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Chapter 6
An Unexpected Truth (1)
Aaron showed a troubled expression for a moment before eventually saying he would gratefully accept the gift.
Even though she had not intended it, Elia thought her idea was honestly genius and smiled brightly.
“If you ever want more, just tell me anytime. I have more than enough flower tea to give Sir Aaron.”
* * *
Three days had passed since Aaron returned from the Rier Empire.
“Hm.”
Aaron lightly scanned the letter written in Elia’s neat handwriting.
He had expected something cute and decorative, but the handwriting felt far more mature than expected.
Thinking it was a little surprising, he slowly continued reading.
“Does Sir Aaron have a fiancée?
Today I overheard the maids talking about engagements.
I kept hearing about barons, marquises, and many noble titles, and suddenly I thought of you, Sir Aaron.
If you do have one, she must surely be an amazing person.”
“Fiancée…”
Aaron quietly repeated the word several times in his mouth.
Since he had already devoted himself to his country, he had never seriously thought about marriage.
Protecting Her Highness Lotte was always his first priority, so even if he married, he would certainly neglect his family.
If that were the case, he believed it was better not to marry from the beginning.
After reading the letter until the end, Aaron carefully folded it and placed it back into the envelope.
Now it was his turn to write a reply.
As he looked at the stationery and envelope Elia had sent, he remembered her final words before he left.
“I’ll send a letter using colors that suit Sir Aaron.”
Just as she had said, the envelope was black while the paper inside was gold.
Where in the world had she even found paper like this?
Of course, it was probably only possible because she was the Empire’s Imperial Princess, but without realizing it, Aaron found himself wondering how expensive the paper must be.
The Imperial Princess had gone through so much effort to send it like this. If he failed to match that effort, perhaps it could even cause trouble for Lotte.
Letting out a sigh, Aaron prepared a pink envelope and pale blue paper before slowly beginning his reply.
Having only ever used cheap yellowish paper his entire life, his hands trembled slightly at this unfamiliar luxury.
“I do not have a fiancée.”
Out of all her questions, that was the first thing he answered.
“Does Your Highness have a fiancée?”
After writing only those two sentences, Aaron’s pen stopped moving.
Would that be rude?
He had never been curious about engagements before, so asking something so direct made him hesitate.
Was it really alright to ask such a question?
If she already had a fiancé, rumors would surely have spread everywhere already.
Aaron crumpled the paper and took out a fresh sheet, starting over from the beginning.
The paper felt too precious to waste on sending something rude.
“I do not have a fiancée.
Is there perhaps a young nobleman Your Highness has feelings for?”
Even while thinking this was unlike himself, Aaron still left the sentence as it was.
After that, the rest was ordinary conversation—asking after her well-being, mentioning small things that had happened while waiting for her reply, and other simple topics.
For Lotte’s sake, he needed to maintain a good relationship with Imperial Princess Elia, who had become their only connection to the Rier Empire.
After all, she was the only person who had allowed Lotte to step foot into the Empire.
* * *
The next day, after receiving the letter, Elia opened the pink envelope and unfolded the pale blue paper inside.
She had not expected Aaron to care about her earlier comment about choosing colors that suited each other.
Yet he had matched the colors in return.
Thinking about Aaron carefully choosing colors that suited her made her heart tickle pleasantly.
He could have simply used gold safely, but instead he had chosen a pink envelope.
When she first saw the letter, she had struggled desperately to hold back her laughter.
“What exactly did I write again?”
While recalling the contents of the letter she had sent Aaron, Elia stared at the handwriting that somehow felt both neat and free at the same time.
Ah, right. She had asked about a fiancée.
Since the original story barely revealed anything about Aaron, she had worried there might be some fiancée who would become an obstacle between Aaron and Lotte.
Of course, if that fiancée were Lotte herself, then that would actually be wonderful.
Still, hearing that he had no fiancée felt both disappointing and relieving at the same time.
What surprised her even more was the fact that Aaron had asked whether Elia herself had a fiancé.
“Is there perhaps a young nobleman Your Highness has feelings for?”
That level of interest was not bad at all.
It was true that she needed to become somewhat close with Aaron in order to connect him with Lotte, but honestly, it also felt like she was satisfying too many of her own selfish desires.
“What should I write…”
“I do not have a fiancé either, but there is a young nobleman I have feelings for.
He is incredibly reliable and kind.
He does not know how I feel, but I admire him by myself.”
Her intention was to subtly create common ground through unrequited love so that maybe Aaron would eventually open up about his feelings for Lotte.
If they shared something similar, perhaps the distance between them would shrink a little.
“Hm…”
“It feels a little embarrassing telling Sir Aaron something I have never told anyone else.”
People always said a little bit of feminine acting was necessary.
Besides, if an Imperial Princess did not act refined and delicate, people would probably think she lacked elegance.
While making excuses to herself, Elia finished writing the letter.
She had already been surprised when Aaron first sent her a reply, but she never expected they would end up having conversations like this.
Their letters were simple, yet strangely full of closeness.
Maybe Aaron only looked stiff on the outside while secretly having the heart of a sentimental young girl inside?
That kind of unexpected contrast was always welcome—especially if it only appeared toward her.
‘Who knows? Maybe he’ll eventually start subtly talking about his feelings for Lotte.’
She did not understand why Aaron was suddenly treating her this kindly, but she decided to stop overthinking it.
The only thing she could enjoy was this present moment.
Knock knock—
Just as she melted sealing wax to close the envelope, a knock sounded from the door.
Elia turned toward it.
Thinking no one should be visiting, she looked at the maid, but the maid only shook her head as if she knew nothing about it.
A troublesome guest arriving while the nanny was away…
After hesitating for a while, Elia opened the door and looked outside.
Someone strangely familiar stood there.
Light purple hair.
Blue eyes.
It was Marquis Livius Paolo.
At a young age, Livius had already become the head of his house. He was also one of Llewellyn’s close aides, and because of his great ambition, he would later participate in Llewellyn’s tyranny.
“You are…?”
Elia had heard a brief explanation about Livius from the nanny before.
Only basic information like his appearance and name.
Since she had never heard detailed explanations, she could not guess why he had come to visit her.
However, perhaps Elia’s reaction displeased him, because Livius’s smiling expression twisted unpleasantly.
“So you will not even welcome me warmly anymore?”
Seeing Elia react so indifferently—as if she were facing an unwanted visitor—Livius could not hide his displeased expression.
No matter how powerful he was as a marquis, his position was still lower than an Imperial Princess.
Yet somehow he acted as though she had committed the rude offense.
Elia silently met his eyes for a moment before eventually tiring first and looking away.
Then she heard him clear his throat.
“Even if our engagement has been broken off, this reaction is a little too cold.”
Engagement?
Well, it was fortunate it had already been canceled, but they had actually been engaged?
What in the world was this situation?
More importantly, Livius clearly did not seem to truly believe she had lost her memories.
It was relieving yet uncomfortable at the same time that he was not openly doubting her memory loss.
“Ah…? N-No, it’s not like that, so please do not worry.”
Elia did not know how to respond, so she could only answer vaguely.
The unexpected visit from someone she absolutely did not welcome made her wonder what else she was even supposed to say.
The fact that Elia had once been engaged to Livius made her head spin even more.
“It feels awkward talking out here. May I come inside?”
As he asked, Livius firmly grabbed the half-open door.
His actions clearly showed he had no intention of accepting rejection.
“…Please come in.”
She did not like it, but she felt her own legs would probably give out before Livius’s ever did, so she opened the door wider and let him in.
The maid hurriedly prepared tea while Elia sat across from the smiling Livius.
“So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”
Livius was not an unattractive man.
In fact, he was handsome enough to receive endless praise for his looks.
The only problem was that Elia knew far too well what kind of person he truly was.
“There is no need to be so stiff. I came because I was worried after hearing Your Highness had regained consciousness. Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”
If that was truly all, then there had been no need for him to enter her room at all.
Even if she collapsed while speaking, she should have left him standing outside the door.
That would have been far more humiliating for him.
She realized too late that her judgment had been poor.
“Did you not say you had something to discuss? It doesn’t seem like you came all this way only to ask about my health…”
Her words came out colder than intended, but Livius merely kept smiling as though he understood everything.
As if he believed she still had lingering feelings for him.
Surely Elia had not truly loved Livius, right?
If she could ever meet the original Elia’s soul, she wanted to scold her for having terrible taste in men.
“Ah… I thought perhaps your recent collapse may have partly been my fault.”
“I’m not sure what you mean. As Marquis Livius already knows, my body has simply been weak.”
If Elia had collapsed before she herself entered this body, then it made sense why the nanny had never mentioned the engagement with Livius.
No matter what had caused Elia’s collapse, if Livius was related to it somehow, then it would hardly be something pleasant to bring up.
