Author: lipzoldyck

 

But strangely, the victory and defeat of the two gradually reversed. Even though Izmel didn’t mean to, it did.

 

‘Bored!’

 

After looking around every nook and cranny of the office for a while, Hildegard got sore and twisted her whole body. Izmel was really just working. without changing his attitude.

 

I went on a trip because I was bored of sitting quietly and listening to politics and economics. If something was wrong, it was definitely wrong.

 

It was fortunate to be able to watch Dwight at work, but even that was the limit now.

 

Izmel, who glanced at her like that, raised one corner of her mouth and said.

 

“If you’re bored, go back and rest.”

 

[Not really.]

 

“Then keep sitting like that.”

 

Hildegard endured it. She couldn’t lose to that arrogant man.

 

Just then, the chief of staff, Henry, came in and handed Izmel something. At that moment, Izmel’s face brightened. The air in that room changed in an instant.

 

‘What did he get?’

 

Hildegard was quick to notice Ishmel’s change. She crept up on him. He smiled at the paper the size of his palm, and she didn’t like it.

 

[What is he looking at?]

 

“An answer came.”

 

“What reply?”

 

She glanced up at the interpreter Dwight, who was standing next to Izmel, then shut her mouth.

 

“It’s just a personal thing.”

 

It’s a girl.

 

Hildegard’s eyes twinkled.

 

Izmel was in such good spirits that he tolerated Hildegard lying down on the sofa and letting her touch his things.

 

[I’ll borrow a pen.]

 

“As you please.”

 

[Paper too.]

 

Hildegard wandered around Izmel, familiarizing herself with the text of the reply he was reading over and over again and quickly transcribing it.

 

And upon returning to the room, she thrust it at a knight.

 

The knight studied her curly handwriting for a long time, then he said.

 

[I… don’t know well, but it seems to be about accepting a prom partner.]

 

[Prom? What prom?]

 

[I heard that a big ball will be held at the Imperial Palace the day after tomorrow. It was noisy.]

 

Hildegard opened her eyes wide and questioned.

 

[But why didn’t you tell me?]

 

[Your Highness doesn’t like that kind of place.]

 

That’s right.

 

Hildegard, who was convinced, was lost in thought. After a while, she had a slick smile on her lips.

 

[I want to attend this time.]

 

[I understand. As your partner…]

 

[The Crown Prince.]

 

Hildegard raised her chin proudly and replied.

 

[Yes? But…]

 

[Of course, the Crown Prince. Who else would I attend with? It has to be right.]

 

Her instincts, which had been quiet for a moment, began to shine.

 

[Was I supposed to have luncheon with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor tomorrow?]

 

***

 

Izmel heard the thunderbolt-like notice. He was to enter the ball with the Princess.

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

“You don’t want to?”

 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

 

Izmel’s words brought wrinkles to the Emperor’s forehead. His firm refusal made the Emperor uncomfortable.

 

“Why?”

 

“There is a promise. I can’t throw it away on the same day like this…”

 

At Izmel’s words, the Emperor reacted with anger.

 

“Sounds stupid!”

 

Izmel’s expression hardened.

 

“It’s very common sense that the Princess of Mözen has requested. In fact, it was right for you to ask her first before the Princess asked. There’s no way you wouldn’t have known that.”

 

Izmel refuted the Emperor’s words.

 

“It happened because the Princess was in a hurry to visit.”

 

“If you were an ordinary noble lord, it would have been fine. But Izmel, you’re royalty. A crown prince, at that. Don’t you know what that means?”

 

“I know. But…”

 

“Keeping faith isn’t the answer. You must not forget that you’re more than just a private individual. Think and judge as the Crown Prince.”

 

Izmel bit his lip tightly. In the heavy silence, his mouth went dry.

 

In this respect, his father was always strict and rational. Normally, Izmel tried to imitate his father’s cool-headedness, yet today he couldn’t do that.

 

Izmel asked in a subdued voice.

 

“Is this an order?”

 

“No.”

 

The emperor shook his head.

 

“Izmel, it’s your choice.”

 

For a while, the rich man met his eyes. Dry, serious gazes came and went without a hint of laughter.

 

“I understand.”

 

Izmel’s steps were heavy on his way back to his office. There was barely half a day left before the ball.

 

What should I do?

 

Izmel asked himself. But he already knew what he was going to do. It brought his mood down to the ground.

 

Izmel saw the Princess and Dwight strolling through the garden together. He approached the two with a firm expression.

 

“Dwight.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“I have something to say to Eleanor right now. I want you to go.”

 

Dwight asked, swiftly following behind Izmel.

 

“Then, Her Highness the Princess…”

 

“Call Kaidel. I don’t even want to think about her now.”

 

Izmel and Hildegard’s eyes met. He scanned her face with an emotionless gaze. A chill ran between the two.

 

‘Was I a bit harsh?’

 

Hildegard slightly shrugged her shoulders. Izmel, whom she knew would scream at her at any moment, walked away with Dwight without saying a word.

 

***

 

Kaidel, who was suddenly called, asked Hildegard why Izmel’s mood hit the bottom. Hildegard explained what had happened with a sullen face.

 

[So, you decided to attend the ball because you wanted to annoy Your Highness.]

 

[Speaking like that makes me feel like a very bad person. It’s not even out of common sense.]

 

Kaidel sat with his long legs crossed and stared at Hildegard without saying anything. A rebuke was more effective than a hundred words.

 

Hildegard shrugged her shoulders.

 

[Fine. Maybe I’ve been acting a little naughty. But that guy also continued to be mean with me.]

 

[His Highness isn’t the only one you’re doing wrong.]

 

[Then?]

 

[You also harmed the lady who was supposed to attend as His Highness’s partner.]

 

[What do you mean harm. It must be salvation.]

 

Kaidel’s expression darkened as he remembered Eleanor. Hildegard munched on the cookies and chattered incessantly, yet he heard nothing.

 

‘It seemed like she was expecting it, though.’

 

He recalled her face as she said she was practicing her dance so as not to be embarrassed. Kaidel rubbed his lower lip with his index finger and furrowed his brow.

 

[Why have you been looking like that? Are you mad at me too?]

 

[A little.]

 

[Your sincerity brings tears. I’m envious.]

 

Hildegard pouted her lips.

 

[As expected, Dwight is much better than you. Being with you is no fun.]

 

[Where is he now?]

 

[I think Izmel sent him to that woman.]

 

[That woman?】

 

Kaidel narrowed his eyes.

 

[The one Izmel likes. His former partner.]

 

Eleanor?

 

Kaidel, who had been sitting still, jumped up from his seat. He didn’t mean to be like this. If she wasn’t going with Izmel, he was also given a chance..

 

[Excuse me.]

 

[Why? Where are you going? What about me!]

 

[Read a book or meditate. Spending time alone is good sometimes.]

 

Kaidel responded insincerely and quickly walked out of the room. Although he heard the Princess calling from behind, he didn’t look back.

 

***

 

“Isn’t this overly flashy? I’d rather be more modest…”

 

Standing in front of the mirror in her ivory dress, Eleanor tilted her head. It was the most expensive and fancy dress she had ever owned.

 

Every time it moved, the densely-studded jewels shimmered dazzlingly, and as it spun around, the petal-like skirt spread out in a circle and landed lightly like a feather.

 

“What do you mean flashy. It’s perfectly beautiful.”

 

“Moreover, on a day like today, you have to pay more attention. Everyone will only stare at you.”

 

Eleanor let out a deep sigh. It seemed that she would never be able to break the stubbornness of the maids today.

 

“Sit down. I will do your hair.”

 

The maids skillfully styled Eleanor’s hair and put makeup on with several times more effort than usual. A sense of mission was felt on their faces.

 

Eleanor looked in the mirror and saw herself changing, and she felt a sense of wonder. She obviously has the same eyes, nose and mouth as usual, yet something was different. She meant, she was pretty.

 

‘What is this, I’m pretty.’

 

Eleanor’s heart started beating. She felt like she was the main character in a fairy tale.

 

“His Highness will fall in love with you once again.”

 

She wanted to say no, but even in Eleanor’s eyes, she was pretty today. He felt a crush on her even when he saw her as usual, so there would be nothing wrong with falling for her once more.

 

Then someone knocked on the door.

 

“Eleanor, may I come in for a moment?”

 

It was Dwight.

 

“Mmhm, come in.”

 

Eleanor answered loudly. Dwight entered the room and the maids stepped back.

 

“How do I look?”

 

“Pretty. I was really surprised.”

 

“It’d be nice if His Highness would think so too. He’s the kind of person who just shines when he’s standing still.”

 

Eleanor smiled shyly. Then Dwight’s face darkened even more.

 

“Because of that, Eleanor. I have something to tell you.”

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Dwight relayed Izmel’s words to Eleanor. That the Princess of Mözen had visited Bellium, and he had to attend as her partner inevitably.

 

“So I think you should enter with me. I’ll come pick you up later.”

 

After Dwight had finished his words, he studied the look on Eleanor’s face. She smiled casually and nodded her head.

 

“Alright, got it. See you later.”

 

“Then I’ll go back to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Mm, yeah. Thanks for passing it on.”

 

Dwight, who was about to open the door, turned to Eleanor again and asked.

 

“…Are you okay?”

 

“What?”

 

“You were looking forward to it.”

 

Eleanor shook her head excitedly and pushed Dwight on the back.

 

“What am I expecting. I’m really okay. It’s nothing. So don’t worry and go.”

 

“Then I’m glad. See you later.”

 

Dwight left the room with a little uneasy face on his face. Very slowly, Eleanor sat back on the chair in front of the dresser.

 

“Good. It was burdensome.”

 

It’s nothing else, it’s a public matter, so you have to understand.

 

Eleanor looked in the mirror and she smiled.

 

In the mirror, she was still as pretty as a doll. But strangely, she wasn’t as excited and happy as before. Her excited heart sank downward like a deflated balloon.

 

“It’s really okay. It’s nothing.”

 

Eleanor murmured forcefully again.

 

It was really okay. She wasn’t disappointed at all.

 

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Comments (2)

  1. Why couldn’t the princess jsut get Dwight with herrrr now we have two ships that won’t sail ☹️