**Episode 19 **
—
“That’s one reason, yes. But horses are extremely sensitive to the bond with their rider. If the person on their back suddenly changes, it can throw them into confusion. Especially a horse like *Sophia*—His Highness put immense effort into training her. She’s so well-trained that she returned to the palace even after he lost consciousness. Allowing someone else to ride a horse like that? Unless you’re someone special to His Highness, it simply doesn’t make sense.”
“Ah… So that’s why people kept staring at me when I rode Sophia. I thought it was because my posture looked strange.”
“His Highness didn’t explain it to you in advance?”
“Not at all. If he had told me beforehand, I wouldn’t have ridden her.”
I glanced up at the white mare standing beside me, sensing her gaze as if she were silently scolding me: *‘You really didn’t know?’*
So that’s why Joseph had looked so surprised when I asked again if it was really okay to bring Sophia out. He should have told me.
“Working in His Highness’s office must be difficult, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah. Making a living isn’t easy for anyone.”
“Those who know the truth understand it well—serving His Highness is no easy task. He’s exacting, blunt with his words, and a perfectionist who won’t let a single mistake slide. Even the imperial knights find him more intimidating than the Emperor himself. They say being around him feels suffocating.”
“Oh…”
“During the recent barbarian subjugation campaign, most of the soldiers couldn’t sleep—not because of the battle, but because they were too nervous about His Highness watching them. Do you feel the same way, Secretary Shanael?”
“…I’m not sure.”
I hadn’t realized the Crown Prince’s reputation was *that* harsh. Yes, he could be eccentric and occasionally stubborn about trivial things, but there were good sides to Jereon too.
When I had been stuck, unable to write a single word while worrying over the next episode, he didn’t scold me. Instead, he sat beside me and mulled it over with me. Granted, he was never any help, but still.
*He cared about my health, too.*
When I was sick, he personally ordered the staff to source medicinal herbs and changed the menu in my residence to only include easily digestible dishes.
When I had a cold, he often came to check on me after finishing his schedule, making time to visit the detached palace.
Maybe he was only so considerate because I was writing the novel—but for someone like me, who had always suffered alone through sickness, that attention had meant a lot.
And really, when I thought about it, the Crown Prince and I were separated by a social chasm so vast that we shouldn’t have even been speaking to each other.
Yet he listened to me and, when expressing his opinions, he didn’t pull rank—he made an effort to persuade me as a collaborator rather than as a ruler. He could have simply commanded me. But he didn’t.
> “Don’t wipe it off. I won’t, either.”
When we first started exchanging cheek kisses as a greeting, he didn’t issue a forceful order telling me not to wipe it off. Instead, he framed it as a condition—if I didn’t, then he wouldn’t either.
Nobles would never understand this: how just being able to talk at eye level can feel like a privilege to people like us.
From the perspective of a commoner like me, Crown Prince Jereon was a good person. At the very least, he never looked down on me because of my status.
That’s why I felt compelled to respond to Magnum’s comment.
“Sir Magnum, from my experience, His Highness is a decent person. He has manners, thinks deeply, and always adjusts his tone when speaking with a commoner like me—never using his authority to be forceful. I heard he led the barbarian campaign personally from the front lines. For someone who’s expected to inherit the empire, to lead like that isn’t easy. I’ve heard of many nobles who hide behind others on the battlefield, but not him. That sense of responsibility and courage… I think it’s admirable. So no matter what others say, I consider it an honor to serve someone like him.”
Magnum had initially seemed ready to lend a sympathetic ear, but when I responded so earnestly, he smiled awkwardly, understanding that perspectives could differ.
“If that’s how you feel, then that’s what matters. Oh, by the way, Joseph said you were looking for me?”
“Ah! Right…”
I walked over to the fence where he was leaning and stood beside him, resting my arms as he did. Then, with some difficulty, I opened my mouth.
“Please don’t misunderstand me—I’m not asking this with any strange intention.”
He relaxed, resting both arms on the fence and nodding casually.
“Sure, ask away. I’ll answer if I can.”
The warm evening glow settled gently on his silver hair, casting a peaceful light over the scene. It gave me just enough courage to speak up.
“Sir Magnum! I’ve heard that… you’re quite the expert in romance.”
“…An expert?”
“Yes. Um… I was wondering if you could maybe share some of your experiences. Not just out of curiosity—it’s for reference. For my romance novel. I’ve only ever had one boyfriend, so… if it’s not too rude, I was hoping you could share some advice. Like how to win someone’s heart, or… um… things like that.”
Now that I’d said it aloud, I realized how reckless it sounded. I had asked him to share what could be deeply personal memories. Regret started to set in—until I heard him chuckle softly.
“Haha, that’s a fun question.”
“Ahaha… yes. But if it makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to decline. I spoke too carelessly.”
Embarrassed, I lowered my head, and a curtain of chestnut hair fell to block my view. Just as I sighed in relief behind that veil, a gloved hand suddenly reached out and tucked the loose strands behind my ear.
Then, close to my ear, Magnum whispered:
“Am I really known as a romance expert?”
“Huh?”
Startled, I turned toward the voice—only to find his face unexpectedly close. He smiled, eyes half-mooned, locking gazes with mine.
“I’m sorry! If that was just a silly rumor, I apologize.”
“No need to apologize. It’s not a rumor.”
“Huh? Then… how many relationships have you had?”
“I’ve never counted the casual ones, but serious ones… probably over twenty. So, Secretary Shanael, would you say that qualifies as an expert?”
Oh… why is there never a middle ground?
A Crown Prince who’s never dated, and a knight who dates like he breathes. Neither of them was someone I could possibly handle.
“Haha… Yes. I’d say you’re not just an expert—you’re practically a living romance bible.”
In a way, I was relieved. If I needed to write a smooth, charismatic version of the Crown Prince, then advice from someone like this was essential.
*Even if it’s overwhelming, at least he won’t suggest floating prickly pears as a romantic gesture.*
Seeming pleased by my request, Magnum readily agreed.
“This might take a while. How about we talk over dinner? I’m off-duty tonight, so I’ve got time.”
“That sounds great.”
“You know the ‘Lion of the Sun’ statue? Let’s meet in front of it.”
“That’s in the opposite direction of the main dining hall, isn’t it?”
“There’s a place to eat near there.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there.”
As I stepped away from the fence and reached for Sophia’s reins, Magnum beat me to it, grabbing them first.
“I’ll take her to the stables.”
“Thank you.”
“See you soon.”
“Yes.”
—
The *Lion of the Sun* statue was sculpted with a mane that blazed like sunlight. I’d heard it was a gift from the Kingdom of Astelgia, symbolizing the Empire’s prosperity. But as I looked closer, something felt off about the lion’s open mouth.
“Huh? All its fangs are broken.”
“They were taken—on purpose.”
“Ah! You startled me!”
“Sorry if I scared you.”
I hadn’t even noticed him arrive—he gave off no presence at all. Unlike earlier, Magnum wasn’t in riding gear but a navy-blue uniform, complete with epaulets and insignia on his shoulder.
“Oh… I see. But why would someone take the fangs on purpose?”
“When the statue was erected, there was a rumor. Supposedly, if you confessed your feelings while holding one of those fangs, your love would be fulfilled. As you can see, both are long gone.”
“Is that so…”
“Anyway, I didn’t mean to scare you. You just seemed so absorbed in it that I wasn’t sure when to speak.”
“Next time, please make some noise when you arrive.”
“Got it. I’ll clap on my way next time. Shall we go?”
The place he took me to wasn’t far—it looked like a greenhouse at first glance, but turned out to be an outdoor dining venue surrounded by glass walls.
*The White Garden?*
Unlike the palace’s main dining room, this place had servants at the entrance checking every guest’s family name and status.
“I don’t think I can get in. I’m just a commoner.”
I hesitated at the entrance, worried, but Magnum reassured me.
“Don’t worry. Guests of nobles don’t need to be checked.”
I watched as a couple entered—the woman in a gown walked in smoothly, simply by the man’s escort. Just as he said.
As we approached, the attendant at the entrance didn’t ask for my background. Instead, he bowed low—directly to Magnum.
