Evelia instinctively lowered her head. There he was, right where her gaze had stopped. Just in front of the Crown Prince’s palace, amid the wildly blooming crimson rose garden.

“Your Highness…”

Without realizing it, Evelia released the words that had filled her mouth. She then closed her eyes tightly and opened them.

She wondered if she was dreaming. Otherwise, why would he come here at this late hour?

Yet, every time she closed and opened her eyes, he was still crossing through the crimson rose garden.

“Sigh.”

Emotions she had been suppressing all along suddenly escaped her lips. Finally, strength entered her toes, and Evelia turned her body as if she had been waiting to do so.

She rushed out of her bedroom and stood in front of the stairs leading to the first floor. The thought of being careful never crossed her mind. Her heart was too impatient. She just wanted to see him up close as quickly as possible.

Without hesitation, she stretched her legs down the stairs and ran at the fastest speed she could muster. Only after descending half a floor did she see Liurian entering the palace gates.

Just that made her feel as if her breath was stuck. Even so, her heart boiled more and more with impatience. She thought that if she put in a little more effort to run, she could reach him, and she saw nothing else.

She lifted her feet again to continue. The movement was closer to a sprint than a walk. She knew that running recklessly compromised the dignity of a Crown Princess, but she didn’t care at all.

“Your Highness!”

Having descended the stairs, she shouted loudly at Liurian who was not far away. Then, as if he had been waiting, he stretched his arms out towards her.

Seeing that, she felt as if her already depleted patience had reached its limit.

Evelia dashed in without hesitation, into the wide arms opened toward her.

“Your Highness, sigh.”

The breath she had been holding back burst out helplessly. The scent of him she had missed so much filled her nostrils without a gap. It was really him. So perfect that her worry about it being an illusion seemed ridiculous.

“Every time I come to the Crown Prince’s palace, you dangerously run out. What are you going to do if you get hurt?”

In his reprimanding tone was a hint of inappropriate laughter. Just that alone filled her eyes with tears as if they would burst at any moment.

“Even so, in the end, I’m safely in Your Highness’s arms.”
Evelia tensed the arms that were wrapped around his neck in response. Though she tried her best to conceal the overwhelming emotions welling up inside her, the trembling in her fingertips could not be hidden. Hence, she could only tighten her embrace.

Her heart hurt so much. Seeing him attempt a smile while looking so worn-out felt like a stone settling heavily in her heart.

“……Are you okay? Your face has worsened considerably these past few days.”

Struggling to suppress her increasingly rapid breathing, she bluntly voiced her concerns. Even so, she could not muster the courage to face him directly.

If she saw his falsely cheerful face again, she felt she would not be able to hold back her tears.

“It’s hard to breathe. You can ask slowly. I’m not going anywhere.”

He spoke in a joking manner, still with a touch of laughter in his voice. Yet, Evelia knew precisely. His jest was a consideration toward her, who was stifling her sobs and even holding her breath.

It couldn’t be otherwise. Otherwise, the touch of his hand sweeping down her back wouldn’t be so tender.

That’s why Evelia resolved to try her hardest. She vowed not to show any signs of the hellish days she had endured recently.

“Have you been very busy?”

“Your voice sounds like you’d be upset if I said yes.”

“Were you aware that Failin has been visiting the crown prince’s palace multiple times in my stead?”

Evelia spoke as if throwing a tantrum. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t upset, but the moment she saw his face, that sentiment vanished.

But still, it seemed like expressing her discontent this way would make his heart more comfortable.

She sensed a subtle laughter emanating from the warm breath that brushed against her ear. It didn’t sound like laughter forced to feign okayness. Only then could she also freely laugh.

For a long while, they embraced each other, as if neither could do without the other. Finally, he softly whispered as he held onto Evelia’s arm.

“I know you missed me a lot, so how about letting me go now?”

His tone was gentle as if he were soothing a child, but Evelia promptly shook her head.

“……I want to stay like this a little longer.”

“You seem not to want to be separated from me even for a moment. I didn’t know you were this assertive.”

“……Even if you say that, I won’t let you go.”
Blushing from the uncontrollable feeling of embarrassment, she didn’t pull away from his embracing arms. Not that he couldn’t have overpowered her, but he chose not to forcibly separate from her.

Instead, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist and brought his lips close to her ear as if to whisper sweet nothings.