Johanna, who took a moment to breathe deeply, asked in a cold voice.

“Why did you come here?”

“To see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Sorry, but I made a prior appointment. I plan to spend the entire day with His Highness and even receive flowers, so stop being a nuisance and go back, would you?”

Even at the rude words that seemed polite on the surface, Shailyn didn’t blink an eye.

She hadn’t come recklessly in the first place, but had grasped Linus’s schedule to some extent through Dain.

So she sipped her tea and asked calmly.

“Is this a schedule His Highness also agreed to?”

“……Not yet. But when he sees me, he’ll agree right away.”

“Well, I’m not sure if that will happen with me here.”

Johanna’s face hardened at her confident smile.

Since she had also seen Shailyn and Linus dance together several times, she was concerned that their relationship might be deeper than she thought.

She gritted her teeth and shot back sharply.

“Don’t act above your station and go back while I’m being nice. Do you think you’re something special just because you cling to House Diart?”

“Well, becoming the social queen does make me feel like I’m someone special.”

“……!”

Shailyn shrugged her shoulders and responded calmly.

The painful memory of the selection came back to life, making Johanna frown.

Toward her, Shailyn said.

“And I have no intention of leaving, so if you hate seeing me, Lady, you can go. Or try speaking badly.”

Her red, plump lips drew an asymmetrical arc as she added.

“His Highness wants the social queen, not a loser who was eliminated from the competition.”

Even though it was an obvious provocation, Johanna fell for it.

“This is really……!”

She stood up abruptly and tilted the teacup she was holding toward Shailyn.

Shailyn, who had somewhat expected this from when Johanna’s hands started trembling, quickly grabbed a cushion placed nearby and blocked it.

Then she immediately picked up her own teacup and splashed it on Johanna in the same way.

Splash—

“Kyaah! Are you crazy?!”

Johanna, who was properly hit by the tea, almost screamed.

Shailyn dusted off the cushion and answered nonchalantly.

“Who did it first? If you hadn’t picked up the teacup, I would have stayed still too.”

“You really—!”

It was when Johanna, unable to overcome her rising anger, sharpened her nails and was about to rush at Shailyn.

“Stop.”

The reception room door opened and Linus appeared.

His golden eyes swept over the two women’s disheveled state and finished assessing the situation.

It clearly looked like they had waited in the same reception room and fought.

“What are you both doing right now?”

As soon as Linus frowned and scolded them, Johanna drooped her eyebrows and made a pitiful expression.

“Your Highness!”

She ran to Linus, her hair flying like a tragic heroine.

“Do you see? Miss Sharofe splashed tea on me.”

She actively complained while showing her wet hair and clothes.

Behind Johanna, Shailyn let out a hollow laugh and calmly explained.

“The lady splashed tea first, so I was surprised and my hand slipped while trying to dodge.”

Against Johanna’s victim act, she threw a worried question with a kind and good-natured face.

“But fortunately it was cold tea. Are you okay? I didn’t do it on purpose either.”

“Ha, how disgusting!”

Johanna muttered loudly to herself and appealed pitifully to Linus again.

“Your Highness, don’t be fooled by that cunning excuse. Miss Sharofe first……!”

“Stop it.”

But Linus raised his hand and blocked her words again this time.

The person Linus sided with after looking back and forth between the two women was—

“Miss Sharofe says it was a mistake, so you should generously let it pass too. Must you create problems on such a festival day?”

“……!”

Naturally, if it could be called natural, it was Shailyn.

Johanna’s face immediately soured and she couldn’t manage her expression properly.

‘Could it be that the crown prince is seriously interested in this kind of woman?’

She had hoped it was just an acquaintance since Dain and Linus were close.

When Johanna’s expectations were miserably shattered, Shailyn poured oil on the fire.

“Ah, I’m sorryyy.”

She apologized in an exaggerated way like a cute emoticon, putting both hands together in front and scrunching her nose.

It wasn’t that she was really sorry at all, but by apologizing first, she was taking care of her image and making it easier for Linus to take her side more comfortably.

Linus also didn’t miss this and gestured to Johanna with a displeased face.

“See, she’s even apologizing. Lady, hurry up and accept it and apologize too.”

“……”

“Lady, are you ignoring my words right now?”

Linus’s brow twitched.

Johanna, who had been biting her lips with wounded pride, recalled her father’s words.

To make an impression on the crown prince during the founding festival.

Eventually, she opened her mouth with a reluctant face.

“N-no. How could I? I’m sorry too, Miss Sharofe.”

“Yes.”

Shailyn readily accepted and nodded generously.

To Johanna, who became even more heated because of this, Linus asked.

“So what business brought the ducal lady to see me?”

“Ah, I have something to tell you.”

She finally calmed her anger and changed to a smoothly smiling expression.

“Your Highness, shall we go enjoy the founding festival together? I’ve prepared a special gift as well.”

Johanna took out an embroidered handkerchief from her bosom.

It wasn’t something she had embroidered herself, but had a maid make.

Shailyn’s eyes widened when she saw that handkerchief.

‘Surely the crown prince won’t fall for it……?’

When she glanced around, Linus said with an unreadable face.

“Sorry, but I’m a bit busy. That seems impossible.”

“……Then could you at least accept the gift?”

To proceed with the engagement, she had to create even a small connection somehow.

Looking down at the handkerchief Johanna was offering, Linus recalled what his aide had said a few days ago.

‘His Majesty the Emperor has been intimately associating with the devoutly faithful Duke Celsior these past few years. The duke was originally close to Her Highness the First Imperial Consort as well, but their relationship seems to have grown distant recently.’

‘This might be an opportunity. It would be good not to antagonize Celsior from now on.’

Of course, Linus had no intention whatsoever of appeasing House Celsior.

But thinking of the empress who had difficulty starting activities again, it was wise not to make enemies for now.

Moreover, Linus personally thought it would be better to accept it now for Shailyn’s sake too.

“……Alright.”

After deliberation, Linus accepted the handkerchief with a reluctant face.

Johanna, who handed over the handkerchief gracefully to him, stared at him with expectant eyes.

It was common for men and women to exchange flowers and handkerchiefs at the founding festival.

Knowing it would be good to give at least one flower out of courtesy, Linus called an attendant and ordered him to bring one from the garden.

Shailyn, who was watching this, was a bit shocked.

‘Wow, I didn’t think the crown prince would really accept the handkerchief……’

And giving flowers to the lady too.

Without even properly checking the flower the attendant brought, Linus handed it to Johanna halfheartedly.

“Take it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Johanna was also only concerned with receiving the flower itself, so she had no particular complaints.

She deliberately glanced at Shailyn and smiled triumphantly.

“I will treasure it, Your Highness.”

“……Go ahead and leave. I have work to do, so it’s hard to talk for long.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll see you again next time. May the sun god’s blessing always be with you.”

Johanna, who greeted elegantly for now, glared at Shailyn slightly.

It was annoying to leave the two alone, but she had no justification to stay longer. 

After she left the reception room with lingering regret, Linus turned his head and spoke to Shailyn, who was still dazed.

“Miss Sharofe, follow me for a moment.”

***

Honestly, I thought the crown prince would firmly refuse the lady’s handkerchief.

But not only did he readily accept it, he even handed over flowers right in front of me.

‘Is this okay? Did my favorability drop?’

With an anxious heart, I opened the crown prince’s favorability.

【Crown Prince Linus Favorability: 70】

No, it actually went up…….

While following the crown prince in confusion, I suddenly asked.

“Where are we going now?”