At that time, a guest who was waiting silently for the two as they quarrelled slowly turned toward them. It was a man, sitting with his back facing Eun-woo across from Tashian.
"… You're still clumsy, Eleanor."
Eun-woo flinched at the golden eyes that first caught her eyes. It was a vivid yellowish color that would prickle your eyes into tears inexplicably.
The man with soft mahogany hair, almost as large as Tashian, was watching the two as if it was interesting, with one hand on his head. It was a posture where he sat with his legs crossed arrogantly, but he looked natural as if he was born to be in that posture.
"It's been a while. My lovely Youngest Sister."
As the man smiled, his dimples spread on his white and clean skin. It was a charming smile that seemed to tear apart his lips.
Eun-woo freaked out and stepped back as she faced the man.
Crown Prince Ikshid Fedellamon, the male protagonist of the novel, maintained a smiling face regardless of her response.
"This is your first time joining us for a refreshment since your brother's last joined the army, perhaps?"
"Your seat is this way."
Tashian, who cut off the Prince's hospitality with a single sentence, led her to the table. In the meantime, he also did not forget to remove the soot from her cheek.
The Prince, who was neatly ignored by the Duke, smiled bitterly and muttered.
"Duke, you're good at everything, but sometimes you treat people in front of you as strangers."
"I'm honored."
Tashian replied with a soft voice no matter that no one would doubt.
"No, that wasn't a compliment."
"Please kill me."
"Again, again… How can you say such harsh words with such an expression? D**n it! Alright. You shouldn't have said that to me."
Eun-woo, who lost half of her soul and almost collapsed on the chair she was led to by Tashian. The light of the two men did not even catch her eyes or register in her mind.
No, why is the male protagonist Ikshid sitting here?
His first appearance had to be in a banquet that was held to commemorate the army's victory. Eun-woo's eyes turned to Ikshid, sitting free-spirited right next to Tashian.
He was shaking slightly up and down with his long legs crossed. At that moment, he smiled again when their eyes met. It was a smile like he was a male protagonist.
Eun-woo opened her eyes wide to calm down her unstable heart.
This is the human being who had sliced my husband's neck.
Then, she blushed, saying to herself, 'Oh, my.'
What an absurd affirmation, husband.
She was so focused on the ending of the novel that she really thought she was Eleanor.
Eun-woo glanced at Tashian sitting next to the Crown Prince.
He had a small wrinkle between his eyebrows, whether there was a prince in front of him or not, he continued on shaking off the leaves and dust on her shawl.
Ikshid's interested eyes were on the Duke. With a burdensome gaze, Eun-woo was embarrassed and pushed Tashian away.
"Ta, Tashian… It's okay now."
"Hold on a second. How did you end up like this? Are you sure you're not hurt?"
He frowned violently and began to turn around her body.
Eun-woo had to drag her chair away from him to dissuade him.
Ikshid watched the scene while rubbing his lips.
'Huh…?'
He sighed candidly inside.
He had an unrivaled ability in hiding his expression. He was born with it, and the environment he grew up and learned in also fueled his instinctive habits.
It was like a kind of debt of those who sat down and guarded the center of the empire, in which all kinds of conspiracy tricks of talented people called the new country were bustling in one pot.
However, thanks to the sight in front of him, his mask, which was now covered like a second piece of flesh, was almost broken. It was because of the duke in front of him and the woman who raised her hands as if she was supporting him. Perhaps if he hadn't managed his facial expression, he would have opened his mouth to the point where he didn't know if he would have crossed a line (of rudeness).
The Duke was literally unable to take his eyes off of this ray of willow in front of him and a woman with a weak impression. It was an attitude that if he looked away even a little, she would suddenly disappear.
Ikshid was seriously plagued with a single thought.
'That duke… How come… Since when…. with that kid…?'
No matter how he thought about it, there was nothing that came into his mind. Of course, considering the close bond between Miller Hu and the Duke Verk, it was not very unusual, but the Duke should have made it obvious at least once so far.
'I was completely fooled. I shouldn't even mention the arrangement of marriage with the white daughter of Wales. By the way, that kid, too. It's very subtle…'
In other words, since when did Miller Hu's sister had started grabbing the duke that way?
Of course, this kid is pretty enough to flip his eyes over.…
No one can follow or understand him in this kind of situation, no matter how hard they try. Miller's younger sister was just a sickly woman, and a sister of his close friend who resembles him. Despite her beautiful appearance, she had a mere presence.
At first he clearly recalled that he had no memory of the Duke and Miller's sister being close to each other at any one time.
As for the sister, even the fragmentary memories that came to mind, albeit shallow, were blurred. He felt like he found a hole behind the back of his mind, a hole in his memory that he had not known for his entire life.
'It's strange… Oh, my. This rarely happens. Has aging already started?'
"Where did you get this shawl? Why are you wearing rags like this?"
"Don't pull on me. Everything is worn out and rips quickly."
They were completely in their own world, so he pretended that he hadn't heard what they said to each other. At this moment, he could see the two people struggle over the rag-like shawl worn by the lady, and felt his side going cold having been left alone at the side for a long time.
"Eleanor, I've known you for a long time, but I don't think I've had a chance to face you in person and have a deep conversation."
Eun-woo grabbed the old shawl that Tashian was trying to take away as if he was not satisfied with it and hurriedly bowed her head at the prince.
"I- I am grateful. Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Call me brother comfortably. If you're a sister of Miller, you're like my sister as well. Didn't the three of us hang out a lot when you were young?"
Was that so?
Ikshid, who was showing a pleasant smile, tilted his head, reflecting on what he said inside. He had an ambiguous feeling, but he didn't remember anything clearly.
While Ikshid was struggling, Eun-woo quickly answered with her eyes shining.
"Can I? Crown Prince brother?"
'Cro-Crown Prince Brother…!'
Ikshid couldn't hide his expression this time. He expected that he would be faced with words such as, 'I am grateful' and 'How dare I?'
As if embarrassed, the eyes of the Duke, who grew in surprise, were caught by the gaze of the golden eyes that had opened wide. Anyway, today was a day when a lot of rare things were happening for Ikshid.
Eun-woo pretended not to understand the actions of the two men and chatted cheerfully.
"Your Highness, you are a Brother and a Crown Prince; the next ruler of the Empire, so it is just correct for me to address you this right way."
"That's not wrong, is it?"
Ikshid looked at Tashian with a fierce look as he helped her with a serious look.
Eun-woo smiled and glanced at the prince.
He was looking at her and Tashian with his golden eyes that seemed to be the same from before, moreover he was a man who smiled all the time, yet it gave a strange impression.
Ikshid was a person who would have a great influence on her in the future. In short, the fundamental reason for her and Tashian's death was because of his late love story playing out.
'Even if this human doesn't make eye contact with Selena and leave politics behind, Tashian won't go out of his way to rebel, you know.'
Of course, even if Tashian became a traitor and did not betray Ikshid, Eun-woo would never marry him, but she did not know about what these people would do.
What's wrong with removing the factors that will be the most problematic in advance? There was nothing to lose by being close to the male protagonist of such a novel.
Eun-woo smiled like a sunflower in full bloom at Ikshid.
"By the way, what brings you here, Crown Prince Brother?"
Ikshid drank from the teacup in his hand to hide his expression that showed he had still not overcome embarrassment.
At this moment, this sister, who was smiling harmlessly, was more burdensome to deal with than the human state of affairs.
He lamented his lack of memory and thought, 'What did I say, this kid had no presence? Where the hell did I leave my eyes earlier? As a Crown Prince, who used to go around a lot, I don't stand up to my name.'
But as he was a worn-out politician, doon, he regained his composure and chatted with his usual slyness.
"I had a gift for my sister, so I came here myself to deliver it."
A large box was brought to the table by an attendant standing behind him like a mannequin. As the box opened, a bright color that seemed to emit light from the inside caught her eyes.
Inside the box was a golden cloth.
"Take a look."
Ikshid smiled happily and advised. But his eyes were watching Tashian, not Eleanor.
Eun-woo hesitated and lifted the golden cloth slightly. Now that she saw it, the fabric was delicately sewn and completed. The colorful patterns were as vivid and beautiful as the prince's eyes drew attention to him everywhere.
Eun-woo's eyes, who confirmed that it was a dress, was filled with hesitation.
The golden cloth was the color worn by the imperial family. How can he give her such a precious dress?
Hellasium was not a country with very strict standards for women. Young women showed off their youthful beauty with colorful colors. However, some colors were exceptions. The most representative of those was the golden color representing the Fedellamon imperial family.
Eun-woo looked down at the box in the middle of the table with an ambiguous look.
The Crown Prince of the Empire, and no one else,had presented her a dress with an embroidered gold cloth and thread directly to a young unmarried lady. Even from her eyes, who are not familiar with the customs here, it was not an ordinary thing.
Eun-woo tried to grasp the hidden true intention of the prince's face that had a full smile on a handsome face. However, soon after, she surrendered with a white flag on her expression as if she was wearing a shield.
"It's too beautiful. I don't think it can be mine."
Eun-woo closed the box back and pushed it slightly toward the prince. Ikshid raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Oho. How dare you decline an object given by the Crown Prince of the Empire? I should have posted an excuse for that too?"
Eun-woo glanced at Tashian's face, holding out with a stern voice and reading the prince's countenance. He was holding a teacup with a dull look as before.
"Take it. The golden color represents the imperial family, so it is strictly restricted in public, but in private or light tea parties, it is used among infants and young children. I heard it."
"Isn't it like that Duke? My hands are going numb. Come on, Elli."
Ikshid smiled and held out the box again.
Eun-woo pondered for a moment. She might have given too much meaning to receiving a dress. Moreover, didn't Ikshid say he was a long-time friend of her brother, Miller Hu? Of course, that was before Diego rebelled against the imperial family along with Tashian and expelled him from the throne.
Eventually, she pretended not to resist and pointed at the box shyly.
"Of course… I'll take it. Thank you, Crown Prince Brother."
The prince grumbled, touching his eyes with his hands.
"You like everything about it… and with my Crown Prince Brother's title, how can you not take it?"
"Oh, my. Why? It's just good."
Gifts came and went, and the atmosphere became friendly. Only the Duke was bluntly inhaling the teacup with the expression of chewing pine needles.
Seeing that, Ikshid laughed inside. He thought with a snake-like smile.
'Such a day would come in my life. I didn't expect to see that Tashian would be drinking only tea water while biting his face in front of me.'