Might truly like her.

“Did you understand what I said?”

Edgar spat out sharply.

Though he had remained still until now, after looking at Lloyd who gave no answer, he took a step forward. He clearly intended to get closer to Lloyd out of frustration.

‘No!’

Melissa reached out without hesitation.

Right now, Edgar resembled a magic bullet that could explode at any moment.

She couldn’t even imagine what might happen if she let him approach Lloyd like this. She could no longer just stand by watching. First, she needed to stop Edgar.

Moreover, listing everything he had said since entering the library, there were numerous statements that could get him arrested for insulting the imperial family.

Of course, knowing Lloyd’s personality, Melissa didn’t think he would have Edgar arrested for that, but she couldn’t guarantee such incidents wouldn’t happen in the future.

‘It’s fortunate the other person was Lloyd; this could have been a serious problem otherwise.’

She urgently approached Edgar and grabbed his hand.

Her head felt like it might explode from her sudden realization about Edgar’s true feelings, but thoughts about that could wait until later, when she was alone.

“Edgar, that’s enough.”

Edgar, who had been heading toward Lloyd, hesitated.

His gaze shifted to Melissa.

Though it wasn’t a particularly slow movement, Melissa somehow felt the process stretched like an eternity.

“You’re too excited right now. Let’s calm down a bit.”

Melissa gently patted Edgar’s hand.

He exhaled a long breath as if following her words. His complexion, which had been so pale that he looked ready to collapse, also improved slightly.

Seeing Edgar more composed than before, Melissa voiced the thoughts she had carefully prepared.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, Edgar. His Highness won’t take me to the imperial palace. Empress…… I don’t even understand what you’re talking about.”

“……”

“And His Highness never abandoned me. We were simply where we needed to be. I wanted to be in the north, so I stayed here, and His Highness, being the Crown Prince, stayed at the imperial palace.”

Just like you went to the Magic Tower.

Edgar flinched at her additional comment.

His pink lips moved slightly as if wanting to say something. But in the end, all Melissa heard was a faint breath. Edgar had closed his mouth.

Though she didn’t know why, Melissa thought it fortunate that Edgar wasn’t acting wildly like before.

She continued speaking slowly.

“He never found me troublesome. He sent letters frequently, and you must have heard this story too…… He even came to help when I had that bad experience at the ducal residence before. Right, Your Highness?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

Lloyd, suddenly addressed, opened his eyes wide before answering in a small voice.

He looked very conflicted.

“I went to help. To repay you for saving my life.”

“Am I right?”

Having received the answer she wanted, Melissa turned to Edgar.

He was quietly looking at her.

“So stop making that face now. That expression that makes it seem like something terrible has happened to me.”

“……Melissa.”

Edgar called her name softly.

But Melissa didn’t respond.

She knew it wasn’t a call that required an answer.

“Melissa……”

Melissa.

Melissa.

Edgar murmured her name several times afterward.

Despite the cold weather, she felt sweat forming from the heat transmitted through their joined hands. This happened even though he wore gloves as usual.

Melissa unconsciously became aware of this fact.

‘He’s wearing gloves today too.’

Had Edgar ever not worn gloves?

Her unconscious train of thought disappeared without a trace when Edgar pulled their joined hands and embraced her.

Edgar nuzzled his face against Melissa’s chest. The breath released between his lips tickled her neck.

“……You’re here.”

That’s good. That’s all that matters.

Edgar muttered more incomprehensible words.

Instead of asking about it, Melissa raised her hand and patted his broad shoulders. Asking now wouldn’t get her a proper answer anyway.

After contemplating briefly, Melissa turned her body while still in Edgar’s embrace. This resulted in him hugging her from behind.

It looked somewhat amusing, but since Edgar didn’t seem willing to let go, and Lloyd probably wanted to finish their conversation, this arrangement seemed best.

“Your Highness.”

Lloyd quietly met her gaze.

Though he said nothing, his bewilderment at the situation before him was evident.

“I’m sorry, I’ll apologize on his behalf. Edgar seems to have become a bit sensitive. He’s been called away by people whenever he had free time recently. And……”

Melissa paused briefly to clear her throat.

What came next was important.

“Thank you for liking me.”

A woman answering a confession while being embraced by another man.

He might find it ridiculous.

He might feel disrespected.

But Melissa thought this state would be most effective for conveying her feelings right now. Both to Lloyd and to Edgar, who was also listening to these words.

“But I want to be with Edgar.”

She knew Lloyd had no immediate intentions with her. Yet she said this to announce her decision.

Melissa Lucid would stay with Edgar Shortiras.

Because even though she couldn’t fully trust Edgar’s heart yet and hadn’t completely removed her doubts, she needed him.

She felt the arms around her loosen.

Melissa seized the opportunity to detach herself from Edgar.

“I’ll be going now. Sorry for interrupting your tour. Goodbye.”

There was no response.

Melissa didn’t wait for an answer but lightly bowed her head, then turned around and pushed Edgar’s back while walking forward.

They had almost left the library when she heard a response from behind.

“I’ll always be in the same place, lady.”

Lloyd’s words filled with sincerity.

Though she heard them, Melissa didn’t stop walking.

Soon, the library door closed behind her.

* * *

Melissa headed to her house with Edgar.

This had become a natural action, almost ingrained in her body.

‘Now I can breathe a little.’

She sighed after seating Edgar on the bed.

The atmosphere from earlier still made her feel suffocated.

‘He seems to be doing better now.’

Unlike before, his blue eyes now showed some vitality.

Melissa quietly observed Edgar, who seemed to be strangely avoiding her gaze, and asked as she sat beside him.

“Are you back to your senses now?”

“What do you mean?”

Edgar smiled as if he knew nothing.

The way he looked at her with prettily curved eyes clearly indicated he wanted to pretend nothing had happened.

But Melissa had no intention of letting it go.

“I didn’t ask before, but now I think I need to know. Did you ever meet His Highness separately after you went to the Magic Tower?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, did something bad happen between you and His Highness?”

“Not particularly.”

Edgar replied simply.

Melissa narrowed her eyes and looked at him. Having been deceived before, she couldn’t trust Edgar’s words.

‘Is he trying to hide something from me?’

After thinking quietly, Melissa reached out her arms.

Her hands cupped both of his cheeks.

“Look at me directly and tell me. Was there really nothing?”

Edgar, who had opened his eyes wide in surprise, chuckled softly.

“There wasn’t. Really.”

“Then why did you act that way?”

You were so agitated every time we met.

Melissa’s brow furrowed deeply.

Edgar rested his cheek against her palm for a moment, then raised his hands to pull hers down and hold them.

“Do you want to know?”

“Of course. So I can be more careful in the future……”

“Because I hate seeing you close to other men.”

“……What?”

It was a completely unexpected statement.

Melissa, who had been wondering if perhaps the Emperor was the issue rather than Lloyd, was so surprised that she couldn’t close her gaping mouth.

Only after some time passed did Melissa shake her head.

“Stop joking and tell me properly.”

“I’m not joking.”

Edgar bent slightly at the waist.

Then he gently lifted Melissa’s hand that he was holding.

“In this world, who would quietly watch their lover receiving such words from another man? Does that make sense to you?”

“That’s……”

“I hate it. You being with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Edgar lowered his lips onto her fingers.

“I hate that you exchanged more letters with him than with me.”

Smooch.

“I hate that he might have watched you growing up.”

Smooch.

“I hate how he talks as if he knows you better than I do.”

Smooch.

“I hate how he acts like it’s natural for you to be by his side.”

Smooch.

A kiss followed each completed sentence.

From the thumb to the index finger, then from the index to the middle finger.

Melissa’s face instantly turned bright red.

“S-stop it!”

She struggled to pull her captured hand away.

She only tried to find out what had happened between him and Lloyd, but why had the atmosphere suddenly shifted this way?

But the person before Melissa was, as she often said, an extraordinary man who lacked nothing. Edgar didn’t budge despite Melissa’s struggles and gently curved his eyes.

He tilted his head slightly and asked,

“Do you really want me to stop?”

Good heavens.

Melissa barely suppressed the scream she was about to let out.

The sight before her was too stimulating. Those blue eyes focused solely on her, the long eyelashes lowered beneath them, and those lips that somehow seemed redder than usual.

“Melissa?”

Edgar called her once more.