“I thought you liked work more.”
After long consideration, Karan gave his answer. The reason why he was surprised by Elise’s date proposal.
Elise was about to refute but closed her mouth. Looking back on her life, she had nothing to say.
‘As someone who was to become Your Highness’s wife, I was only focused on work.’
Although ultimately it was to help Karan, Elise didn’t divulge the details of her reasons.
“Were you perhaps upset?”
Elise asked.
“I shouldn’t be, but a little. It’s not pleasant to feel second to work. As you were so focused on the engagement ceremony itself, I was confused whether the engagement or the ceremony was more important.”
The last words painfully struck Elise’s heart.
The process she had devoted herself to in order to support Karan had instead hurt him.
She couldn’t think of what to say.
“Don’t think that way.”
“I know. That it’s not like that. Forget it, Elise.”
Karan ruffled his hair. He didn’t mean to express his disappointment. He was happy about Elise’s date proposal, and felt relieved that Chase had left, but somehow he ended up voicing his hurt feelings.
‘How pathetic.’
To think he was complaining to his fiancée about not being entertained.
‘How unattractive.’
Karan harshly criticized himself and looked down at the top of Elise’s head as she nestled against him.
A dark shadow fell under her lowered eyelashes, and he wondered what she was thinking.
“Your Highness, I was too self-centered. I wanted to establish myself quickly in Tetris. Focused on that thought, I failed to consider your position. I’m sorry.”
“…”
“But one thing is certain. My focus on the ceremony was for you. To be of help to you. Everything I do here is for that. I want to be your strength, to be your wings.”
Elise unwrapped herself from Karan’s arms. She stood facing him and took his hands.
“Please believe me.”
Elise held Karan’s hands tightly. As she looked up at him with clear eyes, searching his face, Karan’s heart melted helplessly.
Though it wasn’t a confession, it sounded like one, which made it even more affecting.
“Your Highness?”
Karan lifted Elise’s hand and lightly kissed her fingers. One by one, slowly, while maintaining eye contact with Elise who was quietly looking up at him.
“I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow.”
With those words, Karan brushed away all his disappointment.
Every time he thought about how he could love her more, his affection for Elise grew even stronger.
As if mocking Karan’s thoughts.
****
Karan didn’t sleep a wink. But his face showed no signs of fatigue. The thought of going out with Elise filled him with inexplicable energy.
He woke up before even the palace staff were active, exercised, bathed alone, and finished grooming himself while waiting for Elise.
As soon as the appointed time came, he sprang up and headed towards Elise’s room.
“Your Highness, about your schedule today, Your Highness?”
He barely heard Haltbin’s words.
Karan made full use of his long legs and quickly arrived in front of Elise’s room.
“I’ll announce your arrival.”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
He wanted to ignore the doorkeeper and go in, but Karan had become someone who knew how to observe etiquette. At least when it came to Elise.
And he had learned to enjoy waiting. Knowing there was a sweet reward from her after the wait.
“I’ll wait here.”
“Here, you say?”
The warrior hesitated as he asked. Karan and waiting didn’t seem to match well. Moreover, the location wasn’t appropriate for a prince to wait for someone.
However, he looked quite natural leaning slightly against the wall, waiting for Elise.
“By the way, do you open the door for anyone looking for Elise at this hour?”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it too early? You haven’t been opening the door for people disturbing Elise’s morning, have you?”
The warrior guard rolled his tongue in his mouth, unsure how to answer.
While no one came as early as Karan, he couldn’t avoid announcing visitors of Karan’s status.
“Your silence suggests it has happened.”
The air in the corridor turned chilly. The warrior tensed, feeling Karan’s anger.
“No, Your Highness. Nothing like that has happened so far.”
A woman named Iris had visited, but not this early.
“What do you plan to do from now on?”
“For the future…please instruct me on how to handle it.”
“Don’t open the door for anyone before 9 AM, no matter who comes.”
“Pardon? No matter who?”
“That’s right.”
From Karan’s observation, while Elise wasn’t one to sleep in, she enjoyed thinking alone in the early morning.
Karan wanted to protect that time for her. Since he couldn’t do so when they slept together, at least on days they slept separately.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
The doorkeeper’s response was predetermined, and he gave it. Thanks to this, there was no wailing at the crack of dawn.
However, despite Karan’s touching consideration, Elise’s door opened before 9 AM.
Elise poked her head out.
She must have just finished bathing, as white steam rose from her nape. A fresh, powdery scent stimulated Karan’s senses.
“Your Highness, how long have you been waiting?”
Since last night.
“I just arrived.”
“You should have come inside.”
Then I might disturb your morning.
“I really just got here.”
“I’ll be ready soon.”
You’re already beautiful enough.
“Take your time, Elise.”
“Would you like to come in and wait?”
If I go in now, we might not make it out.
“…Elise, I’ll wait here.”
Karan was quite good at saying things different from his thoughts.
****
“Is this the date location?”
Karan’s expression wasn’t very pleased as he got out of the carriage.
“It’s not the date location. I have something to do. Since we need to go to Magnus soon, I thought I’d take care of this while we’re out. Um… should I come back another time?”
“No. Let’s take care of everything while we’re here.”
There’s no need to make Elise take two trips.
Karan didn’t mind Elise taking care of her business first.
The reason he was uncomfortable was because the place Elise had business was the Pawnshop K.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Elise gave a pretty smile and knocked on the door of Pawnshop K. Soon the door opened and Shule rushed out.
“Hello, Miss Elise! Welcome. You look exceptionally beautiful today.”
Schule lavished Elise with flattery.
“Hello, Schule. It’s nice to see you. Is the owner in? I’d like to see him. And I’m not alone today. I’ve brought an esteemed guest…”
Schule, who had been dazzled by Elise’s beauty and hadn’t noticed the person standing beside her, slowly turned his head at Elise’s introduction.
“Gasp!”
Schule immediately turned his body around. Then he rubbed his eyes vigorously.
Please let it be a mistake. Schule’s face turned pale as he glanced back slightly.
There was nothing wrong with his eyesight.
‘It’s His Highness Karan, isn’t it? What should I do? Should I greet him? Oh, this is driving me crazy!’
Schule stood trembling, nervously biting his nails.
“Schule? Are you feeling unwell?”
While it was usually nice that Elise was a kind person, right now it wasn’t helpful at all.
It would have been better if she had left him alone until his thoughts were sorted, but Elise leaned in to examine Schule closely.
“You’re breaking out in a cold sweat, Schule.”
There was a rustling sound from behind, and Elise tried to wipe Schule’s forehead with a handkerchief.
“Elise. The owner seems to be inside, let’s go in.”
Karan pulled back Elise’s hand as it reached toward Schule’s forehead. Her body turned smoothly.
Somehow, Elise’s handkerchief had also disappeared into his jacket.
“How do you know the owner is inside? Your Highness, did you already know about Pawnshop K?”
Though Karan wanted to deny knowing anything, he thought that might seem strange, so he nodded.
“As much as I need to.”
Karan kept his words brief, fearing Elise might discover that he was the actual owner of Pawnshop K.
“As expected…”
Elise nodded emphatically.
“I’m always amazed by Your Highness’s abilities. Training warriors, hunting monsters, and still keeping a close eye on domestic affairs. It must have been difficult to easily uncover the true nature of Pawnshop K.”
Elise showered Karan with praise. It wasn’t to impress him, but sincere admiration.
Not many people knew the true nature of Pawnshop K. Even among numerous national intelligence organizations, only a select few were aware of its existence.
‘I only found out about it years later.’
Yet Karan already knew. One might think it would be easy to notice since the organization was based in Tetris, but it was actually the opposite. The darkest place is under the candlestick, as they say.
“Th… thank you, Elise.”
The corners of Karan’s mouth twitched awkwardly.
‘Oh dear. He seems embarrassed by the praise.’
Remembering Karan’s background, Elise made a mental note as they walked down the short corridor.
‘I should praise him often until His Highness gets used to it.’
Despite rarely receiving praise herself, Elise added another task to her list of things to do for Karan.
