Alisto's tone became more cautious.
“Is there anyone else, besides me, who knows this truth?”
“I have never told anyone but Your Highness,” Atha answered obediently, holding the end of the picnic rug as if she was about to arrange it.
Since the ruler is not human, absolute honesty remains difficult.
Maybe because I want to leave one corner I can rely on?
This doesn't mean that Alisto is an untrustworthy person, but I felt that having at least one secret weapon would be better.
I don't know if that ruler, who seems so careless, would be a secret weapon or not.
anyway.
While she was trying to fold the picnic rug—
Alisto gently snatched the end of the rug from the saint’s hand and continued his question: “Are you the type of person who always trusts people easily?”
He didn’t mean any harm with his words.
He no longer cared even if the saint was an idiot who did not understand anything about the affairs of the world.
Even if she's the "neighborhood idiot" who runs around with a flower behind her ear and sings all the time, it's okay with him.
However, what was on his mind was worrying about her.
But it seems that the saint received his question negatively.
Her features withered and her eyelids drooped as if she had lost confidence in herself, and she continued to carefully monitor his reactions until he finished arranging the rug.
“Did I trust Your Highness too much?”
You already trusted me so much.
Although I'm not that good a person.
What if I don't like the saint?
The answer came easy and clear.
Once I knew how to turn back time, I would have captured her and thrown her into some dark basement.
I would have bound her tightly to prevent herself from harming herself, and just kept her alive.
So as not to worry me.
And so I can use it only when I need it.
She trusted me a lot, but from the perspective of the result, this was a fortunate thing for her.
Because because I fell in love with her, I completely threw the plan of using her ability to the wind.
At the same time, I was determined that no one would dare use this woman's ability.
Yes, never.
“Your trust in me… is good.
You have done well, but, never tell anyone else any truth about your ability.”
This bright woman nodded enthusiastically: “Of course.
That goes without saying.
I will never tell anyone.”
Despite her steadfast promises, Alisto did not feel comfortable for some reason.
She spoke in a firm tone, but...
I don't know.
Because of her innocent personality, he felt that this design was very fragile.
Did you really take my words carefully and carefully?
Check it again.
“I have determined the matter by power, but from now on, do not answer any questions related to the revelation either.”
This time too, she answered in a clear and tactful tone: “Yes.
I will keep that in mind.”
However, he doesn't know why he still feels worried about her as if she were a child he left beside a cliff.
“Are we going back now?”
Alisto hid the complexity of his feelings as he looked at the Saint's gentle index finger pointing in the direction of Blossom Palace.
***
Cedric was loitering in the garden checking the time.
It's hard to leave his seat at the banquet for a long time, is he coming back now?
Although he felt sorry, he would frequent Blossom more often from now on, and there would be other opportunities.
And while he was about to return while consoling himself—
He began to hear a voice that was difficult to forget even in dreams.
The voice was faint due to the distance, but it was undoubtedly Atha's voice.
“...
You said it as if you...”
“…yes”
Cedric followed the direction from which Atha's voice was coming.
As he followed her voice, the features of her conversation with the Crown Prince gradually began to become clear.
“…That's why Ruby suggested I learn flower arranging, see?”
“It’s a good hobby”
“Would you like to try it with me?”
"Me too?"
"Yes.
It will be fun, right?"
When the edges of her dress began to appear from behind the layers of juniper trees—
Instead of getting closer, he walked alongside them at the same speed.
“Yes.
That looks like fun”
Cedric did not like the Crown Prince's voice.
Even though he said it was fun, he seemed like he was just going along with it without really caring.
Automatically, dissatisfied thoughts came to his mind.
If he decided to take the angelic Atha as his wife and keep her by his side, shouldn't he show a more affectionate attitude?
If I were you, I would gladly share anything you wish with her.
Arranging flowers or cooking, and even if she wanted, I would sit next to her and we would embroider together.
While he was worried that the Crown Prince's coldness would hurt Atha's feelings—
"I knew!
I knew you'd like the idea!"
Atha replied cheerfully, as if she didn't sense anything in the Crown Prince's voice—which made me feel even more sad.
“When will we start?”
"We'll take a break this week and then start slow.
Do you know how busy I've been since entering the palace?"
Atha continued to chirp like a bird without stopping, while a smile spread across Cedric's lips as he heard her bright and innocent voice.
And when they finally reached the entrance to the park.
Alisto, Atha, and Cedric met in one place.
Cedric feigned surprise as if it were a passing encounter, then quickly offered a formal salute.
“I salute the venerable character of the Empire”
Alisto knew at a glance who this person who suddenly appeared to greet him was.
He saw the face of this man in that place, when he met the saint for the first time.
'Marquis Cédric d'Albert'
The person who was a candidate to date the Saint, and the person she intended to pursue.
“Marquis d’Albert.
I knew there was a meeting today regarding sea trade, but I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“Yes.
The meeting ended well, so the Vice Chancellor hosted a banquet for us.
I felt a little drunk so I went out to get some air.”
When Cedric's face flushed slightly as if he was embarrassed, Alisto smiled and extended his hand as if he realized what had happened: “It seems that the Vice Chancellor has urged you to drink.
He must have liked you, Marquis.”
Cedric straightened his stance, and bent down slightly to shake the Crown Prince's hand.
“I'm grateful for his appreciation for me.
But, who is this lady next to you...”
Alisto pretended to think for a moment about how to introduce her, then smiled slightly: “Wow, it’s a little embarrassing to introduce her to anyone for the first time.
She’s my fiancée, Miss Atha Herman.”
At that moment, Cedric's pupils shook violently.
Although it was common, the relationship developed to the point where she was introduced to others as a fiancée?
So fast?
In order not to be exposed, he lowered his gaze and greeted Atha: “Nice to meet you.
I am Cedric from the Dalbert family.
It is an honor to meet you.”
As for Atha, who was silently listening to Alisto and Cedric’s conversation—
She was initially embarrassed to meet Cedric at the Crown Prince's Palace.
The look in his eyes when she saw him in a restaurant at Lake Wessel is still fresh in her memory.
He stared at her with a coldness that made her feel threatening, and that memory was very strong.
But wait—he says ‘Nice to meet you’ (as if it’s the first time)?
Atha tilted her head and suddenly realized: ‘Ah!
This guy doesn't remember me!'
Thinking about it, the place where she saw Cedric in Vessel was in the building next door.
Meaning the building was completely different.
But why was his impression so strong?
Thinking deeply, I found the answer; Because she had information about Cedric from the book the governor gave her.
That is, because of reading the book, she built an inner familiarity with him, which made her react sensitively to his looks and expressions.
Maybe at Vessel, he wasn't staring at her.
Maybe Cedric was having a bad day and felt upset, so his face was stiff, and their eyes happened to meet at that moment?
I got really nervous and thought there was something I didn't know just because of a passing glance.
Atha considered that she had successfully resolved her misunderstanding, so she was able to receive his greeting with a more relaxed face: “I have heard a lot about your fame as the ‘Knight of the Sun’.
I am happy to meet you as well.”
And while she was smiling gently.
Cedric had to make a tremendous effort to keep the corners of his mouth from rising involuntarily.
He could hardly restrain his eyes, which constantly wanted to turn towards Atha.
“So, see you later.
Have a good time.”
“Yes, may you be safe, Your Highness.”
After the Crown Prince and Atha took a few steps away, Cedric straightened his stance.
He completely locked the image of Atha's back in his eyes and clenched his hands tightly.
As he recalled the conversation between the Crown Prince and Atha that he overheard, and seeing them standing side by side, he thought: ‘No matter how I look at it, the person who truly suits her is me.’