"So, are you going to see His Royal Highness again next Monday?"
As soon as the carriage left the palace gates, Sally, my dedicated maid, asked me that question.
When I nodded, Sally's face lit up.
Eshela and her older sister Sally were maids from the orphanage sponsored by House Madeleine. Sally resembled Eshela in how faithfully she followed me; after looking after her a few times, I grew comfortable enough to accept her as my personal maid.
"It really seems like His Highness the Crown Prince likes you, my lady."
I laughed a little at Sally's innocent, romantic speculation.
But when it came to love, I was just as naive.
"Let's eat together next Monday. I'll have a carriage sent in time for lunch."
Leopold's words still echoed vividly in my ears.
Father will be happy to hear this. This is the first time Leopold has asked me out on a date.
Would Father finally say, Well done?
The image of my father constantly ignoring me rose in my mind, but I unconsciously tried to erase it.
Beyond the endlessly grand imperial palace grounds, gorgeous and elegant shops came into view through the window.
Rahein Street.
It was the busiest and trendiest street in the capital.
As we moved through the colorful row of boutiques, Sally's steps slowed. What caught her envious gaze was a gorgeous dress displayed at the entrance of one shop.
"Is it that pretty? I think this is Madame Pluto's latest design. Isn't it shiny and lovely?"
Sally laughed, embarrassed, but her eyes sparkled again.
At her words, I looked closely at the dress as well. The light pink color and the skirt overflowing with lace looked like something that would suit Eshela beautifully.
Just imagining Ethella in that dress made my mood a little lighter too.
"Sally, tell that boutique to visit the mansion sometime within the next week."
"Is Your Ladyship going to buy a dress for me? Oh my!"
"Not for me. For Eshela."
Sally, who had been so delighted, pursed her lips.
Rumor had it that when I served the Crown Princess, I went on boutique pilgrimages every day. That was a lie.
The truth was that I spent most of my money on my family, rarely sparing anything for myself.
"I think you'd look good in a brightly colored dress like that, my lady."
"Later."
I smiled and promised "next time."
Sally knew very well that my "later" might not come for five years, but she kept that to herself.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"Are we going to buy a new diary today and then stop by the postbox?"
"Yes. Do you think a letter will arrive today?"
Sally hesitated at my playful tone.
It had already been six months since the last letter—my only real hobby and joy—had arrived.
I grinned as I watched Sally fidget nervously.
"He must be busy. They say the war is in its final stages."
What I said to Sally was, in truth, what I needed to say to myself.
For anyone else, six months of silence would have been a bad sign. Especially from a knight fighting in the war against Heferti.
It had been pure coincidence that I started exchanging letters with a knight whose name I didn't even know.
After Jade left for battle, I sent relief supplies several times.
But Jade returned everything that had been sent in my name.
So, I tried sending supplies again—this time under an alias.
My heart had sunk when the packages stopped being returned, but at the same time, I was happy.
It means Jade is using them. That was enough.
Then, one day, I received a letter.
A letter from the battlefield, expressing gratitude for the relief supplies.
It was addressed to "Liv Green."
That day, I read and reread his letter over and over.
It felt so strange and ticklish for someone to thank me so sincerely.
We continued writing back and forth like that.
Six months ago, before the letters stopped, his last one had said he was doing well.
They said the war was almost won. So perhaps he was just... busy.
I thought as positively as I could, recalling the letters carefully stored away.
Still, I really hoped to receive a letter today.
My anticipation grew as the carriage turned into a narrower road. The bookstore where I always bought my diaries sat closer to the quieter edge of downtown.
Even though we'd just left the bustling rahein street, the surroundings had already become much quieter.
"Toll fee! You deaf 'cause you're so fancy? I said pay the toll!"
A harsh shout came from somewhere deep in a nearby alley.
"My lady, I guess those toll-collectors are still at it."
"It seems so."
I kept walking.
The loud voice seemed to come from around here.
When I glanced into the alley, I saw one man surrounded by a group of rough-looking men.
He wore a robe with the hood pulled up, but his tall height made him stand out all the more.
It was a very familiar scene.
One of the gang members noticed us.
"Huh? What's this? Where'd these fearless brats come from?"
"And there's two of 'em."
With a faint chuckle, two of the men broke off and approached me.
The man in the robe stiffened, but the thugs had no intention of stopping.
"It seems the rumor is spreading slowly."
I spoke quietly.
"I thought it had already spread—what happens if you try to collect tolls on this street."
"...What?"
"What’s she babbling about? Hey, noble lady. Didn't they tell you at home not to come down alleys like this alone?"
I grinned.
The man couldn't finish his sentence—Sir Rein had slammed him into the wall.
It was just as he'd said. Nobles never walked alone.
Especially not me—the Duke's daughter and the Crown Prince's fiancée.
"Send them to the station."
"Yes, Princess."
Sir Rein, my guard knight, strode into the alley. The remaining men panicked, drawing their knives and even pointing one at the robed man.
"D-don't come any closer!"
Oh dear.
I clicked my tongue. Sir Rein—ever the knight—was particularly sensitive when it came to blades.
"I said don't—ugh!"
"Argh! Hold him down, damn it!"
As Sir Rein approached, the terrified men swung their knives at him in a panic.
It was pointless.
The men were subdued in an instant, and the knights began dragging them away one by one.
"Thank you for your work."
"It was nothing."
Sir Rein and his partner, Lord Derobon, bowed as if it were perfectly natural.
Then Sir Rein glanced toward the back of the alley, silently asking what to do about the robed man.
I followed his gaze.
The man in the robe was still standing where he'd been cornered.
I walked toward him.
Sally, startled, whispered behind me:
"Miss! Are you going yourself? He could be dangerous!"
"Would you like to go in my place, then?"
When I teased her lightly, Sally replied with desperate resolve:
"Yes! I'll go!"
I smiled a little and kept walking.
As if they'd anticipated this, Sir Rein and Lord Derobon followed at a short distance. Sally, not knowing what to do, trailed right behind me.
Even if I hadn't stepped in, those thugs would never have managed to extort anything from this man—he was clearly someone important.
Up close, I saw that the embroidery on his robe was colorful but not particularly high-quality. It was ornate, but not the kind of fabric true high nobility wore.
"Are you all right?"
"...I caused trouble. Thank you—"
The man's quiet words cut off abruptly.
It was hard to see his face beneath the hood, but he seemed to be staring straight at me.
I tilted my head at the odd silence.
Slowly, the man began to walk toward me.
One step. Then another.
Suddenly, his legs buckled and he stumbled forward.
Startled, I instinctively caught him.
Sir Rein and Lord Derobon rushed in, but the man quickly regained his balance and stepped back.
"My lady!"
Sally jumped in front of me in panic.
Lord Derobon reached out and pulled back the man's hood.
Sally, who had just opened her mouth to scold him, fell silent.
His eyes reddened further as he spoke.
Everyone, myself included, was too taken aback by his picturesque appearance to notice two important things:
First, that single tear had been forced out—barely the size of an ant's droplet.
And second, for all his trembling lashes and watery red eyes, his gaze was fixed solely—and intensely—on me.
"Thank you again for your help."
Since he didn't seem dangerous, Sir Rein and Lord Derobon stepped back.
As if he'd finally calmed down, the man dabbed at the corners of his eyes with the hem of his robe.
He smiled shyly, as if embarrassed, but his voice was pleasant and his gaze clear.
Every time he smiled, traces of innate nobility flickered across his beautiful face.
I studied him for a moment.
Who could he be? If he were a noble of this empire...
There’s no way he’d be smiling at me like this.
I had perfectly memorized the Imperial Almanac of Nobility by the age of twelve. Yet this was the first time I'd ever seen this man.
If a noble disappeared from the Almanac, they had either been executed or...
They had gone to Archduke Vikander.
Jet-black hair. Ruby-red eyes.
His features brought someone to mind, but I shook my head.
Oh, come on. Archduke Vikander?
The war hero who turned the long, dragging war against Heferti into a swift victory.
The man feared by all for his blood-red eyes and hair as black as midnight.
There was no way that man and this trembling, harmless-looking stranger were the same person.
Above all, the Archduke was supposed to be on the battlefield—not being shaken down by city thugs in a back alley off Rahein Street.
Ridiculous.
Unaware of what I was thinking, the man simply smiled meekly.
I straightened my back and faced him calmly.
Whoever he was, I was Olivia Madeleine—Princess of the empire and the Crown Prince's fiancée.
There were only a handful of people in this empire I needed to lower my gaze for.
"I'm glad I could be of help."
I intended to say something polite and end our encounter there.
But at my words, the man's eyes widened and he waved his hands quickly.
"It wasn't just help. You saved me. I truly don't know how to repay such a favor."
He smiled somewhat regretfully.
"If only I knew where my driver took the carriage, I could repay you properly right now."
He'd been wandering the alleys of Rahein Street alone—streets where even the bold got their noses broken if they weren't careful.
He'd come with a knight, not a mercenary, so he likely belonged to some newly wealthy household.
If that was the case, it made sense that I didn't recognize his face.
"It's really all right. Where did you part ways with your driver?"
"There was a fountain nearby, and lots of carriages."
There were many fountains on Rahein Street, but only one place matched that description: the Garden of Four Seasons.
Fortunately, it wasn't far.
As we approached the road leading to the garden, I could already hear laughter mingling with the sound of water.
"From here, I'll go alone. It's close—you won't get lost."
"You won't come with me? I'm not lying—if I can just find my knight, I could give you something valuable as thanks."
"I'll just accept your sentiment."
"Then what will you do next?"
"That might be difficult as well."
It was a perfect refusal, but the man didn't seem disappointed.
"I see. Then I suppose I'll just have to hope for luck again."
What a strange man. 'Lucky' to have met me?
No one had ever said such a thing to me before. I almost wanted to bow my head in embarrassment.
Even after saying something that should have made me blush, the man only smiled sweetly.
The pitiful tearful expression from earlier was gone.
Oh.
Sally, standing behind me, was in a quiet frenzy. If I didn't have a fiancé, would I be that excited too?
Suddenly, the image of Leopold with Maria Ethel from earlier today flashed through my mind.
My fiancé, walking so closely beside another woman.
My mouth tasted bitter.
I forced a faint smile.
But the man's expression had turned serious.
"If we meet again..."
He paused, then quickly added:
"If that happens—will you allow me to repay this favor?"
I held my breath for a moment.
He's so strange.
A situation like this—someone earnestly asking my permission.
I lifted my hand and pressed it to my chest. It felt like something was rising inside it.
I felt almost dizzy.
What is this man, whom I've just met, really saying to me?
He didn't urge me to answer or fill the silence with idle talk.
He simply waited.
I watched him for a while, then deliberately lifted my chin and spoke in a slightly arrogant tone:
"I'll warn you in advance—I have very high standards."
"If I don't like something, I don't accept it."
"Good."
His eyes closed briefly, then a sweet smile curved his red lips.
"I'm a greedy person, you see. It's only natural that I'd be surrounded by things so precious they can only be obtained with the greatest effort."
The way he pronounced "precious" sounded oddly unfamiliar—almost foreign on his tongue.
I blinked once.
His red eyes, half-lidded, sparkled with something like a challenge as they met mine.