Biare, who had just come out after having her measurements taken in the changing room, felt puzzled that Madam Louise had not yet appeared.

“Is Madam Louise still not here?”

At Biare’s casual question, the noisy reception room suddenly fell into silence.

She didn’t mean to put the clerk in a difficult position, but the frightened woman looked very embarrassed.

“There’s a guest who arrived earlier…”

The fact that the madam had greeted a guest before her meant that someone from another duke’s family must be visiting.

‘Could it be a duchess who’s here?’

Even so, she couldn’t just keep waiting for the madam indefinitely.

It was pointless to waste time when she had so many things to take care of.

Biare’s mind was already too complicated to make sense of things.

“If you’re busy, I can come back another time…”

At that moment, the reception room door swung open, and Biare couldn’t hide her bewilderment when she saw who came out.

“It’s been a while, Princess.”

“Glory to the Holy Marta Empire.”

“When I heard you were my next guest, how could I pass up the chance?”

Judging by the gloomy expression on Madam Louise’s face as she followed him out flustered, Biare could guess what had just transpired.

Though she wasn’t particularly curious, the Crown Prince said he had stopped by to pick up a secret order he had placed with the madam.

Biare, who no longer wanted to face him after the unsavory incident at the Grand Temple recently, slowly relaxed her furrowed brow and prepared to leave the boutique.

“It must have been tiring for you to come all this way.”

In response to Biare’s polite but insincere formality, he, who had been looking at her with great interest, answered nonchalantly.

“That’s why I was planning to rest here for a bit.”

“Then please rest comfortably. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Thinking it would be better to get her party dress fitted another time, Biare signaled her maid and stood up, bowing slightly to the Crown Prince.

“Eternal glory to the Marta Empire—”

“Let’s go out together. I have something to tell you, as it happens.”

Bewildered at how the situation had turned out this way again, Biare showed her usual cold response to him.

“It seems you haven’t heard my answer from Father yet.”

“How could that be? You can’t imagine how devastated I was when I heard the news from the Duke.”

As the unpredictable conversation unfolded between the two, the onlookers could only watch, unsure of what to do.

Just as she was thinking it would be much easier to go to the temple and listen to a sermon than to hear his nonsensical words…

“So shouldn’t the Princess take responsibility?”

“Ha, responsibility…”

Biare couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, and the atmosphere in the reception room grew even heavier.

As the situation became precarious, Diane silently waited for Biare to give instructions.

However, Biare didn’t give any orders. As if she wanted to observe the situation further.

“Yes, responsibility. Because of you, I’ve been suffering from a severe fever these past few days.”

Ivan, who looked perfectly fine, brazenly told this lie and then smirked as he looked at her.

As he clutched his chest area pretending to be in pain, Biare was truly dumbfounded.

“I suppose it’s fine if you speak here.”

It meant to cut out the nonsense and get to the point already.

At this, Ivan frowned one eye, crossed his arms, and said in a displeased voice.

“Hmm, I didn’t think so, but the Princess is quite cold-hearted.”

He nodded to Madam Louise and added, as if for Biare to hear.

“People like us being here might interfere with business. Isn’t that right, Madam?”

If the noble future emperor says so, then his word is law. The madam squeezed her eyes shut and reluctantly answered.

“How could I add my opinion to the words of such esteemed individuals?”

“That settles it then, Princess. There’s a good place to talk nearby, so let’s go there.”

What exactly did he want from her, and was it right to be dragged along according to his intentions like this? Feeling both annoyed and confused by him, Biare signaled to Diane.

Seeing this, Diane nodded her head vigorously as if to say she would call Tonio right away, and hurried off to where the carriage was waiting.

The place they arrived at, following Ivan who led the way, was a newly opened cafe not far from Florman’s boutique.

Nobles stopping by for a brief rest, young ladies engaging in social activities, and young couples whispering sweet nothings to each other.

The cafe, which had no private spaces at all, was spacious and open on all sides.

Therefore, it was obvious that Biare and Ivan’s appearance alone would immediately draw attention.

As quite a few people looked at them with curious eyes and whispered among themselves, she couldn’t help but frown.

To people who knew nothing, they were probably just interesting prey.

Having finally grasped his intention, Biare could only glare at Ivan as he casually offered her a seat.

That the Crown Prince had visited this place with a princess from an influential family in the empire during a busy time was more than enough to be consumed as gossip.

Ivan must have known that she was already enduring a lot. He was simply enjoying this situation immensely.

Wanting to leave this place as soon as possible, she lowered her voice considerably and spoke so that only he could hear.

“Please say what you have to say now.”

“Don’t be so angry, Princess.”

“I can’t even begin to fathom how urgent the matter must be for you to visit here.”

“But still, isn’t it more fun for you when there are more spectators?”

Before she could properly grasp the meaning behind his words, Ivan took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

Most of the nobles opened their eyes wide and stared at the two, while some began to whisper behind their fans.

No one noticed the tense atmosphere between the two; everyone was focused solely on the gift the Crown Prince had given.

Ivan calmly received the gazes from around them, slightly curled his lips, and then looked at Biare with a gaze full of affection.

“I thought it would suit you, so I personally ordered it.”

Facing his artificial expression that she had never seen before, Biare felt chills run down her spine.

Moreover, the mere fact that Ivan had ordered something for her made Biare’s teeth chatter.

His intention was so clear, giving her a gift in front of other nobles, that she tried to look away and escape.

“It doesn’t seem to be my possession.”

“How could that be? This is only for you.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Are you refusing without even opening it? I’m truly disappointed.”

Resting his chin on his hand, waiting for Biare to open the gift, he suddenly said in a low voice.

“Everyone is focusing on you, aren’t they? You should at least respond to this much.”

People around them were still openly staring at them, their eyes shining with curiosity about what the Crown Prince’s gift might be.

Displeased at feeling like she had fallen for Ivan’s act, which seemed to unfold like a well-written script, she looked at the gift indifferently.

One way or another, today’s events would surely be used not only in social circles but also politically.

‘I shouldn’t have overlooked this…’

Biare slowly placed her hand on the gift box in front of her and leisurely untied the ribbon.

It felt quite amusing that everyone was straining their eyes to see what gift the Crown Prince had given.

‘I’m so grateful I could cry.’

As she lifted the lid of the box, a pair of intricately embroidered white lace gloves came into clear view.

The nobles who caught a glimpse of the gift he had given couldn’t hide their surprised expressions and began to murmur.

Ignoring the whispering gazes of the people and looking only at Biare, Ivan’s intention was so clear that she twisted her lips.

She hadn’t returned to the past to play roles with him, but already her temples were starting to throb.

No one in the Marta Empire would be unaware of the meaning of ‘white lace gloves’.

It had been passed down for a long time that the first emperor gave white lace gloves to the empress when he courted her.

In fact, history recorded that the two were a happily married couple, so it was said that even now, some people follow this tradition and give gloves as gifts. Of course, that was limited to the imperial family.

‘Is he in his right mind to give this to me?’

Biare felt like tearing the gloves he had given to shreds right in front of them.

She tried to hide her expression, but it was impossible to completely conceal her emotions.

The Crown Prince, who had been quietly observing her delicate hands trembling with anger, shrugged and said.

“It’s too early to be moved, Princess.”

“It sounds like there’s something even more surprising left.”

Frowning as if to ask if she really didn’t know, he leaned forward from where he had been reclining in his chair, moving closer to Biare.

“Of course. I’ll give you something even better at the ceremony.”

Though she knew well that it was mere nonsense, his attitude of so naturally envisioning marriage with her felt nauseating.

‘It will never go according to your wishes.’

Because she had no intention of moving according to his thoughts, Biare had to find a way out of this situation.