Chapter 33
“Yes. Of course! If it’s not for Your Highness, why would I need it!”
Axel wore an incredibly subtle expression, one where his emotions were impossible to read. Then, suddenly, he extended his hand toward me without a word.
…What did this mean? I rolled my eyes, trying to gauge the situation, before gently placing my hand atop his outstretched one.
Axel’s eyebrows twitched at the sight.
Oh, was that not it…?
As I started to pull my hand back, Axel grasped it and slipped off the ring on my index finger. I let out a startled yelp.
“Uh, huh?”
“I can’t allow you to wear a ring whose engraved magic is unknown, so I’ll take this for investigation.”
His words and actions were so resolute that I could only nod.
“Alright, Your Highness.”
“Then, let’s get up now.”
With that, Axel rose from the fountain and stood.
“Already? Your Highness?”
“It’s already quite late to call it ‘already.’ I’ll escort you home. Come on, stand up.”
At his firm words, I pouted my lips. He was right that it was late, but parting like this felt far too regrettable.
“I don’t know about you, Your Highness, but it’s been so long since I’ve seen you that this isn’t nearly enough to satisfy me! Can’t we stay together just a little longer?”
“I’m not here for leisure, my lady. Whining like that won’t work.”
“…Aren’t you being too decisive?”
“If you’re borrowing from our next meeting for today, then fine.”
I could feel his strong determination to send me home no matter what. Letting out a sigh at the man’s impenetrable wall, I looked up and glared at him slightly. I couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed.
“That gaze is quite insolent… So, are you not coming, my lady?”
In the meantime, Axel had taken a few steps ahead and turned back to ask me. With a sulky expression, I stood up and hurried over to him.
Narrowing my eyes, I questioned him accusingly.
“You’re so eager to send me away—am I that bothersome? You weren’t, like, relieved without me around or something, right?”
At my question, Axel stopped walking and looked down at me steadily. As his lips parted, I shook my head and quickly covered his mouth.
“No, never mind. Don’t answer. I think it’d really hurt my feelings.”
“Why, what do you think I’d say?”
“I can guess without hearing it. ‘Why ask the obvious, my lady?’ Something like that!”
When I mimicked him with a stiff, impassive face like Axel’s, he stared at me and let out a small chuckle. Since he didn’t deny it, I must have nailed it exactly.
My eyes narrowed even further at his laughter. My protruding lips were full of petulance.
“Do you know how much effort I’ve put into being considerate of you all this time? I deliberately didn’t visit because I didn’t want to bother you—I held back so much!”
“I don’t recall asking for your consideration.”
Ugh… So that’s how you’re playing it.
I strode ahead of Axel’s steps, blocking his path, and declared war.
“You’ll regret provoking me. Prepare yourself starting tomorrow, Your Highness. I’ll visit every single day until you’re sick of it! Begging me to stop won’t work!”
“My, how terrifying. That’s scarier than any threat I’ve ever heard.”
“Th-threat, Your Highness! No, and if it’s scary, what am I supposed to do? A beauty like me visiting every day—you should be thrilled! How is this a threat!”
As I jumped up and down in place, throwing a fit, Axel watched me and let out a soft snort of laughter before replying calmly.
“Well, I suppose it depends on the person receiving it.”
The way he was chuckling, it was clear he was enjoying this situation where I was getting worked up and angry.
I took a deep, calming breath. This was exactly when I couldn’t let him rattle me. I had to channel this burning passion and fervor into the right place.
I said to him in a low voice.
“…I’ve just decided.”
“On what?”
“To make you, the Grand Duke, fall for me no matter what! I’ll definitely make it happen so that instead of a threat, you’ll be the one begging me to come to you first!”
But even with my fiery resolve, Axel merely glanced over and dismissed it. It felt like he wasn’t taking it seriously, as if watching a dog bark.
“Yes, I wish you luck in achieving that grand dream.”
“I’m serious! I’ll really do it, you know? Just you wait, Your Highness.”
“So, are you not coming, my lady? At this rate, the sun will rise.”
“Ah, how can you just walk off while I’m talking? Your Highness! Let’s go together!”
To keep my word of showing up in front of Axel every day, I arrived at his office once again, as usual.
Even after knocking, there was no sound from inside.
Normally, Xenon or Shuian would open the door, or Axel would call me in, but nothing came.
Puzzled, I tilted my head.
What was going on? Where had everyone gone? But I thought there were no external schedules today…
“Well, I’ll find out once I go in!”
I quickly set aside the thought and placed my hand on the doorknob. The plan was to enter first and think later.
“Excuse me… I’m coming in.”
Then, I quietly opened the door and stepped inside, but unlike usual, the interior was silent. Shuian and Xenon were nowhere to be seen.
Wondering if truly no one was there, I scanned the room closely, and far off, I spotted Axel leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed.
My heart started pounding rapidly at the sight.
‘…Could he be asleep right now?’
Axel asleep…! It was a sight I’d never seen before in all this time.
I steadied my excited breathing and approached him with extremely cautious steps to avoid waking him.
Come to think of it, everyone seemed incredibly busy yesterday, so I’d gone home early too.
Had he pulled an all-nighter here? His complexion looked subtly more tired than usual.
Aww, what to do…
Feeling sorry for him lasted only a moment before I stealthily pulled out my camera.
Pity was pity, but photos were photos. I absolutely had to capture this moment today.
If not now, I probably wouldn’t see this again until we were married. There was a brief hesitation as I pressed the shutter, but I had no intention of giving up.
‘Well, he never said not to photograph him sleeping…!’
His long eyelashes, each strand vivid and alive, came into view. From his deep-set eyes to the sharp bridge of his nose, down to his firmly closed lips in a straight line—there wasn’t a single part that didn’t shine.
Even exhaling my breath carefully, I poured all my strength into taking multiple photos by his side. Drawing on every bit of my artistic soul, I focused and clicked the shutter.
How many had I taken like that?
“Hehe.”
Smiling contentedly as I looked at the satisfying photos, I suddenly recalled something.
…Come to think of it, wasn’t this an opportunity right now?
When going to fan signings, fans always brought certain things.
Namely, all sorts of headbands and accessories—essential fan items.
I looked down at Axel with a sinister glint in my eyes and swallowed hard. A storm of conflict raged inside me.
If not now, there might not be many chances to put such items on Axel in the future. This was the opportunity.
