I raised my chin, indicating that he should get to the point instead of such nonsense.

But Saedel, far from getting to the point, urged me to answer.

“Which do you prefer? Isn’t it more thrilling when formal speech is used?”

“……”

What kind of situation is this really?

I couldn’t even guess what intention he had in saying such things to me.

‘No, isn’t it wrong to look for intention from a madman in the first place?’

I should have realized he was mad from the moment he tried to capture me in weasel form. I decided to answer his question obediently for now.

“It doesn’t matter. No, your formal speech doesn’t sound pleasant, so I don’t like it.”

“Is that so?”

As soon as I answered, Saedel dropped the formal speech and asked again.

“What about flowers? Don’t you like flowers either?”

“I do like flowers.”

Somehow feeling unfair that only I was using formal speech, I dropped it too.

Saedel, not caring about such things, handed me the bouquet he had been holding.

“Then please accept this.”

“Oh?”

As I received the bouquet in bewilderment, a sweet fragrance tickled my nose.

‘It is nice.’

The North was desolate, and it was winter now so flowers couldn’t be seen. But suddenly receiving such a large bouquet, I did feel good.

However, this feeling soon plummeted. Because Saedel said this while looking at me holding the bouquet:

“I personally picked these roses for you at dawn today.”

Suddenly the pretty bouquet felt heavy.

‘Ah, really. Should I be continuing this conversation?’

As I raised my head to return the bouquet, my eyes met Saedel’s as if he had been waiting.

At his gaze, devoid of any trace of negative emotion, my heart felt like it was sinking. It was as if he was looking at a lover, making me uncomfortable.

Unable to push him away or avoid him, all I could do was ask back:

“Why are you staring?”

“Just because looking at you alone makes me happy.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”

I shouldn’t have asked. Hearing the answer made me feel even worse.

As if he couldn’t see my frowning face, Saedel smiled brightly.

“I should have come to meet you sooner.”

It was a chilling remark.

The next day, stories about Prince Saedel and Marian spread widely in high society.

“I heard Prince Saedel went to the Sky Palace and met Prince Hadel’s lover.”

“More than a few people saw him giving her a bouquet of flowers, didn’t they?”

There were many witnesses because the Sky Palace was brightly open on all sides due to fire hazard.

High society, always lacking in gossip, was enthusiastic about this tidbit. Especially since Prince Saedel had never had even one rumor of a love affair, it was natural for interest to be focused.

As much of a topic as Saedel’s visit was the large bouquet he had been holding.

“I heard a rumor that he personally selected and arranged that bouquet.”

“Doesn’t it mean he’s asking for the favor of his future sister-in-law? It seems he’s trying to take Prince Hadel’s side.”

“To say that, considering that young lady’s appearance……”

They were just about to start talking about the love triangle between Prince Saedel, Cecile, and the unidentified young lady.

A servant announced Cecile’s visit. The ladies who had been freely gossiping about her bowed their heads with sly smiles.

“You have joined us, Lady Cecile.”

“Yes.”

Cecile, already sensing the atmosphere, answered briefly. No one would want to hear her greetings anyway.

The hostess whispered to Cecile.

“Do you perhaps know what’s happening with Prince Hadel and Miss Nella’s engagement?”

Then another lady asked:

“I heard Prince Saedel ordered that young lady to stay at the White Jade Palace, is that true?”

“Just which family is that young lady from?”

Cecile repeated the same words like a parrot:

“I have not heard anything.”

She really didn’t know anything. But the ladies glared at her as if she was hiding a secret.

On her way home, Cecile trembled with devastation.

‘I thought a day like this might come someday.’

Since it wasn’t a relationship based on sincere affection anyway, it wouldn’t be strange no matter when or how it ended.

‘But there’s no need to make me this miserable.’

Isn’t there etiquette even when breaking up?

Cecile glared at the empty air with resentful eyes. Even she didn’t know at whom to vent this anger.

The day after I first met Saedel at the palace, he had even set up a table and chairs in the garden.

As soon as I saw that, I turned around.

“I’m going back.”

Saedel calmly folded his arms and jerked his chin.

“Sit down for a moment.”

“No.”

“Then I’ll have to throw all this away.”

“What now?”

At his gesture, servants appeared in a line carrying trays. From a large teapot filled with steaming hot tea to checkerboard cookies alternating black and white, various cupcakes, and glittering sugar cookies.

As I slightly opened my mouth at the parade of desserts filing in, Saedel shrugged.

“You said you like sweet things.”

Though his tone was nonchalant, it was enough to grate on my nerves.

I retorted in a sharp tone.

“Are you spying on me now?”

“Spying? I’m just paying close attention so as not to neglect guest hospitality.”

His smooth answer made my stomach churn. I turned around again.

“I’m leaving.”

Then Saedel said in a light tone to my back.

“Should I change the threat? Since I gave wrong information, I should punish the servant who failed to properly attend their superior.”

It was a threat from someone who knew me well. When I turned back, his face was smiling but his eyes weren’t. It was a face that could really punish a subordinate for such an absurd reason and more.

In the end, I sat down across from him, declaring surrender.

“…Fine. I said fine.”

As I sat down, Saedel asked excitedly again while pouring tea into the cup.

“Beautiful lady, do you take milk in your tea? Sugar?”

I pulled the chair far back, placing distance between myself and the table. Saedel frowned at that sight, seemingly displeased.

“What? We can’t drink tea together like that.”

Then he gestured for me to come closer. I shook my head.

“If you have something to say, say it from there.”

“Really?”

Saedel shrugged again.

“Then let’s move the table.”

“What are you really trying to do with me?”

“Have tea time?”

“……”

Why are you asking me?

Anyway, it seemed this meaningless argument would continue until I sat across from him. I sighed and pulled the chair to sit. Saedel’s eyebrows rose.

“More.”

“……”

“I said come closer.”

“Ugh.”

Why do I have to be doing this? I retorted in a sharp tone.

“I don’t want to sit close. I’ll pass on freezing like that time.”

“Like that time?”

“You said absorbing mana was fun and blew ice mana into me.”

“Me?”

Saedel frowned as if hearing it for the first time. He propped his chin and searched his memory for a while, then shook his head.

“I’ve never even held a lock of your hair.”

Right, you wouldn’t remember. I was in weasel form then.

‘But whether he’s the same person as Espen or not, he needs to know I was a weasel.’

So I said again.

“You did. Thanks to that, I thought my heart would stop. I don’t cry much, but I wept bitterly then.”

“Absorbing mana……”

Saedel’s eyes widened as he repeated my words. He pointed at me with his index finger and asked back.

“……The weasel?”

“Correct.”

It was fortunate that he didn’t try to deny it happened. Saedel rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and asked several times.

“You were that weasel? The person in front of me now is Marian herself.”

His tone suggested he knew me, the Marian who disappeared 100 years ago.

‘Is Saedel really the same person as Espen?’

Feeling I had found an important answer of my own, I put on a serious expression.

Saedel’s gaze on me became dazed. He murmured as if entranced.

“Yes, Marian.”

The thick emotion seeping from his voice made my shoulders shrink involuntarily.

He suddenly smiled brightly and reached out toward me.

“Marian, it’s you.”

“Don’t touch me.”

I was on edge, afraid he might suddenly blow ice mana into me.

No matter how many soldiers he leads, he can’t easily defeat me. But ice mana is different. With my broken heart, I had no means to resist ice.

Despite my answer, Saedel smiled ecstatically without any sign of displeasure.

“I like it when you’re ferocious too. You were always like that. Kind to everyone, but not letting them get close, and only fierce to me.”

It was completely the tone of someone who knew me. Not even making a small effort to hide it, so I inadvertently let this answer slip out:

“……Decided to drop the act, I see?”

And then, belatedly, I realized.

Just as I was wondering if he was really Espen or not, he too was wondering if I was really Marian or not.

And that answer just now would have been an answer for him too.

Saedel said with a bright smile:

“But I’m satisfied now. Because I can call your name freely. Marian, Marian.”

“Don’t call me that.”

My nerves on edge, my voice flowed out sharp like broken glass. But Saedel didn’t mind.

“It’s really nice to have someone who answers when you call their name.”

Then with a very satisfied smile, he called me again.

“I missed you, Marian.”

At this, even I could no longer ignore the situation.

“……Espen.”

I don’t know what method he used, but he was Espen.