Veronica stood, shielding the round shape with her body. A rather handsome young man appeared.

‘Excuse me, lady. Did a young and cute woman pass by here?’

‘I don’t know.’

The man thanked her and quickly moved away.

Only after his footsteps completely faded did Magnolia emerge from behind the curtain. Her hair was all disheveled and her appearance unkempt, showing how rushed she had been.

‘Did something happen with that man?’

‘Nothing serious… We were talking earlier, and it wasn’t bad at first, but I ran away in the middle. He kept trying to to-touch me.’

Veronica looked in the direction where the man had disappeared.

He seemed to have a gentle impression, but apparently his hands were quite the troublesome type.

Unfortunately, such men consistently flocked to Magnolia.

At first, they would start with pleasant conversation, but soon they would try to touch her shoulders, hands, and legs.

Perhaps they thought it was okay to touch her because of her innocent-looking face. Each time, Veronica would sigh and extricate her in response to her desperate, pleading gaze.

“I never thought I’d have such bad luck in love.”

Having faced disappointment many times, Magnolia let out a whimper. Honestly, at this point it seemed to be more than just a matter of luck in love.

“Lady Arin met her current husband at a ball.”

“The lady was a special case.”

After all, she had managed to marry someone with whom she had absolutely no connection. Veronica thought for a moment before speaking.

“Magnolia has brothers, doesn’t she? Why not try getting introduced to someone trustworthy through them?”

“They’re all useless. I know exactly what kind of people my brothers know, and if they introduce me, I can just imagine how much they’ll meddle. Ugh- I hate it so much.”

Magnolia shuddered. Seeing her utter distaste, it seemed difficult to expect anything from that direction either.

As she listened to Magnolia lamenting that she seemed to be the only one in the world without a partner, Veronica turned a page.

“Do you want to date that badly? It hasn’t been long since your engagement was broken off.”

“W-well, although the wounds haven’t healed yet, I also want to get over it quickly. And…”

And? Turning to look, she continued her words carefully.

“Actually, when I attended an event where Veronica and His Highness Theron were together last time. Seeing how comfortably you two spoke to each other, I thought I’d like to have a love like that too.”

“…I don’t know what you saw, but His Highness and I are not that comfortable with each other.”

“But, but still!”

“You’re saying you’re dying of envy, aren’t you?”

“Ye-es!”

Magnolia let out a painful word. Veronica shook her head. If Cassian had heard this next to her, he would have fallen over backwards from the injustice.

Veronica turned another page. The sound of the page turning rang out leisurely.

Magnolia, having admitted to envying the romantic relationship of someone who wasn’t even her friend, writhed in embarrassment. Then she glanced at Veronica again.

“By the way, Veronica. What have you been reading?”

“A romance book.”

Curious eyes scanned the book in Veronica’s hand at those words.

“A love advice book?”

“It’s essential reading.”

Since when did love advice books become essential reading?

Magnolia’s mouth itched to argue, but seeing Veronica’s quite serious face as she read it, she couldn’t bring herself to object.

After focusing on the book for a while, Veronica suddenly looked up.

“Magnolia. Did you know?”

“Yes?”

“They say love is a skill.”

Closing the last remaining chapter, Veronica’s eyes sparkled.

Cassian suddenly felt a sense of crisis. What was it? This eerie feeling crawling up his spine, making every hair stand on end.

Cassian looked around.

The square was packed with people, but no one particularly strange caught his eye.

Despite the guards positioned around, giving no reason to worry, the feeling…

“What’s wrong?”

Asher, who had been walking ahead, turned back to look at the halted Cassian and asked.

Cassian shook his head, saying it was nothing. His gaze quickly scanned Asher’s attire.

“It’s a bit chilly today, why are you dressed so lightly?”

“Hm? Isn’t this normal?”

Asher checked his own outfit. It was a simple attire for a rare outing, but the coat was too thin.

Cassian took off his own coat and switched it with Asher’s.

Asher laughed, saying ‘You’re being overprotective,’ but Cassian thought it was better than him falling ill.

“I heard a famous theater troupe came today, it’s quite lively.”

“It is.”

News had spread widely in the capital that a very famous traveling theater troupe from across the sea was visiting.

As a result, the streets were bustling with people. Especially towards the square, the crowd was considerable. Fearing they might lose their way, Cassian held onto Asher firmly.

“Your Highness. Please walk this way.”

One of the guards led the two towards the side of the road. And they created a path by parting the gaps between people.

Cassian looked at the man blocking people beside him. He was the man Veronica had mentioned before.

His name was Lake Lining or something. Cassian stared intently at the strong profile of his face.

“Cassian. There’s a play over there, shall we watch?”

Just then, Asher pointed to a theater stage set up on one side of the square.

Wooden boxes were placed in front of the stage instead of chairs, and people were seated watching.

The two sat on the boxes at the very edge. On stage, the actors were in the midst of passionate performances.

It was a classic play dealing with the love and pain of gods, and a contemplation of humans caught up in it.

Cassian watched the play with disinterest. Then glancing to the side, he saw Asher quite focused.

He liked these things. Even on the rare occasions he went out, if he saw a street performance, he would always watch.

“You find this interesting?”

“Yeah. It’s hopeful, isn’t it?”

“Where exactly?”

These kinds of stories usually have tragic endings.

Conflict, discord, unrequited love, separation, ill fate, curses, death – it was all gloomy and messy stories. Some stories had all these elements at once.

“That the gods are nearby.”

“And that’s why all the humans end up miserable, right?”

“Ahaha. You’re right. That’s true.”

It wasn’t particularly meant as a joke, but Asher laughed cheerfully.

Not disliking the smiling face, Cassian looked towards the stage with a sullen expression. Asher soon became engrossed in the play again.

Watching the actor playing a god punishing humans for breaking taboos, Cassian soon lost interest and turned his gaze towards the fountain.

The bustling people in the wide square were clustered around other performances. Suddenly, he noticed a striking person among the crowd.

Given the special day, there were quite a few nobles wandering the square, but this person’s attire was of exceptionally fine quality even among them.

One could tell at a glance that they were of high status. As he unconsciously paid attention, their eyes seemed to meet for a moment.

But wait? They were walking this way.

“Oh my. Prince Cassian?”

A familiar voice struck Cassian’s ear.

Bending forward, Veronica Hardness smiled as she tucked her flowing hair behind her ear.

“Prince Cassian.”

Veronica smiled at the man staring blankly up at her. Then Cassian, belatedly reacting, immediately frowned.

“Why is Miss Veronica here?”

“I came out to see the famous traveling theater troupe visiting the empire today.”

“…”

“What a coincidence meeting you here.”

Cassian’s face grew even sterner. A wordless pressure could be felt.

News that a very famous traveling theater troupe from across the sea was visiting the Diastara Empire today had spread excitedly among the nobles.

Nobles and commoners alike had all come out to the streets, and merchants had set up stalls on any open ground to receive customers.

The chance of meeting by coincidence in this bustling downtown was miraculous, but Veronica pretended not to know and smiled brightly.

“I thought I told you not to come except on set days.”

“I came out to see the traveling troupe’s performance.”

“Don’t lie. Have I known you for just a day or two?”

When pointed out in a strong tone, Veronica was silent for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. It was a reaction as if asking what was so new about this.

Cassian furrowed his brows, but soon dispersed his irritation with a sigh.

Familiarity is scary; he had learned that when dealing with her, giving up to some extent was better for his mental health.

“Ah, Miss Hardness.”

Asher, belatedly noticing Veronica, stood up. He gave a brief greeting. Cassian also rose.

Meanwhile, Magnolia, who had briefly gone to look at items at a street stall, returned.

“Veronica! There’s so much to see here! But there are so many people, it’s perfect for getting lost. Oh, brother? Gasp, Prince Theron, Prince Roel.”

It wasn’t the right thing to say after ‘gasp’, but Magnolia hurriedly bowed.

Behind her, Lake could be seen covering his face with his hands, lamenting his sister’s ineptitude.

As he received Magnolia’s greeting, Asher, with an expression of not knowing who she was, was informed by Cassian whispering in his ear, ‘She’s an acquaintance of Veronica Hardness.’

“Since we’ve met like this anyway, shall we go together?”

“…”

At Veronica’s suggestion, Cassian’s face turned cold. It seemed like words of refusal would come out any moment.

However, Asher patted Cassian’s shoulder first, saying ‘I’ll go watch another performance, so let’s meet again later’ and made way, and Magnolia also whispered to Veronica, ‘I’ll be looking at other shops, so don’t worry about me and stay with His Highness. But you must take me with you when we leave!’ before quickly dispersing.

The guards also split up, with Lake following Asher’s group.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, they were left alone.

“What shall we do now?”

Veronica calmly asked, as if she had anticipated this situation.

Cassian felt his head suddenly throb. He pressed his thumb firmly between his eyebrows.