“Does Lady Roana Wolford… bother you?”
…Ah, she hadn’t expected that question.
Diana flinched momentarily before raising her hand to touch her face. She whispered back with a troubled expression. “Is it that obvious?”
At her words, Antar suddenly gave a bitter smile. Shaking his head slightly, he spoke with a hint of sadness. “No, that’s not it. It’s just that I…”
His gaze turned towards Diana, who was deep in thought, wondering, ‘Am I the kind of person whose feelings show on their face?’
Her soft profile filled his view. Diana’s eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings each time she blinked, and her lips were a pale pink. He had stared at these features for so long that he felt he could draw them with his eyes closed.
As Antar gazed at Diana’s profile, he muttered softly, “…I just noticed.”
When you like someone, you end up watching their every move. He realized this as he looked at Diana; it wasn’t a conscious action, but something his heart compelled him to do. Even if he tried not to. Even if he scolded himself for harboring feelings he shouldn’t have.
Whenever he came to his senses, he was always looking at Diana. It didn’t matter how many people were around. As long as he turned his head in the direction his heart pulled him, there Diana was. Standing beside Kayden, there was Diana.
“…”
Antar’s eyes deepened with emotion. But Diana, still touching her face, didn’t notice his expression. She soon lowered her hands and awkwardly smiled.
“I shouldn’t be holding on to things like this. After all… it’s just work.” As she spoke, Diana’s face gradually darkened. She ended up trailing off her words.
Yes, Kayden and Roana Wolford were only working together. Kayden hadn’t shown any particular interest in Roana either. Yet, whenever she saw Kayden standing beside Roana, she felt her heart tighten. Considering that she was usually calm in most situations, it was indeed a petty feeling.
Diana gave a self-deprecating smile. Seeing that smile, Antar felt a pang in his chest and, without thinking, blurted out.
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“…Huh?”
“If it’s someone you like… isn’t it natural to care about every little thing they do and to feel anxious? At least, that’s how I see it.”
Antar, who normally wasn’t so talkative, spoke at length. Every word he said came from the feelings he had while watching Diana. So perhaps, in a way, this was a sort of self-justification. Whether he held her in his heart or tried to push her out, he couldn’t control it.
As Antar continued speaking, Diana blinked and then gave a subtle smile.
“Oh my, how do you know so much about those feelings, Sir Antar? Is there someone you like?” She playfully teased, lightly poking Antar’s shoulder with her finger.
As he looked at her mischievous smile, Antar felt a flood of emotions. He wanted to grab her shoulders right then and there and tell her that she was the one in his heart. But if he did that, he would end up ruining everything.
Even if I set aside my feelings for her, she’s… my benefactor. In the end, all he could do was hide his painful feelings behind a smile and change the subject.
“…Ah, it seems the farmers over there are calling for you, Your Highness.”
* * *
Not only is his accuracy impeccable, but the speed of his work is also remarkable. Meanwhile, after the third princess consort, Diana, had left, Roana Wolford glanced at Kayden, admiring him inwardly.
The story of the third prince, Kayden, had been a hot topic ever since his marriage. The rumors spread quickly, even to this remote area far from the capital. Roana had initially thought those rumors were greatly exaggerated. After all, the stories about Kayden were always just praises. Outstanding looks, imperial dignity and grace, exceptional martial skills and sociability, and even a noble character.
Roana had always dismissed her friends’ excitement, thinking that no one could be that perfect. But all her assumptions shattered the moment Kayden stepped out of the carriage earlier.
“Wife, take it.”
The way he looked at his wife, Diana, was so sweet it could melt honey.
Roana was stunned first by witnessing the affection between the third prince and his consort and then by how his appearance was even more striking than the rumors suggested. But the surprises didn’t end there. Unlike other imperials who had visited the Wolford barony before, Kayden approached his work with a seriousness that set him apart.
It was enough to be grateful that an imperial was taking their work seriously in such a rural place. Still, Kayden also had a remarkable understanding and mastery of his duties. He felt like someone she had worked with for a long time, even though they had just met.
Kayden’s qualities inevitably made Roana’s heart flutter. In fact, for any woman of their age, Kayden was the kind of man who could stir such feelings. But Roana quickly quelled those emotions. Perhaps it was natural.
After Diana left, Kayden’s demeanor noticeably changed. It wasn’t that he became rude. He remained polite, pleasant, and kind. But there was a significant difference when he looked at Diana.
I guess it’s not going to work out for me. Roana realized this face not long after Diana disappeared. And she quickly gave up on her feelings. Being human, she did feel a moment of excitement. Still, she didn’t want to feel the burning sensation of longing for a man who was already deeply in love with someone else.
In a way, it was fortunate that she had witnessed how Kayden looked at Diana with eyes that seemed to melt. It made it easier for her to give up before she started harboring any futile hopes.
It feels like it’s been an hour… Meanwhile, Kayden anxiously checked his watch as he reviewed documents. It felt like Diana had been gone for over an hour, but only about 20 minutes had passed. I have a bad feeling.
On the day he had spent with the empress and the first prince and his wife, after finishing archery practice with Fleur and returning to the villa, Diana seemed somewhat subdued. Of course, she responded when he spoke to her, and she smiled when he joked, but it felt like that was all.
I hope Millard Sudsfield didn’t say anything inappropriate…
Kayden unconsciously tightened his grip, causing the corner of the document he was holding to crumple slightly. He had been investigating the reason for Diana’s change in behavior and learned from Fleur that she had met Millard that day.
Given Millard’s disdain for the illegitimate child and support for Rebecca, Kayden grew even more anxious, suspecting he hadn’t said anything kind to Diana. So, he tried to stay by Diana’s side as much as possible. It was already hard enough to avoid divorce by staying close and tempting her.
I sent Diana away because I thought she wouldn’t like being kept here, but I can’t help worrying.
Driven by his anxiety, Kayden furiously processed his work at an incredible speed. And as soon as he finished checking the last ledger, he quickly stood up and went to find Diana.
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