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Chapter 14
“Heidi Eliana”
Heidi’s bright eyes as she greeted me held a nuance—as if she already knew me.
Furrowing my brow for a moment at the unexpected situation, I cautiously returned the greeting.
“…It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Heidi.”
“Oh my, you know who I am?”
“…There’s probably no one in Zeroth who doesn’t know the Flower of Zeroth.”
At my words, Heidi blushed as if embarrassed.
I quietly observed her flawless face, utterly devoid of shadow or malice.
Noticing my stare, she tilted her head slightly.
The atmosphere was growing awkward, so I took the initiative to speak.
“I wasn’t aware that you knew who I was, Miss Heidi.”
“Actually, just a few days ago, I happened to see you at Adelly Central Plaza.”
“You saw me?”
Heidi nodded.
She saw me? When?
I frowned, recalling how I hadn’t even stepped outside my room for the past three days.
Heidi looked around briefly, then leaned closer and whispered into my ear.
“Three days ago, weren’t you with a very handsome gentleman at the Central Plaza in Adelly? Your hair color looks different now, but still…”
“…”
“It was you, wasn’t it? Lady Levelia.”
“Uh, th-that’s…”
Her words—saying she’d seen me meeting Karlier while I was caught up in Lafer’s prank—sent a shock down my spine.
At that very moment, behind Heidi’s smiling face, I spotted Karlier entering the ballroom.
I panicked and quickly turned my body, blocking Heidi’s view of him.
Startled by my sudden action, a confused look crossed Heidi’s face.
“Lady Levelia?”
“Aren’t you curious?”
“About what?”
“How I changed my hair color that day.”
I spoke playfully, and Heidi’s eyes sparkled like a child receiving a gift.
“Can you tell me?”
“Of course I can. I could even change yours if you’d like.”
“Really?”
When I nodded, Heidi’s eyes gleamed even brighter as she nodded excitedly in return.
Leaning toward her, I whispered for her to follow me and swiftly led her out of the ballroom.
As we slipped through the door, I glanced back and saw Karlier approaching Delphian.
“I greet the Empire’s little sun.”
“…Duke Esperos.”
Ten years had passed since the two last stood face-to-face. A strange silence stretched between them.
Delphian hesitated for a moment before speaking, looking at Karlier’s expressionless face.
“…I understand the Duke has made many efforts to restart this trade. As the Crown Prince of Zeroth… I—I am very grateful.”
“There is no need for gratitude.”
Unlike Delphian’s carefully chosen words, Karlier’s reply was curt. Ignoring Delphian’s surprise, he continued.
“I merely thought the time had come to resume trade.”
There was something off-putting about that detached response.
Delphian narrowed his eyes and asked,
“…What do you mean by ‘the time had come’?”
“Ten years is long enough.”
Delphian nearly sighed.
If he wasn’t misinterpreting, it sounded like Karlier meant to finally bury the incident from ten years ago.
“It’s late, but Karl, I truly regret what happened back then—!”
“Your Highness.”
“…”
“Your famed partner seems to be absent.”
It felt as though Karlier had cut him off intentionally—as if warning Delphian not to pretend closeness, nor to speak of the past.
‘So by “long enough,” he meant enough time to put it all behind him emotionally.’
Delphian glanced at Karlier’s expression, then reluctantly answered.
“Heidi stepped away for a moment. She wanted to speak with Lady Levelia.”
At the mention of Levelia’s name, Karlier paused and repeated it thoughtfully.
Smiling slightly, he turned to Delphian.
“I didn’t realize they were so close.”
“It’s an unexpected friendship, but Heidi’s friendly nature makes it unsurprising. She gets along with everyone.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
Delphian flinched slightly at the way Karlier answered—as if he’d already met Heidi himself.
‘When would they have had the chance to meet?’
Delphian’s voice grew more rigid.
“Are you saying you met Heidi before this party, Your Grace?”
“Oh, so she didn’t mention anything to Your Highness?”
“…”
“Then I suppose I have nothing more to say.”
Karlier’s words sounded as though he and Heidi had been having secret rendezvous.
Delphian’s fists clenched involuntarily.
‘It’s just my imagination. I’m being paranoid. No need to be shaken.’
“It’s fine. If it was important, she would’ve told me.”
‘Or perhaps it wasn’t important enough to tell me.’
He didn’t say that part aloud—but he was sure Karlier would pick up on the implication.
Childish as it was, Delphian wanted to show that no provocation would affect him.
Karlier, unfazed, responded calmly.
“You must have great trust in your partner.”
“…”
“For me, there’s nothing as meaningless as trust.”
The sharpness in his words made Delphian’s eyes tremble violently.
As he looked up at Karlier, flashes of their past overlapped—his youthful self, confidently assuring him, and Karlier’s concerned face looking back.
‘Zeroth is a safe country, Karl. Trust me. I’ll guide Zion myself.’
Delphian swallowed the many words that surged to his lips.
No matter what he said now, it would only be an excuse—a feeble self-defense.
And he didn’t think any excuse could repair what had broken between them.
Watching Delphian unable to utter a word, Karlier finally smiled.
“Resolutions and decisions change depending on who you’re facing.”
“…”
“It was nice speaking with you again, Your Highness. I hope that this time, you’re able to protect what you hold dear.”
With a brief nod, Karlier turned and walked away.
Delphian, face blank, could only watch him leave—unable to say anything at all.
Heidi could feel her heart pounding—loud and heavy—with a mix of excitement and tension.
Holding a hand over her chest, she looked toward the terrace concealed behind a curtain.
‘Just wait a moment. I’ll be right back.’
That’s what Levelia had said before disappearing onto the terrace.
Heidi recalled her cheerful smile and blinked thoughtfully.
‘I can trust her, right? I confirmed she’s the daughter of House Piace.’
Though she’d followed Levelia like she was enchanted by the idea of changing her hair color, some lingering doubt still gnawed at her.
“No, it’s fine. What could possibly happen in the Imperial Palace?”
In truth, her decision to follow Levelia without hesitation wasn’t just because she was from House Piace—it was also because of where they were.
Plenty of people saw them leave the ballroom together, so if anything did happen, a swift response would be possible.
Still, Heidi couldn’t completely place her trust in Levelia.
She had something she wanted to confirm.
Delphian Zeroth.
She wanted to know if the man who had looked at only her for so long… still loved her.
Whether his heart would remain unchanged, even if tempted by another woman.
Of course, she could never admit that thought to anyone.
Clasping her clammy hands together from nerves, Heidi raised her head.
Then, beyond the silent terrace curtain, Levelia appeared.
She was holding two glasses of champagne—one in each hand.
“So, are you ready?”
