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~Chapter 28~
Theron sounded like he thought Aveline fit the conditions for the Crown Prince’s future wife.
“Still, I don’t think that could be me,” Aveline said.
“I already caused trouble at two royal banquets, and I didn’t even finish my debutante. While other girls were building connections, I just stayed in my room. I always felt like I couldn’t do the things that others did easily, and that made me lose confidence.”
She never thought the Crown Prince would even consider her. Even her father tried to marry her off to someone with a bad reputation.
“But now, you have enough background to make up for all of that,” Theron said calmly.
“Your father and your twin brother Ares are both part of the Emperor’s faction. Your maternal grandfather, Marquis Mainge, was also a loyal supporter of the former Emperor.”
“Plus, after yesterday’s banquet, you made a successful comeback, even if it was a bit noisy. You reminded everyone who your parents are.”
Theron meant Aveline’s mother, who used to be the center of society. Even after so many years, her influence was still strong—yesterday’s events proved it.
“And there’s one more important reason,” Theron said.
“What’s that?”
“Right now, among all the girls in the Emperor’s faction, you’re the only one of marriageable age who doesn’t have a fiancé.”
Aveline was speechless for a moment, but then remembered there were other girls without fiancés in Marquis Nor’s family.
“No, there are several ladies in Marquis Nor’s family who aren’t engaged,” she argued.
“But they’re all distant relatives,” Theron said.
Aveline fell silent. He was right—Marquis Nor only had a son, and the other girls in his family were all from distant branches.
“If the royal family had to choose, wouldn’t they pick someone whose family has always been loyal, instead of a distant branch?” Theron said.
Aveline tried to make sense of what she’d just heard.
“So you’re saying, if the palace wants a wife for the Crown Prince, it’ll probably be a girl from the Emperor’s faction, and I have the highest chance?”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, wow…”
Aveline covered her mouth in shock.
She had never worried about something like this before.
“And I really don’t want the girl with my magic to become a member of the royal family,” Theron said.
“Me neither.”
Theron looked surprised at Aveline’s answer.
“I thought you’d be happy.”
“I keep telling you—your favorite and your ideal type are not the same!”
Edward and the Crown Prince might look alike, but their personalities were completely different.
“And I don’t want to be part of the royal family. It would feel suffocating… and also…”
Aveline stopped, remembering how the last Empress died.
Royal life could be dangerous.
But she didn’t finish her thought, glancing at Theron—after all, the last Empress was his aunt.
“Anyway, I really don’t want that.”
Theron stared at her as if he couldn’t believe it.
Aveline felt it was unfair.
“How can I make you believe me?”
She wanted to prove herself however she could.
But instead of answering, Theron fell silent, looking thoughtful.
This is bad.
Whenever that strange duke got serious, things always turned weird afterward.
And sure enough—
Theron’s eyes glittered with mischief as he looked up.
“There’s an easy way.”
“What is it?”
Aveline asked, feeling nervous.
“We spread a rumor.”
“A rumor?”
“Yes,” Theron nodded.
“Let’s make people think we’re a couple.”
Even after waking up, Aveline’s head was still spinning.
“Did he really say… let’s make people think we’re a couple?”
“Aaaah!”
Aveline screamed and shot up in bed.
“What kind of dream was that?”
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and finally relaxed after realizing she was home.
“It felt so real—wait.”
This wasn’t the first time Theron had shown up in her dreams. He even once pretended to be a vampire.
“Wait, that time it was real.”
A sudden fear swept over Aveline.
“What if this was real too?”
If Theron really said to spread a rumor about being a couple…?
While she sat frozen in bed, the door flew open.
“What was that sound?”
It was Ares, running in.
“You scared me!”
Aveline almost fainted.
“Why didn’t you knock?!”
“I heard you screaming! Whoa!”
As Ares tried to explain, Aveline threw a pillow at his face.
Normally, Ares could have dodged, but Aveline had pretty good aim from her sword practice phase.
“I came because I was worried!”
“So why were you yelling? Did you have a nightmare?”
He picked up the pillow and watched her closely.
“You didn’t bite anything again, did you?”
Ares still remembered the last time she woke up with a bite mark on her arm.
“Ahem! I just thought yesterday might’ve been tough for you, so…”
Basically, he’d rushed in because he was worried about her mental state after going to the banquet for the first time in ages.
Aveline was surprised at how much her twin had changed.
He’s really different now.
Before, they hardly even talked, but now Ares cared a lot more.
“Well, if you’re okay, then I’ll go.”
“Wait.”
Aveline stopped him before he left.
“What? Are you going to thank me for worrying?”
“Why are you wearing those clothes?”
“These?”
Ares looked down at his training uniform.
Aveline hadn’t seen him train in a long time.
“Oh, this? I’m supposed to have a quick sparring match with the Crown Prince today.”
“With His Highness?”
“There’s hardly anyone in the empire as good as him. He’s also the commander of the royal knights.”
“That’s surprising.”
She’d thought he looked like the type to read news all day, not fight.
“He’s really curious. Since he was little, he always studied his opponents when he lost, trying to figure out why. He followed them around, watched them, and that’s how he got stronger.”
“Wow.”
Now she understood—if Logan was the type to be good at theory, the Crown Prince was good at putting theory into practice.
“If you’re curious, want to come with me?”
“Where?”
“To the Crown Prince’s palace.”
“Me?”
Aveline was shocked by the unexpected offer.
“You’ve always liked martial arts. The instructor said you’re pretty good, you know.”
“The instructor?”
“Don’t you know Sir Lydon?”
“He’s your teacher?”
Aveline was surprised.
“Wait, you learned from him too?”
Ares looked even more surprised.
“What? I thought you learned from someone more famous.”
Aveline had just practiced for fun, so she thought Ares would’ve had a more famous knight for a teacher.
But Ares just looked confused.
