‘Did things not go well……’

Biare, who had been looking at him with a worried gaze, soon pretended not to notice and said.

“I received an invitation from Duke Kaanderson.”

Looking at her as she proudly pulled out her invitation, Dension’s lips twitched.

“That’s not it……”

Biare looked at him quizzically as he trailed off, waiting for him to finish his answer.

After hesitating, he gave an indescribable look, then ruffled his bangs and replied.

“Were you not in the banquet hall until just now?”

“Yes, I was on my way from the banquet hall……”

Biare looked at Dension curiously, feeling his question was sudden and inexplicable.

Still seeming unsatisfied with something, he brushed his bangs aside and only opened his mouth after a long while.

“……You seemed to be enjoying yourself with the person you were with.”

As if regretting his own words, Dension covered his reddened face with his hands.

Though it didn’t seem to hide his ears as well.

Biare’s heart was pounding softly, as she hadn’t thought at all that he would have seen her.

Trying hard not to show it, she spoke calmly to Dension as if nothing was wrong.

“Yes, I met my younger sibling’s friend and chatted for a moment.”

Dension’s left cheek dimpled deeply, and he smiled with satisfaction as if his worries had been resolved.

Biare, who had been staring at him blankly, remembered why she had come here, and after checking again if anyone was around, she gathered her courage.

“I have something I’d like to give to the Marquis.”

“……To me?”

“Yes, I hope you’ll accept it as a token of gratitude for previous matters.”

Then she took out a wrapped pocket watch from the pouch she was carrying and handed it to him.

Dension stood silently with a stiff expression for a long time, making her wonder anxiously if he might not accept it.

“I don’t think I was much help, but I’ll gratefully accept it.”

As he said this, he asked if he could open it, to which Biare nodded slightly.

The sound of paper wrapping being unwrapped was heard, and soon a faded silver pocket watch was revealed.

“I stopped by an antique shop before, and thought it would suit the Marquis.”

“Is this…… a pocket watch?”

Nodding at Dension’s question, she answered in a slightly nervous voice.

“Yes, I hope you like it.”

‘Why am I so nervous over this……’

Her lips felt parched and her throat seemed to be burning up.

When she carefully checked Dension’s face, which she hadn’t been able to look at properly, she saw his lips slowly curling upwards.

‘You must have felt like this too when you gave me a gift.’

Even though she knew he was smiling at the gift, Biare felt her heart swell as if he had smiled at her.

As she stared blankly at Dension, he noticed her gaze and asked curiously.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just glad you seem to like it.”

When Biare answered with a smile she couldn’t hide, he nodded readily as if it were truly so.

“I do like it. Really.”

As he said this, Dension was intently looking at the pocket watch in his hand. As if recalling something.

Worried that there might be some problem, Biare carefully asked.

“……Is there something wrong with the watch?”

She was concerned that there might be a stain on the miniature painting inside, even though the shop owner had said he replaced the watch oil.

“It’s not that…… It’s similar to a painting my mother used to like.”

However, Dension added that on closer inspection, it didn’t seem to be the case.

At his answer, Biare suddenly recalled the story of the pocket watch she had heard at the antique shop.

‘……Could it be a coincidence?’

Come to think of it, she had never heard detailed stories about Dension’s parents from him.

When Biare started meeting him, the previous Marquis and his wife were already deceased.

Moreover, since nobles often went down to their territories for inspections, she couldn’t be certain they were his parents.

‘Right, it must be just a coincidence of taste.’

Since noble ladies’ social activities were mainly held in museums or art galleries, Biare thought their tastes might be similar.

Unable to stay away any longer, Biare decided to be satisfied with having delivered the gift as she wished.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“……You’re just going to leave like that?”

“Yes, I’m about to return to the mansion.”

“The Princess…… seems to lack tact in odd ways.”

‘I feel like I’ve heard that before long ago……’

At his response, she tilted her head and left with an ambiguous smile.

Biare arrived at the Empress’s palace garden with an unusually tense appearance and dark expression.

She was just as bewildered as to why she was here.

Two days ago, a sudden letter came from the imperial palace, and following the Empress’s summons, Biare had come to the terrace garden of the Empress’s palace.

‘What on earth could this be about……’

While she was lost in thought, Biare startled at the cultured and elegant voice from behind, and stood up to show her respect.

“Glory to the Holy Marta Empire.”

“Please be seated, Princess.”

The Empress, with her perfectly upright posture and dignified smile, was quietly observing Biare.

That gaze overlapped with Ivan’s eyes that had once searched her, causing Biare to barely suppress the unpleasant emotion rising within her.

“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty the Empress’s deep consideration.”

Then Biare also sat down, following the Empress.

The current Empress of the Marta Empire was someone who had smiled without showing any personal emotions even when a young lady appeared with Ivan’s illegitimate child in the past.

She seemed unlikely to create a situation harmful to herself, no less than the Crown Prince.

“You must have been quite surprised by the sudden letter, Princess.”

“It is an honor just to be able to have tea with Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Empress, speaking gently with a warm smile, seemed intent on personally judging whether Biare was a match for her son.

“I think you know. Those rumors that surrounded the Crown Prince.”

At her confident and calm tone, Biare simply bowed her head and answered.

“Yes, I am aware.”

“Then the Crown Prince, from some point, stopped calling women to his bedchamber.”

The Empress was not seeking understanding for the vicious and vulgar actions her son had committed.

She probably wouldn’t make much comment on such things in the future either. That was how Biare thought of the position of Empress.

“……”

“Perhaps the Crown Prince holds you in his heart more than you think, Princess.”

‘I don’t think that’s the case……’

Not knowing what to say, Biare intended to silently listen to her words.

As Biare held an ambiguous smile, a low, deep voice was heard nearby.

“Wait a moment, ladies. What are you doing without me?”

As Ivan approached with a joking manner, the Empress slightly furrowed her brow and said.

“Shouldn’t I see for myself the person who will become the Crown Prince’s fiancée?”

Biare responded with a slight smile to the Empress who looked at her saying, ‘Isn’t that right, Princess?’

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m glad today has been a beneficial day for me as well.”

At this, Ivan looked at her with an ambiguous expression that seemed both a sneer and a smile.

That expression seemed to ask if she had eaten something wrong today.

Lightly ignoring his gaze, Biare looked at the Empress, and Ivan glibly said to his mother.

“I haven’t even had a proper date with the Princess yet, I can’t let Mother steal the order.”

The Empress shook her head at Ivan’s slick behavior and waved her hand, telling them to go ahead.

“Thank you for understanding my intentions, Mother.”

As he said this, he naturally offered his hand to Biare. It was his intention to escort her to the front.

“Let’s go now, Princess.”

“Eternal peace to the Marta Empire.”

Biare, who had paid her respects, lightly placed her hand on Ivan’s, accepting his escort.

As they moved away from the Empress’s palace, Biare let out a deep sigh and withdrew her hand that had been placed on his.

At this, Ivan’s hand, which had been touching the air as if regretful, gradually lowered.

“By the way, my intentions weren’t involved, Princess.”

Biare couldn’t help but laugh at his behavior, which was like someone with a guilty conscience.

“I never doubted Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Looking at her intently as if surprised, Ivan said smugly.

“I didn’t know you would trust me this much, Princess.”

“……”

Biare looked at him indifferently and then turned her gaze to the flowers blooming in the garden.

Perhaps because the imperial palace was the area that received the sun’s energy best within the Marta Empire, all the flowers were in full bloom.

Ivan also turned his gaze to the garden and said in a thoroughly benevolent voice.

“Is there a flower you like? If you want, you can have it.”

‘The entire imperial palace probably isn’t yours……’

She disliked his arrogant attitude of acting as if another royal family’s palace was his own.

However, Ivan would never know that she disliked such things. Not even for eternity.

Shaking her head at his question, Biare answered in a dry voice.

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

At this, Ivan escorted her to where the carriage was parked without further words.

He had forcibly brought her along despite Biare’s repeated refusals.

“I’ll see you at the engagement ceremony next.”

In a few nights, their irreversible engagement ceremony awaited them.

Unlike Biare who felt little emotion, he seemed to be attaching much meaning to the engagement.

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Eternal peace to the Marta Empire.”

“Until next time, Princess.”

Not wanting to see the Crown Prince’s face any longer, Biare hurriedly boarded the carriage and signaled to Tonio.

At this, Tonio opened the sliding window and signaled to the coachman, and the carriage began to leave the imperial palace.