Chapter 14
“We’re childhood friends. We used to visit each other often, whether at the hotel or at home since we were young.”
Whenever Grinelda talked about Dale, her eyes and hands never stayed still. Diana couldn’t help but keep smiling at her reaction.
“Since we’ve unpacked quickly, what should we do now? I don’t really have much experience having fun.”
Diana asked with a smile.
“Would you like to eat first? I’ll guide you to the best seat in the restaurant.”
Grinelda didn’t seem to understand why she was smiling, but as if it didn’t matter, she smiled even brighter and led them to the dining area.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Jerome and Dale, who were already seated and chatting, warmly welcomed them. Once Diana and Grinelda took their seats, the dishes began to arrive in earnest.
The meal was filled with the chef’s special creations. Various exotic dishes appeared one after another, surprising both Diana and Jerome.
Diana especially liked a dish where a thick special sauce infused with golden powder was poured over tender chicken and fluffy rice.
“Your Highness, you must try this as well. It’s the head chef’s signature dish.”
Dale said excitedly as he placed a freshly served dish in front of Diana.
“The chef here was personally recruited by Miss Green all the way from the distant Oron Republic. You could say he’s the best on the continent.”
“Personally went all the way to Oron?”
Diana asked in surprise, turning to Grinelda.
“Yes. I personally go out to find people and items that the hotel needs.”
Grinelda replied shyly.
The more Diana learned about Grinelda, the more interesting she became.
As she looked at her with sparkling eyes, she accidentally met Jerome’s gaze.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Feeling slightly caught, Diana gave him a small glare, but he only shrugged and smiled.
“When did you start serving as Her Highness’s aide, Sir Jerome?”
At Dale’s question, Grinelda also turned her bright eyes toward Diana and Jerome.
“Hmm… it’s already been over five years. Ah, how time flies. When I first started serving her, she was a shy, tiny little princess… Now she’s grown up and doesn’t even listen to me anymore, treating everything I say as nagging…”
Jerome, who had been rambling, quickly shut his mouth when he met Diana’s cold stare.
“Why? Go on.”
“Haha… I guess I do nag a lot, huh? Haha… I’ll just step out for a moment…”
Avoiding her piercing gaze, Jerome fled toward the restroom.
“But… is Sir Ian not here?”
While waiting for Jerome, Diana couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked.
“Oh, that guy is already here. He arrived hours before Your Highness did.”
“What? He was already here?”
Diana was both surprised and slightly stunned. He was already here and didn’t come to see me?
A strange feeling surrounded her. She didn’t want to admit it, but it was disappointment.
After the meal, they spent time viewing the hotel’s exotic garden plants and receiving fashionable foreign-style massages.
When she returned to her room, night had already fallen. After bathing, Diana completely collapsed onto the bed.
“Even having fun is exhausting…”
She muttered while looking at the beautiful night view outside the window.
“…Is it really okay for me to be this relaxed?”
After a moment, drawn by the night scenery, she stepped out onto the balcony. The cool night breeze brought a natural smile to her face.
“Yes… maybe for a day or two, it’s okay to let go of my urgency.”
She already knew that panicking alone wouldn’t change the future, but anxiety still clung to her every day.
Three years ahead. It was both long and short. Only one year remained until she would be officially named crown princess.
Maybe one day she would miss this very moment.
“Even after returning to the past, the uncertainty of the future hasn’t changed.”
Under the clear night sky, she looked out at the shimmering Elten River and the small villages along its banks.
“…?”
Then something suddenly sparkled below the building.
“…Did I missee that?”
Trying to find the source of the light, Diana leaned over the railing—but saw nothing but grass.
And then, from the balcony one floor below, a familiar black head popped out. It was Ian.
It seemed his room was directly beneath hers. He was casually dressed, likely also out for some night air.
The thin nightgown he wore fluttered in the night wind, revealing glimpses of his skin.
After briefly considering pretending she hadn’t seen him, she looked down again—and this time, Ian was already looking up at her.
“Ah! You startled me!”
Diana said, holding her chest in shock. Ian leaned against the railing with a faint smile.
“Were you spying on me?”
“Spying? I’ve been out here for a while already!”
“Well, let’s say I’ll believe that. As someone who has experienced false accusations before, I’ll be generous.”
He pulled his robe slightly tighter and narrowed his eyes teasingly.
“You seemed to be enjoying yourself today.”
“…You were watching?”
“You stand out, Your Highness, wherever you go.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that…”
The one who stands out is Louis, not me.
But she swallowed the thought.
“Why didn’t you show up today? You insisted on coming with us earlier.”
He paused before suddenly asking:
“Did you miss me?”
“What?! No! I just wondered why someone I expected wasn’t there!”
Her attempt to hide her embarrassment failed as he chuckled softly.
“…Why are you laughing?”
“I just… feel happy seeing you.”
Diana didn’t understand what he meant and frowned.
Ian turned his gaze toward the distant river, his expression deep in thought.
“Do you have something on your mind?”
she asked quietly.
He smiled faintly.
“Do you actually want to hear about it?”
“Well… I can listen, I guess.”
After looking at her for a moment, he asked softly:
“May I come up?”
“…What?”
Before she could finish, Ian climbed onto the railing.
“What are you doing? That’s dangerous!”
But with agile movement, he grabbed the balcony rail and climbed over in an instant.
“Did anyone see that? Hurry down!” she hissed.
“I can’t go down.”
He looked down once.
“What if I fall?”
He made a pitiful face.
“Just… get down here.”
After hesitating, he finally slipped into the balcony.
But then he looked slightly awkward.
“You were about to sleep, weren’t you?”
Diana frowned, tightening her nightgown over her slip.
“Oh right.”
She suddenly remembered something and went back inside.
“I prepared a vest for you. Take it with you.”
When she returned, Ian was still standing outside in the cold night air.
“Aren’t you coming in? That thin nightgown isn’t enough for this weather.”
“…It’s a bit late to say that after letting me climb up here. Aren’t you being too casual about letting a man into your room?”
“Are you trying to say I’m the kind of princess who invites just anyone in?”
“….”
Ian fell silent.
“I wouldn’t face punishment lightly if anyone found out a royal princess let a man climb in through her balcony—especially someone like the Count of Lheitz. You can imagine what kind of punishment that would be.”
“Haha. That sounds terrifying.”
But he didn’t look particularly afraid.
His gaze kept drifting toward Diana.
“Come in. You said you’d listen.”
After a moment of hesitation, he sighed and smiled faintly.
“Never mind. I’ll pass for now.”
He leaned casually against the railing.
“What? You climbed all the way up here just to back out?”
Diana crossed her arms, annoyed. But Ian smiled with a hint of self-mockery.
“Yeah… I guess I did.”
“….”
“…Lately, I’ve been a bit strange.”
He looked at her quietly.
In the end, Diana went back out and handed him the vest.
“Thanks for this. It helped me feel less embarrassed going back.”
she said.
Even though it hadn’t completely covered her ruined clothes, it had felt like warmth—like reassurance that she had done well.
“I was also deeply moved back then.”
Ian said as he accepted it.
“When you ran to Sir Dale that day. Everyone else just stood there not knowing what to do, but you immediately took charge. It was impressive.”
Diana met his gaze silently.
“If people know their princess values every life equally, they will have no choice but to love her.”
“….”
“Anyway, how am I supposed to get down…”
“Ian.”
Diana called him quietly.
He looked up from the railing below.
“Tomorrow, stay by my side.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“…I feel a bit overwhelmed being alone between Lady Grinelda and Sir Dale. Jerome just keeps laughing.”
When no answer came, she glanced at him again. He was smiling faintly, as if amused.
“Diana Your Highness.”
As she turned to leave awkwardly, he called her.
With a soft, windlike smile, Ian said:
“I don’t just climb into any woman’s room.”
