Then he grabbed the hand he had briefly let go of. Red eyes gently curved and neat lips drew a line as he smiled.

A playful, occasionally shown smile.

“Can I hold it now since we are alone?”

I nodded my head at his genuinely happy appearance.

For some reason, the sound of my heart seemed too loud.

(This is a time separator.)

A few days later.

Nathaniel and I, along with Anais, were gathered in the reception room.

“The Crown Prince is here.”

“Let him in.”

Nathaniel said with an indifferent face. Soon, the door opened, and a boy as cute as an angel peeked his head through the gap.

“Sister!”

“Henry.”

Having found Anais, Henry ran with a bright smile and hugged her.

“It’s been a while, Sister.”

“Have you been well?”

The nodding while embraced made me smile unknowingly.

Although Anais and Henry saw each other every day, they could only meet once or twice a month since the relationship between the Empress and Anais had deteriorated.

That’s why he was so affectionate.

“Ah, hello, Brother, Your Highness.”

Henry, who had wholeheartedly acted cute towards Anais, bowed politely.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. Have you been well?”

“Yes. Thanks to your concern!”

His smiling, bright appearance was so cute that I wanted to hug him tightly.

Henry turned his head to look at Nathaniel. He probably came to learn magic, so he seemed ready to prepare already.

“Lunch?”

“Ah, not yet.”

“Then let’s eat lunch first.”

Nathaniel’s stiff words made Henry seem a little bit retracted.

I discreetly slipped between them and smiled.

“Let’s go.”

We moved our seats and headed for the dining room. Inside were carefully chosen dishes with Anais’s advice.

“These are all my favorites!”

Henry, whose eyes sparkled as he scanned the food on the table, quickly sat down in his chair.

We also took our seats at the table and began eating. The table, shared by several, was noisy.

Mainly, it was just Henry being excited and brightly smiling, with Anais and me responding. But strangely, one side of my chest tickled.

“I’ve finished eating!”

Henry, who heartily ate even the tart that came out as dessert, smacked his lips and stood up from his seat.
And soon, Nathaniel, who was sipping sweet honey tea, had someone clinging to his leg.

“I want to learn magic quickly.”

“Oh, Your Highness the Crown Prince, you want to learn magic that much?”

To want to study first, how commendable.

Smiling sweetly at Henry, who was hanging around cutely, an unexpected word popped out of the child’s mouth.

“Because Mother will be pleased!”

For a moment, Nathaniel’s and my eyes met. I knew Henry’s condition was not normal, but I could not say anything rash at that moment.

“Yes.”

With a bitter expression, Nathaniel stroked Henry’s hair and got up from his seat.

And he took the child’s hand and went out to the garden.

“Come back well!”

After seeing them off and sending Anaïs away, I went up to the study.

I had quite a bit to do as the harvest festival was approaching.

After handling the documents and sorting out the day’s itinerary, time had flown by before I knew it.

“Hehehehe!”

I got up from my seat at the sound of cheerful laughter coming from outside the window.

Looking down at the garden, Henry and Nathaniel were sitting face to face, looking at a book.

Occasionally playing and laughing, they looked just like children their age.

‘Brothers are indeed brothers.’

At first glance, they are completely opposite, but their smiles and actions oddly resembled each other.

I looked at the two of them with a contented face and checked the time.

“Oh, dear.”

The time to send him away had passed a little.

As I approached, Henry’s face visibly darkened.

He must have realized he had to go back.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yes…….”

Seeing him hang his head sadly and fidget with his hands, I felt somehow sorry.

Nathaniel ruffled Henry’s hair with his hand.

“Review what you learned today.”

“Yes, yes!”

“See you tomorrow.”

Nathaniel got up from his seat, grinning like a villain. From afar, the Empress’s maids who were waiting for the Crown Prince approached with a trot.

“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

They took the prince’s hand as if a great disaster would occur if their eyes met and quickly retreated.

“Aren’t you going?”

“Oh, I’m going… going!”

I came to my senses and ran to Nathaniel’s side.

His hand lightly wrapped around my waist.

If I had been the me of a while ago, I would have been startled and made a fuss, but now, as adaptable as an animal, I was fine.

“Shall we take a walk for a moment?”

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I almost finished.”

What I realized after marriage was that Nathaniel had no ambition but worked hard.

Moreover, he processed things quickly, so he got several times more work done than others.

“That’s unfair.”

“What is?”

“You process the work that takes me hours so easily.”

As I grumbled lightly, Nathaniel chuckled softly.

“Shall I help?”

“No, it’s my job, so I’ll do it…….”

I thought my heart had dropped at his face that had suddenly come close. I touched my slightly heated cheek with my hand and walked with him.

The beginning of the walking path.

The cool breeze ruffled his hair. Against the backdrop of the forest filled with colorful autumn leaves, Nathaniel’s presence stood out.

His black hair, as dark as ink, fluttered as if it wanted freedom.

The thin shirt he was wearing changed shape with the wind.

‘Ah.’

I realized then.

Why I was uneasy looking at Nathaniel.

He suited freedom.

And he was more beautiful when he was free.

Nathaniel turned his back and went into the forest. The anxiety that he would disappear forever took over my body.

I reached out and grabbed his clothes.