“……It’s fine. I wasn’t particularly trying to help anyway.”

Speaking belatedly in a voice even lower than before, he glanced at the handkerchief Larien had tied. His large palm repeatedly wiped his nape, which somehow appeared flushed with heat.

He who always seemed mature looked his age for the first time, appearing shy.

Though she worried he might refuse in the end, fortunately, Jayden kept the handkerchief, gave a slight bow, and returned to his seat.

Larien watched his retreating figure in a daze for quite some time.

Though he firmly denied it, Larien couldn’t shake the feeling that he had helped her. If so, how did he move about in broad daylight without fairy dust?

What began as curiosity to uncover his secret turned into unrequited love after a day, two days, and a year had passed.

But Larien couldn’t reveal her feelings even to her friends, fearing he might find her affection burdensome.

Since he had rejected her expressions of gratitude several times, she was cautious, knowing he would likely reject her feelings if she confessed right away.

When would be the right time to confess?

While Larien was waiting for the right opportunity, welcome news reached her ears.

“Hey, did you hear? Elise finally won Luke’s heart.”

“What? You mean Luke from the toy shop across the street?”

Elise, modeled after an opera diva, had apparently fallen in love at first sight with someone during last year’s festival, who turned out to be a toy from the neighboring shop. Larien’s eyes lit up more at the phrase ‘won his heart’ than at Elise’s situation.

“How is that possible? It’s hard for us to even meet them.”

Fortunately, someone else asked the question Larien wanted to ask.

“At the recent festival, Elise became Queen by singing and won a kiss, right? She used it on Luke, and he accepted, so they started dating.”

“Really? That’s so romantic.”

“If we become Queen, could we meet the man we like too?”

“Would that be easy? Even Elise, who was the best singer, practiced vocals for a whole year.”

“That’s true. We had to listen to her high notes for months because of that. Still, if we practice like Elise, who knows what might happen.”

“Maybe Larien could do it, but the rest of us should forget about it.”

Her friends, having lost interest, soon moved on to chattering about other topics.

Only Larien remained standing there, turning over and over what she had just heard.

From what she’d heard, Luke from the toy shop across the street was famous for being proud and arrogant. To think someone like that kissed Elise… And even started dating because of it.

Festival Queen….

She imagined herself on center stage under starlight, confidently confessing and winning Jayden’s heart.

Her face burned hot imagining the scene of them holding hands with happy faces, kissing while receiving everyone’s blessings.

Larien covered her burning face with both hands and took in the sight of Jayden sitting far away.

It took less than a few minutes for her imagination to turn into determination. Larien clenched her small fist and pressed her lips together.

I’ll become Queen like Elise and confess to him.

After that day, she devoted herself even more to ballet practice. To become Queen at this year’s festival, even practicing day and night wasn’t nearly enough time.

Larien put everything else aside and focused all her attention on ballet.

Knowing that no ordinary confession would work, this festival was even more crucial to her.

If he rejected her Queen’s kiss, it would be proof that he truly had no interest in her, and then she would let go of these feelings without regret.

Just as she was about to steel herself and practice ballet again, an unwelcome visitor arrived. A bouquet of purple violets from who knows where was thrust before her nose.

Though she liked the subtle fragrance that tickled her nose, Larien hesitated to reach for it, knowing who the flowers were from.

When she didn’t take the bouquet, a neatly combed blonde head popped out from behind the modest bouquet.

“Larien, won’t you go to this festival with me? I would be so happy if you went with me. I even prepared violets that match your eye color.”

The man offering the bouquet with a bright smile was Alexander, the prince doll most popular among girls who visited the shop.

Named after an emperor from a distant country, he wore an elegant black tailcoat that fit him perfectly, befitting his status.

Last time he wore blue clothes with gold epaulettes, but now he had a new glossy outfit.

Meanwhile, Jayden had worn the same uniform for years.

Larien pouted as she made a mental note to get some fabric scraps next time to make clothes for Jayden. Still, she quickly rationalized that the red uniform suited Jayden best anyway.

“I’m sorry, but I have prior plans so I won’t be able to go with you.”

Larien shook her head and casually declined his invitation. She had no intention of accepting the bouquet, keeping her hand fixed at her waist.

“Who is it? It couldn’t be a man, could it?”

His blue eyes, much duller than Jayden’s, grew impossibly wide, as if he hadn’t considered being rejected. His lips parted in bewilderment at the mention of a man.

“I promised to go with my friends.”

She gestured with her chin toward her friends who were murmuring in their direction.

“You could tell them something came up. Wouldn’t they understand?”

Alexander showed subtle confidence, implying that his matters should naturally take precedence.

“Not really. I don’t want to.”

Larien replied even more indifferently.

“R-really?”

“Yes. I like my friends more than you. Sorry, but could you leave? You’re interrupting my practice.”

When she gave him a look that seemed to say ‘can’t you take a hint?’, his face turned red and he hesitantly left. His followers suddenly appeared, shot Larien sharp glares, and quickly followed after him.

Their glares weren’t scary at all, knowing that accepting his proposal would have resulted in far worse retaliation.

As they left, her friends approached.

“Larien, weren’t you too harsh on the prince?”

“I’ve never seen Alexander look so dejected before.”

Even though her friends who gathered around said they felt sorry for Alexander, Larien didn’t mind.

“Not at all. Rejections like this need to be clear-cut. That way, there’s no more time wasted.”

“But isn’t it a waste? Alexander is the best-selling item in our shop these days. They say we get multiple orders every day for dolls exactly like him.”

“Not particularly.”

She replied nonchalantly, truly feeling no regret.

“Well, some might actually be more attracted to that kind of attitude.”

“I wonder who you’ll end up liking?”

Her friends who had been lamenting her rejection soon nodded in understanding, saying ‘that’s just like Larien.’ They had spent years watching how coldly she treated men who confessed to her, despite being kind to other girls.

As she resumed ballet practice with her friends, she turned her body toward where Jayden was sitting.

Larien worried if he had witnessed all this commotion, but he was reading his book in the same spot without moving. While she didn’t want any misunderstandings, his complete indifference wasn’t particularly pleasant either.

However, this allowed her to observe him freely.

His black hair, slightly pressed from wearing a tall soldier’s hat during the day, was soft and fine, falling over his slightly bowed face in disheveled strands.

His forehead and nose bridge curved as dramatically as the shop owner’s staircase, and his deep blue eyes with elongated corners and smooth cheekbones stood out even in the darkness. And then there were his red lips, usually tightly pressed together but somehow sensual.

According to the more experienced dolls, his mouth was strong enough to crack walnuts and looked like it could suck hard on anything, though she couldn’t quite grasp what they meant by sucking. The dolls’ eyes had been somewhat suggestive then.

Putting aside these puzzling conversations, Larien just stared intently at his tightly pressed red lips, thinking she would want nothing more than to have their lips meet.

She was curious about what lay behind those closed lips, like an unknown territory. Would the inside of his mouth be as red as his lips? Would his saliva carry the same ocean scent as his body? She also wondered if their lips could meet without bumping into his high nose bridge.

Unconsciously swallowing, Larien’s intense gaze must have been felt by Jayden, who suddenly lifted his head and stared in her direction.

Though his lips remained closed, one raised eyebrow expressed his questioning look.

Fearing he might grab his crutch and come ask why she was staring, Larien hurriedly left her spot.

The scent of violets carried by her light, fluttering movements drifted on the wind to his spot. Jayden, watching Larien’s retreating figure intently, slowly closed and opened his eyes.