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Chapter 10
“How to Win Back a Childhood Friend’s Heart”
“Why?”
“Well, that is, um…”
Fay’s eyes sparkled like old pearls. It felt like she was expecting a specific answer from him, but Dante’s mind—turned completely white like blank paper—couldn’t produce anything resembling the correct response.
Like a poorly oiled tin doll, Dante stammered slightly.
“W-well, there’s no harm in thinking it through slowly. It’s a lifelong partner we’re choosing, so the more careful you are, the better.”
The emotion that had briefly flickered in Fay’s violet eyes vanished in an instant. Dante wasn’t sure what he had done wrong, but he could tell he had made a mistake.
Fay, who had been staring at him with an uncharacteristically sulky expression, suddenly shoved his arm away.
“Forget it. I don’t care.”
“Fay!”
“I’ll get married someday anyway! Unlike you, who can just enter the temple, I can’t avoid marriage!”
At those words, Dante felt as if cold water had been poured over his head. His lips moved, but no words came out.
Fay turned away without hesitation.
“I’ll go first. Let’s go look at clothes tomorrow. If I had more time, I would’ve had them tailored, but we’ll have to go to a dress shop this time.”
“…Yeah.”
“See you tomorrow!”
And with that, she left.
Dante remained standing there, his hand pressed against his chest.
It felt like something was stuck in his throat.
Even after classes ended and he boarded the carriage back to his estate, that feeling didn’t go away.
Leaning his head against the carriage window, Dante stared outside, lost in thought.
‘Objectively, Fay is right.’
The royal family currently had three princesses, including Fay. The two older ones had already been married off to foreign countries due to the age gap.
And Fay was a woman. Unlike Prince Fabian or Prince Leo, in the Kingdom of Lorencia, there was nothing more likely to spark gossip than an unmarried noblewoman of marriageable age.
He had vaguely thought he could just prevent her marriage, but clearly that was naïve. If he looked at it seriously, unless Fay was forced into the temple, it would be impossible to stop marriage altogether.
But Dante did not want to force Fay into a path she didn’t want. More than anything, the temple was a closed institution that valued strict rules.
There was no way someone as free-spirited as Fay could endure it.
‘So in the end, she has to get married.’
Maybe he just needed to prevent her from marrying that man?
No— even if he stopped that marriage, there was no guarantee something similar wouldn’t happen again.
Royalty in general tended to be selfish and difficult. He didn’t even need to look far; the first prince, Fabian, was proof enough.
‘So foreign nobles or royalty are out.’
If something happened to Fay, it would be better if he could reach her quickly. But limiting the search to within the country narrowed the candidates drastically.
And since she was a princess’s husband, he would need at least a marquis-level family or higher.
In the Kingdom of Lorencia, there were seven marquis families and four ducal families.
In other words, among them, there had to be someone of marriageable age, around Fay’s age, and someone who would unquestionably cherish her.
“…This is difficult.”
While Dante was lost in thought, the carriage arrived at the estate. As he stepped out, Benjamin hurriedly ran toward him.
He was technically a servant, but also the son of the butler and around Dante’s age, so they were fairly close.
“Young master!”
“What is it?”
“A letter arrived from the royal palace. The messenger said you should read it immediately.”
“Give it to me.”
What now?
Feeling an ominous premonition, Dante opened the envelope and scanned the contents, clicking his tongue lightly.
“Freddy.”
“Yes, young master.”
The coachman who had just driven the carriage bowed respectfully.
“Sorry, but I think I’ll need the carriage again.”
The letter contained only one line. Direct and unmistakable.
“Come to the palace immediately upon reading this letter.
— Fabian Eppeldelt de Lorencia”
* * *
It took exactly thirty minutes by carriage to reach the royal palace.
“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”
Entering the audience chamber, Dante immediately bowed respectfully.
Black hair. Red eyes. Though he looked noticeably more youthful than in Dante’s memory, his sharp gaze remained unchanged.
Fabian Eppeldelt de Lorencia.
The son of the current queen and the undisputed heir to the throne.
With his refined looks and a calm, sociable personality that made people forget his age, he had been extremely popular in high society from the moment he first appeared.
However, there was one small problem.
“You’re quite late.”
“It is just now 2 p.m.”
That the two of them had never gotten along—not even remotely—from childhood.
He didn’t remember exactly when their relationship had soured. He had once asked why, but the only answer he got was, “You really don’t know?”
No, that was why I was asking.
He had once thought Fabian was a very twisted person. Especially in the way he treated Fay, his younger sister.
“Still as insolent as ever.”
“If that is how I appear, I apologize.”
Even after Dante bowed politely, Fabian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Dante met his displeased gaze and thought calmly.
What is this guy’s problem?
Rather than trying to interpret someone he couldn’t understand even now or in the future, Dante went straight to the point.
“So, why did you call me here?”
If he was summoned immediately after reading the letter, it must be important.
“I heard something interesting.”
“What might that be?”
“I heard you are planning to attend the graduation party as my sister’s partner.”
Ah.
He had completely forgotten after getting Fay’s approval, but the news had already reached this man’s ears.
“Is it true?”
“Yes, it is.”
There was no point in denying it.
“And I also heard you’ve decided not to enter the temple.”
“You seem quite interested in me.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. I’m honored.”
Dante replied calmly, staring at him.
Fabian was tall, but Dante was slightly taller even now. And if nothing changed, he would grow a little more over the next two years.
With their eye levels subtly shifted, it made him realize once again that he had returned to the past.
How was I supposed to act toward a prince at this age again?
Fabian suddenly smirked and lightly patted Dante’s shoulder.
“Not that it matters, but I was simply worried you might be entertaining some unrealistic expectations.”
Dante looked at him silently as Fabian gripped his shoulder tightly.
“Like thinking you could become a member of the royal family or something so absurd.”
There was faint contempt behind his smiling expression. Releasing Dante’s shoulder, Fabian smiled warmly.
“You must know your place, yes?”
It was a story Dante had heard so many times since childhood that it was almost engraved into him.
Why was he repeating it now?
Instead of wondering, Dante continued.
“So is that why you called me all the way here?”
“It’s because my only sister is about to debut in high society, and I can’t help but be concerned.”
Members of the royal family traditionally only participate in their debut after turning eighteen.
Fay would turn eighteen this coming December. Without her strong will, it would have been impossible for her to attend the academy in the same year as him despite being born in a different season.
She had even hidden her identity just to experience normal school life.
“She is at the age where marriage must be considered. It would be best to avoid scandals from the very beginning.”
“….”
“I trust a wise man like you understands what I mean.”
Dante looked at the man who was so openly telling him to give up Fay’s partner position.
Even if their relationship was strained, Fabian was still on good terms with Dante’s older brother, Julio. As Fay’s brother, Dante had tried not to provoke him unnecessarily.
Dante spoke quietly.
“Why should I do that?”
Even if that wasn’t always possible.
“What?”
“If I were some kind of irredeemable bastard, the princess would have already cut me off. She is far more intelligent and wise than I am.”
Fabian’s talk of “protecting Fay” sounded hypocritical. Almost unbearable.
Especially when he recalled the future where this man had stood by without preventing Fay’s death.
Of course, Dante had no intention of blaming him for a future that hadn’t happened yet—but he also wasn’t willing to quietly accept interference.
Fabian let out a short laugh, seemingly amused. Then he tapped Dante’s cheek.
It was the kind of touch one would use on a pet dog. Not painful, but humiliating.
Seeing Dante remain motionless, blinking like a stone statue, Fabian slowly lowered his hand.
“You truly are as irritating as ever.”
“I understand you already think I’m a troublemaker. But my loyalty has always been to the princess.”
Fabian’s expression darkened slightly.
“How do you think I will interpret that statement?”
“I am simply loyal to the royal family.”
“…Ha.”
Fabian raised his right hand and grabbed Dante lightly by the neck. His large palm pressed against his throat.
