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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: A Bold Proposition
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“Hello, Lady Etoile.”
Her wavy brown hair swayed gently. With hair reminiscent of soft chocolate, Werna was a beauty of refined elegance rather than flashy glamour.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
“Not at all. Thank you for coming.”
We began our greetings with empty pleasantries. A brief staring contest began between us. Princess Werna was the first to wave the white flag, whispering just loud enough for me to hear.
“There is something I wish to say…”
Princess Werna, conscious of the eyes on us, let out a soft laugh.
“Thank you for the gift. I will use it well.”
Following her lead, all the other young ladies offered their thanks.
“Thank you.”
“It’s so beautiful!”
Soon, an array of food to be enjoyed with the tea was brought out. An afternoon tea set was placed on ornate dishes engraved with floral patterns.
We continued our conversation over sweet desserts.
As expected, the first topic was Darcy.
“I heard the two of you left together. How romantic…”
“His Highness Prince Darcy’s face is truly beautiful.”
The conversation continued as if the time I had spent chasing after Ryan never existed. They all continued to sing Darcy’s praises.
Compliments about how well we suited each other also poured in.
‘…How should I define our relationship?’
It wasn't that I disliked their misunderstanding. Darcy had even said it was fine to leave things as they were.
But I couldn’t help the unease in a corner of my heart.
‘Because it’s not true.’
He and I are not lovers.
It was then that Princess Werna, who had been quietly enjoying her food, spoke up.
“So, how did the two of you meet?”
The prince known as an illegitimate child. The young lady rumored to be a villainess. How they met was the most curious topic, but it was also one that everyone had been avoiding.
Werna, however, tackled it head-on, as if such things didn’t matter.
“While I was in seclusion, I developed an interest in various objects… I happened to meet him while dealing with merchants. He is a man with a deep appreciation for various works of art and music.”
I glossed over our first meeting with a suitable story. Praising him while offering this explanation was an added bonus.
Although our tastes differed, Darcy did listen to music, and if you considered magic tools as works of art, it wasn’t exactly a lie.
“Oh, so he has a deep appreciation for art.”
“Honestly, with a face like that, he hardly needs to look at art…”
It felt good to hear Darcy being praised.
I wanted more people to know what an incredible person Darcy was.
“And this is actually the main point.”
Werna looked around, pausing for effect, then stared directly at me.
Facing her head-on, I saw she exuded a dignity that was difficult to ignore.
“Have the two of you promised your future to each other?”
Her eyes were truly full of life as she posed the question.
I stared at Werna, bewildered.
“…Pardon?”
It was a question I never expected to hear today.
“Or are you courting?”
“…”
“You have been seen together quite often, but then again, no one knew Prince Darcy in the first place. So it was understandable that the two of you would stick together.”
What is she talking about?
“Perhaps it was a coincidence born from the timing—when Lady Etoile began to go about alone and when Prince Darcy appeared.”
“…”
“In fact, the Prince has never officially acknowledged your relationship, has he?”
…She had instantly grasped points that others had failed to notice.
“And Lady Etoile’s expression just now was rather peculiar.”
I was about to correct her immediately.
“Friends can worry about each other this much.”
Until Darcy’s words came to mind.
The way he had been so afraid of our relationship progressing stood in stark contrast to Werna’s confident demeanor.
It was only after replaying Darcy’s voice in my head that I realized.
His words back then had apparently hurt me more than I thought.
‘And she’s not wrong.’
Just as she said, we had never officially acknowledged anything.
I smiled bitterly. Then I stared blankly at Princess Werna, who was waiting for an answer.
There was only one thing I could say.
“We haven’t promised our futures to each other, but I am the one closest to him.”
Princess Werna’s eyes sparkled.
“Thank you so much for answering my rather rude question, Lady Etoile. In return, I’ll tell you my reason for asking.”
Princess Werna continued as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“I find the Prince very much to my liking.”
“Prince… Darcy?”
I, who had been about to say his name out of habit, belatedly added his title. Werna nodded.
“Yes, his mismatched eyes and that pure silver hair. It’s rare to find someone who can pull off such a look.”
This bold expression of her feelings was completely different from the Princess Werna I knew.
“I wish to meet him… but he doesn’t seem to meet with any noblewomen. You were the only way, Lady Etoile. You are the only high-ranking noblewoman who has been seen contacting and spending time with Prince Darcy.”
Hearing our relationship described by someone else felt both pleasant and strange.
Because she was now openly asking for an introduction right in front of me.
Werna got straight to the point.
“I want to meet Prince Darcy.”
I was once again lost in thought.
Darcy had said he didn’t need anyone but me.
‘But is it right to isolate him like this?’
And the other party was a princess, no less.
After a long moment of deliberation, I opened my mouth.
“It is not for me to decide. However…”
I cannot force Darcy’s choice.
That would be tantamount to betraying him. Whatever he decides, the right thing to do is to respect his choice first.
“I will ask him for you.”
But I couldn’t help the stiffness in my tone. Princess Werna’s words had struck a sore spot.
“Thank you, Lady Etoile!”
Werna, seemingly unbothered, beamed at my words.
“However.”
“However?”
Werna raised an eyebrow at my next words.
“Would you mind writing a letter in advance? I’m concerned I might not be able to convey all of Your Highness’s true feelings.”
This was my way of telling her to introduce herself, a mix of my own petty spite and sincerity.
She must have known that Darcy had no desire to meet her.
What reason would he have to go against his own will just to meet Werna?
What she could offer. Until I knew what she could do for Darcy’s side, she was no different from the other young ladies who came here to support him.
I didn’t want to weed people out, but for Darcy’s sake, I became more and more calculating.
Because I knew how tender he was on the inside, however fierce he might seem on the outside.
Werna chuckled softly. Her expression seemed to say, *Oh, look at this?*
“It seems I didn’t know you very well, Lady Etoile. Seeing you like this… I’m discovering many new sides to you. Ah, I mean that in a good way…”
She’d never been interested in me before, so of course she wouldn’t know.
I replied with a bright smile.
“I’m glad I could show you a good side of myself, Princess…. I suppose I’ve changed after dealing with people who couldn’t believe I was different.”
“L-Lady Marso…”
“Lady Werna…”
And the people listening to our conversation grew restless.
Crackle. It was as if sparks were flying between us.
“…Very well. Then shall we meet again? Words on paper can be misinterpreted.”
“Yes, please proceed as you see fit, Princess. I will be waiting.”
We were both smiling, but for some reason, a vein was throbbing on my forehead.
Sensing the precarious tension, the other young ladies seated at the table nervously watched us.
Finally, one of the young ladies squeezed her eyes shut and stood up.
“S-Speaking of which, I heard you helped Pitol’s troupe! Pitol expressed his gratitude, but you haven’t revealed how you did it, so rumors are flying… Could you perhaps give us a small hint?”
Her desperate attempt to change the subject paid off. As it happened, I was about to talk about it anyway.
I nodded and turned my gaze toward the young lady.
“Ah, that is still in preparation.”
“In preparation? Does that mean you have something planned?”
“Yes, I’m planning a rather innovative change.”
I scanned the faces of those present and then smiled.
“Just like Prince Darcy.”
It was a subtle question, asking if they would follow Darcy.
