“Ah… right. You’ve ties with Count Parden as well. I understand. You might enjoy a bit of sport, but you’d never damage a lady’s honor.”

At Albert’s playful retort, Ian gave him a once-over, clearly unconvinced. Albert merely shrugged and, as if to reassure him, set a hand on Ian’s shoulder.

Ian didn’t bother to hide his distaste at the touch. He brushed the hand off at once, prompting an awkward laugh from Albert before the man drifted casually into the crowd. Whether Albert was there or not no longer mattered—Ian’s eyes remained fixed on Aisha. The dance had just ended; though she was exchanging parting courtesies with the prince, her gaze kept flicking toward him.

Seeing her tense as though awaiting judgment, Ian gave a haughty tilt of his chin, wordlessly signaling her to follow, then turned sharply on his heel. He didn’t need to watch to know—Aisha would be scurrying after him before long.

There wasn’t the slightest worry in Ian’s stride as he made for the appointed meeting place. And, just as he expected, Aisha, having barely finished her dance, darted off in small, quick steps to catch up to him.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

‘It was an honor beyond what I deserve, Your Highness.’

After offering the bare minimum of courtesy, Aisha flitted away, light and swift as a butterfly. Jared was left standing there, unable to catch her before she vanished. Only once her figure had disappeared into the crowd did he turn away, setting aside his lingering regret.

As he moved, the eyes of nearby ladies filled with anticipation. The second prince so rarely danced that one could count the occasions on one hand—yet he’d just danced once tonight. Hoping for another chance, a few bold young ladies stepped forward into his path, but Jared didn’t spare them so much as a glance.

“After all that, just a dance? That’s it?”

No sooner had he returned to his seat on the dais than Crown Prince William spoke with an amused smile. Jared shot him a glare, his voice sharp with irritation.

“Why would you shove me like that?”

“I just rescued you from Mother’s nagging, and this is the thanks I get…?”

The reason Jared had asked Aisha to dance was standing right before him. Earlier, as Jared endured his mother the Empress’s persistent chiding, William had suddenly pushed him toward the floor, telling him to go dance.

“And really, for a grown man… how many times do you need to think it over before asking someone to dance? Watching you was unbearable.”

“I had no intention of dancing.”

His younger brother’s scowl didn’t make William so much as blink. Instead, he leaned in, tone teasing.

“Is that so? I may have shoved you off the dais, but you’re the one who walked all the way to where Aisha Parden was. If you truly hadn’t wanted to, you could’ve just come back.”

Jared clenched a fist at his brother’s insufferably entertained demeanor, but soon loosened it and muttered in annoyance,

“She seemed really startled.”

“Of course she was. A man she’s never met—let alone a prince—suddenly asking her to dance? Wouldn’t you feel pressured?”

“…Damn it. I’ll have to make sure I don’t run into her for a while.”

At Jared’s stiff-necked curse, William rolled his eyes in exasperation, a deep frown creasing his brow.

“My word, honestly. Is this fool really my brother? Jared, you’re an embarrassment—don’t you dare go around telling people we’re related.”

William knew full well that Jared’s unrequited crush had been going on for a good five years. And yet, after all that time, his little brother had finally managed just a single conversation, a single handclasp, and a single dance—and now, after hearing that she might have felt pressured, his first thought was to avoid her. William’s exasperation poured out in rapid-fire speech.

“Forget everything else—just make plans to keep seeing her. If all you do is skulk around staring at her like some shadow, you’ll never get another chance to dance like you did tonight.”

“I’ve never stared at her…!”

In the past few years, between his own work and adjusting to married life, William hadn’t had much time to think about his brother’s hopeless love. But now that his marriage had settled, he was determined—as an older brother—to finally lend Jared a hand.

“You saw her just now, so you know who you’re up against for Aisha Parden’s heart. None other than Marquis Ian Lloyd.”

Of course, his brother’s crush was no easy matter. Aisha Parden’s affections were, by all accounts, already set on another man. And that man was no ordinary rival—Marquis Ian Lloyd was one of the most sought-after bachelors in the Empire.

“The only advantage you have over him is your status as a prince… and even that’s not much of a card to play, considering your childhood connection and the Lloyd family’s reputation.”

Still, there was something curious about the rumors surrounding Aisha Parden and Ian Lloyd. People had been talking about an engagement for years, but nothing had ever materialized…

Most telling of all was that Aisha’s elder brother—and William’s own aide—Edward could no longer hide his displeasure whenever Ian Lloyd’s name came up, though it had once been routine for him to keep his expression neutral.

William had a feeling Edward still thought Ian had a place in Aisha’s heart. But women were creatures who, sooner or later, tended to open their hearts to men who treated them well.

“Anyway, the talk about those two lately isn’t good. People are saying there won’t even be an engagement. Which means now—now—while the rumors are strange and uncertain, you have to push. That’s the only chance you’ve got.”

“Push what? I have no intention of doing anything like that to her. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Jared’s voice was cold, but William had seen it—the flicker of joy and temptation in those green eyes, however quickly it had been hidden.

“Never mind that. You saw which way Aisha Parden and the marquis went, didn’t you? Go after them. If your rival is meeting your crush in secret, it’s your duty to interrupt. Am I wrong?”

Embarrassed, was he! William began shoving Jared off the dais again. Jared shook his head in protest, but still let himself be pushed.

A short distance away, their younger sister, Princess Catherine, watched them with a look of pure dismay before shaking her head. The Empress, seated beside her and still gazing ahead with her usual solemnity, murmured quietly,

“Don’t be too hard on them, dear. Looks like your second brother might finally be starting something.”

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Having slipped out of the hall, Aisha spotted Ian in the colonnade leading to the garden, and let out a quiet sigh of relief. She’d lost sight of him just before leaving the hall and had worried he might have gone elsewhere—but it seemed she’d guessed right after all.

Leaning against the marble pillar, Ian gazed out over the garden, his expression unreadable. Even though the place was open and empty save for the two of them—and he must have noticed her approach—he didn’t turn his head.

Her relief at finding him was short-lived. Tension coiled in her chest as she clasped her hands before her. The words he’d spoken to her at the Lloyd estate the other day flickered sharply through her mind. Even though he was the one who’d signaled for her to follow, she couldn’t shake the worry that coming after him might somehow sour his mood.

“Since you’re here, come closer.”

When she hesitated about ten steps away, Ian spoke in a slow drawl. Turning his face toward her, he wore a smile warm and easy. Drawn as surely as iron to a magnet, Aisha found herself stepping toward him.

It was early summer, warm even in the evening. Ian’s gaze lingered on the bare line of her neck before his hand rose toward the spot just beneath her ear. Instinctively, Aisha bent at the waist, leaning away from his touch.

“Ah… Your Excellency.”

The sudden formality and honorifics made Ian’s expression crease slightly. Aisha, catching the shift in his face, quickly offered an explanation.

“I-I only thought to… keep the courtesy you asked for last time…”

“Ah.”

Only then did Ian seem to recall what he’d said to her at the Lloyd estate. A faint chuckle slipped from him, and his hand brushed softly along her cheek and the curve of her neck—a touch more suited to calming a cherished animal.

“…That’s right. I did say that.”

His voice was steady, entirely devoid of feeling, as though it had been nothing of consequence. The calmness stung. She remembered just how deeply his words about keeping a distance had wounded her. And yet… it seemed Ian had forgotten he’d ever said them.

“Have you been holding on to that all this time? You really are something.”

To make matters worse, there was a subtle note in his tone that shifted the responsibility onto her. His voice was still gentle, but Aisha felt as if she’d been quietly chided. She lifted her head, a lump rising in her throat, only to see Ian’s eyes curve into half-moons as he murmured,

“You didn’t need to dwell on it. I’m sorry for putting you through that. If I may offer an excuse, I wasn’t in a good mood at the time. I must have acted without thinking. As you know, there aren’t many people I feel at ease with — you’re one of the few.”

“…”

“So you can understand, can’t you?”

The question caught in her throat, leaving her momentarily speechless. Something felt stuck there, but slowly, she nodded. What else could she say, when this was how he framed it?

“…Yes.”

If she showed even the slightest hint of displeasure, the gentle Ian before her might vanish like foam on water. He might look fine now, but in the hall earlier he had seemed angry. That side of him was one she could hardly bear—so she didn’t even ask what had upset him.

Ian studied her quiet face for a moment before lowering his hand in a slow, gliding motion. From her cheek, his touch traced down her neck, over her shoulder, and along her arm until he clasped her hand firmly. Aisha’s eyes widened.

“The Imperial Palace gardens are famous for their beauty. I called you out because I wanted to see them with you.”

Under the bright moonlight, Ian’s golden hair gleamed even more beautifully. Still holding her hand, he gave her arm a playful swing, then led her toward the stairs that descended from the colonnade into the garden below.