IWAPUF 36

I stared at the Crown Prince without responding. He shrugged, as if resigned, and spoke.
“I suppose it’s true that the one who loves more always loses. Would it suffice to say I came
because I missed you?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
The words slipped out before I could stop them, too absurd to hold back.
I instantly regretted it, but there was no taking them back. Glancing at the steward, I saw him
placing a teacup on the table, his face impassive, as if he’d heard nothing.
I gestured for him to leave. He bowed to me and the Crown Prince, then ushered the waiting maids
out of the parlor. Only the two of us remained.
“I didn’t realize visiting my fiancée was considered madness,” he said, dropping the formal
tone now that we were alone.
He sat back on the sofa, his gaze fixed on me.
“Enough nonsense. Just tell me why you’re here,” I said.
“You don’t believe me,” he replied with a faint chuckle, lifting a steaming teacup. He savored
the aroma briefly before bringing it to his lips. I heard the soft sound of the tea sliding down his
throat as his Adam’s apple moved.
“Why don’t you sit instead of standing there?”
He gestured with his head toward the sofa across from him, setting the teacup down. I sat, facing
him. He gave another small laugh.
“It’s true that I came because I wanted to see you. Your face was the first thing I thought of
when I woke up. It seems I’ve fallen for you quite thoroughly. Hiding from those asking about
this mark was just a bonus.”
He tapped his left cheek lightly with his fingers, where a thin, red scratch stood out starkly against
his pale skin.
It was the mark I’d left when I struck him yesterday. Unlike a bruise on a shin or foot, a scratch
on his cheek was impossible to conceal.
Even as his fiancée, if he chose to pursue the matter, I could face charges for harming a member
of the royal family. Historical records told of an empress deposed for scratching an emperor’s
cheek.
As the heir to the throne, a public scandal about a mark on his face wouldn’t be easily brushed
aside, even if he forgave me. Yesterday’s scratch was an unintended consequence of his actions,
but I’d aimed for his foot and shin deliberately, half-hoping he’d demand to break our
engagement. It hadn’t worked as planned, though.
He seemed intent on covering up the scratch, just as he might a bruise. That suggested he had no
desire to end our engagement. Was it, as he claimed, because he loved me? Or because he needed
me?
“Your skin must be more delicate than I thought,” I said.
“Your strength was more than I expected,” he countered with a sly grin.
He was unusually jovial today, and for some reason, his laughter grated on me.
“I’m stronger than I look,” I replied, unabashed.
His eyes widened at my brazen response, then he burst into a low, rumbling laugh.
“Pfft, I thought I’d better be more careful next time.”
He stopped laughing and rubbed his chin. “You have a way of catching me off guard when I least
expect it. It keeps me on edge. Do you do it on purpose?”
“Is there a reason I would?”
“Fair point. I’m the one who’s supposed to be winning you over, not the other way around.”
He propped his chin on his right hand, his expression languid.
“And yet, I find myself falling for you more and more.”
His golden eyes softened, the corners crinkling with a charming smile. I leaned back against the
sofa, forcing my tense body to relax.
“Are you trying to seduce me now?” I asked.
“Would it work?”
“You’ll need more practice.”
“As expected, this isn’t enough to sway you.”
“I’m quite resistant to charm,” I said.
“Such a pity,” he said, clicking his tongue in mock regret.
But his expression suggested he was enjoying this exchange more than he was disappointed.
“Surely you didn’t come here just to banter like this?”
“Of course not. As you said, I’m here to make you fall for me. Whether it’s seduction or
throwing a tantrum, I need to see you to do anything, don’t I?”
He raised an eyebrow and flashed a mischievous grin. Over these past two days, he’d shown me a
range of sides to himself—playful, intense, vulnerable. Perhaps all these facets were part of who
he’d always been.
Maybe back then, I’d only seen the version of him I wanted to see. Or perhaps he’d deliberately
hidden his true self from me.
But what did it matter now? I wasn’t the Beonne of that time, and he wasn’t the Crown Prince of
that time either.
“You must have a lot of free time,” I said.
“I’d make time to see your face, even if I had none.”
He smiled brightly at me. I lifted my teacup, sipping the now-cooled tea. Its subtle fragrance filled
my mouth. I swallowed and set the cup back on the table.
“I don’t have the luxury of sitting here trading quips with you, Your Highness.”
He leaned back slowly, his smile lingering, but his eyes held no trace of amusement.
“Why do you dislike me so much? Have I done something wrong?”
Despite his calm expression, his tone carried a hint of grievance. I avoided his gaze, lifting the
teacup again and drinking deeply. He watched me in silence, and a heavy quiet settled between us.
“I don’t dislike you,” I said finally.
“Then what?”
“You… irritate me.”
“What?”
His brow furrowed, as if my words made no sense. I finished the last of the tea and set the cup
down. He waited silently for me to continue.
I didn’t hate him. Nor did I resent him for not loving me back then.
Back then, I never once thought to do something for the man I claimed to love. I didn’t consider
what he thought or needed, never acted with him in mind. Instead, I demanded his love like a
petulant child. How many men could love a woman like that?
Despite my behavior, he had at least upheld the bare minimum of decorum. As the Empress of the
empire, he treated me with the respect due my position and refrained from interfering in the affairs
of the inner court, even when his beloved wept under my cruelty. He simply didn’t love me.
I didn’t resent him for it, but that didn’t make things any less uncomfortable. My heart still raced
for him. I couldn’t tell if this was my present feelings or echoes of the past.
His actions, his tone—everything about him grated on me. But could I call this love? I’d resolved
to follow my heart, but I couldn’t even discern what my heart wanted.
“Honestly, I don’t know how to deal with you, Your Highness,” I said, lifting my gaze to meet
his.
A spark flickered in his eyes as they locked onto mine.
“That’s why you make me uneasy—why you irritate me.”
At my words, the corners of his eyes softened, crinkling gently.
“So, I’m not the worst thing in your eyes. That’s a relief,” he said, his voice, tinged with a sigh,
as sweet as honey.
—
“This color for the dress,” I said, pointing to the deep emerald silk closest to me.
Anasha examined the fabric carefully before jotting down notes.
“The hat should be made from the same material. What do you think?” she asked.
“That sounds good.”
“Since you’ll be out in the sun for a while, a wide brim would be best, wouldn’t it?”
“As long as it’s not cumbersome.”
Anasha smiled and meticulously recorded my preferences. In ten days, the imperial hunting
tournament would take place, one of the empire’s grand annual events. It was a gathering where
royalty and high-ranking nobles, invited by the imperial family, participated in a hunt. Less a
serious hunt and more a festive occasion, it was attended by both men and women.
Having come of age, this would be my first time attending as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
For the tournament, I needed a dress that was light and easy to move in. Upon hearing the news,
Anasha had volunteered to assist me. She diligently noted everything from hats to shoes.
When she finished, she set her pen down with a smile. At her signal, the waiting maids cleared the
table of the piled fabrics. In their place, a steaming teacup and a plate of sweet cookies were set on
the now-pristine table.
“Oh, what tea is this? The aroma is divine!” Anasha exclaimed after taking a sip, her eyes
lighting up. The golden-hued tea filled the room with a sweet fragrance.
“It’s made from Leisha flowers. If you like it, I’ll have some packed for you to take home.”
“Leisha flowers?” Anasha’s eyes widened as she looked between the teacup and me. “You
mean *the* Leisha flowers?”
Her voice trailed off, uncertain. I nodded.
“Yes, those Leisha flowers.”
“How…?”
Her surprise was understandable. Leisha flowers, symbolic of the Crown Princess, were forbidden
to be cultivated by ordinary noble families.
The palace sent so many Leisha flowers that not only my room but the entire estate was
overflowing with them. Since they came directly from the Emperor, discarding them wasn’t an
option. When the maids, unsure what to do with the wilting blooms, came to me, I had no choice
but to approach the Emperor with a request.
Leisha flowers were edible and renowned for their benefits to skin and women’s health. Though
restricted from casual cultivation, they were also used as a medicinal herb. I asked the Emperor if,
rather than letting them go to waste, I could use them for tea or jam. After a moment of surprise,
he laughed heartily and gave me permission to do as I pleased.
I thought that settled the matter, but I’d underestimated the Emperor. From that day on, he sent
not only Leisha flowers but carts full of other edible blooms to the estate daily.
“His Majesty gave his permission, so you needn’t worry,” I said, sighing as I thought of the
ever-growing piles of flowers filling the manor.
Anasha gave me a mischievous grin. “They say a father-in-law’s love is for his daughter-in-law.
It seems you’re already cherished, even before the wedding.”