Chapter 39
A faint hint of joy peeked through his deeply furrowed brows, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. I recognized that emotion immediately.
We exchanged peculiar glances in the air.
You don’t mean…?
“…Axel, ever since he was very young, would act embarrassed or pretend he didn’t like compliments, but then secretly revel in them later. That’s still the case even now.”
I nodded as if entranced.
“You’re right! His Grace the Grand Duke puts on an indifferent front, acting like he doesn’t care, but he’s more sensitive and warm-hearted than anyone. Once you realize that, you can’t escape his charm…”
Our eyes met again. I swallowed dryly.
A strange tension flowed between us, and I instinctively realized.
‘This guy… He’s a powerhouse.’
He ignited the competitive spirit lurking within me regarding my fan devotion.
Without either of us prompting the other, we naturally took seats at a table suitable for a long conversation. Sparks of intense rivalry flew from our gazes as we looked at each other.
For the first time in a while, my palms grew sweaty from the tension.
‘…Alright, let’s see who’s the ultimate fan here!’
By now, selecting outfits had long been pushed to the back of our minds.
“Haa…”
I let out a ragged breath. The atmosphere had heated up from our lengthy discussion, making my body feel feverish. I even seemed to be sweating a little.
The Crown Prince, sitting across from me, also appeared slightly overwhelmed as he steadied his breathing.
As expected, he was no easy opponent.
This was the first time I’d encountered a worthy rival with such impressive fan power.
‘The result is…’
The Crown Prince, who had been staring at me quietly, spoke in a low voice.
“A draw, I suppose.”
It had been a taut battle where neither side gave an inch.
Rising from our seats, we shook hands with the solemnity of athletes after a sports match. Our mutual gazes were etched with respect for one another.
‘It was a good contest.’
Thanks to this showdown, his favorability toward me, which had plummeted to rock bottom, soared back to the top.
I gave a small nod.
Of course. The Crown Prince really was a good person after all.
How could someone with such a handsome face be bad? On top of that, he was the male lead in the novel.
To think I’d dismissed someone with this level of refinement and intellect, treating him like a madman without knowing better. I reflected on my earlier thoughtless internal criticisms of him.
After that, our fan talk continued at length.
Our conversation flowed without a single interruption. Having shared so much through our fan discussion, we had grown rapidly closer than before.
Ahem. After clearing my throat once, I pulled a photo card from my bag and subtly placed it on the table.
“…What’s that, my lady?”
He took the bait right away.
Feigning nonchalance, I smiled and showed off the special edition Axel with bunny pin to the Crown Prince.
“Oh, it’s nothing special. Would you like to take a look, Your Highness?”
“This is…!”
“It’s a special edition I went through great pains to capture myself this time.”
With that, I laid out all the various photo cards I’d collected so far across the table. I could see the Crown Prince’s expression shifting moment by moment, like a child in a toy store.
His reaction was even more enthusiastic than I’d anticipated, and I watched him with contentment.
“…What did you take all these with? And do you carry them around all the time, my lady? More importantly, how on earth did you get this bunny, this bunny photo? Axel surely didn’t allow it.”
He stared at me with utterly bewildered eyes. I began answering his questions one by one.
“The photo cards were taken with an ultra-high-resolution camera I specially ordered from the Magic Tower. Of course, I always carry these photo cards, which are like extensions of myself. That way, I can be with His Grace the Grand Duke anytime, anywhere. And this bunny photo… It’s a trade secret, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince, utterly shocked by the utterly unimaginable idea, was left speechless.
“Photo cards? Is that what these photos are called? More than that, to come up with something like this. My lady, you really…”
A sense of defeat, as if he’d lost, rose on his face.
The Crown Prince bit his lip tightly, his eyes fixated covetously on Axel’s bunny photo card.
Hehe. He must want it badly. After all, this was rarer than a natural monument—unobtainable anywhere else.
Sure enough, a moment later, he cautiously broached the subject.
“Those photo cards… Could you give me one?”
I looked at him and smiled wordlessly.
No matter how much we’d bonded over fan talk, a deal was a deal—and it had to be fair.
“If something is given, shouldn’t there be something in return, Your Highness?”
I was asking him to show an equivalent card first.
This was no ordinary photo card; even for the Crown Prince, I couldn’t hand it over easily.
At my bold demand, the Crown Prince burst into hearty laughter.
“Yes. You’re right. If something is given, there should be something in return.”
Then, his expression turned serious in an instant as he lifted his head and stared at me. The intensity was like that of a crucial negotiation.
“So, what is it you want, my lady?”
“A video orb. I want a video orb of His Grace the Grand Duke from when he was young.”
Given the level of fan devotion he’d shown, he must have one. Axel from an era I didn’t know about. I wanted to see it so badly.
As if I’d just remembered, I added one more thing.
“Oh, of course. A video orb equivalent in rarity to the bunny pin photo card.”
My strong resolve not to take even the slightest loss was evident.
“You’re no ordinary opponent. I can’t win against you, my lady.”
Fortunately, my behavior didn’t seem to bother him; the Crown Prince raised the corner of his mouth in amusement. He held up four fingers on his right hand.
“Four years old. How about a video orb of Axel at four, crying? This is one even Axel doesn’t know about, so its value should be sufficient.”
“Deal. I like it, Your Highness. Let’s trade.”
Axel at four years old. And crying, no less…! No need to hear more—it was an instant yes.
“Good.”
We shook hands once more, both wearing satisfied expressions.
And so, our trade was successfully concluded.
Contrary to my expectation that only an hour or two had passed in my mind, the sky, which had been bright midday, was now reddening as the sun set.
‘Time flew by so quickly…’
Immersed in the fan talk after such a long time, I’d lost track of the hours.
As we exited the tailor’s shop, we were exchanging final farewells.
“Today was incredibly rewarding. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in recent memory.”
“The same for me, Your Highness. It was enjoyable.”
“This is a shame. I’ve grown even more interested in you than before. But of all people, you like my younger brother. Does that mean I have no chance now?”
The Crown Prince folded his golden eyes into a smiling gaze and asked me playfully.
Ugh…!
Using his beauty as a weapon right up to the end. He was a man who knew how to wield his face at the perfect moments.
“It’s an honor to hear that… But yes, I only have eyes for His Grace the Grand Duke.”
“Oh, what a pity. Still, if you ever change your mind, let me know. You never know what might happen in life.”
With his words full of playful innocence, I burst into laughter and replied.
“I’ll do that.”
“Good. Then I’ll look forward to the day we meet again.”
It was then, as the Crown Prince escorted me to the carriage and lightly kissed the back of my hand. From afar, I thought I heard a very faint click, along with the sensation of being watched.
I whipped my head around, but no one was there.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh. It’s nothing, Your Highness.”
Maybe I was tired. I must have misheard. I brushed it off casually.
I shook my head toward him, who was looking at me with questioning eyes. Accepting his escort, I climbed into the carriage.
