Awkward. That was how both of them felt.
Shirley didn't know how to interact with the young man who claimed to be mute.
Nor did the young man himself, who lacked experience in conversing with a girl.
"…."
"…."
Their gazes accidentally met once again.
Both of them, almost in sync, quickly looked away in opposite directions.
"Oh!"
Just as the tension in the air was about to peak—
"Ahem!"
—Someone's deliberate clearing of the throat broke the awkward silence between Shirley and the young man named Escar Aschenford.
"My, oh my! Who could this stunning new Lady be?"
A different young man made his entrance.
His attire was impeccable—luxurious fabrics adorned with glimmering accessories befitting the upper echelon of nobility.
A wide smile graced his face as he pressed his right index finger thoughtfully against his chin.
"May I inquire about your name, …."
Unlike Escar's calming presence, this new arrival was his complete opposite.
His hair was a brilliant shade of blonde, gleaming as if dusted with gold.
And his ocean-blue eyes shimmered with an alluring vibrancy, as though inviting anyone to fall under their spell.
"… Milady?"
It's unclear exactly when it started, but thanks to his naturally flowing demeanor, Shirley had already started dancing.
Her very first dance, with an unusual dance partner.
"T-the Crown Prince chose her?!"
"How could he?!"
"Is this even allowed? The Crown Prince is about to dance before His Majesty the King arrives to start the banquet!"
"Psst! Don't you know?! The one most suited to be king in every aspect … is the Crown Prince himself!"
"I heard that the King even consults the Crown Prince more often when making decisions about royal affairs!"
"My late mother said that when the Crown Prince was a child … he once advised the King to accept that sly old Aschenford's proposal!"
"The one who supposedly threatened the King after attempting an assassination?"
"Yes, that one!"
"S-so that means … the Crown Prince is really that amazing!?"
"Ugh, I wish I were in Ersteal's place right now!"
The Crown Prince?
This charming young man, the Crown Prince who rumor has it has just turned 17?
He was only three years older than Shirley!
"…."
Shirley could only remain silent.
"Wow, Lady Ersteal."
Silent, with sparkling eyes.
"You truly are …."
Those ruby-like eyes of her were entirely focused on one person.
"… Like a fairy."
... The Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, who praised her with such sweet words.
Words that made Shirley blush with embarrassment.
"…."
Their dance was truly mesmerizing.
It was evident from the countless pairs of eyes watching, so captivated they forgot how to blink.
Among them was ….
"…."
… A pair of sparkling emerald eyes.
Beautiful, glimmering, and entirely fixated on a single figure.
"…."
His naturally rosy lips were slightly parted.
Astonished by the breathtaking beauty unfolding before him.
"…!"
The young man—owner of those emerald eyes—gazed intently at the girl he had briefly crossed paths with earlier.
Shirley Ersteal.
His gaze, locked and solely focused on the dancer whose light but striking steps were as graceful as a fairy from the heavens, suddenly widened.
As he caught a moment that felt like time had slowed before his eyes, the young man, who was the same age as the Crown Prince, felt his cheeks begin to flush with a deep red.
"…."
The young man, none other than Escar Aschenford, had fallen under the effortless charm that Shirley Ersteal possessed.
He couldn't speak, but … his heart's pounding seemed to say it all.
It said that there was something different about the way he felt toward the presence of this girl.
Escar was curious, he wonder … what kind of feeling is this?
•••
"Hoho, look at your face, as if you don't know how to stop smiling~!"
"F-father~!"
Here, both Ersteals were now.
Spending precious time together at a small tea party hosted by Shirley, specially for her dear father.
"So, what do you think of the Crown Prince?" Shirley's Father teased again.
This time, Shirley responded honestly.
"He's an extraordinary person."
It had been a month since her debut.
"His way of speaking captivated me."
However, even though quite some time had passed since that day, … Shirley still couldn't forget one of the most precious moments of her debut.
"And his face …."
As if he had come as a charming prince from a dream, Shirley wanted to remember him for as long as possible.
If only forever, as long as her memory remained strong.
"… So handsome."
Seeing such an honest reaction, Shirley's Father chuckled softly, recalling how his late wife had reacted in the same way when she was smitten by his actions.
Indeed, blood is thicker than water.
"Shi-shi, I think he's interested in you, you know?"
GRAKK!
Shirley pushed the chair she was sitting on backward, standing up spontaneously from the shock.
"H-how could that be?!" she protested in disbelief, her voice trembling.
"Oh, come on~ just think about it!"
Wanting to tease his only daughter even more, and noticing that the red-eyed girl's face was now just as red as her eyes, Duke Ersteal cupped his chin with one hand and grinned.
"Out of all the beautiful girls who just debuted, or the other beautiful girls who've been out for a while, … why did he choose to dance his first dance with you?"
"…!"
"You said he was acting differently toward you, didn't you? It's obvious! He likes you!"
"H-how can you be so sure, Father?"
At Shirley's slightly dismissive question, Duke Ersteal flared his nostrils.
"Oh, my goodness."
The man, now entering middle age, let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his neck that wasn't even sore, then looked at Shirley with a suspicious gaze.
"Wasn't I young once too?"
"Eh?"
"I was just as handsome as him. I was very popular, you know!"
Duke Ersteal stopped cupping his chin.
"That's why, your mother, who was so, so indifferent …."
He started moving the finger he used to cup his chin, making a check mark in the air, then placed it in front of his neck.
"… Fell in love with your amazing Father!" he said enthusiastically, with an over-the-top confidence that made Shirley feel a bit uneasy.
"Eww, Father must be making this up, right?" Shirley asked, pretending to look disgusted, though she actually believed it, knowing what her Father looked like when he was young.
"Ehey! How could you say that?!" Duke Ersteal exclaimed, pinching Shirley's nose affectionately.
Their interaction was indeed close.
It all began with how the Duke treated his daughter.
"By the way, just as a precaution, …."
He didn't hate or blame his daughter for the death of his wife, who had passed away after giving birth.
Instead, he loved his daughter even more, as she was the only irreplaceable legacy of the woman he had loved.
"… How about you start attending a special class, a training program for a potential Crown Princess, Shi-Shi?"
"A training program for a potential Crown Princess? What do you mean, Father?"
Instead of answering Shirley's question right away, Duke Ersteal took his time to relax.
He drank the tea that his daughter had made, poured, and recommended during their small tea party, with great reverence.
Only after his thirst was quenched did, Duke Ersteal speak again.
"I believe that someday … the Crown Prince will choose you."
"How can you be so sure, Father?"
"Just because I'm sure."
"…."
Shirley didn't know how else to react.
So, she simply remained silent for now.
A training program for a potential Crown Princess … huh?
It didn't sound too bad.
***
"Shirley~!"
"Oh!"
Shirley's waist-length, jet-black hair swayed.
Its movement was soft, accentuating a scene that highlighted Shirley's charm as a whole.
"Your Highness!"
Her cheeks flushed.
Her eyes narrowed like crescents as she smiled.
"I-I already told you …."
Then, flower petals blown by the wind gently brushed against each strand of Shirley's disheveled hair, adding a special touch in the eyes of the person with the blue gaze.
"… Just call me Michael!"
The Crown Prince raised his right hand, bending it and using it as a shield to cover half of his blushing face.
"Your Father said that during times like this, you're always here. Turns out, it's true."
"Hehe," Shirley chuckled softly.
Holding a few freshly cut red rosebuds from her garden, she momentarily forgot the basic etiquette of a noblewoman.
"Michael!"
Running and lifting the hem of her dress just enough to reveal a bit of her calves, Shirley approached Michael with a joyful, carefree expression.
Meanwhile, on the side of the Crown Prince ….
"Aishh, Shirley~!"
The now 18-year-old prince grumbled in annoyance.
He deliberately puckered his lips in front of Shirley's upturned face, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Aih~ don't be so mad~" Shirley coaxed with a soft, pleading tone.
It had been almost eight months since Shirley became the Crown Prince's fiancée.
At first, Shirley could hardly believe it.
How could it be?!
The incredible Crown Prince actually proposed to her to be his fiancée, even though their interaction—at the debut ball—had been so brief!?
"This is for you. I picked them with all my heart, while thinking of you."
"How beautiful~ I really like them. The color is just like the eyes of the one who picked them."
BLUSH!
Ah, Shirley, who always blushed at the simplest gestures from Michael Soultherns, was falling deeper in love.
The girl turned her red face away, mumbling something under her breath.
"Good thing she listened to her Father's advice and prepared for the training as a potential Crown Princess," she thought.
"…."
Unaware, Shirley continued on, while Michael kept watching her.
With his sea-blue eyes now darkening, and his sweet smile slowly curling into a grin.