“Episode 20”
“It feels like a dream, and it hurts my heart. I was just being kind, but I guess I’m too naive and ignorant of the world…”
What?
I felt my body stiffen at that voice.
Me, following you all the way till the end—well, technically making a fool of you—but what’s all this about?
“Well, it must be urgent, Alicia is already twenty-three. I imagine Viscount Blanche must be quite worried.”
Lucas’s words mixed with concern and annoyance, eliciting laughter from the men gathered nearby, including the family of the person who sent me a threatening letter.
“Is there something wrong with His Majesty? It’s Blanche Lady who’s dreaming big about her childhood friend, not me.”
“Exactly. And her jealousy…”
Talking behind my back, aren’t they?
Jealousy? I’ve never been jealous!
But Lucas just laughed leisurely, swirling his glass provocatively.
Throwing a bomb at me and still trying to keep up appearances.
“Let’s not be too hard on everyone. Shouldn’t we be understanding of Lady’s reluctance to wake up from her dream?”
What, excuse me?
Daydreaming? Are they implying I’m delusional?!
I had anticipated it, but hearing such words directly made my head spin.
Should’ve kept it down, Lucas Medlerike!
Normally, I would have held back, especially as a noble lady.
But—whack!
The moment I regained my senses, I was fiercely slapping his cheek with all my strength.
The sharp pain in my hand, his dumbfounded expression, all overwhelmed me.
After all I’ve done for you, for you to…!
The injustice made my throat burn with anger.
But the next moment, my heart crumbled even further.
“How dare you do this, Alicia!”
Lucas shouted angrily.
How dare, how dare?
When I opened my eyes to look at him, he yelled at me with an arrogant face.
“Even though we’ve been close since childhood, isn’t this too rude?”
I heard murmurs from the surrounding nobles.
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s too rude.”
“It’s a lesson for those who don’t know their place.”
Seriously, even you, my favorite guy, or rather, by now, isn’t it my fault for being easily swayed?
No, it’s your fault for making me feel ashamed of my affection!
With a sense of empowerment, Lucas exhaled shortly, then spoke with an arrogant attitude.
“Well, since everyone’s saying that, there’s nothing I can do. After all, nobles should know how to take responsibility.”
That smug smile, a mixture of expectation when he plays his mischievous tricks, only I knew.
“So, if you sincerely apologize here, I’ll overlook it. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Oh my, you’re really, really pathetic. You.
It became incredibly, incredibly dismal.
After devoting myself for over a decade, this is the result.
Since I’m already being charged with royal disobedience, why not let loose for real?
Even if I’m going to cause an accident.
No, just do it! Sometimes people don’t think about consequences!
With that thought, I clenched my fist tightly.
“I think perhaps Your Highness is mistaken.”
A low yet firm voice was heard.
Approaching steadily, he reached out and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, smiling at Lucas.
“Lady Blanche was only trying to rid you of the bug stuck to your cheek.”
My mind, raging like a volcano, suddenly calmed down in an instant. When I looked up, I met Joshua’s gentle purple eyes. A hint of moisture was felt in his always well-kept blond hair. Was he in a hurry? Even though the spirits had said this morning that they were still quite far from the capital…
Even his usually perfect cravat seemed oddly askew.
He tried to play it cool, but I couldn’t help but notice that his breathing was off.
“Could it be because of me?”
It might sound like an overblown sense of self, but somehow, I felt sorry.
If Joshua had been even a little late, I might have caused a bloodbath with Lucas.
“Joshua?”
Lucas, dumbfounded by his sudden appearance, barely regained his composure.
“Why are you already…?”
“The Emperor’s orders must be carried out as soon as possible and returned. Surely you don’t think my early return is a problem, Lucas?”
Joshua Prince retorted with a sarcastic smile.
I thought about it last time too, but this person tends to hit the nail on the head without beating around the bush.
Well, there’s no point in telling simple Lucas straight, he wouldn’t understand…
“But, there’s no way…”
Lucas, who understood easily thanks to Joshua’s clear words, couldn’t hide his astonishment and betrayal as he looked back and forth between me and Joshua.
His eyes were filled with confusion and betrayal.
Just a moment ago, he was busy scolding me, and now he was at a loss for words.
Finally, he hesitantly spoke up, still in shock.
“But Joshua, you’re being rude. I was having a private conversation with Alicia. It’s not appropriate for you to intervene like this.”
“Is that so? It seemed to me that you were bothering Lady Blanche, who was just chasing away the bug.”
Joshua’s gaze shifted lazily from Lucas to the other nobles.
“It seems there are too many people with bad intentions here, don’t you think?”
“Bug? How can such a thing be in the palace—”
“The palace is where people live.”
I almost burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
It became childish because it was Lucas, maybe, but the content became trivial.
As I was about to suppress my laughter and turn away, Joshua grabbed my hand, kissed me on the lips, and provocatively spoke to Lucas.
It was exactly the opposite of the theater before.
“Also, on a day like this, I think it’s only natural for me to protect Lady Blanche. Isn’t that right, Lucas?”
“What?”
“After all, Lady Blanche is my dance partner for today’s ball.”
After saying that, Joshua whispered to me, more like in a low voice that everyone could hear.
Of course, it was more of a whisper, but still.
It seems like everyone is misunderstanding, and it’s really upsetting. Blanche didn’t want to be misunderstood. He rarely meets with you, and he even hesitated to request me as his partner several times.”
“Your Highness…”
“But please understand? I rushed back because I wanted to spend time with you.”
When I smiled wryly at his words, he whispered in a voice only I could hear.
“You can just nod. I’ll take care of everything even if you don’t make an effort.”
Suddenly, a thought came to mind.
Long ago, I had complained to an unknown squire, saying, “I prefer someone who becomes the best without me having to worry about it. It’s exhausting to have to worry about everything from one to ten just to achieve results!”
So, as if possessed, I found myself nodding at Joshua Prince’s words without even realizing it.
He pulled me closer and addressed the others.
“Do you have anything else to say to Lady Blanche? Perhaps to complain about my kindness to the extent of…”
Joshua Prince’s voice trailed off.
“You wouldn’t be so narrow-minded as to complain about a childhood friend, would you, the broad-minded ‘Lucas Medleik’?”
It was a clear defeat for Lucas Medleik.
No one could stop Joshua and me from leaving together.
Even those who had been laughing just moments ago seemed to have lost their voices and simply watched the situation.
While the noble youth, unfamiliar with the capital, might be easily swayed, it was not so for the Prince, who had experienced all sorts of trials and tribulations.
When I unknowingly showed a puzzled expression, a small laugh came from beside me.
“Sorry for dragging you into this.”
“…Excuse me?”
“But Lady Blanche could have handled it alone, right?”
Where Joshua Prince took me was not the ballroom, but the lounge that Regina had shown us earlier.
I didn’t know when he had arrived, but Regina left us with two cocktails and some finger foods and vacated the room.
“But I got a little jealous.”
“…Jealousy?”
Why would he use that word now?
When I looked at him with a puzzled expression, Joshua Prince laughed again.
Was my expression really that amusing?
“Because even you don’t know everything about me.”
“Um…”
Yeah, that’s true.
Strangely, every year when an unknown squire followed me around, I felt relieved and unintentionally revealed my true character.
“It’s even more disappointing to have fewer things to monopolize when you can’t remember me.”
Joshua Prince rested his chin on his hand and looked at me intently.
Under the chandelier, Joshua Prince’s golden hair sparkled.
How has this person managed to live without making a single mistake so far? Especially when he spills misleading words so easily like this?
