Chapter 68………………..
“Ah, my concern.”
Aldensis muttered as if he had momentarily forgotten.
“Right. That’s what we were talking about.”
“Yes, Your Highness. We strayed a little off topic.”
I steered the conversation back on track.
“I thought your concern might be that you wanted to reconcile with Serene, but from the sound of it, that’s not the case. Since the selection process itself had a flaw.”
“Correct. Serene and I talked honestly and ended things cleanly.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that I want to carefully observe the potential candidates around me, one by one…”
Aldensis let out another quiet sigh.
“To be honest, I enjoyed the peace. Many sought the position of crown princess, but since everyone thought Serene was unbeatable, no one approached me.”
“But now that’s no longer the case, and that’s the problem?”
“Exactly, Lady.”
Aldensis nodded.
“Rumors of discord are already spreading, and soon there’ll be an official announcement that the engagement will not proceed. Things will get noisy again. Ambitious people will come swarming to me, and it’ll be chaos. That would seriously hinder me in fulfilling my duties as Crown Prince, would it not?”
“That does make sense.”
“That’s why I’d like your cooperation.”
Aldensis spoke firmly.
“You have no feelings for me, and I have none for you. Isn’t that such a clean relationship? So, for the time being, I’d like to appear with you at official events.”
“But in that case…”
“I know.”
He quickly cut me off.
“You followed me around for ten years and finally ended it cleanly. You wouldn’t want to go back to that past. That’s only natural. Which is why I’ve prepared a reason—one that leaves no room for gossip—that allows us to be partners legitimately.”
A faint unease crept over me.
“And what is that?”
“A lottery.”
Aldensis said it with absolute confidence.
“Let’s start with this upcoming ball. I’ll propose that everyone draw lots for their partners. Then I’ll manipulate the draw with my power so that you and I become partners.”
“But that’s rigging it! There’s nothing legitimate about that.”
“It’s for the greater good. For the Crown Prince’s duty, for the stability of the nation…”
No—this just sounds like he wants to be my partner. The more I listen, the more that’s all I hear.
As I sat there dumbfounded—
“I can’t listen to this any longer! Stop spouting such clueless nonsense!”
Bang! The parlor door slammed open as if it were about to break, and someone stormed in.
Who else could it be? The only person who could kick open the Crown Prince’s door and talk like that was his own younger brother.
As always, Zikren appeared in his carefree attire and shouted at his brother.
“Aristina is the host of the party! She’ll already be busy enough—if you trail her around, what will that look like?”
Oh. That was surprisingly reasonable. I blinked. Had Zikren always been this sensible?
“If you’re so annoyed by girls approaching you, then go roll around on the stables’ floor! No one will come near you then.”
…Yeah, I spoke too soon.
Before he could plant any more silly ideas in his brother’s head, I quickly spoke up.
“Of course, I understand Your Highness’s concern. The fierce competition for the crown princess position interfering with your duties would indeed be undesirable for the Empire. I’d like to prevent that too. But this ball is extremely important for me. It’s where I prove my qualifications as heir. Wouldn’t it be strange if I paraded around with a partner?”
Even after saying that, I didn’t feel entirely at ease. So I added, turning to Aldensis:
“And in any case, don’t listen to Prince Zikren about rolling in the stables. This ball cannot be ruined. It must be a success.”
“Understood.”
Aldensis shrugged once.
“Forget it, Lady. In hindsight, it was an unreasonable request. Of course, I will attend your ball, and I’ll fully cooperate to make it a splendid event.”
“Same here.”
Zikren chimed in.
Just then, through the parlor door Zikren had all but broken open, I saw officials entering in search of the Crown Prince. They stopped, startled, seeing the empty office.
“Your Highness? Where are you?”
“I’m here.”
Aldensis tilted his head toward us, then returned to his office.
I left the Crown Prince’s palace with Zikren. After the whirlwind, something struck me.
“Zikren, how did you already know I was hosting a ball?”
“That much is easy.”
His golden eyes narrowed slightly, and he pouted his lips.
“So… have fun with the prince at the ball.”
“…What?”
I froze mid-step.
That plan was the most closely guarded secret of secrets. How did it reach Zikren’s ears? Where was the leak?
I fell into a brief panic before a memory popped up.
When that official came running to tell Zikren about Prince Istan’s arrival, I was there too. I even asked if the newcomer was male, and got strange looks for it.
So that’s why Zikren thought I was interested in the prince. Then he must have found out that Eunice invited him to the ball.
The puzzle pieces finally clicked.
It wasn’t a leak.
Relieved, I hurriedly explained.
“Don’t jump to conclusions. Of course I should treat the prince with courtesy if he attends, but I don’t have the slightest intention of ‘getting close’ to him. The reason I asked about his gender was not because I saw him as a romantic interest, but…”
Wait. Why am I even explaining myself? This feels like being accused of cheating!
“…”
Zikren just looked straight ahead, sulking.
That’s exactly a jealous reaction.
The thought slipped out before I caught myself. My heart skipped. And since I had just stepped forward again, my foot twisted and my ankle gave out.
“Ah!”
Zikren, who’d been sulking, flinched in alarm.
“Aristina! Are you okay?”
“Wait.”
I plopped onto a nearby bench and lifted my leg to check my ankle.
It’ll be a headache if it’s sprained…
Luckily, it wasn’t. Just a little sore at first, but it faded quickly.
“Seems fine.”
“It might seem fine now, but it could swell soon. Press around and check if it hurts.”
Zikren reached out instinctively, then stopped. No matter how free-spirited he was, a second prince couldn’t just poke and prod a noble lady’s ankle.
“Hmph.”
Folding his arms, he inspected my ankle with only his eyes, as if he absolutely couldn’t touch it.
His golden pupils narrowed intently. The usual playfulness and swagger vanished, leaving only seriousness.
So he could make that kind of face too.
It struck me again that Zikren was really handsome. His brows were thick, his eyes warm, his nose well defined.
And…
He had been the first and last person to propose to me.
Even if it was when we were children.
Zikren’s ideal type had always been a girl like Aristina.
We used to clash often because of our strong personalities, and things fizzled out after I fell for Aldensis.
But now it’s proven that I’ve let go of Aldensis.
So maybe Zikren wanted to reconnect with his first love. Otherwise, why would he care who I spent time with?
I need to find out.
Zikren was a Transcendent, bound to me by contract. If I misstepped, my life could become a tangled mess. It was better to know his heart for certain.
And the best way was to just ask directly.
Even Prince Istan went around bluntly asking, “Do you like me?” Why couldn’t I? I just needed the courage to ask.
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
“My head feels a bit dizzy.”
“Still?”
“Yeah. Let’s sit a little longer before heading back.”
Zikren asked worriedly:
“Want me to get you some water?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I shook my head, thinking.
How should I ask him?
With someone like Zikren, a surprise attack would be best. Catch him off guard so he couldn’t lie. That way, I’d see his true reaction.
Yes, that was the plan.
I stretched.
“Anyway, the weather’s really nice today.”
“That’s probably because it rained yesterday.”
“Funny, that reminds me. The kitchen servants at my house keep cats, and one of them gave birth. I finally saw the kittens this morning.”
“Oh? Cute?”
“Of course! One’s got yellow stripes. Two are white with black patches. And there’s a gray tabby too. Their father seems to be a plain black cat, so I don’t know how they came out so different. By the way, do you like me?”
I suddenly dropped the bomb and stared straight at Zikren’s face.
