The man left the narrow road and entered the Garden of the Four Seasons.
He looked around as if it were his first time there, then spotted someone and ran quickly.
In the direction he was heading stood a brown-haired man wearing a uniquely decorated knight's uniform. The elaborate decorations and flashy lace on the uniform looked like something you'd only see in a theatrical play.
Yet the robed man embraced him as if proving he was indeed the correct knight.
A faint smile appeared and disappeared on my lips as I watched the scene.
"Sally, let's go."
"Yes, my lady."
I walked back the way we'd come. Sally, still impressed by the man's looks, kept talking about him.
"Now that I think about it, he never even told us his name. And he said he'd bring you a precious gift..."
"We won't meet again anyway."
"Still! Who knows—if you do meet again, he might actually bring you something truly precious."
As bright sunlight hit my silver hair, it sparkled beautifully.
People who turned to look without thinking blinked and stared in disbelief.
The more they looked, the more dazzling I became—a white face with a strange, captivating aura, plus the silver hair and green eyes that were the hallmarks of House Madeleine.
People's eyes widened when they recognized me.
I walked gracefully. The gazes pouring in were multifaceted—cold eyes that pricked like needles, and curious eyes.
"...That young lady is 'the' Princess?"
"That's her. I heard from the very beginning, she gives off a strange aura."
Filthy gazes scanned me.
A few years ago, I would have been embarrassed enough to ask the people around me what was wrong.
Sally, who used to shout indignantly on my behalf, now followed me with a resolute attitude.
She's adapted.
I was a noble Princess and the Crown Prince's fiancée—promised the position of Crown Princess.
I was also someone who had been on the chopping block for several years.
That was me. Olivia Madeleine.
I looked up at the shining sunlight.
Maybe I should visit the bookstore next...
The Madeleine carriage slowly departed.
The people who had been glancing at it and whispering all naturally dispersed.
In the alley near the Garden of the Four Seasons—which had returned to its lively daily rhythm—two men stood perfectly still.
---
Winster's mind raced.
It had already been ten years since His Highness was sent to the battlefield by that damned Emperor. It was obvious he'd have no connection with Princess Madeleine, who must have grown up sheltered within the system.
Perhaps through Madeleine's second son—Jade Madeleine, the vice-captain on the battlefield?
Winster shook his head. The idea was ridiculous.
He knew all too well about the reckless Jade Madeleine, who ignored orders to retreat and rushed forward.
It's absurd to think a man who constantly clashes with the Grand Duke would introduce his sister to him.
The vice-captain may have been a Duke's son, but his abilities were quite high—and his fiery temper could only be suppressed by the Grand Duke himself. If he weren't part of the Imperial Palace Knights, he would have been kicked out long ago.
Winster gritted his teeth.
Then the Grand Duke pulled on his robe and slowly turned toward Winster. A sharp, pale jawline was visible beneath the hood.
"Winster."
A low, elegant voice fell like a command. Winster unconsciously straightened his posture at the intimidating tone.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I don't want to go to the imperial palace."
"...Pardon?"
"If I go anyway, they'll just spout bullshit about giving me credit or making me swear an oath. Why doesn't the Emperor just die already?"
"Master!!!"
When the Grand Duke complained loudly, Winster screamed without thinking.
A few passersby glanced at Winster at the sudden noise.
But what mattered to Winster wasn't what other people thought—his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest.
Oh my God! It's one thing to say that in a place full of Vikander people, but to say such things about the Emperor in public—!
Despite his panic, the Grand Duke spoke in a low voice without any hesitation:
"That's rude, Winster. You screamed so loud that other people looked at you—and you interrupted your master mid-sentence."
"If Bethany heard about this, he'd be shocked."
The Grand Duke shook his head disapprovingly.
Winster was mortified.
"You are the master! Please care about me just a little bit! This isn't the camp or the Grand Duchy. The head butler might not be an average person, but I am very, very average!"
"Hmm? Is it acceptable if we're drinking?"
At those words, Winster shrank his neck—remembering himself taking the lead in cursing the Emperor whenever alcohol was involved.
"I-It's not just me! The chef does it too!"
The Grand Duke snorted.
Winster quickly changed tack:
"Now that I think about it, you probably don't want to go to the palace anyway, right?"
"Not as much as I used to."
"Exactly! We're all ready now, aren't we? The Grand Duchy has become so strong. As long as we get back the former Grand Duchess's White Crystal Mine, anything you wish will be done."
Winster said this with a stern, determined face.
A smile passed beneath the Grand Duke's hood.
While Winster faced him, moved by memories of the Grand Duchy prospering after so many difficult years, the Grand Duke looked once more toward where Olivia's carriage had disappeared.
Expectation spread across his red eyes—as if promising to meet again soon.
---
"Welcome back, my lady."
"Thank you. Did anything special happen while I was away?"
The butler spoke as if he'd been waiting:
"Yes. A short while ago, flowers and a card arrived from the imperial palace. I placed them in your room as always."
"Thank you."
On days when Leopold broke his promise, he sent a bouquet of flowers—but this was the first time one arrived on the same day.
Is it because he was seen with Maria Ethel earlier?
"Did His Royal Highness send you flowers today too? You must come see them right away!"
Sally smiled brightly and ran up the stairs, opening my door.
When I entered the room, it was just as the butler had said. A bouquet of flowers sat on the table.
Unlike the usual colorful arrangements, this was a small cluster of purple flowers.
"That flower..."
Sally recognized it immediately. I nodded.
It was the same flower I'd received from the courier who delivered letters to my postbox a year ago.
How did the same flower end up here like this?
I picked up the bouquet. Tucked inside was one of the cards Leopold had started sending a few weeks ago.
What words will be written today? As always, it's probably an explanation for what happened earlier.
I opened the card, trying to suppress my expectations.
My eyes widened.
The phrase written on the card seemed to be spoken in Leopold's tone.
It was the first time—Leopold's card wasn't an excuse for not showing up, but an attempt to ease my wounded heart.
As I read the card over and over, the hardness in my chest suddenly melted like snow. The corners of my mouth kept turning upward, and my eyes curved like crescent moons.
Sally said something teasingly:
"What did he send today that made your face turn so bright?"
When I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, I really did look refreshed.
I grinned.
"His Highness taught me the language of flowers."
"The language of flowers? Isn't it 'I will send you my victory'?"
Sally said, stuttering as she recalled her memories. She had once read the flower language I'd written in a letter to my knight correspondent.
I laughed instead of answering.
It seemed this purple flower had a different meaning than what I'd originally known.
The flower language Leopold taught me—"The end of my heart is with you"—was extremely touching.
That's right. The Leopold I knew was like this.
He was a kind man who saved me when I was in trouble, even when I was young. A man who pays attention to the meaning of flowers and sends them to those who are still hurting.
I brought the bouquet to my nose. A faint floral scent rose.
Feeling relieved, I gave myself reasons for Leopold's actions that had made me feel so miserable earlier.
There was a reason Leopold broke his promise to me. A reason he was with Maria Ethel instead of me.
He's frustrated that he has to give up his lover. Or maybe it's the disgrace of being called halfhearted—that's why he can't love me yet.
When this whole situation clears up, Leopold will love me.
To that end, I'm still doing my best.
I consoled myself and opened my desk drawer. Inside were six previous cards. I placed the new one on top.
Looking at the stack of cards, his unfulfilled promises came to mind—but I tried to ignore them.
I looked down at the bouquet again, suppressing the loneliness that couldn't be entirely erased by flowers and cards.
Past promises aren't important. What's important is that he cares for me in this way.
Someday, everything will be all right. If I do my best, one day Leopold will truly look at me.
I smiled and touched the flower gently.
Sally, watching happily, suddenly remembered:
"By the way, my lady—I heard dinner is ready. Will you go down right away?"
---
At the Duke of Madeleine's dinner table, there were usually only three people present: Conrad, Olivia, and Ethella.
Ethella, who had been eating her salad with a pout, eventually put down her fork.
"Brother, I really ate it all!"
"You haven't even eaten half yet."
Conrad glanced at Ethella's plate. She quickly pretended to nibble at the garnish on her steak, which looked as if she hadn't even touched it.
"Should I eat it all? Normally when preparing for a debutante, I should only eat this much!"
"I got a letter from Jade this morning. You don't want to see it, do you?"
Ethella's eyes widened at Conrad's ultimatum-like words. Conrad grinned and glanced at her plate.
Ethella hastily cut into the salmon steak and began eating.
"Brother, the steak is really delicious today! So... will you give me the letter?"
Conrad smiled sweetly and nodded at her clumsy performance.
As soon as she received confirmation, Ethella glanced over at me.
"Really, Sister Olivia too! How long have we all been waiting for news about Jade?"
I nodded without thinking at the sudden comment.
Conrad frowned at me.
I'm late, but I can't help it. It really has been a long time since I've heard from Jade.
Jade Madeleine, vice-captain of the Third Imperial Palace Knights.
A brilliant knight, Jade had not been seen since he volunteered for the war against Heferti and left for the southern border a year and a half ago.
While other knights were promoted or returned home on leave, Jade only sent news through occasional letters.
Did he send a letter this time too?
I tried to steady my trembling heart.
"Brother, did... did I get a letter too? Was there one addressed to me?"
"Hmm?"
I felt like I had to hold my breath at the cutting tone.
Conrad looked at me as if I'd said something absurd. However, the pupils within his narrowed eyes were ice-cold.
"Unfortunately, I don't think so this time. There was no letter for you."
"Jade must be very busy."
I answered indifferently, shrugging my shoulders toward Ethella as if it were no big deal.
I noticed one of Conrad's eyebrows rise sharply, but this was fine.
In the awkward silence, Ethella—who had been rolling her eyes nervously—started to get genuinely upset.
"Oh, no! Brother Jade, really! When he comes back, I'm going to scold him! Unless he actually hurt his arm, I won't forgive him. Right, everyone?"
Naturally, no one answered.
Ethella hastily changed the subject:
"By the way, Sister! Please tell me about your debutante! Your debutante preparation was perfect, wasn't it?"
A perfect debutante.
The words rolling off her tongue felt unfamiliar.
I scoffed internally.
It would be more accurate to say my debutante was a mess.