“Your Highness, that is…….”

Evelia bit her lower lip with a rather perplexed face. Her quivering eyes revealed her uncomfortable heart.

Noticing her state, the young noble hastily added,

“I apologize, Your Highness. Even though I often get scolded by my father for not considering the weight of my words, I dared to act rashly even before Your Highness. I did not speak with ill intent, so please forgive me with your generous heart.”

The young noble bowed his head toward the table as if to kowtow, apologizing excessively. It was an overly stiff apology.

Evelia quickly reached out to the young noble. Although Rellia’s story had been uncomfortable, she didn’t want such an apology.

“It’s alright, young noble. Don’t worry, as I am not that offended.”

“Your Highness…….”

“I just wanted to have the enjoyable time with the young noble that I could not have yesterday, even if it’s late.”

At the end of her speech, Evelia gently lifted a gentle smile. Only then did the young noble’s stiff expression seem to relax a bit.

Evelia again offered tea to her.

“It’s the tea I usually like, but I’m not sure if it will suit the young noble’s taste.”

“The fragrance is very nice. I am sure it will taste good too. Thank you for serving me such precious tea, Your Highness.”

It was an extremely pleasant thing to hear. But Evelia could not shake off the subtle tension that was creeping in.

Having guests for the first time, she was concerned about every little thing.

“The fragrance is nice, and the color is nice too. Indeed, the taste is also very good, Your Highness!”

After taking a sip of the tea, the young noble laughed brightly. Only then could Evelia laugh brightly following the young noble.

“I’m so relieved that it suits the young noble’s taste.”

“If it’s served by Your Highness, anything would have suited my taste. Though it’s late, thank you for inviting me. While I’m greeting you, may I formally introduce myself once again?”

It was an unexpected suggestion. But the eyes of the young noble, saying so, were full of eagerness. She could not say that there was no need.

“I am Diana of Count Nolton’s family, Your Highness.”

Diana jumped up from her seat and cheerfully bowed her head. It was quite different from her prim and proper demeanor just moments before. Although it was somewhat perplexing, it also seemed cute in a way, and Evelia couldn’t help but slightly narrow her eyes.

“Nice to meet you, Diana. That’s enough, now sit down.”

“I always wanted to have a conversation with Your Highness, and I am really happy that the day has come so soon, Your Highness.”

Diana took her seat with an ecstatic expression all over her face. She looked completely sincere. That itself had been a constant curiosity, not even showing this much interest to me….

“Although I was curious, you wanted to talk to me so much, did you have something you wanted to say to me?”

Perhaps she wanted to ask something from me. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to want to meet me so much.

Even the palace maids treated her as a hollow crown princess consort. They gossiped about her, and sometimes there was even overt disdain.

They even ousted Phelin and a few maids for trusting and following her, so what more explanation was needed?

Her position as the insignificant crown princess consort was no different among the noble ladies than among the maids. If there was any difference, it was only that they elegantly and gracefully sipped tea while disparaging her.

If she hadn’t heard Diana’s story through her father, she would not even have thought of inviting her, let alone having a conversation with her.

“It’s not that I have something grand to say, I just wanted to have a small conversation with Your Highness. I wanted to see you up close at least once.”

“You wanted to have, a small conversation with me?”
Yes. Though I saw Your Highness from afar at every party, it was always a bit disappointing to only see you from a distance! But every time I considered approaching you, your expression seemed so stern…

Diana seemed uncharacteristically timid. Her face, darting glances around, was filled with an awkward expression.

Perhaps she knew the reason all too well. Why, at a party where everyone should be happy, she had to maintain such a stern expression.

“Listening to you, it seems you were really interested in me.”

Evelia Caroline tried to force a smile, attempting to change the subject. The reason she had invited Diana was not for a gloomy conversation.

She wanted to have a good time with the first guest she had invited since becoming the crown princess.

“When I think about it, I get even more curious? Why were you so interested in me?”

“That is, actually…”

Evelia Caroline blinked in surprise, her eyes wide. Diana’s face, trailing off, began to redden unusually.

“From the moment I first saw Your Highness, I fell in love with you!”

“……Yes?”

Evelia Caroline’s fingers, holding a teacup, suddenly stiffened and stopped. What did I just hear?

“Diana, I’m sorry, but can you repeat what you just said…”