Is it because of my mood? I definitely saw it somewhere.

Your Highness?

The servant asked with a puzzled face.

Its nothing.

The Crown Prince moved the steps he had stopped with with an uneasy face. After walking for a while, he entered the parlor where Claire was waiting. She sat on the sofa and waited with an anxious expression.

Your Highness!

Claire, who found the Crown Prince, got up immediately. As she was coming closer, she then stopped, weeping with tears in her eyes. She was a lot more cautious than before. Seeing that, the Crown Princes heart weakened.

Ive been working, so Im a little late. Im sorry.

Lately, the Crown Prince had been neglecting her and sometimes seemed to try to keep his distance.

Even at the Princesss birthday banquet, he didnt even give her a single glance, even though they were in the same room.

But now his voice was as sweet as before.

Eventually, Claire dropped the tears she had been holding back.

I missed you.

Claire approached and gave him a soft hug, and the Crown Prince stroked her hair.

Crying like a child. Youve become more childish since we havent seen each other.

But Im worried that Your Highness hasnt been looking for me for a while

Stop crying.

The Crown Prince took out his handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

Claire accepted it and wiped her eyes.

Sit down for now.

The two soon sat down.

The tea cups on the table and the tea in the teapot had long since cooled down.

The tea is cold. Ill get a new one. Are there any snacks you want to eat?

Its okay. I dont have an appetite these days.

Claire shook her head and responded helplessly.

Is something wrong?

These days, my parents keep talking about marriage.

Well, Claire, youre old enough.

The Crown Prince was more calm than expected.

Claires eyes widened in surprise at his reaction.

She bit her lip.

She then came down to the floor and knelt down on her knees.

Help me, Your Highness. I dont want to.

The Crown Prince looked startled as Claire suddenly knelt on the floor.

Large tears fell from her eyes.

My father wants me to marry an older man who is almost twenty years older than me. Young master Percy has already sent me a bunch of gifts a few days ago.

The Percy was not so great, but it was an influential family.

The Count was an old man over sixty, and he had a son who was not married until he was forty years old.

Count Percys son suffered burns in an accident when he was a child, which burned one side of his face, which resulted in blindness in one of his eyes.

Even if it wasnt because of the big difference in age, she didnt want to marry a one-eyed man with a hideously distorted face.

I only have Your Highness. I dont like anyone else. I begged that I really didnt want it, but I think my father has already made up his mind. If it goes on like this its really irreversible.

Claires voice was very desperate and terrified.

Naturally, she looked very sad and afraid. The Prince looked down at Claire with a complicated face.

Baron Dana? Thats awful. (*Baron Dana is Claires father.)

Claire lifted her head slightly and looked at the Crown Princes expression. He was calmer than expected.

Claire was upset, but instead of expressing it, she bowed her head again and hid her expression.

Dont worry. Youll never marry Young Master Percy.

The Crown Prince said firmly.

Thank you.

Okay, get up. If this happens again, let me know.

Yes.

Now stop crying and have a snack and relax.

The Crown Prince summoned a servant and had the imperial chef prepare new refreshments.

His demeanor was as kind and friendly as before.

The atmosphere after that was soft.

It was like going back in time.

However, during the conversation, the Crown Prince seemed to be thinking differently at times.

Your Highness?

Claire did not eat the refreshments brought by the maid, but looked towards the Crown Prince, who did not answer.

He sat still, bringing the teacup to his lips.

He seemed to be thinking of something.

Claire called the Crown Prince once more.

Your Highness, are you okay? If youre tired, should I leave?

At that moment, the focus returned to the Crown Princes eyes.

He shook his head as if it was okay.

Its nothing, you dont have to worry about it.

The Crown Prince answered without sincerity and put down the teacup.

The half-remaining tea in the teacup was reddish.

Like the jewel embedded in Elvins brooch he saw earlier.

In an instant, the memory from a while ago flashed into his mind.

On the day of Claires birthday banquet, he went to the jeweler with Roxana.

Then the Crown Prince remembered where he had seen the brooch before and opened his eyes wide.

Is this a gift for someone? (CP)

I received an excessive gift and prepared it as a gift in return. (Roxana)

Can I ask who youre giving it to? (CP)

Im going to send it to someone Im grateful for (Roxana)

He recalled the conversation he had with the Princess, his fiance, that same day.

She did not answer his question to whom she would give the gift to.

Now he knew why.

It wasnt that Roxana didnt have an answer, its that she couldnt.

Ha! Was it like that?!

The Crown Prince laughed.

Claire looked at him with a puzzled face.

I have a place to go, so I need to leave first.

The Crown Prince raised his lips sullenly.

Claire tried to smile instead of holding onto him, as he looked very upset.

Yes.

The Crown Prince rose from his seat without any regrets.

Then he quietly left the room.

Claire, who was left alone, looked at the empty seat opposite.

Then she distorted her expression and bit her lip.

***

I was enjoying tea time leisurely.

The moment I took a bite of the macaron from the famous bakery that Tien had bought, the door opened and Joan, who had gone to run an errand, returned.

She gave the bad news with a dark face.

Lady, the Crown Prince has come to visit.

Suddenly, my appetite dropped, and I put down the snack I was holding in my hand.

Ive never heard of His Majestys visit, but he said that he came again this time without contact

I went to the window and looked out.

Indeed, as Joan said, I saw a carriage with the seal of the imperial family parked near the front door on the first floor.

Whats going on again this time?

Lady, the Crown Princes expression didnt look very good. And His Excellency is away.. *(His Excellency is Roxanas father)

Joan was worried that the atmosphere on the first floor wasnt very good.

There were a few things that came to my mind.

One of the things that I had instructed Stephen not long ago.

Did you know by any chance that we stopped sponsoring the business?

If the astronomical subsidy that came in periodically was suddenly cut off, it would certainly be difficult for the Crown Prince.

However, I was the first to change the plans and proceed with the work without telling him.

From an investors point of view, it was impossible to pour wasted money into something that has a clear outcome.

Of course, it wasnt just for that reason that the sponsorship was cut off.

Lady, what should I do?

Joan asked with an anxious face.

Tell him that I wont see him today because Im not feeling well.

Yes? But

Joan cried at my words.

When I didnt say anything more, she left the room with a helpless face.

I wasnt too worried.

I had no reason to warmly welcome an uninvited guest who had come without an invitation.

Besides, no matter if he was the Crown Prince, at this point when the Duke was back in the capital, he wouldnt make a fuss in the Dukes residence.

Joan, who had gone down to deliver the news, returned shortly thereafter.

The Crown Prince said that he cant leave even more because of that. Hes worried about his sick fiance. So he wont go until he sees the Ladys face and check your condition .

Joan said in a crawling voice as she looked at me.

I dont know what this is about.

Lady, what should I do?

Joan asked with a frightened bunny face.

Tell him I have a highly contagious flu and cant see anyone. I have already taken medicine and fell asleep, so come back another day.

If I said that, he should understand and leave.

But I soon realized that I had underestimated the Crown Prince.

Roxana.

The door to my room opened and the Crown Prince entered.

He seemed quite angry.

Annie, go tell my father that His Highness had come.

I quietly instructed Annie, who was next to me.

She nodded her head slightly with a serious face.

I put down the book I was reading and got up from my seat to face the Crown Prince.

Your Highness, whats going on? You came to the unmarried Ladys room and opened the door without permission.

I was told you slept early after taking the medicine Did I receive the wrong message?

The Crown Prince looked at me alternately and the seat I had been sitting in for a while.

I just woke up.

When I responded calmly, the Crown Prince looked at me with an absurd gaze.

Is this really like this?

Didnt Your Highness visit without a notice first? If you wish for hospitality, make an official appointment and come another day. Im a little tired today.

No. Talk to me today. Im trying not to misunderstand. So say anything.

The Crown Prince said in a firm voice.

I can understand roughly why you are doing this. But my decision doesnt change.

You know what Im doing? And yet youre coming out so blatantly?

Isnt this because I cut off the sponsorship of your business?

What?

The Crown Prince frowned.

Your Highness is forcing me to make sacrifices. Why should I invest such a huge sum in an impossible task?

The Crown Prince didnt say anything as if my words were poignant.

If things go well, all the credit go to you, and if things go wrong, Ill lose all thhe money.

Why are you doing this all of a sudden? It seems like youve become a different person since last time.

The Crown Prince asked me in a dismayed voice.

Because there was a change of heart.

Its not that you have a change of heart. Isnt it because you got another man?

I beg your pardon?

I doubted my ears for a moment.

He had no interest in Roxana and he was the most arrogant Crown Prince.

Then he acted as if he was a husband suffering from his wifes betrayal.

But the dog with the dung scolds the dog with the chaff.

Of course I didnt have another man.

Even if there were, the Crown Prince had no right to criticize me.

I dont know on what grounds Your Hignhess is insulting me so much. To mention one more thing, the reason the Duke helped you because you were my fianc.

The atmosphere became more and more sharp.

The maids protected me from the Crown Prince with their bloodless faces.

Annies face was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed that she had gone out to carry out the order I had given her to summon the Duke.

I moved forward slowly, leaving them behind.

Because Your Highness seems to have forgotten about it for a while.

Are you threatening me now?

Did my words sound like a threat? If Your Highness felt that way, thats it.

What do you want from me?

Im not going to ask anything from Your Highness. Im not begging for love.

The Crown Prince looked at me with a puzzled face.

Id rather Your Highness beg me for something.

I swallowed the back words.

Even if Roxana had the upper hand now, if she said these words, she would not be able to avoid the charge of contempt of the imperial family.

From now on, like before, I will not force my family to suffer damages for Your Highnesss sake. Even if the engagement is broken, there is nothing I can do about it.

The Crown Princes eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

I looked at him coldly.