I don’t know why I’m explaining myself, but I spoke without even taking a breath.

“I met farmer Boritz for the first time that day, too. That was also for work.”

“You seemed quite fond of each other?”

“Could we be as fond as His Majesty riding horses with his new Queen Mother?”

I turned over the blanket and lay on my side.

I didn’t want to show my face at this moment.

It must have been twisted in ugliness.

I shouldn’t have said that last thing.

Did it sound like jealousy?

Ah, how embarrassing.

“Elizabeth. Are you angry?”

“I’m not angry! Except for the part where His Majesty treated his lifesaver like a paycheck thief.”

It’s uncomfortable to reveal my emotions like this.

Why do I keep losing my temper in front of Nikolai?

“In my hometown, there’s a saying. Save a drowning man and he asks for your bundle!”

Nikolai, who had been silent for a while, reached out and touched the round part of my shoulder.

“Elizabeth.”

His voice was gentle but firm, like a command or a consolation.

It had a strange power that disarmed people.

Even those determined not to look at him couldn’t help but glance.

“Look at me properly.”

“Don’t order me.”

“Look at me.”

“Even begging won’t work.”

“It appears I have deeply offended the lifesaver. I must have committed a great folly.”

It was a lament mixed with laughter.

I glared at him with fiery eyes.

Nikolai was fiddling with the corner of his mouth.

“You find this funny?”

“I can’t help it, you’re just too adorable.”

Having said this, Nikolai’s eyes widened.

Not just that.

His cheeks, and even his earlobes, flushed a brilliant red.

‘Why is he blushing? Shouldn’t I be the one?’

Seeing him look so awkward, like a boy who had made a big mistake, I felt an inexplicable surge of confidence.

“I am rather adorable. Enough to make you fall head over heels.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

“So, I’m not adorable? You haven’t fallen for me?”

“It’s not that either…”

Nikolai’s pupils quivered.

He nervously chewed his dry lips without answering.

The usually confident and selfabsorbed man looked very flustered.

I wanted to tease him again.

I felt like I deserved it.

“Just admit it. You’re tempted by me.”

Ah! I’m doing quite well, aren’t I?

For this moment, I felt like a femme fatale, not just a sheltered, good girl.

But Nikolai didn’t let his guard down for even a moment.

“Would admitting make it easier?”

He muttered something—either a question or a monologue—then ran his fingers across my forehead.

“…”

A tingling, electriclike sensation made me curl my toes.

Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart raced at an abnormal pace.

He was too close.
His lips were the same, as was his breath.

A taut tension pressed against my chest.

Nikolai, looking down at me, unable to quench his burning thirst.

The shade deepened due to his black hair.

The gaze shining hotter in the shadow.

The seductive femme fatale had returned to being a blinking young girl.

“Speak, Elizabeth.”

His touch moved from my forehead to my eyebrows, from my nose bridge back to my lips.

Passion followed suit.

Was there thunder somewhere? Had a storm come?

My pulse drummed loudly in my temples.

“Could I feel a bit relieved if I declare defeat?”

He suppressed a groan and glared at my lips as if licking them.

Although his whole body was emitting blatant desire, his touch sweeping my hair behind my ears was incredibly gentle.

So I closed my eyes, pretending not to notice our nearly touching lips.

I waited for his overflowing breath.

I expected the heat that would wrench away my rationality.

“……?”

But there was no kiss.

Only the desolate silence deepened.

When I lifted my trembling eyelashes, Nikolai was distancing himself with a cloudy face.

“Let’s go back.”

My heart sank heavily.

Did I make a mistake? Did I say something unnecessary?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t say a word.

Nikolai’s expressionless face was firm.

To the extent that no question seemed useful.

“Do not concern yourself with the harem. Do not be curious. There is no woman there worth your concern.”

With these mysterious words, Nikolai left.

I crouched down again under the moonlight.

A vague fear and a sense of defeat became reality and engulfed me.

‘That woman must be in your heart. Enshrouded in guilt, an enormous existence that must leave forever.’

(This is a time separator.)

It was as if nothing had happened.

I went to work at the Crown Prince’s palace as if nothing had occurred.

I could have taken a few more days off, but it would be painful to think of Nikolai when alone.

“I’ll give you a getwell gift.”

Franz suddenly said.

I, who was helping with Franz’s math homework, frowned.

“I’m already healed.”

“Don’t talk nonsense and accept it. Do you think it’s easy to receive a gift from the Crown Prince?”

“Thank you, how generous. I could sell it for a good price.”

“It won’t be easy. It’s a painting.”

Franz handed me a canvas wrapped in blue paper and a brown ribbon.

“I completed it last night.”

“Thank you, Franz.”

“You can throw it away if you don’t like it.”

Though he said that, he seemed tense, worrying whether I would like it or not.

These days, the little tyrant who’s been snapping at people seemed cute.

Franz didn’t give me a chance to be lost in other thoughts.

And for that, I was grateful.

“I thought of Elizabeth while painting it.”

“Is it a portrait?”

“…Well, something like that.”

My hands that were tearing the wrapping became busy.

Several portraits of the original Elizabeth hung in the Emster mansion.

Portraits that displayed Elizabeth’s narcissism and ostentation were grand and luxurious.

I also wanted to have a real portrait of myself.

Although I had declined because I thought sitting still for hours would be torturous.

‘With Franz’s skills, a wonderful portrait should have been completed.’

However, my expectations crumbled the moment my eyes moved to the canvas.