“Informal speech…?”
Adrian was momentarily taken aback by Laila’s suddenly casual tone. It seemed she had completely misunderstood something when their eyes met.
Didn’t she realize he was the Crown Prince?
Even mistaking him for another prince, it would be unimaginable for a lady of her standing to speak informally to royalty.
Was it possible she mistook him for someone entirely different?
These thoughts tangled in his mind in mere seconds, leaving him somewhat perplexed. However, he quickly shifted his approach.
After all, he could always reveal his identity later. It was an easy fix. Just by taking her back to her seat in the banquet hall, she would soon realize who he was.
Since there were no adults around, casual conversation wasn’t a problem.
Besides, he felt it would be a shame to make those bright eyes uncomfortable.
‘She’s nothing like her sister.’
Adrian unintentionally thought of Victoria, who had been sitting across from him at the banquet, with her sly glances. He shook his head, remembering his mother’s teachings that comparing people was wrong.
Adrian then extended his hand naturally to Laila.
“Alright, I’ll guide you. I know the palace quite well.”
Waiting for her to take his hand, Laila hesitated and murmured with her hands still clasped together.
“Holding hands is a bit…”
She trailed off, indicating her discomfort with the idea.
‘Why is she uncomfortable with just holding hands?’
It was meant to be a simple gesture of escorting her.
Feeling awkward about the rejection, Adrian withdrew his hand and smiled sheepishly, then placed his hands in his pockets and turned to lead the way.
“Just follow me, then.”
He glanced at Laila, who nodded quietly and followed him, peering around with demure curiosity. She didn’t display the typical confidence associated with high nobility.
‘What a peculiar child.’
The fact that she had been missing from the banquet for so long was strange in itself. Maybe she hadn’t received proper education in her large family.
Comparing the atmosphere in the banquet hall with the Wessex family, the children seemed either too unrestrained or lacking in discipline. The atmosphere was far from the stifling air during royal family meals, where only necessary words were exchanged.
Several children were carelessly clattering their utensils, eating.
Adrian, feeling like he’d opened a forbidden box, entered the palace hall.
Passing servants and waiting knights started, about to bow, but Adrian gestured for them to relax.
He slowed down to speak to Laila.
“So where did you last see your brother?”
“Hmm…”
Laila looked around the interior of the palace and pointed towards the east balcony on the second floor.
“Around there, I was trying to go to the infirmary.”
“Really? Maybe he’s hiding somewhere, playing hide-and-seek with his sister?”
As Adrian continued, he slyly added, “If he came down here, the servants or knights would have seen him.”
He emphasized this part, expecting Laila to pick up on the hint, but she seemed oblivious to any implications.
Lost in her own concerns, Laila just murmured weakly, still focused on finding her lost brother.
“Sedric is playful, but I lost hold of his hand halfway…”
“Don’t worry, we’ll find him soon. He couldn’t have gone to a different building. The servants or knights would have stopped him.”
“Yeah.”
Adrian was now fairly certain Laila misunderstood who he was, perhaps mistaking him for a royal attendant.
‘Is that a reasonable mistake?’
As they walked toward the east balcony on the second floor where Laila had pointed, Adrian glanced at his attire. A lightly knotted cravat, a neatly fitted vest, a simple jacket embroidered with gold thread on the cuffs, and comfortable black trousers. Meve had dressed him up a bit since they were meeting the entire Wessex family, but it wasn’t a formal outfit fitting for a state banquet.
‘Wouldn’t they think it possible for me to be strolling outside?’
No matter how he rationalized, he couldn’t understand why Laila was confused.
After all, silver hair and purple eyes weren’t common in the empire.
Deciding to just accept it and enjoy the situation, Adrian found it much more pleasant than listening to nonsense in the banquet hall.
He spoke to Laila, who was following him closely.
“Laila.”
After calling her name, Adrian was suddenly filled with idle thoughts.
Laila.
Such a pretty name.
It sounded like the name of the most beautiful flower in the royal garden.
Easy to remember and pleasant to say, the name resonated wonderfully as he uttered it.
At that moment, their eyes met.
Her large eyes filled with him, rosy cheeks, and small lips sealed in a cute shape. She was focusing intently on him, fidgeting with her hands.
Ironically, Adrian found himself speechless, a rarity for him.
The pretty name suited the incredibly cute girl.
His heart started to race, feeling different since their first eye contact. He remembered losing himself for a moment in her beautiful, clear eyes.
They were common blue, but they shimmered as if embedded with jewels.
As he pondered, he felt a piercing, almost painful sensation in his heart.
Then, hearing Laila’s voice,
“Why?”
Adrian realized he wanted to solve all the curiosities and questions this lovely-named girl had.
To have those sparkling eyes look only at him.
And so, the boy’s first love began unexpectedly.
Waking up disheveled in the early dawn, Laila took a deep breath in the darkness before dawn had even broken.
She sat on her bed, clutching the blanket tightly.
Her heart was still racing from the elevated heartbeat caused by the dream.
‘Why did I dream of that moment…?’
The dream was a vivid reenactment of the first time Laila met Adrian. Memories she thought were buried and forgotten, even the joy she felt at that time, had turned into a nightmare, a dream from the past.
Was it because of Miley?
The memories of him kept surfacing in her mind, triggered by Miley, who shared the same name.
It was a bad sign. Recalling him now would only bring pain.
Laila took a deep breath and tried to reassure herself.
‘It’s just a fleeting feeling.’
Fearful of the upcoming event.
She must be unconsciously frightened of the engagement with Reynard. It was natural. She was, after all, handing over the keys to her life to a man who lied to her.
On reflection, it was a too impulsive decision.
‘But still.’
She desperately wanted to know.
What kind of person Miley really was.
Laila pulled up the slipped blanket and buried her nose in it.
The expression might not be quite right, but the scent was incredibly tender.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
