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Chapter 71
In the end, Leraje also received a perfectly fine room.
To be honest, it was much better than he had expected.
“…This is nicer than my bedroom in the Imperial Palace.”
“Well, you know my family is a bit rich, right?”
Calliope proudly puffed out her chest as she replied.
“There were more mana stones buried here than expected, and their quality is excellent. So I decided to show a little generosity.”
“As they say, kindness comes from a full granary.”
Leraje clapped his hands lightly together.
“Let’s get along well from now on, Calliope Verdi.”
“You’re really shamelessly saying you want to stick a straw in my back and drink me dry?”
As Calliope looked dumbfounded, Arsene, who had just followed them into Leraje’s room, exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow! Brother, your room is amazing!”
Leraje chuckled and ruffled Arsene’s hair with his hand.
“Your room is great too. You’ve got lots of toys.”
“But it’s not cool.”
“What’s the point of a kid’s room being cool?”
“Chi! Brother, you don’t understand anything.”
Arsene grumbled softly, pouting.
Ah, too cute.
Calliope stifled a laugh that nearly burst out, while Leraje tilted his head up slightly, trying not to grin.
“Prince Arsene.”
With a smile tugging at her lips, Calliope shared some good news.
“I’ve ordered a wonderful hobby horse just for you.”
“A hobby horse?”
“Yes. A very special one.”
Arsene’s eyes widened, and Calliope leaned closer to Leraje, whispering conspiratorially.
“Besides, even the Seventh Prince isn’t allowed to keep a horse in his room.”
“Wow!”
Arsene clapped his hands happily.
“So you’re happier that he doesn’t have one, than about actually getting the hobby horse…?”
Leraje muttered in disbelief, but Calliope answered.
“Even children have their pride and competitiveness.”
It was a neat explanation.
[Lady Calliope and Prince Leraje’s Engagement Approaches]
[From Enemies to Lovers? A Romance in the Making?]
[Battle of the Century: Engagement Photo Poll Results – A Perfect 50/50 Split]
News of their engagement spread far and wide; there was hardly anyone unaware of it.
Articles covered everything from the venue to the ceremonial attire to even the invitation designs.
Of course, both were already famous figures in the Empire, but what truly stirred imaginations were the engagement photos that had been made public.
A few days earlier.
“Calliope Verdi.”
“Mm-hm.”
“…Is this really the best idea?”
Leraje, ears reddening, asked nervously. But Calliope remained perfectly composed.
“Why? You agreed too, remember? That we’d pose like a couple dancing at a ball.”
“How in the world does this look like a normal dancing couple?!”
Finally, Leraje couldn’t hold it in and burst out.
“Ah, please don’t move, you two! Even if it’s a magic camera, too much movement will blur the photo!”
Agnes, who had taken on the role of a highly esteemed photographer for the day, scolded them. Grumbling, Leraje froze back into position.
As a result, their bodies pressed close together again.
“You’re doing fine, so what’s the problem? Weren’t you the one bragging you’re good at anything physical?”
“Being good at it and liking it are two completely different things!”
And this wasn’t even a dance step!
The last part was almost a scream.
When Calliope had suggested that they take their official engagement photos in the pose of lovers dancing, Leraje had never dreamed it would end up like this.
“What are you talking about? Just listen to the music. You know what the highlight of this song is, don’t you?”
Calliope gestured toward the music box that was playing.
That damn “highlight.”
Now Leraje was more furious with himself than with Calliope—for falling so easily into such an obvious trap.
Keeping his expression fixed in a charming smile, he asked sharply,
“Your attention to historical accuracy is really something, huh?”
“Do you have a problem with it?”
“Of course I do! You’re about to steal the chastity of my lips!”
“Who’s stealing anything?”
Anyone overhearing would think she was some invading conqueror pillaging his purity.
Suddenly cast as the villainous seductress, Calliope scowled.
“You’re way too uptight, Leraje.”
“And you’re too shameless, Calliope Verdi.”
“I already told you—this is pure innocence!”
“More like corrupted innocence. What nonsense about being pure.”
She still couldn’t believe it was true. And yet, she also couldn’t understand why he let rumors and scandals swirl around him without denying them.
Muttering inwardly, Calliope suggested,
“Then let’s just fake it.”
“How do you fake it in a photo?”
“…Are you seriously asking that, or are you joking?”
“I’m seriously asking.”
His earnest reply furrowed her brow.
So he’s the type to take photos literally, without staging.
Thinking back, aside from paparazzi shots, all his official photos had been taken dead-on, looking straight into the camera.
And yet, not a single embarrassing photo of him exists.
Calliope studied him carefully. Once again, his overwhelming beauty hit her.
Her intense gaze startled him.
“Wh-what? Why are you staring like that?”
“Because you’re handsome.”
To her, it was a plain and honest assessment. To him, it was an unexpected blow.
Leraje instantly froze stiff, unable to even respond, lips just opening and closing soundlessly.
Meanwhile, Calliope continued,
“In photos, angles and staging matter most.”
She leaned back, arching gracefully, and Leraje instinctively supported her by the waist.
“What are you—?”
“Bend your waist, tilt your head slightly. From Agnes’s angle, only the back of your head should show.”
Leraje realized what she was aiming for.
“…You’re clever.”
“Only just realizing that?”
“No, I knew. Just reminded of it again.”
Right then, Agnes shouted,
“Now—this is the climax of the song!”
“Kyaa!”
Sylvia squealed, clasping her hands, eyes sparkling with excitement as she eagerly watched the two.
“Focus.”
Calliope cupped Leraje’s cheeks and pulled him close.
He leaned down slowly, their faces close enough to nearly touch.
“Wow…”
Sylvia’s jaw dropped. Agnes almost dropped her camera.
Ah, not the time to gawk!
Snapping out of it, Agnes frantically clicked away, taking dozens of shots.
Minutes later, Calliope and Leraje were satisfied with the results.
The photos were breathtaking—so intense, so electric, they made onlookers forget to breathe.
News that the two would soon hold an engagement ceremony reached the Imperial Palace.
And it once again inflamed Lucius with rage.
Without notice, he stormed into the Empress’s palace and slammed a newspaper down before Tanecia.
On the front page was a large photo of Calliope and Leraje locked in a passionate embrace, kissing deeply.
“Mother, have you seen this? They’re actually going through with this engagement!”
“It was expected, was it not? Calm yourself, my son.”
Unlike the Crown Prince, who was brimming with fury, the Empress remained composed.
“I simply cannot understand His Majesty. All this for a few mana stones—giving that bastard Leraje Calliope Verdi!”
They were hardly “a few” mana stones, but Tanecia did not bother correcting him.
Instead, she soothed him, hoping to calm his near-explosive temper.
“Do not worry so much. The two will never make it to marriage anyway.”
“But Mother, that’s not all!”
Lucius, face twisted in outrage, shouted even louder.
“They’re engaged! That means it won’t be long before things go too far! I want a woman who is pure!”
