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Chapter 04
Hehe.
“Please stay still for a moment.”
Hehehe.
“Miss! Your hair’s getting messed up! Why do you keep laughing?”
Wahahahahaha.
“Haah…….”
Leaving Silvana muttering behind me, “Has she finally lost her mind?” I let out a shout of joy.
After all, I had actually secured a next meeting with the Imperial Princess. How could I not be thrilled?
Of course, I had been dragged back to the Rose Palace by my older brother, who came all the way to find me.
Still, even as I was being hauled away by the back of my neck, I couldn’t stop smiling at the sight of Imperial Princess Isabella waving at me as if she found even that adorable.
I even bragged smugly to the horrified Seizar that there were ways to coax an Imperial Princess, thank you very much.
All in all, I’d fastened the very first button of my worries perfectly.
The plan going forward was smooth sailing too. Letting the Imperial Princess know about my brother’s flaws would be easy.
And today! Today was the day I’d get to meet Her Highness again.
“Alright, miss! All done!”
“Oh! It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“Hehe, thank you.”
The sunset-colored hair braided down on both sides went perfectly with the fresh light-green dress I was wearing today.
‘Perfect.’
Now was the time to do my absolute best to cling to the lifeline that had finally come into view.
Isabella found this entire situation amusing.
Why had she only now learned of such a bold young lady?
She’d been curious ever since hearing that the girl had come to see her in person.
Known throughout the Empire as the “Noble Imperial Princess of the Rose Palace,” Isabella had long been the idol of countless noble young ladies—yet few ever actually sought her out. And when they did, their purposes were always obvious.
Either to boast of their connection to the Imperial Princess, or to pick up whatever scraps of favor might fall from her.
She was tired of being disappointed. The repetition had pushed her to distance herself from people who were never honest. Perhaps this was what it meant to be emotionally exhausted. She hadn’t been particularly sociable to begin with, but as the saying went, position shaped the person—and so she had spent even more time alone.
On top of that, there were always her mother’s words.
“Isabella. An Imperial Princess must live according to her station. It’s an inherently lonely position. Loneliness is normal.”
Isabella knew well enough that loneliness wasn’t normal. But she couldn’t find a reason why she shouldn’t be lonely either. A reason strong enough to refute her mother’s belief that only by not yielding to loneliness could she become an Imperial Princess whom no one dared treat lightly.
The price she paid for all the splendor she enjoyed was high.
Her mother—kind, yet strict about the authority and etiquette befitting royalty—had raised Isabella accordingly.
She had an emperor for a father, and a graceful, gentle mother, yet their love was not what one would call ordinary. They taught her royal propriety and dignity, and how to maintain proper relationships with the nobility.
If others didn’t approach her first… she couldn’t approach them first.
That was why she had been so surprised.
“Lady of the Yusupov family requests an audience.”
House Yusupov was the most powerful noble family in the Empire.
Why would their daughter want to see her? Moreover, the young lady of Yusupov was famous for rarely attending social gatherings.
It was an entirely unexpected visit.
Even young ladies who should have been eager to curry her favor rarely came to the Rose Palace—so why would she?
After the only people who had ever treated her sincerely had left, she was always alone.
She had never wanted to be alone. Yet she often was.
She had longed for it so desperately, but no one ever approached her with genuine intent. To approach someone and open one’s heart was tantamount to exposing a weakness.
She could now read the empty expressions and flattering words that held no sincerity at all—but still, a corner of her weary heart continued to wait for someone.
And so, driven by curiosity, she went straight to the reception room—only to find a young lady whose slender, delicate frame was hard to reconcile with the powerful Yusupov family.
And a face far cuter than that of Seizar Yusupov, whom she knew.
Round, clear light-green eyes, and hair the exact color of a sunset sky beyond the hills.
‘She’s nothing like the Yusupovs.’
With an adorable appearance that clearly resembled the Duchess of Yusupov, Isabella’s heart wavered toward Asha in an instant.
And as if aware of that, Asha gazed at Isabella with rapt, shining eyes—completely captivating her.
Those eyes filled with sincerity were fascinating. Pure, untainted sincerity directed at her alone, without a hint of jealousy or envy.
Isabella, who doubted and guarded against everything, found her defenses crumbling without resistance.
And so she promised to meet again.
‘She’s really cute.’
Now, watching Asha sit before her, cheeks slightly flushed as she bad-mouthed Seizar, she looked like a sulky baby hamster.
Especially with her mouth stuffed full, clearly wanting to eat more of the cookies in front of her—it only made it worse.
“So I told my brother to stop sulking! But he just slammed the door and went inside!”
“That’s a bit much. He probably thought he was doing the right thing.”
“Right?! It’s such a bad habit. Getting angry so easily. Isn’t that really awful?”
At the end of it, she glanced at Isabella for approval and broke into a satisfied smile—like a child who’d just been praised. How was she so much like a puppy begging for compliments?
Isabella tapped the table piled high with desserts and said,
“Listening to this, the young lord sounds worse than I thought.”
“Right?! Exactly! I can’t tell you how happy I am that someone understands me!”
At Asha’s vigorous nodding, Isabella smiled softly, eyes curving.
‘Ah. Cute.’
She didn’t know why this adorable young lady was so eager to complain about her own brother—but whatever the reason, if it meant she could keep seeing Asha like this, Isabella was willing to listen to anyone’s gossip.
Asha’s expressions changed moment by moment in response to her encouragement. She was truly adorable.
Enough to make Isabella want to keep her in the Rose Palace forever.
Yusupov Ducal Estate was quiet.
The estate’s rambunctious young lady was out, the Duke was in his office, and the Duchess was attending a social salon—everyone busy with their own affairs.
And in this vast estate, with not a single familiar face, Floe spent another day in the room she’d been shown to, windows thrown wide open, doing nothing but breathing exercises.
‘It’s quiet.’
Calling it boring might be unfair, given the turbulent life she’d lived so far—but still, a place where no one knew her and there was nothing to do was, indeed, boring.
Though saying no one knew her wasn’t entirely true. Plenty had happened with Seizar Yusupov on the way here.
‘I don’t even know where he is.’
The image of him charging in to rescue the hostages still lingered before her eyes.
The way he single-handedly cut down countless enemies with merciless swordsmanship—it was a level that made him seem almost divine.
The sight of him approaching, covered in blood, and the wound on his cheek that caught her eye—it had all been dazzling.
‘That’s why I used my power without thinking.’
Even though her father had warned her repeatedly never to use it for someone else, she’d wanted to heal the wound on his cheek.
‘Why did I do that?’
She admitted she’d been reckless. Still, the man who introduced himself as Seizar Yusupov had brought her to this estate and then never shown his face again.
Even without a proper explanation, the only reason she’d stayed was because she couldn’t forget that moment.
“If this keeps up, I’ll have to leave. Do you even know what kind of place this is?”
Of course, every maid and servant she’d met was polite and kind.
And both the Duke and Duchess had treated her with impeccable courtesy.
The only mysteries were the siblings of this estate.
“The young lady aside, but shouldn’t the young lord at least show his face once, if he brought me here?”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt, her gentle eyes twisting slightly.
She’d used her divine power—whether he meant to use her or not, whether he was truly a good person or not… at least help her somehow.
Shouldn’t something be happening by now?
She grew curious. Why wasn’t he looking for her?
Floe was the type who couldn’t rest until she resolved her curiosity.
And she wanted answers now.
Clang—
The sharp sound of metal rang through the training grounds.
With fluid movements, Seizar deflected the knight’s blade once more.
It was overwhelming strength. Worthy swordsmanship of the next Duke of House Yusupov, enough to leave the watching knights gaping as they followed his dazzling technique.
As he leisurely sparred under their gazes, Seizar’s eyes suddenly widened, as if he’d seen something.
Thud—
He swiftly knocked the knight’s sword to the ground, ending the match, then gestured for him to step back.
‘Lady Floe?’
The figure running toward the training grounds, clutching her dress, was unmistakably the hostage he’d brought back—Floe Diante.
‘What is she doing here?’
Startled as she drew closer, Seizar could only stare.
Moments later, Floe skidded to a stop right in front of him.
“…It’s farther than I thought.”
Panting as she spoke, Seizar stared down at her in disbelief.
“Why did you come all the way here…?”
“Because you weren’t looking for me, my lord.”
“So you came here instead?”
“Yes. I asked a maid how to get to the training grounds.”
“Did you also ask if I was here?”
At that, Floe shook her head lightly with a small laugh.
“No. I just thought you’d be here.”
“….”
“You don’t have to ask how I knew. When you came to rescue the hostages, I felt it. Not just that you’re good with a sword—but that you truly love swordsmanship.”
At her words, Seizar’s green eyes darkened.
Seeing his serious expression, Floe smiled brightly.
“You don’t need to be on guard. We’re just similar.”
“In what way?”
“In hiding what we love. I don’t know why you do, though.”
“Why do you speak as if you know me? We’re not that close.”
“True. You brought me here and then never showed your face, so I came to find you myself.”
By now, Seizar was flustered.
Had there ever been a woman who treated him like this?
Aside from his mother and Asha—probably no one.
Was she straightforward? Or rude?
The more he looked, the harder she was to understand.
‘Even healing the wound on my face without hesitation…’
It was baffling.
Healing him while knowing her power might be exposed.
A strange woman—but he himself was strange too.
He didn’t dislike it.
Letting out a small, incredulous chuckle, Seizar nodded.
“You’re right. I was careless. Still, you are a guest of this estate. Very well. Would you care to have some tea with me?”
“Sure.”
There was no doubt now—another difficult woman had been added to Yusupov Ducal Estate.
“Wow! I’m pretty satisfied today.”
Leaving the Rose Palace, my steps felt impossibly light. How could the Imperial Princess be so kind?
‘And today, it felt like my words really got through. We even made another appointment!’
The Imperial Princess telling me to visit anytime looked so beautiful.
She wasn’t some villain—she was an angel. An angel.
Clearly, the novel had been far too focused on the protagonist’s point of view.
Kind Princess Isabella was an angel.
“The sky’s so clear too.”
On the way home, happily gazing at the sky as bright as my mood, riding in the carriage—
—I was caught.
By Mother, on her way to a social salon in the city.
Recognizing the Yusupov carriage, she had it stopped immediately. I greeted her happily, and then—
I was dragged off to a place I didn’t even know.
‘Why do I keep getting dragged around like this lately?’
Judging by the surroundings, it seemed to be a social salon for noble ladies.
“Asha. I’ve told you so many times to come with me, yet you always ran away. This works out nicely.”
“Eek……”
“And don’t make strange noises once we’re inside. Why do you avoid social gatherings so much?”
“It’s not that, I’m just busy in my own way……”
“Don’t make excuses. I heard everything from Silvana. You spend most of your time reading romance novels, don’t you?”
Silvana. Where did the gold coins I paid for secrecy go, huh?
Trembling with betrayal, my back was smacked hard by Mother—undeniably the lady of House Yusupov.
Her hand was vicious.
Ow.
“Anyway, the salon we’re going to today has young ladies and young lords your age as well. It’s not a private gathering—it’s a place to discuss politics, society, and sports. Watch and learn.”
“Yes……”
Politics, society, sports.
All things I knew nothing about. What was I supposed to talk about?
Just struggling to stay alive was exhausting enough—yet the title of ‘Count’s daughter’ refused to leave me in peace.
As I was dragged along, wishing desperately to be left alone, I made a small, precious vow.
Once we arrived, I’d stay quiet and say nothing at all.
And then we arrived.
And there, I met my destined partner.
A man so insanely handsome it hurt to look at him.
