Secrets with Crown Prince 22

“About University…You have a poor background – that’s why you’re struggling to get in.” 

 

At Lady Serene’s words, Armand glared at her.

 

“Lady Serene, I thought you were cultured, but you’re incredibly rude.”

 

Lady Serene looked at Armand as if she were pitying a poor lamb. 

 

“Oh, Lady Ovidus. Can’t you choose your acquaintances a little better… how did you end up… befriending someone like her?”

 

I sighed.

 

Just when I thought she had regained her senses, it seemed Lady Serene still didn’t understand.

 

I intentionally dropped the book I was holding onto the floor.

 

The thick books made a dull noise as they collided with the floor.

 

Then, I put on a surprised expression as if it were an accident.

 

The pitiful lady whose feet were hit by the thick books let out an unpleasant scream.

 

I covered my mouth with both hands and looked at them.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. My hands slipped. I’m really sorry.”

 

Although it seemed unintentional (since it was purely acting), I apologized politely, unable to protest more. They just gnawed at their lips.

 

Unfortunately, Lady Serene, whose feet were not hit by the thick books, looked at me composedly.

 

It goes without saying that I didn’t drop the book just to hit their feet.

 

“What do you think you are doing?”

 

Lady Serene asked scornfully, and I made a genuinely apologetic face.

 

“It was a mistake, really. I apologized, so being scolded like this is really upsetting.”

 

“That’s why you shouldn’t mix with the uncultured. I guess being good at lying runs in your dirty blood.”

 

Lady Serene clicked her tongue, and as if on cue, I shed tears with a wronged expression.

 

“It was truly a mistake. Even when I apologize sincerely with all my heart, Lady Serene shows no mercy and proves to be a scary person. I wonder how much more she would oppress those beneath her if she becomes a princess in the future…”

 

Fortunately, I had a habit of crying whenever I got annoyed. I wiped away the tears flowing down my cheeks.

 

Students passing through the hallway began to glance at us.

 

As more people started looking, Lady Serene’s face turned red angrily.

 

The sensitive term ‘princess’ attracted even more spectators than before.

 

Moreover, it drew even more attention since it was rumored that Lady Serene and I had clashed.

 

“This… this…! What a cunning woman…!”

 

I always thought she was calm and courageous. Now that she was agitated, though, she couldn’t hide her immature temperament and exploded in anger.

 

Seeing Lady Serene spewing harsh words, I was shocked and expressed disbelief.

 

“You,  Lady… You acted as if you were very cultured, but why do you speak so harshly?”

 

Upon hearing my words, Lady Serene looked around with a startled expression.

 

However, many people who had already been watching our altercation heard everything she said.

 

“It seems that you are not in a position to insult me. This is why you shouldn’t mix with uncultured people. It’s vulgar and pitiful…”

 

I returned her words back to her without hesitation.

 

Lady Serene’s face turned beet red.

 

Even the girl wincing in pain from their sore feet couldn’t contradict my words. Instead, they observed Lady Serene’s reaction.

 

At that moment, a passing female student happened to glance at her, and she burst into laughter.

 

She slightly turned her head, looked at Lady Serene, and giggled.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re Lady Lubiche, right? Your words are music to my ears…”

 

The lady who had just greeted me had deep blond hair that shone like honey.

 

If Armand gave off the vibe of an adorable girl, then the blond woman definitely gave off a cold and glamorous vibe similar to that of a city woman.

 

“My name is Courtney Diana Wipfler.”

 

The lady briefly introduced herself, lifting the hem of her dress.

 

Wipfler, that’s a Count’s family.

 

In addition, my stepfather’s friend’s family made a fuss about visiting his house, saying I’d get along with his daughter the day I returned from the royal palace.

 

“See you more often in the future.”

 

With a wink, she disappeared into the crowd of students while humming a tune; I watched Lady Wipfler’s departure in deep thought.

 

I really like this lady.

 

****************

 

There was still some time before the party. And before that, the Empress’s private salon was held.

 

At the Empress’s private salon, the madman, Do-hyuk, followed me.

 

Perhaps because of his position as the crown prince, no one dared to question his presence without an invitation.

 

Unless, of course, it was because they didn’t want to deal with all of his princely duties.

 

The latter was quite likely.

 

I took in the dark night sky, staring at the flickering lamp post lights with fascinated eyes.

 

A world where magic flourished instead of technology.

 

It was a place that I felt curious about, but I also felt a sense of rejection that this place wasn’t really where I belonged.

 

Lost in thought, I lowered my head until I felt a hand tugging mine.

 

Even in the midnight darkness, the madman’s silver hair glistened.

 

He had a strange expression. One so mysterious it felt like he was hiding a secret.

 

Is this really the man I remember from the past? Or is he someone different?

 

A cool breeze carried a tangy citrus scent.

 

“Did you spray perfume?”

 

To my question, he nodded politely without answering.

 

“It’s the same as the one you used back then.”

 

“You’re not laughing at me because I’m old-fashioned, are you?”

 

He replied with a mischievous smile.

 

When I didn’t answer, he slid his hand under my armpits and effortlessly lifted me, spinning me around.

 

This is insane!

 

“Do you even remember the scent of my perfume?”

 

He seemed excited.

 

Startled by the sudden lift, I instinctively put my arms around his neck but quickly pulled away from his embrace as sweat began to form in my pores.

 

I was getting feverish. Didn’t I mention that I had a disease that would get me killed if I got too much attention?

 

“Shame on you. You did that on purpose.”

 

Cha Do-hyuk or, rather, this madman, laughed as if he had known for a long time that people were watching.

 

“If you knew, then can you please remove your hand from my body? I can sue you for sexual harassment you know.”

 

There was no police station to sue him. Still, in response to my impulsive outcry, Do-hyuk obediently removed his hands.

 

Even though it was a late autumn outdoor party, the area within the party venue was enveloped in magic, radiating warmth.

 

Thanks to that, wearing a thin dress made Do-hyun’s physical contact a bit uncomfortable.

 

This guy radiates a lot of heat. How can he be that hot?

 

“Good evening.”

 

While Do-hyun and I were quarreling, a man holding a glass of sparkling wine approached us.

 

His richly dark-colored hair swayed around his neck in an elegant short haircut.

 

Instead of focusing on the man’s gentle demeanor, I noticed his attire.

 

He was the person I wanted to meet, one of the twelve Archbishops of the Church.

 

“I heard from Her Majesty, the Empress, that you wanted to meet me.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I am Ena Knox Lubiche.”

 

I slightly lifted the edge of my dress and bowed, placing my hand on my knee as a gesture of respect.

 

In response, the Archbishop neatly clasped his hands and bowed his head.

 

“May the blessings of Lanarke reside within you. Nice to meet you, Lady Lubiche. I am Allen de Dominique, a devoted servant of Lanarke.”

 

The sentence before the actual greeting was lengthy. Was it necessary to have so many words to introduce oneself?

 

Occasionally, among noble ladies, there was a trend of introducing oneself with elaborate rhetoric. However, it had disappeared as fast as it had emerged.

 

“So, you’re a son of Count’s Dominique family.”

 

Do-hyuk, who was behind me, rested his chin on my shoulder and spoke.

 

At that moment, Archbishop Allen’s gaze turned towards him.

 

“My belated greeting, Your Highness Reynold. May the blessings of Lanarke…”

 

“Enough. Let’s skip the formalities.”

 

Upon Do-hyun’s words, archbishop Allen lightly nodded and turned his attention back to me.

 

“It’s nice to meet you too. I did want to meet you. I heard that you were avoiding personal encounters, so I asked Her Majesty the Empress for an invitation to the salon.”

 

Do-hyuk, who had brought two glasses of wine from a servant carrying a tray full of wine glasses, handed me one.

 

Allen, the Archbishop, already had a glass in his hand, so he raised it in our direction.

 

We toasted gracefully without unnecessarily clinking our glasses, and I tasted the wine.

 

After Allen took a sip, he pulled out a small card from his jacket pocket and handed it to me.

 

“This is an access card to the Papal Palace. If you present this card, the guards will guide you to wherever I am.”

 

As I received the access card, I asked, “I haven’t mentioned my purpose yet. Is it alright for you to give me this access card?”

 

In response to my question, he chuckled softly. Standing nearby, drinking his wine so as not to disturb us, Do-hyuk drew closer.

 

His attitude towards Allen became cautious. Was he jealous of a faithfully religious person?

 

I looked at him curiously before turning to listen to Allen’s words.

 

“Usually, people who come from other countries to find me have similar reasons. They seek to find their lost path through prayers to the divine. And among them, My Lady, your case seems a bit more special.”

 

It was similar to why I had sought him out.

 

It was clear that his remark about me being special was due to my appearance. So I smiled a bit more comfortably.

 

“I have heard that archbishop Allen can open the prayers to the almighty and provide answers to all inquiries. I have some questions I’d like to ask, with the divine’s name invoked.”

 

Questions about our dimensional travel.

 

Suppose there really is divine power along with the existence of gods. Would the Papal Palace be able to provide any answers?

 

“If it’s a prayer to the divine… If you give me the message in advance, I will personally offer the prayer.”

 

Grateful for archbishop Allen’s kindness, I offered a light smile of thanks.

 

Curiously, Do-hyuk, who seemed strangely quiet, silently drank his wine and stared at me.

 

I felt a sticky chill in his sunken gaze.

 

Feeling the unsettling atmosphere, Archbishop Allen politely bid me farewell and then disappeared.

 

As soon as he did, Do-hyuk’s gaze slightly softened; he casually extended his large hand and gently grabbed my wrist.

 

“If your business is finished, would you like to go back?”

 

His unusual straightforwardness seemed rather bland.

 

“Sure.”

 

After all, there was no one here I wanted to build a friendship with.

 

I nodded readily to his question and slipped my hand into his.

 

It felt so natural.