~TMPM 16~

Chapter 16

Repeated rejection letters had honestly left me worried.

After finally becoming friends(?) with Princess Wilhelmina, I feared I might be abandoned…!

But unlike the male lead, she had a calm, Pacific-like heart.

She hinted that she wanted to be pen pals with me.

Even after I had refused her proposal three times, she hadn’t given up on me—truly, the princess was an angel.

I hurriedly finished my urgent tasks and wrote a reply filled with gratitude before leaving my desk. It was time to escape the office, at least for lunch.

A mild, pleasant winter breeze teased my cheeks as I stepped outside.

I asked for my reply to be sent to the ducal residence and decided to have lunch at the Sun Palace staff dining hall, where the aides and administrators often ate.

Why? Because today was the day the kitchen staff responsible for His Majesty the Emperor’s meals would inspect the staff dining hall lunch!

It was a rare day, occurring only once a year.

Even a simple potato potage could taste Michelin three-star level today! I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Of course, the Winter Palace chef’s skills were excellent, but with Cassian away on external duties today, I didn’t want to bother him.

Most of the other palace staff, aside from me, usually ate at the staff hall anyway.

Determined not to waste my precious lunch, I boldly took a shortcut.

It meant passing through the Dawn Palace gardens where the Third Prince resided, but I’d never run into anyone there before. Surely not today—

“Hey, isn’t that a familiar face?”

Of course…

As the other person said, the voice was familiar.

The first culprit behind my repeated rejection letters to Princess Wilhelmina was Cassian.

The second culprit, however, was this person.

Alexis Periander, heir of the Kingdom of Anden, fiancé of the Third Prince.

In the Anden Kingdom, it was customary for the heir to stay with the fiancé’s family for about two months before marriage to get to know each other.

Our empire offered that Alexis could skip this, but the kingdom refused.

They insisted the heir couldn’t ignore such an important tradition. How could anyone decide on such a life-altering marriage lightly and live unhappily forever? They even added that unusually rational-sounding royal logic.

Since it was the heir herself staying, a considerable entourage came along. Naturally, there were many people involved in official business discussions.

In other words, Cassian and I were bound to be overwhelmed with work.

So much so that the Empress had said it was lucky that Cassian—not the First Prince Charlie—was the one stuck with this hellish workload.

And yet, the culprit now stood as an obstacle to my lunch. No, it was my fault for wanting to eat quickly. Woe is me.

Swallowing my irritation, I bowed politely.

“I’m just passing through, Your Highness.”

“…You’re the Second Prince’s fiancée, right?”

Alexis acknowledged my greeting with a glance, then looked at me with a triumphant expression as if she’d confirmed the right answer.

“Y-Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Please, let me go now that I’ve answered correctly.

Yet Alexis’s gaze remained inquisitive, as if she had no intention of withdrawing her curiosity.

“Passing through here at this hour, huh…”

The culprit nodded and smirked before grabbing my chin.

“Should I understand this as your adorable proposal to have lunch with me?”

A confident smile played across her proud face.

Of course, that was my overinterpretation. My real thought, “If a diplomatic issue arises, it’s all on me,” was swallowed by reason.

I could only give a nervous laugh and agree.

The Crystal Hall of the Third Prince’s Dawn Palace was famous for its beauty.

The octagonal hall, at the western end of the asymmetrical building, was somewhat small for a hall. It could comfortably accommodate only six to eight people for tea, which explained why it wasn’t used for larger events despite its fame.

‘Still, it’s truly beautiful.’

As I admired the interior, Alexis broke into a satisfied smile.

“I thought this place would suit you, so I had lunch prepared here. Seems like the right choice.”

“…Yes?”

Had she already figured out I liked beautiful things? Of course, a royal heir would know everything about anyone connected to the court—

“Your face, right?”

Huh?

Taken aback, I looked at her, and Alexis, with a satisfied smile, escorted me to my seat.

“Once the marriage happens, we’ll be family. I investigated you, as well as others, in advance.”

She pushed in my chair with perfect timing and gave me an elegant smile. I couldn’t help admiring her refined manners, likely influenced by her own commanding presence.

Dressed in a perfectly fitted white uniform, her slightly darker blonde hair was tied back to avoid obstruction. Frequent outdoor activity had tanned her slightly, and her wine-colored eyes radiated confidence and ambition.

“Surely it’s your looks that captivated him?”

“Excuse me?”

I turned my head following Alexis to my seat.

“The First Prince’s fiancée is the daughter of a marquis family, Hanella. Strong in her own right. But you, Second Prince’s fiancée, are a baroness—lucky you survived, huh?”

Her bluntness was surprisingly not unpleasant; it felt more like factual observation than criticism.

“So it’s your face. Even tied back like this, your luscious brown hair, smooth fair skin, and emerald-like green eyes… all charmingly proportioned. Truly a beauty to behold.”

She rested her chin on her hand lazily.

“Even the combination is adorable and utterly convincing. Is this what people mean by peerless beauty?”

“No!”

I instinctively denied her assessment, overwhelmed by her confident gaze.

“Hmm, then?”

Yet Alexis, far from offended, studied me curiously. Perhaps noticing my reaction to the onion soup-caramel rising combination, she gestured considerately to continue eating first.

Grateful, I spooned a generous bite of the soup. The rich, sweet, and savory flavors were heavenly.

More delicious dishes followed.

Finally, with dessert, Alexis relaxed and asked,

“If it’s not your looks, then what? From what I see, that’s the most logical explanation.”

She had observed me closely all meal, as if nothing else could explain it.

“That’s…”

I found her certainty puzzling. Cassian could be satisfied just by a mirror—why choose based on looks?

“Of course, it’s work ability,” I said confidently.

Shouldn’t she also check how I’ve endured alongside Cassian? That’s my proudest asset, after all.

“Hmm.”

Alexis chuckled softly, as if acknowledging my silent assertion.

“Work ability, huh.”

Tapping her tea cup with long, practiced fingers, she stood.

“So it’s not just for appearances.”

“Pardon?”

Then, offering her arm as an escort, she led me. Naturally, I lacked the courage to refuse a high-ranking person.

No wonder her route was familiar.

Alexis entered the Winter Palace office confidently and, after finishing external duties, addressed Cassian directly:

“I’d like to borrow him, Prince Cassian.”

Indeed, I understood why she was considered a disaster by her kingdom—the audacity was real.

Cassian’s violet eyes met mine briefly, a chill passing through me. It felt like another trial from him.

“…I wondered what you were up to barging in here.”

Seeing me escorted, he sighed and extended a hand.

“My lovely Rose has captured someone other than me.”

He gently pulled me into his arms, ignoring Alexis as if she didn’t exist, and whispered,

“How am I supposed to monopolize you?”