himself, I held it out. But instead of accepting it, he stepped even closer and suddenly bent his head lower.
Caught off guard by how near his face was, I squeezed my eyes shut.
*Ah. So he meant for me to do the greeting.*
The scent of iron and blood lingered faintly in the air, mingled with the metallic tang of his armor and his unique scent—strangely similar to rain-soaked earth during the monsoon season.
One second. Two. Three.
By now, my lips should have brushed his cheek. But there was no contact.
Just as I was about to open my eyes, I suddenly felt warmth on my forehead.
*Huh?*
Startled, I opened my eyes—only to catch a glimpse of the prince’s lips as he pulled away.
*Wait… did he just kiss me? On the forehead?*
Before I could ask why he hadn’t gone for my cheek as usual, Jereon spoke first.
“You had something on your cheek, too. See you tomorrow.”
I stood there, stunned, watching his retreating figure. Absentmindedly, I rubbed at my cheek with the handkerchief. Maybe I had gotten some cookie crumbs on myself while stress-eating earlier.
Still, I didn’t feel all that flustered. A kiss was a kiss—whether on the cheek or the forehead. They were both part of the face, after all.
But more importantly, I had to figure out how to bring up the director’s request. Given the prince’s foul mood, today didn’t seem like the right time. Maybe Monday would be better.
—
**The Next Morning**
As usual, I reported to the office, but only Secretary Berin was there. Apparently, the prince wouldn’t be in due to a series of meetings. Hassel passed on the message as he methodically gathered up the scrolls containing policy decisions from the prince’s desk and prepared to leave.
Panicked by his hurried pace, I rose from my seat.
“Assistant Hassel! There’s something I wanted to discuss—”
“Right now?”
Still holding the doorknob, Hassel looked back at me. He seemed rushed this morning, his usually neat hair slightly disheveled, and his beard more unkempt than usual.
“Never mind. I’ll ask you later.”
“Very well.”
Before both doors had even fully opened, Hassel had already slipped through the gap and vanished. It must’ve been something urgent.
I had wanted to ask if it was appropriate to bring such a request to the crown prince in the first place. But since it was Saturday and we were off tomorrow, I’d have to wait until Monday.
“Secretary Shanael, I’ll stop by the museum before heading home.”
“The museum?”
“Yes. His Highness asked me to verify whether any of the spoils he brought back resembled existing artifacts. I’m to go over the list with the curator.”
“Shall I assist you?”
“No need. You have your own duties. You should focus on your manuscript.”
“Ah, right. My deadline’s Monday… then, I’ll see you then.”
“Yes. Take care.”
*Clack—*
Left alone in the office, I glanced around.
Was this still the crown prince’s workspace, or had it unofficially become mine?
Alone in the wide, echoing room, I felt like someone sitting at a lone desk in an empty plaza.
“Being alone… feels kind of nice.”
When the prince was here, the space always felt cramped. But in his absence, everything was spacious and peaceful. I even found myself talking to myself freely.
“Focus, now. Focus.”
For the next part of the story, I pondered deeply. The heroine, Rose, had finally realized how precious the prince was. Now it was time to deepen the romance.
—
*Rose ran into the arms of the prince, who had returned safely. The two embraced tightly, unwilling to part. In his arms, Rose looked up at him with tearful eyes.*
—*I was so worried… I thought I’d never see you again…*
—*I’m sorry. I’ll never hurt you again.*
—*Each day, my heart felt like it was turning to ash.*
—*I couldn’t sleep, thinking of you every time I closed my eyes. If I could just see you again, I’d even give up sleep…*
*Moved by his words, Rose shed pearl-like tears. The prince gently wiped them away before slowly bringing their lips together. After an affectionate kiss, their feelings were finally confirmed.*
—
*Disclaimer: All characters, names, and events in this work are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or organizations is purely coincidental.*
I added the disclaimer to avoid anyone—*especially* the crown prince—from mistakenly thinking the story was about them.
“Hmm. Feels like something’s missing, but a kiss makes for a decent ending.”
Since their relationship had to progress, it was time to write what came *after* the kiss. But I’d never actually been past that point in real life.
“So… do they go straight to the bedroom after a kiss? That feels too sudden. A little too much, too fast.”
If they jumped to the bedroom scene, the ending would come in under ten chapters. No way the crown prince would let that slide.
“Should I just marry them off and turn it into a parenting story? But how do you *write* a parenting story?”
I imagined the prince changing diapers—not a convincing image.
“No, no. Nobles always hire nannies. Him raising the baby alone wouldn’t be realistic.”
In the end, I figured it’d be better to extend the romance. But I still had no clue what came after a kiss.
“If only there were someone around with actual dating experience…”
That’s when a memory struck me—something Berin had said.
*“Ah! Sir Magnum! He’s dated a lot, hasn’t he?”*
Since he’d returned with the prince, maybe he’d be at the training grounds. Hopefully, I could run into him.
“Perfect. If I bump into him while riding, I’ll ask!”
As the cathedral bell tolled six in the distance, I grabbed my notebook and headed toward the stables.
—
Joseph and I rode along the perimeter fence. To a casual observer, it might’ve looked like the horse was doing all the work—but riding was surprisingly taxing. Holding your posture and keeping your legs firm required real effort.
While riding, I kept sneaking glances toward the training field. It was divided into indoor and outdoor sections, so I couldn’t tell where exactly Magnum might be.
“Miss Shanael, you should keep your eyes ahead. It’s dangerous to look elsewhere while riding.”
“I know, but I’m trying to find someone.”
“Sir Magnum, perhaps?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait here a moment. I’ll check the training ground for you.”
“Thank you.”
Only authorized personnel were allowed in, but Joseph managed the horses for the knights, so he had access.
He rode over to the entrance, said a few words to the guards, and disappeared inside. Soon after, he reemerged—with Sir Magnum in tow.
I’d expected them to return together, but Joseph simply handed off his horse and left. Magnum mounted in one smooth motion and trotted over to me.
My heart thumped nervously.
As he got closer, I noticed a scratch near the corner of his mouth—one that hadn’t been there before. Unbothered by the injury, Magnum smiled brightly as he reached me.
“How have you been, Miss Shanael?”
“Hello, Sir Magnum. You must be exhausted from the monster hunt.”
“Just doing my duty.”
He dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby fence.
“You’re still riding His Highness’s horse, I see.”
“Ah, yes. He said I should stick with Sophia since I don’t seem very gifted at riding…”
“Sounds like His Highness cares for you quite a bit.”
Maybe that’s how it looked to others, but reality was different. The truth—known to almost no one—was that what the prince truly treasured wasn’t *me*, but my manuscript.
Wanting to clear up any misunderstandings, I hastily shook my head.
“No, it’s not like that. There’s more to the story.”
“I see. I suppose only the people involved would know the truth behind it.”
His reply felt almost pointed, and I couldn’t help the pout in my voice.
“It’s really just a misunderstanding.”
“You know,” he said with a chuckle, “no one’s allowed to ride horses designated for royal service. Not even stablemasters.”
“Why not? Because they’re expensive?”
