I Stole the Prince's First

Chapter 21

“Angry. Why are you doing this to me”

“When will it all be over?”

Haint, who had been concentrating for a long time, finally massaged his temples. Sat, who had lost his focus, took off his glasses and gave Haint a sharp look.

“You hand in the list of participants every ten minutes, but we won’t finish until before the Debutante Ball.”

“What? In a grand event like this? Does it make sense to finish just before the Debutante Ball? Teten, why are you participating when you’re a member of the Imperial Guard?”

“Why is the lightning striking me? I’m also a member of the nobles, so I can participate.”

Haint, who teased Teten without reason, picked up the documents he threw and returned to his seat. He wondered if the documents, which seemed endless no matter how much he did, were multiplying, but it was only because there were too many, and he couldn’t see them decreasing.

“Reti…”

Haint lay on his desk and looked for Retina, who flickered in front of his eyes. His precious sister. Of all times, Retina, whom he rarely saw even when he lived on the estate, had to be in the capital when he had to be out. It was pure despair.

Thunk! At that moment, a guard entered the Crown Prince’s office and spoke to Teten. Teten’s complexion darkened as he exchanged words through the crack in the door.

“Your Highness, Prince Haint, Lord Norden Raglaras, has obtained permission to leave the palace.”

“It’s been almost a month since he came here; he must be feeling stifled just staying in the palace.”

Herold seemed to brush off the report nonchalantly. However, Teten took the news quite seriously. With a slightly anxious expression, he continued.

“Your Highness, he is headed to the Duke of Deneuve’s residence.”

“What?” Sat and Haint both turned their heads toward Teten simultaneously. Even though it was understandable for those two, they also stared fiercely at Teten as if he had turned into Norden.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and finish!”

Haint, who had regained his composure, snapped. Haint, who had been dragging out the meeting all morning, ended it in just 30 minutes and rushed out of the office. Even Sat, who usually told him not to act recklessly, followed suit with urgent steps.

“Why did that guy come without any prior notice? He left his manners in the North?”

“If he had contacted us in advance, we could have prevented him from meeting Retina.”

“Of course! Do you think Retina would hear about it? Just burn the letter from now on!”

“We should burn it without a trace. So that the tender-hearted Retina won’t be heartbroken when she sees the torn scraps of the letter.”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

Sat and Haint sat face to face, exchanging words and sharpening their wits. They were the ones who had compiled a list of young men who could approach Retina before her debutante ball. Retina enjoyed the parties, but they always ensured that these young men didn’t get too close.

When they heard the news that Retina had a conversation with Prince Norden at the Royal Ball, they hoped that Retina wouldn’t fall for the Prince. They had planned to keep Retina by their side to prevent further meetings, but Norden got ahead of them.

“Why are you following?”

Haint, who had been anxiously waiting for the mansion to arrive, looked at Sat.

“No?”

“Why not?”

Herald, who had the insignia of the Duke’s carriage, asked confidently. Herald’s confidence made it seem like the Duke’s brothers had won the carriage for him. Well, they shouldn’t worry too much since the Raglaras Prince, who was protected by the royal family, has left the palace. Teten didn’t even consider that the reason Herald was following was because of his younger sister. The Duke’s brothers didn’t find it significant.

And now, in the present, surrounded by four men at a table unexpectedly filled with desserts and high-quality black tea, Retina’s trembling eyes darted around.

She couldn’t decide where to look. Norden, her brothers, and even the Crown Prince were present. It was a gathering that had suddenly formed, with too many illustrious attendees for Retina to be the star of the party. Retina raised her glass and moistened her dry lips.

“Why did my brothers come as usual, but why is he here?”

The most incomprehensible person among them was the Crown Prince. It wasn’t surprising that her brothers had rushed over as soon as they heard about Norden, as they always did, but Retina couldn’t fathom why the Crown Prince had followed her brothers here.

“So… Is there any more conversation to be had?”

Retina set her teacup down and forced a smile. There was no chance for further conversation since they had all fallen silent since their arrival. But she couldn’t let it linger like this until dusk; an unease settled in.

“No, we’ve had a long enough conversation. Thank you for accommodating our visit today.”

Norden, who had been bearing the weight of the three men’s scrutiny, replied. The soft couch they were currently sitting on must feel like a bed of thorns. Retina looked at Norden with eyes full of sympathy. It seemed like they needed to vacate this place quickly for his sake.

“Then, I’ll wait for your answer.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Anytime is fine if it’s your wish.”

An answer? What answer? Haint’s voice, tinged with curiosity and annoyance, was heard from behind, but Retina didn’t reveal what they were discussing. Norden couldn’t return to the North, and it wasn’t an option to leave him to die in a foreign land.

“You should tell me what the answer is. Do you think I’d consider who he is?” “It’s not a big deal.” “In this day and age, you’re saying it’s not a big deal if he turns out to be a dangerous person?” At the twins’ words, Retina narrowed her eyes. No matter how dangerous Norden might be, should only her brothers handle it? “We’ll deal with it before any danger arises. I won’t say anything for the sake of continental peace.” “What? Continental peace? Is that guy marrying you? Huh? Is that it?” “Prince, you’re calling him ‘that guy.’ Come on, we’ll tell you later, so go upstairs and rest.”

“Reti, Reti!” Retina pushed Sat and Haint out of the reception room, even though they grumbled, they obediently returned to their rooms.

“Now, the only one left is…”

Turning around with her hands on the door, Retina wondered who had been staring at her. The only one remaining in the reception room was Herald, the Crown Prince, who didn’t seem to know why he came in the first place and why he wasn’t leaving.

“Do you like that Northerner, my dear?”

The Crown Prince, his arms crossed, tossed out his words with an air of discontent.

“First, you said you had no intention of getting married.”

Retina couldn’t quite figure out what he was unhappy about, but his face was covered in petulance.

“What exactly do you want to say?”

“Bringing a suitor into an empty mansion like this implies mutual affection. It might be a good idea to be a bit more cautious in your actions.”

He seemed to want to say more, but Retina snorted lightly instead.

“Your Highness, it doesn’t suit you to talk like that, you know?”

The social circles Retina had observed during her month in the capital were more open-minded than anywhere else. To make a fuss over just a conversation at the mansion was rather trivial. By that measure, her brothers could have dozens of wives and still be okay.

“Well… Prince Norden would be okay, I guess.”

Retina, who had been looking at Herald, shifted her gaze. Drawing closer to Norden wasn’t a bad idea, especially if it went as the Grand Duchess had hoped during the social season. They both had no intentions of marriage, so it would be fine to be close during the social season.

“You didn’t like the other nobles, but now it’s okay?”

As Herald scowled with an unhappy expression, Retina raised her eyebrows.

“Why is it Norden of all people? Is it because he’s a Northern prince?”

“I just get along well with him, that’s all. He is different from others.”

“Different from who?”

Did she really need to say it?

Retina knew the Prince was curious about who she was talking about, but she chose not to reveal it. It was amusing that she was having this kind of conversation with him in the reception room. Even if she avoided him and returned to the ducal estate immediately, it wouldn’t be enough.

“I heard you’re busy too, Your Highness. You should go back and rest. Prince Norden went back to the palace.”

“Has the dance partner for the debutante ball been decided?”

Despite trying to dismiss him, his sudden question was completely unrelated.

“Well, sort of.”

Retina, who was about to get up, leaned back on the sofa.

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

Debutantes at the Debutante Ball were required to dance with at least five young men during the ball. It didn’t matter how many they danced with, but they had to fill in the names of five escorts on their dance cards, so debutantes typically chose in advance who they would dance with at the ball.

An attractive debutante who can’t find five escorts must not be cut out for the marriage market, right?

“Does the debutante know five young men?”

But what’s with that reaction? Her lips twitched with irritation as if she had been challenged to a duel.

“Not five, but about three.”

Of course, she didn’t know five people in the capital, but even if she counted her brothers and Norden, she could fill in three names. She hadn’t bothered to inquire about the other two; after all, they were Deneuve’s, and the remaining two could be anyone she chose at the ball.

“Two slots are empty.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll be your dance partner.”

Herald declared with his shoulders back and his head held high, as if he were offering a tremendous opportunity.

“Why?”

Why bother? Retina asked. She had no intention of becoming entangled with the Prince and increasing the controversy surrounding her.

“My foot is still bruised from when you stepped on it last time.”

“What?”

“Would you like to see it?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Take responsibility for my foot.”

Initially, Retina couldn’t comprehend what Herald was talking about. She pondered his words for a moment. Even after chewing on them and ruminating, she still couldn’t grasp their meaning. Wasn’t he the one who had given her glass slippers as a gift and urged lovers to dance together?

“Do I…have to take responsibility for that?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, alright, if you really want to dance with me, then fine.”

Perhaps he wanted to get back at her for stepping on his foot at the previous ball. So, he wanted to wear the glass slipper he had gifted her again, even if it meant it might hurt when she stepped on his foot this time. Retina accepted the Crown Prince’s request with a mix of confusion and acquiescence.

‘Even if there’s no guarantee that I’ll find the last two people at the ball, having at least one person fill in the slots won’t hurt.’

Even if it meant sacrificing her own foot. Retina had managed to find four people to write on her dance card, but she didn’t look relieved. When she thought about the names she had put on her dance card, she couldn’t help but feel that the lineup was a bit peculiar.

‘Please, let the last person be…’

She hoped that the final slot could be filled with the name of an ordinary young man.