As the sun, which had been shining brighter than anything else and proudly showing off its grandeur, began to slowly set…
“So, back then, I… Princess?”
“…”
Rebecca, who had been waiting for her fiancé while listening to Isabella’s chatter from beside her, was gradually running out of patience.
Even though her responses had consistently been short, like “Yes” or “No,” it wasn’t because Isabella kept trying to engage her in conversation.
Rather, if Isabella hadn’t been sitting next to her, other nobles who noticed her alone would have approached her, trying to build connections.
Fortunately, thanks to Isabella, who was also a daughter of a duke like her, other nobles couldn’t easily approach.
So, she had been able to maintain her composure until now.
“…He’s late.”
“Huh?”
“He’s really late. My fiancé.”
“…”
Until now.
Her fiancé had sent a message saying he might be late at 9 AM, and it was now 7 PM.
In reality, he hadn’t shown up for almost half the day without any further communication.
“…I’m not feeling good.”
“…”
How could she keep her composure in such a situation?
Especially on her birthday, which only comes once a year.
Her one and only fiancé, whom she had repeatedly called her own.
“…Would you like to go have dinner together?”
Perhaps because she was radiating such sharpness that it felt like she might snap at any moment, Isabella’s voice was trembling too.
A voice that was unmistakably that of someone scared, with no room for excuses.
If a woman with Isabella’s looks was trembling like that, anyone would feel sorry for her.
“No, you go ahead. I’m not in the mood to eat.”
Unfortunately, the other party was the most feared angry Princess Valencia in the empire.
“…Then, I’ll go ahead! Please come eat soon, Princess!”
So terrifying was her current demeanor that Isabella, who had been chattering away just moments ago, quickly left her seat.
She waved her hand lightly, seeing Isabella off.
It would be a lie to say she didn’t feel guilty towards Isabella.
What she had just done was no different than taking her anger out on an innocent person.
Looking back, even she, who prided herself on being more rational than anyone, realized it was a childish act.
No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t the behavior befitting the next Duke of Valencia.
“When will you come?”
What could she do?
Whenever her fiancé was involved, the usually rational she always turned into a childish kid.
Whenever her fiancé was involved, it was hard for her to make rational decisions.
She didn’t like her fiancé making her wait like this on such an important day.
“…Why are you late?”
But, it was also true that she was worried.
The ‘Albert Zernias’ she had known so far was a strange person who, despite not having learned magic, could make hearts race and cheeks blush.
But at least, he wasn’t the type to break promises with his fiancée lightly.
What if he caught a cold suddenly like last time?
What if something happened while preparing something to surprise her?
What if he was in a situation so urgent that he couldn’t contact her?
Such worries and various questions were slowly growing in her heart.
Time passed slowly but surely.
***
How much time had passed?
Suddenly curious about the current time, she looked at the clock on the wall, which, in its antique style, indicated it was past 10 PM.
At this hour, she would usually be in bed if there were no pressing matters.
The guests who had come to celebrate her birthday were still noisily sharing their stories in the banquet hall on the first floor.
“…”
And finally, her patience reached its limit.
What on earth was she doing?
She, the Princess of Valencia, who should be more noble and decisive than anyone, was waiting for her fiancé without even properly enjoying her birthday.
Her pride was deeply hurt.
“…Sigh.”
As she let out the heaviest sigh in the world and was about to leave to end her birthday…
“Are you going to end it like this?”
As if her prayers had been completely useless, Mikhail, whom she had fervently prayed not to come back, was standing at the door.
“What is it?”
“It seems like you’re about to end your day like this.”
“…That’s right.”
“Is it really okay to end it like that?”
The Crown Prince spoke as if questioning her right to act in such a manner.
“…Then, how much longer should I wait?”
“…”
“Huh? Tell me. I’ve waited long enough, haven’t I?”
She was dumbfounded.
Surely, the Crown Prince, who had heard all about her situation this morning, knew how long she had been waiting for her fiancé.
Why was he giving her such unhelpful advice?
“Well, that’s for you to know, not me.”
Even after hearing her sincere words, Mikhail didn’t change his attitude and instead raised his voice.
“Since you’ve waited this long, why not give your fiancé a little more chance?”
“…I think I’ve given enough…”
“Who knows, maybe something happened to your fiancé, just like you worried.”
“…”
She felt a chill run down her spine.
Not because the Crown Prince had noticed her worries about her fiancé, but because of his suggestion that something might have happened to him.
It wasn’t hard for the Crown Prince to figure out that she was worried about her fiancé.
That annoying Crown Prince, annoying as he was, had the quickest wit in the empire. He must have already figured out the contradictory relationship between her and her fiancé.
But, the idea that something might have actually happened to her fiancé struck a chord in her heart.
“The Prince Albert I know is someone who always keeps his word.”
“…”
The Crown Prince’s words, that her fiancé was someone who always kept his word, was something she already knew.
“So, why not wait a little longer? At least until your birthday is over.”
“…”
“It doesn’t seem like a loss to you.”
“…Fine. I’ll wait a little longer, okay?”
So, she nodded slightly at the Crown Prince’s suggestion to wait a little longer.
After all, her birthday was almost over, and the Crown Prince’s suggestion was reasonable.
But more than that, she knew her fiancé better than anyone, having been through so much with him.
Her fiancé wasn’t the type to disappoint her like this.
“Well, that’s good. Then, I’ll be heading back to the imperial palace.”
Having seen her agreement, the Crown Prince turned to leave, as if his job here was done.
“…Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“I have a question.”
Just as the Crown Prince was about to open the door and leave, she stopped him with a question.
“…You asking me a question is quite rare. Sure, what is it?”
The Crown Prince, reacting as if he was seeing this side of her for the first time, readily allowed her to ask.
“…Why are you helping me?”
Her question wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Hmm?”
“Just a while ago, you clearly looked disgusted just seeing me and Prince Albert together.”
During the hunting competition, the Crown Prince had reacted with horror at the sight of her and her fiancé’s actions.
She was simply curious why he was giving her such advice now.
“I’m not sure if I should say this…”
The Crown Prince, tapping his forehead as if pondering whether to speak, finally opened his mouth.
“I don’t want to see you two regretful or sad anymore.”
“…You don’t want to see me and the Prince sad anymore?”
“Yes. You heard correctly.”
The Crown Prince confirmed, indicating that she had understood correctly.
“…What does that mean?”
Honestly, she didn’t understand at all.
When had the Crown Prince seen her and her fiancé regretful to make such a statement?
She had known the Crown Prince since childhood, so it made sense for her, but her fiancé and the Crown Prince had known each other for less than five months.
Listening to the Crown Prince, it sounded as if they had been friends for years.
But, her doubts remained unresolved.
“Exactly that. I don’t want to see you and Prince Albert regretful anymore.”
“So, what’s with the sudden…”
“Shh. Do you hear something?”
“…”
Just as she was about to continue her questioning, the Crown Prince suddenly stopped her, saying he heard something.
Thud- thud-
The sound of someone’s footsteps was heading towards where she and the Crown Prince were.
Not just anywhere, but precisely to this second-floor terrace.
“Didn’t I tell you? To wait a little longer.”
“…”
And, the footsteps sounded very similar to someone she had heard countless times before.
“Then, it’s time for the extra to exit.”
“…What?”
“See you next time.”
“…”
With those final words, the Crown Prince used magic to disappear in an instant.
Creak-
Cowardly hiding his presence, he opened the door and fled.
“…Have you been waiting long?”
“…”
As if to make it easier for the arriving guest to enter.
Finally, with one hour left until her birthday ended.
Her fiancé appeared before her eyes.
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
