Chapter 36
The Princess Must Be Crazy
‘Are those royal girls bullying Psyche again? …No, that can’t be it.’
The dramatic romance that had shaken high society for the past two years had mostly wrapped up when the engagement was officially announced. Daphne had used every connection she had to introduce those royally-obsessed girls to eligible men, steering them away from Romeo. She had also worked to elevate Psyche’s position, making her more fitting as the future queen.
‘Besides, the people in third class should be welcoming a queen with humble roots, not opposing her.’
And a child barely old enough to speak wouldn’t have been carrying a white lily with full knowledge of its symbolic meaning.
Looking back at the banquet hall, Daphne noticed it too was filled with white flowers.
‘What the…?’
She turned her gaze toward the second-class area. The royal guards still stood firm, blocking access.
“Do you know why all these noble ladies keep trying to cross into third class?”
Daphne overheard some passing crew members chatting behind her.
“I saw a few earlier too. What’s going on?”
“It’s because of My Fair Gentleman! You know, that trend where noblewomen pick up common men, clean them up, and turn them into romantic partners. It’s all the rage lately.”
“Seriously? That’s a thing now?”
The sailors exchanged words while passing behind Daphne and Celestian.
A trend?
An idea suddenly sparked in Daphne’s mind.
She was currently wearing a thin, flowing dress that, at first glance, looked almost like nightwear. However, upon closer inspection, the luxurious fabric and fine stitching were unmistakably expensive.
Clueless men might miss it, but the trend-chasing noblewomen?
“Celestian, how do I look right now?”
Daphne spread her arms wide, gesturing down her body for full effect.
“…Like a princess.”
Celestian’s gaze instinctively followed her movements before his face turned slightly pink. He averted his eyes, muttering his answer so softly it was barely audible.
‘Hmm… Was that an insult or a compliment?’
Daphne shifted her focus back to Celestian’s attire. With his black hair and casual, almost shabby outfit, it would be nearly impossible for most people to recognize him as a prince.
Seizing the opportunity, she tucked the white lily gifted by the child behind his ear. Celestian blinked, his green irises trembling slightly.
His large hand drifted to his ear, fingertips brushing the flower as his face twisted into a silent What are you doing?
“Perfect. You look beautiful. Stay just like that.”
Daphne rubbed her hand across her lips and cheek, smudging her red lipstick and adding a flustered effect. Then, she ran her fingers through her hair, intentionally mussing it up into a stylishly disheveled look.
Celestian tilted his head, clearly bewildered.
“Daphne… Are you angry?”
“No.”
“Then why are you messing with your hair like that…?”
Celestian raised a single eyebrow, drawing attention to the tiny mole just above it. For some reason, the sight felt unusually charming.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
There was the faintest tremble in his voice now.
****
Celestian stood frozen, utterly speechless, as he witnessed the most bizarre and fascinating spectacle unfold before his eyes.
“Oh my…”
Someone nearby muttered the words he was too stunned to say aloud.
“Is she a noblewoman?”
“Obviously. Must’ve wandered here from first class.”
“Ro-Romeo… How could you abandon me— huh? How could you do this to meee?!”
“…Maybe she got kicked out?”
In the third-class common room, Daphne dramatically collapsed onto the floor after rinsing her mouth with the cheap liquor scattered around. Her glassy eyes, the kind only seen on the truly intoxicated, stared blankly before she broke down into loud, dramatic sobs.
“Romeo… Issuin… Rodriguez…!”
She ruffled her red hair wildly, then clenched her fists and pounded them against the blue carpet.
“Oh my!”
“Romeo! How could you leave me for someone like Psyche?! You shameless, worthless bastard! Thief! Ahh! My poor Psyche!”
“Oh my… Was she in love with the crown prince?”
“Poor thing…”
By now, every eye in the third-class lounge was fixed on Daphne.
At first, they’d assumed she was putting on some sort of performance, but when she began wailing Romeo’s name, their expressions shifted to pity.
Celestian chuckled softly, though mostly out of disbelief.
It was a good thing the crowd here was so kind-hearted. If this had been the harsh scrutiny of high society, they would have torn her reputation to shreds without a second thought.
Mascara ran down her cheeks in dark streaks, and her red lipstick was smeared. Now crawling along the floor, Daphne’s display was growing increasingly chaotic.
Unable to watch this any longer, Celestian bit back his laughter and approached her.
“Lady—”
Before he could reach her, a few hesitant crew members stepped forward. Though concerned, they were cautious not to touch a noblewoman improperly.
Just as one brave sailor gently placed a hand on her shoulder—
“Don’t touch me! How dare you lay a hand on me?!”
Daphne roared like a lion, aggressively messing up her hair even further. The sailors recoiled at her outburst, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.
Despite her hysterics, her disheveled state was so pitiful that no one even mentioned the crime of insulting the royal family as she kept cursing Romeo.
“We should escort you to your cabin, miss. If you tell us your room number—”
“I said, don’t touch me! I can walk perfectly fine!”
Celestian was struggling to keep a straight face, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Yet, as amusing as it was, he knew she couldn’t keep this up forever without passing out.
“Romeo… how could you…? To discard me like this…!”
Stepping forward, Celestian finally spoke, his voice low and calm.
“You’re being awfully dramatic.”
He knelt, lowering himself so his back faced her.
Daphne, recognizing him immediately, smacked his back lightly with her palms.
“Hold me, good sir knight.”
“…Knight?”
Celestian arched a brow. A knight? He had never aspired to be one. His royal blood had prevented it.
Was that her type?
While he pondered this, Daphne dramatically stretched out her arms, voice trembling.
“Hug meee… or I’ll faint… No, worse! I’ll throw up if you make me ride piggyback… If you don’t, I’ll jump overboard…!”
Even as she spoke, she was suppressing a grin behind the back of her hand. Her lips, already pale from the smudged lipstick, trembled slightly.
Celestian exhaled a soft chuckle before turning to her. Sliding an arm under her knees and the other beneath her back, he lifted her effortlessly.
“The princess must be crazy!”
The child who had given Daphne the lily earlier pointed with wide eyes, hopping in place.
“Lenny! Don’t say things like that!”
A woman in a beige dress, who had been watching Daphne with concern, hurriedly scolded the child while draping a coat over Daphne’s body for modesty.
“She must be a noblewoman who got drunk and lost her way. Please, let them pass.”
One sailor turned to the guard at the nearby checkpoint, trying to reason with him.
“I didn’t see her cross into this section earlier.”
The guard shook his head in disbelief.
Several bystanders, now more concerned for Daphne’s wellbeing than propriety, added their voices.
“Look at her dress! She clearly came from first class. It’s practically glowing!”
“Poor thing, she lost her shoes too! She must’ve gotten drunk and wandered here. Let her rest.”
Even the women who had stopped Daphne from “jumping overboard” earlier chimed in, scolding the guard for being too harsh.
Meanwhile, Daphne wasn’t actually crying inside the coat—she was laughing. Celestian, the only one close enough to hear, could feel her trembling with suppressed giggles against his chest.
“Take her to rest. And no more drinking, miss.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight! It could be dangerous!”
Celestian gave a polite nod of thanks to the helpful crowd, bowing his head slightly before carrying her out of the common area.
The hallway leading to first class was noticeably quieter, the surroundings far more elegant.
Daphne, her voice a hushed whisper, murmured, “That went better than expected.”
“…Well, sort of.”
Celestian glanced down, unsure what to say next.
Daphne wiggled her toes slightly, drawing his attention to her bare feet.
“You think I’m crazy too, don’t you?”
“No.”
They passed through the grand hallway, the luxurious decor of first class surrounding them.
“I think… it was impressive.”
Celestian replied, sounding almost dazed.
Daphne blinked before bursting into soft laughter.
“Put me down now. Good work.”
As soon as her feet touched the plush blue carpet, she brushed away the tears lingering at the corners of her eyes, exhaling a deep breath.
“Ugh, my ribs hurt from all that acting.”
Running her fingers through her hair as if nothing had happened, Daphne strutted toward her cabin and disappeared behind the door.
Celestian stood in the hallway a moment longer, staring down at his hands.
This time, the warmth lingered.
And for once, he hoped it would stay.
