For a few days after arriving at Itidian, Pristin did not leave the room in order to recover.
Instead, Claret came to Pristin’s room every day, and Pristin understood Claret’s mind in exile for the first time.
‘Perhaps that’s reason why the princess loves me continuously.’
Being alone all day, she could truly appreciate how precious it was to have someone come to her. Nevertheless, she realized that she wasn’t entirely insignificant to Claret.
Then, not only Claret came to visit but also someone else.
“Countess, we have a guest.”
If Aruvina said this, it had to be one of two people. Pristin asked, narrowing her brow.
“Could it be His Majesty?”
“Oh…”
Aruvina asked with a surprised look.
“How did you know?”
He came every day at this time. It was more outrageous not to notice it because it was repeated for about three days. Pristin asked with an expression as if she wanted to hear the answer.
“What brings him here this time?”
Jerald never visited without a reason. If he came without reason, he would always come up with an excuse, as if afraid of being rejected by Pristin.
“Well, he didn’t tell me that much.”
The problem was that the reasons he gave often were not very solid. Anyway, Pristin had to open the door again this time. Shortly after, Jerald walked toward her with a smiling face.
“Good afternoon, Pristin.”
“Greetings to the sun…”
“No, stay seated.”
Jerald quickly gestured.
“I didn’t come here to greet a person with injured feet.”
“…I greet the sun.”
In the end, Pristin, who replaced the greeting with a simple silent tribute, asked Jerald.
“What’s up?”
“By now, haven’t I adapted to coming at this time every day?”
“…Yes. Definitely.”
Pristin replied quietly.
“But you always come with a reason.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be kicked out if there’s no reason.”
“…So, what about today? What’s the reason?”
Pristin looked at Jerald with scrutinizing eyes, and unexpectedly, Jerald felt his heart pounding at such a gaze.
Despite having seen her face and eyes countless times, occasionally, in unexpected moments, she managed to captivate people, leaving them speechless.
It was a problem different from the feeling of a pounding heart when she was near. Jerald felt it was quite serious.
“…Your Majesty?”
At the sight of Jerald staring at her without saying anything, Pristin called him with a puzzled look. Even after being called by Pristin once, Jerald remained in a daze for a moment before finally coming to his senses.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
He raised what he was holding with a fake cough. Pristin narrowed her eyes as she looked at it.
“What’s that?”
“Lemon tart.”
With a lemony, refreshing smile, Jerald placed the box of tart on the table. Pristin looked at it curiously.
“It’s freshly baked. It’s warm.”
“Every time, there’s a reason for dessert.”
Pristin murmured in a small voice.
“Someone who doesn’t even like dessert.”
“Huh…”
Jerald asked in a slightly embarrassed voice.
“How do you know that?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“I’ve never made it obvious.”
Jerald stuttered with a bewildered look.
“Even in the Perk Empire, when we were dating, we always went to cafes.”
“I can quickly figure that out if we meet for a few months.”
Pristin didn’t say much as if the deduction wasn’t great.
“When you eat, you don’t make the happy expression that people who like dessert have in common.”
When Jerald heard it, he looked very surprised, and Pristin somehow got embarrassed and quickly spoke.
“I just made a passing comment.”
“No, I’m a little moved.”
“In what way?”
“It seems like I wasn’t the only one who loved.”
To Jerald’s reply, Pristin was at a moment lost for words and looked at him. He seemed a little pleased.
“You did have some interest in me, didn’t you?”
And Pristin, who looked at him, felt angry without realizing it.
“…I have never denied my time in Perk.”
Pristin emphasized the fact, as if to make it clear.
“I simply suggested leaving that time as a cherished memory.”
“And I have no intention of doing that.”
Jerald, who calmly responded, sat on the sofa opposite Pristin. Pristin opened the box and stared at Jerald, who took out the tart.
As soon as he opened the paper box, a sweet and sour smell came out. Her mouth was watering.
“I’m not particularly fond of desserts.”
Jerald said, picking up a tart and offering it to Pristin.
“But I do like having desserts with someone I love. A lot.”
“…”
“Let’s eat. It looks delicious.”
“…Thank you.”
Pristin carefully picked up the tart. Taking a small bite, she could immediately taste the full flavor of lemon that filled her mouth. Even in this situation, the tart offered a delightful taste.
After savoring the flavor for a moment, Pristin asked Jerald.
“So, are you not going to eat?”
“Just looking at it is enough for me.”
Jerald stared at Pristin with his chin raised and his head tilted.
“If you want, I’ll have one.”
“I have no intention of forcing you to eat.”
Then, suddenly, Pristin thought of Claret.
“Oh, Princess Claret would probably like this too.”
“So you’re not going to call her here, are you?”
“Can’t I?”
“It’s our time alone.”
Jerald smiled gently.
“I really like my little sister, but let’s spare her today. Besides, Claret isn’t a fan of lemons.”
“Really?”
“No, just kidding.”
Seeing Pristin’s bewildered expression, Jerald laughed softly. His refreshing laughter was as lively as a lemon.
“This time isn’t so bad either, right? You can’t go out and feel stuffy, right?”
“Her Highness often comes to visit. And…”
“Countess.”
Then, Aruvina quickly approached Pristin, and whispered something into her ear. Pristin’s expression briefly colored with bewilderment.
She immediately whispered something back to Aruvina.
Jerald, who had been staring at them, asked with one eyebrow raised.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Pristin brushed it off, but Jerald didn’t withdraw his suspicious gaze.
“Do you whisper when it’s nothing?”
“…”
“Aruvina.”
“It’s no big deal, Your Majesty, but there’s just another guest.”
“Another guest?”
Jerald asked, raising his head.
“Who is it?”
“It’s…”
“Lord Bachell.”
Pristin answered on behalf of Aruvina, who was at a loss. And at that moment, Jerald’s expression hardened.
“Lord Bachell?”
“Yes.”
“Why is he here?”
“It’s nothing important.”
Pristin replied, pretending to be as nonchalant as possible.
“He probably came to help with the ankle recovery.”
“I guess the treatment didn’t end on the first day, right?”
“It’s not something that heals quickly.”
“He’s not coming every day, is he?”
Jerald asked with a hint of concern, and Pristin hesitated. In the brief silence, Jerald found the answer and chuckled.
“It seems Lord Bachell is quite interested in you.”
“It’s just a gesture, Your Majesty. We’re colleagues in the herbal garden.”
“Pristin, you don’t understand men too well.”
Jerald shook his head with a deep sigh.
“Do you want to bet with me? Whether the lord is interested in you or not.”
“Why would you bet on something like that?”
“Because I think you’re treating the lord too carelessly.”
“Because I don’t care much about the lord.”
Pristin said, looking at Jerald with a dry expression.
“So, whatever worries you may have, it’s meaningless.”
“While it’s reassuring for me that you say that…”
“Of course, Your Majesty, I have no personal interest in the lord.”
“Which is not very reassuring.”
Jerald looked at Pristin without malice.
“Anyway, I don’t feel good about it.”
“Your Majesty is overly jealous.”
“It can’t be helped. I was born this way.”
“…”
“So what are you going to do with Lord Bachell?”
“If you tell him that His Majesty is here, he will come again next time.”
“No need for that.”
Jerald flicked his fingers and spoke to Aruvina.
“Let him in now.”
“Right now, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. No need to entertain two guests twice. Besides, she’s not in good health.”
“I’m not bedridden with illness, Your Majesty.”
“Anyway. Your feet are uncomfortable, too.”
Jerald continued to insist.
“And I haven’t seen Lord Bachell’s face in a while.”
“…”
Every time he saw him, he disapproved. Pristin, feeling awkward with every visit and this ridiculous lie, looked bewildered.
“I’m not sure if Lord Bachell thinks that way.”
“It’s all right, Pristin, for there will be nothing to worry about.”
Jerald spoke in a gentle voice, and in the end Pristin sighed once, and then spoke to Aruvina.
“Tell him to come in since it’s fine with His Majesty, Aruvina.”
“Yes, Countess.”
And in a moment.
“Your Excellency.”
Akkad entered the room where Pristin was, with a smile on his face. He greeted Jerald, who was opposite Pristin, first, with his usual gentle expression.
“I greet the sun of the empire. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I didn’t know the lord would come here either.”
“Because Countess Rosewell’s ankle doesn’t seem to be healing as quickly as anticipated.”
Akkad spoke smoothly as if he had prepared his response in advance.
“Because of that, I’m sorry that she can’t even work at her favorite herbal garden, so I’m visiting every day.”
“Every day. You’re truly dedicated, Lord.”
“There’s a lot of work to do with Countess Rosewell.”
Akkad smiled and responded casually.
“We’ve decided to go for herb gathering together in the forest.”
“…What?”
Jerald’s expression quickly turned sour at his words, and Pristin inwardly sighed.
As expected, these two should not meet, for various reasons.
