Chapter 5

“Lady Dione, your smile suits you well.”

“Does it?”

“But not the polite smile you wore when we first met. I mean this kind of smile.”

“……”

…Why did her grandmother’s will about marriage come to mind at this moment?

As soon as that thought crossed her mind, as if the wind understood her feelings, an unusually cool breeze for summer gently brushed Dione’s cheek.

‘If I ever get married, it’d be nice if it were to someone like His Highness…’

She thought so in passing and let out a dry laugh inside, shaking her head. Really, how long had it even been since they met? Of course, they’d spent almost every day together for those two weeks, so they weren’t complete strangers, but…

Raihan Elvirtein was just too good a person. And on top of that, he matched her so well.

In other words, regardless of the time they’d spent together, it was impossible for Dione not to feel attracted to him.

In the end, as if something burst inside, she threw a question at him.

“…Why are you so nice to me?”

“Hm, that’s a difficult question.”

Even at her sudden question, Raihan didn’t show a hint of surprise. As if it were stranger that she hadn’t asked it until now.

In fact, Dione was the one more flustered by his calm response, and she hurriedly added a few sentences as if making excuses.

“Usually, when someone’s that friendly at first meeting, there’s a good chance they have bad intentions. Not that I’m saying I suspect you, Your Highness. Well, I did a little back then, but…”

Even at her rambling, Raihan remained unshaken and led her to the shade of a huge tree along the royal palace promenade. Thanks to his demeanor, Dione was able to gradually regain her composure as well.

“I mentioned before that you’re quite famous, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“At first, it was just curiosity. You’re like the… outcome of that story, and moreover, the protagonists of that story are no longer around.”

Dione stood under the tree’s shade, quietly listening to what he said.

“But I’m not the only one who felt it, am I?”

“Felt what?”

“That we get along quite well. From what we do right after waking up, to tastes, hobbies, even the little things that are easy to overlook.”

Dione immediately understood what he meant.

Her morning routine went like this: she woke up around nine, had a leisurely breakfast, then at ten sat on the terrace to read the newspaper and have tea.

But during their conversations, it turned out Raihan had similar habits. Of course, there were exceptions when he had other engagements, but that was true for her as well.

Their tastes were similar too. As she grew older, Dione preferred bitter flavors over sweet ones, and when it came to spices, she liked things with a strong taste…

“Oh, do you like this spice?”

“Yes. It’s a pretty rare preference, right? There aren’t many people who like bitter things…”

“I like this one too.”

“Really?”

There was a special sense of connection only people with the same taste could share. When one person mentioned a favorite food, the other would say they wanted to try it too, and then the first would suggest they try it together someday.

She was genuinely surprised when Raihan mentioned a place he wanted to visit if he ever came to the Essen Empire.

“Lady Dione, have you ever been to Crescent Hall?”

“Of course. It only opens in winter, so I haven’t been often, but yes.”

“Actually, I’ve always wanted to visit Crescent Hall.”

Hearing that, Dione thought it made sense. Crescent Hall was famous for a certain legend.

‘On the night when a huge full moon fills the sky, if you go to Crescent Hall, an angel who enchants people will appear.’ It was an utterly ridiculous and absurd legend, but there were people who claimed to have seen the angel, making it famous even in other countries.

Anyway, while talking about Crescent Hall, Dione learned something else: Raihan’s hobby was enjoying opera. Naturally, that was her hobby as well.

‘And our tastes in opera are pretty similar too.’

That made her think even more. It was so uncanny that she wondered if he’d researched her in advance and matched everything on purpose.

Lost in reminiscence, Dione was still standing alone in the cool shade, while Raihan was exposed to the sunlight. His gentle green eyes sparkled transparently in the light, making it impossible for Dione to look away.

“Even our conversations never once hit a lull. For most people, it’s natural to feel attracted to someone like that. Time is a secondary matter. Don’t you think so, Lady Dione?”

He was right. That was why… she had asked.

Her dating life had always been, in a way, a habit. Maybe that’s why she wasn’t sure what to make of this situation.

“And I’ve been interested in you for quite some time, Lady Dione.”

“……”

“Of course, I don’t mean romantically. Like I said on the first day, I liked the stories about the late Marquis and Marchioness.”

Hearing that, Dione realized there was a limit to self-absorption. But then again, it was Raihan who left room for interpretation… She felt embarrassed, as if she’d been the only one getting excited.

Well, yes. Even though they’d eaten together, browsed accessories, looked at clothes she wanted to buy, and helped each other with worries…

‘…Wait? Isn’t this basically a date?’

It was almost the same as what she’d done when dating before. That’s probably why they got to know each other so well… Thinking about it, she rolled her eyes awkwardly, and perhaps reading her expression, Raihan suddenly apologized.

“And on the first day… I want to apologize for being so thoughtless.”

“Ah… It’s alright. Your Highness, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Dione accepted Raihan’s apology for lightly bringing up her parents without much fuss. He really hadn’t done anything wrong. Her parents’ passing had been a shock she’d never experienced before, but now, with time, she was okay.

She gazed at Raihan, who was still standing in the sunlight, not stepping into the shade, and eventually spoke up first.

“Um, wouldn’t it be better to come into the shade?”

“It’s fine. Should we head back to the palace? But I might get lost again, so I’ll need your help.”

“Of course, I’ll guide you.”

Raihan raised the corners of his lips in a mischievous smile, as if the heavy conversation just now had never happened, and Dione couldn’t help but smile back. She knew this was his way of being considerate.

To show her intention to guide him, Dione playfully pointed toward the palace with one hand like a butler and bowed her head slightly, drawing a small laugh from him.

On the way to the palace where the delegation was staying, Dione cautiously asked something she’d been debating whether or not to bring up.

“Um, this is really an unrelated question, but…”

“What is it?”

Raihan leaned toward her, as if to show he was listening intently.

“…You don’t happen to know my grandmother, do you?”

“…Your grandmother?”

Raihan’s face seemed to say, ‘Why would she ask that?’ But since it was Dione asking, he looked ready to answer sincerely, so she waved her hand hurriedly.

“No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

She wondered for a moment if her grandmother had set some kind of scheme in motion before she passed. Honestly, her grandmother was the type who might have done such a thing. But more than anything, the type of groom her grandmother used to talk about matched His Highness so well…

“If you’re going to meet a man, there are only two kinds. Either meet someone who matches you well, or someone who matches everything to you.”

Well, Raihan could be the former, but was there really a man out there who’d be the latter? So many men were too busy protecting their own pride…

After lightly clicking her tongue, Dione pushed her grandmother’s words to the back of her mind.

After that conversation in the palace garden, she and Raihan became even closer, and apparently, it showed.

Once, the Crown Prince saw the two of them together and squinted his eyes, saying to her, “At this rate, you’ll end up studying abroad or even emigrating.”