“?!”
Princess Kresia covered her mouth, her nose suddenly tingling as a rush of emotion like warm water swept over her heart.
She never imagined that, on such a restless, sleepless night, someone would break into the most heavily guarded chamber in the Imperial Palace just to see her.
“Charlotte, how did you get in?” Her voice trembled, and the tears threatening in her eyes nearly spilled over.
She hurriedly turned her back, wiping the corners of her eyes with flustered fingers. “Did you bribe all the palace guards or something?”
Behind her came the light sound of footsteps touching down.
Charlotte hopped down from the carved balcony railing, his tone casual with a hint of mischief. “You can figure out a cross-city Teleportation Magic, but I can’t have my own secrets? If I said I used a Wind Spell to fly up here, would you believe me, senpai?”
Kresia took a deep breath, composed her expression, and finally turned around. “If you plan to sneak up on your senpai at night, shouldn’t you at least wait until I’m asleep…”
“Looks like I guessed wrong.” Charlotte raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her face before turning away as if he understood perfectly.
“I thought you’d be frowning and worried, but you still have the energy to joke. You seem to be in good spirits. If that’s the case, I won’t bother you.”
With that, he put a hand on the railing, acting as though he was about to jump down.
“Hey! Wait!”
Kresia panicked, grabbing his wrist with a slightly cool palm.
She pulled him forcefully into the room and shut the glass door to the balcony with a “bang,” shutting out the night and the cool breeze outside.
Her eyes carried a hint of complaint. “I can’t even joke with you? I was wrong, don’t go…”
Charlotte took the opportunity to look around the private chamber.
It was nothing like the opulent palace bedroom he’d imagined for a princess; instead, it overflowed with a cozy, girlish atmosphere—plush velvet carpets, lace curtains hanging by the window, an open walk-in closet filled with all kinds of dresses, from elaborate court gowns to simple daily frocks.
Only the desk stood out as a mess: a spread of Magic Circle blueprints covered in densely packed runes, a sketch board propped crookedly in the corner, and a stack of thick Magic Codexes piled high enough to knock someone out, with half a piece of uneaten cake pressed on top.
“Marquis Charlotte, did anything here catch your eye?” Kresia blinked her amber eyes, her voice intentionally teasing. “If you want something, I can give it to you—like the clothes I just wore, for instance?”
Charlotte pressed his forehead, feeling helpless.
Kresia was always like this around him: one moment teary-eyed, the next donning her mischievous mask, as if that could hide the vulnerability in her heart.
She had clearly just been wiping away tears, but Charlotte simply chose not to point it out.
His gaze fell on her. She was wearing a simple home dress—light, chiffon fabric that clung softly to her skin, with a hem that barely covered her upper thighs, exposing a slender stretch of fair leg.
Charlotte scrutinized Kresia’s home dress. “Did you design this yourself too? It barely covers your thighs. Is she really not afraid of exposure?”
“Huh?”
Kresia seemed both amused and annoyed, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. “You sneak into a girl’s room in the middle of the night and have the nerve to talk about me being afraid of exposure? If you hadn’t barged in, would you have seen any of this?”
She grumbled inwardly about Charlotte—when she was alone, no one cared what she wore to sleep, but now he was acting as if it was his concern.
Thinking about it, Charlotte had to agree.
Kresia always dressed conservatively at the Academy, forever in long skirts. Even if she wore something backless, she’d cover it up with a Mage Robe, hardly ever showing her shoulders.
Yet, the dresses in her closet were mostly bold designs—off-shoulder, cinched waists, and short skirts accounted for most of them. She probably just found them more comfortable and freeing in private.
He’d only visited her Dress Shop that afternoon, where most of the ready-made dresses were even more daring—utterly different from her personal style. Quite interesting.
“This look is for your eyes only, you know.”
Kresia seemed to see right through his thoughts. She tiptoed closer, her breath tickling his ear, strands of pink hair falling on his shoulder and carrying a floral scent. “You’d better take responsibility, Charlotte-kun.”
She had long wanted to wear light and comfortable clothes, but her status as Princess forced her to maintain a dignified appearance at all times.
Only in this private little world could she shed her façade, slip into her favorite outfits, and admire her unrestrained beauty in the mirror.
Charlotte pressed his forehead again. “Senpai, why don’t we talk about the real reason I’m here. If you want to tease me, pick another time. I have another appointment tonight.”
“With who?”
Kresia’s curiosity flared, her eyes shining as she forgot all her earlier worries. “Is it Bella? Or Floleen? Or maybe that new student of yours—the Duke’s Daughter, Lilia Karen?”
When she was with Charlotte, she always felt an inexplicable sense of comfort, as if all the anxieties weighing her down could be cast aside for a moment.
“Floleen.” Charlotte replied succinctly.
Kresia noticed he didn’t want to elaborate, so she tactfully dropped the gossip and composed herself. “So, tell me. You snuck into the palace tonight—what did you want to talk about?”
“You haven’t slept well in a long time, have you?”
Charlotte was observant; his eyes saw straight through the fatigue in Kresia’s amber gaze.
“That’s right.”
Her voice was as light as a sigh. “I’m so anxious, but there’s nothing I can do. I can only watch helplessly as things go from bad to worse.”
Charlotte stroked his chin, looking at her steadily. “Tonight, you can tell me your true intentions—if you trust me.”
Kresia’s head snapped up, a flicker of disbelief lighting her amber eyes, as if she’d caught a shred of hope in the darkness. “Really?”
“Really.”
Charlotte nodded, his tone serious.
He truly had no other choice. The Holy Nation was fundamentally his enemy, and within the Imperial Capital, the only power able to stand against them—and whom he could trust—was Kresia. At the very least, Kresia could openly oppose the Holy Nation.
He could tell that this seemingly strong Princess was already buckling under enormous pressure. He had to come and lift her spirits; otherwise, if she gave up, he’d be truly alone in the capital.
“I want to eliminate both of my brothers’ factions before the Holy Maiden of the Holy Nation arrives for the Emperor’s Evening Banquet. It’d be best if I could also secure the support of a Duke.”
When Charlotte heard this, he thought she was daydreaming.
Might as well have the two of them get down on their knees and beg Dean Movira for help.
“Hahaha, don’t feel troubled.”
Kresia saw his expression and laughed self-mockingly. “I know it’s naïve and nearly impossible. But you asked, so I’m saying what’s in my heart—at least that lifts some of the burden.”
“Eliminating the princes’ factions is almost impossible in the short term.”
Charlotte said honestly, “But the second part, I might be able to help you with.”
“Oh? You can get a Duke’s support for me?”
Charlotte nodded. “I think the Duke of the North, Ryan Karen, wouldn’t want the Kalishi Empire to become a true vassal of the Holy Nation.”
“The Guardian Duke, huh…”
Kresia nodded thoughtfully, then a sly glint flashed in her eyes. “Aren’t you tutoring his daughter now? If you act as an intermediary, it’s actually pretty feasible. Alright, I’ll leave that task to you!”
She leaned close to Charlotte, suddenly winking, her warm breath brushing his ear and her voice soft and seductive. “But I have nothing to offer you in return—except the Teleportation Array, my body can only be used as a bargaining chip in our personal dealings.”
“Even without that bargaining chip, I, Charlotte of the Mistmoon Family, will support you as an individual, Your Highness. You might be a bit troublesome, but I don’t want you to disappear from Kalishi Academy. You once did me a favor, after all.”
“The Mistmoon Family really does value loyalty. Looks like I made the right choice in befriending you, Charlotte-kun.”
Kresia smiled, the shadows in her eyes clearing. “Did you know? When I left the Academy, Dean Movira sought me out in person. She said that although she couldn’t openly support me, if I ever ran into trouble, I should come find you.”
Hearing this, Charlotte sighed helplessly. “That woman just loves to put me through the wringer. But at least she’s never done me harm, so I’ll let it slide.”