#15. The Meaning of Calling Names

The marriage arrangement between Lloyd and House Spencer proceeded quickly. This time, even the Empress couldn’t oppose. She herself had become Empress because she bore imperial blood, Lloyd, while being the Emperor’s mistress. With such precedent, she had no grounds to oppose Kate, who was certainly carrying Lloyd’s child.

Kate Spencer carried Lloyd’s child. She would become the official prince’s consort with imperial blood in her womb.

Rumors spread at an unstoppable pace. The Empress, who still hadn’t completely given up, complained about who was spreading such rumors, but since it was the truth, everyone gossiped freely regardless. Count Spencer, excited about finally making his daughter a prince’s consort, even spread the word himself.

Kate Spencer becoming a prince’s consort — Karina had mixed feelings about it. While relieved she wasn’t involved with Aidan, she wasn’t exactly happy about becoming family with someone who had constantly irritated her as Aidan’s lover in her previous life.

She had never imagined the combination of Lloyd and Kate Spencer. In her previous life, she had never even seen them together.

The situation flowed similarly yet differently from then. The fact that Kate eventually carried a prince’s child remained the same, but the subject had changed. Consequently, she couldn’t guess what would happen next.

Before Lloyd and Kate’s wedding, the palace dressmaker visited Karina to make her dress for their wedding.

“It doesn’t need to be excessively ornate. I’m not the protagonist that day, so something appropriately formal is enough.”

The dressmaker, who had been suggesting various jewel decorations for the dress, showed a troubled expression. It was similar to his reaction when making her wedding reception dress.

“Miss Spencer has requested the most elaborate dress possible. If yours is too simple, there will be comparisons.”

Karina laughed softly at the dressmaker’s words. Kate could dress elaborately as the wedding’s protagonist. She had worried a bit thinking Kate would just cry endlessly over an unwanted marriage, but it seemed unnecessary since she was clearly stating what she wanted for her dress.

“It would be discourteous for me to stand out too much.”

“But all the ministers will compare Your Highness with Miss Spencer.”

“That’s why something moderate is fine.”

It didn’t need to be too modest either. Just enough grandeur befitting a prince’s consort would do.

“Skip the elaborate jewel decorations and make it calm and classic.”

The dressmaker, who had been wracking his brain at Karina’s requests, drew a picture and showed it to her.

“I’ll use light blue fabric and decorate the off-shoulder line with flowing lace. The sleeves will also be made with the same lace fabric to be see-through. The skirt will be wrapped in the same lace, and I’ll embroider it with a shimmering blue thread on top — would that be acceptable?”

That seemed good enough. When she nodded, the dressmaker thought seriously before adding something more to the bottom of the skirt.

“This part seems a bit empty, so just a little more decoration…”

“I’ll pass on the jewels.”

Kate would obviously wear a dress dripping with jewels, and she didn’t want to create a competitive atmosphere by wearing an equally sparkly dress herself.

“If not jewels, how about flowers? If we process fresh flowers, they’ll last through the wedding. Afterward, we can remove the flowers and alter the dress for regular wear.”

It seemed fine since it wouldn’t be a one-time wear but could be used for other occasions. When she approved, the dressmaker’s face finally brightened.

“It’s disappointing that you always request less decoration. No one would suit an elaborate dress better than Your Highness the Consort.”

The dressmaker expressed his regret.

“Empty grandeur isn’t what’s important.”

“Well, Your Highness will be the most beautiful no matter what you wear.”

Saying it was always an honor to make clothes for Karina, he bowed and said he should now go make His Highness the Prince’s clothes.

“Perfect timing.”

Turning toward the voice at the entrance, they found Aidan leaning against the doorframe, though no one had noticed his arrival.

“I waited quietly, not wanting to interrupt.”

He approached Karina and naturally bent down and kissed her cheek. He meant he had arrived much earlier but waited because the dressmaker was present. Though his expression seemed to seek praise, Karina pretended not to notice.

“Let’s decide my clothes now too.”

When he sat in a chair and gestured to the dressmaker, the man sat back down and opened pages showing several uniform designs.

“Actually, sample clothes have already been made. I was planning to bring them directly to Your Highness’s palace…”

He seemed uneasy about explaining with just pictures rather than actual images. However, Aidan pointed to one of the images without concern.

“This will do. It should match well with Karina’s dress too.”

He really had been listening to everything.

“Match the color to blue tones too. Dark navy would work. Add gold thread embroidery and match the uniform buttons in the same gold color.”

It was completely different from when he had requested plain black clothes with no decorations for their wedding reception. When he clearly stated what he wanted, the dressmaker took careful notes.

“I’ll do my best to make you both stand out the most.”

The dressmaker seemed more excited than usual. Karina started to point out that they weren’t the protagonists but Prince Lloyd, then stopped herself. Since they hadn’t let him do anything for their own reception, she figured the dressmaker must have his own frustrations built up.

“You seem free today.”

She asked Aidan after the dressmaker left. Though Aidan had been forcing time to see her at least once a day, saying they needed to, it was usually just dinner together. But now he had come to her palace before lunch.

“Thanks to Lloyd, all scheduled events were cancelled.”

With the rush to prepare for the wedding, all palace personnel were being mobilized for it. Since the Emperor’s knights were still pursuing Marquis Belmont, Aidan’s knights were called to help with wedding preparations. Morning training was cancelled because of it. The afternoon policy meetings were all cancelled too.

“So, want to go on a date with me?”

“A date?”

Karina blinked her widened eyes at the sudden suggestion.

“Do you have business outside the palace?”

When she asked, wondering if it was similar to when he had accompanied her outside to hide that he was tracking Liam Smith, Aidan grinned and shook his head.

“No, just literally a date.”

He casually replied while pushing her back, telling her to change clothes quickly.

A date… What am I supposed to do?

Before she could ask, the servants following Aidan’s instructions whisked her away to change clothes.

*

She was wondering where they were rushing to, not even having lunch first, but it was really unexpected.

“This way.”

The place Aidan took Karina to was the marketplace. Only two knights accompanied them, including Kai. Even though they had changed into simple clothes, their attire as prince and his consort couldn’t help but stand out in this marketplace. Everyone passing by glanced at Aidan and Karina.

He didn’t even try to hide their faces. Walking through the crowd while holding Karina’s hand, he completely disregarded others’ gazes, as if it didn’t matter who recognized them.

Is this okay? What if they face another attack, considering they only brought two guard knights while moving through such crowded places?

She had no time to worry. The flowing crowd was so dense that she kept getting bumped into. Watching Karina, Aidan decided this wouldn’t do and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, pulling her toward himself. Knowing he was protecting her from collisions, she found it awkward to ask him to let go. In fact, for Karina, who had never walked through such crowded streets, his arm felt reassuring.

“Found it!”

Aidan pointed to a restaurant.

“They say this place is the neighborhood’s best restaurant.”

“Best restaurant?”

“They say it’s a famous place. The food is supposedly delicious. I heard it has a mother’s touch?”

He pulled Karina along while muttering incomprehensible words.

Ding. A cheerful sound rang as the bell chimed when they opened the wooden door.

“Welcome!”

A jovial middle-aged man with a protruding belly greeted them loudly.

“Table for four? Please take a seat by the window over there.”

The man, whether the owner or a worker, smiled and directed them to their seats.

“This is a nice spot.”

Aidan seemed satisfied with the sunlit seat by the large window. However, Karina hesitated to sit, seeing the stained table and chairs that looked like they might collapse.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Places like this are usually the best restaurants.”

Aidan laughed and pulled Karina’s wrist, forcing her to sit. Creak. She was startled at the strange sound the chair made as she sat, but Aidan just laughed.