As she shook her head, her gaze met Theodore’s. Biella was still looking at Theodore and chattering, and Theodore, who was listening to her story indifferently, was looking at her with a stiff face.

The evening of the plain where dusk had fallen was disappearing as the remaining purple light fulfilled its last mission. That light touched Theodore’s silver hair, dyeing it with a mysterious glow.

He’s indeed the male lead. Theodore’s appearance was so mysterious and beautiful that nothing comparable came to mind at any moment. Why did she end up admiring his appearance at a moment like this? The more she thought about it, the more it brought only shame and self-loathing. Facing him itself was an ordeal. Perhaps it was the same for Theodore, as his gaze wavered as the distance narrowed.

“Your Highness. You called for me.”

Theodore gestured toward the barracks behind him with a hardened face.

“Spend the night here. I prepared it hastily, so even if it doesn’t suit you, this is the best I can do.”

Unlike other barracks, it was a barracks surrounded by curtains embroidered with large eagle emblems in golden thread. A splendid barracks that would make anyone think it was where royalty stayed. I had my own barracks too, so why bother with this, but Biella next to me added.

“I put extra bedding so the princess can rest comfortably. I hope you like it.”

Biella must have coaxed the crown prince into giving up his barracks. If it’s the female protagonist, she’s kind enough to do that and more.

“Thank you. Your Highness. Thank you, Lady Biella.”

The protagonists who had been treating my barracks like some neighborhood gathering place and coming and going as they pleased were bothersome, so this worked out well. If it was a barracks with the empire’s symbols beautifully embroidered in golden thread, wouldn’t they visit less often? As she was secretly celebrating, Greg suddenly intruded.

“Theo, what about you?”

A faint smile appeared on Theodore’s cold face and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Tonight I’ll catch up with an old friend.”

“That’s fine with me.”

Greg clapped his hands cheerfully and looked at her with excited eyes.

Why? What?

She avoided his gaze. Then Biella stamped her feet.

“Me too. Your Highness, Grand Duke, you’re including me too, right?”

In an instant, the three had returned to being old friends who got along perfectly. A sense of loneliness washed over her. What would be the point of being among them except to feel even more lonely? I have friends in real life too!

As she turned around dejectedly, leaving them behind, someone grabbed her arm.

When her startled body stiffened, the hand that had grabbed her wrist smoothly released and fell away. Surprised, she turned around to see Biella blinking her clear eyes at Theodore.

“Why, Your Highness?”

Biella! That’s what I should be saying!

Biella, who had stepped forward first and asked the question she should have asked, looked at Theodore suspiciously. Realizing once again that she wasn’t the center of this world, she kept her mouth shut. Instead, she looked back and forth between Theodore’s eyes and her wrist, applying silent pressure.

Theodore! What does this mean?

Perhaps understanding her meaning, Theodore slightly frowned.

“If it’s before dinner, let’s eat together.”

“Ooh.”

Greg made a playful sound, and Biella was already holding hands and looking at her with eyes that said let’s go together. But she shook her head firmly without a moment’s hesitation.

“I’m fine. The three of you have a cozy chat. I’m very tired right now.”

Being perceptive, she knew very well that this wasn’t a place for her to intrude. However, Theodore made a stern expression as if she had no choice.

“You should eat dinner, shouldn’t you?”

Biella interjected with an innocent smile.

“That’s right. Princess. Let’s have dinner together.”

“That works out well. My barracks has four chairs.”

With even Greg stepping forward to encourage her, she couldn’t refuse anymore. So we gathered around the brown makeshift table in Greg’s barracks. After the servants placed fruit and warm soup on the table and left, Theodore spoke first.

“Today must have been a very surprising and difficult day for everyone. Still, I’m grateful that we can have a warm meal like this.”

“I’m also happy to see Your Highness’s face like this.”

“I’m glad everyone is safe.”

Each person took turns saying something as if offering a pre-meal prayer. Then everyone’s gaze turned to her. Thinking that she had unnecessarily joined this gathering, she pursed her lips. It’s hard to speak when everyone’s just staring at me. Besides, my head is dizzy and my stomach is churning…… They wouldn’t know that. Thinking that shedding the villainess image wouldn’t be easy, she opened her mouth in a very bored tone.

“It was a thrilling day.”

Theodore raised one corner of his mouth in disbelief, Greg leaned his upper body back and laughed heartily. Biella stared with clear, innocent eyes, unable to understand why the men were laughing. And she smiled forcedly with a displeased expression.

⟨3. I Want to Break Off the Engagement.⟩

Being the only one awkwardly stuck among close friends who were laughing together was also an ordeal. Occasionally her eyes met Theodore’s, but he didn’t particularly talk to her or anything. They were so absorbed in their own stories that they lacked time to talk to her.

She was very tired, and their stories were boring. Matching the atmosphere as the meal was ending, she tactfully spoke up.

“I’ll return to my barracks now.”

She grabbed the hem of her dress and stood up from her seat. But Greg quickly stood up following her.

“Princess, I’ll escort you to your barracks……”

But before Greg could finish speaking, Theodore quickly cut off his words.

“Greg! I’m counting on you for Lady Biella.”

At Theodore’s unexpected words, Biella fidgeted as if she had something to say. Theodore cut off Biella’s persistent gaze and stood up.

“Lady, you should also return and rest now.”

At Theodore’s cold gaze, Biella stood up awkwardly as if disappointed and lightly bowed her head.

“Yes. Your Highness.”

Greg, who stood up slowly, shrugged his shoulders as if he had no choice and extended his hand toward Biella.

“Lady. Shall we go?”

“Yes. Your Grace.”

Biella’s face trembled as she reluctantly took Greg’s hand. But she soon smiled and curtsied slightly toward Theodore.

“Rest well. Your Highness.”

“You too.”

Theodore answered matter-of-factly in a flat voice. When Greg and Biella left the barracks, a brief silence fell over the previously warm barracks. She narrowed her eyes and observed him carefully, wondering what his scheme was, but couldn’t figure out why.

“Then I’ll also……”

As she was about to greet him cleanly and turn around, Theodore had already picked up his sword that was standing and fastened it to his belt, then approached her side and stood alongside her.

“Let’s go together.”

Theodore lifted the curtain and gestured for her to come out. Following him out of the barracks, she couldn’t help but frown.

An extra who comes when called and goes when told to go. That was her. Feeling somehow wronged, a sullen voice popped out.

“No, where to?”

Theodore frowned with one eyebrow as if annoyed, yet spoke in a calm voice.

“I’ll escort you, so let’s go.”

“What?”

Why would he escort me instead of seeing Biella off? She wanted to avoid being alone with him.

‘I’m still embarrassed. Being alone together is embarrassing!’

But Theodore’s gaze was so fierce that she couldn’t refuse and had no choice but to obediently follow his words. Theodore walked one step ahead indifferently. Having nothing particular to say and being too tired, she just silently followed behind him. Looking at him now, his back was quite broad and his head small. Seeing the round back of his head, it was clear the empress must have adored the crown prince—his head looked pretty even from behind. His gait was confident. His rebellious yet stylish appearance with one hand stuck in his pants pocket was both defiant and cool. His broad shoulders supported his muscular arms, and his firmly positioned leg muscles stretched his leather boots that came up to below his knees. Feeling like she was evaluating his appearance, she slyly turned her eyes away from him and muttered.

“Really. The escort isn’t necessary.”

Theodore suddenly stopped. When she also stopped following him, he turned completely toward her. His expression was clearly revealed in the bright moonlight.

“Night has fallen with darkness. I cannot let you, who will become an imperial consort, go alone.”

Whether he had some sense of duty to protect a fragile woman, Theodore seemed annoyed at times, yet also seemed to be putting in effort.

“How far is it anyway?”

A fairly loud voice came out in rebellion. Theodore swept up his silver hair and tilted his head sideways. When his coolly downcast eyes met her gaze directly, she stepped back in an uncomfortable mood. One corner of Theodore’s lips rose crookedly and he let out a snicker.

“Princess, you seem to have forgotten. That monsters can appear here at any time.”

Suddenly, the monster’s eerie eyes came to mind and her body shuddered.

‘Male lead, you! Why are you being so scary?’

Glaring at Theodore, she looked around. In the camp where moonlight had settled, torches flickered occasionally, and the sounds of unknown insects could be heard distantly. The atmosphere was so quiet it felt eerie, as if monsters could jump out at any moment. She got goosebumps thinking that red-eyed monsters hidden beyond the deep darkness must be watching her. She slyly moved close to his side. Theodore snickered.