AWIC 10

Chapter 10

Alesto watched the Saint in front of him, holding her teacup with an air of elegance.

She had been disheveled yesterday, and she was no different today.

Her hair was messy, as if she hadn’t brushed it after waking, and the shawl she wore was asymmetrical.

‘Even if she’s of noble descent, do daughters of counts usually look this… untidy?’

Young ladies of aristocratic families were said to be meticulous about their appearance, but the Saint seemed utterly uninterested in such things.

Or perhaps she simply trusted that her face was beautiful enough.

‘…Even messy and tousled, she’s still so pretty that it’s believable.’

What should one even call that appearance?

A pure-hearted puppy rolling in dust until white fur turns gray?

But really—a beautiful puppy.

Alesto found himself repeatedly thinking of a puppy, yet he knew he shouldn’t actually think of her as one.

She wasn’t a puppy, and she was, after all, an adult like him.

“Shall we have lunch together today?”

…Maybe she was like a puppy after all.

Though she was a noblewoman, she spoke as if demanding immediate attention, much like a playful pup ignoring how busy the Crown Prince must be.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t offended.

“What would you like to eat?” he asked.

She smiled innocently.

“I’d like to eat out. Meat, please.”

Alesto nodded deeply but thought her diet would need adjusting.

“Let’s go, then.”

The two of them headed to Vuisel, a natural lake in the heart of the capital.

Vuisel Lake had deep and shallow sections, each with distinct water colors, creating a breathtaking landscape.

They sat at a quiet restaurant by the lake, on a balcony elevated to provide a clear view.

A staff member poured water into glass cups, standing politely.

“Would you like the full course?”

Last night, at The Lion’s Table, Asha had drunk wine, choked, and flushed red before finishing a single cup.

Alesto assumed she couldn’t handle alcohol.

“Let’s skip the aperitif and go with a light drink. Is apple juice acceptable?”

Asha nodded without much thought.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Alcohol or juice didn’t matter—eating meat outside the palace was what mattered.

In truth, Asha had a reason for requesting lunch out.

During yesterday’s attempted escape, she had heard something significant.

She wanted to test whether she could go out, thinking carefully to make a discreet trial of it.

Moreover, Alesto assumed she was pretending not to know how busy he was, but that wasn’t the case.

She genuinely had no idea about the Crown Prince’s duties.

All she knew were cliches from romance novels: [cold on the outside, soft like tofu inside], [cold but warm to his lady], [isolated in a glamorous world], and so on.

She’d read mostly romance novels, where the Crown Prince would typically appear as the main or significant supporting character, with romance being emphasized.

Thus, she enjoyed today’s outing.

Vuisel Lake was stunning.

Blue skies, gentle warmth, leaves rustling in the wind—it all felt surreal.

‘Am I finally able to rest without standing like a machine in a work uniform?’

She marveled at the peaceful beauty around her.

“Have you ever been in love?”

“Eh? S-suddenly?”

A subtle smile played on Alesto’s lips.

“Sudden? Yesterday, Asha, you said it was your dream to be caught and loved by a handsome man, and you wanted me to take you along.”

Asha swallowed nervously.

“Yes… that’s right.”

“I also said I liked you, Asha.”

Thump.

As she searched for words, he added,

“If both like each other… isn’t that dating?”

A straightforward statement from a handsome man made her heart flutter.

Why refuse?

He was perfect in looks and build, and he considered her a romantic interest.

It wasn’t marriage yet—just dating. Why not?

Above all, the excitement of her first crush felt wonderful, regardless of whether it was love.

“I… I’ve never dated before,” she admitted.

At that moment, something caught her eye on the opposite balcony.

‘Huh?’

She spotted a blonde man—Cedric, the main male character from the original story, whom she had seen yesterday in the Lavender Garden.

Seeing him beyond Alesto’s shoulder stirred a complicated mix of emotions.

After realizing it was the story world, she decided she would marry Cedric and live happily.

But an unforeseen incident had canceled the arranged meeting.

And now she was discussing romance with another man…

‘Feels like I’m cheating or something.’

Of course, that was just her feeling. It wasn’t really cheating.

She had never spoken to Cedric, and he didn’t know who she was.

Cedric had been in a foul mood since yesterday.

Specifically, since seeing the Crown Prince and his presumed partner in the temple’s Lavender Garden.

The reason was clear:

He couldn’t stop thinking about the woman with the Crown Prince.

His heart raced, imagining a woman spending time closely with the Crown Prince.

‘…Pathetic.’

He didn’t fully believe in love at first sight, but even dreaming about it gave some credibility.

In the dream, he was in the Lavender Garden, passionately kissing an unnamed woman.

She hadn’t resisted.

The phrase “passionate kiss” was an understatement—his clumsy, hurried kiss almost devoured her.

‘I’m losing my mind.’

Was late adolescence hitting him? Or had someone cursed him?

“…Huff.”

The Vuisel lakeside was recommended by Steward, his secretary, as a way to relax.

Stuck indoors sighing repeatedly, Cedric had been advised to take a breather here.

Sitting at a coffeehouse with a view of the lake, he tried to calm himself.

Then, to his shock, he saw the Crown Prince and the woman from his dream appear on the balcony of the adjacent building.

For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating from lovesickness.

Rubbing his eyes, he confirmed they were real.

He hadn’t tried to eavesdrop—it was a natural reaction, like noticing a flower blooming by the roadside.

The two were quietly discussing their forthcoming romance.

Then he heard her name:

Asha.

Hearing the name stirred familiarity. Cedric’s fists clenched.

Asha was the woman he was supposed to meet yesterday.

That morning, when the eldest son of the Herman family brought an official apology for the daughter missing the meeting, Cedric had graciously accepted it.

He had no resentment about the failed arranged meeting.

‘But the woman in my dream… is actually the Asha I was supposed to meet?’

His chest throbbed as if struck by lightning.

It was clear that the conversation between the Crown Prince and Asha wasn’t that of old lovers; it was awkward, like two people just starting to date.

He didn’t know what had gone wrong, but one thing was certain:

Right now, I could have been the one laughing and talking about romance with her.