“I must not have seen this body either.” 

 Seeing Cedric’s delighted expression, I pulled my hand away from him and slapped my chest. 

 “You really say anything!” 

 “You say that while you can’t take your eyes off me.” 

 True. It was difficult to take my eyes off his broad shoulders, wide chest, and beautifully defined muscles. 

 “Stop teasing me.” 

 When I spoke curtly, he laughed even more joyfully than before. 

 Seeing that he seemed to like my reactions, I carefully arranged my expression to be nonchalant. 

 “In a day, we’ll be heading to the capital.” 

 This would be the second time. Since coming to the North, going to the capital where Father was by my own will. 

 For someone like me who had to hide my ability, it was quite a dangerous act. Since Father was the only one who couldn’t read my mind, he would rummage through Cedric’s thoughts instead. 

 Because of this, the people of the North trained daily. Either thinking nothing at all or thinking about only one thing day and night…… 

 Whether meeting Father would be worthwhile remained to be seen, but truthfully, I had a strong desire not to meet him. 

 ‘I hate seeing his face.’ 

 I hated those golden eyes that looked at me unpleasantly, and the casual raising of hands that had abused and discriminated against me. 

 Last time, wasn’t it those hands that slapped Isabelle’s cheek for the first time? 

 If I only had to meet one person, I could endure somehow, but thinking about attending the festival and the palace-hosted banquet made my head throb. 

 “Your Highness. Come to think of it, have you ever attended banquets in the capital?” 

 “……I have.” 

 “What kind of dances do they usually do in the North?” 

 Cedric scratched his head. 

 “In the North, unlike the capital, we dance to music with faster tempos. We tend to avoid elegant dances like the waltz.” 

 I had thought they would dance slower dances since their clothes were cumbersome, but they dance to fast tempos. 

 I suddenly felt the desire to attend a Northern banquet. If it weren’t for the elopement, they would have held a grand festival in the North. 

 Thanks to how quickly everything proceeded, both the wedding banquet and festival were skipped. 

 ‘I wonder if His Highness is good at dancing?’ 

 I couldn’t imagine Cedric dancing to fast tempos, but the same went for waltzing. 

 Dancing doesn’t seem to suit him. 

 “Don’t worry. I know how to dance the capital’s dances as well.” 

 “That’s a relief. There were too many dances to learn in just one day. I asked because I don’t remember seeing Your Highness in the capital.” 

 “Though rare, I mostly stayed near the entrance rather than the central hall before leaving. There were times I rested in my private room until the banquet ended.” 

 So he was there but couldn’t be seen, not that he didn’t attend the banquets. 

 I finally understood why few people knew the Grand Duke’s face. I thought Isabelle insisted on not marrying because she hadn’t seen him. 

 When I learned from their conversation that even that wasn’t the case, I was quite surprised. 

 ‘Whether things would flow according to the original story… or whether I was destined to marry him……’ 

 Whatever the case, I was the one by his side now. So I had to protect this position somehow. 

 The biggest issue was how long I could keep hiding Isabelle. 

 “Will Zeno and Isabelle be alright?” 

 “It would be good to assess the situation once we reach the capital.” 

 “We can’t keep them there forever.” 

 After arriving, Isabelle might curse at me. Perhaps she and Zeno are united in cursing me, wondering how I could send them there.

 I rather hoped the two would become a bit closer. Then it wouldn’t be easy to tell Father about Zeno. 

 “By the way, do you know why His Majesty’s ability doesn’t work on you?” 

 “I don’t know. I’d like to find out… but Father doesn’t seem to know either, though there must be a reason.” 

 In the original story, since it focused mainly on Isabelle, Claire’s ability and the episodes behind it weren’t resolved. 

 Of course, while I knew the major plot points that were revealed, it was difficult to know the details. 

 “When we go to the capital this time, I plan to learn more about abilities. There might be related books in the Imperial library.” 

 “But won’t it be difficult to get in?” 

 “There are ways. I have many friends, you know.” 

 I flashed a smile. It seems like many interesting things will happen once we reach the capital. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 Exactly one day. 

 Five dresses were completed in just one day. Though I wondered how this was possible, they managed this difficult task. 

 I heard they modified and adjusted the measurements of about five more from ready-made clothes. Finally, I wrapped a scarf around my neck. 

 “Your Highness. I can’t believe I’m going to the capital.” 

 Rien was excited about leaving the North for the first time. She was so thrilled about staying in the capital that she said she couldn’t even sleep properly. 

 “Are you sure you’re okay with not being able to go out properly until before the harvest festival?” 

 “Of course! Still, we’re going to the capital.” 

 Rien seemed happy just to be going to the capital. Well, it wasn’t easy to go to the capital as a maid of the Grand Duke’s residence. 

 If one mentioned working under the Grand Duke who had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, everyone would refuse even if offered letters of recommendation. 

 I headed to the carriage with Rien chattering beside me. There were a couple of carriages loaded full of luggage. 

 “Isn’t this too much luggage?” 

 “This isn’t much at all. Everyone usually takes at least three carriages when going to the capital.” 

 Rien shook her head. Why would they need so much luggage just to go to the capital? 

 Even when I married in what felt like an escape, I only packed my body and necessary items in the carriage. When Isabelle said there was no need to pack, I thought it was because it was an elopement. 

 I only realized there was no need when I saw my room prepared at the mansion. 

 The accessories and clothes filling the dressing room were enough that I couldn’t wear them all even if I wore different ones every day for a year. 

 “That’s after barely convincing His Highness that we didn’t need to pack more.” 

 I burst out laughing at Rien’s whispered words. 

 “His Highness did?” 

 “Yes, I think he was worried. People in the capital speak so poorly of the North……” 

 “Hmm. I suppose so.” 

 Since my reputation would be bad too, it made sense for Cedric to be concerned. I wasn’t unaware of this point either. 

 ‘Just you wait and see if you badmouth Cedric. I won’t let it slide.’ 

 I planned to change both Cedric’s and my reputation while we were there. I needed to get revenge too, and it seemed the list of things to do was growing. 

 “This is your first time going to the capital together, isn’t it?” 

 “Your Highness. You’re here?” 

 “I apologize for being late. I’ve released their bonds.” 

 “Don’t worry about it. Even if you released them, they’re still bound and must go to Father anyway.” 

 The Grand Duke nodded at my words. We didn’t use restraints. There was no need to. 

 Though it was regrettable, I couldn’t reveal my ability right now. 

 “But isn’t this too much luggage?” 

 “All attention in the capital will be on you. My reputation is already not good enough as it is……” 

 “Oh! Don’t think like that.” 

 I put my hands on my hips and frowned. I was well aware of the unfavorable rumors about Cedric. 

 They were mostly baseless words from people who hadn’t actually experienced him. 

 “If we’re counting that, I have quite a reputation too.” 

 Cedric’s lips curved slightly upward at my words tinged with humor. 

 “There’s no need to worry. Of course, it might bother you, but if you naturally show who you are, everyone will be surprised.” 

 That’s not all. Everyone will be so envious they won’t be able to take their eyes off him. 

 “Besides, I never believed those rumors in the first place.” 

 “……It seemed that way.” 

 “Pardon?” 

 When I tilted my head to the side questioningly, Cedric came to me and held out his hand. I naturally took his hand and headed toward the carriage. 

 “How could I forget those golden eyes full of curiosity?” 

 “……Huh?” 

 I blinked. Cedric lifted me, who was staring at him blankly, and placed me in the carriage. 

 “You thought I wouldn’t remember.” 

 “Well, um…… that’s not it.” 

 “I did wonder if I should have pretended not to know.” 

 Cedric got into the carriage and closed the door. 

 “But you shone too brightly for me to do that.” 

 That’s not something someone who radiates light should say, is it? But my lips couldn’t stop curling up at the compliment. 

 “Did you think I was strange?” 

 “I was curious about why you were so guarded. There were times I thought you might have come along simply as the Imperial Princess’s sister.” 

 I hadn’t been guarding against Cedric, but looking around to avoid being caught following him…

 Since he didn’t know about the relationship between Isabelle and me, he might have thought I was watching over them thinking ‘Who dares approach my sister?!’ 

 “I watched because I couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to marry such an impressive person.” 

 This was my honest feeling. From beginning to end, my thoughts about Cedric had been straightforward. 

 The blue eyes fixed on me widened slightly before curving into crescents.