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A short while ago, after meeting him at the riding ground, Alicia encountered the crown prince within the palace for the first time.

Alicia felt a bit bitter. If she had met him before seeing him at the banquet, she would have been overjoyed. But he was the crown prince, and now he was the one her friend Delis had once harbored feelings for. There were also rumors circulating that he was getting along well with the princess from the Kingdom of Jallier.

Swallowing the feeling as if she had bitter dark chocolate in her mouth, Alicia quietly greeted him and tried to pass by. At that moment, Cameron spoke to her.

“You were with Duchess Bannister at the riding ground, correct?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

This time, he seemed to remember her. Although it was nothing significant, Alicia could feel her pulse racing. She resented her body’s reaction, which didn’t align with her heart.

She thought it was just a momentary flutter, but at that moment, Alicia realized that a spark still remained in the heart she believed had almost given up.

The crown prince asked again.

“Do you remember me?”

“Of course I remember, Your Highness.”

“No, not that time.”

Alicia was puzzled. She unconsciously looked up and stared at him directly.

“I mean when I gave you a handkerchief.”

Alicia froze in place. Did he remember me?

“Are you alright now?”

The crown prince’s voice was as kind as it had been then. Alicia couldn’t even think of hiding her trembling voice as she asked,

“You…remember me?”

“When we met again, I was a bit uncertain at first. But your pink hair. Only you have this color. I pretended not to recognize you then because I thought you might feel awkward if I acknowledged it in front of everyone. You cried, didn’t you?”

Alicia bowed her head for a different reason than the first time they met. She could feel the heat rising to her face.

“And honestly, I thought you wouldn’t remember me. You didn’t really look at my face, did you? Now I see you remembered too.”

“I was rude then. I didn’t even greet you properly…”

“No, it was understandable to run away.”

The crown prince said with a joyful smile. What should I do? Alicia realized she had already fallen into a one-sided love with no answer.

“That’s what happened.”

Alicia finished with a trembling voice. I hadn’t even thought about closing my gaping mouth.

The crown prince, this guy. Was he quite the romantic? Maybe that’s why he could be the male lead in a novel.

As I read the book, I constantly questioned why Cameron, not Roan, was the male lead and delved into a deep study but couldn’t find the answer. Hearing this, it seemed even a narcissist like him could be the male lead to someone.

Through Alicia’s filter, I felt my evaluation of Cameron slightly improve from a self-obsessed guy to a somewhat decent one.

I couldn’t tell Alicia to stop. Throughout the conversation, her eyes were those of a woman in love. Besides, it wasn’t a love that would end just because of my words.

Fate is meant to be changed, isn’t it? I barely changed Roan’s fate too.

‘Still, it’s a pity for Alicia…’

I couldn’t shake off that thought, but if Cameron wasn’t trash like Count Woodrick, whom she had dated before, and if she liked him, it should be fine.

“Alicia, don’t give up. Even if it doesn’t work out, try as much as you can! No regrets!”

“Yes, yes!”

My enthusiastic encouragement made Alicia raise her voice in response.

But what about Grace? If Alicia and the crown prince get together, what happens to Grace?

Originally, by now, the crown prince and Grace should have been deep in their love affair. When the original story started, the crown prince and Grace were already in a relationship.

If things are going according to the original story, no matter how much Alicia pursues Cameron, it would be useless. Then Alicia could suddenly become the villainess between them. That can’t happen. It mustn’t.

But I can’t just ignore my friend’s painful unrequited love either. Hmm. First, I need to find out what their current relationship is.

As Alicia and I finished exploring the streets and arrived at the mansion, the sky had already turned a vivid red, spreading like paint. Upon returning to the mansion, I saw a face I hadn’t expected to see.

“Roan!”

I also greeted David, who was standing next to Roan.

“Sir David, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Your Grace. It’s been a while.”

For some time now, David seemed quite pleased to see me.

“Duchess, you’re back.”

Roan’s low voice reached my ears. His stern expression softened slightly every time he saw me, a sight I always enjoyed.

“Do you know where I’ve been?”

“Yes, Victor told me.”

“I see. But you came back early today?”

“…I won’t be able to see you for a while soon.”

Ah. Suddenly, I felt a sense of melancholy. But David’s expression beside him seemed a bit strange. His eyes were wide as he looked at Roan, with a somewhat shocked expression.

“So you came early to see me more?”

I intentionally spoke brightly. David’s response came quickly, his face showing complete exasperation.

“Please, Your Grace. Don’t even mention it. Initially, His Grace said he wouldn’t be going to this battle….”

“David.”

Roan interrupted hastily, but David’s words had already reached my ears.

“He said he wouldn’t go?”

Roan wasn’t going to the war? Why? The idea that Roan would shy away from danger never crossed my mind.

“Why?”

“I just thought there wasn’t a particular need for me to go to this war.”

Roan spoke slowly, avoiding my gaze. Beside him, David’s voice carried a tone of incredulous laughter.

“Your Grace, what do you mean? If the person who knows the most about the enemy doesn’t go, what will happen?”

“Information can be passed on to someone else.”

“…”

Roan’s clenched jaw was noticeable, but David, whether oblivious or bold, continued.

“Your Grace usually finds it more bothersome to just sweep everything away… I mean, to fight and come back.”

Noticing me, David hastily corrected his words. Watching this, I felt that Roan should be the one watching his step, not David, but I held my tongue because Roan was right in front of me.

Roan, who seemed displeased, spoke up.

“I’ll go change my clothes.”

It was clear he was changing the subject, but I decided to let it go for now.

“Yes, yes. I should do the same.”

***

David followed Roan closely, talking all the while. Roan wondered how far David intended to follow him, feeling increasingly fatigued.

“Your Grace, isn’t that excuse a bit too weak? Saying there’s no need for you to go. Every Astridian child knows you’ve participated in most of the Empire’s wars since becoming the Military Commander.”

“…Why is that an excuse?”

David felt his frustration rising at his lord’s words.

“Why can’t you just say it? You didn’t want to be separated from your wife! They say women forget their husbands’ faces if they are away at war for too long. You were worried about that!”

“…”

Seeing his lord’s silence, David felt both sympathy and irritation.

“If that’s not a concern at all, then I hope when Your Grace returns, the lady will ask, ‘Who are you?'”

“David.”

Roan’s icy response hit him hard.

“You’ve overstepped.”

Too much, perhaps.

“I apologize.”

David immediately backed down. Even he, who had been with Roan for a long time, did not want to see his lord truly angry. He hoped never to witness it in his lifetime. Roan, still speaking stiffly, asked,

“How far do you intend to follow me? I assume you don’t want to watch me change clothes.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

David stopped. Only after seeing Roan enter his room did he exhale. It seemed ironic to him that the one who felt the most affection between the two was neither Roan nor the lady, but himself.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories