“But we will inevitably meet her at our wedding, right? She did help us get engaged.”

“…I thought you might be afraid.”

“Afraid of whom? The Empress?”

“Yes. She’s quite an imposing figure. She helped with the proposal for her own reasons. The Empress is quite different from a typical mother.”

Watching Khaled speak in a somewhat bitter tone, Velia recalled her past experience meeting the Empress.

How badly she was treated when she went to greet her as Raul’s future spouse.

‘Back then, I was slapped. Had tea poured on me.’

But thinking back, the Empress had judged the situation coldly and logically.

‘She didn’t even look at me when we were alone.’

When she and the first queen consort headed to the imperial palace, the Empress appeared hurriedly and greeted her with exaggerated motions.

The cold eyes that met her startled her; they weren’t the eyes of a madwoman.

Later when she tried to learn more about the Empress, she suddenly died.

“I’ll visit the Empress alone.”

Velia was sure the Empress had mental issues. But something was odd.

Considering her past actions, it seemed she had chosen to confine herself in the imperial palace.

Velia couldn’t understand why she would confine herself like this, even under the guise of madness. There must be another hidden reason.

“It will be difficult to visit her today, so please find some time soon.”

After ending the conversation, Velia looked around the room and tried to open a peculiar door, but it didn’t budge.

“What is this space?”

At her question, Khaled wore a peculiar expression.

It was like a child who wanted to be praised.

‘Huh?’

Velia tried the handle of the locked door several times.

“Curious?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“Wait a moment.”

Instead of answering, Khaled abruptly left the room.
Left alone in the room, Velia was puzzled, trying to grasp what was going on, when she felt the doorknob she was holding smoothly turn.

“Huh?”

As the firmly closed door opened, Prince Khaled was on the other side, giving Velia a mischievous smile.

“What is it?”

“What is it? It’s the door.”

Velia burst into laughter at the scenery subtly visible behind him.

“Is this your room?”

Prince Khaled silently stepped aside from the door, as if inviting her in.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

Without feeling embarrassed, Velia entered Prince Khaled’s bedroom. It was a simple room with a large bed, a sofa, and a desk.

“Nothing special?”

Sitting naturally on the bed, Velia laughed heartily. Prince Khaled, leaning against the desk, stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.

“You seem to not care much about me.”

Somehow, his voice sounded drained of energy. Velia questioned.

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you know how much I’ve been holding back?”

Prince Khaled opened his eyes wide, as if asking if she really didn’t know.

“I know.”

“You know, and you act like that? How cruel.”

He grumbled with a voice full of genuine emotion.

“You pushed me away even when we were about to kiss earlier. Are you aware it’s been a month since we last met?”

Velia swiftly turned her head, looking at his sullen face, and burst into laughter.

“Ahaha.”

Watching Velia’s eyes twinkle as she laughed, Prince Khaled seemed somehow annoyed.

“So have you found out a lot about me in the meantime?”

How did you feel learning about me?

Do you know more about me than you know about that guy Raul?

The questions hidden in his blue eyes were clearly read.

“Cute…”

Velia got up from the bed and approached Prince Khaled. She then placed her hand on his shoulder and moved very close to him.

“You’ve hidden many things, haven’t you?”

With a subtle smile, Velia asked him.

“It must have been quite amusing for you?”

Her tone was very cheerful.

But the content was not that light.

“It seems we have a lot to talk about… What do you think, Khaled?”

Her hand lightly slid from his shoulder to his chest, and Khaled’s eyes followed.

His gaze heated up as it traveled from her forehead, skimmed her long eyelashes, to her uptilted nose and red lips.

“…I wished you were curious about me.”

“Yes, I’ve become very curious about you.”

Prince Khaled placed his hand on Velia’s waist. Then, he pulled her towards him and lifted her onto the desk.

“How about it? Your curiosity can’t have been satisfied yet. Do you plan to make a new proposition?”

He asked, smiling provocatively.

However, Velia shook her head.

“No. Rather, I’ve thought a bit about what you might want from me.”

Why keep pestering like a nagging child?

“Is it truly my heart you want? Or are you just pretending to want it?”

“Velia.”

Each time he called her name, her heart tingled. As if she were a young girl experiencing her first love, just like Clozé had said.

“I find you suspicious. Untrustworthy.”

People change eventually.

You, too. And me, too.

“But…”

As if she could no longer hold back, Velia gripped Khaled’s face and quickly kissed him before pulling away.

“If you just wanted me to be curious about you and give you my attention. Then yes, you’ve got what you wanted.”

Prince Khaled grabbed the hand Velia had on his cheek.

“Got what I wanted?”

He smiled deeply.

“Velia. You seem to be mistaken.”

He moved almost close enough to touch Velia’s lips and whispered.

“You still have no idea the extent of my greed.”