Chapter 15

When she entered the drawing room, Kallian, dressed rather simply, was waiting for her. She greeted him with an elegant curtsy.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

“You’re just as beautiful in the afternoon, Princess.”

Kallian replied with a small laugh. Instead of the formal attire from the Hyksar Empire, today he wore something quite different. Since Hyksar was much further north than Staerfix, even his lightest clothes were too warm for the climate here.

Hyksar’s clothes were stiff and plain, making Kallian, with his silver hair and blue eyes, seem even more unapproachable. Staerfix’s clothes, though formal, were made of thin fabric, and a colorful handkerchief in his br*ast pocket completed the look.

Despite the different style, Kallian wore it well. Eileen stared at him for a moment, dazed, then came to her senses as he approached and extended her gloved hand.

“Shall we go?”

For once, the usually informal Kallian acted like a gentleman, pressing a light kiss to her hand as he escorted her. The two walked down the long corridor of Ruby Palace to the carriage. Behind them followed Marianne and Kallian’s knight and attendant, Lucan.

The carriages were divided into two. One was the lavish royal carriage, the other simpler—though even the “simple” one was the sort only the wealthiest nobles could afford.

Naturally, Marianne and Lucan rode in one, while Kallian and Eileen shared the luxurious carriage. As the coachman whipped the horses, the carriage began to move slowly out of the palace.

Sitting across from Kallian, Eileen felt a bit stiff. Now that she thought about it, the only man she’d ridden alone with in a carriage was Leios the night before—and that hadn’t been a normal carriage ride, either, so this felt awkward.

“Um…”

“Is this the dressmaker’s where you usually have your dresses made, Princess?”

“…Yes. It’s the place that’s always made the royal family’s clothes.”

“To finish a wedding dress in a month, they’ll have to turn down almost all other orders.”

Kallian broke the silence with a laugh, and Eileen nodded cautiously.

“I think so. A month is a very short time. Even a simple ball gown takes at least three weeks.”

“So I’ve heard. I thought you wouldn’t like having the wedding in just a month, but you accepted it right away, which surprised me.”

“It’s a wedding I have to go through with anyway. And I figured there must be a reason for setting such a short deadline. A month is really rushing things.”

Today, Eileen wore a red dress, intricately embroidered with white lace, her golden hair neatly curled around her shoulders. Even in such a splendid dress, her pure face stood out more, her light blue eyes shining with innocence.

Kallian smiled inwardly at Eileen’s appearance. Looking at her, no one would suspect she’d ever even held a man’s hand, let alone what had happened in the carriage the night before. He was quietly stirred by the thought of what expressions and sounds she’d make.

“You really are clever, Princess. In Hyksar, the Crown Prince Succession Contest is still raging, and if the wedding took too long, I’d probably have to return. Our Empress doesn’t want that.”

“…Her Majesty the Empress must care for you a lot.”

“I think it’s more accurate to say my brothers are all out of their minds.”

Apparently, the succession contest in the Empire was so fierce, it was a matter of life and death. Eileen, who had only Adrian above her and no brothers below, couldn’t really relate to such a thing.

Still, the idea that a member of the Imperial Family could be in mortal danger was shocking.

Yet Kallian spoke of it as if it were a joke, and Eileen felt a mix of curiosity and sympathy. Life must not have been easy for him.

“Will you also have your wedding attire made here? If you’re not returning to Hyksar?”

“A tailor from Hyksar will arrive soon. I sent for them right away, so they should be here in two days. If I get measured in advance, it’ll help with the making.”

When Eileen blinked and asked, he answered smoothly. The conversation flowed more easily than she had expected, and she smiled.

“Then today, we’ll have to choose the perfect fabric for you, Your Highness.”

“And for you, too.”

“Madame will be very busy today. Afterward, we may have to rush back for dinner.”

“We could eat out together. I’ve been curious about the capital of Staerfix.”

Normally, a prince would wear the ceremonial uniform of his homeland, but the weather made that impossible. So they’d chosen the fabrics and style in advance, and the Imperial tailor would make his clothes once they arrived in a few days.

Just then, the carriage hit a large stone and jolted upward. Eileen’s slender body nearly flew up, and in that instant, Kallian caught her by the waist and pulled her into his arms. The carriage rattled a few more times before settling down, and only then did Eileen realize she was pressed tightly against Kallian. Through the small curtain, the coachman’s hurried apologies could be heard, but that wasn’t important now.

“…Your Highness.”

There may not have been many who could match Leios’s strength, but Eileen could tell through her thin lace dress that Kallian’s body was also well-built. And his body was colder than she expected. Was it because he came from the north, or was it just him? His low body temperature made her think it might actually be nice to hold him in Staerfix’s heat. Though she’d had two nights with Leios, her experience with men was still limited, and being this close to Kallian’s body stirred strange feelings.

“…You can let go now.”

“Well. It might be better to stay like this. Who knows if it’ll rattle again?”

Kallian chuckled, his breath brushing her neck. Eileen’s skin prickled at the cool sensation, and she opened her mouth but said nothing. Kallian kept his arm around her waist and slowly stroked her shoulder.

“You’re quite startled, Princess. You’re still trembling.”

“…That’s…”

“Shh, it’s alright now.”

His touch was gentle and comforting, yet somehow suggestive—perhaps because Eileen had recently awakened to intimacy, or perhaps because Kallian’s scent was so different from Leios’s. She couldn’t tell, but she felt a slight guilt, realizing her entire body and senses were focused on Kallian’s hand, body, and scent. Somehow, it felt like she was betraying Leios just by this.

“Th-thank you.”

As Eileen awkwardly lowered her gaze, Kallian thought her long lashes were quite beautiful. He’d found her his type since the first banquet, but seeing her so shy was refreshing. Truly, there was a reason she was called the treasure of Staerfix.

“I was hoping today would be a date of sorts. This surprise skinship isn’t so bad.”

“……A date?”

“In Staerfix, even most nobles marry for love. For you and me, who are suddenly marrying after just a month, I think we need this kind of experience.”

“Are you… being considerate of me?”

Eileen’s eyes widened at his unexpected words. In truth, when he suggested going out to the capital together that morning, she hadn’t thought of it as a ‘date’ at all—she’d simply gone along. But now, it seemed he truly meant to be considerate. As Eileen continued to gaze at him with wide eyes, Kallian also looked straight at her. The space between their faces, as she was held in his arms, closed quickly, close enough that a kiss would not have been strange.

“……!”

Eileen hurriedly turned her head, her cheeks flushing red. The gentle curve of her nose and her still slightly babyish cheeks looked especially sweet. By now, the carriage had fully left the palace and entered the busiest street in the capital, the Riaton District. Glancing out the window at the crowds, Kallian didn’t hesitate and leaned toward her.

“Mmph!”

With a crisp sound, a cool yet soft touch brushed Eileen’s cheek and then withdrew. Knowing what it was, Eileen parted her lips in surprise just as the carriage slowed and came to a stop.

“So, this is……”

“You can think of it as my way of showing you I’ve fallen for you. It’s better to be a couple with good chemistry, isn’t it?”

Kallian smiled, the corners of his lips curling. Good chemistry… Eileen repeated the phrase to herself a few times. Only now did the reality of marrying Kallian start to sink in. What had felt like a duty now began to feel real.

“Now, shall we enjoy today’s date, Princess?”

“……Yes, Your Highness Kallian.”

As he smiled, his sharp features made Eileen think he looked rather like a fox. Before she knew it, thoughts of Leios faded away, and her attention shifted to Kallian. When his large hand, which had been holding her waist, let go so she could get out of the carriage, she even felt a little empty.

‘Date.’

Most of all, that one word resonated deeply with her. She had never dated before, so this was truly her first time. Even the city streets, which she’d never explored except with friends, made her face flush with excitement. Eileen stepped out of the carriage first and walked toward Kallian, who extended his hand to her. The weather was exceptionally fine.