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nLina kept hesitating, but reluctantly sat down across the table. She felt awkward only briefly. When I broke the ice, she quickly began to chat with me excitedly. Tilting my mug, I was listening while she was chatting, and at one point she clapped her hands as if she suddenly recalled something.

n“Oh, my lady. I accidently looked out the window, bringing refreshments here. I saw Verita and Lars together. Did you know that?”

n“Yes, they said they had something to say between themselves. Why, what happened? ”

n“Well, the atmosphere didn’t look good. Verita was telling him something, but Lars was frowning a lot as if he wanted to hit.”

n“Really? Where are they?”

nI thought as Allendis was always kind and calm, he would not cause any trouble. I wish I had stopped them going out. When I was about to stand up hurriedly, Lina, who was excited a lot, shook her hand and said, “It must be because of his jealousy. Both of them knew clearly that they had the same woman in mind. So, obviously they were trying to check against each other.”

n“Jealousy?” ‘What? What the heck is that?’ I grinned in spite of myself at Lina’s guesswork.

nThese days Lina had been avidly reading romance novels, and perhaps she seemed to think about me in the context of my relationship with Verita and Lars.

nIn fact, reading romance novels in the empire is, in principle, banned, but romance novels were getting very popular among nobles as well as those commoners who were literate. So, on the days when a famous writer’s new romance novel is released, bookstores all over the country are crowded with noblewomen. The most popular contents are mainly about the love between the nobles and commoners or between the knight and a lady. Recently, Madame Gem’s < After the Moon Rises and Wanes Seven Times> was extremely popular.

n“Nonsense. Why would they be jealous because of me?”

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n“Well, I am not sure about Lars, but obviously Verita likes you. Because a new man appeared while Verita was away, as you know. That’s why Lars hates him very much. I’m not sure, but I think Verita told him something that rubbed him the wrong way.”

n“Well, Allendis and I are just friends. Besides, as a polite and well-mannered man, I don’t think Allendis said something mean to him.”

n“How come you and Verita are just friends? I know he has proposed to you.”

n“Oh, no. It’s not anything like a proposal. He cracked some jokes to break the ice when we first met. You know, a guy wouldn’t like me from the beginning.”

nI know I don’t have any charm to attract a man. Perhaps that’s why he had never looked at me even though I dearly cared for him. He repeatedly said I was such a cold and heartless woman, telling me I meant nothing to him. When I recalled my heartbreaking memories related to him, I smiled bitterly in spite of myself.

n“What the hell are you talking about? Don’t you know how wonderful our lady is?”

nDid she notice I felt under the weather? When Lina hastily tried to say something, the door was flung open.

n“Hey, you!”

n“What the heck is going on here?”

n“What is the matter with you, Lars?”

n“I told you earlier that I would talk to you like I used to.”

n“Are you kidding me? How is he related to you? ”

n“Are you talking about Allen?”

n“Yes! That dumb bastard! ”

nWith a sigh I lifted the mug. What’s the matter again? My head throbbed, so I was drinking tea silently. But the boy took a seat that Lina just left and said as if he felt frustrated, “Don’t ignore me! Anyway, you’d better keep a distance from that guy.”

n“What do you mean?”

n“That guy is really a nerd. Well… ”

nI frowned when he was slandering Allendis behind his back. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I was going to rebuke him after putting down my mug when Allendis cut in, “Are you referring to me, Lars?”

nWhen I met his eyes, Allendis slightly lowered his head and said, “Oh, I’m sorry I came in without your permission, Tia.”

n“Oh, that’s fine, Allen, do you want tea? ”

n“What kind of tea? Ah, it’s lemon-balm. Sure.”

nAllendis sat next to me before I knew it and nodded when he saw my mug placed on the table. I told Lina to bring one more teacup, who was standing on one side.

n“What happened? I heard that the atmosphere was not good. ”

n“Huh? No. I was surprised that I could have a good conversation with him. I find he is very discerning in some respects. Don’t you think so, Lars?”

n“Gosh, don’t say that.”

nI tilted my head when Lars wiggled his eyes at Allendis’s sarcastic compliment.

nDid anything really happen between them? Allendis was too calm for that. If something bad had happened like Lina said, Lars would not have sat on his hands. Well, it was not a big deal, I thought. They could ignore any slight differences in opinion.

nI stopped getting lost in idle thoughts like that when I saw Lina coming in with a teapot and a mug of hot water. I took out well dried leaves and brewed the tea. Allendis was reading the book I took out while Lars was staring at him in frustration. I poured tea in their cups and put a piece of white cake in my mouth.

nWhile I was enjoying the taste of the cream that melted like snow, I raised my head when something came to my mind.

n“Allen.”

n“Huh? Why, Tia? ”

n“Remember the letter you sent me? What was that special gift that you mentioned would be delivered to my house? You mentioned something white, warm and sweet. ”

n“Oh, haven’t you figured it out yet? Well, I’m a bit disappointed to know that.”

n“Huh? What is the answer? ”

n“Well, of course it’s me. As you know, I’m a warm and sweet guy, with fair skin.”

n“See! He is crazy, man. What ridiculous bull** are you saying…”

n“Oh, was that what you meant?” I smiled at Lars who was looking at Allen scornfully and Allen was grinning at me without paying any attention to Lars at all.

n“Well, it’s a really special gift. Where can I find a special gift as nice as a friend I haven’t seen in a long time?”

nAt that moment the butler came in without knocking on the door and gave me a letter.

n‘Who sent this?’ When I received the luxurious white envelope, the crest imprinted on the envelope caught my eye. A roaring lion. I stiffened unconsciously. I felt as if my heart stopped.

n“Ugh, it’s an imperial crest, isn’t it?”

nWhen Lars spoke with a suspicious look, Allendis took his eyes off the book. Looking at the crest, he looked at me with concern, “Are you okay, Tia?”

n“Oh, yes. I’m fine. Whew! ”

nAfter taking a deep breath, I opened the seal. I bit my lip while reading the long letter.

nI have been preparing for it since the New Year came in, but I became hopeless when I realized that the day was approaching.

nWhat should I do now? Now that my father is away, how can I get out of my fate?

n“Why do you look pale? Any bad news? ”

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n“No, nothing like that, but…”

n“Then, what is it? What’s the matter?”

n“Are you sure you are okay? What the heck is troubling you this time…?”

nI handed the letter to Alendis, who slurred. After reading it silently, he sighed and put it down. Lars also grabbed the letter and asked, tilting his head, “Huh? What the heck is this? You have to attend the crown prince’s coming-of-age ceremony? Besides, they are sending a royal tailor to measure you and make a dress. I thought you’re twelve. Why do you have to go there?”

n“Because I am the crown prince’s fiancée.”

n“Oh, I see. Come to think of it, you are the crown prince’s fiancée… Damn it. It’s not time I wasted my energy on the wrong target…”

nLars remained silent after murmuring something inaudible. I closed my eyes to block out Allendis’s worried expression.

nThe crown prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was the day I promised to give my answer to the emperor a few years ago and was fast approaching. I felt like I was falling into hell. Why now, when my father was away?

n“…Tia. ”

n“Huh?”

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