JustPeachyNovels

“Pardon? Ah, well… I thought Your Highness rejected my proposal.”

My heart fluttered at the sight of his fiercely burning golden eyes.

What’s going on? I forced an awkward smile, trying to appear as calm as possible.

“I was considering going on a trip.”

“I don’t recall rejecting your proposal.”

“Because there was no reply. It’s been over a week.”

“A week?”

The Crown Prince’s face showed a hint of confusion as he calculated the dates, looking down and moving his lips, then raising his head to look at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize it had been that long.”

“It’s fine. If you were busy, it couldn’t be helped.”

“Rather than being busy… I had some things to ponder.”

Avoiding my gaze, he walked into the parlor. I might have caught a glimpse of his reddened earlobes.

I sat opposite him. It seemed he hadn’t come to harm me, so the tension eased, and a gentle smile naturally formed.

So, belatedly, I buried my face in the bouquet of Lilstein roses and inhaled their scent. The sweet honey aroma was lovely.

I sincerely thanked him.

“Thank you, Your Highness. They’re really beautiful. It couldn’t have been easy to obtain them, but how…”

I trailed off mid-sentence.

Come to think of it, how did he get these? Lilstein’s roses can only be acquired through auction, and this particular auction was especially fierce.

My curiosity vanished the moment I met his golden eyes, which curved in a smile.

“Seeing you so happy makes me happy too.”

He’s truly handsome. He must have managed to get them somehow, especially being the Crown Prince.

I carefully hugged the bouquet, ensuring not to crush the flowers, expressing how much I liked them.

“I’d only heard about them, but they’re even more beautiful in person. Thank you sincerely.”

“Indeed, you’re quite capable.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

The Crown Prince, who had been tapping the armrest with a serious face, smiled brightly.

As expected of a male lead in a romantic fantasy novel, even his smile seemed to emit a halo.

I squinted to protect my precious eyes. Then, thinking I should give a return gift for the expensive bouquet, I smiled bashfully and opened my mouth. Compliments can make even a whale dance, after all.

“They seem even prettier because someone as wonderful as Your Highness brought them.”

“…!”

This time, I saw it clearly. The Crown Prince’s cheeks turning red.

He looked at me with wide eyes, then awkwardly cleared his throat and averted his gaze to the floor.

Oh my, he’s shy.

I didn’t expect this side of the Crown Prince. Watching this rare sight, I focused all my attention on my optic nerves.

While doing so, I thought I heard him say, ‘Indeed, she’s quite capable… I should visit often.’ But my senses, except for sight, were dulled, so I wasn’t sure.

Just then, Mei brought in tea and snacks. Her curious eyes asked who the guest was, but I told her I’d explain later and dismissed her, pouring tea for the Crown Prince.

He drank it in one go without even savoring the aroma, as if his throat was parched. It must have been very hot.

“It tastes good. What kind of tea is this?”

I took a sip to answer his question.

Usually, I can tell the type of tea just by its aroma, but this tea was clear and had no scent at all—

It’s plain water?

I had asked for hot water to drink while reading travel guides, but with the sudden visitor, it seemed they had mixed things up.

‘Serving plain water to the Crown Prince…’

I looked at him with trembling eyes.

Even so, he continued to drink the plain water, praising its taste without meeting my gaze.

Can he not taste it, or is he saying anything out of embarrassment from my compliments?

Looking closely, his hand holding the teacup seemed to be trembling too…

Feeling I should respond, I roughly lied.

“This tea is from the Far East. It’s originally colorless and tasteless, but it can taste different to each person.”

“Really? I should have it brought to the palace. Anyway, let’s formally introduce ourselves.”

After drinking the tea, the Crown Prince’s complexion returned to normal. He fixed his gaze on me, placing his right hand over his left chest and slightly bowing his head.

“Raynous Lyre Arzentime. As you know, I’m the Crown Prince.”

“I am Siella Labyrinth, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Labyrinth.”

I also greeted him briefly.

For some reason, his face looked familiar, but it was our first meeting today, after all.

After exchanging greetings, an awkwardness reminiscent of a first blind date hung in the air.

Hmm. Since I proposed this, I should speak first.

I averted my gaze diagonally to overcome the awkwardness. Fiddling with the Lilstein roses, I opened my mouth.

“May I assume you’re accepting my proposal?”

“Well.”

He hummed shortly, nodding his head. His expression was overly serious, but he didn’t seem displeased.

In that case, let’s get down to business.

“Then let’s set the duration. I think—”

“Before that, Lady Siella, I must say, I don’t have a fiancée—”

We spoke simultaneously.

I blinked, then extended my hand towards Raynous.

“You first.”

“No, you go first.”

“Alright, I think it’s good to set a duration for our affair.”

“Duration?”

Raynous asked, puzzled.

“We can’t keep the affair going indefinitely.”

“Why not?”

“Well, an affair is predicated on having a fiancée in the first place.”

So, once the engagement is broken, there’s no reason to meet.

I’d like to continue seeing him, but Raynous probably wouldn’t. He must already be receiving marriage proposals daily.

I couldn’t honestly say, ‘I want to set boundaries to avoid getting hurt,’ so I spoke roundabout.

“Since we are in an affair because our partners are unfaithful, our relationship is goal oriented. It should also have a definite end.”

“……”

“After that, if things go well, we can continue meeting.”

I shrugged my shoulders after speaking with ulterior motives.

Raynous, seemingly deep in thought, touched his lips with a serious face but said nothing. Then, he looked up and whispered softly, meeting my gaze.

“If I don’t have a fiancée, so I’m not the one having an affair… Would you still see me?”

Huh? Why is he asking that?

I blinked slowly. If Raynous didn’t have a fiancée, well.

It was a surprising turn of thought, and I couldn’t answer immediately.

But then there’d be no reason for us to have an affair. While I tilted my head in puzzlement.

Raynous, watching me, moved his red lips and spoke in a languid voice.

“Never mind. No need to answer. So, until when is this duration?”

“Until Your Highness’s engagement with Tirielle is completely annulled. May I call her by name? She is your prospective fiancée.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Alright. Until your engagement with Tirielle is fully annulled.”

“What about you? Your breakup seems more urgent.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Essite said he’d send the breakup letter soon.”

“Ah, I see. Alright, Lady Siella.”

He elegantly crossed his legs, smiling charmingly with his eyes.

“Nice to be working with you. I’ll do my best to have an affair.”

“Me too. Looking forward to it.”

“Does this mean today is our first day?”

“For now, yes.”

“I see. By the way, who told you I had a prospective fiancée?”

I mentioned the name of the aide with whom I had exchanged letters.

Raynous then emphasized that the fact he had a prospective fiancée was top secret, urging me not to mention it to others.

I agreed.

After a few more exchanges, Raynous checked the time and said he had to leave. I stood up to see him off.

As I was gathering the bouquet I had placed beside me, he came closer.

Smiling gently, he whispered softly.

“Lady Siella, from now on, we are lovers, right?”

“Uh… yes, that’s right.”

“Then, can we do this?”

He reached out. His destination was my hair, which had become disheveled while I bent to pick up the bouquet.

Despite his playful tone and expression, his touch, tucking stray hairs behind my ear, was delicate and careful. Blushing, I smiled.

“Of course.”

“How about this?”

He gently took my wrist and pulled it. It felt like he wanted to hold my hand but couldn’t.

I smiled and took his hand. It was large, warm, and calloused from handling a sword.

“As much as you like.”

“Then this.”

He waited for this, pulling my hand close and slowly raising it.

Past my waist, over my chest, up to my neck. And then…

“…!”

Without warning, his red lips pressed onto the back of my hand. The intense warmth felt like a brand.

Amidst this, his golden eyes, glamorous but not excessive, observed me, and I couldn’t look away. It felt like being completely devoured.

Suddenly, my whole body heated up.

As soon as I realized this, his lips withdrew.

I realized I had been holding my breath. I exhaled the breath I had been holding through my lips.

Raynous, finally letting go of my hand, smiled shyly.

“Let’s take it slowly from here.”

Episode 6 – Episode 8