“May I wear it?”

“Please.”

When Charlotte was about to ask Ethelbert to hold the box, Ethelbert took the hair ornament. While she was confused, he skillfully placed it in her hair.

“It really suits you. I made the right choice.”

Seeing him smile with satisfaction, Charlotte also smiled. As she couldn’t see her own appearance, she couldn’t tell him her impression. Nevertheless, he was sincerely complimenting her, that much was clear. Since she’d have to remove it upon returning to the venue, she left it there for the time being.

“Ever since you were enrolled into the academy, your scores were perfect. You achieved this while also fulfilling the duties of a crown princess, which is impossible without extraordinary effort.”

‘It’s because you’re the crown princess.’ People of her country always assumed such, but Ethelbert was different.

“Even though we’re friends, you’re trying to distance yourself for some reason. I don’t think being acknowledged would make you that happy… Still, those around you are foolish for ignoring your efforts.”

Ethelbert looked down at Charlotte with soft, narrowed eyes. His gaze was filled with kindness.

“You’re working very hard. You’ve been working so hard for so long. There’s no reason not to appreciate you.”

Ethelbert’s large hand rested on Charlotte’s head. He stroked her gently, careful not to mess it.

Charlotte was astonished at the sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time.

In the past, she used to watch with envy as Frederick patted, praised, and smiled gently at Juliet. At some point, she stopped caring, and after a while, it became annoyance and contempt. She realized being envious of someone so spoiled and lazy was pointless.

As Charlotte grew up, Dexter stopped patting her head.  Thus, she came to conclude such a gesture had nothing to do with her.

She looked up at Ethelbert, unable to think straight. He tilted his head slightly, his expression still warm, as if asking what was wrong.

He was the emperor’s younger brother. Being affable was part of his role. He must’ve used his extraordinary beauty to win over people. It was too effective with the opposite sex.

Even though she understood that, Charlotte had a hard time resisting the charming smile that was on full display from so close. Despite priding herself on being used to good-looking people, her pace was thrown off easily when it came to Ethelbert.

The hand holding the box unconsciously tightened.

A crack easily appeared in the wall she was trying to build.

“Are you treating me like a child?”

“No?”

She tried to hide her embarrassment in an attempt to regain her composure. Ethelbert’s smile deepened as he denied it.

His hand slid from her head to her cheek. The pad of his thumb slid over her skin, stopping just short of her lips.

“I wouldn’t feel this way toward a child.”

Although he’d clearly said earlier that she was his friend, there was a distinct heat in his eyes as he gazed at her from so close.

She felt a sense of déjà vu. It bore a striking resemblance to the way her unfaithful fiancé stared at her sister.

At the same time, she became aware of the feelings that sprouted inside her—ones she couldn’t ignore.

Her heart pounded loudly. Her heart felt like it was right next to her ear. She couldn’t take her eyes off the man in front of her. Her mind, her entire body, everything about her was focused on him, as if captivated.

I’m… in love with this person.

She was shocked upon realizing it.

She had thought that love was something that had nothing to do with her. She had given up on everything. All she wanted was to get revenge on those who had made her suffer, marching steadily toward the end—only to realize this now.

Even those who were related to her by blood didn’t pay the slightest of heed to her. Her fiancé was obsessed with her sister. She had lived with her sister as the center of her universe.

But then, someone who looked straight at her appeared, and she felt an instant connection with him.

No, it’s not that simple.

She couldn’t completely deny it, but she could say for certain it wasn’t just that.

She had many opportunities to speak to him during their breaks, and they had been on many dates—she felt it every time. She got along well with him.

They both came from bloodlines that governed the countries, and they had a lot in common. Despite growing up in different environments, they somehow understood each other’s sentiments. She felt at ease when she was with him. The atmosphere was just perfect—as if all the pieces of a puzzle had come together and fit perfectly into the empty space that was her heart.

“Do you like me?”

“Yes.”

At his casual affirmation, Charlotte’s expression went taut, as if she were trying to suppress something welling up inside of her.

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