Chapter 28 – From Fairy Tale to Reality

A month and fifteen days ago.

Amber Serentano arrived in the capital and received unexpected news. More precisely, she met an unexpected person.

After an awkward silence, her father introduced the person, saying, “I’m seeing her seriously….” Only then did Amber turn to look at the middle-aged woman.

“Hello. I’ve heard a lot about you from him. My name is Julia.”

She had a gentle impression, and seemed like a genuinely good person. Amber absentmindedly grasped the hand Julia offered.

“Ah… Hello?”

Her father then reclaimed their hands, as if collecting them after a couple of shakes.

“Well, shall we go eat?”

Amber was startled by the unfamiliar warmth, but Julia smiled as if used to it and lightly patted her father’s shoulder. They looked just like Amber and George—undeniable lovers. Her father mentioned his lover’s name as he led Amber to the dinner table they’d prepared together.

“Ahem, Julia’s cooking is really good. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Oh, don’t praise me too much! Amber, this dish was made by him.”

“…Dad?”

Julia pointed to a stew that looked delicious even at a glance. That made Amber even more incredulous. As far as she remembered, her father was no cook. He wasn’t good at it, nor did he bother. Even the soup he clumsily made over several hours when Amber was sick tasted like spoiled carrots.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious….”

But the meal her father cooked that day was truly tasty. The perfectly salty flavor matched the sweet sauce, and nothing was undercooked or burnt. For the first time since her mother disappeared, warmth returned to the dinner table.

It was honestly a strange experience. Unfamiliar, bittersweet, not unpleasant, happy, and sad….

And that evening, her father visited her room.

“Thank you for spending time with us today, Amber.”

Her father spoke to Amber as if she were a guest visiting with Julia.

“Julia was really worried. She was anxious about introducing herself to you… afraid you wouldn’t like her.”

“No…. She seems like a good person.”

She smiled softly, but her father’s gaze was still worried, so Amber had to repeat, “Really.”

This time, she meant it. She was relieved that her father had met someone else. After those corpse-like days, he’d finally recovered, like spring buds sprouting. She was truly reassured.

On the other hand, she remembered her father who seemed like he’d die without her mother, the one who neglected his daughter, but quickly pushed that aside.

The past was now meant to stay in the past. Amber too would live in the present, and move toward the future.

Honestly, she’d become so generous thanks to George. With her heart settled, this much was bearable. How could she resemble her father this way? Both she and her father had found healing not from someone beside them, but from a stranger.

But Amber’s wounds hadn’t healed like her father’s.

『Dieldo Edem Kate Otranie, the Prince Who Returned?』

That article was published, and two days later, Grandmother Merin came to see Amber in the capital herself. The shock of realizing that the article she’d thought had nothing to do with her was actually about her.

The infamous degenerate D she’d ignored back at the Academy was D*ldo George, and that he was actually the Prince…. Amber was surprisingly calm and replied, “So that’s how it was.” Instead, she just smiled in front of the indignant Merin. She simply thought, a little foolishly, that whether he was a Prince or the infamous degenerate D… the past didn’t matter, she just hoped he’d come find her again.

It was a pathetic hope. George didn’t look for her.

Instead, a belated realization came. Her father’s love, which once seemed like it would k*ll him, and her own foolishly begun love, neither were eternal.

So now, she truly resolved not to fall for anyone again.

Around then, she was lucky to receive a scouting letter from the royal research lab.

Just in time, Professor Hesington’s team was researching the toxic Rabigarden in the Empire, just in time a student had to leave for personal reasons, just in time Amber was looking for a new direction in life. These three circumstances brought Amber to the Empire.

Professor Hesington, who had already been watching Amber’s talents, gladly helped her join and suggested she apply for the public pharmaceuticals department, as had been discussed months before. He asked if she’d like to work together once this project ended. This time, Amber answered differently.

“Sure.”

“Good decision! Amber, you’ll definitely become a great scholar.”

If only things had started this way from the end of her engagement. Amber thought so, then changed her mind. Still, it was her days in Napolia that made her who she was now.

…But still.

『Prince Dieldo Edem Kate Otranie of the Otranie Royal Family, visiting the Empire?』

She really shouldn’t have fallen for him.

『Breaking news. With the national marriage between the Otranie Royal Family and the Empire drawing intense attention….』

She shouldn’t have fallen for him.

Amber had deliberately avoided news about the Prince—she rarely had a chance to see Kingdom newspapers since arriving in the Empire—but she encountered news of the Prince’s marriage just as their research project was ending in triumph.

The news filled the Empire’s weekly papers. It was impossible to avoid the story of the Prince who had come for the engagement. After all, it was the Empire’s newspaper, and that day’s paper featured not only the Prince’s story.

Amber smiled bitterly as she read the article beneath the royal marriage headline.

『Special report! The Imperial Princess’s research team and Hesington Laboratory announce an international academic paper collaboration!』

Forgetting her original intent, Amber kept returning to the royal marriage news, and realized once more that she hadn’t forgotten the man called D*ldo or the Prince. If she truly didn’t care, she’d have skipped past it immediately.

Her heart ached as she read the marriage article. It wasn’t like this with her former fiancé….

Amber tried to ignore the man called D*ldo or the Prince, even cursed him. He was truly pathetic, degenerate, a sl*t, just plain awful. So she resolved to live her own life. She clenched her fists and promised herself not to be shaken even if she met him.

…But why?

“Amber.”

She pretended not to see the Prince at the exchange meeting, avoided him, even pretended not to recognize him when he called her…. She didn’t want to be blinded by love again, so she went that far.

“Hmm? Degenerate. Scoundrel. Sl*t. You’ve heard those, right?”

This kind of self-deprecation. This kind of self-reflection.

“So, you shouldn’t give me a chance. No matter what I say, even if I hang around in front of you.”

This kind of warning. This kind of encounter.

“Amber. I wanted to see you.”

She couldn’t help but be shaken by such a confession.

The moment her heart dropped, Amber felt she wanted to squeeze her eyes shut. She just desperately hoped she wouldn’t be found out. Even though there’s no such thing as an eternal heart, just as he said, Amber too had wanted to see him.

* * *

The day after the exchange meeting.

Amber was called by the Imperial Princess as usual. Since joining the research team, the Princess often summoned Amber like this. Usually, they’d eat together or have tea, and while it was awkward at first, Amber had grown comfortable and now walked lightly to these meetings.

Except when she faced unexpected moments like this.

“Amber, if you don’t mind, may I invite one more person to join us for this meal?”

The Princess asked for permission, but in reality, Amber had no choice. Like it or not, she’d have to eat with ‘one more person.’ Amber nodded and quietly said, “Yes,” and received thanks in return.

“Thank you, Miss Serentano.”

It was the person beside the Princess. The Prince, whom Amber had been avoiding eye contact with since entering the drawing room.

Amber replied, “It’s an honor,” then clammed up.

Looking back, it wasn’t an unexpected situation.

The Prince had warned her. No matter what he said, even if he hung around in front of her, she should run. He couldn’t help appearing before her, so if she wanted him gone, she’d have to push him away herself.

It’s easy to say. Ignore, run, push away.

But people’s hearts don’t work that way, so for Amber, it was always difficult. Especially with the Princess present.

…Actually, wasn’t this a bit cowardly?

“I saw the article about you, Amber Serentano.”

“……”

“I wanted to meet you.”

At that moment, she couldn’t help but look at the man across from her. She’d avoided his gaze for almost half an hour, but his attitude was just too shameless. Even his face, pretending not to recognize their reunion from the day before.

“It’s an honor.”

Amber’s formal words made Dieldo smile charmingly. It was the smile she remembered from their days together. Brazen and self-indulgent….

Then the Princess interrupted.

“I didn’t know you were interested in such things, Prince. It’s not an improper interest, is it, Prince?”

“I don’t think that’s a matter for you to be curious about, Your Imperial Highness.”

“If it’s happening in my palace, it’s a different story.”

“I doubt it’s all that different. If you pay too much attention, I might get the wrong idea.”

“Oh my. Then it’ll remain a misunderstanding.”

“Your Imperial Highness, you and I have nothing in common. Fortunately.”

“……”

A conversation in Imperial language passed between the two, with Amber in the middle.