And that was precisely why she had to ultimately push him away.

“It’s difficult. I’ll be busy for the foreseeable future.”

As she spun around with her back bent and was embraced, Aristie said.

“I understand. But maybe just a cup of tea?”

Ryuel responded calmly, as if he had anticipated her refusal.

“That, too, seems difficult.”

“I’ll wait for you at the bridge at the same time as that day, in two days.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t come.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just wait, my Alice.”

Aristie closed her mouth. She knew that just as she had made up her mind, so had he.

If they continued talking, only she would be swept away. Already, her body was helplessly swept along with the quickening melody.

* * *

While Aristie and Ryuel dominated the stage, Khalid was replaying the fleeting image of them in his mind.

Aristie.

His fiancée and future Empress.

And…

The person he had long cherished in his heart.

A woman he had given up on after 17 years of unrequited love. He thought he had completely moved on after another year had passed.

For her, who only wished to act as the Emperor’s partner, he had also decided to cherish her only as the Empress.

That way, he wouldn’t be hurt anymore by a love that would never be returned.

A woman who considered meeting him as merely a duty.

A demeanor that couldn’t hide discomfort when together.

A formality like a wall. A smile that seemed about to shatter. Even the eyes that darkened beyond blushing cheeks when he expressed affection…

No matter how sincerely he appealed, it never reached Aristie. It only returned as countless wounds.

But he had to endure it. Even though she clearly showed signs of avoiding him, if keeping him at a distance was what she wanted, he thought he should respect that too.

Even if it meant completely killing his feelings.

So he tried to forget. He was truly desperate.

The process was unbearably painful, but he could endure it. At least because no other man had ever received the affection from her that he hadn’t.

But then, one man changed Aristie.

‘Prince Icaryuel…’

For some reason, he bothered him.

Of course, he was a likable man even from another man’s perspective.

With flawless looks and an upright nature, he wasn’t someone who would earn anyone’s dislike.

…That’s why he was even more bothersome.

Khalid recalled Aristie reuniting with Icaryuel in the audience room. How her eyes sparkled with surprise and delight.

They weren’t the eyes looking at a prince.

They were the eyes looking at a man.

Seeing those eyes, he had no choice but to realize. That ultimately, he hadn’t met her standards as a man.

Not even once in all those long years.

‘Despite trying so hard to be kind, did she want a man like him, who’s gentle by nature, rather than someone rough like me…’

Recalling Aristie chatting with Icaryuel at the banquet made his insides ache as if his skin had been peeled. His heart throbbed painfully.

The feelings he thought he had sorted out were merely dormant.

Lying in wait to wake up at the most unguarded moment to torment him.

“Khalid, are you okay? You don’t look well.”

‘…Right. I was dancing with Estelle just now.’

Khalid snapped back to reality at the gentle voice of Estelle brushing his ear. He had been moving his body out of habit while his mind was lost in thought.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been quite busy these past few days, so I’m a bit tired.”

He was actually sorry for another reason, but Khalid made this excuse.

“How should I comfort our busy leader…”

Estelle laughed gracefully.

Rejoicing at the opportunity to bind him even more.

“Yes, let’s sneak out to the garden later. The moon is bright tonight.”

Estelle chirped like a lark.

She remembered the heroine’s lines perfectly for such a situation.

Her brain, which had mastered memorizing scripts in real life, had even perfectly memorized the heroine’s lines from the novel. Although they were mostly lines limited to conversations with the Emperor, it was enough.

All that was left was to capture him with her seasoned acting skills!

“I’ll let you rest your head on my lap and stroke your hair. We’ll watch the moonlight together. Oh! I could sing you a lullaby, but would you pay me for the song?”

“…What…?”

Hearing Estelle’s words, Khalid felt his mind go blank.

Again. This déjà vu.

A strange feeling as if he had heard it somewhere in the distant past, even though it was his first time hearing it. And the poignant longing that came from it.

‘What is this sensation, really?’

His bright golden eyes flickered darkly for a moment.

The pretense of being conversational was just that.

In reality, he was interacting with Estelle, risking misunderstandings from the public, to uncover the truth of this déjà vu. But he still couldn’t find an answer.

He needed to find out. He had to retrieve it. Estelle kept talking to the increasingly anxious Khalid, who was making no progress.

“Well… If you show me a smile that makes my heart race, I’ll do it for free, hehe.”

“A smile… That’s not difficult.”

Khalid forced a smile to hide his confused feelings. But that expression didn’t last long.

It was because the image of Aristie, looking uncomfortable with his bright face, came to mind again. Had there ever been a time when his smile made her heart race?

“I do want some fresh air. But not for now. I have to stay in the ballroom.”

“Then I’ll go out first. But you must come, okay? If you don’t, the sleep fairy might disappear forever.”

“You won’t be sitting somewhere, falling asleep, will you?”

Khalid replied absentmindedly, seeing Estelle off.

He had no intention of resting his head on her lap, but he did want to take a walk outside. He wanted to escape his current chaotic state of mind somehow.

But no matter how hard he tried, it was useless. Contrary to his wishes, his thoughts were helplessly clinging to Aristie’s hem.

* * *

After the dance with Ryuel, Aristie chose Grand Duke Torjan as her last dance partner.

The Grand Duke, the late Emperor’s brother and Khalid’s uncle, had been someone who cherished her since childhood.

“Please take care of Khalid, Aristie. He may not show it, but he’s actually a very lonely person.”

The Grand Duke earnestly asked Aristie in a kind voice.

Indeed, Khalid had lived a life that could only be lonely.

His mother passed away shortly after giving birth to him, and his father died after a long illness. His uncle and sister became the Grand Duke and Crown Princess and left for another country.

Left alone, Khalid had to devote himself to governing the empire without even having time to grieve. Even right after returning from the battlefield, he had no time to rest, and he had to diligently take care of Aristie as his fiancée despite being burdened with state affairs.

Where could he find solace for his loneliness and hardship…

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll do my best to support His Majesty.”

Aristie answered, feeling regret.

If only she had understood Khalid more deeply. If she had embraced him as much as she understood.

But she was so suffocated by her own position that she couldn’t properly look back at him. Even though she knew he was struggling, she didn’t know how to truly comfort him.

‘It’s too late for regrets now…’

Looking back, everything was too late.

Should I say I’ll do my best to support him? Can I really satisfy him by doing so?

Khalid, who had to express his affection sincerely just because he was chosen as a partner…. Now, the woman he chose of his own will is dominating his side…

* * *

Meanwhile, Aiden, who had left the ballroom, headed straight to the garden. There were some groups chatting, but most people remained in the hall since the ball, the highlight of the banquet, had started.

For Aiden, it was a good opportunity to spend some quiet time alone. Meeting people was always an uncomfortable affair.

Some people did sympathize with him. But that wasn’t what Aiden wanted either.

Whether it was ridicule or sympathy, any emotion eventually circulated as rumors, damaging the family’s honor.

Especially after realizing that his stuttering was used as a weapon to attack Aristie, he had no choice but to be cautious for his sister’s sake.

‘Let’s stay here for a while and then go back.’

Spotting a secluded bench, Aiden quietly sat down and felt the night air. He looked down at the ground between his knees with his fingers interlocked, then tilted his head back to the blue gaze of the scattered starlight.

He was quietly immersed in the Milky Way, and just as he gently closed his eyes—

“Oh, someone was here?”

“……!”

Along with the sound of footsteps, a voice was heard. Aiden opened his eyes in surprise.