Chapter 06
“My answer is…”
Lai felt as if his whole body had turned into a beating heart, making it hard to look at Eva straight. But it was an important moment, so he tried to focus.
Eva, who had been wearing a serious expression, suddenly broke into a radiant smile, even cupping her face in her hands.
“How do I look right now?”
At the question—which wasn’t an answer—Lai’s eyebrow twitched.
“Pardon?”
“Come on, say it quickly. How do I look? Am I pretty?”
She tucked her glossy hair behind her ear, wearing a shameless expression. Lai’s whole body was pounding, but he struggled to keep his face composed.
“…You are beautiful.”
When he finally spoke aloud the words he had repeated to himself thousands, tens of thousands of times, he felt his feelings for her deepen even further.
“It seems Your Grace is finally seeing clearly.”
“My eyesight has always been good.”
“I like my looks too much. That’s why I don’t want to get married and give this beauty away.”
Eva lowered her hands and spoke in a firm voice.
“As I said that day, I have no intention of marrying like some typical count’s daughter. I want to live as Eva Blanche, respected in my own right—not as someone’s lover.”
“…”
“A life just for myself.”
It was a line she had prepared so that after today’s date, she would never have to see him again. Since cold rejection had only made him cling before, this time she planned to push him away warmly.
“Still, I enjoyed today.”
Lai, who had been staring at her without even blinking, gave a weak smile at those words.
“I liked the meal, and I liked seeing a side of you I didn’t know before. The park was fun too.”
“I see.”
“But that’s all it was. It didn’t turn into love.”
Her tone became firm.
“All the kind things you did for me, all your efforts to look good in my eyes—they were a burden.”
“…I see.”
‘Everything you did for me was a burden.’
‘…’
‘Coming to find me, watching my reactions, clinging to me—all of it.’
‘But I…’
‘Stop. Just stop already.’
Eva rejected him with words similar to ones Lai himself had once used in the past.
“Let’s go back to being strangers.”
She held out her hand for a final handshake. Lai wanted to refuse because it felt like this would really be the end, but his hand was already rising. There was no way he could refuse her.
“If that is what you wish, I will do so.”
He carefully took her delicate hand, shook it formally as if sealing a contract, and let go.
“Then I’ll head back first. Your Grace can rest here a bit longer before returning.”
“Eva.”
It was the first time she had heard her name in Lai’s voice. Her body froze before she could take another step.
“Y-Yes?”
“If I were to be your type, would you someday come to me?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If, even years from now, I still felt this way about you… would you give me another chance?”
His words came out before he could stop them—driven by the desperate hope of turning her heart, even just a little.
“No.”
Eva rejected him without a breath of hesitation, knowing his words would only poison her resolve. Why did he look so pained? How long had they even known each other?
“I don’t think your feelings will last long.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sure you’ll fall for another lady soon enough.”
She was thinking of Julian, who would soon appear in Lai’s life. His face instantly hardened.
After pouring so much sincerity into Eva, he was hurt that she understood him the least. For the first time, his voice carried a hint of resentment.
“Even if my feelings for you were a burden… there has never been a moment they weren’t genuine.”
Eva was taken aback by the trace of anger in his tone.
“I will probably remember this moment far longer than you think.”
Lie.
“I cannot promise, but I will try to forget—because even that could be a burden to you.”
You know nothing.
“You are the first person I have wanted to be seen as a man by, rather than as a knight.”
Hearing him out, Eva also felt a sudden lump in her throat.
Wait a second—she had been rejected dozens of times in her previous life. Was he really reacting like this after being rejected just once? What kind of grand love did he think this was?
Eva met his eyes with the same sharpness.
“If you can’t forget, then remember alone.”
“…”
“Just keep replaying the moments we were together.”
Like I did in my past life.
“That’s the lot of the one who’s been rejected.”
They were looking directly at each other, but deep down, they both knew their gazes were not meeting.
“Eat well, live well. I’ll be living just fine.”
With that, Eva left the park first. Lai couldn’t bring himself to follow—he just stared at the spot where she had been lying beside him moments ago.
On the western path inside the imperial palace of the Beggen Again Empire.
The Third Prince, Claude Beggen Elihu, was returning to his western palace after finishing his schedule.
He had shining silver hair and eyes as dazzling and deep as the blue of the cosmos.
Palace servants would even go out of their way to pass near the western palace, just for the chance to glimpse his face from afar.
“Claude.”
“Kyle, Chris.”
The First Prince Kyle and the Second Prince Chris had called out to him.
They, too, had silver hair and blue eyes, but not as vivid as Claude’s.
“Claude, how is the welcome party for the delegation from the Pene Empire going? His Majesty entrusted it to you.”
“I heard a rumor you haven’t even found a person in charge yet. That’s not true, is it?”
Though they already knew the answer, his brothers pretended ignorance to provoke him. Claude replied with a polite smile.
“It’s true. I haven’t found the person in charge yet. Since His Majesty entrusted this task to me directly, I want to do it well. That’s why it’s taking some time to choose the right person.”
“There’s only about three weeks left, isn’t there?”
“That’s right.”
“At this rate, you’ll appoint someone the day before the party.”
Kyle smirked at him openly.
“If you need our help, just say so anytime. We’ve organized many parties before—we can share information you might need.”
Chris’s tone also carried a subtle dismissal of Claude’s abilities.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’d like to accomplish this on my own. Please just look forward to the party.”
Claude kept his smile until they were gone—only then did he wipe it from his face and run a hand through his hair.
“Tch.”
Many called Claude the unfortunate prince with no chance of becoming emperor.
While his elder brothers were born of the empress, Claude was born of a consort.
To an emperor who already had two sons, Claude was little more than a child in name only. His elder and younger sisters were far more beloved than he was.
Upon reaching adulthood, he was given the western palace—the farthest from the emperor’s own—reflecting his low standing.
But the delegation’s welcome party, entrusted to him personally by the emperor, was a rare and golden opportunity. He had to seize it if he wanted to build his position.
“Your Highness, you’re back?”
When he arrived at the western palace, his aide Chase was already waiting.
Chase had ash-colored hair parted evenly down the middle, revealing a round forehead. Though his eyes slanted upward, his mouth curved up too, giving him a gentle appearance.
“Chase, you said you sent a letter to someone perfect for the role of party coordinator, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve been sending them, but there’s still no reply.”
“With only three weeks left, I can’t wait much longer.”
The fact that his brothers had brought it up made him even more sensitive about it.
“I’ll make sure to get a reply as soon as possible.”
“Find out quickly.”
“Yes, Your Highness. There’s also a change in tomorrow’s schedule. The outdoor training with Captain Lai has been postponed.”
“I know. Lai took some leave, and I gave him an extra day off.”
Claude and Lai had been childhood friends and knew each other better than anyone.
“I see. I’ll note that down. Did something happen with the captain?”
Chase also knew that Lai, who liked order and rules, rarely changed his schedule. He was worried something might have happened.
But Claude’s tense expression eased slightly at the mention of Lai.
“He said he had a date.”
“Oh, I see—what?! A date? That captain is going on a date?!”
Chase’s voice shot up in shock.
“With which lady? Wait—did the captain even have an interest in dating?”
A date? The word seemed the least compatible thing with Lai in the entire world.
“Haha, I don’t know who yet. I’m supposed to find out after the date. I’ll probably know by next week.”
“I thought the captain would stay single forever and just work.”
Still in disbelief, Chase’s mind began racing to imagine what sort of lady could stir Lai’s heart.
“My guess is that he’d like a lady similar to himself.”
“Really?”
“A calm and quiet lady would suit him well, since the captain doesn’t like noisy things.”
“Haha, that might be true.”
Claude also imagined the kind of lady who would match Lai and nodded in agreement.
“What about me—what do you think?”
“Pardon? Are you also interested in ladies, Your Highness?”
“Do I seem as uninterested in women as Lai?”
“Yes, I thought you two would both just work your whole lives. Alone.”
Chase spoke with utter sincerity.
“That’s not true. If the right lady came along, I’d want to promise her my life.”
“Then what kind of lady draws your eye?”
“Well, what do you think?”
Chase pondered far more seriously than he had for Lai—this was his master, after all.
“I think you’d also suit a calm and quiet lady, Your Highness.”
“Then that would mean I’d like the exact same type as Lai?”
“Oh, no! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Chase waved his hands frantically in denial.
“Haha, I’m joking. There’s no way I’d be interested in the same lady as Lai.”
Claude laughed, and Chase, relieved that his master seemed to be in a good mood, relaxed.
“Still, I thought I’d go on a date before Lai did.”
“I thought so too.”
“Now I’m even more curious about the lady he went out with.”
“I hope it was a smooth date.”
“Yes. So with the training postponed, I have no afternoon schedule, right?”
“That’s correct. Are you going out?”
Claude stepped toward the window, gazing out toward the edge of the palace grounds.
“Hm… we’ll see.”
The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
