“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.

Her family, her fiancé, and her vassals were all just figures who didn’t care about her. She had lived her whole life surrounded by such people.

How wonderful would her life have been if this person had been her fiancé.

To think that she was only realizing this now…

No. Although it was vague, she had definitely sensed that such feelings were beginning to sprout. However, she was only pretending not to notice.

That’s why I don’t want it to end up like this.

She must’ve known—she actually knew. That he harbored special feelings for her, and that she was beginning to feel the same way.

Hence why she didn’t want to meet him. She wanted to keep him at a distance so that he wouldn’t realize it. She understood that the more time she spent with him, the more her resolve would waver.

She looked sad, lonely—as if she were clinging to him. At the same time, she wanted to reject him.

Ethelbert’s eyes widened in surprise. Charlotte had a complex, indescribable expression on her face, one he had never seen before.

His hand slid down to her back.

As he fully embraced her, Charlotte surrendered to him without resistance.

“I’m supposed to return to my country next week.”

“Is that so?”

That’s right…

He was in her country for a foreign exchange program, and he had successfully completed that course. So, he was bound to return home. That was something she knew.

So, that night would probably be the last time she’d see him. Once that opportunity had passed, she’d never see him again.

“Charlotte.”

He held her shoulders and put some distance between them.

He looked at her from close up with a sincere look on his face.

That was the second time he had called her by her name alone, without an honorific.

The first time was that day when Charlotte had been hit by Frederick. It had been instinctive. This time, he called her name on purpose, of his own volition.

“I’m well aware that you have a fiancé and that you’re the crown princess of this country. However, I’ve decided to propose to you.”

Charlotte gasped at his words.

“You seem to be having a difficult life in this country.”

His expression contorted, and he looked as if it was his problem—as if he was the one who suffered. This was probably proof that he cared about Charlotte that much, and felt resentment toward her situation.

The engagement of the crown princess, which had already been decided, wasn’t something that could easily be changed. However, when the empire was involved, it became a different story.

The reputation of the royal family was, of course, important. But considering the position of the Kingdom of Lymore on a global scale, the importance of its ties with the empire couldn’t be weighed against the others. As a means of publicly proving that they were on the path of reconciliation, a marriage would be far more effective than an exchange program.

“Improve the relations between our two countries wouldn’t be a bad idea, and it would also resolve the current international situation within the Kingdom of Lymore. Still, I don’t know if the king will agree.”

“…I see.”

“Even so, I won’t give up. I can’t leave you in a country like this. Your efforts should be rewarded more, and you should be in a more relaxed environment. More than anything, I want you to be in a place where you can feel safe”

It was a proposal—she couldn’t convince herself otherwise.

“Of course, if you don’t want me by your side, I don’t mind if we just get engaged in name only. In the meantime, I’ll prepare an environment for you to be happy. I want you to pursue the happiness you desire. You promised to take care of yourself. I won’t allow you to go back on that promise.”

Aah, this person…

“Use me as much as you want.”

He noticed, hasn’t he?

He probably had a rough idea of the outcome that Charlotte sought. The outcome to the revenge that she was about to choose in the end.

He was such a hinderance, desperately showing Charlotte another option.

“You don’t need to work yourself to the bone for a foolish country that despises and exploits you. I promise to give you as much freedom as possible during the engagement period. I’ll use some rough methods to get the king’s consent, so—”

“—No, Lord Ethelbert.”

Charlotte cut him off.

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