"No, where are you all going?"
Robert jumped off the white horse with a bewildered look on his face.
Of course, I was also quite embarrassed by his appearance.
Because I naturally assumed he was hearing reports about Caronda from Ian, who must've just entered the palace by now.
"Ah… I see the star of the Empire, Prince Robert."
My family, who were about to get on the Duke of Wade's wagon, were all stiff and hurriedly bowed.
"Stop the useless formality."
Robert said as he looked around the cluttered Rainfield Mansion.
"What's going on?"
There was a subtle urgency in his tone. It was as if he was very worried.
I blinked my eyes and answered slowly.
"I'm going to stay at the Duke of Wade for the time being. I'm worried about the safety of my family. But why is the prince here…"
"Ah."
At that moment, Robert muttered with a bewildered expression on my face.
"That… I thought you had arrived in the capital because the jewel in the ring was broken."
I was speechless.
If you thought I had arrived in the capital because the jewel in your ring was broken, you could've just waited patiently. Why did you come here like a madman?
'Why didn't you even go to the Duke of Wade's? Wasn't it more burdensome to come to a commoner's house rather than a duke's house?'
However, I couldn't ask, so I held back the question.
When I didn't answer, Robert added shyly.
"You arrived safely… I also want to see it with my own eyes. I've been worrying quite a bit over the past two days."
"Hey, I thought it was an hourly alarm because the jewels were flashing every moment."
I answered with ease, but I was a little confused, so I had to avoid his gaze without realizing it.
I was worried about you saying such things…
Robert, too, did not say anything more. Then Aaron, who was rolling his eyes between us, intervened quickly.
"I will take my parents and go to the Duke of Wade first. Sister, come back after this."
It was a wise intervention. This was because we were not the only ones here.
My mother and father were already confused by the word "ring".
I immediately pushed Aaron's back because I remembered the words that they wondered if it was marriage to the Imperial Family like last time.
The atmosphere was strange to me now, but it was obvious that my family would take it ten times more seriously.
"Okay, you should take them. Now clear your head of anything weird and shut your mouth." (Annabelle)
"My head is complicated and my mouth is dying to flutter." (Aaron)
"Hurry up and go before I tell you to get lost." (Annabelle)
"You can go to the duke's alone, right? Oh, come to think of it, you often went alone for eight years. I said something silly."
Robert intervened.
Indeed, it was more difficult to maintain composure because it was the appearance of the prince, not anyone else.
"See you later then."
Once I had said goodbye to my family like that, I sat face to face with Robert in the parlor of the cluttered Rainfield mansion.
Even if she couldn't come up with anything great, the maid, who was packing my things, tactfully brought out a suitable refreshment and tea.
Even the maid was glancing with her eyes and making a curious expression, so soon rumors would probably spread.
I sighed as if I was resentful of this situation and opened my mouth first.
"Ian was on his way to the palace to report."
"Ah."
Robert turned the teacup with embarrassment.
"When I saw the ring broken, I couldn't wait because I was worried."
"Why were you so worried…?"
"The ring breaks even after the round trip with a warp, but it breaks when the opponent dies too. I was nervous even though I knew that wouldn't happen…"
"Is that why you came to the Rainfield mansion?"
I asked back as if I was dumbfounded.
This was because it was obvious that rumors about Robert and I would spread more and more clearly.
No matter how curious he was about Caronda's work, he didn't have to do this.
I tried to ignore the noise and changed the subject.
"Well, in conclusion, not everything went well."
"Huh?"
"We captured the leaders who used black magic alive, but we couldn't find a connection with Crown Prince Carlon."
I began to elaborate on my work in Caronda from the beginning.
It was originally Ian's role, but it couldn't be helped since Robert was here.
Robert sighed and nodded only after everything was explained that the Rainfield family had decided to be protected by Duke Wade for the time being.
"That's what happened."
I replied in a disastrous voice.
"So, Prince… I've reached a point where my brain cells don't seem to be able to work any more."
In the meantime, I had not lived thinking more than necessary.
Because my only enemy was Ian Wade, and he was a man who I didn't have to deal with using my head.
When dealing with just, common sense, and predictable people, there was no need for a big strategy.
But now the situation has changed a little.
I continued to talk while looking at Robert.
"I'm trying to use the enemy's traps."
"Anabelle, can I say something at this point?"
"I know you're going to say something weird, but it's okay."
"It's just… I'm saying that since Miss Annabel is good at planning, they'll really fall for it."
"Aha."
Looking at Robert's round green eyes, I breathed. It was more comfortable for him to put it on the topic like this.
To be honest, seeing that he ran all the way here, I suspected that he seemed to like me a little.
Still, I was very confused because of that.
Of course, I liked it, but it didn't mean anything to me.
"You're not in love yet, are you?"
"…Well."
There was still hope to put out those sparks.
"Prince. I don't care if all the people of the Empire are talking about our dating rumors, but if it turns out to be true, it'll be very difficult."
"Is it something that bothers you?"
"Of course."
I said hurriedly.
"Despite my messy past, you might find me strangely charming, and I understand that."
"Well…"
"People have different tastes, and diversity should be respected. Even so, please take good care of your heart."
Robert looked at me and smiled absurdly, and I added seriously.
"The prince is very good at taking care of himself, so he will take good care of his heart. Please don't betray my faith. Don't forget that I am a woman who is of no use to the throne."
"Why are you talking about the throne here?"
"Don't forget that the prince's dream is not love, but the throne."
Robert was an ambitious man who was running relentlessly for the throne, and he couldn't be more pleased with that fact.
"Please, I hope that the prince will live a life that begins with a contract marriage that is fit for purpose, and then realizes true love."
No matter how much you liked me, if you just pointed out that point, it didn't seem like it would go too far.
Again, Robert smiled innocently.
"I'm not saying it's true, but really…"
At the same time, he didn't let me off the hook until the end and spoke slowly as if seducing me.
"It sounds like Miss Annabelle is not attracted to me at all."
Of course, I wasn't the one to fall for that temptation.
"Of course."
I said with a straight face.
"My ideal type is a man who has a blurry impression a year after I met him. Someone who is extremely nice and common-sense and can pass by as if he were not there."
It was my theory.
In other words, it meant that he was a very easy-going and normal person.
"You can't be the next emperor without everyone remembering you for a long time."
When I spoke firmly, Robert replied with a sullen smile.
"Hmm… I'm confused whether I should be happy or not."
"Don't get confused for nothing, and quickly regain the identity of a power-seeking human being who has been crazy about the throne. You can't be swayed by my unexpected charm."
It was then. Suddenly, the door to the drawing room suddenly opened.
"…Ian?"
It was Ian who seemed to have rushed in.
He took turns looking at me and Robert and sat next to me with a somewhat stiff look.
"When I entered the palace, I heard that the prince left in a hurry."
"Oh, that's right. You must have walked in vain."
Of course, it was possible to infer that Ian and Robert's paths would have crossed. But I didn't think Ian would come here.
I just thought he would have returned to the Duke of Wade.
Ian looked at Robert quietly and spoke slowly.
"I came here because I thought the prince would be here."
"Well, well. Good job."
I spoke lightly.
"It's efficient if we talk together. The timing was good too. It was just about time to discuss what was going to happen."
"Yeah, we haven't talked much so far."
Robert smiled kindly at Ian and said.
"Except that I was dumped before I could even begin to flirt with Miss Annabelle."