Show Your Face, Prince! Chapter 76

Letier lifted her head and met his eyes.

Dante, for some reason looking quite pleased, gazed back at her with the corners of his lips turned up.

“Your Highness…”

The exotic scenery and atmosphere, the warm and humid night breeze—

And maybe the alcohol, too, making her feel slightly lightheaded and floaty.

Add to that the prince’s gentle gaze, and… she felt a sudden, impulsive urge.

Letier took a quiet breath and opened her mouth.

“…Do you like me?”

Dante’s smile faded just a little, but he didn’t look particularly surprised.

He rolled his eyes slightly in thought, then responded without hesitation.

“You figured that out fast.”

“…Huh?”

Letier, startled by his confident reply, instinctively took a step back.

“I’d be more disappointed if you hadn’t noticed by now.”

Dante casually pushed his tousled hair back from his forehead as he spoke.

Letier, eyes wide, stared at him in disbelief and stammered.

“B-But… I thought you liked Princess Rubia…”

“Me? Like Rubia? You really don’t know me at all.”

Dante immediately frowned.

The idea of seeing Rubia as a woman had never even crossed his mind.

Letier blinked in confusion, then tilted her head.

“Then… why not her, but me…? Why?”

“Why?”

Dante chuckled.

She was so adorable, so lovable—how could he not like her?

He looked at her with a relaxed, affectionate gaze.

“…I feel dizzy.”

Letier suddenly realized the world felt like it was spinning.

Whether it was the wine or not, she couldn’t say.

“You won’t forget this tomorrow just because you’ve been drinking, right?”

Dante said playfully as he took both her hands and gently pulled her toward him.

He drew her between his legs, still perched on the balcony railing, and leaned forward until their foreheads lightly bumped together.

“Why else do you think I brought a peaceful cosmetics researcher all the way from the Lenebur estate?”

“Uh…”

“Just to keep you near me, without even asking you to do anything, like you said.”

“Ah…”

Letier could only let out a dumb-sounding reply.

What was she supposed to do in a situation like this?

I don’t know what to do!

Dante slowly pulled back, their foreheads parting.

Seeing her flushed face and dazed expression—likely from the wine—he couldn’t help but think it was cute.

“You’re really out of it. Get some sleep for now. You must be tired after that long, uncomfortable carriage ride.”

“O-Okay…”

“I’ll come get you in the morning. Sleep well.”

You’re going to wake me up at dawn, remember?

She wanted to protest, but at the same time, she wanted to escape this overwhelming and suffocating moment as quickly as possible.

Still looking dazed, Letier nodded and stepped back from him.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

The next morning, Letier woke with a strange feeling.

Bright sunlight streamed through the large window into the room.

“…Huh?”

She blinked blankly for a few seconds, then quickly sat up and looked around.

The prince did say he would wake her at dawn, didn’t he?

But now the sun was clearly high in the sky—probably midday.

“…Don’t tell me he left without me?”

With a confused expression, Letier jumped out of bed, washed up quickly in the bathroom, and hurriedly changed into a dress Lucy had packed.

She rushed into the hallway and grabbed the nearest maid.

“E-Excuse me… Do you know where Prince Dante is? Did he leave already?”

“Oh, His Highness is currently having breakfast in the third-floor guest room.”

“Breakfast?”

“I’ll take you to him.”

Smiling kindly, the maid began leading Letier to the third-floor room where Dante was staying.

Letier followed, still bewildered.

Did the plan change without me knowing?

“This is the room.”

The maid stopped in front of a large closed door and bowed slightly.

Letier gave a small smile of thanks, curled her hand into a loose fist, and gently knocked.

Why hasn’t he left yet?

“Come in.”

Dante’s voice came from inside.

Letier grasped the handle and slowly opened the door.

“Your Highness…?”

Dante was seated at a desk, sipping tea, bathed in the bright morning light from the wide window behind him.

Even though the plan had clearly changed, he looked utterly unbothered.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Well, yes, but… didn’t you say we had to leave at dawn?”

“You said you wanted to see the sea.”

He answered casually.

“…What?”

Dante set his cup down and stood.

In a few swift steps, he was in front of her, taking her hand and guiding her toward the window.

“Wow…!”

Letier gasped as she followed his gaze.

Beyond the soft green glow of the trees, the brilliant sea sparkled under the sunlight.

The blue ocean shone vividly beneath a similarly colored sky, asserting its presence.

“That… that’s the ocean?”

“That’s what they say.”

“The way the sunlight glitters on the water… it’s beautiful.”

Dante quietly watched Letier’s sparkling eyes as she looked out at the sea.

With a smile tugging at his lips, he asked,

“You like it that much?”

“Yes, it’s amazing! The view is so much better than from my room!”

“Then that’s enough. We’ll start the village investigation later this afternoon.”

Letier finally tore her gaze away from the sea and looked at him.

“…Did you really change the schedule just because I said I wanted to see the ocean?”

“Maybe.”

Dante shrugged.

“‘Maybe’? That’s not an answer…”

“Think what you like.”

“That’s not the—”

“Stop overthinking with that tiny brain of yours. Why don’t you just enjoy the ocean like you wanted?”

He reached up and gently tapped her forehead.

Letier looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Knock knock.

Just then, another knock came from the door.

Their peaceful moment was interrupted, and Dante frowned.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and in stepped Kyledian.

He glanced at the two of them standing close together with a peculiar look before bowing.

“Her Highness the Princess says she needs to speak with you urgently. I’ve come to ask if you are available.”

“Rubia?”

Dante frowned.

“Yes. She’s waiting in the second-floor parlor.”

“Now’s not really—”

“Go ahead!”

Letier quickly interjected.

Dante turned his head to look at her.

Letier tried her best to sound casual.

“…”

“Honestly, I went to bed so early I didn’t even pack. I can’t keep wasting time like this…”

“Letier.”

“I was planning to head out anyway! If you have something to do, please go.”

She turned slightly, as if ready to leave.

Dante reached out to stop her—but pulled his hand back.

“…Then I’ll see you later.”

“Yes!”

Letier forced a cheerful voice and quickly exited his room.

Dante watched her retreating figure with a hint of regret, then turned to Kyledian.

“Lead the way.”

 

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

The parlor Kyledian led him to was tucked away in a corner on the second floor.

Dante approached Rubia, who was seated at a round table in an elegant dress.

“What is it?”

Rubia sat with a troubled expression, staring down at a piece of paper.

Without looking up, she spoke as Dante approached.

“I don’t know if this is good news or not.”

“What is?”

“Read it yourself.”

She handed him the paper.

At the top, an unexpected title caught Dante’s eye.

“…A dissolution request?”

“I received it this morning via carrier bird. You didn’t request this, did you?”

Dante silently looked down at the document in his hand.

A formal application for the annulment of their engagement—with both his and Rubia’s names on it.

Though he had been planning to break off the engagement, he hadn’t officially submitted such a document to his country.

“Who sent this?”

“It was delivered to the Eustian royal palace last night. I got it through my father’s carrier bird.”

“Last night?”

“I guess whoever sent it didn’t know you were traveling here and just sent it to the palace. Have any idea who it could be?”

Dante picked up the envelope resting on the table.

It was sealed with red wax, stamped with the imperial crest of Trillante.

“There’s only one person currently authorized to use Trillante’s seal.”

“You mean Her Majesty the Empress?”

“My esteemed stepmother, it seems, sent me a message—in her own way.”

Rubia clicked her tongue and furrowed her brow, lost in thought.

“…She must’ve figured out what we’re up to.”

“It’s her style—sending a clear message through action, not words. She knows what we’re doing and wants us to stop.”

“So what will you do?”

She asked quietly.

“Same answer as before? You still want to end the engagement?”

Dante didn’t reply—he simply stared at her.

Rubia jutted out her lower lip slightly.

“…So nothing’s changed. Harsh, even for a longtime fiancée.”

“You’re one to talk. You’ve been thinking about that knight standing outside the door the whole time.”

“No, I haven’t! I just didn’t expect the engagement to be broken off like this—especially on a trip.”

Rubia shrugged dramatically.

Dante folded the paper neatly and handed it back to her.

“There will be an official letter soon, ordering you to return to Trillante. We don’t have much time.”

“Then are you giving up on the external investigation?”

“Of course not.”

Dante turned and headed toward the parlor door.

“We’re just going to have to move fast.”