Show Your Face, Prince! Chapter 75

“What did you say?”

“This journey is meant for Her Highness and His Highness. I hope you won’t forget that.”

Kyledian said what he had to say and turned away without waiting for a reply.

Letier frowned as she watched his back grow smaller in the distance.

What on earth… What did I even do?

No matter how she looked at it, he was someone she just couldn’t bring herself to like.

Letier let out a quiet sigh, making sure not to show it, and stepped into her carriage.

Soon, a deep and resounding whistle signaled the departure, and the wheels of the lined-up carriages began to move slowly.

“Hmph…”

Leaning back comfortably against the seat, Letier quickly forgot about the rude knight commander and unfolded the note Shion had given her.

“…Shion, and he’s a palace scribe? His handwriting is terrible.”

How does he even write official documents with handwriting like this…?

The small slip of paper was filled with Shion’s messy but earnest writing, explaining the location of the village.

Shion’s hometown—the so-called vanished village—seemed to be located in the southeast region of Eustian, just like the other candidate villages Dante had mentioned.

Letier began mentally placing Shion’s village onto the map Dante had shown her, slowly falling into thought.

 

 

*****

 

 

 

“How long should I give you?”

Rubia, looking out the window at Kyledian on horseback, turned to Dante and asked.

Dante, leaning back with his eyes closed in the opposite seat, replied without opening them.

“A week.”

“Really? Just a week is enough?”

“It’s a place we’ve been investigating for a while. I just need to stop by villages with unique traits and check the suspicious ones.”

He answered casually.

He wasn’t expecting much from this investigation.

Reports from those previously dispatched to the villages hadn’t revealed anything significant either.

“What kind of unique traits?”

“There were witnesses claiming to know the Empress as a child, and the plants found in the capital that matched the poison’s origin grow there.”

“Hmm…”

“But I’m not too hopeful.”

“Finding someone who disappeared in a vast place like Eustian can’t be easy.”

Rubia nodded and replied quietly.

She straightened her back, leaned against her seat, and spoke.

“Well, then! I guess I’ll just enjoy a nice vacation with Kyledian.”

She started humming softly, her feet bouncing in excitement.

“I’ll be relaxing aboard the Lumina Mansion, so I’ll see you in a week.”

“Alright.”

“I hope you and your cute little skin healer have a wonderful time too.”

Wonderful time?

Dante frowned at the words he heard.

“…As long as it’s not dangerous.”

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

After traveling a full day, Letier arrived at the royal-owned Lumina Mansion.

She entered the room assigned to her, guided by one of the villa maids.

“This will be your room during the vacation. The bathtub has been filled with warm water in advance.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Then, I hope you have a relaxing stay.”

After the maid left, Letier turned around with a face full of excitement.

This is amazing…!

They really designed this place entirely for rest—it truly lived up to its purpose as a royal retreat.

Letier couldn’t contain her excitement as she looked around the spacious, cushion-filled bed, the large windows, and the small balcony door.

“First, a bath!”

Once the attendants brought in all her luggage and left, she grabbed the bathrobe Lucy had packed and headed to the bathroom.

A little while later, freshly bathed and feeling refreshed, Letier spotted a wine bottle on the nightstand.

“Wow! This is the best.”

She quickly popped the cork, poured herself a full glass, and wandered across the wide room as if entranced.

She pushed open the wooden door by the window and stepped onto the balcony.

Leaning lightly on the waist-high railing, Letier gazed outside.

Though it was night and dark, the diligent attendants had lit lamps around the garden, casting a soft glow on the estate walls and grounds.

“Beautiful…”

Looking out from the room, the Lumina Mansion gave the same impression she’d had when she first saw the Eustian palace—perfect harmony with nature.

The vines climbing the white walls added to its charm.

As she stood there quietly, a slightly humid breeze tickled her bangs.

She raised her glass and drank the sweet-scented wine in one go.

They said you could see the ocean from here on a clear day—she was looking forward to tomorrow.

Lumina is such a beautiful place…

Knock, knock.

As she sipped her wine, lost in thought, someone knocked on Letier’s door.

Snapping out of her daze, she passed by the bed and opened the door slightly.

“Who is it?”

There stood Dante, his hair damp as if he too had just bathed.

“Your Highness!”

“Leti…”

Dante, who’d been brushing aside the hair falling into his eyes, stopped mid-sentence as he saw her.

His face froze, and then slowly began to flush.

What’s wrong?

“You… seem a little too relaxed.”

“Excuse me?”

Dante turned his body away and murmured softly, staring down the empty hallway.

Letier, glancing down, realized she was only wearing the robe loosely tied at the waist after her bath.

“…Ahh!”

She slammed the door shut and hurried to dig through her luggage.

Lucy… I need you!

Thankfully, the ever-thoughtful Lucy had packed easy-to-wear dresses.

Letier grabbed the first one her hand touched and slipped it over her head.

Wait… is this a nightgown?

“I’m sorry, Your Highness!”

Letier, now dressed, opened the door and called out.

Dante, who had been leaning against the wall across the hall staring at the carpet, looked up.

“No need. I should apologize for coming so late. You must’ve been resting.”

“It’s alright…”

She stepped aside slightly, signaling for him to come in.

Dante hesitated, frowned, then took a deep breath and entered the room.

Once inside, he noticed the wine bottle on the nightstand—half-empty and uncorked—and looked back at her.

“Were you drinking?”

“Huh? Just a little…”

Now that he looked again, her face did seem a bit flushed…

Determined to get straight to the point, Dante started with business.

“We’re leaving early tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning?”

Letier asked in surprise.

She thought she’d have at least a day or two to enjoy this beautiful place…

He stepped further in but found no place to sit.

Not a single chair or sofa—only the bed.

“…There’s nowhere to sit but the bed.”

“Oh! You can sit there!”

Letier pointed to the bed, which looked far too big for one person.

Dante looked down at her light clothes with a conflicted face and shook his head.

“No, I’ll go out to the balcony.”

He opened the wooden door and stepped out, leaning against the railing.

Letier quickly followed him out and stood in front of him.

“I didn’t think we’d leave so soon.”

“We don’t have much time. There are a lot of places to check. Anyway, where was that extra place you said you wanted to visit?”

“Oh! It’s a place Shion told me about… his hometown. No one lives there now, but they say Travi trees once grew there too, so I wanted to take a look.”

“Where is it located?”

“It’s on the way. I marked it on the map—I’ll show you tomorrow.”

After finishing her sentence, Letier bit her lip and glanced out.

Noticing this, Dante asked,

“What’s with that look? Are you disappointed?”

Letier pointed toward the darkness behind him and replied.

“They say you can see the ocean from here on a clear day.”

“The ocean?”

He turned to look where she pointed.

“What’s so special about the ocean.”

“I haven’t seen it that many times.”

“Because Lenebur is landlocked, right?”

Dante muttered, raising an eyebrow.

Letier slowly nodded.

Looking at her wistful expression, Dante reached for her small hand.

“I’ll take you somewhere better next time.”

“Where?”

“One of my villas in Trillante has a sea view. Once we return to the Empire, I’ll take you there.”

Letier looked into the prince’s red eyes and slowly spoke.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you so kind to me?”

Ah.

Did I make her feel pressured again?

Dante let go of her hand and opened his mouth.

“Let me be clear—I’m not teasing you.”

“Huh?”

“I just felt bad… dragging someone who wanted to see the ocean out before dawn.”

Letier paused, then quietly responded.

“…I didn’t think you were teasing me.”

“Really? You’ve said I tease you, lure you in—so many hurtful things.”

He reached out and tapped her lightly on the forehead.

Letier closed her eyes once at his touch, then reopened them.

“Back then…”

I thought you and Princess Rubia were truly in love.

The words circled in her mouth but never left.

But no matter how much they said there was nothing between them, once this trip was over, they would be married…

That thought made her heart ache uncontrollably.

Letier bit her lower lip and lowered her head.

“Back then?”

Dante smiled faintly and asked.

He tilted his head slightly, trying to meet her gaze.

“…”

I don’t even know what I want anymore…

Then Dante reached out and gently touched her lips.

“Stop biting your poor lips.”