* * *
Empress Ludmila wore a deeply sorrowful expression.
At the sudden emergency summons, Adrian and Artie were in a state of extreme tension.
“I have heard a very sad tale, children.”
“What nonsense have you heard this time?”
“That is a very rude remark, Adrian.”
The Empress reprimanded him sternly.
Even at words she would normally let slide, the Empress did not let them pass, and Adrian instinctively realized this was no ordinary situation.
Ludmila furrowed her brow and spoke.
“I heard the two of you fought.”
Artie and Adrian looked at each other.
‘Did we fight?’
Adrian’s gaze turned menacing.
‘What did you do this time?’
‘No. I didn’t do anything.’
A silent conversation passed through their eyes. Artie shook her head, insisting it was absolutely not her fault.
“You seem busy. Shall I step out for a moment?”
Empress Ludmila, watching from between them, said.
“No. Please ask, Your Majesty.”
“There are many rumors saying the future crown princess and her betrothed seem terribly cold to each other.”
“Who on earth is saying such things? To carelessly spread rumors like that, they clearly don’t know their place. I should have them arrested and their entire family wiped out this instant.”
“Adrian. That is not the important matter right now, is it?”
Empress Ludmila stared pointedly at Adrian.
Perhaps because Artie had only ever seen her generous side, she was frightened by this side of Empress Ludmila she was seeing for the first time.
“I was proud of you both. Among people who think of marriage as business and consider arranged marriages the finest marriage deals, to become a couple who truly loves and cherishes each other—how romantic is that?”
Empress Ludmila lamented, cradling her own cheek.
“His Majesty and I were a rare case of loving each other so much that we married without even looking at family standing, simply because we wanted to be together. It was truly a miracle.”
Adrian’s expression twisted. It was a tiresome story he had heard until his ears bled since childhood.
“That is why I hoped Adrian would find that kind of fantastical love as well. No matter how lacking the new daughter-in-law might be, as long as you loved her, I was prepared to accept everything.”
Adrian was reflected in Empress Ludmila’s violet eyes.
Adrian furrowed his brow at his mother’s method of instilling guilt.
So that’s why she attached Gabriel to me since childhood?
In the Empress’s mind, she had apparently dreamed of a childhood friend romance, but for Adrian, those had been nightmare days.
“So what is it you wish to say?”
At Adrian’s words, Empress Ludmila gazed steadily at the two of them.
“I heard you walk around without holding hands.”
The two hurriedly clasped hands.
“And that you’ve never even kissed?”
Adrian’s shoulders stiffened with a jolt.
This was not something he could handle on his own. As Adrian hesitated, Artie stepped forward.
‘At this rate, I’ll die.’
“We have!”
At Artie’s words, Adrian was even more startled.
‘We have?’
‘No, what are you doing being surprised, Your Highness! Hurry and nod that it’s true!’
At Artie’s urgent look, Adrian inadvertently nodded. Artie spoke shyly.
“I can’t show you, but of course we’ve—kissed. It’s just that we do it where no one can see.”
At Artie’s words, Adrian inadvertently nodded.
“How could we show something like that to others?”
“Oh my, is that so?”
Watching the Empress brighten, the two let out a sigh of relief.
Empress Ludmila’s face glowed with delight.
“Oh my, I had no idea…….”
“It’s all right, Your Majesty. I’m rather shy, so I keep my distance from His Highness in public, and that must have caused the misunderstanding.”
“Yes, Lady Artienne is shy. Yes, yes.”
“And I wanted to prioritize properly cultivating myself as a crown princess.”
“Oh my, what a admirable thought!”
Adrian, feeling incredibly complicated, stared at the back of Artie’s head.
Artie, who had melted Empress Ludmila’s heart in an instant, turned to Adrian and beamed.
Adrian thought it was, just slightly, pretty.
* * *
“When did we ever kiss?”
Having escaped Grace Palace, Adrian caught hold of Artie.
Artie blinked as if to ask what he meant.
“We obviously never did.”
“Then earlier…….”
“Because Her Majesty was worried. Did I do something wrong?”
Artie’s shoulders shrank. Looking down at Artie, who was watching his reaction, Adrian frowned at the complicated feeling.
A lie like that—normally, he wouldn’t have cared at all.
Why does it bother me so much?
“Have you ever kissed…… anyone?”
“What?”
Artie’s eyes went wide. Adrian felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.
“I asked if you’ve ever kissed.”
“Ah, no. I haven’t even had my first kiss yet…….”
Only after seeing Artie shake her head slightly, her face flushed bright red, was Adrian satisfied.
“I see.”
Somehow sensing Adrian’s reaction had softened, Artie checked his mood.
Is he all right?
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Where do you think?”
From Adrian’s answer, she immediately knew the destination. Lily Palace.
When Artie quickly nodded, Adrian spoke in a notably gentler voice.
“I’ll escort you.”
Adrian held out his hand. Artie looked at the hand extended to her and hesitated.
“Aren’t you going to take it?”
Even if she wanted to pretend not to notice, she couldn’t easily do so. Perhaps because she had just heard the Empress say they didn’t even hold hands, it was even more so.
Artie looked seriously at Crown Prince Adrian, then stared at his outstretched hand again.
For him, this might be easy, but for Artie, it was not. Earlier, it had been possible because the Empress was watching, but…….
‘I hate myself for hoping even knowing it’s futile.’
The fact that something this difficult and heart-fluttering for her was entirely nothing to him made her heart ache.
“Aren’t you coming?”
At Adrian’s words, which she couldn’t tell were mockery or urging, Artie raised her hand.
As their hands overlapped, unknown emotions crossed paths.
Adrian was satisfied, and Artie felt as though she had lost something.
“I’ll escort you to Lily Palace.”
“You don’t have to…….”
“……There are many eyes watching.”
Grace Palace and Lily Palace were quite far apart.
Artie walked quietly, holding Adrian’s hand.
At first, she had to take quick, short steps to match Adrian’s stride, but perhaps he noticed, for at some point Adrian began walking more and more slowly.
Thanks to that, walking became much easier.
‘So the Crown Prince does know how to be considerate.’
It was a very rare thing, but the fact that he was being considerate made her feel ticklish inside.
She glanced at the Crown Prince, and he was walking looking only ahead.
Perhaps he had felt Artie’s gaze, for Adrian turned his head and looked at Artie.
Their eyes met in the air.
At the somehow ticklish feeling, Artie, startled, turned her head away. It was the same for Adrian.
He suddenly cleared his throat and spoke.
“Are you preparing well?”
“What? Yes. I’m doing well.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
At other times, he would have added a sarcastic remark or two, but today’s Adrian was, as expected, somehow strange.
Artie cautiously stole a glance at Adrian.
“Um, Your Highness.”
“What?”
Adrian turned to look at Artie. Trying not to look away this time, Artie cleared her throat.
“There’s something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it.”
It was a question that might be somewhat sensitive, so Artie hesitated, then cautiously opened her mouth.
“Why do you dislike Lady Gabriel?”
Adrian stared intently at Artie.
At his blatant gaze, wondering if she had displeased him, Artie made unnecessary excuses.
“No, I know that the reason Your Highness needs a fiancée is ultimately to avoid marriage with Lady Gabriel…….”
Did I say something wrong? Artie shut her mouth. A heavy silence settled between them.
“Did you not see her?”
“What?”
“I asked if you saw Gabriel.”
“Yes. I did.”
Adrian retorted with an expression of incomprehension.
“And you still don’t understand?”
A gaze that openly said she was pathetic pierced her sharply. Artie felt somewhat wronged.
“Still, I thought there might be some reason…….”
She knew that making excuses now would only make her look pathetic, yet she couldn’t stop.
Adrian listened to Artie’s excuses, then furrowed his brow.
“The reason I dislike Gabriel?”
One reason was enough.
“Because she’s utterly selfish and knows only herself.”
Having unwillingly observed her from the closest distance since childhood, Adrian knew the human being called Gabriel better than anyone.
“That woman has no qualms about crushing others to get what she wants, and she has no one else besides herself. She doesn’t care whether others live or die.”
She even labored under the grand delusion that she herself was kind and generous.
Wrinkles formed between Adrian’s brows.
An unpleasant memory surfaced.
