“Does the food suit your palate?”

“It’s not bad.”

For Helia, this was the highest praise she could offer. Thinking he should reward the chef, Cedric whispered something to Basen, who stood nearby. Though Basen furrowed his brow briefly, he sighed and withdrew with the staff. The expansive banquet hall was emptied in no time, leaving only Helia and Cedric.

“You’ve sent everyone away,“ Helia remarked, gracefully slicing her veal filet mignon.

“I thought you might have questions for me.“

“Anything I wish to ask could have been said in their presence.”

“Let’s say I wanted to monopolize your questions for myself.”

Helia paused mid-slice, lifting her gaze to meet his. Her stare was as cold and unfeeling as ever.

Yet Cedric felt as though her gaze pierced him entirely, as if she could see through to his core. It sent a tingling sensation to his fingertips and raised goosebumps. Strangely, he didn’t find her golden eyes unpleasant—quite the opposite.

Perhaps, he thought, he had orchestrated this elaborate scheme just to meet her gaze again.

With that thought, Cedric smiled broadly.

“Ask me anything.“

“Then I won’t hold back,“ Helia said, setting down her utensils and wiping her lips with a pristine white napkin. She began her inquiry in earnest.

“What is your intention?“

“My intention?“

Cedric’s feigned innocence, coupled with his clear red eyes, irritated her. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Helia avoided hiding her emotions.

“I’m asking about your intent in proposing an engagement.“

“To think my sincere heart would be so misunderstood—it’s truly disheartening.”

Helia looked at him in utter disbelief, prompting Cedric to drop his smile and ask seriously, “If I said I fell in love at first sight, would you believe me?“

“You know I wouldn’t.”

Her reply was swift and resolute, as though the notion was laughable. Cedric smiled warmly as though expecting her answer.

“That’s exactly why I find you so appealing.“

“I believe I’ve already told you I wouldn’t believe that.“

“That’s why I like you—because you don’t believe such words.”

What kind of wordplay is this? Helia looked at him irritably and snapped back.

“Since I don’t like you, I suppose I can reject you.“

“How could you say something so heartbreaking?”

Despite his words, Cedric still smiled as if enjoying himself. Helia, who detested pointless conversations, felt the urge to throw her fork at his grinning face but instead mustered her patience and asked him again, carefully enunciating each word.

“I’ll ask once more. What is the reason behind your proposal of marriage to me?“

“Even if you don’t believe me, I have no choice but to repeat it—I truly find you captivating.”

Captivating? What exactly did he find so captivating? Helia thought back to her first encounter with Cedric. Not once had she shown him any sign of affection. If anything, a hint of hostility and overwhelming indifference were all she had expressed.

“If that’s true, then you have a rather peculiar taste,“ Helia remarked bluntly.

Cedric laughed heartily, a robust and carefree sound. It wasn’t meant to be funny, yet here he was, laughing. Helia resumed eating her meal, her expression indifferent.

The crown prince could hardly be ignorant of her reputation. Across the continent, her name was synonymous with disgrace—a profligate tyrant, a witch. The number of derogatory nicknames she bore was staggering. For someone to deliberately seek her as a fiancée could only mean one thing.

He plans to swallow Bailey whole.

Naturally, Helia had no intention of following his plans. She might agree with dismantling Bailey as a kingdom. Still, under such circumstances, Bailey would simply become a duchy annexed by the empire, with its royal family and nobility still retaining their influence.

That was unacceptable. The Bailey royal family had to fall completely and utterly at the hands of the revolutionaries.

Sure, the empire could support the revolutionaries, but that, too, was unappealing. Allowing the empire’s influence to seep in would inevitably lead to meddling in the new kingdom’s affairs—no different from willingly becoming a vassal state.

Thus, Cedric’s courtship was entirely unwelcome. Her decision to buy time was, in essence, an effort to find a way to prevent the empire from intervening in Bailey’s downfall. But…

“I understand why you wouldn’t trust me, Princess. But could you at least try to get to know me better?“

“...”

“Even though the time is painfully short, I will do my best to win your heart while you’re here. Could you give me that chance?”

Faced with him now, Helia saw in the crown prince a sincerity that seemed wholly detached from the complex political calculations she had been entertaining. His gaze was steady, unwavering—a sign of truthfulness visible only to her. The light in his eyes, which she alone could see, typically flickered and danced but stilled when someone spoke with genuine honesty.

Helia had only seen such a light once before, in the eyes of someone who shone more brilliantly than anyone else. The memory of that radiance caused a dull ache to spread through her heart. Cedric’s light was neither as bright nor the same hue, but its current steadiness mirrored that memory. And Helia had always been weak against such light.

“Fine,“ she finally relented as though surrendering.

Cedric smiled radiantly as if he had just discovered a long-lost treasure.

***

Bailey’s delegation was invited to a grand welcoming banquet on the second day in the imperial palace’s main hall.

Sitting before a mirror to prepare, Helia stared at the dress Beth had brought her. It was a gown with an open neckline, tinged with a soft pink hue. Tiny rubies were embedded along the waistline, and intricate silver embroidery adorned the hem of the voluminous skirt. Delicate chiffon wings draped over the shoulders, lightly caressing her arms.

Helia tilted her head in confusion. She didn’t recall bringing such a dress.

As if hearing her unspoken thoughts, Beth politely explained, “His Highness, the Crown Prince sent this dress and necklace for you.”

Beth opened an ornate jewelry box, revealing a necklace encrusted with tiny gemstones wrapped elegantly around the neck, culminating in a central diamond.

Starting with gifts, is he?

Helia turned her head away, unimpressed by the extravagant dress and jewelry, which seemed to cater to her infamous reputation for opulence. Beth naturally placed the necklace around her neck, harmonizing perfectly with the dress.

Shortly afterward, Helia boarded a carriage and headed to the main hall.

The banquet hall glittered with massive chandeliers resembling the Milky Way against the night sky. Crimson tapestries bearing the imperial family’s crest hung grandly between the marble columns, and the polished marble floors gleamed like sunlight on a lakeshore. The Pterian nobles, proud of their invitations to the imperial palace, lit up the hall with their presence.

“Her Highness, Princess Helia of Bailey, enters!”

At the steward’s loud announcement, all eyes turned to her. The news of the crown prince’s proposal had already spread among the nobles, and their gazes flicked toward her curiously. Accustomed to being the center of attention, Helia walked gracefully into the hall without hesitation.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince, enter!”

Before long, the imperial family appeared, prompting everyone to bow in reverence. Helia, however, offered only a slight nod. As a royal from another nation, she was not obligated to display excessive courtesy.

After the Emperor’s brief address, music filled the hall. Watching Helia intently since her arrival, Cedric seized the moment to descend the dais and approach her. Even as he neared, Helia refused to acknowledge him until he spoke.

“Princess.”

Only then did Helia turn toward him as if noticing him for the first time. Cedric smiled like a prince from a fairy tale, his charm unmistakable.

“His Majesty is eager to meet you.”

The only people higher than the crown prince were the Emperor and Empress. It was customary for Helia to pay her respects, so she took Cedric’s offered hand and walked with him toward the dais.

The Emperor and Empress, their faces regal and composed, received the nobles’ bows with dignity. The crowd parted for him as Cedric appeared, allowing the two to reach the imperial couple effortlessly.

Helia lifted the sides of her dress and bowed respectfully.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Majesty of the Pteria Empire. I am Helia Bailey, Princess of Bailey.“

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess,“ the Empress greeted her in a gentle voice.

When the introductions were complete, Helia straightened her back and stood upright. Her poised demeanor reflected her royal lineage. Her lack of tension, even in the presence of the imperial family, caught the Emperor’s eye with a glimmer of interest.

“It is a pleasure to meet you like this,“ the Emperor said.

“The honor is mine,“ Helia replied.