Chapter 3 – Part 1 (My adorable diary friend is unlike no other)

“Your Highness, I will serve the tea now.”

The red glow of the sunset shimmered outside the window.

The flames of the candles on the dining table and the chandelier swayed gently, casting a warm light.

All the servants had been dismissed, leaving only the Crown Prince in the room.

The Crown Prince sat alone at the table, having finished his dessert.

His attire was similar to earlier, a white shirt, but upon closer inspection, the details were different.

This shirt had a tie closure at the neck, which was completely undone, leaving a deep neckline.

The flickering candlelight teased the edges of his open collar.

I tried not to let my gaze linger there as I placed the teacup in front of him.

I stayed as far away as possible while pouring the tea, hoping to avoid any sudden incidents like what happened in the study earlier that afternoon.

The Crown Prince spoke.

“Is it chamomile again today?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I blended chamomile with fruits and spices.”

“From the scent, it seems like orange. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Highness. You are indeed perceptive.”

I answered eagerly, remembering how pleased the Crown Prince had been with flattering remarks in the past.

The questions continued.

Why did you choose those spices? Do you like lemongrass? What kind of fruits do you prefer?

‘Please, stop asking questions!’

In the study earlier, he ate everything without a word, but now he’s so inquisitive.

After enduring the Crown Prince’s relentless questions, I finally finished my duties by collecting the empty teacup and teapot.

“Finally, I’m off work!”

Stretching my shoulders and arms as I walked back to the servants’ quarters, I felt like I might collapse from exhaustion.

When I reached my room, I flopped onto my bed without even changing clothes.

Working in the Crown Prince’s palace was always mentally tiring, but today had been exceptionally so.

‘At least I didn’t get fired today, which means my answers must have been satisfactory.’

Then I realized I was thinking about the Crown Prince again.

‘I don’t want to think about my boss even after work!’

This can’t go on. I needed to distract myself from thoughts of the Crown Prince.

To escape, I opened my diary.

A message from my dear, kind friend had already appeared.

[Hope you had a good day. I have something I’d like to consult you about, if that’s okay?]

Seeing the familiar handwriting that I saw almost daily made my heart skip a beat.

I quickly replied.

[Of course, what’s the matter?]

After sending the message, I changed into comfortable clothes. When I returned, my diary friend had already replied.

[I’m troubled because the person I like is actually my subordinate.]

Seriously, what kind of worry is that?

I dipped my pen in ink and wrote a response in one swift motion.

[Isn’t it better? You can use your wealth and position to win her over. It should be easy.]

Wait, did I just make an unethical suggestion?

My diary friend’s neat handwriting seemed to scold me.

[That would be an unfair approach.]

[Ah, sorry.]

Sorry for being such an unfair person…

[It’s okay.]

[I’ll support you! A guy like you doesn’t need wealth or position to win someone’s heart.]

[What kind of guy am I?]

[A kind, considerate, gentle, warm, and fun-to-talk-to guy.]

My sincere reply seemed to make my diary friend blush, as there was no answer for a while.

I continued writing to my diary friend.

[Ah, I wish I could have a romance too. It would be great if a guy like you just appeared out of nowhere.]

[You’re too kind. Thank you.]

Talking about sweet romance with my diary friend lifted my spirits.

[Have you ever been in a relationship?]

The answer appeared on the diary page.

[Embarrassingly, I have no experience in romance.]

[Why is that embarrassing? In today’s world, it can actually be a charm. When the person you like finds out they’re your first, they’ll secretly be pleased.]

[I hope so. Do you have any experience in romance?]

[Yeah, a few times!]

It’s not a lie.

I mean, in my past life, I had a few romances.

[Could I ask for your guidance?]

[Of course. Ask me anything.]

Today, I’ll use all my experience to give you a special lecture on love!

* * *

Was it because I stayed up late talking to my diary friend?

I almost overslept, missing the morning bell.

I quickly dressed, just enough not to disgrace the Crown Prince, and hurried to the tea storage room.

And then, with some tea leaves I had quietly taken from the Crown Prince’s tea storage room, I brewed a cup of tea.

‘No, I didn’t steal it,’ I thought.

I was conducting a tasting for my tea blending research.

Sipping the sweet and rich milk tea, I reflected on last night’s conversation with my diary friend.

‘The person he likes is really lucky. Honestly, I’m so jealous.’

My diary friend would now follow my advice, talk to his crush, find out his ideal type, try to match it, meet often, spend time together, and give gifts.

Soon, their relationship would progress.

‘She’ll soon realize what a great guy my diary friend is.’

She would get to know him much better than I could through the diary.

I felt a pang of jealousy towards the person who would look into my diary friend’s eyes and have conversations with him.

“Ugh, this is painful…”

The reason my heart hurt was that I had inevitably come to like my cute and lovely diary friend.

[They say feelings can develop when you spend time together and talk about sweet romantic things.]

It happened just as I had advised my diary friend not long ago.

“I got caught in my own trap!”

Why did my diary friend have to be so cute, kind, and gentle all at once?

I didn’t even know where he lived or who he was, but my heart had already gone to him.

While I was sighing deeply,

Knock, knock.

An attendant knocked on the door of the tea storage room to announce the Crown Prince’s morning tea time.

“Miss, it’s in the same place as usual today.”

“The small dining room again?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I gathered the appropriate tea and headed to the small dining room attached to the Crown Prince’s bedroom.

As I passed by, I overheard some attendants speculating that the Crown Prince planned to have his meals in the small dining room for the time being.

I wondered what brought about this change.

One maid speculated,

“Perhaps His Highness thinks it’s less likely that the Empress will suddenly show up here.”

A nearby attendant complained,

“This small dining room is so cramped that it’s difficult to serve meals here.”

“The inconveniences we servants face probably don’t register with someone as high-ranking as His Highness.”

The conversation continued, implying that such lack of consideration wasn’t seen as a flaw in royalty.

Hmm, it seems everyone thinks the same as I do.

When I entered the dining room, I began pouring the tea and met the Crown Prince’s gaze.

His blue eyes sparkled like blue topaz in the morning sunlight, scattering in all directions. I suddenly wondered what color my diary friend’s eyes were.

Were they blue like the Crown Prince’s? Or olive like mine? Maybe brown or even gray.

Just like how I was facing the Crown Prince now, my diary friend might be facing the person he liked.

Why had I come to like someone whose face and voice I didn’t even know? My heart tightened, and my fingertips tingled.

It wasn’t until the Crown Prince’s eyes wavered in confusion that I snapped out of it and quickly looked away.

* * *

That evening, in the dressing room of the Crown Prince’s palace,

An attendant was gently brushing a light spring jacket and called out cheerfully,

“His Highness has finally shown interest in his clothes!”

Another attendant, polishing leather shoes, replied,

“He usually doesn’t care much about clothes?”

The attendant with the clothes brush boasted,

“You’re still new, so you wouldn’t know. It’s a once-in-a-decade event for His Highness to choose his clothes himself.”

The senior attendant, who had been checking summer clothes in the corner, spoke up,

“Honestly, I envy the attendants in the Rose Palace. My father always boasts about how rewarding it is to serve Duke Oscar.”

This senior attendant’s name was Yanni, who had gotten his job at the Crown Prince’s palace through his father’s connections.

Yanni’s father, Laurel, had been managing the Rose Palace’s dressing room for about ten years, having impressed Duke Oscar with his exceptional fashion sense.

The Empress had been so pleased with Oscar’s attire back then that he bestowed a knighthood upon Laurel.

Yanni exclaimed,

“This is our chance to make a strong impression on the Crown Prince. We can’t lose to the Rose Palace!”