As I stepped out of the mansion and entered the promenade, I addressed Eden.
“Prince Eden! I don’t need any books as gifts from now on, so I hope you don’t bother me again by appearing out of the blue like this.”
“Oh no, oh no! I came today only because I have an important appointment with your father. I hope there are no misunderstandings.”
An important appointment?
Tch! He’s lying.
What appointment could you possibly have with my father?
“I see. Then we won’t see each other again, will we?”
I asked, making eye contact with him, as if hoping for a definite answer.
“Well, I’ll show up if there’s something worth seeing… and don’t you have memories you want me to help you forget? I remember saying I could help you forget.”
“…”
Whether you remember or not doesn’t matter. We just don’t need to see each other again.
Without a response, I glared at him with an irritated expression. Eden continued, seemingly unaffected.
“I have a feeling I’ll encounter Lady Kailyn again, whether in Everen or my own country, Darkus Empire. That’s why I brought the book as a gift to look good, but you seem to have a different idea from me.”
“…”
Yeah, it’s different! It’s very different.
We won’t see each other again, especially not in the way described in the novel.
You’ve already appeared in front of me more frequently than in the novel.
Eden continued talking while looking at me, who had my mouth closed because I couldn’t say, ‘Let’s stop meeting.’
“I’ll see you again, Lady Kailyn, whether in Everren or the Darkus Empire.”
I’ll never see you again!
There’s no reason for me to go all the way to the Darkus Empire just to see you.
Oh, but considering your words about meeting in the Darkus Empire, are you planning to leave soon?
“Are you returning to the Darkus Empire?”
“Very soon.”
You’re leaving.
It was good to hear that.
Feeling even better, I answered politely.
“Then, please take care on your way back. Stay healthy.”
Stay healthy and live well.
And don’t get hurt when fighting with Calix later.
I don’t know if you’re injured or not since your circumstances are not explained in detail, and I can’t be sure if you’ll get hurt.
“It seems like I’m bidding farewell as if we won’t meet again. When will we meet again, I wonder.”
Eden rambled on with a strangely cheerful expression.
Why is he so happy?
I couldn’t understand his emotions as I gazed at him, my head tilted. Eden, with a satisfied nod, began to walk on his way.
As his distant appearance became smaller and smaller in my sight, I felt my heart becoming lighter and lighter.
When he completely disappeared from my sight in time, I hurried back home.
It was a while ago that I was embarrassed by him bringing a book, and now I had to read the received book.
Finally! The mental nourishment and visual enjoyment are awaiting!
I carefully unwrapped the book, layer by layer, with dedication.
‘Lady Yvette’s…’
Exactly! Lady Yvette’s…
‘!!!!!!!’
Come on!
You punk!!!!!!!!!!!
I expelled even the maids, gently embraced the book, entered the room while locking the door, and within the unwrapped wrapping paper, the title of the book was revealed to be ‘Lady Yvette’s Introduction to Philosophy for Elegance.’
This rascal…
My tightly clenched fist trembled.
*****
After being stopped by Eden the day before and huffing around without taking a walk, I left the house the next day to regain my composure and go for a walk again.
But when I left the front door, a colorful carriage came in front of the house and stopped.
Who is it?
The carriage door opened and a middle-aged man got off.
He approached me and said.
“Are you Lady Kailyn, the daughter of Duke Brockburg? I wonder where you are headed.”
“Yes… who…?”
I wasn’t sure whether it was appropriate to ask who he was.
Fortunately, it seemed my reaction wasn’t too unusual, as he promptly introduced himself.
“You don’t seem to remember me. I am Marquis Rastus Kerkain. I have come to visit your father, Duke Brockburg.”
“Oh… hello? My father is inside. I’m just going out for a walk, so I’ll see you next time.”
Although he told me his name, I still didn’t know who he was.
He just mentioned his name as if I should know.
With a nod at my words, he headed towards the entrance, and I continued on my walking path.
*****
Rastus Kerkain.
Kerkain… Who was it?
I was certain of the names I had written in the character relationship chart.
However, I couldn’t exactly recall who this person was.
Marquis Kerkain… Marquis… Kerkain?
Oh!
It’s him!
I finally remembered who he was.
The Emperor, Calix’s father, was Klaus Everetian, and shortly after Calix’s birth, the Empress, who was Calix’s birth mother, passed away.
After her death, the Emperor remarried shortly and had a son with the new Empress.
The new Empress’s name was Reiner Kerkain.
She became the Empress shortly after Calix’s birth, and not long after that, she gave birth to a son.
The son of the concubine was Leon, who is now the Grand Duke.
And the new empress had a younger brother.
Rastus Kerkain.
The man who visited my house was none other than Rastus Kerkain, the younger brother of the new and current Empress, Reiner Kerkain.
Despite my strong demand for my father to support Calix, for some unknown reason, he persisted with the previous plan.
So, he probably came to establish a solid relationship between my father and the Empress, who had participated in the previous rebellion conspiracy.
It felt like a red traffic light in my head, and my heart pounded.
Why did my father maintain such close ties with the Empress’s faction even after my love for Leon, who had become the initial motivation for the rebellion conspiracy, disappeared?
I couldn’t understand why.
Perhaps my father believed that Leon’s future as the Grand Duke was more secure than Calix’s.
Did you step too deep to break your promise to the empress?
Or was it challenging to break the agreement once it had been made?
Was my father more convinced that Leon, the son of Reiner, was a more promising candidate than Calix?
Or was it because the change in the relationship between Calix and me didn’t show externally?
I pondered various reasons.
Maybe all these reasons were why my father couldn’t change his mind.
All I could do, then, was let my father see for himself that Calix loved me and that I loved him.
When was the next time I would see Calix?
Ah, the jousting competition!
In the novel I wrote, the next episode was the Imperial-sponsored jousting competition.
And that competition was just a few days away.
Having become more impatient and anxious by the visit of Marquis Rastus Kerkain, I resolved to express my affection more actively to Calix in the upcoming jousting competition.
Although Calix had successfully feigned disinterest in me during the previous Imperial party, by now, his desire for me was undoubtedly burning.
Wait for me, Calix!
I’ll work harder for you and for me!
*****
Finally, the day of the annual Imperial jousting competition, an event in the Everetian Empire, arrived.
It was a tournament match where participants engaged in serious combat with wooden spears, even though they were not real. Despite being made of wood, the matches were intense, with a risk of injury, making it no easy competition.
Before the competition began, the participants marched once around the oval-shaped arena and aligned themselves at the center.
The edge of the arena had tiered spectator seats, and the audience cheered, roared, and applauded when the participating contestants marched by.
Single men and women of Everetian eagerly anticipated this annual jousting competition. The reason was the procession, where women in the audience could tie their handkerchiefs to the spear shafts of the participants to express their interest or confess their love. Similarly, men could use this opportunity to express their feelings and confess their love to the ladies, tying handkerchiefs for good luck.
It was a public event of youthful romance.
Naturally, in my novel, Kailyn ties a handkerchief to Leon’s spear in this match.
And when Calix sees the scene, he attacks Leon as if to kill him, and Leon suffered from the injuries for several months.
But of course I was going to tie my handkerchief to the spear of Calix, not Leon.
I have no choice but to help him, who is weak at confessing his love.
He was still not showing his obsession with me, but our relationship progress was urgent for him, who was suffering, and for me, who had to survive.
Leon was behind Calix, followed by a number of aristocratic men and knights on horseback circling the stands.
I sprayed a lot of petal perfume and held a scented handkerchief tightly in my hand, waiting for Calix to reach me.
Finally, Calix’s words, which were getting closer, passed right in front of the stands where I sat.
“Prince…”
It was the moment I tried to call the Crown Prince.
“Kailyn!”
It was Leon.
Leon, who was immediately following the crown prince, stood in front of me and called my name.
Oh no! Go away! Go away!
Calix is watching.
You’re going to die by Calix’s hands in the rebellion anyway, but please don’t drag me into it.
I cast a cold gaze at Leon and quickly turned my head to scan Calix’s face.
Oh?
He was just in front of me until a moment ago, where did he go?
Calix had already passed by me and continued his march, seemingly carefree.
Did he just leave like that?
Without acknowledging my handkerchief?
No, seriously, why is he like that?
Hey, just show your feelings now!
I’m not the Kailyn in the novel.
Looking at Calix’s back, I internally vented my frustration.
Meanwhile, Leon continued to wait.
“Kailyn Brockburg, will you give me a handkerchief?”
What nonsense.
The attention of the crowd focused on Leon and me.
At that moment, Calix, who had been ahead, turned his head slightly, glancing alternately at me and Leon.
Well, of course!
If I tie my handkerchief for Leon, he’ll probably get angry, right?
Confirming Calix’s gaze, I intended to refuse Leon.
However, before I could utter a word of refusal, Calix turned his head and continued to move forward in the direction he was heading!
‘!!!!!’
Oh no!
I was going to turn down Leon now, but I can’t stand it and turn my head…
On one hand, it was disappointing, but looking at Leon waiting in front, irritation overwhelmed me.
I had clearly responded to his engagement letter, stating that I would break it off. I had expressed my position clearly that I no longer loved him and supported the current crown prince…
Why couldn’t he let go of his lingering attachments?
I had written about Leon as a passionate young man, not the boy consumed by the first love of pure passion.
What should I do?
With Leon blatantly asking for a handkerchief and the many eyes watching us…
The gazes of the people were still on Leon and me, especially the gaze of the Empress sitting next to the Emperor felt piercing.
Empress…
No, this can’t happen!
Pull yourself together! Never show any signs of participating in the rebellion!
I firmly resolved and spoke to Leon.
“Grand Duke Leon, I wish you the best of luck, but my handkerchief…”
I was about to say I’d give it to Luke, my biological brother.
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared next to Leon and spoke along with him.
‘!!!’
It was Prince Eden Darkus.
What! What’s going on with him again?
Didn’t he say he was going back to his country?
Why is he suddenly here?
But more awkward than his sudden appearance was what Eden said next.
“Your handkerchief was promised to me, Kailyn.”
What did you say?
I’m giving you a handkerchief?
When did I ever say that?!!
