Chapter 3. The Heir to the Royal Palace

To be honest, I couldn’t hide my worry about the repeated rejection letters.

I had finally become friends(?) with Lady Wilhelmina.

At this rate, I might be abandoned…!

But unlike the male lead, she with her heart as wide as the Pacific Ocean,

You still have time to write letters, right?
And I didn’t ask information about His Highness the Prince, so that’s enough,
I’d like to know what kind of tea you like.
Why, when I asked what you like, do you answer with His Highness’s preferences?
Do you think I need that kind of sympathy?

She expressed her intention to become pen pals with me.

To not give up on me even after I rejected her promise three times, the lady was indeed an angel.

I quickly finished my work urgently, then got up after writing a reply with gratitude.

I should at least get out of the office during lunch time.

It was nearing the end of winter, and a pleasantly cool breeze tickled my cheeks.

After asking to send the reply to the Duke’s residence, I decided to have lunch at the Sun Palace staff cafeteria where many assistants and administrators eat.

Why? Because today is the day when the chef in charge of His Majesty the Emperor’s meals oversees the staff cafeteria lunch!

It’s a precious day that happens only once a year.

Even ordinary potato potage tastes like a 3-star Michelin dish today! I can’t miss this opportunity.

Of course, the Winter Palace chef’s skills are also excellent, but Cassian is absent due to his work outside today, so I didn’t want to bother unnecessarily.

To begin with, other employees in the Winter Palace usually use the staff cafeteria except for me.

I decided to boldly use a shortcut to not waste my precious lunch time.

Although I have to pass through the garden of Dawn Palace where the Third Prince resides, I’ve never encountered anyone so far.

Surely I won’t run into anyone today of all days–

“You there, your face looks familiar?”

And I did…

*

As the other person said, the voice was also familiar to me.

While Cassian was the primary culprit for making me write repeated rejection letters to my only friend, Lady Wilhelmina.

“What business do you have at Dawn Palace?”

This person was none other than the second culprit.

The Third Prince’s national marriage partner, the heir to the Anden Kingdom, Alexis Pheriander.

The Anden Kingdom has a custom of staying at each other’s house for about two months before marriage to get to know each other.

Our empire naturally expressed that it would be fine for Her Highness Alexis, the heir, to skip this, but the kingdom refused.

Saying that the precious custom of their country cannot be skipped by the heir.

Even adding the very un-royal-like words that how could one live a lifetime of unhappiness by easily deciding on such an important life event as marriage.

Because the kingdom’s heir was staying, a considerable number of attendants came from the kingdom.

Of course, many counterparts came to discuss various matters between countries.

In other words, it meant that Cassian and I’s work would inevitably surge.

Even the Empress said it was fortunate that Cassian wasn’t the marriage partner and got all this hellish work instead.

Something about how fortunate it is that the First Prince Charlie didn’t have to bear this ordeal.

Anyway, who would have thought that this culprit would provide an obstacle to my lunch.

No, it’s my appetite’s fault for just wanting to eat lunch a bit faster. Sob, it’s all my fault.

Swallowing my bitter feelings, I bowed politely and greeted.

“I was just passing by, Your Highness.”

“…You’re the Second Prince’s fiancée, right?”

Her Highness Alexis acknowledged my greeting with a nod, then looked at me with a triumphant face as if asking if I had guessed the answer correctly.

“That’s… right.”

“Hmm.”

Now that you’ve got the right answer, please let me go.

Despite my pleading heart, Her Highness Alexis showed no intention of curbing her curiosity and threw a questioning gaze at me.

“Passing through here at this hour.”

The troublemaker nodded, smirked, and then suddenly grabbed my chin.

“Should I take this as your cute proposal to have lunch with me?”

An arrogant curve was drawn on her haughty face.

That’s an overinterpretation.

The burning desire to say so was swallowed up by the greater reason that ‘if a diplomatic issue arises, it’s all my responsibility.’

I could only swallow a hollow laugh and nod in agreement.

*

I heard that the Crystal Hall of the Third Prince’s Dawn Palace was famous for its beauty.

The octagonal hall located at the western end of the asymmetrical building was rather small to be called a hall.

It was just the right size for six to eight people to enjoy tea time, which was why it wasn’t actually used for events despite its reputation for beauty.

‘But it really is pretty.’

As I couldn’t hide my admiration while looking around the interior, Her Highness Alexis burst into a satisfied laugh.

“I thought it would suit you, so I ordered the meal to be prepared here. It seems I made the right choice.”

“…Yes?”

Could it be that he already found out that I like pretty things?

As expected, the heir to the kingdom is different, perhaps they investigate everyone even slightly related to the imperial family–

“Your face, right?”

Or not?

As I stared blankly at the unexpected question, Alexis escorted me to my seat with a pleased expression, as if her words were the answer.

“We’re going to be family once the royal marriage is settled, aren’t we? So I investigated you, and about others in advance.”

She pushed in the chair with perfect timing and gave me a splendid look.

I couldn’t help but admire her impeccable manners, as if it were the natural thing to do.

It must have been because of the atmosphere Alexis created.

Dressed in a perfectly fitting white uniform, her slightly darker dirty blonde long hair was tied down in a single ponytail so as not to get in the way.

Perhaps because she was famous for her frequent outdoor activities, she had a slightly darker skin tone compared to others, and her wine-colored reddish-brown eyes were mixed with confidence and ambition.

“So it was your face that bewitched him, wasn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

My head turned to follow Alexis as she sat down in her seat, uttering such nonsense.

“The First Prince’s fiancée is a marquis’s daughter, and the Hanella marquisate has some power. But you, the Second Prince’s fiancée, are a baron’s daughter from a family that’s done well just to avoid ruin, aren’t you?”

It was a direct way of speaking, but strangely, it didn’t feel offensive at all.

It seemed to be because I sensed an intention to confirm facts rather than criticize.

“So I thought it must be your face. Even though it’s tied back as if you’re trying to hide it, your luscious chestnut hair, smooth and bright milk-white skin, and beautiful green eyes like transplanted emeralds.”

She rested her chin on her hand with a languid gaze.

“What’s more, the combination is so adorably lovable, it’s a very understandable beauty. Is this what they call a beauty that can topple a country?”

“No, it’s not!”

I couldn’t help but deny it in the face of her confident expression.

I should have softened my words more.

After continuously stating wrong answers with such confidence, I unintentionally….

“Hmm, then?”

However, Alexis Pheriander, far from being displeased, looked at me with a face full of curiosity.

She even made a considerate gesture suggesting we should eat while talking, perhaps catching my mouth twitching at the sight of the onion soup — the caramelization was fantastic — that had just been served.

I gratefully took a large spoonful of the onion soup and put it in my mouth.

The savory and sweet taste blended exquisitely, making my mouth happy.

After that, a series of delicious dishes were served one after another.

It was only when the dessert arrived that Alexis asked me in a leisurely manner,

“If it wasn’t your face that bewitched him, then what was it? To me, that seems the most plausible reason.”

After observing me intently throughout the meal, she showed an attitude as if there could be no other answer.

“Well, that’s….”

But I found her certainty rather puzzling.

Cassian would be aesthetically satisfied just by looking in a mirror, so why would he choose someone based on looks?

“Of course, it’s my work ability.”

I confidently presented the correct answer.

If you investigated, shouldn’t you have also looked into how hard I’ve worked by Cassian’s side, Your Highness?

That’s clearly my most proud asset, isn’t it?

“Pfft.”

As I stared at her, making a silent assertion, Alexis let out a short laugh.

“Work ability, you say.”

Tap, tap, Alexis, who seemed accustomed to swords, tapped the teacup a couple of times with her long fingers with prominent knuckles, then stood up.

“So you’re saying it’s not just a cover for the report.”

“Pardon?”

Then she extended her arm to me as if to escort me.

Naturally, as a vulnerable office worker, I didn’t have the courage to refuse the offer of such a high-ranking person.

*