Chapter 73: The Fan

“They say Marquis Adrian entered the knights’ tournament because of his wife.”

Princess Jasmin rested her chin on her hand as she let the maid’s words drift past.

“Yes, I see.”

At her indifferent response, the maid curtsied and quietly withdrew. Once alone, Princess Jasmin’s sigh deepened. Though it actually happened because of the bet involving the dagger, when you think about it, it was indeed because of Bliss.

“They’re gradually moving toward each other, but what about me?”

She had thought she would marry someday. Though she thought she couldn’t avoid it forever, being born a princess, lately her worries had increased significantly.

“You value objects more than people.”

It was what Jenesha had said. Those words from the last day of the gathering had been following Princess Jasmin constantly. Her words weren’t wrong. She couldn’t easily let people get close because she thought everyone who approached her coveted her collections.

“At this rate, nothing will change even if I marry.”

How could relationships change if she was absorbed in experiments when she should be thinking about a husband?

It would be nice to fall in love at first sight, but she didn’t even expect that.

Having finished her thoughts, Princess Jasmin rose from the sofa without delay. It was time to check things out herself.

***

Princess Jasmin’s steps slowed as she walked through the corridor. Though she had come out impulsively, she had no idea where to go.

“Where should I go?”

“Don’t tell me you’re lost in your own home?”

When someone answered her self-mutter, Princess Jasmin raised surprised eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“Isn’t this palace Your Highness’s home? Yet you asked as if you were lost.”

Karhen gestured at the corridor. When he added that he had seen her taking a long time coming from there to here earlier, Princess Jasmin bristled.

“Who’s lost? I just…”

The words weren’t going to come out nicely after being told someone had been watching her, but she cut off mid-sentence. It was because it felt funny getting worked up alone when Karhen’s words weren’t wrong.

“I don’t know where to go.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Just… somewhere fun?”

She slightly altered her words midway, finding it difficult to say she wanted to try mingling with people. She wondered why she had to have this conversation with Karhen.

“If it’s such a place, I think I know one.”

“You do, Count?”

It was strange that a count would offer to show her around when, as he had said earlier, this palace was where the royal family lived. Understanding Princess Jasmin’s meaning, Karhen shrugged and fluttered his fan. Just why has he been holding that fan since earlier?

It was strange from the start that this man, not a woman, was holding a fan with red feathers like a duke’s.

“Please follow me.”

Though Princess Jasmin’s expression couldn’t even say it was fine as lip service, Karhen excitedly took the lead. He seemed even more excited, his steps looking light. Watching his back as he walked down the corridor as if flying, Princess Jasmin muttered to herself.

“Is he going to play? Why is he like that.”

From his flashy clothes, he was completely mismatched with her.

Princess Jasmin shook her head as she followed him.

Not going far, Karhen stopped and turned toward Princess Jasmin.

“What are you doing not going?”

“We’ve arrived.”

At Karhen’s gesture stretching his arm to look around, Princess Jasmin’s gaze moved. It was just an ordinary fountain you’d pass by. The fountain wasn’t large, and the space around it wasn’t very big either, so it tended to be quiet.

“You’re saying this place is fun?”

She should have just asked where the crowded places were from the start. Having unknowingly held expectations while following Karhen, Princess Jasmin’s disappointed assessment fell.

“Isn’t fun subjective?”

Not knowing Princess Jasmin’s feelings, Karhen approached the fountain with a swagger. Then, perching slightly on it, he fluttered his fan for Princess Jasmin to come closer.

“So how do you find fun here?”

Princess Jasmin walked over, grumbling about being tricked. Though the urge to turn back arose at the count’s gesture to sit, she forcibly lowered herself.

When she half-turned her body toward the fountain to sit watching Karhen, water started splashing little by little on her right cheek.

“Close your eyes.”

“It better not be boring.”

Princess Jasmin covered her eyes with a last-chance mindset. The water splashing on her face became more noticeable.

“Now, what do you hear?”

“The sound of water.”

“And?”

Sitting at a fountain, what else could there be besides water sounds… Princess Jasmin frowned with her arms crossed.

“I can hear the wind too.”

“And?”

“I think I can hear the grass swaying in the wind…”

At Princess Jasmin’s mumble saying she couldn’t be sure because it was so faint, Karhen nodded with a smile.

“How do you feel right now?”

“How do I feel… What kind of feeling are you asking about while listening to water sounds, wind sounds, and grass sounds.”

Should she stop playing along now? It was a precarious situation right before Princess Jasmin’s patience snapped.

“Then let me change the question. Can you smell the scent of water carried on the wind? Can you distinguish it from the smell of dawn dew on the grass?”

At the absurd question, Princess Jasmin let out a deflated laugh.

“How can I distinguish the smell of dawn dew on grass? We’re sitting where the fountain sprays up. Maybe if it was flower fragrance. I can smell flowers from somewhere.”

“Is that so?”

At Karhen’s mysterious response, Jasmin decided to stop playing along with his game. Opening her eyes while thinking about what rebuke to give, Jasmin lost her words at the flowers filling her vision.

Princess Jasmin, who had been looking at the beautiful colorful flowers, slowly raised her gaze. When her gaze moved past the flowers to Karhen’s face, Princess Jasmin’s heart beat heavily.

Though she should think it was because of the flowers, nothing else entered her mind.

“How is it? Isn’t it fun enough without doing anything special? Everything becomes enjoyable when we take interest in everything around us.”

Princess Jasmin’s eyes were unwavering as she listened to Karhen’s words.

She didn’t know since when his opened fan had been blocking the water droplets splashing on her face. The fan she had wondered why he was carrying… How strange.

***

“Bliss.”

“Viscount Jimilta.”

When she realized it was Leonard calling her, Bliss’s voice sank. In her mind, she recalled how he had attacked his opponent. Also his entanglement with Jackie and Duke Blast. However, Bliss’s expression toward Leonard was gentle.

She had no intention of pushing Leonard away unconditionally right now.

“I’m here about that favor you asked before.”

When Bliss tilted her head, unable to recall immediately, a bitter smile crossed Leonard’s lips. It felt like confirming that while he remembered everything about her, she did not.

“You said you wanted a recommendation for a craftsman. I wanted to recommend someone and was wondering when you might have time.”

“Ah…”

She had said that. Actually, the craftsman was an excuse, and she had wanted to get information about herself from him. Since her memories as Bliss were insufficient.

“When would be good for you?”

“I’m fine right now.”

When Leonard readily stepped forward, Bliss thought for a moment before nodding. Though her wariness toward him hadn’t completely subsided, she wanted to take this opportunity.

“I’m fine too. Shall we go then?”

When Bliss nodded, Leonard stood beside her with a bright smile. Just standing next to her made his smile deepen.

“By the way, what do you need the craftsman for?”

Leonard had asked the same question last time, but it had been interrupted when Caelan came in.

“I need some parts that require craftsmanship.”

“For jewelry?”

“No, not that.”

When Bliss shook her head, Leonard didn’t ask further. Instead, he brought up something else.

“Actually, there’s something I want to apologize to you for.”

Bliss turned her head to look at Leonard. His usually smiling face now showed a troubled look.

“I pushed Jackie to serve you.”

She hadn’t expected him to mention it first, thinking he would deny and hide it until the end.

“I wanted to protect you from Marquis Adrian. Also… I had no choice to prevent someone else targeting you.”

“Someone else…”

She focused more on the mention of another person than his words about wanting to protect her. However, Leonard shook his head.

“They hid their face so I don’t know their identity either. But whenever they tried to attack you by deliberately creating opportunities to use Jackie, I stepped in and changed the orders.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Because that was how I could protect you.”

Leonard revealed a firm and upright gaze. As if to say his feelings about protecting Bliss were absolutely not a lie.

“You know how I feel about you, don’t you?”

He took out the handkerchief he had received from Bliss from his chest. He smiled softly while carefully touching it.

“If you can’t believe my words, you can go ask Jackie. I’ve always been changing the orders.”