Her childhood friend, who used to be so cynical about love, now had someone he liked?

She was genuinely surprised to learn that the person in question was Lady Arcadi. However, she couldn’t very well ask, “Why do you like Lady Arcadi?” with the lady standing right there.

Even her father spoke in an intrigued tone, as if he, too, sensed something unusual. Something was definitely going on here!

‘Why are they together? I came here without Father knowing…’

Lily hesitated since she hadn’t known Rosana would be there. However, Jade paid no attention to Lily, who wasn’t answering.

He observed Rosana. Why did her mood suddenly sour?

“Your Majesty, I apologize. I’ll calm her down and send her away.”

Baron, unable to watch any longer, mediated between them. Lily quickly hid behind him. Having secured a reliable ally, she finally spoke up.

“Why should I? We haven’t seen each other in ages—would it kill you to be happy to see me?”

After speaking, she hid her face again. Jade laughed in disbelief.

“Lily. You’re in His Majesty’s presence.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side.”

Lily pounded on Baron’s back repeatedly. Baron didn’t budge. However, he took each hit she delivered.

Rosana’s mood plummeted further. She knew Baron and Jade had known each other since childhood. That woman seemed deeply connected to not only Jade but Baron as well. 

Unable to fit in, Rosana’s unrelenting dissatisfaction grew stronger as she wondered why she had to stand there.

“Did you tell the Duke you were coming? There’s no one behind you.”

Lily flinched and avoided his gaze. She was the Duke’s only daughter, a precious jewel. Her health was so delicate that whenever she went out, the servants would be beside themselves with worry.

“Did you sneak out?”

“I was curious…”

Lily glanced sideways at Rosana with a trailing voice. Their eyes met. Rosana looked away. 

Even after looking away, she was full of questions about why she had. Conversations about things she didn’t understand unfolded before her.

“The Duke will worry. Go back quickly. If you make a formal request to enter, I’ll accept it. I’m busy right now.”

“It’s fine.”

Rosana slowly pulled her hand free. Though it wasn’t a strong force, Jade’s hand fell away helplessly.

“The lady seems to have business with Jade. In any case, I’m busy with work, so I should be going. Since she came all this way, why not give her a warm welcome?”

Rosana found the space that made her feel like an unwelcome guest distasteful. What bubbled up inside her chest was anger.

But what reason did she have to feel angry at him? 

Rosana found herself puzzled by the anger surging toward Jade rather than Lily, who had suddenly appeared, yet she couldn’t control her fluctuating emotions. With a cold wind blowing fiercely, Jade found it difficult to grab her again. 

He froze with his hand awkwardly outstretched.

Then a lively voice stopped her.

“Don’t go! Would you like to have tea time with me?”

Faster than Jade, the one who caught Rosana as she was leaving was none other than Lily. Before anyone knew it, Lily had approached her, firmly grasping Rosana’s hand and exclaiming.

“How about tea time with me?”

When Rosana didn’t respond, Lily spoke again, perhaps thinking she hadn’t heard. Only then did Rosana realize she was speaking to her. She had naturally assumed Lily had business with Jade. 

Rosana stared blankly at Lily, whose eyes sparkled brightly.

“Lily. You’ve flustered Lady Rosana.”

“Right, didn’t you say you came to see Baron too? Spend time with your fiancé.”

“I asked the lady, didn’t I? How about it? It’s fine, right?”

More than Lily’s repeated questions, the word “fiancé” made Rosana’s hand twitch.

“Fiancé?”

At her somewhat relaxed tone, Jade breathed a sigh of relief and quickly introduced Lily.

“Right. The introduction is late. As you heard, she’s the Duke’s daughter. She’s my childhood friend and also Baron’s fiancée.”

Rosana fell silent. Her anger melted away. Rosana felt puzzled by her own fluctuating mood. Jade, who had been paying attention to Rosana’s expression, spoke with some irritation.

“Why aren’t you leaving? Isn’t she upset because of you?”

“What did I do!”

Lily huffed, saying she was getting upset now. They looked more like sworn enemies.

‘So they’re nothing to each other.’

Rosana muttered quietly to herself. Earlier, her chest had heated up like she’d drunk a cup of hot water, but now she felt calm. Then she grew somewhat serious.

‘Is this the emotion you experience when you like someone?’

They say when you’re in love, you can’t properly control your emotions. Amy had said that.

On days when she fought with someone, she would later regret arguing over something trivial. She would become gloomy like she’d lost the whole world. 

Then they would reconcile. Society gossip was similar. Especially when it came to romance, it was the main interest of young ladies, so she’d often heard such cases.

Rosana lifted her head. Baron was trying to stop Lily, and Lily was stubbornly insisting she wouldn’t go back. She didn’t know how long he’d been watching, but her eyes met Jade’s gaze. 

The golden eyes that met Rosana’s curved pleasantly.

“You’re finally looking this way. Rosana, I’m sorry. Are you very angry?”

“No, nothing…”

‘How embarrassing…’

Unaware of Rosana’s true feelings, Jade was greatly shocked by her retreating behavior. She’d avoided his eyes or changed the subject before, but this was the first time she’d so blatantly pulled her body away.

Was she very angry…? 

However, he couldn’t tell because her head was bowed so low he couldn’t see her expression. 

Just as Jade was about to express his confusion, Lily wedged herself between Rosana and Jade.

“I want to talk with the lady!”

“Move aside. Wait your turn. Can’t you see I’m talking?”

Jade, who had wanted to ask why she pulled away, grew increasingly irritated as Lily interrupted, and his expression soured. However, Rosana, who felt somewhat sorry for showing hostility toward her, responded kindly.

“She’s a guest. Do you have something you want to ask me?”

“Actually… I’m curious about something. What did you like about him?”

However, Rosana was left speechless by what followed. Lily held her hand tightly and spoke, seemingly curious about what would come next. Rosana rolled her eyes and smiled awkwardly.

“I keep getting similar questions today. You’re talking about Jade, right?”

“…You’ve been getting questions about me repeatedly?”

However, his small murmur was buried by Lily’s words. Lily leaned in close and whispered softly in Rosana’s ear.

“Rumor has it you two are quite close.”

Though she whispered quietly enough for only Rosana to hear, Jade caught it and said smugly.

“Quite close, she says.”

“See? Doesn’t this cocky smile annoy you?”

Seeing Lily’s nonchalant attitude, Rosana could tell she didn’t have even a shred of romantic feelings for Jade. She had a separate fiancé to begin with. Rosana shook her head.

“Not at all. He smiles so warmly when he does.”

Lily’s eyes shook like aspen leaves. Her gaze was incredulous, seemingly confirming the facts. Jade raised his eyes at an angle. As if asking what the problem was.

Anyone who knew Jade could feel the clear difference in temperature. Baron, who frequently witnessed this with his own two eyes, spoke awkwardly, understanding Lily’s reaction.

“Ahem, His Majesty is certainly exceptional toward Lady Rosana.”

“He never showed me any consideration! I always asked him to go out and play, but he just scoffed at me. I took such good care of him.”

“That wasn’t taking care of him, it was being a nuisance.”

Jade criticized sharply, telling her not to talk nonsense.

“Fine! I’m going to talk with Lady Arcadi! So, my lady, how about tea time? I’ll tell you stories about His Majesty’s childhood. I don’t have any friends my age, so I was hoping to have at least one. As a way of saying let’s get along from now on, how about it?”

“…Friends, you say?”

“Yes!”

Lily smiled brightly. Rosana’s heart wavered slightly. Friends… Rosana had no one she could call a friend.

“Past stories are fine.”

She didn’t particularly want to hear stories about Jade’s past from someone else’s mouth. That’s why she didn’t ask Baron even though he knew about his childhood.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“…I am curious. However, he won’t take kindly to his own stories coming from someone else’s mouth. Moreover, I believe past matters should be heard directly from the person themselves.”

“…”

Lily blinked in surprise. This was the renowned “Rosana Arcadi” from all the society gossip.  

If—just if—Jade had fallen for her and was hopelessly infatuated with her beauty, as the rumors suggested, Lily had fully intended to knock some sense into him. However, it quickly became clear that such a plan was unnecessary. Rosana was someone with firm convictions of her own.

‘No wonder Jade fell for her.’

Lily had long been certain the rumors were true from seeing his attitude in the first place.

“If you’re curious, ask me anytime. I’ll tell you anything.”

Jade, who had been standing behind Rosana, pulled her into an embrace. Seemingly quite shocked at having his hand brushed away, he rubbed his face against her neck. As his hair gently tickled her nape, Rosana giggled softly.

“Next time when I have time. I really need to go now.”

It wasn’t a tone saying she was leaving because she was angry, but rather a tone saying she regretfully had to leave. Jade breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know the reason, but her anger had subsided.

“That’s unfortunate. Most of the important stories have already been shared with you anyway. It doesn’t matter what story it is, so if you have any questions about me, ask me. I’ll tell you everything.”

At his answer that he’d already told her the important stories, Lily tilted her head. Baron whispered quietly in Lily’s ear.

“Lady Rosana also knows His Majesty’s true form.”

Lily, startled, covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Jade. His sharp eyes curved into gentle crescents.

She’d never seen such an expression. Even when he transformed into a monster in front of Baron and Lily, even when he transformed into a monster in front of the knights, he had holed himself up for a while.

Even though everyone knew his appearance, he was busy hiding it tightly and absolutely never spoke that word with his own mouth. 

Though he didn’t say it out loud himself, he had seemed precarious. Yet now he was smiling. Lily counted on her fingers the days since Rosana had arrived. Barely a month had passed.

Honestly, she still wondered. Was the young boy who had pledged to save the nation by sacrificing himself still the same now? 

Lily became even more curious upon learning that Jade had told stories he’d hidden and hidden.

Lily kept pestering them, acting cute and saying let’s have tea, or that strolling through the garden would be fine too.

“Get off.”

Even when Jade pushed her away, she didn’t budge. 

This was the first time Rosana had encountered this type of person, so she didn’t know what to do. It was even more so because what resided in those eyes was genuine affection.

“Your Majesty, it’s about time…”

Malek said while looking at his pocket watch. Just like it was time for Rosana to leave, it was the same for Jade. It was time to part. Jade, sighing regretfully, released Rosana.

“Rosana, I must be going now. They keep urging me from behind.”

Then he whispered quietly in Rosana’s ear.

“If you’re okay with it, spend time with her. She acts young, but she’s quite thoughtful. She could become a good friend to you.”

She’d been wondering if it would be nice to have a friend to confide in since she spent so much time alone anyway. Rosana observed Jade. 

If he said she was thoughtful enough, had he realized something from her words?

Just like she gained courage from Jade, did Jade also gain courage from her? 

Another useless thought suddenly took over her mind, making her feel unpleasant. Rosana turned her head away sharply without mercy.

“Lady Helpe. Shall we go have tea time?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Rosana, who had been staring intently at Lily, who looked extremely happy, guided her to follow. 

Jade once again let Rosana go as the cold wind blew fiercely. Baron bowed his head steadily and said.

“Your Majesty, I will make sure Lily returns safely later.”

Jade, who didn’t understand the reason for Rosana’s crooked behavior, looked at Malek and asked.

“Hmm, did I do something wrong?”

“…”

Malek said nothing. He wanted no part in getting between lovers.