Though it was disappointing not being able to see his eyes full of her reflection, it was rare for Lucian to show such vivid reactions.

“What are you……”

Lucian turned his head further away to avoid Adelia’s persistent gaze. Beneath her silver hair, her blue eyes were filled with mischief. Playfulness dripped from her slightly upturned eye corners.

“For someone who handles a sword, you have fair skin, long eyelashes, and clear eyes—all beautiful. Your eyes are especially the most beautiful. When still, they’re like red rubies, and when filled with emotion, they’re like blazing flames.”

“……”

“Everyone knows you’re handsome, but few know you’re beautiful. To know that, one needs to look at you closely. It’s a fact only those without fear can know.”

“Stop teasing……”

Lucian’s voice trailed off. The more Adelia spoke, the hotter his face burned. Unlike his face reddening from embarrassment, his eyes grew deeper as they stared into space.

— Lucian, you’re very beautiful, just like your father.

On a hot summer day like this. When the lovely Ariana was still in the Empress’s womb…

It was what his mother had said while stroking Lucian’s head as he stayed by her side in place of his father, who was late due to state affairs.

— Isn’t Father handsome? Though I take after him, this is the first time I’ve heard I’m beautiful.

— Oh my, is that so? When you love someone, everything about them looks beautiful. I find him beautiful too, don’t I?

— Yes, that’s right. Father likes it when you stroke his head.

— And you and he are truly beautiful. From afar, you’re the most handsome father and son, but up close, you’re the most beautiful father and son. If someone tells you you’re beautiful someday, it means they’re interested enough to look at you closely. With the courage to call a member of the imperial family beautiful, they might make a good daughter-in-law.

He recalled his mother’s words as she gently stroked both Lawrence’s and his head.

Why was that story coming to mind now of all times?

The Emperor and Empress had an excellent relationship. Unlike formal couples, they truly loved each other. Perhaps because of this influence, the Empress often spoke about him meeting someone like that.

Once, hearing those words made him want to marry someone he loved like his parents. But he had too many burdens to indulge in such fantasies, and reality was very different.

‘Though not someone I love, I married someone who calls me beautiful, so perhaps I’ve fulfilled Mother’s words.’

A small smile formed on his lips hidden behind his hand. Though only a few months had passed since their marriage, he could be certain.

That he wouldn’t regret marrying her.

Since meeting Adelia, there had been many new and interesting things. Moreover, she was capable and accomplished her tasks efficiently.

He liked her fearless personality, and it was impressive how naturally she blended into the imperial family.

As he thought about Adelia’s good points, his face had no chance to cool down.

The midsummer night was filled with heat rather than coolness. The lukewarm breeze couldn’t cool his face.

Adelia discovered his smile visible between his fingers and smiled with a hint of regret.

‘What a shame. If you weren’t the Crown Prince, I would have tried to seduce you.’

Adelia swallowed words she could never speak aloud and smiled brightly.

Adelia stared intently at Lucian as he tried to cool down.

It was a small prank. A small prank started because his embarrassed expression was amusing. Teasing him was very entertaining. Adelia watched Lucian and captured his reactions in her eyes.

Lucian tried cooling his face in the wind, then gave up and lightly pressed both hands against his cheeks. Tapping his face with hands colder than the wind, his cheeks quickly returned to their normal temperature. But the redness didn’t fade quickly.

Lucian looked back at Adelia with a slightly calmer face. He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. It was a light gaze like a child’s complaint rather than anger.

“Do you find it amusing to tease people?”

“Very much so. But it’s not a lie. And since I need to use energy to take you along, please consider it as payment for that.”

Adelia smiled, half-closing her blue eyes.

Lucian silently looked at Adelia before sighing.

“Very well.”

Knowing he was in the position of receiving help, Lucian complied obediently. Rather than being upset by her teasing, he was only concerned about showing his embarrassed reaction.

Seeing Lucian following quietly, Adelia silently extended her hand.

Like last time, it was a gesture to hold hands for the flying magic.

But Lucian interpreted it differently. He stared for a moment at the slender fingers extended toward him.

He carefully wrapped his hand around the fingers that looked like they might break at any moment. And then…

“Your Highness….?”

Lucian bent toward her. Then he raised her captured hand and kissed it.

Something soft and gentle touched and left Adelia’s hand. The warm and moist sensation lingered even longer.

Surprise was greater than embarrassment.

Adelia stared blankly at Lucian with wide eyes. Since he was slightly bent over, Adelia found herself looking down at Lucian.

“What are you doing?”

“Wasn’t this a request for a hand kiss as a sign of gratitude?”

Lucian didn’t release her captured hand. Even after removing his lips, he still kept them close to her fingers. His warm breath touched her fingers with each word he spoke.

When Adelia’s hand twitched, his lips slightly touched it again.

Though there was etiquette for a knight who received help to respond first with a hand kiss to a lady, for Lucian to follow etiquette so strictly… Adelia turned her head and burst out laughing. It was her natural laugh, unconcerned with her surroundings.

The giggling laughter passed. Adelia wiped tears from her eyes with her free hand and spoke.

“We need to hold hands for the flying magic. We’ve done it before, haven’t we?”

“Ah……”

Lucian let out an awkward exclamation. His face that had carefully calmed down felt hot again.

He released their joined hands and cleared his throat.

“Since you value etiquette, I thought that’s what you meant……”

“Well, it made me happy anyway.”

Adelia scrunched her nose and smiled softly. Her eyes curved into crescents with Lucian reflected in them.

Her blue eyes sparkled brilliantly in her face shadowed by the moonlight behind her.

* * *

They quickly left the imperial palace. No knights could detect Adelia’s flying and invisibility magic.

‘They need more training.’

Lucian’s eyes seemed to say that as he glared at the knights while passing by. After leaving the palace following the traces, they walked around wearing robes.

While a banquet welcoming the saintess and the delegation was held inside the palace, outside, a festival praising the saintess was in full swing. Though the palace banquet had ended, the imperial citizens’ festival was still lively.

As a result, the streets were overflowing with people. Since bumping into people while invisible would be troublesome, they concealed themselves with robes while walking around.

Adelia led the way following the traces while Lucian followed at a distance.

Though Lucian’s exceptionally tall height was troublesome, no one looked at them strangely.

As they searched and walked following the traces, they eventually stopped at an alley.

“This is the last spot. It’s difficult to find traces beyond here.”

“That’s somewhat fortunate. This side connects to the edge of the noble townhouses, and that way leads to the slums.”

“How do you know that? There aren’t any signs or guide maps.”

“I’ve memorized every street in the capital. Since he’s a foreigner, the slums seem more likely than the noble townhouses, what do you think?”

“I think that’s amazing……”

Though Lucian changed the subject as if it were natural, Adelia looked up at him with genuine admiration.

Lucian oddly averted his gaze from her wide-eyed stare.

“I should know everything about the capital of the country I must rule.”

“Then do you know all the shop names too? Including inns and taverns?”

Adelia’s eyes sparkled as she took a step toward Lucian. It was her characteristic behavior when she had a good idea.

Lucian, who had been walking behind Adelia, hesitated. Without pushing her away as she approached, he answered.

“Yes, I know everything including places in the slums. Since I memorized maps made by the Shadows, I know even unofficial names.”

“Then could you find places with words I mention?”

“Yes, but is there a reason?”

“Well…… there’s sort of a pattern.”

When Lucian tilted his head questioningly, Adelia vaguely avoided answering.

The pattern she meant was the ‘novel’s pattern.’ In novels, there were always hints left. Whether in people’s names, meeting places, or suddenly appearing flowers, everything contained hints.

For example, a secret location’s name being related to that person, or someone receiving flowers symbolizing death ending up dying—such small hints.

‘That never happens in reality. Who would leave traces like that.’

It was a novel’s pattern because it couldn’t happen in reality.

Though this was reality, it was clearly a world within a novel. The novel’s pattern could certainly apply.

For now, the most suspicious was the hidden mastermind.

“Now, listen carefully. Calligo, Bellium, Kerum, mist, silence, and Silentium.”

Adelia listed each word connected to the hidden mastermind while searching her memory. Lucian searched for locations in his mind as he listened to her words. Then he suddenly questioned the last word.

“Isn’t Silentium a small kingdom in the Northern Continent?”