Rubia was still smiling.
Letier, having heard her words, quietly lowered her gaze to the teacup steaming in front of her.
As she looked at Letier, who had bowed her head in silence, Rubia spoke.
“I’m sorry if I disappointed you. You must be quite upset, right?”
“What? Oh, no…”
Letier, who had been lost in thought, lifted her head.
No?
Surprised by the unexpected response, Rubia paused briefly, then slowly poured tea into her own cup, subtly frowning.
She cleared her throat once and continued.
“Oh, really? But I don’t feel great. You don’t look happy at all. You must be pretty upset, aren’t you?”
“Ah? No, it’s not that. I just… feel sorry for you, Princess.”
“What did you say?”
Startled by the unexpected comment, Rubia set down the teapot with a sharp voice.
“Sorry for her”? She almost laughed in disbelief.
Placing a hand dramatically on her chest, Rubia raised her voice.
“You’re saying… I seem pitiful? Me, a princess of Eustian?”
“I’m sorry if that upset you,” Letier replied.
Ah, I said that without thinking…
Only afterward did she realize how presumptuous and impolite her words had been.
“No, please. I’d like to hear it. What about me do you find so pitiful?”
Tilting her head slightly, Rubia leaned back against the plush sofa, folding her arms.
She started to wonder if the young noblewoman across from her was trying to provoke her out of pride.
Faced with the princess’s obvious rejection, Letier looked uneasy before slowly speaking.
“I just thought… you must have spent a long time struggling to reach that conclusion. It must’ve been hard for you.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that? What was so hard, huh?”
“The pain of knowing it’s purely a business relationship, yet not being able to let it go. The pain of having to give up on someone you truly love.”
Letier continued slowly.
“And the pain of having to explain, again and again for the rest of your life, to people like me, about your relationship with Prince Dante, just to make them understand…”
Rubia opened her mouth slightly and stared at her.
“Aren’t you the only daughter of the Lenever family too, Lady Letier? You might have to enter a marriage contract you don’t want someday as well.”
“Yes, that could very well happen. Maybe that’s why I can understand your situation even more.”
Letier answered softly, thinking of her father, alone in their Lenever territory.
“Our burdens may be very different, Princess.”
“I was raised that way from a young age. A loveless marriage isn’t something I see as a tragedy or obstacle.”
Letier said nothing and simply looked at Rubia.
Outwardly, she appeared calm—but her complexion had turned slightly red, and her delicate hands were trembling ever so slightly.
Rubia bit her lower lip and quickly turned her head away.
“Lady Lenever, you’re arrogant and impertinent.”
“…I apologize if my words offended you.”
Letier bowed her head slightly in response.
After a short breath, Rubia muttered quietly.
“But it’s the kind of thought a clueless little girl might have… so I suppose it’s somewhat cute.”
She turned her glimmering green eyes back to Letier, then stood up.
“Since you pity me so much, I suppose I can trust that you won’t try to complicate things between me and Prince Dante. You wouldn’t want to add to the burdens of someone you find pitiful.”
Letier looked up at Rubia, who had suddenly risen from her seat.
It was abrupt—but it was clear this was her way of ending the meeting.
I didn’t even get to drink the tea yet…
Watching her closely, Letier slowly rose to her feet.
“It’s gotten quite late. I hope you understand if I don’t see you out.”
“Not at all. I’m the one who intruded at this late hour.”
Letier gave the princess a respectful bow before turning away.
With her back to Rubia, she shut her eyes tightly.
She didn’t even give me time to have a sip of tea… She must be really upset.
‘Ugh… That’s it, then. Lenever Cosmetics is completely blocked from entering Eustian now…’
****
The next day.
Dante left his room to attend a dinner with King Perez and Princess Rubia.
“Welcome, fiancé.”
As he entered the large dining hall, Rubia, who had arrived first, turned her head to greet him.
Dante gave a curt nod and sat down beside her.
“His Majesty the King is entering.”
At the attendant’s words, Dante and Rubia, who had been sitting silently, rose to their feet.
King Perez entered with a gentle smile, raising his thick hand in a friendly wave.
“Ah, everyone, please be seated, seated! Shall we bring out the food now?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”
“You honor me, Prince. I should apologize for not arranging such a meeting sooner. Please, have a seat.”
Perez glanced warmly at Dante and Rubia, who stood side by side, then took his seat.
Soon, appetizing dishes began to be served before them.
As the maids finished setting everything on the table, Perez turned slightly toward Rubia while pouring wine into his glass.
“So, Rubia, I hear there’s something important you want to say today?”
He smiled subtly at Rubia, making sure Dante wouldn’t notice the signal.
Rubia, noticing her father’s practiced look, smiled back at him.
“Yes, Father. It’s about our engagement—I have a proposal to make.”
At her words, Dante, who had remained indifferent, lifted his eyes.
So this is what it takes to get a reaction.
His gaze said “What are you doing? This wasn’t agreed upon,” but Rubia purposely ignored it.
“Oh? And what might that be?”
Perez asked casually, watching Dante’s expression.
Rubia, too, glanced at Dante seated beside her before slowly opening her lips.
“It’s about our engagement. Soon…”
But her sentence trailed off mid-thought.
The image of Lady Letier Lenever—her pale, round face and innocent-looking eyes—suddenly flashed in her mind.
“…”
“What about the engagement? What’s going to happen soon?”
Perez, unable to wait any longer, subtly pressed her for an answer.
Rubia was supposed to say they should set a wedding date before Prince Dante returned to Trillante.
She was to add that the two had already discussed it thoroughly.
Now, during this secretive Eustian summit, was the perfect time to tie down the prince of Trillante.
He wouldn’t be able to reject them outright.
But Rubia just sat there, blinking blankly with her mouth slightly open.
“Rubia?”
“…”
“Rubia, my dear. Why have you stopped speaking halfway?”
Perez reached out and gently shook his daughter’s arm.
He looked at her with a strained smile.
Finally coming to her senses, Rubia quickly shook her head.
“Ah…”
“So what about the engagement?”
“…Nothing. That pumpkin soup looks delicious. Let’s eat it before it gets cold.”
“…What?”
Perez frowned in confusion.
He couldn’t understand the uncharacteristic behavior of his usually sharp and intelligent daughter.
Rubia forced an awkward smile.
Damn it… That bold noble lady’s words just keep bothering me.
Avoiding her father’s questioning eyes, she picked up her spoon.
The meal ended with no progress made.
King Perez, having finished even the last of the warm coffee, stood with a dissatisfied look.
“Thank you for the meal today, Prince.”
“The pleasure was mine.”
“And you, my daughter… let’s have dinner together more often.”
“Yes, Father.”
Perez quietly looked at Rubia, who stood awkwardly, then turned and left the dining hall.
Once the two of them were alone, Dante spoke first.
“What were you trying to pull back there?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“How could it not be?”
Dante replied while fiddling with the cuff of his uniform sleeve.
Rubia stared at him in silence, then sank back into her chair.
“Now that the summit is over, are you planning to go out and investigate yourself?”
“I should.”
“With that skincare healer?”
At her question, Dante visibly frowned.
“Letier’s not going.”
“Why not?”
“It’s too dangerous.”
A sharp, decisive reply.
Rubia blinked her emerald-green eyes, then spoke again.
“She seems pretty bored inside the palace.”
“You met Letier?”
Rubia didn’t respond. She simply pictured that fair, gentle face with the strangely determined eyes.
“We had a simple cup of tea.”
She expected a reaction, but Dante didn’t say anything special.
Instead, he checked the time on his wristwatch and spoke.
“After I return from the outside investigation, how about we start discussing the engagement annulment?”
“Do you think my father will agree so easily?”
“Maybe not to me—but if it’s his precious daughter’s wish, he might at least pretend to listen.”
Rubia quietly looked at him.
“I’ll go ahead.”
Dante turned without hesitation and headed for the door.
Rubia called after him, speaking to his broad back.
“What about you?”
“What?”
He stopped and turned his head.
“Do you really want to annul the engagement with me?”
