"Just take the st.i.tches off your clothes and say it. And, princess, I wonder if you know there's a needle in your sleeve."

There was a habit of sewing on the sleeve while working ch.o.r.es in the prop room. She was surprised at the appearance of the Prince, and forgot that she had left it there for a while after making the doll hat, in case she needed to modify it.

When Julietta raised her arm in embarra.s.sment, Killian held it and pulled the needle out personally, and said, "It's dangerous, so I think you'd better get rid of this habit right now."

Handing the flas.h.i.+ng needle over to Sophie next to him, Killian added, "I think you've gained weight in the last few days. You look healthy. It looks great."

Julietta didn't want to box in her chest with a corset until the day she came to the dressing shop, had worn an out-of-the-box dress with a rich ruffle from shoulders to chest to cover up her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Hurling abuses inside to the Prince who immediately noticed the fine difference, she turned her head slightly to hide her irritated expression.

"I think it's because I feel better after finis.h.i.+ng my debut. It's a shame to be pointed out in the face like this."

'That arrogant and spoiled nature seems to be exercised regardless of who it is. How can you ask if I gained weight?'

She had been breathtakingly surprised for a while, but Julietta, stunned by the Prince's words and actions, wanted to end the unexpected encounter.

Killian's mouth became more sulky when she purposely sniffed at the rude remarks, as if she was hurt. He spoke in a friendly soothing way, unlike his sneering mouth, "I think it's a mistake to say that, but it looks much better than your pale complexion at the party. I think you are beautiful to everyone's eyes."

Julietta gave an unappealing look to him at his way of speaking. His pretending to be kind was even more suspicious. The arrogant man tried to appease her by paying lip service, as the background of the family of Kiellini was great.

"I have come to ask you something. I've been looking for the princess, but I think there are too many interrupters here."

When he said some words women would like best, as Oswald had once told him, Julietta's face got even worse. Killian thought he'd better get to the point as soon as possible. His escorts dragged out Sophie and Amelia at his command.

Julietta was genuinely annoyed to see Sophie and Amelie being dragged away from them, and looked after them in worry. She had accepted this dangerous task to hide herself after hearing that he was going to take her in as a concubine, and she was furious with the Prince, who was trying to render all her efforts vain.

Although she could not even speak for herself when a maid, she was the princess of the family of Kiellini, whose rank was now the first or second in the aristocratic hierarchy. Julietta, determined to knock him off his pedestal today where he thought that all women would love him, gave a nod to Killian, as if to tell him to hurry things up.

She was sure he would think he had found her weak spot and would try to marry into the family of Kiellini on the pretext of it. So, no matter how much he threatened, she had to find a way not to succ.u.mb to him.

'Since his arrogance pierces the sky, shouldn't I just say no by mentioning his behavior so far?'

It was clear that he would not cling to a woman who disliked him. Julietta waited for Killian to speak out, pondering how to hurt the pride of the n.o.ble Prince most.

"I'd like to propose a partners.h.i.+p to the princess."

"... a partners.h.i.+p?"

Ignoring Julietta's surprise and being thrown off her guard by the unexpected remark, Killian looked back at Oswald, who stood beside him, his eyes s.h.i.+ning at the exciting development of the two.

"Why do you want from me, Your Highness?" Oswald asked, as if he had no intention of leaving.

"The Marquis, I saw a lot of things in the hall."

"It's all I've already seen before, Your Highness."

The eye fighting between Oswald with a smile on his face, and Killian who was staring at him, lasted for a while. In the end, Killian sighed in surrender to Oswald, who seemed to have no intention of backing down.

"Yes. This is the information you brought anyway, so I will tolerate you this time."

Killian neatly gave up on kicking Oswald out, grabbed Julietta's hand and led her to the terrace.

"Let's sit down and discuss it slowly, because it will take longer."

Killian sat Julietta in a chair that lay on the terrace with perfect politeness.

Oswald's eyes reddened at the polite manners that the Prince rarely showed. There was no comparison between his current att.i.tude of treating the princess and the hard and cold appearance he had when meeting with other royal princesses or ladies from all over the world.

Seeing his pa.s.sion and sincerity, he really wanted to get the information about Julietta from Princess Kiellini. Oswald even had a sad thought, and decided to do his best to help.

When the determined Oswald sat next to the Prince as if invited, Killian said stiffly, "The Marquis, it's stuffy. I think the table is too small for the two of us to sit down."