The Crown Prince’s Fiancée – Chapter 21
Gabriel is bad enough now, but as a child she was even worse.
Young Adrian’s main daily pastime had been watching Gabriel’s hypocritical words and deeds and wondering why on earth she was like that.
“I bet she thinks the whole world exists for her sake.”
And in fact, that was exactly how the Chancellor and the Nevel family had raised her.
There was no way to miss that family’s ambition.
A grand dream of making Gabriel the crown princess, producing an empress, and seizing control of the imperial family itself.
“So that’s why you dislike her?”
Hearing Adrian’s answer, Arti felt somewhat unsettled.
Honestly, the answer was a bit unexpected.
“Does there need to be another reason?”
“Uh, well. No.”
She was only surprised that the reason was more sound and ordinary than she’d expected.
She had thought there would be something a little more special, something different.
Had she been too heavy-handed with her own biases and preconceptions?
“Then couldn’t you just get engaged to another young lady?”
“I couldn’t find one.”
Adrian, having answered curtly, let out a sigh.
“And…”
It wasn’t that Adrian had never made an effort.
Largely for political reasons, he had tried meeting the daughters of nearly every powerful house.
But no matter who he met, or how fond of her he had been, the moment he glimpsed even the slightest resemblance to Gabriel, a thousand years’ worth of affection would go cold.
Even when he’d thought someone was perfectly fine just yesterday, the instant she overlapped even slightly with something Gabriel did, his feelings would fade away.
It had gotten so bad that he’d even gone through with the worst move of all: making Essen crossdress.
Arti glanced at Adrian, who was shaking his head.
Though Adrian hadn’t said it, she felt she already knew what his next answer would be.
‘It must be because he already has someone he loves.’
And since that person happened to be a man, he couldn’t present them proudly to the Empress.
It might be different for anyone else, but Crown Prince Adrian was the man who would one day be emperor.
An emperor’s lawful consort not being a woman was bound to cause problems.
‘So it really is because he loves that person.’
It hadn’t bothered her before, so why did her heart feel so hollow now?
She felt a faint pang of regret.
No, wait. Who am I to feel regret?
“I hope you find your fiancée as soon as possible.”
If only for your sake.
Arti said it on purpose, to steady her own confused heart.
But for some reason, Adrian felt displeased by Arti’s words.
‘Does she hate pretending to be my fiancée that much?’
Under Adrian’s gaze, Arti shrank her shoulders again.
“Did I say something wrong?”
It was strange.
In the past, moments like this had only irritated him, so why didn’t it bother him now?
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
He couldn’t stand even being touched by other women, yet it didn’t bother him in the least that he was holding this one’s hand.
Why?
He pondered it, but no answer came.
Arti kept tilting her head in bewilderment under Adrian’s gaze, which refused to leave her.
* * *
The weather was lovely today.
For the first time in a while, Madam Lucy had prepared a lesson that would actually be useful to Arti.
“Today, we’ll be learning tea party etiquette.”
“Tea party etiquette?”
“Yes. It’s a setting where social exchange is both fundamental and terribly complicated.”
Madam Lucy began her explanation.
“Usually, tea parties are held for the most basic kind of social exchange. They are often held on a small scale at a private residence. Occasionally one is held on a large scale, but that is rare.”
In those cases, Madam Lucy explained, it was mostly a person of high standing hosting in order to greet many people for the first time.
“Usually, people have their social circles, and they regularly drink tea together and exchange information.”
“Circles…”
“Yes, circles! They are the most important thing.”
Madam Lucy was just about to explain the circles of high society.
“Good day, Miss Artienne.”
At the arrival of the uninvited guest, Arti frowned without meaning to.
Madam Lucy did the same.
When she turned her head, Gabriel stood there holding a fan made of silk embroidered with intricate stitching.
“Good day, Lady Gabriel.”
Setting down the teacup she had been sipping from, Arti greeted her reluctantly.
Had holding the lesson in the rear garden been the mistake?
She hadn’t been able to stop Gabriel from approaching her so suddenly.
‘Of all people to run into, it had to be Gabriel.’
It seemed today wasn’t her lucky day.
“What brings you to Lily Palace? It’s a place no one may enter without an invitation…”
Madam Lucy asked Gabriel.
Gabriel lifted her chin as haughtily as she could and smiled elegantly.
“I received Her Majesty the Empress’s permission.”
At the mention of the Empress’s permission, Madam Lucy had no choice but to step back.
She hurriedly sent off an attendant, apparently to inform the Crown Prince of this news.
“I came because there’s something I simply must tell you.”
“What on earth are you going to say…”
When Gabriel gestured, the maid whom Arti had once defended came forward carrying something covered with cloth.
“What’s this?”
“A gift.”
All of a sudden?
Madam Lucy accepted the gift on her behalf.
Since it was rude to inspect a gift in front of the giver, Arti merely looked at it with an uneasy expression.
“I thought about it, and I believe I was rude last time, so I’d like to apologize.”
“An apology?”
Did I hear that correctly just now?
She couldn’t believe the word ‘apology’ had come out of Gabriel’s mouth.
“Yes. Thinking it over, I was rather rude. And you’re the crown princess-to-be, after all.”
“No, well. It’s fine.”
“So, about that.”
Ah, of course.
She’d figured it could never end on such a heartwarming note.
Gabriel asked primly.
“Aren’t you shutting yourself away in the palace too much? Since you’re going to be the crown princess, I thought you ought to show your face at more tea parties and social gatherings.”
“That’s…”
Arti opened her mouth reluctantly.
She’d had an answer prepared in advance and could have replied easily, but Gabriel cut her off.
“Oh, that’s right, you grew up in the middle of nowhere and don’t know much about the capital’s atmosphere. My mistake.”
Gabriel preened.
‘This woman never intended to hear my answer in the first place.’
Gabriel clapped her hands.
The maid from before handed another gift to Madam Lucy.
“I feel so bad, so I’ll give you one more gift.”
“No, I don’t need…”
“I was going to use it myself, but it seemed like you needed it more, Miss Arti. Knowing the capital’s trends is important, after all.”
Gabriel winked.
Arti scowled at the gift, handed over as though it were charity.
“I really don’t need it.”
“Oh my, there’s no need to refuse. I have more than I know what to do with.”
Why did she even come?
She felt she understood why everyone hated this woman so fiercely.
If making people angry was a talent, it was a truly remarkable one.
“Oh, by the way. I happened to hear an unsavory rumor at the imperial palace…”
Her ominous feeling proved right.
Gabriel’s eyes gleamed like a beast that had spotted its prey.
“The two of you aren’t getting along lately, I hear?”
So she’d come on purpose to needle me.
“Goodness, that couldn’t be.”
“There’s no need to pretend. I told you, I’ve heard everything.”
Fanning herself vigorously, Gabriel laughed coquettishly.
“In fact, that the two of you are terribly estranged is something nearly everyone in society already knows.”
“That’s not true.”
“There’s no need to pretend. I said I know everything.”
“It truly isn’t.”
Only yesterday, he had held her hand and escorted her back to Lily Palace.
Crown Prince Adrian, of all people.
“Oh dear, there’s no need to deny reality that far. It’s a fact that you two are on bad terms.”
“I’m telling you, it isn’t a fact.”
It was around the time she was continuing a pointless argument with Gabriel.
“What’s going on?”
Crown Prince Adrian arrived.
“Your Highness—”
“Oh my, Your Highness. Did you come all this way to see me?”
Before Arti could even greet him, Gabriel dashed forward and clung to Adrian.
Adrian made an openly disgusted face.
“No.”
“Pretending otherwise is useless. I wanted to see you too, Your Highness.”
“I said no.”
“But this place is a bit awkward, so let’s meet elsewhere. You know, just the two of us…”
When Gabriel winked, Adrian’s expression soured.
Though he was pulling the most revolted face he could muster with all his might, Gabriel kept smiling brightly, apparently delighted.
Unable to stand it any longer, Arti stepped in.
“Is it all right for you to stay this long? You must have nothing to do.”
“How could I have nothing to do? I’m always busy, with everyone looking for me. Oh my, look at the time. I should be going now. There are people waiting for me.”
Adrian felt relieved at Gabriel’s answer that she would meekly withdraw.
Ignoring Arti beside him, Gabriel looked only at Adrian as she bade farewell.
“Next time, let’s stay together longer, my love!”
Seeing Gabriel blow a kiss and turn away, Adrian scrunched up his face without restraint.
Arti bit her lip as she watched Gabriel’s gaze never leave Adrian, even as she walked away.
‘So that’s how far the rumor of our estrangement has spread.’
She could bear being ignored herself.
She had been a handmaid to begin with.
But she could not stand Artienne being ignored.
Artienne was unmistakably the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
‘And I have to hand it back to that person.’
Somehow a corner of her heart ached with a dull sting, but Arti ignored it.
Then she grabbed hold of Adrian.
“Kiss me.”
“What?”
Adrian was flustered by Arti’s out-of-the-blue suggestion.
“Kiss me right now, quickly!”
Before Gabriel disappeared.
This time, Adrian frowned for a different reason.
“You said it’s your first kiss.”
“It’s fine!”
Arti gestured with her eyes toward Gabriel, who was still within sight.
“Hurry and kiss me.”
From that small gesture, Adrian realized this was a show meant for Gabriel’s eyes.
Pressed by Arti’s urging, Adrian found himself cupping her cheek before he knew it.
‘Something about this isn’t right.’
Though gripped by a feeling that he shouldn’t do this, he felt as though he had already crossed a line there was no coming back from.
“Sorry.”
He didn’t know what he was apologizing for, but Adrian figured that since it was his first kiss too, it should be all right.
His hesitation lasted only a moment.
Their lips met, and their breaths mingled.
Those warm, soft, rose-colored lips were fiercely soft, just as they had looked.
Arti closed her eyes in embarrassment.
Adrian thought the sight of Arti with her eyes closed was unbearably alluring.
When he parted those sweet lips and swallowed her breath, a soft tongue met his.
Groaning at the thrilling sensation, Adrian sought her breath more deeply.
He had definitely meant only to go through the motions.
Already, regardless of that, he was growing more and more absorbed.
He sensed people nearby sucking in their breath.
He was aware, too, of the eyes of those watching them.
But what captured all of Adrian’s attention was no one else, only the small woman in his arms, answering the kiss with fervor.
Damn.
Why had no one warned him that kissing was this good?
Why they had begun this kiss no longer mattered.
Adrian simply supported the back of Arti’s neck and lowered his head.
It was only natural that the rumor spread that the two were madly in love.
