His Highness Vincent confessed to me of his love.

I could not give him a reply. And even now, I cannot even look at His Highness Vincent’s face.

Because when I see his face, I can’t help but recall the memories of that day.

I love you, he told me this that day.

At that moment, I didn’t know what he meant. I wondered if he was talking about liking the flowers in my head or the sweets we ate.

But, as if he had seen through me, His Highness Prince Vincent said to me, “I want to be your lover. I want to you to accept me not as your political fiancee but as someone you love.”

It was only when he said this that I realized what my feelings were for His Highness.

What a surprise. ....

I lay back on my bed and bury my face in the pillow. The soft touch soothes my surging heart and restless mind. The pounding of my heart is echoing through my body.

–I like His Highness Vincent, too.

Before I could say a single word, I was buckled and carried back to my house by my lady-in-waiting. It’s been like this ever since .....

I think to myself that it is really too late now to confess my liking to him, but His Highness Vincent is a perfect man. The reason I have been able to maintain my composure while standing next to him and witnessing his kindness, compassion, and smile that can’t help but attract those who see it, is because of my own incredible insensitivity.

However, this insensitivity was vanquished by none other than His Imperial Highness, Prince Vincent.

I have told my friends how wonderful His Highness Vincent is. I am ashamed to think what those who nodded their heads in agreement were thinking in their hearts, when their faces were on fire.

Now I realized how they were feeling,

“Oh, ....!”

I couldn’t help but flap my limbs and hit my pillow in frustration.

Since Prince Vincent’s confession, I have been unable to get close to His Highness Prince Vincent, but he is still always there for me. He is being patient as if silently telling me that I should face my feelings slowly and say them when the time is right.

But I must not be naive. I can’t even stand next to His Highness as the Crown Princess as myself.

I can only stand nest to him as his political partner, as Duchess la Montlivre.

“....!!!”

The engagement party of Mr. Harold and Miss Margaret suddenly comes to my mind. The image of His Highness Vincent in his formal attire that day came back to me like a bolt of lightning.

When I told His Highness that I wanted to walk with him forever, he was surprised, but he still nodded his head with a gentle smile.

As soon as the scene replayed in my mind, I fell face first on the bed.

I feel really, really ashamed, and I am not joking or speaking metaphorically, but I’m not worthy of standing beside him, let alone walk. I am embarrassed, sorry and surprise at myself. All sorts of other things came rushing in my mind that I couldn’t give my body the commands it needed to do its job.

If this is love, then I guess I was too young for my first love. ....

But I can’t undo what I’ve realized. My heart is still thumping.

I should try to find a way out of it.

In order to maintain the same level of normalcy as before when facing His Highness Vincent, I would first have to get used to it.

Yes, let’s ask the painter who comes in and out of our household to paint a portrait of His Highness. It would be small and portable .... ah! So that’s what His Highness meant when he mentioned that he had my portrait in his pocket watch sometime ago.

As expected from a man who is highly esteemed for his brilliance, his love for me is already under control. He gave me a hint in advance but I was completely unaware of it.

.... love for me.

The moment this thoughts enters my mind again, I can feel my face beginning to get hot again.

If His Highness also has such feelings for me, how .... sweet and sour and happy it would be.

“I would like to speak to His Highness Vincent properly.”

I call his name aloud, which makes my heart beat again.

It’s as if I have become my own heart. My heart palpitates painfully as my chest aches for him. But if I don’t get over this, I won’t be a woman worthy of His Highness!

If I don’t have a portrait, then let’s use my memory.

Let us think of His Highness Vincent for a hundred or a thousand hours, until this heartbeat regains its composure.

I have made up my mind.

I close my eyes and draw the image of His Highness Vincent on the back of my eyelids. His flaxen hair flutters in the wind, and his softly narrowed eyes are azure with compassion. ....

I’m thrilled, I’m? thrilled, I’m thrilled.

–I’m so excited.

Thump, thump, thump.

–I’m so excited.

Oh, ....?

In between the pounding, I noticed a strange sound and woke myself up.

I listen carefully and hear a tapping sound coming from the window. I thought it was a tree branch swaying in the wind, but it is a regular, willful rhythm.

Gently, I approach the window and flip back the curtains.

I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.

There is a dragon.

It’s only the size of a cat, and probably still a child – but its claws are sharp enough to draw blood, and the fangs peeking out of its mouth shows that it is a serious threat to humans.

When the dragon notices me, his jet-black scales trembles and he rubs his forehead happily against the windowpane.

I think I should call the guards.

Dragons are a race that is already extinct. If it rises again, it would destroy cities, burn forests, and destroy nations with its overwhelming magical power.

But for some reason, I could not believe that this tiny hatchling is a mythical and disastrous being.

There is no hostility in its eyes, which seems to be congealed with darkness. Rather, they contains a kind of longing.

“.... Lars-sama?”

The name suddenly comes out of my mouth without me realising.

It seems that my voice reached through the window. Because the next moment, the dragon let out a cute “squeak”.