After briefly leaving the room, Princess Leticia returned and continued to chat with the ladies for over an hour.
 
While I enjoyed my tea and snacks alone, feeling somewhat disconnected from their conversation, I was thrilled at the thought that the time to meet my favorite was drawing near. I had a faint smile on my face, which caught Princess Leticia’s attention from time to time.
 
As I wondered what excuse I could give to go to the place where my favorite was, oblivious to the gazes around me, the time to leave had already come.
 
“It was a really enjoyable time.”
 
“It was an honor to be with Your Highness.”
 
“Thank you for inviting us.”
 
As I watched the ladies thanking Princess Leticia, I became anxious. Since I couldn’t freely wander around the palace, I had to somehow get her permission.
 
As I was wondering how to bring it up, Princess Leticia’s gaze fell on me.
 
“Duchess Wheaton, if you don’t mind, could we talk a little more?”
 
The other ladies looked at me with curious faces when she singled me out, but eventually decided it was nothing and left.
 
Although Princess Leticia had behaved no differently from anyone else throughout the tea party, I couldn’t predict what she would do when we were alone.
 
‘Could she possibly be thinking of causing trouble for me?’
 
I wondered if the princess, like the other ladies, would reveal her true colors. I eyed the teacup in front of her, thinking about what might happen.
 
But contrary to my expectations, Princess Leticia’s face showed only curiosity and a slight liking for me. When we were alone, her expression seemed even more vivid.
 
“Were you surprised when I suddenly invited you to a tea party?”
 
“A little.”
 
Princess Leticia smiled and spoke.
 
“I wanted to talk to you once, but I was afraid it might be uncomfortable if I asked you directly. So I arranged for this tea party.”
 
I could tell from her expression that she didn’t call the ladies over to torment me. She probably didn’t even know that they were mocking me in Hivisian.
 
Anyway, thanks to her, I got some good information, and it seemed like there would be some interesting things happening in the future.
 
My shoulders, which had been slightly tense because I didn’t know how she would react, relaxed.
 
‘But why did she suddenly want to see me? Was there something between me and Princess Leticia? The original story starts with the Count and his wife finding Adelia in the countryside, so I don’t know what happened in Wheaton at that time’
 
“Actually, a few days ago, I saw you in the city.”
 
“Me?”
 
I didn’t remember seeing Princess Leticia. It was impossible not to notice a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes among the mostly brown-haired and gray-eyed people of the Bellic Empire.
 
“I was in disguise, so you probably didn’t recognize me.”
 
Princess Leticia’s words became even longer, as if she were recalling that moment.
 
“I was having tea at a café, and you were scolding Viscount and Viscountess Weston.”
 
Ah, she saw that scene.
 
Having already been mocked by the ladies for my behavior, I wondered if Princess Leticia was thinking the same thing, but her eyes were too bright as she looked at me.
 
“How satisfying it was to see you skillfully extorting money from the Viscount Weston….”
 
“….What?”
 
“Oh, never mind.”
 
Princess Leticia made a sudden realization and covered her mouth with her hand. She took a sip of tea and spoke with a composed face.
 
“I was very impressed when I saw you scolding the Viscount and his wife. If it were anyone else in that situation, they would have scolded the waiter who spilled the drink.”
 
“I see.”
 
“I thought I was mistaken at first because you were so different from what I had seen before. I invited you out of curiosity.”
 
“Thank you for seeing me nicely…?”
 
I looked perplexed. What is going on here?
 
“Really….”
 
Princess Leticia, who was watching me, paused for a moment.
 
“It feels like you’ve become a completely different person.”
 
I looked down at my teacup, feeling a mixture of curiosity and doubt. I hope she hasn’t figured out that I’m not really Roeni.
 
“Come to think of it, I feel like we could be good friends.”
 
‘Suddenly?’
 
It was surprising that we could become friends in an instant after pretending not to know each other all this time. I was taken aback, but I tried not to show it and put down my teacup.
 
“I think I may have misunderstood you all this time. I apologize for any misunderstandings and would like to get closer to you as a friend. What do you think, Duchess?”
 
Princess Leticia asked me directly.
 
I wouldn’t mind being friends with her. There’s no reason for me to dislike someone who likes me, and her kindness and frank personality that subtly pierced my heart would suit me well. But there was something holding me back.
 
‘She’s going to die a gruesome death soon. And at the hands of my husband.’
 
Diart, who had rebelled and ascended to the throne, would execute her along with all those of imperial blood. It was a matter of conscience for me to be smiling affectionately at Princess Leticia, knowing this fact.
 
‘To feel guilty about even seeing my favorite’s face, and now I’m friends with the princess.’
 
But no matter how powerful Duke Wheaton’s authority was, it was difficult to refuse the princess’s request. As I hesitated to answer, Princess Leticia’s face became noticeably dark. But honestly,
 
‘I’m the wife of the person who will cut your neck someday in the future. How can we eat like we’re friends?’
 
It’s not something I can say.
 
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to worry about it. It’s just that there’s no one in this vast palace to attach my heart to… There are maids around, but they only treat me as a princess, not a close friend. I just wish I had a friend with whom I could exchange letters and go to delicious places together.”
 
Leticia, who was describing her longing in detail, had a sad expression on her face.
 
‘Why me?’
 
Ah, looking at that face, my heart aches. I couldn’t turn away from her with such a desolate face that it seemed like tears would fall from shock if I refused.
 
“…It’s an honor to be friends with Your Highness.”
 
Leticia’s face, which had looked depressed just now, lit up like it was all a lie.
 
“Then, from now on, would you just call me Leticia?”
 
“Still, how can I address Your Highness… Then, Leticia?”
 
“Oh my goodness, that’s nice to hear, Roeni.”
 
For some reason, Lily seemed to overlap with Leticia’s face, which was full of elegance and dignity.
 
I came to meet my ultimate bias, and now I had an unexpected best friend, and I was going to be stuck with her for a while.

“I’m so disappointed.”
 
After talking for two long hours, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. My first impression, thinking that this was the charm of the imperials, had already crumbled. The princess was so relaxed… No, she felt like a neighborhood friend.
 
“I’ll send you a letter soon.”
 
“I’ll wait.”
 
Leticia grabbed my hand with a disappointed face. As I held her hand, expressing my own disappointment, I brought up the main point that I had been eager to discuss since earlier.
 
“By the way, if it’s not too much trouble, could I visit the palace gardens before I leave?”
 
“Oh, of course. I was feeling a bit sad about parting like this anyway. I’ll personally guide you.”
 
No, there’s no need for that. Let me go alone. I pondered how to politely refuse. When I’m going to meet my ultimate bias, I can’t bring his sister along.
 
At that moment of dilemma, the maid who had escorted Leticia earlier came back in. Seeing her, Leticia’s face became troubled.
 
“Oh no, what should we do? It seems like we’ll have to go again. I wanted to personally guide you and explain everything step by step…”
 
“I’m fine. Official matters come first. Please go ahead, please.”
 
Leticia thought to herself, ‘How understanding and broad-minded she is.’
 
“Well then, I wish you a pleasant journey.”
 
“Thank you, Leticia.”
 
Finally, Leticia, who was wandering around with a disappointed face, left with the maid. I declined the maid’s offer to follow me and headed to the gardens alone, after letting out a sigh.
 
Finding the gardens in the vast palace was an impossible task. By the time I arrived at the gardens after asking numerous palace attendants for directions, the sun was already setting.
 
Restlessly, I wandered around looking for my ultimate bias without paying proper attention to the beautiful gardens, which were reputed to be one of the most beautiful places in the palace.
 
“Where the hell is he?”
 
I thought I could easily find him if I just went to the gardens, but this place was bigger than I expected. This wasn’t like trying to find Kim Seo-bang in Hanyang¹The term “한양에서 김 서방 찾기” is a humorous expression in Korean, often used to describe a difficult or seemingly impossible task, similar to searching for someone named Mr. Kim in the vast city of Hanyang (which is an old name for Seoul).
 
“And I can’t just barge into the prince’s palace.”
 
Should I give up for today? Unexpectedly, I became friends with Leticia, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to come and go from the palace in the future. It’s a shame, but I’ll have to aim for next time…
 
At that moment, when I was half-heartedly giving up, I saw golden hair shining brightly between the red tulips at the edge of my sight.
 
‘I found you!’
 
I wanted to run to him with joy, but I calmed down for a moment. First impressions are so important, I can’t just rush over like a gorilla. After tidying up my disheveled hair and dress from searching through the gardens, I elegantly approached my ultimate bias one step at a time.
 
I couldn’t help but smile as I saw my ultimate bias sitting under a big tree, reading a book, just as described in the novel.
 
And finally, as if we had met by chance, I stood next to my ultimate bias. He looked up at me from under the shadow of his book and slowly opened his mouth.
 
“Who are you?”
 
I also looked at him with a puzzled expression and tilted my head.
 
“Who are you?”