~•|•~
Dante had wanted to attend Countess Turin's ball while the battlefield conditions were still manageable. But he had run out of train tickets and had only arrived at Beetheaven at midnight after waiting for the next departure. So, this morning he decided to go to Schubert Palace first to visit the king and queen and give a letter from his father to the king. After that, he would visit Turin Mansion to apologize to the Countess in person for his impoliteness. Because Dante didn't come without giving news, even though the countess invited him directly.
Dante stepped broadly through the slightly deserted corridor. Several servants and nobles greet him on the way to the meeting room with His Majesty the King, his uncle.
It had been a long time since Dante had come to Schubert Palace. His days were spent more on the sea and in military barracks than in the Verthall Mansion. However, the palace had not changed much.
"Ah, Captain! Captain Dante!"
A man is waving at Dante. It is Blaise, the crown prince's personal servant.
"Blaise," Dante called, slowing his pace until he reached the man.
"My goodness, it's been a long time since I've seen you," Blaise said happily. "Are you all right, Captain?"
Dante smiled. He looks away for a moment. "I'm fine," he replied.
"Oh, thank goodness... I was worried since you kept getting sent to the main line on the battlefield. By the way, congratulations on your victory in the Lominus War." Blaise spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Yes, thank you, Blaise," Dante responded simply.
"When did you arrive at Beetheaven?"
"Midnight," Dante replied, staring at the man. "Why are you alone? Where is His Highness?"
"Oh, that..." Blaise smiled broadly and awkwardly. "His Highness sent me away. He is in the flower garden of Schubert Palace with Lady Inez."
"Huh?" Dante was stunned for a moment. "Lady Inez, is that the Lady of Buford?"
"Do you know her, Captain?"
"That's not important." Dante shook his head in exasperation. "But why is His Highness with her?"
"Haven't you read today's Beetheaven newspaper?" asked Blaise. And before Dante could answer, the man was already talking again. "This time it's not your face on the front page, but Lady Inez's picture. His Highness is in a romantic affair with Lady Inez."
Dante's brows immediately furrowed. If those words had come from anyone else, he would have dismissed them as rumors. But those words came from Lennox's personal servant. So, it was 100% true. "He changes partners again? Since when?"
"Hm... since last night. At Countess Turin's ball," Blaise replied with a bitter smile. "Ah, when I think about it, I get a headache."
Dante's gaze fell on the flower garden of the Schubert Palace on the east side, which could be seen from here. "You said they were in the flower garden of Schubert Palace, right?"
"Yes?" Blaise blinked rapidly. "Yes, Captain."
"I'll be going," Dante said, stepping away quickly and changing his destination.
"Uh, Captain?" Blaise gave the man a strange look. "Didn't you want to see His Majesty?" He shouted slightly.
Dante doesn't answer. He just waved and left in a hurry, leaving Blaise confused.
~•|•~
"You finally came too, Inez!"
Inez's eyebrows twitched. "Too?" She stepped closer but did not pass the banquet table that had been set up in the center of the flower garden. "Since when have you been waiting for me in here, Your Highness?" Because Inez knew that she was not late.
"I don't know." Lennox shoved one hand into his pants pocket and stepped closer to Inez. "It seems that when I deal with you, I get impatient."
They faced each other. Inez looks Lennox straight in the eye, then she curtsies for him.
"Inez Cal Buford greets Your Highness," Inez said, causing Lennox to almost recoil at the formal greeting. She stands up again and looks at Lennox with a smile. "Please forgive me for the reverse order."
"Hahaha... Inez." The crown prince looks at Inez with surprise. "How can I just be interested in you now, huh?"
"I don't know, Your Highness. How about if I help you find that answer later?" Inez replied boldly.
"Do you know, Inez?" Lennox spun past the girl. He pulls up a chair and gives her a detailed look.
"No, Your Highness," Inez replied humbly. She turns slowly to face Lennox.
"You can leave people speechless," Lennox said. "Please take a seat," he said.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Inez sat down in the chair that Lennox had prepared. "You're the first person to say that to me," she said, watching as Lennox went to the chair opposite her.
"Really?" Lennox smiles broadly. He sits across from Inez.
"Yes, Your Highness." Inez turned to stare at the simple banquet in front of her. "Did you prepare it for me?"
"Not me. The servants did it," Lennox replied with a small chuckle.
"Your Highness," Inez looks up at the man with an amused smile. She looks around. "Then where are they?"
"I told them to leave." Lennox smiled mischievously. "So it's just the two of us in this vast flower garden."
Inez was silent for a moment while looking at Lennox. She clears her throat briefly. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Sure," Lennox replied, letting Inez pour the tea from the teapot into his cup. He noticed the girl's manners, and she's not bad at all. "Hm, Inez."
"Yes, Your Highness?" Inez is looking up at the man and puts down the teapot when both Lennox's and hers are filled.
"Answer my letter," Lennox pleaded with a faint grin.
"Ah..." Inez smiled embarrassedly. "As I remember, that was a photo taken last year."
"Is that the photo Count Buford used for your wedding season?" Lennox asked again.
Inez nodded slowly. "Yes, Your Highness. And it's not a photograph, but a painting made by Buford's personal painter." She looked straight at Lennox. "Perhaps you've heard of him. He's Abraham Kennedy, the painter from the Kingdom of Geneva."
"Oh, I know him." Lennox nodded in understanding. A painter from a kingdom at odds with Schubert but recognized in this kingdom for his abilities. He reached for the teacup and took a sip while looking at Inez. "Are you still in contact with that painter?"
Inez, who was sipping tea, immediately stopped what she was doing. "Yes, Your Highness. He painted our family portrait recently after the Countess gave birth."
"I see." Lennox nods again. "Can you introduce the painter to me later?"
"Yes?" Inez raised both eyebrows. "What for, Your Highness? Isn't this palace already have painters? They are also skillful."
"I just want to be painted by the painter who painted you," Lennox replied with a small chuckle. "Who knows, I could look even more handsome? You looked more beautiful on the main page of the Beetheaven Newspaper."
"Oh, Your Highness..." Inez blushed with embarrassment. "Don't joke at me," she said skeptically, which made Lennox laugh with satisfaction.
"Do my words sound like a joke, Inez?" Lennox asked, leaning closer to the table. He looks seriously at the nervous-looking girl. "I'm afraid my offer after this will be taken as a joke too."
"Y-Your Highness," Inez complained as she twiddled her fingers.
Lennox, who realized this, immediately grasped Inez's hand, making her frown. "You know, Inez, I'm interested in you."
Glup...
Inez swallowed heavily as Lennox kissed the back of her hand. She holds her breath. "Y-Your Highness?"
Lennox was silent for a moment as he looked straight into her brown eyes. "Will you be my lover, Inez?"
Inez's heart beat faster than a horse's. If Inez wasn't wearing gloves, Lennox could probably feel her cold sweat.
"Why me, Your Highness?" asked Inez, who had hesitated.
"Because you are Inez Cal Buford. I'm attracted to you. I like you," Lennox replied. "And you seem to be attracted to me, too, so how about we become lovers?"
"But," Inez glances away for a moment, "my family..."
"Does it matter?" Lennox let go of Inez's hand. He stands up and walks over to the girl, making it impossible for Inez to run anywhere. "All I want is you, Inez. Only you." He holds the right side of his chest. "My heart is beating fast. Do you want to hear it?"
Inez swallows saliva nervously. "N-no," she replied, which made Lennox chuckle amusedly.
"So, Inez, will you be my lover?" Lennox asked once again.
Inez had the courage to look straight into Lennox's blue eyes, which this time looked as clear as seawater. She was bewitched easily, then nodded slowly.
"Oh, Inez!" Lennox took the girl's body in his arms and twirled her in the air.
"Kyaa!!! Your Highness! Put me down!" Inez lightly thumped the man's shoulder. She was wide-eyed and even more surprised when Lennox laughed with satisfaction. 'Are you that delighted?' she wondered.
Lennox set Inez down on the ground carefully. He looks at the girl with great happiness. "Doesn't calling me Your Highness sound strange for a couple?"
"Yes? But you--"
"Call me Lennox, or Nox is fine," Lennox said, playing with Inez's hair.
The girl shivered and tickled as Lennox's hand grazed her ear. "That's not okay," she refused.
"Call me Lennox, Inez."
"N-no way." Inez looks away.
"Inez!" Lennox called, leaning closer to her.
Inez freezes for an instant. She glances at the man who is getting closer and closer to her, clinging tightly to her waist. "Your Highness, what are you?"
"Lennox," corrected the man, looking straight at his lover. He pressed Inez further.
"Y-Lennox...!" cried Inez, trying to hold back the man that was getting closer to her lips.
"That's right, like that. Oh, Inez, my beloved..." Lennox smiled proudly when Inez no longer pushed him away. Their faces came closer and closer until they could feel each other's breathing.
'He wants to kiss me! What should I do when he kisses me?' Inez thought she was very nervous. 'Should I close my eyes, keep quiet, or...'
"His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"!" Inez immediately pushed Lennox with all her strength until he took a few steps back with a surprised expression. She turns her head to the voice that interrupted their intimacy and finds a man in a navy uniform standing at the east entrance. A man who had often been seen by Inez on the main page of the Beetheaven Newspaper. "C-Captain Dante," she muttered with wide eyes and blushing cheeks. She looks at Lennox, who snickered, then does a brief curtsy. "I shall go, Your Highness."
"Huh?" Lennox looks back at her. "Inez!" He wants to grab his beloved's hand, but it is too late when Inez has already escaped from the flower garden of Schubert Palace. "Inez! Don't go! Inez!" he cried, but the girl didn't even look back. "I'll write to you later!" he exclaimed, unable to prevent her from leaving again. Inez has been running away from two of the best men in Schubert.
The sound of birds squeaking and the wind howling could be heard in the middle of the quiet garden. It was as if what happened earlier was just a dream. Lennox broke his gaze when he no longer saw Inez and turned to Dante, who was standing in the east corner of the flower garden. "Tsk!" He clucked in annoyance. "Troublemaker!" he scolded.
"Forgive me, Your Highness." Dante bows slightly in respect. "Captain Dante Arthur De Ignacio greets you."
"Never mind," Lennox growled, waving a hand. "Our relationship is not this formal!"
Dante hides a foxy smile. He stands up, then looks straight at Lennox and walks over to the man. "Indeed. Forgive me for not knowing you were here."
"Even if you didn't know, when you saw us almost kissing, you shouldn't have yelled like that. You can go as usual," grumbled Lennox, who sat back on the chair while crossing his legs and looking annoyed at his cousin.
"Just a reflex, Lennox," Dante said defensively as he chuckled. He sat where Inez had previously sat and then observed Lennox's grumbling expression. "Are you feeling upset?"
"Yes!" Lennox glared at Dante. "Even more because I know that you did it on purpose!"
Dante gave a low laugh. He glances at Inez's teacup, which has an almost transparent lip print on it. His hand reached for the cup and erased the lip imprint with his finger.
"Aren't you supposed to meet with my dad? Why are you here?" Lennox asked rudely.
'Why am I here...?' Dante wondered. He chuckles briefly, then looks at Lennox. "No idea. By the way, are you serious about the Lady of Buford?"
"Inez?" Lennox squinted suspiciously at his cousin. "Why are you suddenly so curious? It's uncharacteristic."
Dante was silent for a moment. He picked up a biscuit with cream and strawberries on it, then stood up without letting go of Lennox's gaze. "I only asked because you brought her to this flower garden. Are you busy?"
"Not really," Lennox replied, watching Dante, who ate the dessert in one mouthful with a straight expression.
"Come with me to see His Majesty," Dante invited, grabbing Lennox by the collar and dragging him along.
"B-bastard! Dante! Let me go! What are you doing to the crown prince of this kingdom, huh?" Lennox rebelled, but the strength of a crown prince who was more concerned with paperwork was inferior to that of an important soldier on the battlefield.
"Take it easy, Lennox. I won't be beheaded just for dragging you to meet Uncle," Dante replied with a sharp gaze straight ahead.
"Ugh, damn it! Let me go! I can walk on my own!"
But Dante wasn't that generous. He kept dragging the crown prince out of Schubert's palace flower garden. Actually, Dante still wanted to drag Lennox to the meeting room with His Majesty the King, but that would only tarnish Lennox's dignity in front of the entire palace.
———