"Your Highness, I have something to tell you for a moment."
After dinner, it was time to have tea with the Grand Duke in the drawing room.
A knight with gray hair approached, his expression stern.
Baron Howard Interfield.
I'd seen him in the Noble Encyclopedia, but this was my first time seeing him face-to-face this closely.
I'd glimpsed him briefly at the last banquet.
I didn't know much about Baron Interfield—only that he was a vassal of the Grand Duke's family who'd been granted a baronetcy a few years ago, and that, like the Grand Duke, he'd played a leading role in winning the recent war.
I lowered my head as I looked at his handsome, thick-lined face.
He bowed to me as well.
I thought the conversation would happen immediately—but the Grand Duke looked at me with an embarrassed, apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry... is it all right if I step away for a moment?"
"Yes, of course. Please come back quickly."
I answered as if it were obvious.
As Crown Princess, I'd been overwhelmed with work even before meals were finished.
Carrying out both the duties of the Crown Princess and the tasks assigned by the Empress at the same time had been exhausting.
So I had a rough idea of how much busier it would be in a position like the Grand Duke's.
However, despite my understanding, the Grand Duke wore a strange expression.
I tilted my head.
"You seem busy. Don't you need to go quickly?"
"...Yes. I'm busy. Haha."
Was it my imagination, or did the Grand Duke's voice sound... listless?
The Grand Duke, getting up from his seat, looked back at me.
"By the way. You haven't taken your medicine yet."
Oops.
I naturally avoided the Grand Duke's gaze.
The sound of languid laughter tickled my ears.
"I'll bring the medicine soon."
"..."
"You'll take it, won't you?"
It was a question he desperately wanted an answer to.
When I didn't respond, I felt his stare on me.
I shouldn't look. I know best how many times I've felt flustered when our eyes meet.
But—how was he looking at me?
Curiosity overcame shame.
When that brief impulse made me raise my head, I bit my lip for a moment.
Why does that man look at me like spring sunlight?
His red eyes, framed by sweetly curved lids, gazed at me affectionately.
The Grand Duke emphasized once more:
"You definitely have to take it. If you don't... I'll come right back."
"...Yes."
As if satisfied with my small answer, the Grand Duke grinned and left the drawing room.
I lowered my head.
My fingertips, which had been clutching the hem of my dress without me noticing, slowly turned red.
The sound of my irregular heartbeat seemed to ring in my ears.
It's really strange.
I muttered quietly to myself.
I decided to take my time thinking about my expectations of the Grand Duke—so why am I so excited?
When I couldn't tell whether this unfamiliar yet familiar feeling was good or bad, I heard a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
The person who entered was the brown-haired Knight Winster Calter.
Ah. The lace.
The knight's uniform with lace naturally came to mind.
His cheerful face—completely unaware of what I was thinking—smiled at me.
"Hello, my lady. I've come with your medicine."
"Ah, Sir Calter. Thank you."
Of course, I'd assumed Hannah would come—I hadn't expected a knight.
Especially not Sir Calter, a knight so close to the Grand Duke.
I was flustered and answered stiffly.
Though I'd seen him burst into laughter last time, this was the first time we'd been alone together like this.
Despite the odd task of delivering medicine, Winster smiled as if he were happy about it.
"Please speak comfortably, my lady. It was difficult to come here—but if you're uncomfortable, there won't be another chance next time."
"A chance?"
I asked without thinking, then wondered if I'd asked for no reason.
But Winster seemed pleased and began telling his story.
"Yes. As you might know, there are people in the Grand Duke's residence who'd like to have a word with you."
"With... me?"
"Of course. We all tried to look good for you at the dining hall that day."
"If it's that day..."
"Yes. The day I laughed and ran around the Grand Duke's residence all day long."
Winster raised his eyebrows.
His self-deprecating expression was so funny that I laughed a little without realizing it—then regretted it.
We're not even close yet. He probably won't like it if I laugh at him.
But there was no need to worry—Winster smiled cheerfully.
"You should always smile like this."
I opened my eyes wide.
It was my first time hearing that I smiled easily.
I carefully touched the corner of my mouth.
The corners really were turned up.
It was awkward for me to smile so comfortably like this—but it felt nice.
Even without checking, I could feel my eyes crinkling gently.
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