“Gasp!”
The first to come to her senses was Letier.
She quickly pushed herself up from where she’d been precariously leaning over Dante’s body.
“Your Highness…!”
But Dante, still lying underneath her, didn’t take his eyes off her.
His crimson eyes still looked dazed, like he hadn’t quite returned to reality.
“Snap out of it!”
Letier whispered sharply and smacked his chest with a thud.
She’d hit him harder than she meant to, and the loud sound made her flinch in surprise.
“Ugh…”
Finally, with a grimace, Dante slowly sat up.
He raised his large hand to cover his face and let out a deep sigh.
“Your Highness? I thought you were in your room…”
Outside the door, Princess Rubia’s impatient voice rang out again.
Dante mumbled something under his breath, low enough that Letier couldn’t hear, then swept his messy bangs back and stepped down from the bed.
Meanwhile, Letier quickly moved to the other side, smoothing out her crumpled skirt in a panic.
“Your High—!”
Clack.
Dante opened the door and looked down at Rubia, who stood right outside.
She hadn’t come with the purest intentions either—arms crossed, standing with an air of defiance.
“Your Highness? You’re out so quickly.”
“Princess Rubia.”
“Did I wake you from a nap or something?”
“No.”
“Oh good! Then, if it’s not too rude, may I come in for a moment?”
She smiled brightly and stepped forward.
But Dante, standing firmly in the doorway, didn’t budge.
Blocked by him, Rubia looked up with narrowed eyes.
“Move, would you? I have something important to discuss.”
“Come back next time—with an appointment.”
She stared at her stiff, unwelcoming fiancé, then frowned.
His slightly flushed face… that too-relaxed mood…
What is this…?
She looked at him closely, then spoke.
“Is there someone in there?”
“Yes.”
“I think I know who it is.”
Rubia’s lips curled up, as if she’d found a juicy bit of gossip.
She raised her sly moss-green eyes to meet his.
“You didn’t even tell her you have a fiancée, and now you’re lying around in bed with her in broad daylight…”
“It’s not like that, so please—don’t.”
Afraid Letier might overhear, Dante stepped out and quickly closed the door behind him.
He sighed deeply, covering his eyes with one hand.
Princess Rubia—reckless and blunt as ever.
“What? So what if I said it?”
But the one who dropped the bombshell seemed completely unfazed.
She shrugged and opened her mouth again.
“Must be nice. Hiding someone you like under the title of ‘therapist’ and keeping her close. Meanwhile, I haven’t seen my lover in so long it’s killing me.”
Rubia grumbled.
“Don’t have all the fun yourself—share a little. We’ve got plenty to talk about, not just the engagement. Spare me some of your time, Your Highness.”
“I get it. Just don’t show up unannounced like this. Make an appointment next time.”
Dante replied with a low voice.
He was already in a bad mood, having his moment with Letier interrupted.
“Alright, alright. I’m going. Next time, I’ll make an appointment. I don’t want to delay my story any longer either.”
Noticing Dante’s darkening expression, Rubia stepped back quickly.
She glanced once at the firmly closed door behind him, then turned away lightly.
She headed for the stairs, but suddenly paused and looked back.
“Oh, right. Can I meet her, by the way?”
“What do you want with Letier?”
Dante glared at her with his crimson eyes streaked with gold.
Why is he so guarded…?
Rubia stared quietly at him for a moment, then spoke.
“You may not get it, but there are things only women can talk about. I just want to help explain something that might be awkward coming from you. You should be thanking me!”
“You’ve been more of an obstacle than a help. Just leave Letier alone.”
“It’s better to explain things clearly than to let them fester in confusion.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Well, it’s my palace too, so I’ll do as I please. I’m off then! See you next time, Your Highness!”
Rubia said cheerfully with a bright smile.
Dante continued to look down at her with clear disapproval, but the moment she turned away, he broke eye contact.
It was a short visit—but utterly exhausting.
****
Meanwhile, inside Dante’s room, Letier sat in silence, unable to hide her anxiety.
She clenched her fists, cold sweat forming on her brow.
Just now…
The prince and princess fought—because of me…!
The way he had suddenly shut the door and gone out, speaking in a low voice—anyone could tell they were arguing!
W-what do I do…
With her eyes wide and trembling, Letier stared at Dante as he returned, closing the door behind him.
She even started feeling guilty, having gotten swept up in the moment and caused such tension between him and his fiancée.
He’s someone with a fiancée, after all…
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah…”
Letier made a strange sound and stood up from her chair with an awkward posture.
“Just finish the treatment.”
Dante lay back on the bed as if nothing had happened, resting casually against the headboard and gazing at her.
In complete contrast to her anxious expression, he looked completely relaxed, as if wondering why she wasn’t already by his side.
Letier hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth without moving from where she stood.
“Um… Princess Rubia might have misunderstood…”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Huh?”
Her eyes went wide.
“No, forget it.”
Dante quickly shook his head.
It had been a slip.
He couldn’t let his own feelings push her into a corner like that.
But as Letier carefully went over his words in her mind, she spoke up again.
“Your Highness, I know your shoulder isn’t actually hurt.”
“…..”
“And not just your shoulder—there’s nothing wrong with your body at all.”
“You’re quick to catch on.”
“And it’s because you’re upset with me, isn’t it?”
“Upset?”
Dante tilted his head, watching her fidget with her fingers in front of him, as if curious to see what she would say next.
“You’ve been sulking ever since I arrived in the Eustian Kingdom and started spending time with Sion instead of you.”
She had pinpointed it more accurately than expected.
Dante felt a strange calm wash over him as he looked at her.
“…Go on.”
“I think I kind of understand why you were upset. It must have felt like I was being taken away by someone else.”
Letier spoke gently and steadily.
Dante crossed his arms and shifted his sitting posture slightly.
He was curious—just how much did she understand?
“Of course, I get it. You’ve been alone in the palace for so long… Having someone to share your secrets with and listen to you must be precious. You must’ve missed having that kind of friend.”
“…Friend?”
“But! Friendship isn’t something you can just force onto someone!”
“Friendship…”
“Yes, it’s true that we have a different kind of friendship and trust between us. We went through a lot together in the capital of Trillante, and in the Forest of Memories, too. But!”
Letier lifted her head with a firm expression.
Dante felt his chest, which had been slowly swelling with hope, deflate into disappointment.
“But if you try to forcefully hold me back and stop me from spending time with others like this, that’s not a healthy relationship! In fact, it could hurt what we have. And that’s something you need to learn!”
“……”
“And another thing! Since we’re not the same gender, we need to be even more careful about our behavior.”
…Who’s lecturing whom right now…?
Dante pressed his fingers to his temple, a dull ache starting to form.
“Like just now—Princess Rubia misunderstood, didn’t she?”
“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”
Dante asked.
“Well… because I was in here, she ended up leaving… She probably thinks I’m more important to you than she is…”
Letier answered, stammering.
“You don’t think that’s true?”
“Huh? Of course not.”
“Why not?”
“Because… Princess Rubia is your fiancée.”
At that moment, Letier felt a dull ache in her chest.
If she didn’t steel herself, her voice would start to tremble.
Dante, quietly watching her as she said those words, felt as if his insides were twisting.
His dark brows furrowed in an instant.
“…You were also quite rude to Princess Rubia just now. She seemed genuinely hurt. You should go after her and—”
“My feelings for you are just friendship, you say?”
Dante cut her off as he stood up.
He stepped down from the bed and strode toward her with long, firm steps.
“….”
He didn’t know what this feeling was.
Why his heart was pounding so angrily.
Why his mind felt so chaotic and loud he couldn’t think straight.
Eventually, standing in front of her, Dante slowly lowered his head.
“Do you really think that?”
Letier couldn’t answer.
“….”
The way he was looking at her—there was something strange about it. Something deep… and intense.
No…
Lucy’s words echoed in her ears again and again.
This can’t be happening…
Something was wrong.
She couldn’t look him in the eyes any longer—she lowered her head.
Caught in the whirlwind of confusion, she couldn’t face those eyes again.
Because… the prince shouldn’t be looking at her like that.
“Letier. Look at me.”
He reached out and gently placed his hand under her chin.
With the faintest pressure, Letier’s face, which had been stubbornly facing downward, was slowly lifted.
“Do you really think so?”
