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nNormally, I would not have any personal time because Carsein would nag me while training me, but as he left early today, I had a little more free time.

nWhen I tried to go home, I suddenly thought about the silver flowers in the garden of Ver Palace. Winter was almost over. I wondered if the silver flowers bloomed. As I was curious, I went to the inner palace instead of the wagon center. As I left a bit earlier than usual, I felt I could stop by the palace before going back home.

n“Hummm… What brought you here?”

nWhen I almost arrived at the destination, I saw a young man with blue hair walking across from the other side. I paused for a moment, but I politely replied, “I’m honored to see you, the Little Sun of the empire. I just stopped by on my way home.”

n“On your way home? The 1st Knights Division is in the outer palace, not here. ”

nI corrected what I said with a sigh, “Sorry, Your Majesty. I was on my way to the garden of Ver Palace.”

n“Got it. I guess you’re going to see the flowers then.”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n“Really? I was just curious, too. Let’s go together.”

nWhile hesitating at his unexpected response, I found him going in first. I barely caught up with him with short steps. I walked carefully behind him, checking the distance between me and him. Unless escorted, I was not supposed to walk with the crown prince side by side.

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n“So, did you enjoy the party?”

n“… Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

nWhen I bowed my head to express my gratitude, he said calmly I didn’t need to, adding he went there for his own business, too. He then went silent.

nAfter walking along the cobbled path through the rattan arch, I saw the garden of Ver Palace at a distance. It was very different from what I saw last time. With spring just around the corner, the small garden was in good shape after it went through landscaping construction.

nThere was a strange plant standing alone in the center of the garden, the silver flower tree was blackened here and there by fire.

n‘Let’s see. Any flowers blooming?’

nStraining my eyes, I looked at the tree here and there. However, the tree still only had silver buds and had not blossomed. Besides, as they were high on the branches of the tree, I couldn’t look at them up close.

nI was so frustrated that I tried to look at them by standing on tiptoes, but to no avail.

nWhen I sighed a little, he giggled after looking at me silently. Then, he called a royal guard walking ten steps behind him.

n“Tell the attendant to bring a ladder here.”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n‘Ladder?’ I opened my eyes wide and looked up at him. As if in a pensive mood, he looked at me face to face. After looking at me for a long time, he turned his eyes to the silvery buds and said, “Aren’t you afraid of me now?”

n“Pardon?”

n“Whenever you looked at me in the past, you avoided your gaze, but now you don’t.”

nI had some complicated thoughts when he said that.

nEver since I came back as a ten-year-girl, I did my best to avoid him. In order not to repeat my past life and not to draw his attention, I controlled my emotions as much as possible. In fact, I was so anxious to hide my trembling before him. Merely thinking of him drove me nuts.

nBut as the years passed, I realized that he was different from the old him in the past, which seemed to change my attitude toward him. I still wanted to break off my engagement to him, but I was a bit hesitant when I found that I wasn’t as scared as I used to be anymore.

n“Your Majesty, I brought a ladder.”

n“Good job.”

nThe attendant put it under the tree.

nWhen I hesitated for a moment, looking at the ladder, he smiled again at me and reached out.

nI looked at his hand blankly. ‘What does this mean?’

n“You really wanted to see the silvery buds, right? Let me hold the ladder, so climb it and take a look.”

n“Oh, no. How can I be so rude…”

n“That’s why I brought a ladder here. So, don’t worry.”

n“Oh, I’m so sorry, Your Majesty.” Hesitantly, I took his hand. Then, I climbed the ladder step by step, carefully. I looked at him for a while. He held me a little more tightly, before I turned my attention to the silvery buds.

n‘Ah!’

nSilver buds as long as my index finger were all over the tree. I examined them to see if there was anything blooming, but the buds were all closed tightly.

n‘When will you show me the flowers? I saved you from being burned to ashes, but have you not overcome the shock of the fire yet? Is that why you’re not blooming yet?’

nI sighed a little and came down the ladder. Whenever I took a step down, I felt he tightened his grip on my hand. As I felt uncomfortable, I carefully pulled my hand out of his hand the moment I hit the ground with both feet. When I bowed to express gratitude, he silently nodded.

n“So, how was it?”

n“Not much different from what I saw last time.”

n“Really? It’s definitely weird. Is it because of the shock of the fire? ”

n“I think so.”

n“But it will bloom someday as long as the buds are on its branches. Since you are so curious, I will come back with you next time if I’m free.”

nWhen I looked at him in surprise, he turned calmly and said, “Let’s go back.”

n“… Sure, Your Majesty. ”

nHis blue hair that seemed black and fluttered in the sunset. The uniforms of the guards, who greeted when he suddenly returned, turned red with varicolored autumn leaves. Unusually, the red sunset was shining on his back today.

nAs I was having breakfast with my father, the butler brought a bunch of invitations and handed them to me. Since I made a debut at his coming-of-age ceremony, I received miscellaneous invitations, but it was the first time I received so many invitations.

n‘Did he give me the invitations addressed to my father?’

nIt was possible. As my father refused most of the invitations, the senders didn’t invite him.

nNonetheless, he received dozens of invitations because he was the emperor’s most trusted man, the Captain of the 2nd Knights Division, his position almost identical as that of a duke and his status as a bachelor.

nHowever, all the invitations were addressed to me.

n‘What a surprise!’

nI turned over the invitations casually one by one, but there was one that drew my interest.

nThe lady who came to the garden party at Duke Verita’s mansion was Lady Nuen. She was the woman who first told me about the rumors about Carsein and me. She had to go back home after she spilled tea on her dress. I opened the envelope and read.

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nI traced my memories for a moment and asked my father, “Dad?”

n“Why?”

n“Isn’t Viscount Nuen’s estate a famous place for ruby and diamond?”

n“Yes. It is a very wealthy place in the empire.”

nI see. In fact, I was looking for the proper social circle. I thought it’s good occasion for me in terms of the timing, status and situation of the party.

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n“Why are you asking me that suddenly?”

n“Oh, somebody sent me an invitation. The party takes place five days later. I think I’m going to attend it.”

n“Viscount Nuen. Not bad. ”

n“Right? Not bad.”

nWhen I answered with a slight smile, my father looked at me as if he felt sorry and said, “Even though I wanted you to stay away from politics as much as possible, you can’t avoid fate as long as you were born as a noble. So, who is going to be your partner?

n“Well…” I smiled awkwardly. I have only Allendis and Carsein who could come as my partner, but I felt it was awkward to take one of them with me in this situation.

n“Then, are you going to go there with me?”

n“Pardon? Are you serious? ”

n“Yes. Come to think of it, I’ve never attended a party with my daughter. ”

n“Thank you very much, Dad!”

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