# Chapter 3
---
Nezar was sitting on the living room sofa as usual.
He must have been sitting quietly reading a book, and as soon as I walked in, he slowly closed the cover.
Cloudy, low-saturation dark red eyes stare at me through the lenses of my glasses.
Although I saw him again after only two days, his features were so harmonious and beautiful that they always looked new.
He looked at me silently for a moment, then took off his glasses and placed them on the table.
The rigid eyes and closed mouth were very strange, not at all characteristic of him.
Did something bad happen?
Hesitantly I closed the door and opened my mouth.
"Oh, hello, Nezar.
"Did you eat?"
There was no response to the greetings.
what?
Nezar looked at me with a cold, unchanging face, and I didn't know why, but I thought it was my fault.
I stood near the door, keeping an eye on him.
"What are you doing now?"
"huh?
Oh, just.
It looks a little cool around here...
...
."
"Did you eat the wrong lunch?
“Stop talking nonsense and quickly come and sit down.”
I became an obedient dog and plopped down on the bench in front of Nezar.
As soon as we looked at each other like that, I imitated Katrina from before so I wouldn't get into trouble like I did at the dinner table.
In short, it means making noise.
"What's going on, Nezar?
You don't come here that often!
Oh, I came because you missed me!
Right?
Right?"
I've only been back for two days, but I don't know why I'm so exhausted.
He looked at Nezar with shining eyes, but his expression became even colder, as if he had seen something he couldn't see.
I calmly relaxed my eyes.
"Kate, I heard you were reading a book just now?"
"book?"
Your question reminded me of the moment I was drinking tea, just before I met Rick.
"That's right.
To be precise, instead of reading it...
...
"I opened it to read it."
"Why suddenly?"
At that moment, I was overcome with sudden worry.
It seemed like an insignificant question, but Nezar wasn't the type of person to open up about trivial matters when he was in a bad mood.
What should I say?
Do you have to become a lady to find your lover?
Is that why you started reading?
It was a response that would completely hurt Nezar's pride.
I used my brain, which I don't normally use, to find the best answer.
"Because I want a girlfriend."
The atmosphere in the room became quiet.
At the same time, Nezar examined my face one by one.
I literally looked at it.
The look was so persistent that my cheeks were tingling.
I quickly looked away before a cold sweat broke out.
Yet Nezar's eyes were still focused on my face.
"Did I hear wrong?
"Did you just say you want your girlfriend?"
"Yes.
Since I only played with my brothers every day, I didn't know how to get along with girls.
So I read some books related to tea party etiquette."
"What is this change of heart?
Until a week ago, you said you didn't need anything to be friends.
"Even if the world falls apart, all you need is me?"
I definitely had the memory of saying those words.
Even thinking about it again, it was such an honest thing that it gave me goosebumps.
There are so many things needed in the world besides Nezar!
"that's...
...
.
When I thought about it, I thought I needed at least one or two friends.
Without Nezar and my brothers, I'm always alone, right?
"It's a very miserable feeling."
Yes, that was correct.
The emotion I felt was not loneliness, but misery.
Looking back, I always pretended that I wasn't, that I was fine, but a part of my heart always felt ashamed and humiliated by my position of being hated.
I wanted to hide these feelings, so I clung to Nezar even tighter.
It felt a little strange admitting my true feelings at an unexpected time.
And it was cool.
As expected, good luck in becoming the New Katrina!
But it seemed like I was the only one who felt good.
Although I confessed my long-time sincerity, Nezar's gaze was still lingering and cold.
"So, are you going to practice embroidery that you've never done before, visit a famous clothing store, and memorize the name of the handsome nobleman Yeongsik?
"Does it really help you get the girlfriend you want?"
At that moment, I felt like all the blood in my head was being drained.
"Well, where did you hear that again?"
"From Rockherd.
"I've been talking about you every time we've met lately, so much so that my ears are blistering."
Rockherd and Nezhar are close friends of the same age and are both 19 years old.
Shortly after Eden was chosen as the family's successor, Rockherd left for the Imperial Academy, intending to become Nezar's sword.
That day was the starting point.
My passionate and unrequited love for Nezar began the first year Rockherd entered the academy, when I fell in love with a handsome boy he brought me as a close friend.
Of course, I didn't know that this love would last a long time and lead to an engagement vow.
I breathed slowly.
The problem now is not that I have a crush.
The thing is, Rockherd related to Nezar all the details of my personal history that I wanted to keep hidden!
"Rockherd, that damn bastard!"
boom!
Instinctively, I made a fist and hit the table.
However, he soon stiffened his shoulders and hurriedly withdrew his hand.
"One, one.
I'm sorry for making you keep hearing things like that.
"I'll be sure to control Rockherd's presence in the future."
It's very tiring to hear stories about the opposite sex that you're not interested in.
The expression on Nezar's face as he listened to Rockherd's story was obvious.
It must have been boring, uninteresting and sleepy.
He crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, then slowly opened his mouth.
"So what's the answer to my question?"
"...
... question?
"What question?"
“Is it necessary to memorize the handsome nobleman Yeongsik’s name to get a girlfriend?”
His voice, which was already deep and low tension, sounded even deeper today.
I did this when I was joking, but today was the first time I showed my displeasure so openly.
What happened?
Feeling like I needed to ease my depressed mood, my stomach responded with its usual cheerful voice.
"so!
How important this is!
Women need consensus when speaking.
When men get together, they talk about women, right?
They say that when women get together, they are excited to talk about men.
So, you should memorize it and walk away."
"One."
Chatting animatedly didn't seem to have much effect.
Instead, Nezar sat back even more, as if he was thinking deeply about something.
Half-open eyes look me up and down.
It seemed like he would take a closer look at the shape of the corners of my mouth or the angle of my eyebrows.
"good.
They say I need to make friends, but I can't sit still now that I'm his fiancée.
"I'll be your training partner today, so tell me one of the names you've memorized so far."
It was a completely unwelcome consideration.
"Thank you, but it's okay."
"to say."
It was an embarrassingly firm request, so I blurted out the name that I remembered immediately.
"one...
..., Whole Pansão."
I remembered hearing from Daisy that Pansion Entera was the vice-commander of the 2nd Knights of the Imperial Guard.
A master swordsman who became vice-commander of the Imperial Guard in his early twenties.
They said he was a single and talented man who not only the ladies but also the noble ladies were eager to take advantage of him.
Of course I've never seen that.
"Panção Entera, the...
...."
Nezar closed his eyes for a moment and suddenly asked me.
"Lady Kate, which part of Lord Pansion did you fall in love with?"
Could it be that what you meant by offering help was situational comedy?
Considering this, Nezar's tone was a little strange.
No noblewoman in the empire would use such a coercive tone.
And I fell in love with you, even though I've never seen Pansion Entera's face?
His gaze, which was once cold, now felt like he was going to bite my cheek.
I cringed and responded.
"Look, I've never had a crush."
Did you deny this very vehemently?
Embarrassed, I responded quickly.
Come up with as many plausible words as possible.
"But very well...
...
."
You are beautiful?
Since he's so popular, he must be handsome.
"He is handsome and has a robust body like a knight...
...
."
You will be tough.
Still, he is the nominal vice-commander.
"Every time I see you, my face seems to turn red.
"Lady Nezar, who usually catches your eye?"
Hold the cup of tea with your little finger raised and cover your mouth when smiling.
As a lady, I paid close attention to every action and made eye contact with Nezar.
Still, he even did situational dramas for me, and I wanted to show him that he was trying his best.
That way there will be no doubts.
But for some reason, Nezar remained quiet and didn't say a word.
The expression on his face that used to contort as if he was going to eat him was now calm as if he had been doused in cold water.
Do you think I did something wrong?
I don't know what the problem is, but I definitely think I did something wrong.
I'm sure there was something wrong with Nezar.
What the hell is making you uncomfortable?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out the source, so I silently waited for him to open his mouth.
I didn't know how much time had passed.
Only after letting out a heavy sigh, as if suppressing his emotions, did Nezar speak.
"Kate, you need to take responsibility for your words.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way, right?"
What are you talking about?
I feel bad.
I didn't understand a single word of what Nezar was saying just now.
Nezar rested his chin on the back of the sofa and exhaled once again.
His voice, which was soft and sweet like a freshly baked castella, became dry in that short period of time.
"Those who occupy high positions have as many obligations as they have rights to enjoy.
The reason why I, the crown prince, chose you as my bride over any other lady...
...
."
Suddenly he stopped talking.
Nezar, who was briefly rubbing his forehead with the hand supporting his chin, slowly distorted his expression.
Then he turned to me and asked.
"How old are you this year? sixteen?”
"I'm fifteen."
“Ha, you are terribly young.
What the hell am I doing with a 15 year old boy?
...."
It was the third sigh.
I could not bear to look at his grim face and say, 'But my spirit is seventeen, not fifteen.'
No matter who listens, it won't sound normal.
"Do you know how old I am?"
"Of course.
Nezar, do you think I'm an idiot who doesn't even know how to count?
"I'm nineteen this year."
When I answered confidently without a moment of hesitation, Nezar raised an eyebrow.
It was a subtle change, but the dark atmosphere seemed to have become a little lighter.
Thanks to that, my tense breathing was eased a little.
Why do I have to cower in front of my fiancé all day?
I pursed my lips tightly in frustration and took a deep breath.
That's why if you like it first, like it a lot, and keep liking it, you lose.
In my head, I punched the 12-year-old Rockherd who brought Nezar to me.
This is all because of that second unlucky bastard.
Even if he didn't say that he would become Nezar's sword or something, there would be no reason for me to enter like this!
"...
...good.
"No need to rush."
After saying that, Nezar gestured lightly.
As he intended to get closer, I ran and sat next to him.