Kai, though not as meticulously dressed up as during parties, looked at Melissa with unfamiliar eyes and asked, “What’s going on?”

Instead of a reply, Melissa let out a light sigh. Even an insincere comment like “It looks pretty” or “It suits you well” would have been nice.

Kai had never once complimented Melissa, even when she wore makeup, adorned herself with jewelry, and wore a gorgeous dress.

Considering Kai’s personality, he might not be comfortable saying such flattery, but Melissa wondered what it would be like if he did it at least once.

Melissa cast a fleeting smile with a touch of sadness. Having such feelings wouldn’t cause any harm except to herself.

“Have you tried this? Of course, since all the good food in the world is here, you must have tried it.”

Melissa pointed to the bag she had placed on the desk. Despite being tightly sealed, a sweet fragrance wafted from the bag.

Having smelled it during the day, Kai easily guessed what was inside the bag.

“Sugar-coated peanuts?”

“You know it? I thought you would. Who gave it to you?”

While Melissa asked with a hopeful heart, thinking it unlikely, she was unsure if she could handle it if a woman’s name came out of Kai’s mouth instead of Harang’s.

“Harang.”

“What? That guy.”
Melissa pretended to be disappointed outwardly, but she felt a great relief inside. The anxiety, like an untouched frozen lake, unexpectedly surfaced time and again, making her heart restless.

However, Melissa didn’t want to appear pathetic. She repeatedly vowed not to propose marriage to Kai first or confess her feelings to him.

Yet, as time passed, those vows kept wavering, and her feelings for Kai grew uncontrollably.

She didn’t know when they might overflow unless intentionally suppressed, like honing swordsmanship during training.

“Why make a fuss about the symbol of youth?”

“Did Harang also tell you such stories?”

Melissa asked, laughing as if she had heard a very amusing joke. Well, if it weren’t Harang, how could such trivial matters be conveyed to the Emperor?

While Melissa was thankful that Harang was by Kai’s side, she couldn’t help but feel a strange jealousy as she watched him being close to Kai.

Melissa wanted to surpass everyone in the world. The only person she considered acceptable to lose to was Kai, and that was only when she possessed him.

Melissa devoted herself to her goals at every moment and sincerely treated Kai.

“Try what I brought.”

As Melissa opened the bag and spoke, Kai declined, saying, “I’ve already eaten a lot.”
“I’ve eaten too. Still, when someone went through the trouble of bringing it, you could at least accept one.”

Melissa’s tone strangely became rough. It was a subtle change only Kai, who had spent a long time with her, could perceive.

When her voice slightly raised and began to split, it meant Melissa’s stubbornness was kicking in, starting a persistent and strategic insistence that would go to the end.

Not wanting to waste unnecessary time, Kai quickly took out one sugar-coated peanut from the bag and put it in his mouth. As soon as he did, the sweet and nutty taste spread throughout his mouth.

“How is it?”

There was anticipation in Melissa’s voice. Kai thought, ‘Now the annoying thing will finally disappear!’ and, relieved, returned to examining the documents spread out before him.

“It’s sweet.”

“Is it sweeter because I gave it to you?”

“The peanut taste is the same.”

“How blunt.”

Melissa, tutting, felt a profound satisfaction as she watched Kai eating the peanuts she brought with such persistence.

Melissa knew well that she was the only one who could afford to show such useless stubbornness to the Emperor within the Credion Empire. And in the future, there should be no one else but her.

Watching Kai glance at the documents and chew on the peanuts, Melissa turned her head for a moment to look at the map hanging on the wall of the office.

‘Where could Princess Stella be?’

Strangely, Princess Stella was on Melissa’s mind.
His unconventional behavior, hunting skills that captivated Kai’s gaze in the hunting grounds, the fact that he had nothing but a bold mouth that expressed emotions honestly – nothing could smoothly pass by.

Studying the map diligently, Melissa finally found the Amalun Kingdom. Among the continents scattered across the sea, it was located at the southern tip of the smallest continent.

“It’s really small.”

On the map, it was a country even smaller than her fingernail. She said it out loud, but Kai seemed focused on the documents, offering no particular response.

That’s where she’s from.

The princess who came from a place barely visible on close inspection was likely an unremarkable existence. Melissa had drawn her own conclusion.

After staring at the map for a while, Melissa quickly grew bored and looked at Kai. She thought he would still be looking at the documents with disinterest, but he wasn’t.

He was looking at a sugar-coated peanut he had taken out of his pocket, raising one corner of his mouth subtly.

Is he smiling?