(Ciela’s POV)
“What? Oh about that…. Well, I thought that His Highness the Crown Prince rejected my proposal.”
My heart fluttered on those wildly intense golden eyes.
Why is he looking at me like that? I pretended to be as serene as possible and awkwardly smiled, as I continued my words.
“I was thinking of going on a long trip.”
“I don’t remember rejecting your proposal.”
“Well, I haven’t received any response for over a week.”
“A week?”
The Crown Prince suddenly became embarrassed as he asked me back. He lowered his gaze onto the floor as if he was counting something. He clicked his tongue on the realization as he immediately raised his head to look at me.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize that it was that long.”
“No, It’s okay. I know that you’re a very busy person, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“It’s not that I was busy… I just needed to check on something.”
He lowered his eyes and entered the drawing-room. As he passed me by, I noticed his cute ears reddening.
I sat across from him so I could observe him better. And it seems that he didn’t mean any harm, that’s why the tension that I felt when he first came, slowly disappeared and a soft smile came into sight.
Feeling at ease, I buried my face in the bouquet of roses in my arms and inhaled the sweet scent. I slowly fell in love with the sweet honey scent that came from it.
I expressed my sincere gratitude.
“Thank you so much, Your Highness the Crown Prince. It may not be easy to find but how did you……”
I stopped myself, avoiding any details on how I know about the auction for this rose.
Come to think of it, how did he manage to get this? Lilstein’s roses can only be obtained through an auction. And I heard that the recent auction was particularly fierce?
That curiosity disappeared the moment I met his golden eyes that were smoothly forming a line.
“I am glad that you are so happy.”
He’s so handsome that he can do anything with that face of his, and to add it up he is the Crown Prince of this empire. He may have used that influence to win these roses.
To express how much I appreciate it, I delicately hugged the bundle of roses carefully so i don’t crush it.
“I’ve only heard about it, but seeing it for the first time surpassed my expectations because it’s so pretty. I’d like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“As expected, you’re so competent…..”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The Crown Prince, who was tapping the handle of the chair with a serious face, smiled.
He was indeed the male lead of a Ropan novel. As if a halo was reflected behind his head even though he was just smiling.
I squinted my eyes to protect my precious eyes, thinking that I should also be repaying the effort of gifting me such an expensive bouquet, so I intend to exaggerate it a bit since (*)praise makes even whales dance. I smiled sweetly and said.
(T/N: 고래도 춤추 (*)There is a saying, “Praise makes even whales dance”. It is said that even whales that do not have a body structure to dance will dance if they give a sincere compliment.)
“And I think it’s even prettier because someone as wonderful as His highness brought it to me.”
“……!”
This time I saw it right, the Crown Prince’s cheeks turned bright red.
He looked at me with wide eyes, then coughed incoherently and dropped his gaze to the floor.
Aww, I guess he’s very shy.
I didn’t know that the Crown Prince had such a side. I focused all my attention on my optic nerve, at such a rare sight.
Then something came to mind, in the words that he uttered earlier, ‘As expected you’re so competent..’ Somehow after that, I heard him say, ‘I’ll visit more often then.’, but I wasn’t sure if I heard it clearly because my senses other than my sight had become dull.
Just then, May brought in some tea and desserts, as she served, she kept giving me a knowing look with her sparkling eyes, as if asking me who he was. I just nodded to her and sent her out, signaling her that I would tell her later after she poured tea in the Crown Prince’s teacup.
Perhaps he was very thirsty because he drank it all at once without even savoring the scent of the tea leaves. In addition to it being hot.
“It tastes so good. What kind of tea is this?”
To answer his question, I took a sip of tea.
I can tell just by smelling the scent of the tea, but this tea is transparent and has no smell at all.
…..Wait, is he blind?
Earlier while I was looking at the travel brochure, I asked May to bring me some hot water to drink, but then the Crown Prince suddenly came and forgot to ask May to change the refreshment to some tea.
‘ I can’t believe that I served the Crown Prince with plain water.’
I looked at the Crown Prince with trembling eyes.
In the meantime, he kept avoiding my gaze and continued to drink fresh water, saying it tasted good.
Is it because he doesn’t have any sense of taste, or is he just saying anything because he was ashamed of my compliments?
Looking at him closely, his hand that was holding the teacup seemed to be shaking….
I felt like I had to answer, so I roughly lied about it.
“It’s a unique tea that came from the farthest part of the East. Originally, it was colorless and odorless, but people may taste it differently.
“I see, that’s interesting. I’d better request for this to be added to the Imperial Palace as well. But anyway, I’ll formally say my goodbye now.”
The Crown Prince, whose complexion returned to its original state after continuously drinking the so-called tea, fixed his gaze on me. As he placed his right hand on his left chest and lowered his head slightly.
“Reynos Ruhr Arzentime. As you know, The Crown Prince of this empire.”
“I am Ciela Labyrinth, the eldest daughter of the Marquis Labyrinth.”
I also greet him with the same courtesy.
For some reason, this scene seems so familiar as if I‘ve seen this before, but anyway, we only met for the first time today.
After we exchanged greetings, the awkwardness that I felt earlier as if we met on some sort of a blind date had passed.
Hmm. So should I say it first, since I proposed it?
To overcome my embarrassment, I place my gaze diagonally. Then started to speak, while fiddling the Lilstein’s rose in my arms.
“Can I say that you are accepting my offer?”
“Well.”
Brief silence passed, as he finally nodded his head. His expression was overly serious, but he didn’t look offended.
Since it’s finalized, shall we start in earnest.
“Then, shall we decide on the setting of the period? I think that…..”
“Before that, Milady, I have to say something to you. I don’t have a potential fiancee….”
We spoke at the same time, giving a surprise to both of us.
I blinked for a moment, then held out my hand towards Reynos, encouraging him.
“Go ahead.”
“No, Milady you first.”
“Okay, then I’ll tell you first. I think it’s better to set a time limit on how long we will be having an affair.”
“A time limit?”
Reynos asked as if wondering.
“Well, you know. I wasn’t supposed to be cheating.”
“Why can’t you cheat?”
“Well, in the first place, an affair is established when I have a fiance.”
But once my engagement with Duval broke, then there’s no reason for me to have an affair anymore.
It’s to my advantage if we keep seeing each other, but not for Reynos. Because I know that he’s receiving different courtship letters every day.
And I couldn’t honestly say, ‘I don’t want to get hurt, so I’ll draw a line in advance.’
“Anyway, this relationship’s purpose is to have an affair, so it’s a meeting with a clear purpose. So, there must be a clear ending as well.”
“……”
“If it’s good after that, we’ll keep seeing each other.”
After saying those words which were full of my self-interest, I shrugged.
Reynos didn’t say anything, as he bit his lips with a serious expression on his face as if thinking deeply. Then he lifted his eyes, met my gaze, and whispered.
“If that’s the case, Milady. If ever that I don’t have any fiancee, and not consider it cheating…. Will Milady still meet me?”
Ahm… Why is he asking me that question?
I blinked my eyes slowly as if trying to understand what he meant. Well, if Reynos doesn’t have a fiancee, then….
It was a sudden change of scenario, so there was no immediate answer.
Then, there’s no reason for us to have an affair with me, right? I unconsciously tilted my head as I pondered on things.
Reynos, who was observing me silently, moved his soft red lips to spit out a languid voice that seemed to be alluring.
“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to answer. So how long is it? I mean the time limit?”
“Your Highness and Tyrael’s -ahm…. Well, is it okay for me to call her by her name? I mean His Highness prospective fiancee.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes. Until the engagement between His Majesty and Tyrael becomes completely null and void.”
“What about you? Your breakup would be more urgent than mine.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Count Essit said that he would send an annulment of our engagement soon.”
“Aha! That’s good then, Milady.”
Smiling beautifully with his eyes bent and eyebrows that curved perfectly, he crossed his legs gracefully.
“I’ll look forward to your cooperation. I will do my best to cheat.”
“Me too. I look forward to this alliance.”
“So is it our first day today?”
“Yes, it’s our first day.”
“I see. But can I ask you something, to whom did you hear that I have a prospective fiancee?”
I gave him the name of his close aide who I’ve exchanged letters with.
Reynos then asked me not to tell anyone about his so-called fiancee, since it’s top-secret. Not to mention it to anyone at all.
Of course, I gave him my word.
After we exchange promises. Then Reynos, who checked his watch, said that he had to leave, so I got up to see him off.
As I was gathering the bouquet of roses that had been set down next to me, at some point he came to me.
He smiled softly and whispered.
“Milady, are we considered lovers from now on?”
“Uh….Yes, that’s right?”
“Then, can I do something like this?”
Speaking subtly, he reached out. The destination was my messy hair as I bent down to collect the bouquet.
Contrary to his playful tone and expression of his face, the hand that tucks my hair behind my ears was very delicate and cautious, so I couldn’t help but blush and smiled.
“Of course.”
“What about this?”
He gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me. I wanted to hold his hand, but I felt regretful that I couldn’t.
I smiled and let him pull me. It was large, warm and maybe because of his sword training, I can subtly feel his calluses from it.
“As much as you want.”
“Then how about this…”
As if waiting, he held my hand tightly and pulled it towards him, and slowly raised it.
Passing through the waist, over the chest, to the nape of his neck. And….
“…..!”
Red soft lips fell on the back of my hand without notice. It was as if clear and hot energy had stamped it and claimed.
In the meantime, those glamorous but not excessive golden eyes were looking at me as if he was observing my reaction, so I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I felt like I was being eaten up as a whole.
Suddenly, a feverish feeling rose throughout my body.
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The moment he realized it, his lips fell apart.
I belatedly found out that I was holding my breath, so I exhaled deeply to let it all out.
Only then did Reynos let go of my hand and smile shyly.
“Let’s go slowly from here on.”
TO BE CONTINUED….