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Chapter 16
A quiet silence spread between the two young people.
Under the soft moonlight, Dietrich looked like a blooming evening primrose. His beautiful face held a hint of tension. His green eyes were fixed only on the woman before him.
His eyes were the color of fresh leaves—so vivid that it felt like they carried a gentle scent.
“…I’m not sure.”
Even at Dietrich’s obvious display of interest, Unio did not seem flustered. She simply trailed off her words and looked at him calmly.
Dietrich continued in a steady voice.
“You are like a butterfly.”
“Do I look like someone who takes nectar and flies away?”
“No.”
He spoke sincerely.
“Your free words and actions remind me of a butterfly’s wings.”
“Wings…”
“That’s why… after tonight, it feels like you’ll fly far away, and I won’t be able to see you again.”
Unio silently agreed.
But Dietrich didn’t want to think of this meeting as just a one-time encounter. Like a dream that disappears when you wake up—
He didn’t want that.
“I could find out who you are if I tried hard enough… but I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn’t like it.”
“You understand well.”
Unio finished her tea neatly and continued.
“I enjoy being alone the most.”
Hearing her honest words, Dietrich’s shoulders slightly dropped. He looked like a big dog whose feelings had been hurt.
Unio almost laughed—but barely held it in.
“But… playing with you, Dietrich, was fun.”
“Really?”
His face immediately brightened.
He was such an easy man to read.
“Shall we meet three more times?”
Three times.
Dietrich’s eyes sparkled.
“If you make me ‘happy enough’ during those three meetings… maybe we can keep seeing each other longer.”
“Not just ‘enough’… I’ll make you happier than that.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
On the quiet lake, a delicate tension formed between them—
A gentleman deeply captivated by a beautiful lady,
And a lady who toyed with his heart.
Though unseen and unheard, the emotions between them felt incredibly loud.
* * *
<Stealing the Heart of the Empire’s Future and Its Flame… Who is Edward de Mare?>
<How much is enough? The winner of a private dinner with the Crown Prince is ‘The Man Who Holds the Empire’s Wealth’>
“Ahhhhh!”
“Hahahahaha!”
Edward’s scream, having lost all composure, mixed with Henry’s uncontrollable laughter.
Watching them, Hector wagged his tail and kept reading the newspaper.
He read aloud:
“Last night, at the charity auction party held at Marquis Yuno’s estate, an incredible ‘record’ was set…”
(The article described everything—the auction, the items, and the fierce bidding.)
It mentioned:
- Edward’s pen selling for 7,000 Keres to Diana
- Diana’s earrings selling for 5,000 Keres to Edward
- And the Crown Prince dinner ticket being won by Edward for 2,500 Keres
“The newlywed couple contributed a total of 14,500 Keres, proving both their wealth and their affection.”
“Hector! You don’t need to read such nonsense!”
Edward snatched the newspaper away, annoyed.
Hector grinned.
“Didn’t you say even gossip papers can be useful sometimes?”
“…That’s… true.”
Hector was a good student. He never ignored Edward’s words.
Edward sighed and leaned back.
Hector tapped his arm.
“But we did gain something, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. A private dinner with the Crown Prince. That’s something you can’t even buy with money.”
Henry nodded in agreement.
Then he spoke seriously:
“If this empire didn’t have magic, the royal family would’ve collapsed long ago.”
Hector tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
Henry explained:
“If there were no magic, how would they control powerful people like Diana or Edward?”
“…They would try to make them allies.”
“Exactly. They would desperately build connections.”
He continued:
“The Emperor is greedy. And whether the Crown Prince is the same… well, blood doesn’t lie.”
Edward fell into thought.
Was what the Crown Prince did at the auction just a joke?
Or intentional?
“…This feels unsettling.”
“Be careful. That could be considered disrespect,” Henry warned.
“I know.”
Hector added:
“I want to stay with you for a long time, Master.”
Edward smiled slightly.
“I know, Hector. I’m not Henry.”
“Why am I being attacked here?”
Ignoring him, Edward stood up.
“I’m leaving early today.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Hector, learn by observing Henry today.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
Diana leaned back in her office chair.
She recalled her conversation with Marquis Yuno the previous night.
“Actually… there’s nothing I wanted to show you.”
“I was worried I made things awkward.”
“No. If anyone is at fault, it’s the Crown Prince.”
Yuno was neutral—not on the Emperor’s side, nor Diana’s.
“Thank you for trying… but I cannot take anyone’s side.”
Diana smiled faintly.
“That doesn’t suit someone like you.”
Yuno looked at her kindly.
“You’ll become Grand Duke anyway.”
“I want to end injustice in my generation.”
“So you want to change the law.”
But Yuno shook her head.
“I have too much to protect.”
She supported countless people—orphans, the poor, the helpless.
“I don’t want them to suffer because of political conflict.”
“I can protect you.”
“Maybe now… but what about after we’re gone?”
Diana had no answer.
“I’m sorry, Diana.”
That sincere apology left Diana speechless.
And then—
When she returned, someone greeted her with a bright smile.
Edward de Mare.
His smile carried pure, unwavering affection.
It surprised her.
Only her family had ever welcomed her like that.
Until now.
That kind of affection—
It felt burdensome…
Yet comforting.
Strange.
If it was a burden, she could push it away.
But she didn’t want to.
She wanted to keep it close.
A faint smile appeared on her usually cold face.
“Maybe… there is another way.”
Yes.
That was something Edward would say.
He wouldn’t give up.
He would find another path.
That was something worth learning.
…Just that part.
Diana nodded slightly and stood up.
As she walked out of the office, sunlight poured in through the window—
Like sunlight shining into someone’s heart.
