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Chapter 12
If this scene had a soundtrack, it would probably sound like this:
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!”
Whiu—whiu—whoo, wah-wah-wah—
A dusty western plain.
A man sits on a horse, his expression grim.
Gun in hand, he shoots down outlaws without hesitation.
Here, I’m the gunslinging hero on horseback, and the one standing in my way is none other than the infamous playboy—Lord Theodore!
Even if I were a saint, I’d have to fight through his shameless chatter and ridiculous flirting to stop him.
The moment I saw him, my heart started racing—
Not out of love, mind you.
It was pure, unadulterated stress.
As I stepped into the room in my dirt-stained, grass-smeared dress, he gave me a look that already screamed “What a bother.”
Yes, that’s right. The princess scraping the bottom of the royal hierarchy—that’s me!
Standing beside him, I started babbling right away.
“Lord Theodore, didn’t I tell you last time that we should stop seeing each other?”
His deep brown eyes curved with a smile almost instantly.
“But we haven’t even exchanged greetings yet, and already you’re this entertaining. Why should I stop?”
A strong opponent.
He bowed politely, and I reluctantly bent my knees in return.
“Good day, Your Highness.”
“Hello, Lord Theodore.”
Right, I’m the rude, ill-mannered princess. You can drop the formalities; let’s just get to the point.
“Now that we’ve exchanged greetings, can we move on to the main topic?”
“Actually, that’s why I came—to discuss it myself.”
Strong opponent, confirmed.
“Ahem, then please, go ahead.”
He gestured for me to sit, then leaned lazily back into the sofa, smiling faintly.
“I admire your unshakable heart, Princess.”
“What is this, a Simmons mattress ad?”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, nothing. I’m just… a bit of a scatterbrained fool sometimes. Anyway, don’t admire anything about me.”
A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes—
like a jackal about to pounce on its prey.
“You don’t know me that well yet. Why is it you don’t like me?”
“It’s instinct!”
“Then your instincts are mistaken.”
He stretched back in the sofa, broad chest straining against his perfectly fitted suit.
The way he lounged there, confident and relaxed, radiating mature charm—
it annoyed me to no end.
“My instincts have never been wrong.”
He leaned forward, teasing smile in place.
“Oh really? Then didn’t your instincts tell you a handsome man would visit you today to ask for courtship?”
“Already happened.”
“What?”
“A handsome man already came by—with a big, shiny rock.”
I mimed a ring with my fingers. His lips curled into a crooked smirk.
“Ah, a competitor. So that’s why you’re acting so calm?”
I crossed my legs and quietly shook my ankle under my dress.
“If only I really were calm, like you think. I’m actually incredibly nervous.”
I didn’t know what his true intentions were, but I had the feeling I shouldn’t get entangled with this man.
“I’m not calm, actually. But I do know one thing—I’ll only choose a man who makes me feel safe. My instincts tell me, Lord Theodore, that you’d definitely cheat.”
He chuckled softly, hand covering his mouth.
“Princess, I’ve met plenty of women already. I’ve no intention of cheating after marriage.”
“Everyone says that at first. Then four weeks later, it’s ‘See you never.’”
My cynical joke didn’t faze him at all.
“I may not understand your humor, Princess, but I do understand your meaning. If you’re uncertain, ask Princess Rosa. We only went on a few dates, but you can ask her yourself whether I ever cheated on her.”
I thought of my sister. Rosa? My sister? Ha…
“Maybe she just wasn’t sharp enough to notice.”
“You’re provoking me, Princess. You make me want to tear down that fortress around your heart.”
“Didn’t you say you liked my unshakable resolve?”
“That’s exactly it. I want someone who stays constant—and doesn’t give her heart easily. You understand that, don’t you?”
He was suddenly very serious.
Why?
Shouldn’t playboys meet seductresses, and pure men meet pure women? That’s fair.
Why do opposites have to meet just to suffer, break up, and make their children miserable later?
Somehow, it felt like he could see right through my ideals.
But if what he said was true—if he really wanted someone like that—then…
“So you’re saying you’ve played around enough, and now you want someone naive like me?”
“My reputation’s been exaggerated, just like my fame. And you, Princess, are not naive. You’re sharp and perceptive. I’d prefer if you looked at the truth with those eyes, instead of listening to rumors.”
We fell silent, studying each other’s expressions.
What if I’d really been wrong about him?
After all, I too had suffered under false rumors and the cold gazes of noblewomen. Maybe he had, too.
Still… if my brother-in-law hadn’t set this up, we’d both be living peaceful lives. Why was he so insistent on meeting me?
Then he sighed lightly and changed the subject, pointing to the dirt on my dress.
“Did you kneel before the man who brought that big ring?”
I was speechless. What an absurd image!
So he could joke.
“Me? I just tripped. I told you—I’m a bit of a clumsy fool.”
He chuckled again, and the tense atmosphere eased noticeably.
“I can appreciate all kinds of beauty.”
“Right. Do you know what it feels like to face someone who won’t die no matter how many times you shoot them?”
“…”
He gave me a long, intent look before finally smiling.
“Then I’ll be honest. I was born the only son of a humble family. My father was obsessed with money; my mother, lonely, cheated on him. I probably resemble them both—successful in earning money, but meeting many women trying to find the one who’d love only me.”
He loosened his tie slightly, as if the confession itself weighed on him.
“But I never found her. Some women rejected me because of my low status, others caved to their parents’ disapproval, and some only cared about my wealth. Contrary to what you might think, I was always the one who got hurt.”
He spoke calmly, but my instincts told me he was sincere.
Why was he telling me all this—someone he’d only just met?
And among those women, one who’d turned away due to parental opposition… must’ve been my sister, Rosa.
That realization made me feel unexpectedly guilty.
Still, why me?
Giselle was an idiot who only loved Adrian. And maybe… maybe I still liked Adrian, too.
“But you, Princess—you’ve only ever loved one man, even against opposition. You have wealth, yet you’re indifferent to it. Most of all, I believe you’d feel safe by my side.”
At that last sentence, my face grew warm.
Safe. I had said I wanted someone who made me feel safe. But hearing it from him somehow embarrassed me.
Yes, his story was sad. But I couldn’t hand an innocent rabbit over to a seasoned jackal, could I?
“If that’s how you see it, then we’re even more incompatible. I’ve changed since the days I chased after Sir Adrian. Now I want to try free love, the opposite of you. And… this is a secret, but I’m saving money on the side lately. I’m kind of into secret funds. So your research on me? Completely wrong.”
He leaned back and burst out laughing.
“You’re surprisingly combative. But hearing my story didn’t stir even a little pity in you?”
“You’re not someone who deserves pity, Lord Theodore. You grew up well despite everything. Pity doesn’t suit you at all.”
At that, a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes—but he quickly smoothed it over with a polished smile.
“You haven’t discouraged me, Princess. You’ve only made me want you more.”
Ugh. My head hurts.
I sighed.
“It’s been a long day. I don’t have the energy for more flirting. Just know—it won’t work on me.”
Thankfully, he didn’t press further.
He stood, long legs straightening gracefully, and extended his hand.
“Then I’ll take my leave for today. But next time, I hope you’ll open your heart to me—even just a little.”
I had taken off my dirtied gloves earlier, so I absentmindedly reached out with my bare hand.
He took it, kissed it softly, and met my eyes with an intense gaze.
It was improper for a princess to offer her bare hand—but it hadn’t been intentional.
Oh no… what do I do?
He released my hand, and for a brief, fleeting instant—
I thought I saw deep sorrow flash across his face.
Something felt ominous. Should I say something?
“Lord Theodore!”
He turned back toward me. I hesitated, biting my lip, before speaking.
“Some things just can’t be changed, no matter how hard you try. So… don’t push yourself too far.”
I hadn’t really meant anything specific. It just came out.
A faint crease appeared between his brows, then smoothed out.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Farewell.”
As he left the parlor, I finally exhaled deeply.
I could always see others’ futures—whether I wanted to or not.
But my own future remained forever hidden.
And yet, for the first time, in that fleeting moment—
I had seen myself appear within his future.
