When Acelia approached her first, Liliana blinked. Then she smiled brightly like a blooming flower.

“I’ll tell you anything if you call me by my name!”

“Your name?”

“Yes. I’d also like it if you spoke casually with me.”

Acelia hesitated. Wouldn’t that seem too familiar? They weren’t that close yet.

But since she requested it herself, wouldn’t it be fine? The lady didn’t seem like someone with hidden motives.

“Well? Hurry!”

“Okay, Liliana. Can you tell me about Gale?”

“Kyaa, I love it!”

Liliana rejoiced as if she’d received a grand gift.

Seeing her so happy over something so small made Acelia feel embarrassed about her hesitation.

“You did fight with His Highness the Third Prince, right?”

“Why do you think it’s Gale? I could have problems with someone else.”

“I heard Your Highness is close with His Highness Gale, but I haven’t encountered him once during my visits. And Your Highness wouldn’t be this heartbroken over something trivial.”

……Her character analysis is surprisingly accurate?

It was surprising that Liliana knew all about Acelia’s narrow social circle.

She notices everything despite appearing thoughtless.

“As I mentioned, His Highness Gale has been keeping to himself lately. He barely leaves his palace.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Yes. Though he’s mellowed compared to before, His Highness Gale tends to attract incidents large and small. And His Highness Gale has many lovers, so he’s often spotted around.”

There it is, lovers. So what she saw in the banquet hall wasn’t a mistake.

“Does, does Gale have many admirers among the ladies?”

“He does. Even without succession rights, he’s still a young member of the imperial family. Eventually, he’ll receive a title and move to his own territory.”

“Even after that incident when he allegedly assaulted the Second Prince’s fiancée?”

Liliana’s eyes widened at those words. Acelia averted her gaze.

“Is that why you fought? Of course, that incident still comes up occasionally, but all young noble ladies know what really happened.”

“Was there something behind it?”

Liliana stared intently at the tense Acelia, then winked.

“Let’s go to my favorite dessert café tomorrow. Your Highness has gotten too thin.”

She just said she’d tell me anything. Acelia felt deceived, but since Liliana was concerned about her, she nodded agreeably.

“Tell me now.”

“The incident happened during the Foundation Day festival a few years ago. His Highness Gale, extremely intoxicated, failed to recognize His Highness Diego’s fiancée and forcibly assaulted her, causing His Highness Diego to cancel the engagement.”

“……”

“But actually, His Highness Gale was under the influence of drugs someone secretly administered, not alcohol, and the room where he was with the lady was locked from outside. The fiancée protested that nothing happened, but His Highness Diego unilaterally broke the engagement, saying he couldn’t believe her.”

Liliana lowered her voice.

“In truth, His Highness Diego didn’t particularly like his fiancée. Rumors circulated that he deliberately orchestrated the incident. Honestly, while His Highness Gale can be rough, he’s not the type to mistreat women. He would even intervene when men behaved disrespectfully. That’s why many ladies secretly admire His Highness.”

So what’s this? There’s only circumstantial evidence, no direct proof that Gale committed assault? Just knowing this gave Acelia immense relief.

‘He was wronged again.’

Having personally seen and known Gale, Acelia was certain. She felt furious.

‘Ugh! He didn’t explain and just acted scary. Yet he talks plenty when it’s unnecessary.’

Acelia wanted to find Gale right now, hug him tightly, and tell him she believed him. She wanted to comfort his wounded heart.

But she still had questions for Liliana.

“What happened to the fiancée whose engagement was broken?”

“Officially, she had to leave the capital after suffering an unfortunate incident and having her engagement broken. But there’s talk that His Highness Gale secretly helped her considerably when she left.”

Having heard what she wanted, Acelia nodded.

“Thank you for today, Liliana. You’ve been a great help.”

“Are you going to meet His Highness Gale now?”

“Huh?”

Acelia startled. Why hadn’t she thought of that? If Gale doesn’t come to me, I could go to him.

Noticing her reaction, Liliana prepared to leave.

“Don’t forget our dessert café date tomorrow!”

Waving her arms enthusiastically, Liliana departed, and Acelia hurried her maids.

“Help me get dressed.”

Wearing a simple dress, Acelia went to the Third Prince’s palace.

Since Gale always visited her first, this was her first time visiting his place.

While awkwardly looking around, she noticed something at the entrance.

‘Oh, that’s the ruby statue I’ve only heard about.’

The one Gale mentioned during tea parties with the ladies, saying they could take it.

While she gazed wistfully at the statue, the head maid of the Third Prince’s palace appeared, misunderstanding something and discreetly blocking the statue with her body.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Princess.”

“Where’s Gale? Is he in the palace?”

“He’s in his room. I’ll guide you.”

“We’re not going to the reception room?”

The Third Prince’s head maid subtly averted her gaze.

“It’s not prepared.”

Ah. A truly Third Prince’s palace-like reason.

Well, Gale didn’t seem like someone who would formally receive guests.

Besides, his palace probably didn’t have frequent visitors like hers.

Unaware that the Third Prince’s head maid was deliberately guiding her to Gale’s room, Acelia grew increasingly nervous the deeper they went into the palace.

Standing before an ornate door, she wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt.

The Third Prince’s head maid announced Acelia’s visit.

“Your Highness the Prince, Her Highness the Princess has arrived.”

But even after waiting, there was no answer from inside.

The head maid became flustered.

“Your Highness the Prince?”

“It’s fine, you can go. I have something to discuss with Gale alone.”

The Third Prince’s head maid had sensed a problem when Gale, who used to frequent the princess’s Palace, suddenly stopped visiting.

Though he appeared normal, his outings noticeably decreased, and someone who enjoyed meddling in affairs now often wore an expression of boredom with the world.

Moreover, recently he had been cooped up in his room sleeping soundly, giving the implausible excuse of developing a sun allergy.

No matter how irresponsible her master was, the head maid couldn’t help but worry, and she was grateful the princess had come at this opportune time.

“……Yes. Then I shall withdraw. Please call if you need anything.”

Normally, she shouldn’t leave before the guest, but the head maid quietly withdrew.

Believing that if the princess caused the issue, she would resolve it.

Sending away her accompanying maids too, Acelia approached the closed door.

“Gale, are you there? It’s me. Acelia.”

“……”

“You might not want to see my face right now, but I came because I have something to say. Will you listen for a moment?”

Though she’s trying to speak calmly, Acelia’s mouth went dry at this moment.

The books she had read were useless as her mind went blank.

‘If I knew this would happen, I should have come to apologize sooner.’

The saying that regret always comes too late—don’t remind me now.

Acelia, inwardly reproaching herself, tried to convey her sincere feelings.

“I’m sorry I didn’t immediately say I believed you. But I hope you understand why I couldn’t.”

“……”

“If you had told me, I would have tried to believe you. Why do you keep your true feelings hidden? If you were wronged, say you were wronged, tell me what really happened—how can anyone know otherwise? And then you just blame others for not believing you.”

In a moment of heightened emotion, Acelia spoke informally. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

“No, I didn’t come to say this…… I’m sorry. I came to apologize.”

“……”

“I enjoyed being with you. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to continue that way. Would that be possible?”

“……”

“Gale?”

Despite his anger, it was too quiet beyond the door. Just as Acelia sensed something amiss—

“What are you doing?”

“……! What, Gale. Why are you coming from there?”

Gale appeared from behind with a bewildered expression.

Startled, Acelia pressed her palm against her fluttering chest.

“Why, why aren’t you inside.”

“I was sleeping in the next room while airing out my room.”

What? Then, I’ve been talking to myself in front of an empty room?

Acelia’s face alternated between turning pale and red.

“Di-did you hear what I said?”

“What did you say?”

“If you didn’t hear, that’s fine! I’ll be going now.”

Realizing she had made a fool of herself when she came to apologize, Acelia couldn’t bear to stay.

Gale caught her as she tried to escape and smiled mischievously.

“Ah~ The apology? I heard it all.”