“Honey~ Do men really like this kind of nasal voice?”

“It seems a bit excessive to go that far.”

“That’s why she said not to do it normally, but when you’ve fought or need to improve your husband’s mood.”

The five ladies had changed into nightgowns and gathered again. It was time for late-night chatting while sipping wine slightly diluted with water.

The Princess and the four ladies exchanged various opinions about Madam Willef’s know-how from earlier.

“That’s true. It’s more effective when you don’t usually do it.”

“Right, it must be.”

The conclusion was that it had been a useful lecture, despite everything.

And soon the topic turned to Saena.

“Finally, time for the story we’ve been waiting for!”

“Saena! Spill everything!”

“Yeah! How! Could! You! Suddenly! Abandon! Us! And! Get! Married!”

“……”

She suddenly felt cold sweat running down her back. Saena pondered what to say while facing four pairs of intense eyes.

“Do you know what rumors are circulating in the capital?”

“Huh? What…”

“That you’re rushing into marriage because you got pregnant?”

“What?!”

Saena was startled.

A shotgun marriage…

“No! That’s not it at all…”

“Right? It’s not true, right? Phew. I was worried that he had already completely captured our innocent Saya.”

“……”

Well… there had been some dangerous moments…

As she recalled the memory from earlier that day, Saena’s face reddened.

“Or is it that?”

“What? That His Grace Kramer was so eager he snatched her up quickly?”

“Yeah. Right. That rumor was going around too.”

“Saena, is it true? They say His Grace fell for you early on and wanted to claim you before anyone else could?”

“…Eh?”

Saena’s pupils trembled.

Where did these baseless rumors come from…?

“Well, there were some signs.”

“He asked her to dance at the debutante ball.”

“He was her partner at the closing banquet.”

“The Duke has never stayed in the capital this long or frequently before, has he?”

“That’s right, Your Highness. It was unprecedented.”

Everyone recalled past events one by one.

“Ah, that time! He suddenly appeared during our sick visit too!”

“And that time with Kayan under the surface, haha! Right, it was so interesting.”

“Sigh… my poor brother.”

Saena flinched even more when Kayan was mentioned. She hadn’t met him since that ambiguous almost-confession…

“So, when was your first kiss?”

“Pff.”

Saena almost spat out her wine and hurriedly covered her mouth with a napkin.

“Oh my, looks like it happened.”

“Right.”

“How interesting.”

Four pairs of sparkling eyes demanded an answer intensely.

“When, when, when?”

“Where?”

“Who confessed first?”

“Hey, let’s hear about the first kiss first.”

“Right. I want to hear about the first kiss first.”

Saena tried to avoid the situation with her flushed face, but faced with their determined expressions that wouldn’t accept any other answer, she hesitantly opened her mouth.

“When I was invited to his… mansion… um.”

“Oh my, oh my!”

“When did you become close enough to visit each other’s homes?”

“Goodness, how could you keep this a secret? Hmm?”

“How was it? Was it good?”

Saena found it too embarrassing to discuss such topics openly and couldn’t get the words out.

“They say you can guess compatibility just from a kiss.”

“Really?”

“Well, there are men you don’t even want to kiss.”

“Hmm. True.”

“Then there are those who turn out to be surprisingly good when you actually do it.”

Hearing Evian’s words, which were clearly from experience, Kirsten whipped her head around with gleaming eyes.

“Hey, who is it?”

“……”

“Are you going to spill everything or not?”

The atmosphere suddenly shifted to interrogating Evian.

When Evian kept her mouth shut, Kirsten started tickling her waist.

“Hahaha! Ah, stop! Kyah!”

“Still won’t tell?”

“Kyahaha!”

Apparently, Evian’s sides were her weakness(?).

“I’ll, I’ll tell! Ugh, ah!”

Unable to withstand the fierce t*rture(?), Evian quickly spilled the truth.

“Danny.”

“…What? Hey, hey! You crazy thing!”

Danny? Though Saena couldn’t tell who they meant by this clearly nickname, Kirsten seemed to know immediately upon hearing it.

“Why did you kiss your childhood friend! Did you want to?”

“Oh my, oh my! Lady Evian! Tell us everything!”

“Could it be the young marquis of the Harper family?”

Whoa. If it’s the Harper family… could it be Daniel Harper, the Marquis’s eldest son?!

It was already surprising enough when she heard that Evian was close friends with Lady Merilyn Harper’s brother, who belonged to an opposing faction in social circles.

‘A, a kiss…’

Saena completely forgot that just moments ago she had been the one being interrogated about her first kiss, and focused on Evian’s story.

“Ah, it just happened somehow!”

“So tell us exactly how it happened!”

“That crazy guy did it first–”

“Kyaa! What should I do!”

Floria’s eyes sparkled intensely at Evian’s smoothly flowing story. Soon that sparkle seemed about to take physical form and become stars.

“…So I’m avoiding him these days.”

“Should you cut ties completely then?”

“Hmm, I’m thinking about it.”

“Why?”

“Because that guy kisses too well. It keeps coming to mind and it’s infuriating!”

“Oh my, sister! Then you should just try it again!”

F-Floria…?

“Anyway, that’s what happened.”

“Ah, I see. Is that all?”

“Yeah. Let’s get back to the main topic.”

And as Evian’s story ended, those intensely sparkling eyes smoothly turned back toward Saena.

Along with three other pairs of eyes.

“……”

In the end, Saena had to tell almost everything, carefully edited to exclude the imperial stories.

“…I actually planned to live without getting married.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’m not good at socializing.”

“Oh my, our Saya. You’re plenty good at it, though?”

“…Actually, I wanted to live just doing Arlesian research.”

“Huh.”

“But he didn’t mind such things and accepted me. I thought it would be fine.”

Having to edit out the prince’s story made it sound like a love marriage.

“Oh my, that’s so passionate. So hot.”

“……”

“The Duke is unexpected too.”

“I never knew Duke Kramer had such a side.”

“Right.”

“But it’s clear he was eager for Saena.”

“Ahaha.”

“……”

Even stranger conclusions were drawn.

Kirsten smiled lovingly at Saena and asked,

“You think he’s a man who will make you happy?”

Happy…

Although it was a marriage she ended up in because of that d*mn prince… she thinks it’s fortunate that it’s with Constantine.

“He’s a good person.”

He’s a man too good for her, someone she never even dared to consider as a potential husband.

“Well, being good for each other is super important in marriage.”

The five chatted about various small topics throughout the night.

* * *

At the deepest hour before dawn.

The gathering ended.

Everyone dispersed to their rooms. The sun was about to rise.

“Yawn. Saena. Have a good time.”

“We’ll get some sleep.”

“Okay. I’ll be back.”

Everyone looked tired from staying up way past their usual bedtime. They seemed like they would fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

Saena was sleepy too, but she still had something to do.

“Lady Debov. I’ve already instructed the servant, so just follow them. They’ll guide you to the sunrise spot.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”

“What, it’s nothing. Have a good time. I just hope you’ll like the view.”

“Yes. I’m sure I will. Sleep well.”

Saena didn’t know where the sunrise spot was. The princess had explained its location, but not knowing the palace geography, she couldn’t quite grasp it.

Saena returned to her room and changed into the dress she had prepared beforehand with Smila’s help, then put on a coat to block the cold dawn air.

She followed the servant who had been waiting to guide her to the sunrise spot. Smila followed behind.

They were at the tail end of winter.

Not to mention, it was quite chilly before sunrise.

Everything was dark. Although the lanterns held by the servant and Smila lit the way, it felt somewhat eerie as just a few steps away was pure darkness.

The servant skillfully navigated the dark path while monitoring Saena’s walking pace.

After walking for some time,

The servant stopped.

“We cannot go beyond this point.”

“Hm?”

“This area is restricted to nobles only. Just follow the path to the end and you’ll find a tower. If you wait there, His Grace Kramer will either be there or arrive soon.”

“Ah, I see.”

The servant handed Saena the lantern Smila had been holding and said,

“We will wait here until you return.”

Saena nodded and walked on alone.

Unfortunately, this area ahead had tall shrubs lined up, making it feel like entering a forest. It was darker and more eerie because of this.

‘To think I have to go through the darkest area alone.’

If she didn’t have the black bird in her arms, she really wouldn’t have wanted to go. Somehow this small bird gave her courage.

Fortunately, the shrub area didn’t seem too long. A man’s silhouette was visible not far ahead.

It must be Constantine.

“Const…”

“Finally, we meet.”

“……!”

The man she thought would surely be Constantine wasn’t him.

Saena felt her heart stop from shock.

“Let’s have a talk.”

It was the Prince.

‘Why on earth is the Prince here…’

How could one describe Saena’s feelings upon meeting the man she least wanted to see in this dark, deserted place?

She scanned her surroundings with trembling eyes, but there was nothing she could see that could offer help.

Moreover, she didn’t even know how far the tower where Constantine was waiting might be. But judging by the Prince’s presence here, it probably wasn’t very close.

It seemed unlikely that the Prince would be lurking within a distance where Constantine could overhear their conversation.

‘…If I scream loudly, could he hear me?’

Since Constantine is a knight, his hearing might be several times better than normal people.

Though she wasn’t sure if it was true, just thinking this made her feel slightly less anxious.

“To suddenly announce your marriage like this. Why did you do that?”

…Should she answer?

She couldn’t understand why she had to be interrogated by the Prince about her marriage.

“Huh. It’s not too late yet. This is good news for you too, Lady. Surely being Empress is better than being a Duchess?”

The Prince spoke as if Saena would definitely become Empress.

Even if it were possible, who would want that?