Chapter 25

I was in a state of utter confusion.

As usual, I had just finished my morning swordsmanship training and was heading back to the Count’s mansion for lunch when I spotted a very extravagant and familiar carriage heading towards the mansion.

At first, I thought it couldn’t be. I had sent a letter yesterday saying I might not be able to visit, but according to the butler, she should have arrived this morning. There was no way Princess Rebecca could have left for the mansion immediately after reading my letter.

“Hello?”

“…”

But clearly, I was wrong. Seeing Rebecca standing in front of me with a blank expression made that obvious.

“…What brings you here?”

“You told me to come.”

“…”

She replied as if she had no idea what she had done wrong. Her boldness left me at a loss for words.

Even though I had sent a letter asking her to come, I thought it was common for nobles to exchange letters, set a schedule, and then visit. But it seemed our clueless princess didn’t need such formalities.

I sighed.

“…Have you had lunch?”

“No, I only had breakfast.”

“I’ll inform the servants of your arrival. Please wait a moment.”

And when I announced that Princess Rebecca had arrived at the mansion, the peaceful Count Zernias’ Mansion was thrown into chaos. It was obvious without saying.

*

“Is the food to your liking?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

The hastily prepared lunch seemed to suit Rebecca’s taste. Thankfully, because if it didn’t, she would have mercilessly criticized it.

Phew-

I could hear the servants sighing in relief from all corners. Everyone must have been quite shocked. Who wouldn’t be when the only daughter of the Valencia Duchy, the fiancée of the young master, suddenly arrives?

Yet, the mansion’s servants managed to prepare everything to Rebecca’s satisfaction, and I was truly grateful for that.

I might have to give them a bonus after this. I made a mental note to discuss it with my father later and then spoke to Rebecca, who was eating.

“…So, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“You told me to come in your letter.”

She was still using my letter as an excuse. But my question wasn’t about why she came; it was about why she came so quickly.

“I mean, you must have received my letter this morning. I’m asking why you came immediately after reading it.”

Why did she come so quickly? When I wrote the letter, I thought she might just send a reply and not come at all, or if she did, it would be after some time. I was just curious why she came right after receiving the letter.

“…Do you not want me to come?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then why are you so curious about why I came?”

“I’m just curious. We just met yesterday. I’m just wondering why you came so quickly.”

“…My mother…”

This time, Rebecca brought up her mother, deflecting the conversation.

Her mother? That would be Duchess Valencia. What did the Duchess do?

“My mother said to prepare for the Imperial Ball here.”

“…Prepare for the Imperial Ball here?”

“Yes.”

“…”

I was speechless for the second time today. There were so many things I wanted to say but couldn’t.

Of course, the Imperial Ball was indeed a very important event. All the nobles of the Empire had to attend, and it was held only once a year unless there was a special occasion. Most noble ladies made their debut at the Imperial Ball, and Rebecca, the only daughter of the Valencia Duchy, was no exception.

‘…Why is the princess preparing for the Imperial Ball here?’

But why was she preparing for such an important debut at her fiancé’s family’s mansion instead of the Valencia Duchy Mansion? I couldn’t understand what the Duchess was thinking.

“My mother said it’s only natural that you and I are partners, so we should practice together.”

“…Practice?”

“Dancing. Surely you know that everyone dances with their partner at the ball, right?”

Rebecca looked at me as if I were an idiot for not knowing.

“I know that much.”

I was aware of that much. In the original novel, “The Crown Prince Wields a Sword,” the Imperial Ball was mentioned frequently, and in romance fantasy novels, it was a common trope for characters to dance with their partners at the ball. It would be strange not to know.

“However…” There was still something I didn’t fully understand.

“…However?”

“Practicing the steps would take at most two days, but the ball is still a week away. Why did you come so early?”

Considering the Imperial Ball, Rebecca had come way too early.

Over the past three years, I hadn’t just learned swordsmanship. I had also learned the etiquette and demeanor of a noble, as well as various noble events and balls. Naturally, I had also learned the dances performed at these events.

Given that I knew how to dance, it was impossible that Rebecca, a noble lady from a ducal family, didn’t know. If both of us knew the dance, it wouldn’t take long to practice together. We could just go through it once or twice before the actual event.

So why did she come a whole week before the ball?

“That’s…”

Rebecca trailed off, as if the reason was too embarrassing to say out loud.

Watching her face gradually turn red, I quietly spoke.

“Did you miss me that much?”

“…What?”

My words caught her off guard. It wasn’t a serious question; I was just teasing her because she seemed flustered.

“Isn’t it strange? The princess who usually dislikes me so much came immediately after receiving my letter.”

“…”

“Did you really miss me?”

“…What if I did?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears. The Rebecca Valencia I knew wouldn’t say something like that. She wasn’t the type to blush and look someone in the eye while saying such things.

But.

“…What if I came because I missed you?”

As always, my hearing and vision were perfectly fine.

Thump-thump-

Whether it was Rebecca’s heartbeat or mine, someone’s heart was quietly echoing through the dining room.

***

“Huh?”

She looked at her fiancé, who was making a dumbfounded expression as if he hadn’t heard her correctly.

“…What if I came because I missed you?”

Her heart was racing.

‘…I said it.’

She had just voiced the thoughts she had been keeping to herself. Her heart was pounding.

It was true that she had come to Count Zernias’ Mansion to prepare for the Imperial Ball. Her mother had indeed read Albert’s letter and suggested she go to the mansion. But it was just a suggestion, not an order.

Yet, she had followed her mother’s advice because she wanted to see her fiancé’s face again for some reason.

Even though she could have left three days later, she had set out for the mansion on the same day she received the letter because she thought it would be better to meet sooner rather than later.

That was why.

She didn’t know why she felt this way. Why she wanted to see her fiancé so badly, why she wanted to see that annoying face as soon as possible. She didn’t know why these thoughts filled her mind.

But in the end, she felt that her choice had been a good one.

Her bold statement, “What if I came because I missed you?” had left her fiancé flustered and blushing.

It had been a long time since she had seen Albert make such an expression. The last time she had seen it was in her dream where she had kissed her fiancé. She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she had seen it in reality.

After her words, both of them fell silent and continued their meal. Rebecca took a bite of the food in front of her and felt a strange sensation.

It didn’t taste this sweet before. The food, which had been ordinary just moments ago, now tasted as if it had been drenched in sugar.

Although she didn’t know why the food had suddenly become so sweet, Rebecca happily finished her first meal at Count Zernias’ Mansion.