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Chapter 07
No matter how skilled one was at the waltz, dancing with twenty people was simply exhausting. By the end, her ankles were throbbing with pain.
When she finally entered the princess’s private resting room and was icing her aching ankle, there was a knock at the door.
“May I come in for a moment?”
“Duke Myres. You’re here.”
Abigail and Dorothy, who had been standing by her side, tilted their heads in confusion, then opened the door at her order.
Cedric entered with calm, disciplined steps, then looked over Abigail, Dorothy, and the other attendants.
“Your Highness. I have something to discuss with you privately. If I may be so bold, could you dismiss the attendants?”
Before I could even answer, Dorothy gasped, and Abigail let out a faint smile.
Then Abigail leaned in beside me and whispered quietly.
“Princess Charlotte, it seems Duke Myres has something he wishes to say in private.”
“Privately? He’s making it very obvious.”
“Then we shall withdraw.”
Still bewildered, I nodded. Soon, only the two of us remained in the princess’s lounge.
I gestured for him to sit across from the sofa.
But he immediately shook his head. Feeling slightly awkward, I sipped the tea on the table instead.
Cedric was… strange.
His usual expressionless face was there, but his cravat—normally tied with obsessive precision—was loosened, and one glove was missing, as if thrown aside somewhere.
In other words, he looked unusually tense.
“Duke, is something wrong? You don’t look well.”
“No. There is nothing wrong with my health. I merely…”
Frowning slightly, Cedric shifted his posture several times before exhaling.
“No… in fact, there might be something wrong. As a holy knight who must control his emotions, this should not be happening.”
Just then—
Bang!
A loud commotion erupted outside, cutting off Cedric’s words.
The moment I turned toward the door, Cedric’s expression stiffened.
He walked to the entrance in my place and asked the guard,
“What is going on?”
“The 6th Prince of Blake has requested an audience with the princess.”
“Prince Leonhard? With me? Why?”
“We are not certain…”
The guard glanced briefly at Cedric before looking back at me.
“Sh-should we turn him away?”
“We can’t turn away a prince. Ask him to wait in the reception room for a moment.”
I instructed the guard, then turned back to Cedric.
“So, Duke. What was it you wanted to say to me?”
It felt strange for him to be standing awkwardly by the door, but judging by his tense expression, it must have been urgent.
It would be better to deal with it quickly.
But Cedric had already regained his usual indifferent expression. Calm as ever, he bowed slightly.
“I will return later.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to speak today? Say it now.”
“No. I will come again next time.”
Ignoring my words, Cedric turned and walked out.
He was ignoring a princess’s order. As expected, male leads really do exchange manners for looks.
Just as I was internally reaffirming that thought—
Abigail rushed back inside.
“Your Highness, please remain calm.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Because the 6th Prince personally coming here may mean he intends to propose.”
At Abigail’s words, my face turned pale.
“That’s impossible.”
“Historically, it is quite possible.”
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, Prince Leonhard entered the room without warning.
He looked at me and Abigail, both standing awkwardly frozen, and raised an eyebrow.
“I did say I was excusing myself… but did I truly commit an offense?”
Yes.
“…No, Your Highness. Please, have a seat.”
I calmly returned to the sofa and gestured again to the opposite side.
The 6th Prince walked in with long, confident strides and sat down.
Compared to Cedric from five minutes ago, the contrast was unavoidable.
Leonhard was different in many ways.
Cedric had eyes like a quiet dawn, but this man’s gaze burned like flowing lava.
If Cedric was a perfect holy knight, then this prince was more like a seasoned mercenary.
He gave off a rough, dangerous aura, yet carried an effortless composure.
Even sitting in front of me, he leisurely looked around the lounge.
As I watched him uneasily, something I did not want to hear came out of his mouth.
“Princess, I would like to speak with you alone. Could you dismiss the attendants?”
Is this seriously happening?
While I stood there dumbfounded, Abigail and Dorothy quietly escorted the attendants out on their own. My anxiety only grew.
“Actually, I have something I would like to give you.”
Leonhard casually reached into the inside of his coat.
I had seen that gesture many times before the banquet even began… and I would probably see it many more times in the future.
I shot up from my seat.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness! I cannot accept your proposal!”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
A heavy silence fell.
I lowered my gaze to the item in his hand.
A long, flat rectangular box. Definitely not a ring box.
I slowly looked back up at Leonhard. One of his thick eyebrows was slightly raised in confusion.
My face flushed red instantly, and I awkwardly slumped back onto the sofa.
“……”
Silence stretched on.
Gathering courage, I finally looked at him again.
Leonhard had one hand covering his mouth, staring at the distant wall—but his lips were clearly trembling.
He was trying not to laugh.
Oh no. I want to die.
I lowered my head deeply and mumbled in a shrinking voice.
“I-I apologize for my misunderstanding…”
“It’s fine. I did say I wanted to be alone, so it was an easy mistake. That’s on me.”
After a short cough, he lowered his hand—but his lips were still curved upward.
I wanted to die of embarrassment again.
“The reason I wanted to be alone was because I had a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
Leonhard handed me the box.
After a moment of hesitation, I opened it.
Inside was a stone the size of a thumb. But it was not just a stone—it looked like a gemstone.
Depending on the angle, its color shifted beautifully, and I couldn’t help but admire it.
“What is this?”
“I crossed the Lesher Desert with my elite guard without using teleportation.”
“The Lesher Desert? That’s not a place just anyone can cross.”
At my words, he smiled faintly without answering. I recognized that smile as arrogance, but I didn’t respond.
It annoyed me.
“There were magical materials needed in the desert. While retrieving them, I obtained this as a bonus—‘Tear of Deligno.’ It’s a mana stone with more magical power than most high-ranking mages.”
“Why are you telling me all this… and why give me something so valuable?”
“You know the First Prince and I are competing for power. He has already sent you a marriage proposal.”
“……”
“I’m simply asking you to be my friend in this way.”
Leonhard rested his chin on his hand and smiled freely.
“I’m not proposing.”
“Ugh.”
“But if you want, should I propose?”
His playful tone made me cover my face with both hands.
“Please, Your Highness, forget this ever happened.”
Apparently finding it too amusing, Leonhard burst into laughter.
At this point, I seriously considered whether it might be justified to hit him on the head and make him lose his memory.
I meant it. Clenching my fist tightly under my dress sleeve, I was thinking exactly that—
When he finally stopped laughing and asked,
“So, even if you refuse the proposal, I hope you won’t refuse the gift. Will you accept it?”
“…I don’t usually refuse gifts.”
I replied primly, closing the box and placing it beside the table.
“If you will kindly forget what just happened, I will accept it.”
“Ah, then did anything just happen between us?”
At his teasing expression, I ended up laughing as well.
“I’ll accept it properly. In return, I’d like to give you something as well. Is there anything you want during the banquet?”
“……”
Leonhard rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Then… could you spare me some time tomorrow?”
