“Thus, I often had the opportunity to see His Highness the Prince. When I came to my senses, I found myself always gazing at him, with his solemn and calm demeanor, and the elegant grace that flowed even in the way he held his teacup.”

Cahirun couldn’t help but chuckle at the mechanical voice, as if an actor was reading a script. Covering his mouth with his fist to barely swallow his laughter, Reneola tilted her head but continued speaking.

“And I dared to harbor feelings in my heart. Knowing it shouldn’t be, I tried to put aside these improper thoughts, but it was simply impossible to do as I wished.”

He had wondered how she would respond when asked about her preferences, saying she needed to be to his liking to become a maid.

He had expected her to pour her heart out and flatter him, but to think she would confess her feelings. Was it boldness or recklessness to profess affection to a man who trembled at the thought of such cruelty?

Cahirun, covering his mouth with his hand, rolled his eyes to look at Reneola.

Though she seemed to be acting in her own way, knowing the truth made it just clumsy and cute. If she was going to say she harbored feelings, she should have hidden the expression of wanting to run away immediately.

‘If only that confession were true.’

As it was, Cahirun found the current situation quite enjoyable.

“I was planning to tease you more, but I can’t hold back any longer.”

Reneola flinched and jerked her head up. Then she immediately gaped in apparent shock.

Cahirun smiled at her gaze, which stared at him without even blinking. His lips twitched in satisfaction at her expression, which was cuter than he had imagined.

“Is it hard to speak in front of the one you like?”

Incredulity. Resentment. Bewilderment. Astonishment. Questions and doubts. Watching the jumbled mix of various emotions on her face, Cahirun could guess the thoughts running through Reneola’s small head.

‘Damn. Why is that cursed bastard here?’

Cahirun laughed cheerfully as he watched Reneola squeeze her eyes shut. Then he stood up and approached her.

Gently grasping the chin of Reneola, who was glancing back as if wanting to escape, he met her eyes.

“You’ve come this far on your own, you’re not thinking of running away now, are you?”

If so, it would be best to give up. Cahirun was not one to let go of something once he had it in his grasp, and right now, he craved Reneola Violet more than anything. So.

“Go ahead, seduce me to your heart’s content.”

He intended not to pretend to hold her in his heart, but to truly fill it with her through seduction.

“I’m willing to fall for it.”

And of course, Reneola Violet had to fall for it.

Cahirun narrowed his eyes.

Cahirun looked down at the green eyes focusing intently. Reneola was now tying his cravat.

Usually, he wouldn’t even glance at something as stifling as a cravat, but since Reneola entered the palace, he stood in front of the mirror with a cravat every morning.

He welcomed the warmth that came close as she tied his cravat, and he was pleased by the slender white fingers fidgeting at his nape.

But unlike his joy, Reneola’s displeasure was evident. Her disrespectful gaze clearly showed she was thinking, ‘Don’t you have hands? Don’t you have feet?’

“To win someone’s heart, you should treat them kindly. Who would like being called at dawn?”

Machi had advised that she would surely think he was tormenting her. Tormenting? Cahirun felt a bit wronged.

How kindly he was treating her. It’s just that since realizing his feelings, he couldn’t take his eyes off her for a moment.

Cahirun, who had been staring at Reneola frowning as the cravat wasn’t tying as well as she thought, straightened his back.

Reneola, who was already raising her arms due to the height difference, shot him a disgruntled look. Then, pretending not to glare, she blinked innocently. Cahirun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed a laugh.

“Your Highness, I apologize, but could you bend down a little? It’s difficult to tie it properly.”

“Well. I’ve never bowed to anyone before.”

Cahirun instead straightened his back even more, even subtly rising on his tiptoes.

Reneola, who had been looking up at him with an incredulous expression, soon began tying the cravat while standing on tiptoe with a stubborn look in her eyes.

Cahirun smiled mischievously at her fierce demeanor, as if she might strangle him right then and there.

Machi and Randolph, who had come to get documents signed and ended up witnessing this scene, wore apathetic expressions. To think their master could be so childish. Machi let out a hollow laugh.

“It reminds me of Rowna.”

“Rowna? You mean your cousin?”

“Yeah. He acted just like that in front of someone he liked.”

“…He’s ten this year, right?”

“Nine.”

Randolph nodded in understanding at Machi’s words.

Cahirun, oblivious to how the two were viewing him, was playfully gazing at the huffing Reneola when he suddenly bent down.

As Reneola stumbled back at the suddenly close distance, he grabbed her waist again and pulled her close.

“How long are you going to keep tying?”

“Ah.”

Reneola blinked in surprise and hurriedly moved her hands. Cahirun looked down at her with a gentle smile.

Seeing her eyes full of complaints rather than any hint of affection, he thought it was time to give her some candy.

“It’s been raining incessantly for two weeks in the Hambert region. The river has overflowed and covered the village, causing considerable damage and continuously creating refugees. It seems the lord alone can no longer handle the situation.”

Cahirun stamped the documents while listening to Machi’s report.

Originally, this would have been handled by the king, but due to the recent worsening of his chronic illness, a considerable amount of work had been pushed onto him. Cahirun was busy processing work instead of his dawn hobby.

He still woke up at dawn, but it was better than watching horseback riding, taking walks, or observing training in a barely awake state.

‘No, no, it would be better not to wake up at dawn at all!’

I found it ridiculous that I was satisfied with just this much, having become accustomed to Cahirun’s moods. I lightly tapped my forehead with my fist, telling myself to snap out of it. As I inadvertently turned my head, I made direct eye contact with Cahirun.

‘What, why are you looking at me?’

You should be processing documents.

But I couldn’t say that, so I smiled, and Cahirun let out a short laugh. Just as I was furrowing my brow, feeling somewhat mocked, the chamberlain announced from outside the door.

“Your Highness, Princess Izola requests an audience.”

I turned sharply towards the door, then turned back with a displeased sigh. Cahirun clicked his tongue with obvious displeasure on his face.

‘What’s with that face, as if some unwelcome guest has arrived?’

I couldn’t understand why he was making such a dissatisfied expression when he had been so eager for her visits before, changing colors like a chameleon.

‘Ah.’

Maybe it’s because he finds it bothersome to put on his mask again.

Cahirun tried to send Izola away. I nodded inwardly at Machi’s persuasion that they should observe the courtesies due to the diplomatic delegation.

In the end, though Cahirun stepped back, he maintained his displeased expression until the end. Contrary to expectations, he greeted Izola with a bare face, without wearing his mask.

“At last, I see Your Highness’s face.”

Izola, who had been scrutinizing Cahirun sitting across the tea table, smiled brightly.

“I was worried you might have suffered a great injury on the battlefield, as you always wore a mask. How fortunate I am to see you before returning to Etra. Now I can finally put my mind at ease.”

Izola indirectly criticized Cahirun for not removing his mask until now. Though Cahirun was not one to misunderstand, he simply sat with his arms crossed, looking bored, without showing any particular reaction.

“However, as I’ve heard, you are so cold that I, being weak-hearted, fear I cannot face you for long.”

Izola covered her lips with a handkerchief, pitifully arching her eyebrows.

“As Your Highness also seems busy, let me quickly state the reason for my visit.”

Izola turned to me.

“A friend I first made in this unfamiliar Hilic has been out of sight for some time. Upon inquiring, I heard she became Your Highness’s maid, so I came. I wanted to properly say goodbye before returning to Etra.”

Having been confined in the underground chamber and only released the day before coming directly to the First Prince’s Palace, I hadn’t had a chance to bid farewell to Izola separately.

Knowing how attached she had become to me, even asking me to go to Etra with her, I looked at her with an apologetic expression. Izola smiled kindly, as if understanding everything.

“If Your Highness permits, I would like to keep Lady Reneola by my side for the remaining days until I return to Etra.”

“Denied.”

Cahirun cut her off as soon as Izola finished speaking. Izola, momentarily speechless with bewilderment, belatedly questioned.

“Pardon?”

“You said ‘if permitted.’ I’m not permitting it.”

Cahirun rejected flatly once again. Huh, Izola swallowed a hollow laugh. A strange tension could be felt passing between the two as they silently stared at each other.

I simply could not understand Cahirun.

‘Are you not going to get married?’