“So, it’s farewell… at least for now.”

Hyde stared straight into Serena’s eyes. Those blue eyes that any man other than the Grand Duke would never leave.

“I am…”

“There’s no need for an answer, is there?”

Though sometimes more annoying than an enemy, hearing such a sorrowful farewell made it feel like a long-standing friend was leaving.

“I will definitely see you again someday.”

Saying this almost as a promise to himself, Hyde barely managed to turn away. Any further and he would fail not just to keep his promise with Lucas, but even forsake his duty.

“Farewell.”

Thus, Hyde’s farewell was barely complete, dripping with lingering regret. Serena watched his shrinking back, sensing that a season had passed.

“Truly, always doing as you please.”

Looking back, Hyde was the first friend-like entity Serena had made since coming to Astel territory.

While he endlessly provoked Serena, he was also the first man to recognize and trust her abilities.

“Miss, has His Highness departed? It’s chilly.”

Anna covered Serena’s shoulders with a warm blanket as she stood lost in thought under the tree.

“What happened between you and the Crown Prince? You both are so mysterious.”

“I don’t know.”

Hyde had said he lost before even crossing swords. Serena found it hard to believe he gave up so readily after spending just an hour with Lucas and ignoring her own challenging demeanor for years.

“At least, his proposal is off the table. It’s a relief that one less person is involved.”

“What? He withdrew his proposal?”

“Yes. It’s farewell.”

Anna, aware of Hyde’s persistence, was shocked.

“What on earth happened between you and the Crown Prince?”

Serena wanted to know too. Even if Hyde’s defeat was due to his duties, it was Lucas who had made him accept it.

“One thing seems certain between the men.”

“What is it?”

“I think… I underestimated the Crown Prince.”

First impressions are incredibly important, irrevocable and indelible, especially when they’re bad.

“At least, he’s not the person I remember.”

The little fiancé who had thrown a tantrum at the terrible engagement ceremony was gone.

And it was clear that he had matured not just in size. Hyde’s readiness to accept defeat and step back was evidence of that.

“Six years is a long time.”

“It seems so.”

The Lucas she knew, much smaller and more temperamental than his peers, had grown to face the Grand Duke as an equal man. This realization shook Serena in many ways.
And it was not the first time that Serena’s heart had been shaken because of Lucas. The stubborn little fiancé she had abandoned had become a handsome and strong man, talking about marriage.

“Miss, it’s chilly outside. Shall we go in? Okay?”

“Mm……”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Serena turned towards the mansion. The light from the annex, which she had not paid attention to before, caught her eye again.

“Did the Crown Prince not say anything?”

“No, it seems he’s resting today.”

Whether it was out of consideration for Duke Pharel’s innocence or simply that he needed a break, it was still unclear.

“Anyway, Peter talked a lot with Sir Cedric today.”

Serena belatedly remembered the mission she had assigned herself. If it was a story from Cedric, who had been close to the Crown Prince since childhood, she might gain some insight into Lucas’s inner thoughts.

“Let’s go back to the drawing room first. Tell Peter to come to the parlor.”

“Yes.”

Anna quickly nodded and followed Serena back to the mansion. Anna was just as curious about the Crown Prince’s story.

The reason why a trace of femininity had gradually appeared on Serena’s face, which had only been cheerful since his sudden appearance, was also unknown.

“There’s a saying that you need to know your enemy to fight them properly.”

But Serena, the very person in question, still didn’t know her own heart.

“Let’s listen to the story first.”

Anna soothed Serena’s zeal with a gentle voice. Although Serena had overcome all the trials and difficulties she had faced with her boisterous character and strong determination, this time would be different.