Chapter 1.4

“Ah, Aide Evlaine. Are you heading home?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I intended to greet you before leaving, but Aide Delta said he wasn’t sure when you’d return….”

Why now, of all times? 

Katia struggled to smooth her face, which threatened to twist into a grimace, and mimicked as calm a voice as she could manage. Alehin, seemingly unaware of her inner turmoil, laughed heartily with his usual affable smile.

“I told Darius to send everyone home.”

“Yes….”

“Hurry on back. I’ll see you tomorrow. You’ve worked hard today.”

The Crown Prince’s warm voice and kind farewell made Katia’s eyes sting. She shut her eyes tightly, stepped back a pace, and bowed her head. Only after the three passed her did Katia finally lift her head. Her damp eyelashes trembled slightly. Her eyes involuntarily followed Alehin’s retreating figure.

At that moment, for some reason, Leonid’s face caught her attention. And like a bolt of lightning, Katia realized something.

‘Could it be that Captain Leonid Karev… likes Marielle Ivans?’

The sudden realization left Katia dumbfounded.

Leonid’s eyes, gently glowing in the sunset, were fixed on Marielle. How could she not recognize the mix of worry and longing in that gaze? Unlike Alehin and Marielle, who walked closely together, Leonid trailed a step behind, watching them. His expression, far from happy, was filled with melancholy. 

How could he do that?

How could he introduce the woman he loves to the Crown Prince? 

Katia couldn’t fathom what was going through his mind. 

Was it loyalty? Friendship? Ambition? What could possibly drive Leonid to push the woman he cherished into becoming Alehin’s consort?

Katia stood there for a long time, watching the trio grow smaller in the distance. Finally, she clenched her teeth and turned away. Everything was a mess.

In the early summer of her twenty-sixth year, Katia Evlaine experienced heartbreak in secret.

And Katia resented Leonid for breaking her heart—not Marielle, not Alehin, but a third party. She knew full well how childish and unreasonable her feelings were. But she ignored the cries of her heart.

Two days later, Katia suddenly fell ill and had to take leave. It was the first time she’d taken two consecutive days off since working at the Crown Prince’s palace.

* * *

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, time helped Katia come to terms with her feelings to some extent. Of course, unrequited love doesn’t disappear overnight, so she endured her share of emotional struggles for a while. 

But Katia was a mature person, and she wasn’t foolish enough to neglect her work just because of a failed crush. She threw herself into her duties with even greater determination. Katia Evlaine’s reputation as a capable aide solidified further.

Time passed, and a new year arrived. Katia turned twenty-seven and was promoted to deputy chief aide.

That year, Alehin and Marielle officially announced their relationship to the world. It was early spring, about eight months after Leonid had introduced them.

“Everyone will be delighted.”

Darius smiled broadly as he spoke, while Alehin gave an awkward smile in return. The chief aide wasn’t wrong. Alehin, who should have had a fiancée long ago, still didn’t have one. So news of a relationship was bound to be welcomed with open arms, especially by the royal family.

“Announcing it publicly like this feels a little embarrassing….”

“What are you saying, Your Highness? The Queen has been urging us to make this announcement since two months ago…. Ahem! Anyway, we’ll get started on drafting the announcement immediately.”

Darius nodded enthusiastically, his face beaming. Alehin, his ears slightly red, gave a small nod in return. Watching the Crown Prince, Katia felt a pang of bitterness for the first time in a while. Unaware of Katia’s feelings, Darius patted her shoulder with an excited voice.

“Let’s see how well our Aide Evlaine can draft this! Make it warm and full of love, okay?”

“…Yes.”

She thought she’d sorted out her feelings, but writing the official announcement of the Crown Prince’s romantic relationship still hit her hard. Her hand trembled as she forced herself to write, gritting her teeth. However, drafting and announcing such news was part of Katia’s responsibilities as deputy chief aide. It wasn’t something she could hand off to someone else.

After completing the announcement with all her might, Katia brought it to Darius, her face twisted in discomfort.

“I’m sorry, but I have a terrible migraine today. May I leave early?”

“Oh, are you okay? You really don’t look well.”

Katia rarely complained about being sick, so Darius, concerned, quickly granted her permission to leave. He assured her that someone else would handle the announcement. Katia bowed and gathered her belongings before leaving the aides’ office.

Walking quickly down the corridor lined with red carpets, she suddenly encountered someone coming up the stairs. Recognizing the person, she instinctively frowned. Seeing her reaction, the other person raised an eyebrow and asked.

“What did I do wrong? Why do you look so displeased to see me?”

Why did it have to be him? 

Katia pressed her temple with her fingers and shook her head.

“It’s nothing, Captain Karev. I just have a headache.”

“You’re unwell?”

Leonid stepped closer, bending slightly to meet her eyes. His blue eyes, like a cold moon, seemed to pierce through her. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Katia stepped back.

“What are you doing?”

“Are you sure you’re okay? I can escort you home.”

“No, I can manage on my own. It’s just a headache.”

Katia firmly refused, bowed her head in farewell, and quickly walked past Leonid. She heard him take a few steps after her but then stop. She didn’t look back.

Leonid watched Katia’s retreating figure for a moment before furrowing his brow and striding into the aides’ office. Inside, Darius was chatting with the junior aide.

“Ah, Captain.”

“Aide Evlaine said she’s heading home.”

“Yes, she mentioned having a headache. She must be quite unwell—she’s not one to complain easily. Thanks to that, our junior aide here will be reading the announcement today.”

Darius grinned, baring his teeth. The junior aide, Broin, who had joined earlier that year, looked completely tense as he repeatedly murmured the lines written on the paper Katia had left behind. Leonid’s eyes followed the neat handwriting, reading silently.

Then, as if realizing something, Leonid let out a soft exclamation. Clicking his tongue quietly, he asked Darius.

“Is His Highness finally announcing his relationship with Lady Ivans?”

“Yes, he feels it’s the right time now. The announcement will be made this evening.”

“I see… It’s been a long wait.”

Tapping his chin with his fingers, Leonid patted Darius on the shoulder and entered the Crown Prince’s office. A short while later, Leonid left the office and hurried off somewhere. Everyone was too busy with their own tasks to ask where he was going.

At that time, Katia was heading to the commercial district. She was on her way to a small bar she frequented whenever she felt upset, frustrated, or down. The bar, a hidden gem known only to a select few, had been her go-to spot since her academy days.

When she opened the door and entered, the few patrons inside glanced briefly toward the entrance before turning away again. Recognizing Katia, the owner raised a hand in greeting. She gestured for Katia to sit in front of her with a bright smile. Trisha, the owner of ‘Trisha Bar,’ slid a glass of water in front of Katia, resting her chin on her hand and smiling like a flower.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, right? Just give me one straight shot.”

Without a word, Trisha poured a tall glass full of whiskey and handed it over. Katia immediately downed the amber liquid in one gulp. The bittersweet yet subtly sweet drink slid down her throat, warming her stomach.

With a loud clink, Katia set the glass down on the counter, pursing her lips in a pout. She swept her loose hair back with one hand and pushed the empty glass toward Trisha.

“Give me one more.”

“You’re going pretty fast tonight.”

“Just give it to me, okay?”

Though curious, Trisha refrained from asking further and refilled the empty glass with the same whiskey. As soon as it was filled, Katia quickly downed it again. Her gloomy expression showed no sign of lifting, prompting Trisha to cautiously ask.

“What’s wrong? Work not going well?”

“No, it’s not that. Work’s going perfectly fine. Not a single problem.”

“Oh, could it be… because of that man?”

Trisha hit the nail on the head. She knew Katia was troubled over the man she had a crush on. Katia, who rarely voiced her struggles, only came to the bar to drink when it was about him. Despite Trisha’s question, Katia didn’t respond—she merely pushed her empty glass forward again.

Clicking her tongue, Trisha refilled the glass once more.

“Honestly, what kind of man could be so amazing that someone like you, Katia—pretty, competent, and kind—can’t confess to him? What’s missing?”

“Exactly…”

With a self-deprecating laugh, Katia twirled the glass with her fingers. What’s missing, indeed? The fact that he was the Crown Prince of this country and she was merely his aide—that was the problem, wasn’t it? Trisha didn’t know where Katia worked or who she worked with. She only knew that Katia had a good job and was infatuated with someone.

There was no way she could reveal too much. From the start, Katia’s feelings weren’t something she could easily share with anyone. If word got out, she might have to give up her hard-earned position as the Crown Prince’s aide.