The carriage that left the palace traveled for quite a while. It seemed to be an official outing as quite a crowd had gathered to see the prince and his consort’s carriage. Aidan opened the window to wave and smile at them. Perhaps because it was right before his crown prince investiture ceremony, cheers would erupt each time he did so.

“They used to call me a useless prince, but I’m quite popular, aren’t I?”

Aidan joked with a smile.

“Rumors must have spread about your recent victory in the knights’ tournament and resolving the border dispute with Italus. Besides, you were known as the angel-like prince when you were young.”

“Angel?”

Aidan grimaced as if asking what that was about.

“I said when you were young. Those looks shone even more brightly then. Plus, it was when the former Empress was alive, so the admiration and yearning for her extended to you as well, Your Highness.”

Even in young Karina’s memories, the Empress at that time truly seemed to shine. Her elegant bearing and benevolent smile were so impressive that Karina had resolved to become someone like her if she became Empress.

‘Aidan’, who strongly resembled the Empress, was of course handsome now but caught the eye differently when young. He smiled kindly at everyone. He treated servants and commoners he met for the first time the same way. That’s why he was popular with the people.

Though such aspects gradually disappeared after the Empress died, the people, like the ministers, believed it was just temporary wandering and that he would return to his former self given the right opportunity. And many thought Karina would be that opportunity.

Sadly, Karina’s presence failed to change ‘Aidan’. Subsequently, their disappointment in him grew even greater and the people began criticizing him, forgetting his image in his childhood. But this time was different. As Aidan took over that body, he began living up to the people’s underlying expectations. So the people praised him endlessly, saying he had returned to his former self and that the former Empress’s only bloodline was indeed different.

“Did you like him?”

Karina tilted her head at the sudden question.

“Like who?”

“That angel prince.”

Ah… She momentarily lost words at this unexpected response. Was this man actually jealous of that young prince right now?

“But that was still you, Aidan.”

“Only the shell. I don’t even know what this prince looked like when he was young.”

She wondered how to respond to his insistence that it was entirely someone else. Actually, she had only seen young Aidan a few times. Even then, she had only watched his procession from afar, and Karina had been even younger. Rather than thinking he was angelic herself, she had just heard others say such things about Prince Aidan.

“I must have been prettier.”

After contemplating, an unexpected answer came out. Aidan burst out laughing at this unexpected response.

“I can’t deny that. You must have been really pretty when you were young too. Didn’t people say you looked like a doll?”

“Well…”

“It’s a shame. Since there are no photographs here. I wonder if there are portraits? Do they not paint portraits of children?”

Aidan genuinely wanted to see what Karina looked like when she was young. He couldn’t take his eyes off Karina’s face, seemingly regretful.

“Ah!”

He made a short sound as if something had occurred to him.

“We just need to have a daughter. A daughter who looks like you.”

She was startled by how easily he talked about having children.

“Whether it’s a son or daughter, they’d be pretty if they look like you, but I’d prefer a daughter. Imagine her running to me calling ‘Dad’ and hugging me — wouldn’t my heart burst?”

Aidan’s lips curved into a smile as he imagined something.

“But there might be a problem if she looks like you. I don’t think I’d want to let her marry. Wouldn’t any man who comes for her look like a thief to me?”

She couldn’t even laugh listening to him make all sorts of doting parent comments about a daughter who didn’t even exist yet.

“You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”

She felt she needed to cut off his delusions appropriately before they went on endlessly.

“Just thinking about it makes me happy.”

At his casual response, Karina swallowed a small sigh.

“It will be impossible for the next few years. And even after that, who knows what will happen.”

The smile finally disappeared from Aidan’s face at her calm reply. He stared at Karina quietly before taking her hand in his.

“It’s fine if we don’t have any.”

He says it’s fine not having children when just moments ago he was happily imagining them.

“It’s not fine. You will become Emperor. If I ultimately cannot bear children, you should have an heir with someone else…”

“Karina.”

Aidan cut off her words with a firm voice.

“I like the idea of a child who looks like you, not just having a child itself. If it’s not a child between you and me, I don’t need one. Don’t worry about it – there are options like adoption for heirs, and succession doesn’t have to be hereditary.”

She nodded slightly at his gentle smile and the hand caressing her cheek. She had thought it was fine, that it wasn’t a big deal, but now that Aidan was about to be invested as Crown Prince and the Emperor would soon entrust everything to him, she couldn’t help worrying about an heir.

Aidan, who had been staring intently at Karina, lightly kissed her forehead.

“Don’t think unnecessary thoughts. We’ll figure something out when the time comes. Especially today. You won’t have time to worry about such things.”

Today? That word caught her attention and she looked up to see him grinning. What was he planning? She had been curious since following him out, but Aidan still wouldn’t answer and just kept smiling.

*

“We’ve arrived.”

Just as she was starting to feel bored, the carriage stopped and Kai announced their arrival. Aidan got out of the carriage first and extended his hand to Karina. Taking his hand and stepping out of the carriage, Karina looked around and was struck speechless with amazement.

It was a flower field open in all directions. Had such a place existed near the capital? They must have come through a forest, as she could see a long forest path behind where they stood. It was surprising to find such a flower field at the end of the forest path. It looked like a scene from a painting.

“This way.”

Aidan led her toward the flower field while holding her hand. Wildflowers that didn’t reach past knee height spread out everywhere. Small flowers tickled Karina’s ankles with each step.

Knights who had arrived ahead stood in lines on both sides. Walking between them reminded her of their wedding. Could it be…?

She looked to the side, but Aidan walked on looking straight ahead. Seeing his straight profile gleaming in the sunlight, she strangely couldn’t say anything. She just followed his lead along the path made by the knights.

At the end, she saw pure white flowers blooming abundantly. The sight drew an involuntary gasp of admiration.

“Beautiful.”

Aidan’s laughter reached her ears at her murmur.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Aidan turned Karina to face him.

“But to me, you’re more beautiful. I think no flower in the world could compare to you. They say the most beautiful flower in the world is human… I never thought I’d come to agree with that saying when looking at you.”

Though he spoke lightly as if joking, each word made her heart flutter. She knew well that his “beautiful” wasn’t just praise for her appearance but contained his affection.

“Your Highness, this.”

Bernice and Kai stood behind them, though she didn’t know when they had arrived. Bernice held a flower crown in her hands. She stepped closer and placed it on Karina’s head.

“You look even more beautiful today than at your wedding ceremony in the palace.”

Bernice said with a bright smile.

So he really wanted to recreate a wedding ceremony.

She couldn’t help but notice with the flower crown being placed on her head. When she turned to look at Aidan, he was quietly smiling while not taking his eyes off Karina.

“I regretted it. Not seeing how you looked during the wedding ceremony.”

Though Bernice and Kai might find it strange, Aidan continued speaking without concern.

“You must have looked pretty in a veil too, but this is nice as well.”

He smiled contentedly and took her left hand. He pulled something from inside his blue uniform jacket and fiddled with Karina’s ring finger.

“Where I lived, we give rings when proposing. I don’t know how it’s done here, but this is just my heart and pledge. A promise to love only you and be loyal only to you until our hair turns gray.”

He slipped a ring onto her left hand. It was a ring set with a clear diamond.

She had received many gifts from the palace during the wedding ceremony. But ‘Aidan’ hadn’t personally put anything on her hand.

There were plenty of more precious jewels than this. Among the gifts she received was a necklace with stones so large that it felt burdensome to wear. But why? Why did this ring on her finger now seem to shine brighter than anything else in the world?

“Karina.”

When she looked up at Aidan’s gentle voice, she saw her face reflected in his clear eyes. As their eyes met, he smiled and lifted her left hand to kiss the ring finger where he had placed the ring.

“Will you stay by my side forever, as my one true love and partner?”

His voice melted into the gentle breeze that blew from somewhere. Karina nodded with a bright smile.

“Even if I don’t become Emperor?”

At his mischievous additional question, Karina wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly instead of answering.

“That wouldn’t be so bad either. But honestly, I’m a little worried you might end up as history’s greatest con artist, turning the country upside down if you leave the palace.”

Aidan burst out laughing at Karina’s answer. He kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and her cheek. His lips left ticklish kisses wherever they touched before moving to her ear to whisper something softly. Soon a bright smile spread across Karina’s face.

Karina held Aidan’s cheeks with both hands and pressed her lips to his. The bird pecks soon turned into a deep kiss. Everyone including Bernice and Kai had to wait with their backs turned until their kiss ended. It was a long, sweet kiss like the fluttering flower petals.

‘I’ll become anything for you. Whether that’s Crown Prince, Emperor, or even a con artist if needed. As long as you stay by my side.’

Aidan’s whisper scattered with the flowers.