Chapter – 28
At Alresto’s honest answer, the Saint smiled brightly as if she had never been sullen.
“I’m sorry for making you worry, but hearing that someone was worried about me makes me feel happy.”
At her words, Alresto let out another soft chuckle.
The fact that she said she was happy just because he had worried about her sounded so innocent.
She reminded him of the time when she had asked him to spare some time despite his busy schedule, wanting to eat lunch outside together.
She had looked exactly like a puppy back then.
“Do you often sleep a lot like today?”
The Saint rolled her eyes slightly before nodding.
“Yes. Sometimes, when I feel down or stressed, sleeping deeply helps me feel better.”
Alresto nodded slowly.
“Did something suddenly make you feel upset or stressed?”
For a moment, he hoped she might talk about the letter sent from the temple.
But it seemed she had no intention of speaking about it right away.
“A little bit. I’ll tell you when I have the chance.”
Alresto decided not to press further.
She hadn’t denied anything outright, so she might intend to talk about it later.
Pushing someone who didn’t want to speak would only create resentment, after all. He thought it best to stop here for today.
Then, the slender neck of the Saint suddenly looked somewhat bare today.
And his mother’s words about giving her a piece of jewelry as a gift came to mind.
‘Wait.’
An image of himself handing a gift to the Saint appeared in Alresto’s mind.
He hadn’t tried to imagine it deliberately—it simply came to him.
In his imagination, the Saint received the gift and smiled brightly in delight.
Now that he thought about it, following his mother’s advice didn’t seem too bad.
After all, his goal was to win the Saint’s heart, and a gift was a fairly good way to express interest and affection.
He could just ask Caster to pick something appropriate.
‘……’
Could he?
Still, since it would be his first gift…
Maybe it would be better to pick it himself.
He began adjusting his remaining schedule in his mind, squeezing out time.
He would read a few more documents before going to bed, and for the strategy meeting, he would send Jerold in his place.
It looked like he could spare some time to visit a jewelry shop.
While he was calculating time while looking at the clock—
Knock, knock.
“I have brought your meal.”
Alresto stood up as if the timing was perfect.
“Eat well and rest today.”
Asha nodded obediently.
“Yes, I will.”
After Alresto left, she felt a little disappointed.
She wanted to stay with him a little longer since he was worried about her, and she also wanted to hold his hand.
‘Holding hands felt nice.’
Is this what they mean when they say familiarity is frightening?
Could I ask to hold hands first next time?
Asha was cautious.
In Korea, it was fine for anyone to initiate physical contact regardless of gender, but this world clearly had a concept of “status difference.”
If touching the body of the crown prince carelessly was considered a breach of etiquette, that would be troublesome.
She didn’t know exactly when this era was set, but perhaps there might be a social view that disapproved of women initiating physical contact.
…Should I ask Ruby?
Seeing how she had been plotting strategies earlier while talking about men, women’s tears, and such, she seemed experienced in romance.
While eating the stew, Asha glanced sideways at Ruby, who was attending to her.
When their eyes met, Ruby smiled brightly.
“Do you have something to say, Asha-nim?”
Asha stirred the stew a few times with her spoon, hesitating slightly, then asked cautiously.
“Would it be okay if I asked the Crown Prince to hold my hand first?”
Ruby’s eyes widened at the question.
It was the expression of someone who had heard something strange, and Asha’s shoulders lowered slightly.
“So… it’s weird?”
Ruby shook her head slowly.
Once, twice, three times.
Then she clapped slowly.
Clap, clap, clap.
“That is a wonderful idea.”
“…Huh?”
“Does it really matter who initiates in a relationship? His Highness will surely be very happy.”
Ruby’s eyes seemed to sparkle. Or maybe it was just Asha’s imagination.
“Oh, really? It’s not strange?”
“Not at all. I assure you, His Highness will be very pleased! Ah! Instead of asking to hold hands, how about you just grab his hand?”
Ruby’s voice sounded strangely excited.
“…We’re not close enough for that yet.”
Asha shook her head.
Ruby’s mouth fell open.
Not close enough?
Not close enough?!
She had already taken over the Amonde Palace, and yet why was she so lacking in confidence?
No, perhaps it wasn’t that she lacked confidence.
She did want to ask to hold hands first, after all.
But saying that they weren’t close enough to just hold hands—what does that even mean?
“Asha-nim. You are close enough.”
“Really?”
Ruby thought that a question mark seemed to float above Asha’s head, and said firmly:
“Close enough to hold hands without speaking!”
Asha’s cheeks turned slightly red.
“Oh, is that so? This is my first time with things like this…”
Hearing the shy confession, Ruby finally understood.
It seemed Asha was inexperienced in love and was being careful.
Ruby decided to roll up her sleeves to help the romance novice, Asha.
“Don’t worry, Asha-nim. Leave it to me.”
Next time you meet him, just grab his hand first.
The next day.
The Empress’s tea party was held on the first floor of the Rose Palace’s banquet hall.
The windows connected to the terrace were wide open, letting the gentle breeze flow in, spreading the fragrant scent of fresh flowers decorating the hall.
Every decoration within sight was made of fresh flowers, filling the place with life, and the young ladies attending the tea party looked like flowers themselves.
Unexpectedly, the Empress’s tea party included not only young ladies of the same age but also well-dressed young men.
The atmosphere was also quite relaxed.
There were formal white-clothed tables, but also low sofas, standing high tables, and even canopy tables in the garden outside the terrace, along with flower-decorated rocking chairs.
It felt like a small youth ball.
Since there were no assigned seats, Asha headed toward a small sofa by the window.
It was a seat with two single sofas facing each other with a low table in the center.
As Asha sat down, a neatly dressed maid approached.
“It is an honor to serve you. Your tea has been prepared to be refreshing and light, using chamomile with a touch of orange.”
“Oh, yes.”
It seemed that a different tea was prepared in advance for each guest.
Soon, a beautiful canary-yellow tea and various cakes were placed in front of Asha.
After the maid left, she took a sip of the tea.
As the maid had said, it was fragrant and refreshingly delicious.
Asha put down her teacup and looked around.
People chatting in small groups looked happy, and naturally, there were no familiar faces.
If it had been before, being alone among a crowded group would have felt lonely, but today, she felt fine.
Spending a relaxed time alone in such a beautiful place felt rather nice.
When Asha cheerfully picked up her fork and started eating cake—
Someone approached her.
It was a young lady of similar age.
“Hello. May I sit with you?”
Unexpectedly, someone spoke to her when she had expected to remain alone until the tea party ended.
Asha nodded happily.
“Yes, please sit. Nice to meet you.”
As the girl sat to Asha’s left, a maid soon came to prepare tea.
“This is rose peppermint. Please enjoy your time.”
With a somewhat expressionless greeting, the maid left, and the girl sitting opposite spoke naturally, as if used to meeting new people.
“My name is Hilla Houser.”
“I’m Asha Herman.”
In that moment, Hilla’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh my, I’ve heard about you. You’re staying in the Blossom Palace, right?”
At her question, the noise that had filled the hall seemed to gradually quiet, though it might have been just her imagination.
Asha unconsciously lowered her voice.
“Oh, yes. It just happened somehow.”
Her voice was small and slightly trembling, it seemed.
“Blossom Palace isn’t a place just anyone can enter. Do you have some outstanding talent? Are you very smart?”
“No, not really…”
“Then, is it love? Did His Highness, who has always been cold and composed, have his heart ignited? Really?”
