While Atha and Alisto were immersed in their world, Cedric could no longer stay still due to the heat in his head.
He quickly left the building, his throat dry.
When his eyes met Atha's on the balcony for the first time, he knew for the first time that his heart could beat so fast.
A small hope arose that she might know him.
Since she was the meeting partner, maybe she had seen his photo beforehand?
But as if mocking his expectation, she looked at the Crown Prince soon and smiled, saying that this was her first love.
His eyes suddenly darkened.
The sky is so cruel.
Born into a region of frequent pirate invasions, Clord lived as an exploiter all his life.
Now even his meeting partner is being stolen before his eyes...
Cedric felt angry and unfair, but the reality was harsh.
The man next to her is his savior, the Crown Prince.
Savior only?
To live in the empire, you cannot quarrel with the Crown Prince.
It is publicly said among the imperial nobility that the Emperor is merely his puppet.
why not.
To meet the Emperor at the palace, Alisto the Crown Prince's permission must be obtained first.
Holding a black heart for the Crown Prince woman?
No different than looking for a place to die.
Not only that.
There is a more important problem.
That Atha is completely unaware of his existence.
Yes.
We were strangers.
However subtle the difference may be, so is the current truth.
Must surrender.
No matter how many aspects you think about, there is no answer.
The fire in his heart must be extinguished with dust, and he must force himself to look at another woman.
He understands.
He knows with reason that he must, but why does he feel upset?
Steward approached Cedric, who was drowning in depression.
“Mister Marquis”
Cedric took a deep breath instead of responding, then let out a heavy sigh.
Because his mind is not arranged.
He remained silent for a while, then slowly stood up and turned his back to the lake.
Then, as if putting his thoughts in order, he said to Steward, his assistant and old friend, in a low voice: “My return to Dalber, will have to be postponed for a while.”
Steward sensed something, and his voice sank.
“Monsieur Marquis...”
Cedric patted the Steward on the shoulder and said in an artificially bright voice: “What are you thinking?
We have eliminated the pirates, shouldn’t we prepare for sea trade.
Since we are in the capital, it is better to gather some information.”
Then the Steward's expression suddenly opened.
“Ah!
This?
So…, how about attending a dance party to expand the network?”
“Good idea”
“I'll prepare the formal clothes!”
The Steward clapped happily now, and Cedric hid his feeling of regret.
He knows too.
You can't spend time thinking about other people's women forever.
Better meet another woman and return home soon.
But—
Contrary to what the mind knows, the heart continues to consider other options.
In this condition, he cannot return home.
So, until this heart calms down.
Just a little bit...he wants to stay here.
***
In the carriage returning to Blossom.
Alisto closed his eyes quietly.
He asked the saint if she would rather not check who the man was, but when she shouted “just a minute” in panic, the man sitting behind him had already entered the corner of his eye.
The face is not precisely emphasized, but the white uniform with gold trim is a symbol of southern nobility from ancient times.
Dissatisfied with selling eyes so easily, the opponent is Marquis Cédric d'Albert.
He was the saint's meeting partner, and if he did not mistake the lavender garden of the temple, the man whom the saint was trying to follow.
Of course she said “you could be locked up” for this guy too.
Does she still have a residue towards him?
Probability is enough.
The saint tried to escape last night.
If she didn't have the fitness problem, she would have run away to Marquis d'Albert.
It seems that the saint has turned back time more than once, and it is possible that she is in love with Cédric d'Albert.
Or she has a goal with the Marquis d'Albert.
In any case, it was almost certain that she wanted to go to the Marquis d'Albert.
Marquis d'Albert is lucky.
In the restaurant earlier, when the Saint shouted “Just a minute,” he had two options.
One was to look directly at Marquis d'Albert and ask for a duel.
The reason can be made up.
Suffice it to say that he sent inappropriate looks to the Crown Prince's lady and insulted her honor.
Perhaps the Marquis d'Albert did not deny it.
honestly.
I'm not interested in the saint as an ideal type, but objectively, the saint is beautiful.
Even without the ability to turn back time, a beauty that makes men look back.
And that thread...
Even if it was polished for a walk, that shabby condition is not hidden...
Because of its small size?
Arouses the protective instinct in men, they want to take care of her.
So Marquis d'Albert would probably be interested in the Saint as soon as she saw him.
The other option is the current situation.
Accepting the saint’s “moment” request, and restricting her freedom in return.
In short, the latter chose between the chance of cutting off Marquis d'Albert's leg and the chance of imprisoning the saint.
not bad.
The saint does not seem to be averse to confinement, in the least.
I'll lock her up and keep pretending to be in love.
On the other hand, Atha…
How did it end like this?
I just wanted a comfortable imperial confinement.
Of course now I'm on my way to lock up my empire, but the problem is that the “comfortable” is missing.
I was hoping for a lockup that would allow for a walk on a sunny day.
While Atha was watching Alisto, who was sitting across from her, warily—
“You said that your dream is to be taken by a handsome man and fall in love with you, and you authorized the detention, so I can assume there are no complaints?”
Alisto's voice was flat, making Atha even more frightened.
“Yes?
Yes...”
The two arrived at Almond's room like this.
Alisto gently opened the door.
“Come in”
How sweet his voice was.
Whatever it is, it's confinement...
Atha entered Almond's room with heavy steps, held the door and asked.
“Can I ask when you are going to lock me up?”
He looked at her calmly, then answered slowly.
“Until trust is established”
The corners of Atha's eyes dropped upon hearing that there was no appointment.
“I will be back tomorrow”
Close the door to Almond's room.
Bang—!
***
The next day, Emperor's Palace, Forest—
A quiet hallway filled with silence.
Red carpets on the floor, famous paintings and lit golden candlesticks on the walls.
The sound of a man's shoes began to appear in the quiet hallway.
Tk—tk—
When he reached the doorless space separating the hallway from the room, the maids lined up bowed together.
Alisto passed them indifferently, and went straight to the highest seat in the hall where dinner was being prepared.
He arrived a little late as usual, and the Emperor waited for the Crown Prince as usual.
In front of the prepared food.
The Emperor picked up the fork only after Alisto said, “Eat.”
A strange sight, but no one in the hall expressed doubt.
As the quiet dinner continued, the Emperor coughed to clear his throat and opened cautiously.
“I want to go out for a bit...”
Alisto slowly chewed the food in his mouth, swallowed, and took a sip of wine.
“Smells good”
The servant behind him quickly provided the information under a low mutter.
“Vintage Weibong 607”
Alisto looked at the servant's face in astonishment.
Wepong wine was discontinued a long time ago, and is extremely rare.
Especially the Vintage 607 is so regal among royalists, it is believed there are none left.
“Is there any Wepong wine left?”
The servant answered with cautiously lowered eyes.
“Prepared by His Majesty the Emperor”
Alisto smiled generously as if he understood.
The effort in preparing a gift for a small order is not bad.
Yes.
To obtain permission, good intentions must first be demonstrated thus.