Chapter 96

Theodore was consumed by anxiety, fearing that Meia might return to the Carpen Empire with Patzraelli.

‘What if she asks to break off the engagement?’

“Ugh…”

Theodore clutched his left chest tightly, struggling to breathe.

‘The symptoms of lovesickness…’

He had forgotten about this pain while spending time with Meia.

This ache… this torment!

The sharp stinging and tearing pain he felt with every breath persisted even when he tried to hold it in.

The cold sweat running down his face was a testament to the intensity of his suffering.

Physician Worst had once explained that the pain of lovesickness could only be alleviated by recalling Meia’s smile, looking at her portrait, or seeing her in person.

Theodore first attempted to recall Meia, but the lecherous gaze and clinging words of Patzraelli, whom he had just met, kept invading his thoughts.

Sitting down, he pressed hard against the area near his heart, closed his eyes, and tried to focus solely on Meia’s smile, pushing Patzraelli out of his mind.

“Theo?”

Was I concentrating too hard with my eyes closed?

He thought he heard a hallucination.

“Theo!”

Hearing Meia’s voice, Theodore opened his eyes slightly and turned his head in the direction of the sound.

“Mei…?”

The moment he saw Meia, the pain that accompanied every heartbeat vanished instantly, and a smile naturally formed on his lips.

As Meia approached him, she examined Theodore with concern and asked,

“Are you alright, my fiancé?”

The word “fiancé” from Meia made Theodore’s eyes turn red.

“Yes, my fiancée.”

Theodore stared intently into Meia’s eyes, which were so close to his, and without saying a word, as if entranced, he pressed his lips to hers.

“Mm.”

Suppressing his overflowing affection, he whispered, “I love you,” and kissed her again.

The two closed their eyes, feeling each other’s breath intertwine through their slightly parted lips.

***

Meia’s firm words left Patzraelli unable to hold her back.

Of course, he understood her wishes.

But he could not give up his position as Crown Prince.

When she told him to abandon everything if he truly loved her, Patzraelli found himself unable to respond.

Patzraelli believed that by maintaining his position as Crown Prince, he could protect Meia.

Thus, he could never give it up.

If he relinquished his position, Demian would take over, and Patzraelli knew that Demian, cunning as he was, would not spare him.

Patzraelli involuntarily shuddered.

Meia was angry at him now.

He hadn’t expected her to forgive him with just one apology.

Still, he hadn’t anticipated her to turn away so coldly.

He couldn’t give up either the position of Crown Prince or Meia.

So, he resolved to do everything he could to hold onto her.

She was kind, considerate, and soft-hearted.

Surely, she would return, become the Crown Princess, and eventually his Empress.

“Sigh.”

As he left after being rejected by Meia, Patzraelli ran into Puring.

“You’re leaving, Your Highness?”

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

Seeing Patzraelli’s face full of lingering regret, Puring sighed inwardly.

Meia was already engaged to Grand Duke Florence.

Puring had seen Meia smiling at Theodore.

It was a smile she hadn’t shown since her parents’ passing while living at the Duke’s estate.

Seeing that smile, Puring felt a sense of relief.

He was glad.

“Starting tomorrow, even if you visit the Mage Tower, you won’t be able to meet Lady Meia.”

“What do you mean?”

Puring bowed politely and explained to Patzraelli.

“She has accepted a request from the Mage Tower and will be leaving. She’s probably already gone by now.”

Puring’s words darkened Patzraelli’s expression.

“Does this mean Meia has registered as a mage of the Mage Tower?”

“Yes.”

“When did she register?”

“On the day she arrived.”

“I see.”

Patzraelli clenched his fists tightly before slowly releasing them.

“She must be very angry with me. To suddenly accept a request and leave on the day I arrived…”

“That’s not—”

Puring narrowed his eyes as Patzraelli interrupted, cutting him off to speak his own thoughts.

“Sigh… How can I make her forgive me? When will she return?”

“I don’t know.”

“What kind of request did she take?”

“A long-term one.”

“She’s avoiding me, isn’t she?”

Puring wanted to shout, “No, that’s not true!” but he realized that no matter what he said, it wouldn’t change anything for Patzraelli, who had already made up his mind. So, he kept silent.

***

“Did something happen, Theo?”

His smiling face was pleasant to see, but there was a hint of anxiety in his dark eyes.

Hearing Meia’s words, Theodore suppressed his inner unease and forced a smile.

“Theo, your smile seems more unnatural than usual.”

Theodore clenched his fingers tightly and exhaled before speaking.

“I met the Crown Prince of Carpen earlier.”

Hearing Patzraelli’s name made Meia’s brow furrow.

“He said to me…”

Theodore briefly explained the conversation he had with Patzraelli to Meia.

“So, were you worried that I might return to Carpen?”

Theodore ran his hand through his hair, brushing it back, and clenched it as he closed his eyes.

“I prefer peace; I hate war. But today, for the first time, I had the wicked thought of starting a war.”

Theodore’s voice trembled as he continued.

“I imagined waging war against the Carpen Empire, where you were born and raised. It must be a precious homeland to you, and what’s precious to you is precious to me too. But the fact that I even considered war makes me feel so vile.”

His eyes were filled with turmoil. His words were serious and heartfelt.

“This must be what jealousy feels like.”

His tone was tinged with bitterness and sorrow, as if he were in pain.

Watching him twist his beautiful lips and mess up his dark hair as he confessed his feelings, Meia didn’t find him detestable.

In fact, knowing that he was jealous made her feel oddly pleased.

She hadn’t expected him to still be so anxious about her leaving, even after they were engaged.

Meia reached out, smoothing his disheveled hair, and cupped his face, making him look at her.

“Theo, look at me.”

His dark eyes, unsure of what to do, met hers.

“Do you remember what you once told me? You confidently said you’d stay by my side and make me fall in love with you. Where is that Theo now?”

Theodore’s eyes widened in surprise.

“If someone were to point to two paths and force me to choose one, I would still pick the path I want to take.”

After her parents’ passing, the world had stopped for Meia, and she had lost her purpose.

“The person I’ve chosen is you, Theo.”

The position of Empress? She could have held onto it.

But the reason she gave it up so easily was that her parents, who would have smiled joyfully at her becoming Empress, were no longer there. Letting go of everything, she didn’t know where to go or what to do.

She was lost. No, she had lost her map.

However, it was Theodore who helped her take steps forward again, smiling as he extended his hand.

For a person to extend their hand to another is never an easy thing. And there is no one who extends their hand without conditions. Yet, Theodore’s affection came with no “conditions.”

“No one can compare to you in my life. No condition could ever make me trade you, Theo.”

Hearing Meia’s words, Theodore finally smiled sincerely.

“No matter what others say, don’t lower your own worth, Theodore Florence.”

With Meia’s words, all of Theodore’s anxiety, urgency, jealousy, and unease burned away like paper in a blazing fire. His heart felt as though it was filled with sweet sugar.

Smiling, Theodore pulled Meia into his arms, seating her on his lap, and asked,

“May I kiss you?”

Meia responded firmly,

“The only man who can kiss my lips is you, Theo.”

Meeting his heated gaze, her entire body trembled. His warm breath drew closer and closer.

“Today is the happiest day of my 17 years of life. I want to make you happy, but instead, Mei, you make me happy.”

They were so close that they could feel each other’s breath.

As their lips gently touched, a fiery sensation spread. Like biting into a sweet strawberry, they delved deeper into each other. Today, the sensation was especially intense.

Meia gasped for breath, clutching at Theodore’s clothes.

Between their lips, their tongues entwined sweetly. The soft sensation brought warmth, even as it heightened her tension. It was a tender and gentle kiss, but their hearts beat fiercely.

“Mm.”

Her heart pounded noisily. She swallowed her breath.

With their bodies pressed close together, they could feel just how much they desired each other.

***

Luman exited the drawing room after a brief conversation and exchange of greetings with Theodore, then left the Mage Tower.

It was true that Meia marrying a noble from another country was a far better option than marrying Demian. However, he had never imagined she would become the Grand Duchess of Florence.

“Ah, what a position that is!”

The title of Grand Duchess of Florence! He still couldn’t believe it.

Even the Emperor of the Carpen Empire couldn’t act recklessly toward Grand Duke Florence. No matter how insolent Meia acted toward him, he had no choice but to endure it.

‘Could she be seeking revenge?’

He hadn’t thought Meia would consider the act of giving her position as the Crown Prince’s fiancée to Meryl as something that was “stolen” from her.

Luman shook his head as if to rid himself of the thought.

Meia, who was to become a foreign Grand Duchess, was someone he would never see again.

“Sigh…”

Luman let out a deep sigh. His head was a mess. All he wanted was to return to the Duke’s estate and rest.

But even upon arriving at the estate, he couldn’t find peace.

He learned that Meryl had gotten into a fight and pulled Lady Cesar’s hair at Luruna’s tea party.

Startled, Luman immediately summoned Meryl.

“What on earth happened? A fight?”

“Well…”

Already in a foul mood because of Meia, Luman raised his voice and scolded Meryl.