“It’s fine since I’m riding with you. Besides, who would blame Vivi just for riding in a carriage today?” Kyle murmured coolly. 

His appearance, with the chilly wind blowing, seemed so princely that it wouldn’t be a surprise if he entered a castle with an awaiting frozen princess at any moment.

Yes, he’s right. I had gone through so many unfair things today.

Determined not to refuse Kyle’s kindness, I grabbed his hand and got on the carriage.

However, Lisa, being a maid, couldn’t ride in the noble carriage.

“I’ll catch up with you soon, Miss!”

I gave a small nod to Lisa, who called out cheerfully.

“To the Marquis de Rosiere.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The door closed, and the carriage carrying me and Kyle began to move. Once we were completely shut off from the outside world, I finally felt secure.

I wiggled my toes and glanced at Kyle.

Although the visit to the palace had been unpleasant, it was good to see Kyle’s face like this.

It had only been five days, but it felt like forever.

Maybe it’s because we’ve been so close to each other every day since we entered the Academy of Arene that our brief separation feels so foreign.

Inside the cramped carriage, with only Kyle and I, my heart pounded for no reason.

As I looked up, our eyes met, and I flinched in surprise. Kyle broke the silence.

“We should properly investigate this incident.”

His expression was very cold.

“To dare do such a thing…”

“No, don’t,” I interrupted Kyle. 

The original plot hadn’t even begun yet, and I didn’t want to hinder Kyle.

 Of course, Veronica, who spilled the tea on me, should receive appropriate punishment. But that’s for me or Rosiere to do.

There was nothing to be gained by Kyle taking the initiative here and making the other person angry.

If she wanted to start a malicious rumor, she could just say that Kyle was senselessly in love with a woman and couldn’t get enough of her.

It would be different if I were Kyle’s fiancée, but….

“Oh.”

What are you saying, Vivian? You really never come to your senses. My cheeks burned at the thought.

“Well, anyway!” I continued, trying to sound chipper. “I can handle it.”

“But Vivian…”

“It happened at a tea party for ladies only. It wouldn’t look good if Kyle were to step in. I can handle it perfectly fine.”

I smiled reassuringly.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course, I always trust Vivian, but…”

“Oh, come on. More importantly, tell me about you Kyle. We haven’t seen each other in five days. Have you been busy?”

I smoothly changed the subject. I didn’t want any unnecessary problems when Kyle hadn’t even become the crown prince yet.

I was curious why Kyle suddenly canceled our appointment. There must have been a reason why Kyle, who never postponed our plans without any cause, did so this time.

As if sensing my curiosity, Kyle let out a small sigh and spoke with a bitter smile.

“Yes, a little. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it when I said I was going to visit the Marquis de Rosiere. Was the marquis upset?”

“Don’t worry, whenever Kyle shows up, we’ll jump out with open arms,” I joked while chuckling, and Kyle’s expression eased a little.

“So, what did Vivian do? You said you would go see your niece as soon as you arrived in the capital.”

“Yeah, that’s right! Leti is a real angel. She’s so adorable! I don’t know how such an angel was born from my older brother!”

I rambled on for a while about Leti’s cuteness.

My time with Kyle went by very quickly. Before I knew it, the carriage was in front of our house.

It was a pity to part with Kyle like this…

Holding the carriage handle, I turned toward Kyle.

“Kyle, do you want to come in?”

Since we’d come all this way, I thought it would be a good idea to stop by.

However, Kyle shook his head.

“Not today. I’m sorry.”

“Ah… Then when will you come? You said you had something to tell me and that you would come to our house.”

“It might be difficult for a while. I probably won’t be able to visit until the National Foundation Day banquet.”

“That long?” I widened my eyes at the sudden news.

There was still a week left until the National Foundation Day banquet.

I hadn’t seen him in five days, and now another week?

“Is something going on? Kyle, you have to be honest with me about anything.”

“It’s really nothing significant. I just suddenly have something I need to take care of.”

What could that be? My curiosity still hadn’t disappeared.

Then, Kyle gently held my hand.

As the warmth from our joined hands spread through my palm, my heart started pounding again.

Just as my face began to flush, Kyle lightly kissed the back of my hand.

“…..!”

“When Rosaline invites you again, make sure to refuse. Don’t attend.”

Kyle said with a devilish twinkle in his eye. I reflexively nodded my head vigorously. Then Kyle chuckled softly.

“Then I’ll see you at the National Foundation Day banquet.”

The carriage carrying Kyle moved away. I tightly held my other hand to the heated back of my hand. My face was also getting hot.

It was only much later that I realized I hadn’t asked what Kyle wanted to say when he came to our house.

***

After dropping Vivian off at her mansion, a furious Kyle stomped off.

His face was set in an icy grimness, unlike the affectionate smile he had given Vivian earlier in the day.

You could almost feel the cold wind blowing through him.

His gaze was so fierce that the servants and maids who passed by him ducked their heads in surprise and stepped back.

As Kyle walked toward the palace where the emperor resided, a group of people suddenly entered his field of vision.

“Rosaline…”

Kyle’s eyebrows furrowed. He clenched and unclenched his fist.

Although it was Veronica Martin who had splashed the tea, it was undoubtedly Rosaline who gave the order.

Vivian pleaded with Kyle not to intervene, as she would handle it herself.

But after seeing Vivian shedding tears of sadness, could he really keep his promise to her?

Kyle briefly glanced at Rosaline and the young ladies following behind her, then turned his body.

At the end of his steps stood his half-sister, Rosaline Ygritte.

“Ohoho. Wasn’t it quite amusing, Your Highness? Watching her run away like that.”

“She must have looked like a fool. She may have been considered an oddity ever since the nobility began attending the academy.”

“Learning from commoners, huh? If there is so much to learn, why did she come back instead of staying at the academy?”

“I’m sure she’s trying to take advantage of the Second Prince’s favor.”

“Well, he’s nothing compared to the dashing Prince Logan… Prince Kyle?”

The face of the young lady who was happily gossiping about Vivian turned pale. She had spotted Kyle approaching them without hesitation.

Like waves crashing, the young ladies quickly bowed and greeted him. Rosaline, who stood at their center, opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with a fan.

‘Let’s try to set the mood.’

In her memories, Kyle was just an idiot, running for his life from hounds unleashed in the garden.

He may be called a Sword Expert, but there were plenty of knights of that caliber in the palace.

Rosaline lifted her chin, inviting him to come.

Kyle stepped closer, towering over her.

For a moment, the hallway was tense. The sound of someone swallowing hard echoed through the room.

Then, finally, Kyle spoke.

“Rosaline.”

Rosaline’s brow furrowed slightly.

Rosaline?

She didn’t like the way he called her by her name so familiarly.

“I guess you had a pleasant time with the young ladies,” he added.

Rosaline turned her head slightly, blatantly ignoring Kyle.

Kyle didn’t pay much attention to it.

He simply raised the corners of his mouth smoothly, forming a gentle smile. But his eyes didn’t laugh at all.

Is this the calm before the storm?

The young ladies, feeling as if a giant beast stood before them, trembled uncontrollably.

Even though the opponent was smiling, the atmosphere felt oppressively heavy.

They felt that if they dared to utter a word, their entire bodies would be torn to shreds.

The noble-born young ladies, who had been raised to be elegant, couldn’t withstand the aura emanating from Kyle, who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

At that moment, Kyle suddenly reached out his hand.

“Ahh!”

Rosaline, thinking she was being attacked, let out a sharp scream. She covered her head and tightly closed her eyes, but nothing happened.

Her heart pounded rapidly. Rosaline cautiously opened her eyes.

“Heuk.”

Rosaline held her breath. Kyle’s hand held a sharp piece of metal. Did he intend to kill her with that?

Then Kyle gestured toward the ceiling.

“Look up.”

Rosaline raised her head. The decorative objects hanging from the ceiling were damaged and swaying. And there was an empty space in one of the symmetrical decorations.

Did that fall from up there?

By chance?

A chill ran down Rosaline’s spine in an instant.

She felt that it was definitely not a coincidence.

Moreover, the piece of metal was corroded. If it had fallen onto her head, she would have inevitably been injured.

Crack…

The decoration that had fallen from the ceiling shattered mercilessly in Kyle’s grip.