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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Crown Prince Luciano's Invitation?
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Crown Prince Luciano's invitation?
It was truly something I hadn't even imagined.
I'd thought that unless it was an official event, we'd never meet again.
And I planned to avoid even those official events as much as possible.
"What wind blew you to invite me?"
"Who knows. Maybe because he wants to get close to you, miss?"
"That's not it...."
If it were me, I wouldn't want to get close to someone who'd shown such a shocking sight.
I coldly assessed the reality.
After that day, I'd given up any dreams of romance with Crown Prince Luciano.
"Why not? You're so lovable, miss. Have some courage."
I shot the Nanny a glare.
After spewing out everything like my guts were being yanked out, how could that be lovable?
The Nanny was great in every way, but sometimes she said insincere things.
I let it go in one ear and out the other, pondering how to handle this burdensome invitation.
Crown Prince Luciano's iron walls had crumbled.
It should have been a thrilling moment, but it felt subtly not quite joyful.
Of course, if I'd received this invitation back when I was in full sunshine heroine mode toward him, I would've been over the moon.
'But now that I've given up everything, it's just a headache instead.'
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed we'd become people who could never be friends....
What on earth could he want with me?
Plus, at the tea party, there were other people around, so it was somewhat okay, but the thought of meeting him alone made my head spin.
My heart grew complicated and subtle, so I clung to the Nanny's waist.
The Nanny stroked my head familiarly.
Her touch calmed my mind.
"I guess I have to go?"
"If you don't want to go, miss, then don't."
"Really?"
"Of course. Do whatever you want, miss. I'm always on your side."
A soft laugh bubbled up at the Nanny's unwavering voice.
My parents were like that too, but having someone by my side who unconditionally took my side felt so good.
It was a sense of security I could never have felt in my previous life.
My hesitation vanished.
I jumped up and wrote a reply.
[Crown Prince Luciano.
Thank you so much for the invitation.
However, due to my circumstances, visiting tomorrow will be difficult.
If it's urgent business, please send a letter, and I will reply.
From Espin Samuel.]
I'd rejected Crown Prince Luciano's invitation.
Truthfully, I had a lot of agonizing over it.
Things were over with the original male lead, Crown Prince Luciano, but I hadn't even started with Harrison or Damian yet.
To meet them, it made sense to maintain some connection with Crown Prince Luciano, even as friends.
But considering my mental health, becoming strangers with him right now seemed just right.
Even though I'd brushed it off appropriately at the tea party, seeing him still stirred feelings.
I was grateful, but the embarrassment and mortification were far stronger.
Even now, that moment when I'd vomited everything up flashed in my mind from time to time.
Unless he erased my memory, this blunder would keep haunting my head, and I'd keep feeling deep shame.
I'd concluded it was better not to face Crown Prince Luciano at all.
It did nag at me that the person who'd rejected me before had invited me himself.
But I soon brushed it off as no big deal.
There was nothing special for us to discuss anyway.
'Well, if it's really important, he'll contact me again.'
* * *
'Is it really important business?'
I stared blankly at the letter in my hand.
[You are requested to visit at 2 p.m. tomorrow.]
A second invitation arrived from Crown Prince Luciano.
His tone somehow felt a bit more polite.
Though it was still too curt to call polite.
"You're going to refuse this one too?"
"I don't know."
I truly had no idea why he wanted to see me.
Part of me wanted to ignore it, but since it was him—the one who'd never done this before—it was hard to just brush off.
'Is there really something going on?'
Plus, the fact that he was imperial family weighed on me.
Right now, he was in a precarious position where he could die anytime, but later he'd become emperor.
In this world, there was no benefit in offending those in power.
'Come to think of it, Imperial Consort Isabel was like that too. Why are these imperial family members so fixated on me?'
I made up my mind and wrote a reply.
I wrote only the essentials briefly, put it in an envelope, and handed it to the Nanny.
"What did you decide?"
"I'm going."
I'd decided to accept the second invitation.
* * *
'What?'
The moment I opened the parlor door and stepped in, I froze in surprise.
Crown Prince Luciano was already seated.
I greeted him with as composed an expression as possible.
"Hello, Crown Prince Luciano."
Instead of greeting me back, Crown Prince Luciano stared at me steadily.
His gaze scanned me from head to toe.
His red eyes held no particular emotion, which calmed my heart.
Thinking back, when I was alone, the muffin incident kept coming to mind.
Out of nowhere, shame would surge to the top of my head and then subside, over and over.
But now that I was facing Crown Prince Luciano, those thoughts didn't arise.
Was it because of those calm eyes?
First, I entered the parlor and closed the door.
"What did you want to say?"
I got straight to the point.
At that, tension entered the corners of Crown Prince Luciano's pursed lips.
"Sit first."
I sat on the empty sofa without any pretense.
The moment I sat, Crown Prince Luciano abruptly stood up.
And he went out.
Huh?
Huh?
Wh-what?
What was that?
......I'd been left alone without any explanation.
I was so flabbergasted and absurd that I couldn't react for a while.
It was a somewhat familiar situation.
Greeting and parting right away.
It was what happened every time I visited Crown Prince Luciano.
But today, I'd been invited?
'You called me here!'
I wanted to demand what he was doing, but the person in question wasn't there.
I tried to calm my emotions, but the situation only became clearer the more I did.
I'd come because he invited me, and he just left me here.
Who wanted to come?
I'd come after two invitations!
I wasn't clinging to him like before, but this turn of events left a very bad taste.
I was so stunned that even if he called next time, see if I'd come!
'This is really the end now! The end!'
I jumped up, thinking I'd head home.
But before I could leave the parlor, the door opened on its own.
Crown Prince Luciano stood at the door.
"What?"
His tone was nonchalant.
"That's what I want to ask."
I snapped back curtly, then spotted the 'thing' he was holding.
'Huh? Why is that....'
I knew what it was at a glance, but I couldn't believe Crown Prince Luciano was holding it right now.
"Sit again."
So, in a daze, I followed his words and sat back down.
Meanwhile, my gaze was fixed on what Crown Prince Luciano was holding.
'No way, it can't be.'
Crown Prince Luciano placed what he'd brought on the table.
'Nah, no way.'
He picked it up.
Soon, the sound of water filling a cup came, and a fragrant aroma spread.
'Gasp, really?'
He'd really brought tea?
What Crown Prince Luciano had brought was a tea set prepared for immediate serving.
After filling the cup with tea, he placed it in front of me.
I couldn't believe it even seeing it right in front of me.
I stared blankly at the steaming cup, then looked at Crown Prince Luciano.
His face was expressionless as always.
He filled his own cup too, then lifted it and calmly took a sip.
As if we'd spent time like this before.
No, as if it had always been this natural.
As I just stared in a daze, Crown Prince Luciano finally spoke.
"Don't just stare. Drink."
Not only was it the first time receiving tea from him, but drinking 'together' too!
This was even more astonishing than the invitation itself.
I knew how sensitive he was about eating.
The man who'd turned serious just because I'd brought muffins was now providing me something to eat.
Why had he suddenly given me tea?
He'd suspected me.
'Is there poison in this tea?'
It even made me suspicious in turn.
I was confused, unable to understand Crown Prince Luciano's actions.
"I gave it to you to drink, not to look at."
Only after hearing his urging words did I pick up the teacup.
It was almost reflexive in my dazed state.
The warmth of the teacup.
The fragrant aroma filling the air.
It gave a strange sense of reality.
Habitually, I brought it to my lips, and the moment the tea wet my mouth.
"!"
I was shocked.
What?
'Why is the tea brewed so perfectly!'
It wasn't particularly high-end tea for something from the imperial palace.
But because the temperature and steeping time were spot on, there wasn't even a hint of bitterness.
The skill to make mid-grade tea taste like top-grade....
Infuriating.
It was natural he'd brew better than me, but even better than the Nanny, who was the best I knew.
I thought imperial family just had others serve them.
'Even as a talented male lead, why excel at this too?'
My lips pouted for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
"What?"
"Your expression right now—never mind."
Crown Prince Luciano started to say something more but swallowed it.
As if I could ever read his mind.
As he lifted his teacup again, I emptied my thoughts and drank mine too.
But seriously, how is it brewed so well?
This place is a tea haven, a real tea spot.
I shook off complicated thoughts and focused on enjoying the delicious tea.
While I emptied my cup, Crown Prince Luciano didn't start any separate conversation.
I wasn't in the mood to play sunshine heroine like before, so I just drank the tea.
Not trying to impress him made it peaceful.
I kept drinking because it was so good, and before I knew it, the teapot was empty.
"I'll take my leave now."
It was with the intent of: if you have something to say, say it now.
Crown Prince Luciano looked at me for a moment, then called a subordinate to prepare the carriage, but didn't bring up any business with me.
"The carriage is ready."
At the servant's announcement, I stood up.
This was the first time parting so normally, so the timing for a goodbye felt awkward.
Should I say goodbye now or not? As I hesitated, he stood up following me.
He took the lead, so I followed behind without saying goodbye.
'He's seeing me off all the way to the palace gates?'
He was really strange today.
Did he catch some terminal illness?
No. He's the protagonist who lives long and well.
Or maybe he has something to say but is too shy?
No matter how I thought about it, it felt off and unsettling.
Before boarding the carriage, I looked at Crown Prince Luciano one last time.
He still seemed to have no intention of speaking.
"I enjoyed the tea. Goodbye."
I gave a polite goodbye and boarded the carriage.
As I settled in and tried to close the door, Crown Prince Luciano held it open, so I couldn't.
I was about to ask him to close the door when.
"Next time...."
It was such a small voice that I wondered if I'd misheard.
"What did you say?"
Crown Prince Luciano looked at me with clear eyes.
And then,
"Next time... when will you come again?"
