Love Is All About Timing
The blonde hair that subtly resembled the Crown Prince’s and the rigid green eyes that somehow drew one’s gaze were captivating in their own right. She truly overflowed with the dignity befitting a princess of a kingdom, earning her immediate favor.
“……”
The princess did not drag things out and got straight to the point.
“I heard from Her Majesty the Empress. About everything you did for me. Someday, I will surely repay this debt.”
Pay jumped at the unexpected words.
“A debt? No, I’ve been worried that I forced you to attend the debutante ball. I may not have said it outright, but the weight of an imperial invitation is heavy for anyone.”
Manuela shook her head.
“No, it is a debt. You are the one who allowed me to step out of the mansion with dignity. I will pray every day that a ray of light shines upon Lady Morgana’s future.”
“My lady.”
“…You are the one who removed the several shackles fastened to my ankles.”
Pay understood all too well the weight of Lady Russell’s heart. She had lived through the same thing herself.
For two long years, she had been practically confined to the Klein ducal residence, dragged out to social gatherings like a doll only when she was useful. That could hardly be called going out. It was nothing more than a spectacle to show off how well they had raised their leashed pet.
No one in this world lived without hardship. Even a princess who, to outsiders, seemed to live without worries of money or protection.
Since the discovery of the gold vein had put the Orleans ducal house in a difficult position, Manuela’s side would now have far more freedom to move than before.
‘Hmm.’
While broken engagements were common among nobles, things were different with the imperial family. Because Pay had shared information with Cassel, she knew that Lady Russell had been forced to submit the annulment papers.
However… even if the misunderstanding had been cleared, it was hard to believe the engagement would easily resume. The fact that many people knew the Crown Prince had been the one rejected only made the situation worse.
‘Unless, by some chance, His Highness the Crown Prince loves Lady Russell so deeply that he insists on proceeding with the engagement again.’
Silas, the Crown Prince—there was truly nothing to criticize about his appearance.
Compared to Lucius… who was lovely but lately a little irritating… hmm…
‘Lucius has lived a long time, yet he tends to grumble whenever something displeases him, while His Highness the Crown Prince is always composed.’
His pale golden eyes, rarer than his brilliant blond hair, looked almost mystical when one stared at them blankly. When his emotions were calm, they seemed like sweet honey, dreamy and soft, yet at times they could turn as fierce as a black panther’s pupils, striking fear into others.
Even that last part was something she had heard through Cassel.
The Crown Prince had never once displayed intense emotion in front of Pay. When he had pointed out that her first request was because of Lady Russell, his gaze had wavered ever so slightly. That was all.
‘Then how terrifying must he be when he’s truly angry?’
The princess looked as though she were about to rise, as if her business were finished, but after a brief hesitation she leaned forward. The sight of her elegant, sloping shoulders drawing closer was beautiful enough to make even another woman’s heart flutter.
Manuela’s crimson lips parted carefully.
“Actually… my engagement was arranged for political reasons. There was never any choice in the matter.”
Why state the obvious? That was the predetermined fate of anyone who carried royal blood. Even Pay knew that much.
Yet even with her sharp mind, Pay could not immediately grasp the meaning behind those words.
“…Regardless of how it came about, things between him and me have ended. There is no reason for me to feel reluctant about any future approach.”
“Pardon?”
The princess turned to Pay, whose eyes had gone wide, and spoke what she truly wished to say.
“I only meant that if you’ve been hesitating to meet him privately because of me, there’s no need. I missed my chance to summon the courage to tell the truth, and as a result I bound my own feet for a long time. And his, too… Looking back, it was I who caused trouble by being so shortsighted.”
“……!!”
Only then did Pay realize what the princess was implying.
She had completely misunderstood the relationship between Pay and the Crown Prince!
Pay frantically waved both hands in denial.
Unfortunately, the obsidian ring Lucius had given her was not the sort of token commonly used to signify romantic love. Had it been a ruby or sapphire instead, the princess might have noticed it and stopped herself from blurting out such words.
“That’s not it!”
“Oh, I was only saying it in case. If, as time passes, deeper feelings should grow between you, then you may remember my words. Every situation leaves room for possibility, doesn’t it?”
Listening to the princess’s words—so generous they bordered on kindness—Pay felt her face flush bright red.
Why on earth had such a misunderstanding arisen? She already had someone she loved…!
‘Ugh…’
She wanted to say it outright. That there was someone she liked, that he surely liked her back, and that their hearts were perfectly in tune. That even if asked, he would give the exact same answer, like a mirror reflecting her own feelings. Even if their races were different…
The only reason she could not say it was one and the same.
In the Forest of Origins, they had… haa.
When Pay failed to refute her quickly, Lady Russell spoke gently.
“Well then, I’ll be going now. It’s time for me to leave the palace, and if I linger too long someone might grow suspicious.”
“My lady.”
“Someday, I hope there will come a day when I can face Lady Morgana without any awkwardness. I look forward to that day. May a warm breeze always blow through both our hearts. When that time comes, shall we be friends?”
Pay, burdened with an enormous misunderstanding, returned secretly to the Magic Tower yet found herself unable to sleep.
Between resolving the matters in the Shionel territory and preparing for the Saintess’s entry into the palace, there had been no chance to have a serious conversation with Lucius about… that sort of thing.
Honestly, there had been time, but no peace of mind. Did he even know what she was worrying about?
Lucius!
Lucius, Lucius…!!
“……”
“Pii…yuu…”
Even Momo’s snoring, which sounded perfectly content despite the late hour, seemed especially annoying tonight. She could not exactly wake him up and demand he go ask his master what his intentions were!
“Haa.”
Should she just say it first?
That she liked him very much, that if this feeling never changed, she wanted to court him with marriage in mind. That she wanted to stay by his side until the very last moment the sunset faded from her life.
Pay was tormented by that bold temptation all night long.
She did not know how many times her sweet sighs had heated the air above her face.
* * *
Somewhere not far from the Imperial Palace, a grand ballroom.
A dazzling chandelier hung from the high ceiling, sparkling brilliantly, while the walls adorned with stained glass looked as though an angel might leap out at any moment. That was not all.
The expensive marble statues placed throughout were exquisitely detailed. Anyone drunk on wine might mistake one for a lover and attempt to embrace and kiss it.
Even the people preparing the party were impressive.
The maids carrying finger foods had not a single stain on their collars, and their white uniforms were crisply pressed and dazzling.
Everything was perfect—except for the fact that the family hosting this ball was the Orleans ducal house.
‘A charity ball of atonement? It doesn’t fall short of the imperial palace in the slightest. Are they deliberately trying to provoke the imperial family?’
Capia’s lips curled upward at one corner.
Ever since entering the palace, she had encountered many unreasonable incidents that could hardly be called proper treatment for a Saintess.
She had been especially anxious after the gold vein incident, when the Orleans ducal house suddenly announced a charity ball of atonement.
The very name of the ball was practically an admission of their wrongdoing.
Having received an official invitation, the Saintess attended without hesitation.
Besides observing the situation here, there was something else she looked forward to.
Would the Klein princess, who had been hiding so thoroughly until now, finally appear?
Although that detestable Sir Sloth no longer reported every piece of news to her, Capia had finally learned the truth.
The fake princess was supposedly bedridden with an unknown illness? What illness!
‘You’re digging your own grave. There is no one in the capital who handles holy magic better than I do—not even if you combined the bishop and the knight commander!’
If that fake does not show up to this ball either, then I shall personally bestow my generosity and go to her myself. I will descend upon her to cure that feigned illness.
Even after closing her eyes at the end of her life, a Saintess remains a Saintess. You may be a detestable fake princess, but!
Capia’s lips twitched as she reveled in her sense of superiority over the absent fake.
“……”
The second floor of the ballroom.
A barrier rope had been strung across the stairs leading from the first floor to the second, blocked further by a grand piano, so none of the guests below even considered going up.
And today’s host of the charity ball, Raphael, was there with two other figures.
“You truly won’t go down?”
Raphael looked rather disappointed.
“I’m sorry, Raphael. I promised to reflect on my actions, so it feels awkward to show my face to the guests. Once I return to the palace, there will be even more people greeting me first.”
He grumbled.
“I didn’t want to send an invitation to the Saintess’s side, but the steward made such a fuss that I had no choice. Next time we hold something, I hope it’s after you’ve gone to the Holy Temple.”
Though he knew nothing of the details, Raphael was considerate of Pay’s discomfort at the thought of facing the Saintess.
“Even if Her Holiness hadn’t come, she wouldn’t have seen my face anyway. I’m the one who caused trouble—how could I boldly attend a ball? I should stay out of sight for a while.”
Raphael’s eyes swept over Pay’s beautifully adorned face.
“The moment everyone sees your face, they’ll forget such trivial matters. Be careful—someone might mistake you for a sparkling jewel and reach out.”
She shuddered at the compliment.
“Raphael, really! More flattery?”
“Flattery? I’m being sincere. Why, my previous offer about becoming the Duchess of Orleans still stands, so do consider it. I’ll be a free man for at least another year. After that, I can’t promise anything, so the sooner you decide, the better.”
“Oh, honestly!”
Pay could not help but laugh.
Objectively speaking, however, there was some truth to Raphael’s words.
Having flown in secretly via spatial magic, Pay exuded a charm that went beyond mere prettiness.
Her brilliant pink hair was elegantly pinned up, and she wore a white off-shoulder dress; the strands brushing just below her ears drew the eye even more.
Lucius, who had been longing to run his fingers through that hair, stood a little distance behind them.
Like a useless sack of barley.
‘Pay…’
They had originally promised to attend this ball together. It was the very day Raphael had mentioned the charity ball of atonement.
At the time, Lucius had wondered whether it would be all right for him to escort her, but there had been no reason to refuse.
Her stubborn insistence on not going down to the first floor even after arriving all dressed up was also within the realm of understanding.
Given that the Saintess had turned out to be far more cunning than expected, today’s decision could not be called a bad one.