Although he had always been obsessed with her whereabouts, it seemed to have become more excessive after coming to the capital.

Of course, she knew that he was worried about her, but sometimes it felt frustrating.

Adele sighed deeply, lowered her head, and then widened her eyes. Small spring flowers had bloomed at her feet.

‘Oh, flowers are already blooming.’

Even though the weather had cleared, the ground was still sparsely frozen.
Even in such a situation, the bright yellow flowers that bravely bloomed were cute and fascinating. It was when Adele, filled with admiration, crouched down to take a closer look.

“Adele Height?”

Startled by the suddenly called name, Adele raised her head. Strangely, a large shadow loomed over her.

“What are you doing here?”

The man wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to her. To be precise, among the men one could encounter in the imperial palace, he was relatively friendly. Crown Prince Mikhail, the fiancé of Charlotte. They had met several times, or rather quite frequently, before his marriage.

Adele stood up in a hurry and almost accidentally collided with Mikhail’s face with her head.

“C-Crown Prince.”

With her golden hair abruptly rising, the Crown Prince agilely moved his face backward.

Thanks to that, Adele narrowly avoided causing irreparable damage to Mikhail’s delicate features.

Surprised by her sensitive reaction, Mikhail blinked in astonishment and then burst into laughter.

“You’re too tense for a greeting.”

“I-Is everything okay? I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to come so suddenly, and I got startled…”

“You were looking at flowers.”

He said, directing his gaze toward where Adele was sitting.

Following his gaze, Adele lowered her head and found that the bright yellow flower petals were sadly crushed.

In her surprise, she stepped around, and in the end, she accidentally stepped on it.

Adele’s face subtly turned into a frown as she confirmed it, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Why did Your Highness come all the way here?”

“Your health? I heard you were unwell.”

He suddenly asked about her well-being. Adele looked up from her lowered gaze.

The expression on Mikhail’s face, illuminated by the sunlight from behind, was difficult to read.

Was it concern, or was it hypocrisy? Whatever it was, the Crown Prince’s interest, coming from a married man, felt like an uncomfortable interference.

Adele lowered her gaze again quietly.

“I apologize; as soon as I arrived at the palace, such a thing happened, causing great trouble to the Duke and Her Majesty. It was my negligence in not taking care of myself.”

“Look up. You seem to have lost weight.”

As he reached out as if to grab her chin, Adele reflexively pushed his hand away, as if to ward him off.

Having been rejected by her, Mikhail, with a bitter smile, blinked and then burst into a wry laugh.

“There’s no need to be so cautious. The person I regret is your husband, not you.”

“…”

“I’m just happy to see your face like this. It’s been three years, hasn’t it?”

“…”

“We used to run into each other whenever I visited Lord Rheinhau’s estate. Remember? I thought that would be enough to have a friendship worth worrying about you.”

“…Of course, I appreciate your concern.”

Adele swallowed the awkwardly surging emotions like a stubborn nail.

Mikhail’s one-sided favor always made her feel uncomfortable.
Even in the past, he didn’t hide the gaze towards her, even in a place where Charlotte was present. What should one call that gaze? Like licking candy wrappers or as if looking at something very regrettable…

If she were married, or if he were not engaged to Charlotte, it might have been somewhat understandable. Sometimes, noble individuals tend to show concern even towards those with much lower status, like a special favor.

However, not now, unlike a few years ago.

“By the way, it seems like the carriage is being maintained. Do you have somewhere to go?”

At Mikhail’s words, Adele clenched the edge of her skirt as if on guard.

“I have some personal matters to attend to.”

“Good. I was just about to return to the palace. Ride my carriage.”

“…Aren’t you attending the hunting party?”

“I’m too busy because of your husband. Wouldn’t it be awkward to have an engaged woman stolen right before my eyes when I open them?”

Stolen right before his eyes? Adele, unable to understand the statement, lifted her head in surprise, and Mikhail covered his mouth with an embarrassed expression.

“Oh, haven’t you heard from the Duke, by any chance?”