“Come to think of it, we never properly introduced ourselves or had a conversation, did we? This is the first time I’ve ever shared family matters in such details with strangers.”
I wrinkled my nose slightly and laughed gracefully.
“At this rate, by our second meeting, I’ll be helping you bathe. Right?”
The knight looked stunned, as if realizing the weight of my name or recalling his reckless words about me being someone’s wife.
His face had gone pale, and he hesitated. He opened his mouth slightly but only rubbed his forehead, casting a desperate glance at his fellow knight for help.
But his companion, too busy trying to grasp the situation, ignored him.
Now left alone on the battlefield, the knight rolled his eyes in bewilderment.
“I-I didn’t mean it that way. I would never dare speak so recklessly about the Duke of Mipedian—”
Snap.
I folded my fan and smiled sweetly.
Ding. You’re out.
“May I ask your name and affiliation, Sir Knight? I’d like to faithfully report what I heard to the Duke of Mipedian.”
“A-Are you saying you’re going to snitch? That’s hardly behavior befitting a refined lady—”
“I take care of my own dignity.”
The knight faltered, swallowing his words with a strangled groan.
His pale complexion and anxious, trembling eyes filled me with a sense of satisfaction. I had won this round.
“Damn it!”
Unfortunately, the knight chose to flee without looking back—abandoning his comrade in the process.
I let out a hollow laugh. So, growing older doesn’t necessarily make one an adult. Running away so clumsily in this situation?
At that moment, I met the eyes of the abandoned knight.
Perhaps realizing that ignoring me would only make things worse, he let out a long sigh and bowed deeply.
“I sincerely apologize, Countess. We have offended you with our thoughtless words. The consequences—”
“I hold no grudge against you, Sir. One can choose their friends, but not their colleagues.”
At my considerate words, the remaining knight scratched his head awkwardly and raised his head.
“You may leave now.”
As soon as I issued the dismissal, he hurriedly left, visibly relieved.
I crossed my arms and let out a deep sigh, watching them disappear down the corridor.
“Why did I even bother?”
Getting worked up over such childish gossip driven by insecurity. Taking their words seriously was ridiculous.
And yet—
“Don’t cry alone.”
If he could give me such an overwhelming sense of comfort, surely, I could handle this much.
Something had changed since our conversation by the seaside. I felt as though the psychological distance between us had grown closer.
When our eyes met across from Lilien, his gaze no longer carried the same icy sharpness. It felt… warmer.
They say even dislike breeds familiarity. His once bitterly cold demeanor had softened into a gentler breeze.
Time passed, wearing down the hard edges, and then—
Reading my father’s note and shedding tears seemed to pierce through an unseen barrier.
The next day, Lilien noticed my lack of energy. He even sent Edmund to check on me and later asked if we had met.
“I read a letter my father left behind.”
I had tested him with those words, just as I had when Devon intruded and spoke of the will.
His response was unexpected. A surprising outcome.
“We’re in the same boat, aren’t we?”
Breaking through someone’s guard and stepping into their space carried a warmth, a ticklish sort of comfort.
“It’s a little embarrassing, actually.”
I scratched my cheek with my fingertips and glanced away with a faint smile.
“So, am I now your friend? Something like that?”
But then, a thought pulled me back to reality.
“How long has it been?”
Why isn’t that knight back yet? Annoyed, I tapped my foot against the marble floor before deciding to go look for him myself.
Just as I had been walking down the corridor for about a minute, a door slowly creaked open.
I turned my head without much thought—only to freeze when I caught sight of golden eyes flashing through the gap.
My heart dropped.
In the dimly lit hallway, a tall figure loomed in the shadows.
“A… bear?”
A thick beard covered his chin, and wild, unkempt black hair fell over half his face. A large, round figure, almost like a boulder.
His shaggy black hair, covering even his nose, parted slightly, revealing opalescent, multicolored eyes.
The man quickly covered one of his shimmering eyes with his hand.
“Did you just call me a bear?”
His voice was unexpectedly deep and powerful, though with a strangely arrogant tone.
I took a step back and smiled politely.
“My apologies. It slipped out.”
“So I didn’t mishear. How insolent.”
“Pardon?”
“You weren’t this rude when we were younger.”
…Should I just become a poacher? Claim I mistook him for an actual bear?
He seemed genuinely amazed, but just because it wasn’t malicious didn’t mean it was acceptable.
“And hiding behind a door to startle a lady isn’t rude?”
“……”
His lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes dropped, as if realizing he had no rebuttal.
“…I’ll forgive your impudence.”
Shouldn’t he be the one apologizing?
I nearly scowled but took a deep breath to suppress it.
“So, where is your escort? Why are you alone in a place like this, Your Highness?”
“…How did you recognize me?”
“How?”
Because we’re childhood friends.
Crown Prince Jake.
The Emperor’s only son and sole heir to the throne.
Once hailed as the future of the empire, an unparalleled genius.
He had a brilliant youth, but fate was fair. Despite his exceptional mind, his frail, puppet-like body lacked both magic and physical strength.
A man of great pride, he had tasted failure and despair for the first time, retreating from public events to govern from seclusion.
Despite his vast knowledge and negotiation skills, his suitability as a ruler was questioned year after year.
For the ministers, serving an unseen successor must have been daunting.
Regardless of his personal talents, he could not ignore the complaints of the nobility. Thus, the Crown Prince only made quiet appearances at grand events.
At first, I hadn’t recognized him.
As a child, Jake had pale, rosy skin and was much smaller. Though his opalescent eyes and arrogant demeanor remained unchanged.
Perhaps it was because I had seen the Emperor’s warm side, but despite not having many fond memories of Jake, he felt strangely familiar.
I stepped back and bowed.
“It is an honor to meet the Empire’s Little Sun.”
Recalling the young boy who once glared at me for sitting on his father’s knee, I lifted my head—only to find Jake staring at me in shock.
“You’ve changed. Considering your… extraordinary divorce, you seem quite composed.”
His unintentional admiration crumpled my good mood in an instant.
There was no reason to talk any longer, so I stood up and gave a bright smile to the crown prince, who was still standing at the door.
“Then, as someone who went through a most unusual divorce, I’ll be taking my leave now, Your Highness.”
“Wait. There’s something I want to ask you.”
His voice, unusually desperate, caught my interest. I turned back to him with a slight, teasing look. But then I suddenly felt something suspicious.
“Don’t tell me… You dismissed the knight who was supposed to guide me just so you could follow me yourself?”
His eyes, visible between his drooping hair soaked like a dog caught in the mist, shook roughly.
I knew it. No wonder he didn’t come back.
What a troublesome way to go about things. I hid my displeasure behind a polite smile.
“For the noble Crown Prince to have something to ask me like this—how moving. So, what is it?”
“Your words have thorns.”
As I kept a cold smile on my face, the crown prince let out a deep sigh, like the ground was collapsing. He muttered quietly, saying I was harsh.
“I saw it.”
Okay, saw what exactly?
Jake kept pausing, and it was starting to get on my nerves.
He placed a hand on his chest and lowered his chin at an angle. His downcast eyes shimmered faintly with emotion. His face turned red as if he were embarrassed.
“An angel…”
“…”
Ah. I see. I wish you a beautiful love life.
With a blank expression, I gave a polite nod and turned around with a flick of my dress.
I didn’t have time to listen to a love story from a rude teddy bear.
“Wait, Etricia Buell—!”
There was a loud sound as the door burst open at the desperate shout.
As I turned around slowly, fanning myself, the bear—no, Jake—reached out his trembling hand with a sorrowful look.
“For the sake of our childhood friendship, please listen to my request. Only you can do this.”
He looked like a clueless bear trying to hide in the bushes, unaware of his own size.
Tsk. Lucky for him, I’m generous.
I gave him a cool glance, then faced him properly.
“If it’s something I can do. Is it related to that angel?”
“Yes, it happened at the banquet.”
It was like a cloud of memories was puffing up above Jake’s head.
And by the time the image ended, I was left staring at him in shock.
