TVWRL Chapter 36

TVWRL Chapter 36

Ilias tilted the parasol towards me to block the sunlight, and we exchanged smiles, as I brushed off the dust from his shoulder.

We captured these tender moments in what was essentially a magical device, like a camera.

While we were busy taking paparazzi-style shots for our “date,” raindrops suddenly started falling from the sky.

“Huh?”

Ilias, startled, spread his robe over my head.

“Let’s go over there, Lin.”

Ilias pointed to the gazebo in the middle of the park.

Under his robe, we ran together towards the gazebo.

Once we reached the shelter, Ilias gently brushed the water off me.

His warmth spread over my cold skin, and I felt a little strange.

“I think we captured some good scenes,”

“Yeah, it feels like even the sky is on our side.”

We smiled brightly, envisioning a hopeful future.

Since the camera could only be used in bright places, we headed home before sunset. We still had to capture the scene of him safely escorting me home.

“I had a great time today, Lin.”

“So did I, As.”

After I went inside, Ilias lingered in front of the house for a while longer. That was part of our plan.

A man who makes sure the lights in my room are on before he leaves, a man who turns back for one last glance. A man in love more deeply than anyone in the world.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

Once I entered the house, all the tension left my body, and I collapsed to the floor.

Perhaps because he was so sharp, or maybe because he had spent so long pretending to deceive the Empress, Ilias’s acting was flawless.

Moreover, his quick thinking made him an ideal business partner.

Ilias was far more capable than I had seen in the original story. In many ways.

‘I’ll do my best to help you become the Emperor safely.’

Though I hadn’t seen much yet, I was sure Ilias would make a great emperor. My determination burned brightly.

* * *

Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!

Hearing the loud knocking on the door, I went outside to find Cordelia and Lady Hyacinth standing there.

“Aaaah! Adeline!”

Both of them stomped their feet and shouted in excitement.

“How could you not tell us about this?!”

I looked at them with a puzzled expression, trying to hide my guilt and pretending not to understand what they were talking about.

“Why are you both here without contacting me? What’s going on?”

“What do you mean, ‘What’s going on’? The whole world is in chaos because of you, Adeline!”

“What? What do you mean? The temple test is tomorrow.”

When I kept playing dumb, Cordelia shoved a newspaper into my hands.

[Exclusive: The First Prince’s First Love! The Object of His Affection is none other than Adeline Senner!]

Under the headline was a photo of our park date, with a caption about the unprecedented, status-defying relationship between a member of the royal family and a commoner.

Below the picture, the article continued, with more photos of us scattered throughout.

[In the year 808 of the Imperial calendar, on one quiet day in a park on the outskirts of the capital…

He may have been wearing a hat, but it’s unmistakably Crown Prince Ilias, whose perfect features cannot be hidden. And under that parasol is none other than Adeline Senner, known for her striking violet hair, the most beautiful in the empire.

Just a few days ago, our newspaper received a tip:

‘I witnessed Crown Prince Ilias and Adeline Senner on a date in the park. The two couldn’t take their eyes off each other and seemed to be enjoying their time together.’

While strolling through the park, Crown Prince Ilias tilted the parasol toward his companion to shield her from the harsh sunlight.

This gentle gesture is something rarely seen in the men of the empire.

When unexpected rain began to fall during their picnic, the first thing Prince Ilias did was wrap Adeline in his robe. The two then ran towards the gazebo, sharing the robe like an umbrella.

Unlike Adeline, who barely got wet, the left side of Prince Ilias was soaked.

However, as if being drenched didn’t matter at all, Prince Ilias only cared about his companion’s well-being.

Perhaps it was because of the rain, but their beautiful date ended before nightfall.

Even after Adeline entered her home, Prince Ilias remained outside for quite some time. Only when the light in her room came on, confirming her safety, did he turn to leave.

Yet, as if reluctant to part, Prince Ilias kept glancing back multiple times.

They say the one who looks back first is the one who’s more in love. It seems our prince has truly fallen deeply for his beloved.]

Cordelia and Lady Hyacinth were watching me closely as I read the article.

Feeling embarrassed, I bit my lip and nervously darted my eyes around. After finishing the article, I looked at them with an uneasy expression.

“What should I do?”

“Is it true?” Cordelia cautiously inquired, but Lady Hyacinth playfully nudged her.

“It’s true if it’s in the newspaper. Since when has the Imperial Gazette ever published anything wrong?”

Covering my flushed cheeks, I replied, “What if this causes trouble for the prince?”

“Oh my! Eeeek! Adeline! So, it’s really true.”

“Even in this situation, you’re worried about him first?”

I felt guilty for deceiving my two closest friends. But some truths must remain hidden to preserve friendships, don’t they?

‘I’m sorry, but I believe you’ll understand once you know my situation.’

The moment the article was published, the entire Kinsteria Empire was thrown into turmoil.

A fairy-tale romance, the love story between the first prince and a commoner, spread rapidly.

Knock, knock!

“Who is it?”

“Adeline, it’s me.”

It was Lily, the wife of the Imperial Gazette’s chief editor.

When I opened the door, Lily stood there with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, Adeline. We published the article without your permission. But as a journalist, I couldn’t ignore the story. And I also thought this might help you in the long run.”

Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t have been strange if anyone was watching, so I invited her inside.

“Let’s talk inside.”

“How about coming to the newspaper office? We’ll publish your side of the story in tomorrow’s issue.”

When I glanced at Lady Hyacinth and Cordelia, they nodded in agreement.

“We’ll come back later. Let’s focus on resolving the bigger issue first.”

“Alright. Thank you for understanding.”

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

I rode Lily’s carriage to the newspaper office, keeping a slightly troubled expression on my face the entire way.

I made sure to show Lily that I was debating whether or not it was the right decision to reveal the truth.

Sensing my hesitation, Lily remained silent, seemingly understanding my situation.

When the carriage stopped and the door opened, I saw Jake, the chief editor, standing there. He extended his hand to escort me out.

“I apologize for not discussing this with you in advance, Adeline.”

I bit my lip slightly and nodded.

“There’s no need to apologize. I understand it’s part of your duty as a journalist.”

‘Everything is going just as I hoped, so there’s no need for apologies,’ I thought to myself as I stepped inside.

Inside the newspaper office, aside from Jake and Lily, several other journalists were present.

The reporters couldn’t hide their curiosity and kept stealing glances at me. It was clear they were barely able to contain their excitement—probably because this was the first scandal of this magnitude they had ever encountered.

I took a seat across from Jake and Lily.

“We wanted to hear your thoughts first, Adeline.”

I planned to acknowledge our relationship clearly and give a positive response to the idea of future articles. However, I didn’t want to appear too eager, so I paused briefly, pretending to deliberate.

Sigh…

I let out a heavy breath and looked at the couple.

“I never imagined something like this would happen. I never thought there would be an article like this—since I’ve never seen one before. Honestly, I feel more guilty towards the prince than anything else.”

Just then, a commotion erupted outside. However, given how crucial this moment was, I ignored the noise and focused on Lily and Jake.

But their expressions suddenly changed, their eyes widening more than I had ever seen before.

‘Did my words really shock them that much?’

As I was mulling over this naive thought, I felt a gentle hand rest on my shoulder. At the same time, Lily and Jake jumped to their feet.

“Your Highness!”

I followed the hand on my shoulder, looking up to find Ilias smiling warmly at me.

“I couldn’t leave my partner to face this alone,”

Ilias sat beside me naturally and gazed at me with kind eyes.

“I should’ve taken care of this sooner. I’m sorry, Lin.”

I could almost hear the journalists, along with Lily and Jake, collectively holding their breath in shock. The sudden appearance of the prince had thrown everyone into a state of confusion.

“That’s alright, As,” I reassured him.

Ilias turned to Lily and Jake, speaking in a much firmer tone, quite different from the gentle one he used with me.

“Winning Lin’s heart was no easy task. I don’t want anything to shake her resolve, so from now on, if there’s any news regarding our relationship, you will consult me first.”

“Y-Yes, we understand,” they stammered.

“Lin, nothing has changed between us, right?” Ilias asked, almost pleadingly, and I answered with a shy smile instead of words.

“How could I not love someone so gracious as you?”

The people from the Imperial Gazette looked as though they were completely overwhelmed by what was happening.

Ilias then returned to his authoritative, princely demeanor as he addressed Lily and Jake.

“I do not want any misunderstandings or false assumptions about our relationship. It would harm Lin more than anyone. You have my permission to continue publishing articles about us, but all content must be verified by us first.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” they replied, clearly still reeling from the situation.

“As a prince, I must support the people’s right to know,” Ilias added.

Lily and Jake, now fully realizing the significance of what they’d just secured, looked elated. They quickly decided to release a series of exclusive articles detailing everything from our first meeting to our entire love story. The couple seemed to be in a daze, as though they had struck gold.

As the conversation ended, Ilias looked back at me, his tone soft once again.

“Shall we leave now, Lin?”

“Yes, As.”

With Ilias guiding me, we made our way outside. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to look at Lily and Jake, who were trailing behind us.

“Thank you. Because of you, our relationship has now been made official.”

I barely managed to keep my mouth from dropping open. Ilias’ performance had far exceeded my expectations.

‘Wait, how are you such a good actor, Your Highness? I thought you were more suited for action roles, but it seems you’re a romance expert!’