Chapter 50
'Judging by his demeanor, he'll probably keep pretending not to know. Diego isn't the type to enjoy putting people in awkward spots anyway... Better to just ask him outright.'
Rather than ignorantly playing dumb, it was smarter to persuade him into silence.
"Do you keep secrets well, Your Highness?"
"I keep the ones I'm supposed to."
Diego was still smiling enigmatically. He let out a small sigh and hardened his expression into seriousness.
"Then, if I ask you to keep a secret, will you?"
Diego gazed at me intently. I met his eyes with a sense of resignation.
If only I were a little more cold-hearted... I wouldn't have to deal with this headache.
If I'd just walked past Diego back then. If I'd turned away pretending not to notice.
I exhaled slowly. The path to ease was simple—look the other way.
But even so... I'd always choose the one that doesn't sit right with my conscience.
I might lament myself, but I'd never regret saving someone. Even if the aftermath tormented me, if I could go back, I'd take this path again.
That's who I was.
"Saving the crown prince is something your house can boast about for generations."
"Of course."
"If I just hint at it to His Imperial Majesty, he'll shower you with rewards and praise."
"Probably."
"If you want, I could keep the details vague and just reveal that you saved me—make you a hero."
"I see."
Diego finally stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly. I nodded faintly in agreement with his serious words.
Propping his chin, he looked at me with an expression of utter incomprehension.
"So why do you want to keep it a secret?"
I rolled my eyes slowly. Saving the crown prince was undoubtedly a monumental achievement that would bring honor and wealth.
I met his narrowed gaze as he tried to read my intentions, then let out a wry chuckle.
"First off, personal reasons—I'd prefer it not get out."
"Must be hard to talk about."
"Unfortunately."
Diego narrowed his eyes. His blue eyes— a strange mix of cold rationality, sharp analysis, and flickering emotion—fixed on me.
In the original story, Diego was kind-hearted by nature, but having survived assassination attempts and schemes since childhood, he was equipped with ruthless reason as well.
'I love you, no doubt... but my reason sees you only as a good marriage prospect. So I can't tell if my feelings are true love.'
Diego had confessed something like that to Aria once. He was a man torn between surging emotions and unyielding logic.
I stared at the somewhat flustered Diego, then impulsively added,
"And didn't you say you'd help without expecting anything in return? Getting rewarded like that wouldn't be 'no strings attached,' would it?"
My gentle addition made his eyes widen. Back then, I'd promised to help him without compensation, like a hedgehog bristling at kindness. I had no intention of retracting those words.
"It's only natural for one person to help another. Don't worry about it."
I sipped my tea nonchalantly. The hot gaze pouring over my skin—I decided it was Diego's way of warming me on this cold winter day.
Ha, Diego let out a short breath and roughly scrubbed his dry face.
"You're completely blocking off any escape."
"Pardon?"
"It's nothing."
I tilted my head at his slightly flushed ears. Diego stared into space for a moment, then sighed softly.
"...I'll keep your secret. If you want, I'll even swear the Oath of the Sun. No need to worry."
"I believe you."
Diego wasn't one for empty promises, even in silence. I declared my trust without hesitation.
Snapping back to his usual pace, he flashed a bright smile and tilted his head slowly. Golden hair cascaded down with the motion.
"So now we're Crown Prince and Lady to each other, not DiDi and Shushu anymore?"
"Afraid so."
Now that I knew he was the crown prince, I couldn't act as cheekily as I had in that cabin. Wondering if he was trying to lord it over me from back then, I tensed slightly—only for Diego, eyes crinkling, to lean in close.
I flinched as his face neared.
"But when it's just us... a little deviation should be fine, right?"
"Uh......"
His changed tone made me blink slowly. Our eyes locked inches apart. Diego lowered his strangely rippling gaze and curved his lips elegantly. His angelic features wore a devilish smile that tempted the soul.
"Call me DiDi when we're alone. Like that night we spent together."
This madman... is he insane? Whispering something so easily misunderstood in that low voice—
It wasn't wrong, but the way he said it made it sound like more than just sleeping side by side.
...This guy's enjoying this.
I eyed the clearly delighted Diego with unease. Only someone as close as siblings could use the crown prince's nickname.
"But how could I call the crown prince—"
"You won't?"
His eyes drooped like a petulant cat's, utterly disarming. Every time he made that face, I felt like a traitor selling out my country.
Sighing as I felt myself getting drawn in,
"...DiDi. Just don't phrase it in front of others in a way that invites misunderstandings."
"Of course, if that's what you want, Shushu."
Diego beamed. Sunlight seemed to sprinkle around his grinning face. With smiles like that, he showed zero consideration for bystanders' eyes.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
"How's the arm I treated that day?"
"You know a Sword Master's recovery power. It's perfectly healed. What about your wound, DiDi?"
"The one you treated healed cleanly thanks to your skill."
I smiled faintly at his playful banter. The situation was absurd yet amusing.
Watching me, Diego's pupils trembled slightly.
"DiDi."
"Y-yeah?"
Diego, staring blankly somewhere between my eyes and nose in a way that didn't suit him, answered a beat late. Seeing this human side of the perfect robot balanced between cool reason and warmth made me giggle.
He's wanted a friend since he was young.
He'd had one person he could call a friend before, but they'd cut ties. Elrior was a friend too, sort of, but somehow ambiguous.
With an excited smile, I opened my mouth.
"We're allowed to use nicknames when alone, right?"
"Y... yeah."
"Plus, we spent the night together."
"Well... true."
Diego's face flushed bright red for some reason. Grinning widely at him,
"So, we're friends now, right?"
The faintly thrilled look on Diego's face froze solid. It was like spring turning to winter.
...Isn't this enough to be friends?
I tilted my head. Having never had a proper friend, I had no clue what the bar was. Did we need to hit the public baths, throw arms around each other in the hot tub, and belt out songs?
As I pondered seriously, Diego sighed.
"...Yeah. Friends it is."
Eighteen years without friends, abandoned by the world. My first real friend was the grandly named Crown Prince Diego Solatine.
I grinned, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I'm honored. Thrilled, really."
Diego stared piercingly at me and heaved a deep sigh. He kept sighing like he planned to sink the entire palace into the ground. Pressing his forehead, he sighed again.
"I'm... glad too."
He looked strangely resigned.
"Now that we're friends, you have to take my secrets to the grave."
"I said I'd keep them. Want the crown prince's seal on it?"
"No need."
I curved my eyes slowly.
"Friendship is built on trust, right? I trust you."
I echoed words I'd heard from Elrior. Diego, wearing a bizarre expression as he gazed at me helplessly, muttered,
"Wonder if this worked..."
Mumbling something close to self-pity, he glanced at the grandfather clock in the room and stood.
"Time to go. Stay longer, and His Majesty will write a whole epic about us."
Annoyance flickered across Diego's face at the mention of the emperor. Forcing my own crumpling expression smooth at the thought of facing him again, I rose too.
"Oh, Lady Kashmir's clothes are intact?"
Entering the drawing room where the emperor and my family were, the still-noisy emperor's eyes flashed toward me. Glancing between Diego and me, he grinned slyly.
Blasphemous as it was, the emperor seemed utterly mad.
"What, what! Took you to the changing room and went on a date instead?"
"Your Majesty... please... mind your dignity."
Diego pressed his forehead at the emperor's insinuating question. His ears reddened instantly. At "date," weary-looking Aria and Kaiser's eyes glinted murderously.
"Your Majesty, it's late. We'll take our leave."
"Oh, stay for dinner. I have important matters to discuss with Lady Kashmir..."
"Farewell."
Kaiser's stern face cut off the emperor mid-sentence as he shot to his feet. Any other noble would've been reprimanded, but Crisis got a pass. The emperor tsked regretfully.
"Always so prickly. Hey, Lady Kashmir! I'll see you next time...!"
"Let's go, Shushu."
Ignoring the emperor completely, Kaiser spun me toward the door. Aria guarded my back like a shadow. Dragged out by Kaiser and Aria without even greeting the emperor or Diego—
"Right."
Outside the drawing room, Kaiser halted abruptly and turned to me. Sensing something ominous,
"So, who's all in this love quadrangle?"
The emperor had blabbed my debutante fiasco. Kaiser, eyes chilling enough to shred a dozen people, demanded answers.
The whole way back, I endured Kaiser's bizarre sermon: treat men like toys to play with, never give them your heart.