“Episode 15”
“Why, was it a lie when I said the man in front of you perfectly fits your taste?”
“That’s your property… No, tastes tend to change, Your Highness.”
“Hmm… Tastes change, huh… Well.”
Romeo chuckled. His passing glance towards her was not graceful at all. If there were reporters, it would have been even worse. Daphne wanted to step on both of them and bounce away.
“Celestian, don’t listen to His Royal Highness’s words. As I’ve said before, we are completely done with each other. No, we never even started, so there’s nothing to end.”
“Oh, ‘Princess.’ I feel a bit disappointed.”
There was a coldness in the cousin’s voice. Daphne withdrew her hand from Romeo’s shield and spoke.
“Your Royal Highness. Denver Youngae must be waiting for you, right? I’ll graciously accept the compliments. I’ll continue to strive to discover talented individuals. That’s all for now.”
Daphne gently took Celestian’s arm and bent her leg slightly to give a curtsey before pushing his side. She barely moved away from Romeo’s radius. However, the prince at the waist spoke to her back.
“Didi, I read your letter last time. You said you cut me out of your heart.”
Daphne swore she never sent a letter to Romeo.
‘Let’s stay away from that lunatic Rodriguez. Please, let’s stay away.’
Daphne urged Celestian by pushing his side with all her body. But no matter how hard she pushed, he didn’t budge!
Daphne felt like she was pressing against a sturdy tree. She swept her shoulder with her hand and pushed his side again with her palm.
‘Why is he so firm?’
She almost forgot the situation and groped for a moment. Daphne pushed him again, but his feet still seemed glued to the carpet.
‘Is he… pausing out of curiosity?’
Daphne looked up with a helpless expression. Celestian’s cheek was stiff.
“I didn’t know I was just a substitute for you.”
Romeo added. Daphne turned around with a serious expression.
“Romi.”
“You and I are nothing alike, Didi.”
Romeo chuckled with his head bowed in front of Daphne’s face. Daphne clenched her fist tightly.
‘One murder prevents three more.’
“If it was a choice to get my attention, it’s partly successful.”
But she couldn’t extend her finger in front of Romeo’s face. When Daphne remained silent, Celestian raised his hand to cover her eyes.
“Romeo, Viewcater doesn’t like it.”
“Oh, Your Highness. You’re still here.”
Romeo straightened his waist, ignoring Celestian’s presence, and said.
“If I’m a little late, my lovely wife might get annoyed. I’ll see you again when the opportunity arises.”
With a smile of relaxation and the laugh of a victor on his face, Romeo straightened his clothes and disappeared down the long corridor. It felt like a storm had passed and vanished quickly.
“Your alba, Viewcater.”
“Why are you calling me that out of nowhere?”
Daphne frowned and laughed.
“Why.”
“Did you send a letter to Romeo? When?”
“Oh… I don’t know. Maybe I did send one sometime.”
“You said you won’t try to get along with Romeo again. Just said he’s your cousin.”
As if that would happen. Daphne laughed heartily.
“Am I just a substitute?”
It was a gloomy voice. Daphne realized she was still embraced by Celestian’s warm embrace and turned her head back.
She tried to get out of his arms to see his face, but he had already firmly wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Tell me.”
“Huh?”
“Am I just a substitute again?”
Daphne stared blankly at his sunken green eyes.
‘Again?’
Daphne tapped Celestian’s arm that held her in place.
“Let go and let’s talk.”
“If you answer.”
“Oh. No, you’re not a substitute. Let go.”
He couldn’t possibly be a substitute. In that case, Celestian was the goal, and Romeo was the means.
Celestian hesitated, but eventually released his grip. Daphne took a step back immediately.
“Cele.”
Daphne recalled about an hour ago. The quiet villa she thought would be deserted was bustling with servants moving about for the final preparations. As guests were arriving one after another, the atmosphere became even more lively.
“Viewcater.”
“Huh?”
Just before entering the powder room, Celestian quietly approached Daphne and gently took her wrist.
“He just grabbed it without warning.”
He slid his index and middle fingers into Daphne’s gloved palm. Startled by the ticklish sensation, Daphne withdrew her hand, causing the glove to easily come off.
“Are you insane?”
Turning around, Daphne saw the prince with green eyes smirking at her. He silently gestured towards a servant hurrying from afar.
“What are you doing…”
“Miss, I’m sorry for being late!”
Before she could ask anything, Daphne felt a push from behind by Narid, and Celestian disappeared into another room with Misha.
Daphne recalled the subtle sensation that had felt quite discreet, so she carefully examined the remaining traces on her palm once again.
“It’s rare to find someone so obsessed with gloves.”
“Probably because it belonged to Miss Denver, right? You reap what you sow.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Daphne swept away the strange feeling left on her palm with her other fist. It was Narid who seemed disappointed.
“You treasured that glove because it was a limited edition made by designer Coco. Where will you go to buy it now?”
“I have two more.”
“Wow? Did you really like Coco that much?”
“I do like it, but I’ve been waiting to sell it with a premium.”
“Miss, you’re really… too much…”
The maid rolled her eyes. Daphne just shrugged and smiled lightly.
“I was going to give one as a birthday present to our Narid. Should I just sell that one too?”
“So, does that mean I’m dedicating my life to that overly extravagant Miss?”
Saying so, Narid playfully winked with one eye. Daphne laughed and shook her head. Then she put on the thin chiffon gloves handed to her by the maid.
Looking out the window at the view beyond the railing in the corridor, she noticed that the sun was gradually setting. The vibrant scenery welcoming the evening spread out below the hill.
Blondes were not common in the kingdom. Those who had it were either foreigners or of mixed race.
“Princess genes win…”
So Celestian stood out at a glance, even more so with the golden hue tinged by the setting sun.
The prince, with a very refined back view, leaned against the railing, looking down at the first floor and turning back whenever he felt a presence.
“The museum is alive.”
Celestian had put on a new dark blue suit and neatly arranged his golden locks on his forehead.
She looked down at her own crimson hair that flowed from behind her ears to her chest. Commonly referred to as roses, but in reality, they were not as bright red as one might think.
When the light was low, they were just subtle shades of black hair with a hint of red.
Daphne cleared her mind. She waved her hand slightly towards Celestian in front of her.
“Good evening, Mr. Glove Thief.”
Celestian extended his hand wearing a white glove in response. It was a very simple gesture, but it felt elegant. Daphne froze for a second, suddenly feeling like he was a prince again.
“Well, I just returned what I borrowed.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound very nice.”
“You made it that way.”
Daphne extended her index and thumb to hold Celestian’s hand instead of shaking it. Celestian chuckled softly.
“Oh, I lost.”
He withdrew his hand without saying a word. Daphne glanced at his other hand, wondering if he was still holding the glove.
The hall, which had already been filled with people, buzzed.
“His Royal Highness Prince of Secradion, and his fiancée Miss Denver from the Piangsa Manor!”
At the resounding announcement, everyone in the hall turned their attention to the grand entrance. And each of them sighed in admiration.
As the commotion subsided, an orchestra in one corner started playing a soft tune. The invited guests gathered in groups of three or five, and soon…
“I’m glad I came early.”
Daphne raised her elbow on the railing. As she spun around, she looked down at the nobles’ dresses unfolding like umbrellas.
A servant carrying a silver tray ascended the stairs with graceful movements. There were only two glasses of wine. Celestian waved his hand to decline, and Daphne accepted both glasses and downed them in one gulp.
Now, what would they be called in the announcement? Until last year, she was the prince’s fiancée, and the past few months were similar.
“The Red Rose of Secradion.”
While a spray of mountain laurel or lilies might not be known, women compared to thorned red roses had a bad reputation. Those who were silent when they were in the royal court became invincible when they belonged to the crowd. So, even if she was ridiculed, Daphne couldn’t refute it.
“Perhaps now I’ll be called a mad villain and a rebel.”
Side by side, they were quite a good match. Daphne glanced at his profile.
“Cele, want to dance downstairs with me?”
Daphne felt tense after speaking. Strangely, this simple sentence felt difficult. It even felt like she had summoned extraordinary courage.
“Dance downstairs?”
“Would you like to spin around here without any lights?”
Celestian once again lowered his eyes habitually and fell into thought. He soon clenched his fist and covered his mouth.
‘Why is he lowering his eyes?’
Just as Daphne was too busy watching his eyes to notice, the tip of Celestian’s ear was slightly reddened.
“If you don’t want to.”
She said flatly.
“Viewcater, what I’m worried about is…”
“Are you worried that Pisces might see? She’s not interested in you.”
Daphne said bluntly. Then she turned her head back down. Romeo and Pisces were dancing gracefully on the elegant mahogany floor. Despite the change of songs several times, the smiles blooming on their faces did not disappear.
When the song finally ended, and people began to freely move up and down the stairs during the break time, Daphne could finally descend to the first floor.
She stood in front of the grand frame. As it was a party full of high-ranking nobles and royalty, Daphne was in a position where she couldn’t step forward to greet anyone. Once again, countless pairs of eyes were focused on Daphne and her partner.
And before long, a black shadow loomed over Daphne’s head.
