Chapter 14

I heard something unbelievable.

–When will you come back again?

There was no other person, and there was no way Prince Luciano would say such a thing.

My stomach was in trouble, and now my ears were strange.

Perhaps it turned out Aesvin actually has an incurable disease, so it caused abnormalities here and there, then she dies early.

That was why she didn’t appear in the original novel.

Time-limited narratives have been popular for a while, haven’t they?

I tried to understand this ridiculous situation.

“What’s the answer?”

If only Prince Luciano hadn’t asked back, I would think the person who stood in front of me was an illusion.

Even though he was clearly in front of me, it was strangely unrealistic.

“Uh, so, what?”

I asked foolishly.

Then Prince Luciano bit his mouth tightly.

Was that a look of discontent?

Today, I felt like I was seeing various reactions from Prince Luciano.

“I asked when you would come again next time.”

What a strange day.

No matter how much I thought about it, I felt like I was dreaming.

Even though I blinked hard, Prince Luciano stood still with a picturesque appearance.

Were you really wondering when I would be back next time?

“Why?”

“….”

When I asked, Prince Luciano, pressed his lips again.

Before the muffin incident, I might have been thrilled and excited that this man had finally fallen for my sunshine tactics.

However, no matter how I thought about it, it wasn’t the case now.

“The prince doesn’t want to see me again, don’t you?”

“….”

Prince Luciano didn’t deny what I said.

I had no disappointment because I had roughly expected it.

“Then why do you ask me when we’ll see each other again? If you have any business, just tell me now.”

I stared at him, and he just licked his lips for a while.

I waited patiently for him.

After a long time, he spoke slowly.

“Because … it’s my … responsibility.”

‘Huh? What responsibility suddenly?’

It was really out of the blue for me.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand Prince Luciano’s guilty words.

“What responsibility?”

“Everything that has happened to you.”

He was acting as if something big had happened to me.

Did something big happen to me that I didn’t even know?

“What happened to me?”

At that question, Prince Luciano’s eyes widened slightly.

I couldn’t understand his surprised reaction.

Even if it was a big deal for me, it was just vomiting in front of Prince Luciano.

“Is it because I made a mistake and fainted in front of the prince?”

But why was he responsible for this?

Of course, I even fainted so that he could take care of me, but it was my decision to force myself to eat it.

I didn’t want to blame Prince Luciano.

“And there’s also–”

Did that mean there was something else?

“It’s because I really don’t know. What happened to me?”

“…you don’t seem to mind at all.”

He muttered, a little dejected.

This made me feel like something really happened to me.

No, did something happened to me?

‘It’s something about me, but why didn’t I know about it?’

I scratched my cheek, and he fell silent again.

In any case, the situation was clear.

I didn’t know what it was, but he felt responsible for me.

That was why he had wanted to see me.

So, if he didn’t feel responsible, there was no need to meet me.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but I’m fine. There is no need for the prince to feel responsible for me.”

I cleaned up the situation.

I told him that there was no need to feel guilty, but Prince Luciano’s reaction was strange.

“I really–”

After giving me a strange look for a moment, he murmured again.

‘No, if you have something to say, say it out loud.’

It was frustrating to talk by myself from a while ago.

Still, I was glad to know the reason for my invitation today.

My heart was heavy because of a person’s sudden change, and if the cause was guilt and responsibility, wouldn’t it all be resolved if I said it was okay?

When all my questions were answered, my mind felt at ease.

“Well, since the Prince has nothing to do with it, I think I should just go. Would you mind closing the door?”

My heart was so light that I couldn’t help but speak with a bright voice.

It was the most cheerful voice I’ve ever heard today.

At that moment, Prince Luciano’s expression became a little strange.

No matter how I saw it, it looked ridiculous.

Afterward, he spat out the words with a sullen face.

“Your attitude is so different from the other day.”

Was this supposed for me to hear it?

‘Who points out whose attitude?’

Then I replied, “Does it matter whether my attitude has changed or not?”

‘I don’t have to look good anymore.’

Prince Luciano opened his mouth with amazement at my remarks and closed it.

What, why?

‘It’s over between you and me.’

When I turned sour, Prince Luciano’s expression changed.

“You make a fuss because you couldn’t come the other day.”

He seemed resentful now.

It was true that I had been coming here as if I were clinging to you, but I didn’t feel good to hear it like that.

You rejected me first!

“At that time, I wanted to get along with you.”

“You’re saying that you didn’t want it now.”

‘Didn’t you say something like that?’

The following words were confusing.

Moreover, Prince Luciano’s face seemed to be in pain.

Wait!

Is this the kind of feeling that you regret when your partner tries to get away from you?

‘I hate it if it’s like that.’

“Yes, I’ve been working very hard for a year. I get tired of being one-sided.”

What I was holding patiently streamed down. I told him how much I’ve tried over the past year and how sad I was because of him.

Was I a little bit arrogant?

Prince Luciano glared at me fiercely.

“You’re wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“A year is not enough. Try harder. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow at 2 o’clock.”

The door closed with a bang.

The carriage started to go while I couldn’t shut my mouth and stuttered.

Prince Luciano’s persistent eyes followed through the carriage window.

‘What is this?’

I didn’t understand what had happened even after I went through it.

Prince Luciano’s reaction today was a bit bewildering.

I could only understand the sense of responsibility.

Because he was initially set to have a strong sense of responsibility.

‘But what was it at the end?’

Why were you suddenly telling me to work harder?

No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed like a sudden blast.

Perhaps, it was a cliché where the female protagonist tried to keep her distance, and the male protagonist started to regret it?

Was it the female protagonist’s buff who bursts out late?

Even so, for that reason, Prince Luciano’s reaction wasn’t romantic.

There was no sign of that.

It was true that he felt sorry, but I got the feeling that it wasn’t because he liked me.

“Whatever, I don’t care.”

After thinking many thoughts, I cleared my mind.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t understand what Prince Luciano was thinking. So I decided just to relax.

* * *

When I revisited the Imperial Palace according to the unilateral promise, I stared blankly at the teacup in front of me.

“Drink it.”

As soon as I took a look, he even kindly offered it.

I drank the tea slowly again this time.

It was brewed just right, and a fragrant aroma spread throughout my mouth.

I could also taste the delicious tea.

“This is amazing.”

The dream was too realistic.

“What’s so amazing about it?”

Was it unreal to see the other person talking to me like that?

“Isn’t this a dream?”

“This isn’t a dream.”

I kept getting answers to my self-talk.

But if this weren’t a dream, it would have been very strange.

“But why would you give me tea? You don’t like eating with others.”

Prince Luciano had served me a cup of tea for a second time.

I asked sincerely, and he gently narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t like the question.

“I gave given it to you last time.”

“You did, didn’t you?”

“Then it’s not strange, so why do you react like that?”

Is that so? Is it not something weird?

No, it’s weird.

You were so serious because I was embarrassed about the muffins, right?

I thought it was strange to wonder about that because Prince Luciano didn’t seem to take it seriously.

However, Prince Luciano was drinking tea gracefully in a relaxed position now.

He was calm, as if he were always spending time like this with me.

‘If it’s this easy, what were the hardships I struggled with last year?’

What about the worst mistake I’ve ever made?

Now that I think about it, it was so absurd that I couldn’t recall the mistake while facing Prince Luciano.

I was more dazed rather than ashamed.

This peaceful time was just strange and unfair, so I only drank the tea.

As a result, another period of silence followed.

I think I was comfortable last time, but I felt uncomfortable today.

This disappointed person decided to open up a conversation first.

“Excuse me, prince.”

“What is it?”

Look at that. It was weird for him to answer right away.

I’ve been feeling something out of place for a while.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“What on earth did you want to take responsibility for?”

After the last meeting, I wondered what Prince Luciano might feel guilty about.

I didn’t get it, no matter how hard I thought.

I accepted the invitation today to get the answer of that question.

Prince Luciano put down the teacup he was holding.

His red eyes slowly glared at me.

If I could touch the gaze, I thought it would feel sticky.

“Didn’t you say that I had nothing to take responsibility for?”

Instead of answering, he asked a question.

Even though I pondered about it, there seemed nothing I could blame him for.

“Yes.”

“Then, isn’t that enough?”

“What?”

“I don’t think you need to know if you think you haven’t been harmed.”

“That’s–”

–b*llsh*t, I barely put up with the last word.

My sunshine heroine personality almost crumbled.

I took a deep breath and carefully selected my words.

“Doesn’t that mean I’ve been harmed in the prince’s eyes?”

“You said you weren’t harmed.”

He looked calm and said something that made me angry.

“No–!”

It was a moment when I was about to get angry and yell, ‘Why are you making me repeat the words?’

It was really a small part, but I realized what had changed from Prince Luciano belatedly.

I recalled a conversation I had with him before.

– You–

– You can’t be friends with everyone. Go to the others who accept you.

– What made you think I was going to trust you and eat?

Then I recalled today’s conversation.

– I don’t think you need to know if you don’t think you’ve been harmed.

– So you said you weren’t harmed.

… The title in which I was addressed has changed.