“You didn’t have to do that.”
“What do you mean ‘didn’t have to’!”
Rubia laughed behind her fan and gave Dante’s arm a playful smack.
Letier couldn’t take her eyes off the two of them—they looked far more comfortable and close than she’d expected.
Slowly, she straightened from where she’d been leaning toward the Travie tree.
A few steps behind Dante and Rubia, Kyledian followed them into the greenhouse.
“Princess, Your Highness! Good day!”
Sion was the first to greet them upon noticing their arrival.
Letier, startled back to reality, quickly bowed beside him.
For some reason, her chest ached and she felt a strange tightness inside.
“Oh? The royal palace’s youngest secretary and Prince Dante’s skin therapist? What brings the two of you here?”
Rubia approached with a bright smile.
As always, Kyledian stood silently behind her, his expression cold as ever as he looked at Letier.
And beside him—those sharp, chilling eyes of Dante…
Why are they both looking at me like that…?
Letier flinched at their gaze.
She missed the moment to reply, so Sion stepped in for her.
“I was showing miss therapist around the greenhouse—one of the palace’s proudest attractions. Since she makes cosmetics using raw materials, I thought she’d be quite interested.”
“Oh really? Giving her a personal tour like that? It seems the two of you have become quite close without us knowing.”
Rubia still wore that cheerful expression.
She briefly glanced at Dante and Letier, both of whom looked far too stiff, and then gently wrapped her arm around Dante’s.
“The weather is just perfect today, isn’t it? Please enjoy your tour—you don’t have to mind us!”
“Thank you, Princess.”
“Much appreciated.”
Dante scowled and tried to pull his arm away, but Rubia’s grip was stronger than he expected.
She tightened her hold, eyes fixed on Letier.
“Oh, right—Therapist. If you’re ever free, would you care to have tea with me sometime?”
“Why would you…” Dante muttered beside her in a displeased tone.
“What do you mean ‘why’? She’s the one who’s kept you looking so flawless. Isn’t it only natural your fiancée would want to treat her to a lovely cup of tea?”
Rubia smiled sweetly at Letier, who was still staring at the arm she held.
So cute, she thought.
“Ah…”
“Don’t refuse, please. I received such a beautiful tea set as a gift, but I hardly have anyone here who shares my taste. Will you join me?”
When Rubia lowered her eyebrows with a faintly pitiful look, Letier quickly adjusted her expression and gave a polite bow with a gentle smile.
“If you invite me, it would be my greatest honor.”
“Yay, I’m excited! I’ll have Chief Attendant John come escort you next time.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Satisfied, Rubia turned her head toward Sion.
“Then, please continue showing our dear therapist around, Sion. I think I’ll explain the beauty of this greenhouse to my fiancé myself.”
“Of course, Princess!”
“Shall we go, Your Highness?”
She gave Dante’s arm a tug.
Dante didn’t take his eyes off Letier, but eventually, he had no choice but to follow as Rubia pulled him away.
Once they were out of earshot, Rubia slowly let go of his arm.
“You’re so dramatic. Not even fun anymore.”
Dante muttered with a sigh, “I don’t see what’s so fun about this.”
“I do,” Rubia whispered even more softly.
She kept tucking her hair behind her ear, clearly uneasy about Kyledian trailing a few steps behind them.
Dante rubbed his smooth forehead, his face weighed with fatigue.
And no wonder—Rubia’s “longed-for lover” was none other than Kyletian Blend.
“Have a little pity for someone like me, who can’t even meet her own lover freely without Your Highness by her side.”
Rubia pouted playfully.
Dante turned his crimson eyes toward his longtime friend, his political partner, and the fiancée with whom he shared an understanding.
Because from the very beginning… they had understood each other.
From that moment back when they were still barely teenagers, not even through puberty yet.
They had both known full well:
That they were absolutely not each other’s type.
That there was zero romantic interest between them.
“I’m just sick of my father nagging me.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It’s more convenient for you too, isn’t it? If you want to strengthen your standing in Eustian, it’s better to maintain our engagement, right?”
“…”
“Let’s just do it. The engagement!”
“What?”
“Come on, let’s do it! But! It’s strictly business between us, Your Highness.”
Rubia had spoken like she was picking a lunch menu—completely unfazed.
“Let’s not care who the other dates. It’s not like we’ll even see each other often until we’re adults anyway.”
At her words, Dante immediately furrowed his brows.
“Still, engagements should be with someone you truly love…”
“Huh? Hahaha! Love? Did you say love? Ahahahaha!”
Rubia burst into laughter, stomping her feet as if Dante had told the funniest joke in the world.
She laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.
“Ah, Your Highness, you’re more innocent than I thought. There’s no such thing as love in political marriages.”
“…”
“Let’s just leave it alone for now. If we each find real love someday? Great—let’s look for it when we’re adults.”
“But it’ll be harder to call off the engagement by then. Wouldn’t it be better to tell our parents now…”
“No? It’ll be way easier when we’re older and have more influence.”
“What do you mean?”
“Trust me.”
Trusting her then had been the mistake.
Then and now, this reckless princess always looked carefree—like everything was just a game.
“Move a little closer.”
“What? Why…”
Dante backed away in confusion, only for her to grab him.
With a faint smile, Rubia placed a hand on his shoulder, stood on her toes, and leaned in close to whisper at his ear.
“It’s the only way… to leave a scratch on that stone-faced man.”
At her whisper, Dante flicked his eyes toward Kyledian.
His expression was the same as always—dispassionate and aloof—but there was a subtle tension in the way his gaze kept drifting toward her.
“How did I get caught up in someone else’s love game…”
Dante muttered as he leaned down toward Rubia.
Normally, he wouldn’t even react to such childish antics.
But after seeing Letier and that blasted secretary so close again, he felt drained—stripped of any will to resist.
So he quietly did as Rubia wanted, leaning down and listening intently to the meaningless words she whispered in his ear.
“For dinner tonight—seafood or something soft like noodles? The chef asked.”
“Noodles.”
Letier didn’t like fishy foods very much.
“For dessert, he’s planning to make a cake with seasonal fruit.”
“Sounds good.”
Letier liked cake too.
“Also… the therapist over there keeps looking at us.”
“Wha… what?”
Dante shot up and turned toward Letier and Sion.
Letier, who had been staring at him, flinched when their eyes met and quickly turned her back to approach Sion.
Seeing her reaction, Dante immediately pulled away from Rubia.
Regret hit him hard. He shouldn’t have played along with this farce.
“Why not? Jealousy tactics. Don’t you do those?”
Rubia asked playfully, a teasing smile on her lips.
Jealousy tactics or whatever—those only worked when the feelings were mutual. And Letier… had no such feelings for him.
His chest ached. Dante scowled.
“If you want to spend time with my knight, go ahead. I’m done playing this pitiful puppet show.”
“So grumpy.”
He wanted nothing more than to walk straight over to Letier and pull her away from that man.
But he knew very well—he had no right.
Better not to look at all.
He brushed back his falling bangs with one hand, then turned on his heel and walked away with long, angry strides.
Meanwhile, Letier kept stealing glances at Dante and Rubia’s affectionate display.
Noticing her unease, Sion spoke up.
“Prince Dante and our Princess Rubia really do make a great couple, don’t they?”
“…They do.”
Letier replied quietly.
She didn’t want to admit it, but they did look good together.
Especially Rubia’s bright smile as she burst into laughter beside Dante—it made their connection shine all the more.
“They’ve been engaged for nearly ten years now!”
“Ten years? That long? Why didn’t I know…?”
“It happened long ago. There hasn’t been much official interaction between the two kingdoms since, so it makes sense. And they never had a grand engagement ceremony—just a pledge, really.”
Ten years…
Letier bit her lower lip as her mood sank rapidly.
To think he’s had a fiancée for that long, yet keeps teasing people like that…?
“…Well, it’s good to know now, at least.”
She muttered quietly.
Then, determined not to look at Dante anymore, Letier turned her entire body away.
She tried to focus on the plant in front of her, not the prince behind her.
But it wasn’t working.
“…”
She didn’t know why, but her heart just wouldn’t stop sinking.
