“Seeing the young lady dance with someone else reminded me of how your grace was once regarded as the most beautiful dancer in the Belvo social scene.”

Saying so, Michael stepped closer to me and extended his hand.

The prince’s blue eyes, locked onto mine, burned with intensity, though from afar, his expression would seem merely affectionate.

‘…What is he doing?’

To an onlooker, it might appear as a display of warmth, but at this close distance, I could see the seething hostility in his gaze.

I couldn’t understand why he kept approaching me when he clearly harbored such dislike.

And then—

“Uu…”

Huh?

I immediately turned my attention to the sound coming from my arms.

“Waaah…!”

Before I could react, Angie scrunched up her face and burst into tears.

A wave of murmurs spread through the hall.

“Shh, shh, it’s okay…”

“Angie, hush. It’s alright, okay?”

“Woaaaa!”

I quickly tried to soothe her. I was far better at calming her than even the nanny.

Angie’s tiny hands flailed, reaching unmistakably toward Michael.

At first, the gathered nobles seemed to think it was just an infant’s usual crying, but when they realized how precisely she was directing her displeasure, puzzled expressions began to spread across their faces.

“Angie, shh! Let’s be quiet, okay?”

“Waaah! Waaah…!”

No matter how much I tried to comfort her, Angie only grew redder in the face and cried even louder.

Maybe I should ask Cedrion? Since Angie sometimes seemed to understand him, he might be able to help.

Just as I turned toward Cedrion—

‘Is he… smiling?’

His firm lips remained as neutral as always, but I could clearly see the satisfaction hidden within them.

“Could you… take care of Angie?”

I shot him a sharp look, silently chastising him for his amusement. Only then did Cedrion compose his expression.

“Your Highness.”

He stepped forward, positioning himself firmly between me and Michael.

“Did you not come here to deliver His Majesty’s decree?”

Though Cedrion was both the Grand Duke of Norhart and a member of the royal family’s distant branch, standing in the way of the crown prince could still be considered an act of disrespect—especially with Norhart under an embargo.

Yet, the unwavering determination in Cedrion’s stance made it clear that he cared little for such concerns.

Michael’s blue eyes glinted with intrigue as he lightly tapped his fingers over his chest—where he likely kept the decree.

“Ah, the decree…”

“The child I am adopting as my first daughter has not yet been alive for half a year. She is unfamiliar with such events, and so she cries. If I may be so bold, would Your Highness consider delivering the decree while she is still present?”

Cedrion subtly gestured toward the edge of the hall. There, an artist had been commissioned to document today’s events and was sitting with a sketchbook in hand.

Though Cedrion spoke softly, his voice resonated powerfully throughout the room, reaching even the farthest corners.

The crowd erupted into whispers. It was the first time Cedrion had openly acknowledged Angie’s existence.

Yes, everyone. This child is your future Grand Duchess.

I adjusted my hold on Angie, who had calmed somewhat.

“Hmmm…”

Michael’s lips curved into a smirk.

“If that is what my dear brother insists.”

His voice was slow and deliberate, his gaze chilling enough to make me swallow dryly.

Cedrion, determined to solidify the situation, suddenly knelt on one knee before Michael.

“My father, the king, has ordered me to deliver a message regarding your engagement to Lady Lure, which is the reason I have come to Norhart. Naturally, this must take precedence.”

Michael retrieved the decree from his coat, flicking the ribbon loose with an air of nonchalance. He then accepted a dagger from the white-haired knight at his side and lazily sliced through the golden wax seal.

The parchment unfurled with a soft rustle.

Scanning the contents, Michael let out a slow, knowing chuckle.

“Everyone gathered here wishes to witness my brother’s acceptance of this decree, do they not?”

A hush fell over the hall as the nobles strained to hear what was written.

Truthfully, I was just as eager.

‘Once this is over, once Michael returns to the capital, I can finally begin my peaceful life.’

Just as I swallowed that hopeful thought—

“Then.”

Before Michael could drag out his words any further, Cedrion raised both hands above his head in an impatient gesture, signaling for him to hurry up and read it.

“I, Michael, Crown Prince of the Arcadia Royal Family, deliver the words of my most exalted father, His Majesty Julius II.”

Michael held the decree before him and began reading aloud.

“His Majesty deeply lamented the unfortunate events that recently led to severe punishment upon two great houses. However, he could not ignore the sorrow of leaving behind the children he once regarded as his own. Hearing the joyous news of the union between the two families, His Majesty expects that it will ease a great concern for the royal family.”

A son and a daughter? What nonsense. It sounds as if he’s relieved that instead of having to keep watch over two separate places, he now only needs to monitor one.

Still, since the content he was reading aloud seemed quite positive, I felt reassured.

Well, he must have come all the way here because he intended to approve it anyway.

“And His Majesty…”

Michael paused for a moment at that point.

Why did he stop? Did he not like what he was about to say?

After briefly taking his eyes off the decree, Michael glanced at Cedrion, then fixed his gaze on me, holding Angie in my arms, for a long moment.

Perhaps because we were in front of so many people, he kept a smile plastered on his face, but his eyes still burned with hostility.

“He hopes that the union between the two of you was born from loyalty to the royal family.”

It was unpleasant hearing it from Michael, but it was a reasonable point.

Regardless of Cedrion’s implications that there was some other hidden truth behind Lure’s situation, from the royal family’s perspective, this was a marriage between the family of a traitor and a royal collateral branch that had petitioned for leniency on behalf of that traitor.

“To verify this personally, His Majesty wishes to meet with you both, so if you seek approval for your engagement, you should visit Belvo as soon as possible.”

What?

So he came all the way to Norhart just to deliver this message?

I had to make a conscious effort not to let my bewilderment show.

‘Or am I just not familiar enough with the customs here to understand this?’

But as the murmuring among the people grew louder, it seemed I wasn’t the only one who found this puzzling.

Cedrion’s profile visibly stiffened as well.

“Julius II, Sovereign of Arcadia.”

As if placing a period at the end of a sentence, Michael finished reading the decree and, with a satisfied expression, rolled it back up and tied it with the ribbon.

Even after that, he didn’t immediately hand it to Cedrion.

What is he up to?

Amid the rising murmurs, Michael went so far as to tuck the decree back into his coat.

Cedrion, who had been holding out his hand all this time to receive it, only flicked his gaze toward Michael.

Michael merely responded with a serene smile, showing no intention of reversing his actions.

“You two seem close enough to make the journey to the capital together without issue, so in a few days, you’ll travel to the capital with me.”

Whether it was Michael’s naturally smooth voice or the undeniable charm of his words, the once-boisterous hall fell into silence.

Wait, but—travel together in a few days?

Didn’t he say he was leaving tomorrow?

Every word spilling from Michael’s lips felt like a bomb to me.

Had he noticed my momentary shock? His smile deepened in satisfaction.

“Surely, His Majesty will grant me the opportunity to discuss Grand Duke Norhart’s blossoming romance before the royal court.”

***

“What on earth is he thinking?”

Late at night, in the central courtyard of the Grand Duke’s castle.

Leaving the distant guests to continue enjoying the banquet, Cedrion and I had slipped away ahead of time.

Fortunately, after delivering the absurd royal decree, Michael hadn’t asked me to dance again. Instead, he spent time dancing with a few young ladies from the collateral and vassal families of Norhart before retiring early.

Angie had already been taken to bed earlier by her nanny, as it was around her usual bedtime.

“Isn’t it common practice to simply send a messenger?”

“It’s understandable that the royal family would want to confirm our relationship firsthand. As you said, it’s a marriage between a traitor’s family and a noble house that defended that traitor.”

Cedrion’s tone carried an edge of sarcasm.

When I looked up at him, his face, bathed in the slanted moonlight, was filled with displeasure.

Just because something made sense didn’t mean it wasn’t irritating.

“Still, wouldn’t just sending a summons have been enough? And besides, His Highness the Crown Prince has already observed us.”

“Exactly.”

Cedrion let out a sigh-like response to my disgruntled remark.

“Not to mention, he should have handed the decree over to you. What if he… no, what if His Highness the Crown Prince altered the contents?”

“That’s what bothers me the most.”

I was certain there had been a reason Michael hesitated while reading the decree instead of just reciting it fluently.

“Is there any way to verify it separately?”

“I plan to ask again tomorrow. Since he’s not returning to the capital right away, we should have some time to discuss it.”

Cedrion’s expression darkened ominously.

He, too, must have thought he would be rid of Michael by tomorrow, but now it had turned into a nuisance.

With all of Norhart’s resources being consumed to entertain him, it was only natural to be frustrated.

‘Even in the guest wing where I’m staying, there are far too many attendants and guards stationed…’

And to ensure there were no flaws in his reception, the Grand Duke’s castle budget was being stretched to its limits.

Had I unconsciously pouted?

Cedrion suddenly stopped and cautiously asked,

“Why? Are you worried?”

“Worried?”

“About going to the capital. Will you be all right?”