YLFN 04

Chapter 4

Joshua Medelreik seemed to have a rather impatient personality.

“Then, would tomorrow be alright? Conveniently, I have some free time tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Just like that? Do princes normally have such free schedules?

Especially Joshua, who, with the crown prince’s position vacant, was said to handle the majority of the imperial duties.

When I looked puzzled, Joshua hastily added:

“It’s thanks to your brother’s arrival. He has prepared a lot for the hero, Luca Delic. Ah, of course, if Lady Blante must stay by his side, then I understand…”

I shook my head, trying to suppress the flutter in my chest.

Outwardly, Alisha Blante was nothing more than Lucas Delic’s childhood friend—a peripheral noble who didn’t even know whether Lucas was a prince growing up.

Even I, in this plan, was just a pawn used for Lucas’ benefit.

So it was better not to follow Lucas too closely—especially to avoid being drawn into whatever Joshua was trying to test.

“Then shall we meet tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

I answered without hesitation. It’s better to face it head-on than delay and let my mind fill with unnecessary thoughts.

Joshua’s face brightened excessively at my reply. I even sensed a hint of relief, which made me feel strangely uneasy.

‘Could it be that I’ve walked right into a trap on my own?’

Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine why Joshua Medelreik would be so pleased!

Yet, whether he sensed my thoughts or not, he smoothly escorted me while speaking.

“Shall we enjoy the rest of our walk, or, for the sake of your proper rest, would you like me to escort you back to your room?”

Even in his slightly excited tone, I could only blink and, almost hypnotically, ask to be escorted back to my room.

The next morning, I woke in a state of confusion.

‘What on earth was Joshua Medelreik’s behavior last night?’

Even while escorting me to my room, he had skillfully avoided any awkward silences with small talk.

I had intended to just respond politely, yet I found myself genuinely engaging in his conversation. Truly.

‘Incredible conversational skills, Joshua Medelreik!’

He hardly seemed like a mere prince—not even a top candidate for crown prince.

Somehow, Joshua brought up topics he knew would pique my interest, just bit by bit.

The more he did, the tenser I became, as though he had thoroughly investigated me.

‘Ugh, creepy.’

I shivered lightly and got out of bed. As I pulled on my dressing robe, a palace maid came in to help me prepare for the morning.

My appointment with Prince Joshua was set for the late afternoon, so there was no need to rush.

I leisurely took a morning bath and asked another maid to prepare the town house of the Blante family in the capital.

Yesterday, I had only stayed at the palace thanks to Lucas. From today onward, I would reside in the town house.

‘Lucas…’

Just in case, I had also prepared the town house for him—using quite a bit of my own money. Perhaps that was unnecessary.

I brushed my dry hair alone. While the maids’ assistance wasn’t bad, I found brushing my hair myself helped me think and calm down.

It was around then that a visitor arrived.

Still in my negligee, I draped my robe over my shoulders and opened the door. A flustered maid carried a line of large boxes into the room.

“What’s all this?”

“His Highness the Prince sent them!”

“His Highness?”

Looking at the boxes, I momentarily thought maybe Lucas had done this. Who else would have sent me gifts?

But Lucas? Would he really be this thoughtful?

Though he was my beloved childhood friend, Lucas never had such attention to detail.

So much so that for years, I had to carefully check every little way he expressed gratitude to someone.

“Yes, it’s Prince Joshua!”

To my surprise, my curiosity was immediately answered. Hearing it from the palace maid, I felt a sudden sense of helplessness.

‘Why?’

I had no expectations or demands for Lucas, yet somehow the unfamiliar capital had unsettled me.

‘…Could it be homesickness?’

I didn’t have any particularly deep attachment to the Blante Duchy. But if I think about it, all my memories with Lucas were there, so perhaps I felt a bit nostalgic.

I had known all along that my time as Lucas’ sole childhood friend was ending. He was stepping onto a larger stage to shine his dreams brilliantly.

Even knowing this, I was still human—I couldn’t fully contain my feelings.

I sighed slightly and gathered my thoughts. This was not the time to waver.

“Is there some mistake? Shouldn’t these go to someone else?”

“Aren’t you Miss Alisha of the Blante family?”

“Yes.”

“Then it must be you. His Highness the Prince personally requested that I deliver these! He said it’s something you should handle yourself since it was a sudden request.”

Sudden request—he must mean arranging the botanical garden outing.

The maid organized the gifts neatly and gestured for me to open them.

“His Highness said he could help with your preparations. He’s quite skilled at assisting with dressing, so please make use of him.”

The maid’s cheeks flushed as she spoke. She genuinely enjoyed helping with grooming.

I wasn’t stingy with my staff, so I allowed it. My usual maid wasn’t here, after all, since we weren’t in the town house.

‘Staying at the palace wasn’t planned anyway.’

If Lucas hadn’t insisted I join, I would have returned to the town house late last night.

And I didn’t want my brother’s sharp reprimanding gaze for any lapse in etiquette. Ah, perhaps he’d send a letter since I wasn’t in the capital.

But how could I refuse Lucas’ request? He was scared to be alone at the palace, so I set aside my duties as a young lady and followed his wishes.

“…He sent quite a lot.”

“Of course. Prince Joshua was very thoughtful. You suddenly had to stay at the palace, so you must have been unsettled.”

Why such meticulous care?

Joshua had included dresses, shoes, matching accessories, even a parasol, fan, and gloves.

As for the hair…

“His Highness sent bonnets, hats, and hair ornaments, so you can choose freely.”

Excessively thorough.

No wonder his mother, Anita the Imperial Consort, set trends in high society. She must know a lot about women’s fashion.

Rumors about Prince Joshua spoke of his manners and deep consideration.

He remained unusually unmarried and without scandal, so everyone said he was being careful for the future.

‘But is it really okay for him to send all this to me? Or is he trying to spread rumors that I’m some scheming noblewoman?’

Alisha Blante, destabilizing the half-brothers? That would indeed complicate my activities in the capital.

While I observed the maid arranging everything, she suddenly remembered something.

“Oh! His Highness also said this: You are so beautiful! I couldn’t wait to style your lovely hair.”

“Ugh.”

She said I was beautiful? She was smooth-tongued. I knew very well that my appearance was fairly ordinary.

Of course, as a child in the Blante family, I had admired my reflection, but Lucas had shown me that was just a comparison to my old life.

Lucas had always said to me:

“Alisha is quite cute, even if ordinary. It would be better if your hair were a bit brighter. I like it, even if it’s a faded rose color.”

So I set aside my fluttering excitement upon reincarnation.

I wanted to avoid thinking I was pretty on my own and making a fool of myself.

Lucas liked it—that was enough. That meant I was good enough to be liked.

While I recalled memories with Lucas, the maid continued chattering about Joshua’s instructions.

“His Highness said no one will know he sent this gift. So please don’t feel burdened.”

Of course.

The careful Prince Joshua, who had been so cautious even with choosing a fiancée, would not want any scandal with Lucas’ childhood friend.

He would naturally want to keep it completely hidden. Indeed, Joshua Medelreik was meticulous.

Perhaps the reason he never had any scandals was exactly because of this approach.

I thought of the lovers Joshua might have hidden over the years and felt a curious sympathy.