“Prince Roy, that’s Charlotte Wuyue… walking around the dress shop with Miss Bella…” Simon, whose face was still stinging, whispered to the dazzling blond man in front of him.
Roy Kalishi sat in his chair, listening to Simon’s complaints. “He dares to lay hands on the woman I’ve taken a fancy to, Charlotte Wuyue… Tsk… What a troublesome nuisance.”
“A mere Marquis, and yet he dares to overstep so blatantly. Once the Duke of Ennis arrives at the Empire Capital, I’ll personally report this matter to him and have him give that arrogant fool a proper lesson.”
Roy’s voice suddenly rose, his eyes filled with a sinister chill.
He could already picture that ‘spectacle’ in his mind—Charlotte, who always wore that cold and aloof look, indifferent to everyone, being humiliated by the Duke in public, losing all face and looking utterly wretched.
Charlotte was always the center of attention. Gifted from a young age, and recently, he’d even confessed to a Duke’s Daughter in front of everyone. In Roy’s eyes, it was nothing but Charlotte seeking the spotlight. He really couldn’t understand—did that guy enjoy flaunting himself so much?
What made it even more suffocating was that Roy was a few years older than Charlotte, and as a Prince, he should have been the focus of everyone’s admiration, yet everywhere he went, he was overshadowed by Charlotte. This gap felt like a thorn in his heart, pricking him painfully.
Now Charlotte even dared to approach the woman he’d set his sights on. It was a direct challenge to his limits. Just thinking about it made Roy grit his teeth, his knuckles cracking from the force of his grip.
“Enough, go now.” Roy waved his hand, his tone filled with impatience, just wanting Simon to disappear from his sight.
But Simon still stood there, head lowered, occasionally sneaking timid glances at Roy, clearly waiting for something.
“Tch.” Roy clicked his tongue in annoyance and instructed the maid standing nearby, “Take him away and give him twenty gold coins as his reward. Keep him out of my sight.”
“Th-thank you, Prince Roy!” The moment Simon heard about the gold coins, his eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed in thanks, finally leaving with the maid, looking quite satisfied.
The room finally quieted down, but for the first time, Roy tasted the bitterness of being unable to voice his frustrations.
He’d always longed to win the support of powerful forces, but after looking at the people around him, they were nothing but the useless companions from his school days—noble in name, perhaps, but utterly useless in ability.
Shortsighted, greedy, and incredibly stupid, all they knew was how to indulge in pleasure.
This left Prince Roy with a group that looked impressive on the surface, but in reality, they were a rabble with no true strength he could rely on.
His only real hope was the Duke of Ennis, who was highly likely to form a marriage alliance with him. Yet, the Duke seemed to favor his elder brother and kept an ambiguous stance.
Roy knew very well—the Duke of Ennis was still waiting, watching to see whether he or his brother would come out on top, only choosing to support the winner.
Trouble never comes alone. Just now, he learned that his desired fiancée was out with Charlotte, the very person he loathed. Even though there was no engagement yet, it still made him incredibly uncomfortable.
One headache after another had been piling up lately. Especially after his younger sister, Princess Kresia, returned to the Imperial Palace, Roy felt even more pressure. He clearly sensed that he now had another formidable competitor.
Moreover, the confidence she displayed was overwhelming… As the only member of the royal family to study at the Kalishi Academy, her status was crucial, and it was likely she had the support of the Kalishi Academy behind her.
Roy took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress his anger.
No, he couldn’t show the slightest sign of weakness, or he’d just end up being pushed aside by everyone.
Even if he didn’t have any competent aides, at least he had numbers—stirring up some rumors, muddying the waters, those were things he could still manage.
At that thought, his taut nerves relaxed a little, and his mood improved somewhat, though the bitterness in his heart refused to dissipate.
Forget it. I’ll go walk in the gardens of the Imperial Palace to clear my head.
……
“Now that we’ve finished talking, I’ll be leaving first.”
Charlotte straightened his clothes. He’d always been a man of efficiency and saw no reason to linger.
“Such a busy man,” Kresia said with a smile, though a trace of hidden disappointment flickered in her eyes.
“Still, I have to thank you. You took the time to come here and helped me sort through so much. I’ll always remember this kindness, Marquis Charlotte.”
Just as Charlotte opened the glass door, ready to jump off the balcony—
“But have you really never considered marrying me?” Kresia asked with utmost seriousness. “Whatever Floleen can give you, I can as well. She has wealth, but only the Weis Domain. I, however, am a Princess of the Kalishi Empire…”
Charlotte immediately cut her off, turning back to look at Kresia with a completely expressionless gaze. “Let it go, Your Highness. I’m not interested in political marriages.”
“Then are you saying your relationship with her isn’t political either?” Kresia frowned in puzzlement.
To her, when Charlotte petitioned the Emperor to marry Floleen, it was clearly for personal gain. Why was it now, with her, that he suddenly had ‘no interest’?
“It’s not. It never was from the start.” Charlotte’s tone was utterly flat.
“Then… does that mean, to you, being with me could only ever be a political marriage?”
Kresia lowered her head. She knew her feelings were complicated—disappointment, unwillingness, and even a hint of grievance she herself hadn’t noticed.
This time, Charlotte didn’t treat her words as a joke.
He was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, “You are a Princess.”
“Then… what if I wasn’t? I actually really…”
“Kresia.” Charlotte knew what she wanted to say and interrupted her again. This time, he dropped all honorifics, just gently calling her name, his tone more serious than ever before.
“Some things… you can say later. When you truly understand, or… when you’ve had enough of being a Princess.”
His gaze lingered on her reddening eyes, his words sincere.
“I promise you, as long as you say the word then, I will take you away—away from the Imperial Palace, away from this place you never liked. I swear it.”
Although Charlotte’s face showed little expression, his words were deeply earnest.
“Let’s talk about it then. It’s still far too early, isn’t it?”
Kresia lifted her head, and at last, tears slid from the corner of her eyes. She sniffled, her voice trembling with tears but incredibly resolute, “Alright, it’s a promise.”
Perhaps, in front of Charlotte, she could finally show her vulnerable side…
Charlotte thought that, even without her status as a Princess, Kresia could still join the Wuyue family. After all, Kresia’s magical talent was not low at all—if she joined, she’d be a valuable asset.
But as he prepared to leave, Charlotte suddenly seemed to remember something, and with an awkward tone said, “Senior… could you escort me out?”
Kresia was momentarily startled, then burst out laughing, her laughter crisp as silver bells. “Hehehe, you could sneak in here on your own, but now you’re telling me you can’t get out?”
A moment ago, she’d been touched almost to tears, but now, Charlotte’s sudden awkwardness had her laughing so hard she nearly doubled over, the elegant dignity of a Princess nowhere to be found.
It was the first time she’d ever seen Charlotte so embarrassed.
“Honestly, the security in the Imperial Palace has gotten a little too strict lately,” Charlotte explained helplessly.
When he snuck in, he’d kept the Veil of Mist Concealment active the entire way, using wind magic to search for Kresia’s room—his magic was nearly drained.
If he used the Veil of Mist Concealment again to leave, he’d have no energy left to use wind magic on the way home.
He’d already promised Floleen to meet her tonight. He couldn’t be late. Besides, with the Empire Capital being so vast, if he tried to walk back, who knew how long it would take?
“The Emperor’s banquet is about to be held. Naturally, security is tighter,” Kresia said, her smile lingering in her eyes. “Still, you’re always so meticulous and thorough. How did things go wrong today?”
“This was all part of the plan. As long as you’re by my side, getting in and out of the Imperial Palace is a breeze.”
“Hahahaha, Charlotte, you really haven’t changed a bit since before.”