Patrick sat across from Carolina with his legs crossed and slowly took off his gloves. He placed the gloves overlapped on his knee and swept back his blonde hair with his long, white hands as pale as the gloves.

“Don’t you want to go?”

“……”

“Surely you’re not naive enough to think you can stop a royal marriage with just one kiss.”

“That’s true.”

“Then, let’s go. Let’s make it certain. Actually, I’ve already achieved my goal even if I stop now. My purpose was to have a reason to stay in Karsik.”

“I want a royal marriage with Tane.”

“I already said no earlier.”

“You may stop the royal marriage with Heya Kingdom this time, but there will be more marriage proposals in the future.”

Patrick stared silently at Carolina for a moment.

“Then I’ll think about it seriously and answer again.”

“What?”

“Let’s decide in the morning.”

‘What kind of nonsense is that.’

Carolina lost her composure. She frowned her white forehead.

‘Is he telling me to try seducing him until morning?’

When the fireworks for the royal marriage eve festival ended, Isabella and Alesia had come. They said they watched the fireworks from the eastern tower and it was spectacular.

Isabella described the beautiful scene in her own way.

“It was beautiful, as if flowers were scattered across the night sky.”

‘What a metaphor.’

Alesia also gave her characteristically long-winded impression using miscellaneous knowledge.

“Harchen must have fallen head over heels for the Sun Warrior. Fireworks are made by mixing gunpowder and metal for color with medicinal ingredients in the right proportions to make propellant explosives. Not only is gunpowder expensive, but the metals are costly too. Strontium for red, barium for green, copper oxide for blue, white is……”

“Stop! Alesia, please.”

She usually disliked Alesia’s long-winded speeches, but at that moment, it was unbearable. It was right after receiving Patrick’s letter asking her not to involve him in the play.

“Did you really do it with Prince Patrick?”

‘That’s what they came to ask about.’

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

“It was passionate.”

“I heard he’s been ill for a long time. His face is pale too. You had tea with Empress Patricia a few times, right? They say she wore armor in his place because he was poisoned by toxic herbs.”

“Well, if used properly, toxic herbs can become medicinal herbs. Especially the long-lived Amir tribe who live for a hundred years use and handle the poisonous plant datura purple well from childhood. If the dosage is controlled well, it’s effective for bronchitis, asthma, and coughs. I couldn’t get datura purple, so I got angel’s trumpet seeds and planted them……”

“Stop! Both of you, please leave?”

Isabella said with a gentle smile.

“If what Alesia says is true, he must be virile, huh. But Carolina, why do I feel like you’re putting on a solo play behind a black curtain? Sleep well.”

Carolina recalled their expressions as she left Helios Hall. It would be more satisfying if she could say she received a proposal.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Carolina saw Patrick’s side profile as he looked out the window. Sensing her presence, he turned his head. Carolina did not avoid his gaze.

“A princess begging for a royal marriage is quite novel.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not. I’m admiring you.”

She bit her lower lip as she looked at Patrick, her face flushing red. Her gaze landed on his lips.

‘Those lips just touched mine and…. Oh, but!’

She looked at his lips with their clearly defined contours as if a line had been drawn. She felt nothing. She had no aversion to kissing him. That fact was surprising.

“We’ve arrived at Arteum.”

Patrick put his gloves in his jacket pocket and held out his hand. His hand touched hers through the gaps in her thin lace gloves. It was cool and lacked warmth, just like his pale face.

The cold sensation felt like a sharp metal fragment piercing her heart.

‘What is this feeling?’

“Thank you.”

She took his hand and looked up at him. His blue eyes were clear and transparent like glass.

Patrick had asked for a room with a good view in the office. He seemed to be trying to buy time by asking about various things and making requests, conscious of the gazes of people passing through the hall and corridors.

Even without trying to buy time, his white ceremonial dress decorated with silver and his golden hair stood out.

Platinum blonde hair was very rare among Karsik people, who mostly had black hair. Such bright golden hair with exceptionally pale white skin and blue eyes was decidedly exotic.

“Yes. We’ll serve you breakfast tomorrow. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll bring panini, fruit, cheese… Do you need contraceptive pills as well?”

“Do you have any for men?”

‘…! What, what? This man, is he going to take that? Why?’

Carolina was so surprised that she grabbed the end of Patrick’s sleeve. Patrick looked down at her with a gentle smile. She shook her head.

“Yes, we do.”

“Please give me some.”

He used the Tane Empire royal checkbook and signed it. With that, he revealed his exotic appearance and name.

“Shall we go up?”

Guided by the staff, they went up to the second floor. Patrick leisurely took off his coat and went out to the terrace to check the view.

“Come out and see. The view is nice.”

Carolina went out to the terrace. She could hear the sound of water in the darkness. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see the black, shimmering lake and the dark forest.

“Please sit, Princess.”

He pulled out a chair at the table on the terrace. When Carolina sat down, he draped his justaucorps over the chair next to her and gestured to the floral crown on her head.

“Shall I take off your floral crown?”

“No. It’s fine.”

Her hair must have been pressed down by the crown that had been on her head for a long time. She didn’t want to show that appearance.

There was a knock and a staff member came in with a tray. He set down panini, fruit and cheese on the table.

He also put down a black box containing the contraceptive pills.

“It becomes effective one hour after taking it and lasts for a day.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After the staff left, Patrick laughed out loud.

“So it needs to be taken at least an hour in advance.”

“Why did you buy that?”

Patrick looked at Carolina and smirked.

“Why do you think?”

Carolina glared at Patrick with her dark green eyes.

‘This man knows that throwing back the question irritates the other person and is doing it on purpose.’

“Throw it away.”

Carolina turned her head to the side and looked towards the lake. She stared blankly at the ash and willow trees faintly visible in the darkness.

“It’s gotten dark.”

Patrick picked up the three-tiered candelabra on the table and lit it from the oil lamp installed on the terrace wall. He placed the candelabra back on the table.

“I didn’t think deeply about it, but…”

At Patrick’s words, Carolina turned her gaze from the lake. As the candle flame that had been flickering unsteadily became still, the silver thread embroidered on his vest sparkled.

His face revealed by the candlelight against the darkness was delicate and sharp.

‘But strangely…’

The pale face, pointed jawline, sharp nose bridge, and blue eyes as cold as a frozen iceberg looked blue and cold even under the yellow candlelight.

Carolina realized what the question that had been building in her chest since she was left alone with him was.

A sadness like her heart was being carved out by a sharp moon.

‘This man is cold and sad.’

“Is Carolina closer to Arachne challenging Athena and fighting openly, or to mysticism that hides her innermost thoughts as black as her dark hair?”

Carolina liked the tone, pronunciation, and atmosphere of Patrick calling her name.

“Do you want an answer?”

Patrick poured panini into a crystal glass.

“I’ve seen both sides of you.”

“I saw a cold and sharp sadness in you, like that moon.”

The two looked at each other silently. Their gazes entangling each other were taut like threads being pulled.

From somewhere, the faint sound of ballroom music and laughter could be heard. Clop clop. The sound of horse hooves was heard. There was also a rustling sound nearby. Then silence.

Patrick slowly lifted the glass and drank, not taking his eyes off Carolina.

He picked up the black box on the table. He opened the lid and took out the black pill inside.

‘…Surely not?’

Seeing Carolina’s green eyes widen, he smiled, lifting the corners of his lips. He lightly touched the round black pill to his lips before putting it in his mouth. Gulp. He swallowed the contraceptive pill.

Carolina was dumbfounded, seeing him swallow it before she could stop him.

‘What, what kind of person…’

“No, why are you taking that?”

“I was curious about the taste? But it doesn’t taste like much.”

Patrick stared at her persistently. Carolina was irritated by her own sensitivity that made her tense up under his gaze.

“Alright. I’ll give the princess the choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Some secret maids will come soon. After being attended to, rest. I’ll leave through these terrace stairs and come back tomorrow morning. If you don’t feel like it, you can go back to the palace anytime.”

Patrick took out a cigar from the justaucorps pocket draped over the chair next to him and cut off the end.

“If the princess comes out to the terrace tomorrow morning… let’s discuss the details of the royal marriage.”

‘What is he saying.’

Carolina was dumbfounded. It was as if he was politely giving her a choice, but underneath seemed to be a haughty attitude of agreeing to her begging for a royal marriage.

“What are your true feelings?”

“I’m not romantic enough to fathom my feelings. Of course, I don’t have the leisure to give my time to a lady. I have too many tasks to solve.”

“You’re so… cold.”

“Am I?”

Patrick put down his cigar and stood up. He loosened his cravat as he approached Carolina and placed his hand on the back of her chair.

He reached out to hold her cheek and looked into her eyes. He bent down, turned his head to the side, and pressed his thumb against her lower lip.

Carolina tightly gripped the hem of her dress and squeezed her eyes shut. Seeing that, Patrick chuckled.

‘The black curtain of the empire. Is it trauma?’

Patrick straightened up with a sigh.

“Princess. Don’t push yourself, wash up and rest comfortably. Tomorrow morning…”

Carolina wanted him to seduce her instead of pushing the choice onto her. She looked into his eyes and startled. His gaze was so chilly, devoid of emotion.

‘Just what are you thinking?’

There was a knock from outside the room.

“Act 2 ends here. Usually Act 3 is the climax, right? But since the princess is not an ordinary lady, let’s skip the climax.”

Patrick stood up and took her hand to help her up.

“Go inside.”

He picked up the three-tiered candelabra and lit his cigar.