“Diana is very interested in archaeology. Last time, we went to the Imperial Library together and heard stories about ancient kingdoms. It was really interesting.”

“She must be planning to become an archaeologist soon. It must have been pretty fun, you look just like a curious child.”

He responded rather sarcastically. His tone was teasing her in a playful way.

Evelia pouted her lips for a moment. Although he was teasing, she didn’t feel bad. His eyes were consistently tender, contrasting his sarcastic tone.

They continued to share more about Diana and archaeology, conversations that were very ordinary and not at all substantial.

However, the expressions they had for each other shined brighter than ever before. They looked like lovers spending simple, worry-free moments.

Evelia, her heart filled with the happiness she had longed for, wandered around the gardens of the Prince’s palace, the maze garden with the central fountain, and various places in the palace until the early hours of the dawn. Only then did they head towards their final destination.

Evelia, who had been incessantly talking, suddenly took a deep breath. From afar, she could see the Crown Princess’s palace. She felt the last moment that couldn’t be deferred or avoided was imminent.

Once again, her heart started to ache. However, Evelia lifted a brave smile.

She wanted her last appearance to be a smiling face. She wanted to greet him with a smile, at least for him who had cared for her until now.

“Your Highness.”
Evelia looked up at him with feigned cheerfulness. Soon his gaze seemed to eagerly lock onto hers. Just that was enough to make her heart feel heavy. She tried to find comfort in a deep breath.

“Are you not tired? You’ve been walking for a long time because of me.”

“Are you tired from walking for so long?”

“No, not at all. Rather…”

I was so happy. Being able to walk side by side with Your Highness.

She wanted to say that, but her throat seemed to close up and she couldn’t fully utter it. The tip of her nose tingled. Her mouth felt dry and her eyes heated up.

How many times had she resolved not to do this, yet why was it so difficult?

Gathering herself with effort, Evelia took another deep breath, and then looked up at him with a bright smile.

“It was truly wonderful. If I had known that a simple walk with Your Highness would be this delightful, I would have pestered you to do it sooner. It’s not a difficult thing, so why have I been foolishly missing out?”

She spoke lightly, pretending to regret, but a deep sense of loss weighed on her heart. Why couldn’t she have done it? It’s not that difficult. But she knew that regretting now was already too late. And she knew too well that her heart would only become more burdened.

Once again, Evelia composed herself and parted her lips a bit hastily.

It seemed time to say goodbye. Before the lingering attachment she couldn’t suppress grasped at her newfound courage.

“Still, I think I’ll be alright. I believe I will cherish today’s memories for a very long time. Even if we go back to the way we were.”

“…”

“So, please tell me now. Why did you suddenly become so affectionate toward me? Today feels like the day I desperately want to hear Your Highness’s story.”

Evelia smiled as brightly as she could at him. In an instant, rising tears blurred her vision, making him look hazy once more. But this time her heart felt lighter.

Perhaps it was better not to see him like this. However, his voice, which soon reached her ears, shook her heart without hesitation.

“Well, I couldn’t help but be affectionate.”

“…”

“Because I’ve been missing you all along, and I’ve been… loving you all along.”

His voice trembled pitifully. Yet, more than hurting, something felt strange about his tone.

He had been loving me all along?
That couldn’t be true. Liurian Petrov had never loved her. Until he returned from the war with the Elia Kingdom, it had certainly been that way. But now, his words sounded as if he had never not loved her.

“From the moment I first saw you, there hasn’t been a time when I didn’t love you.”

The words that followed perfectly represented her thoughts. Evelia’s lower lip quivered suddenly under the confusion that engulfed her.

Her mind felt like thousands of beads were rolling around, so chaotic. But that was only for a moment.

“I am not Liurian Petrov but…”

“…”

“…Caliph Dewitt.”

As his utterly unbelievable words settled, thick tears began to drip down onto her cheeks.