“……!”

Acelia’s face turned red with embarrassment. Unable to say anything and stuttering, she turned around quickly.

“I’m going back.”

“Why? Didn’t we make up? Was your apology just empty words? Gale is sad.”

“Why are you being so disgustingly cute?!”

Acelia was shocked by his inappropriate cuteness. Finding her reaction funny, Gale held his stomach and burst into laughter.

“Since I’m broad-minded, I’ll accept your apology. But please understand my circumstances that prevent me from immediately returning to how we were before.”

“Ah, I don’t care. Do whatever you want!”

When Gale quoted her own words back to her, Acelia couldn’t bear the embarrassment and became irritable.

Watching Acelia react exactly as expected when provoked, Gale thought to himself:

She was the first person who had ever sincerely apologized to him.

The truly guilty people had never once repented for their wrongdoings.

A faint smile appeared on Gale’s lips.

Ding!

[You have slightly twisted 〈Gale Hedwig〉’s fate! 〈Acelia Hedwig〉’s damage level increases by 5. Current damage level 59.]

Acelia’s sky-blue eyes widened. The damage level had increased.

‘Just from apologizing?’

She unconsciously looked at Gale. He mischievously winked at her.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Want to apologize again?”

“I’ll never apologize first again.”

Gale called out to Acelia’s back as she stomped away.

“Eat before you go~”

“I won’t eat!”

“I was going to ask for fried chicken, what you called ‘chicken’?”

“……I’ll eat before I go.”

Can’t resist chicken.

That evening, Acelia and Gale enjoyed reconciliatory chicken and beer together before passing out in harmony.

* * *

Ensia went to the café where she often met with Liam.

Ding-a-ling.

The bell rang, and the shop owner who recognized her guided her to a private room.

She ordered a cup of tea and sat alone, passing time.

The private room had no windows, so there wasn’t much else she could do.

While anxiously biting her nails—

Bang.

“……! Liam.”

“Why did you call me?”

A tall man with red hair strode in with his long legs and sat across from Ensia.

Seeing this, Ensia hesitated.

The change felt stark because Liam had always sat beside her, as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from her even for a moment.

Forcing a smile, Ensia reached out and grabbed Liam’s hand.

“We haven’t met for so long. I missed you…… Didn’t you miss me?”

A beautiful woman’s seductive gaze and subtle touch.

It was a situation that would make most men’s hearts flutter, but Liam was startled and pulled his hand away.

Then, he cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem, ahem. Let’s not do this.”

“What?”

“I have a fiancée, so this isn’t right.”

Now he talks about what’s right?

Ensia was dumbfounded. Were all the things they had done until now morally right?

It was ridiculous to see him belatedly finding loyalty to his fiancée after enjoying everything he could.

Ensia suppressed her anger and put on a worried face.

“Why? Did Her Highness the Princess say something?”

“No. That’s not it, but I need to return to my place now. I’m sorry, but let’s end our relationship. You’re smart and beautiful, so you’ll be able to find a man who suits you.”

Ensia felt her rationality snap at his attempt to soothe her as if she were pitiful.

‘A man who suits you’? His word choice suggested he was trying to extract himself.

After all, Liam was just an adulterer who had committed infidelity just like herself.

Finally, angry Ensia snapped at Liam.

“Do you think Her Highness will forgive you?”

“Why are you getting angry, Ensia? Were you this kind of woman?”

“How could I not be angry? You said you loved me, and now you’re telling me to find someone else. Does your love change so easily?”

After pouring out her resentment, Ensia realized her mistake. Liam shouldn’t be handled this way. He still had value to her.

She suppressed her anger and gently caressed the back of Liam’s hand before intertwining their fingers.

Like a serpent tempting an angel, Ensia whispered sweetly to Liam.

“Don’t be like that, Liam. You said the princess bores you. You said she’s dull and stuffy. You told me bees don’t visit flowers without fragrance.”

“Did I? I did say that……”

Liam trailed off. Yes, he had definitely said such things.

“Why don’t you break off your engagement and come to me? I’ll help you.”

“No, that’s not possible.”

“……Why?”

Liam was unexpectedly firm, contrary to Ensia’s expectation that he would waver easily.

Ensia didn’t really intend to marry him—it was just an excuse to keep his heart captive—but being flatly rejected hurt her pride.

When she asked for a reason, Liam became flustered.

“Uh, well…… Being engaged to the princess isn’t as bad as I thought.”

“……”

“I didn’t realize it before, but Acelia has this hidden charm? Do you know what she said when I gave her a bouquet last time?”

‘It was because of the princess?’

While ignoring Liam’s rambling that she had no interest in, Ensia had been thinking about his wavering heart, but now she felt like she’d been hit hard on the back of her head.

What hidden charm? She just pretended to be innocent.

At that moment, those sky-blue eyes staring straight at her flashed through Ensia’s mind.

Biting her lip, Ensia spent a long time coaxing and persuading Liam, eventually agreeing not to break up, and sent him away.

Ensia’s two fists on the table trembled.

‘No, it can’t be! The princess couldn’t have changed!’

* * *

At that same time, in the imperial palace. A big commotion erupted during a solemn State Council meeting.

“That’s absurd! You want to appoint Her Highness the Princess as a diplomatic envoy for an important diplomatic meeting!”

The speaker was Marquis Belford.

Duke Seta stroked his chin gravely.

“Why is it absurd? Rather, hasn’t excluding Her Highness from politics until now been the mistake? Her Highness is a legitimate heir to the throne with succession rights.”

“Hmph, who says she isn’t? I’m asking why you want to use this diplomatic meeting, on which the Empire’s fate for the next decade hinges, as a testing ground for the princess!”

“Testing ground! Mind your words, Marquis!”

“I might understand if it were His Highness Ian or His Highness Diego, but Her Highness Acelia has zero political experience! Are you making a rational judgment when you speak, Duke?”

Others joined in, asking if he had dementia, but Duke Seta remained unfazed.

He knew he had made an unreasonable proposal.

A diplomatic negotiation on which the Empire’s fate for the next decade hinged. That statement was not an exaggeration.

But still.

“We don’t seem to have any promising solutions for that negotiation anyway, so why not use it as Her Highness’s political debut? Who knows? Her Highness might show unexpected capabilities like she did at the hunting competition.”

“Hmph…… Do you really believe Her Highness caught a gray great bear?”

“With witness testimonies available, continuing to deny the facts makes me question your cognitive abilities.”

“What did you say?!”

“Come now, let’s stop this.”

First Prince Ian mediated when the exchange became heated. Second Prince Diego silently agreed.

The princes, except for Gale, had participated in State Council meetings since reaching adulthood.

It was strange to now discuss Acelia’s political participation when there were two adult princes.

Ian’s gaze turned toward Duke Seta.

He was more curious about Duke Seta’s intentions than those of Duke Wade, who had marriage negotiations with the imperial family.

He had no connection to Acelia.

Though aware of the gaze, Duke Seta kept looking straight ahead, pretending not to notice.

While knowing this made him look more suspicious, the duke remained steadfast.

Diego, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

His chillingly low voice echoed throughout the hall.

“The princess has lived in seclusion due to her health until now. She would naturally be ignorant of diplomacy. How could we entrust protocol to such a princess? Since this negotiation involves many lives, I believe appointing her as diplomatic envoy is premature.”

“Everyone has a first time. Didn’t Your Highness Diego also formally enter politics by suppressing rebels? Opposing without considering these factors only appears as an attempt to check Her Highness.”

“Duke Seta! Mind your words to His Highness!”

“How dare you suggest His Highness Diego is keeping Her Highness the Princess in check?!”

Duke Seta had made a bold move. Sure enough, loud voices erupted from all around.

“Enough, enough.”

After quelling the commotion, Ian turned to the final decision maker.

“What does Your Majesty think?”

“It’s about time the princess participated in politics.”

“……!”

It was an unexpected answer.

The nobles’ eyes nearly popped out when the Emperor, who they thought would certainly oppose, expressed approval.

“I will have the princess participate in the upcoming diplomatic meeting with the Yulitas Empire as a diplomatic envoy.”

“Your Majesty!”

“This cannot be, Your Majesty!”

Despite the nobles’ protests, the Emperor left the meeting hall with an annoyed expression.

Among those who couldn’t easily leave their seats, only Duke Seta calmly followed the Emperor.

‘Your Highness the Princess, this is my repayment for saving my daughter. I’ve given you an opportunity, so display your abilities to the fullest.’

Duke Seta was misunderstanding.

He believed Acelia had been hiding her abilities from the princes’ eyes until now and was ready to spread her wings and reveal her true worth.

Somewhere unknown to her, something that would drive Acelia crazy was happening.