Tap, tap-tap!
Footsteps echoed boldly through the quiet royal palace.
Long, flowing pink hair swayed like waves.
Even in round-toed shoes, the woman moved with the agility of a skilled scout.
“Good afternoon, Lady Dellafion—”
“Yup! Have a great day!”
No matter who called out, the woman never stopped running.
Her restless black eyes were so sharp they looked like they could catch a flying hawk mid-air.
No palace servant dared to criticize such unrefined behavior.
“She hasn’t changed one bit.”
“It’s rare to see someone so consistent…”
The back of her pink head was already vanishing into the distance.
Crossing the palace gardens on foot without a carriage, she showed not a trace of fatigue.
Who was Abel Dellafion?
A disgrace to noble ladies.
The kingdom’s notorious troublemaker.
And—
“Shasa!”
Her clear voice echoed through the garden, but the person called did not appear.
But giving up wasn’t in Abel’s nature.
“Where the hell are you hiding now?”
Though her tone was rough, her expression wasn’t harsh.
Taking a deep breath, she started moving again.
It had been nearly seven years since she first entered the palace. She knew exactly where the First Prince would be.
Yes, the First Prince.
Thinking of the man she’d grown sick of seeing for years brought a blush to her peach-colored cheeks.
No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t suppress the rising emotion.
Once she realized it, rushing toward him was easy.
Agonizing over the original story or whether she was worthy—such thoughts were not her style.
“Shasa!”
“Why are you calling me in such a rush?”
A gentle voice tickled Abel’s cheek.
Appearing in light attire, the man reached out warmly, his eyes crinkling in a friendly smile.
“Your hair’s all messed up.”
His hand tenderly brushed away the stray strands sticking to her face.
Kind and considerate—the First Prince, Chessa Lagracio.
Abel, who had heavily influenced those descriptors, carefully chose her words while enjoying his touch.
“Is something urgent?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
His green eyes, soaked in deep affection, were brighter than an early summer forest.
Who would believe that this sweet, thoughtful prince would someday endanger his own sibling and destroy countless noble houses?
But fate didn’t matter.
None of that had happened yet.
“Hey, Shasa.”
“Yes, Eve?”
The hand that had perfectly fixed her pink hair returned to its place without hesitation.
But even so, he curled and uncurled his right hand, reluctant to let go.
‘I knew it.’
Reading that awkward energy, Abel was sure.
‘You feel the same.’
Chessa Lagracio liked Abel Dellafion.
The years they’d spent together and those flushed green eyes made it clear.
“Shasa.”
Her small hands clasped his long fingers tightly.
The man gave his hand willingly, unable to hide the smile forming on his lips.
It was an expression far too honest and boyish for someone meant to be a cunning manipulator.
As if overwhelmed by how much he liked her.
The emotion he didn’t bother to hide was incredibly sweet.
“I… I like you.”
She meant to speak boldly, but stuttered.
But not worrying about little things was also part of being bold. Abel took a deep breath and continued.
“You like me too, right?”
No answer was needed. Their gazes met, and that was enough.
Chessa Lagracio liked Abel Dellafion.
He cherished her.
He loved her.
Any fluffy, affectionate word would suffice.
Firmly holding her hand, the man nodded without hesitation.
“Yeah. I like you, Eve.”
A cliché response.
And yet, her black eyes shimmered with joy.
“T-then, should we start dating for real?”
An illegitimate child of the king and the daughter of a mere baron.
The class gap was severe, but who cared?
Abel was convinced this man, who had practically become her closest friend, would agree without a second thought.
“Sorry, but that won’t work.”
“So from today we’re offi—Wait, what?”
Her radiant smile cracked instantly.
Abel dropped his tightly held hand, stepped back, and tilted her head.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
“You heard right. You’ve got beast-like senses.”
“Then?”
“Your feelings make me really happy, but… I can’t. Not right now.”
“I think there’s been a huge misunderstanding. Let’s talk this out.”
Crack, snap.
Left hand: ‘Peace’, Right hand: ‘Talk’.
Abel offered calmly, but the man just waved his hand with a bright smile.
“I can’t date you right now.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not good enough. I need to be fully qualified.”
“Qualified how? You’ve got the looks, the body—what more do you need?”
Her eyes scanned the prince from head to toe without shame, but no one called her out.
“That’s not enough!”
“…Huh?”
“You once said it yourself. To win a woman’s heart, a man must be willing to die or slay a dragon.”
“I did?”
“You said a man shouldn’t reach a happy ending so easily.”
That was meant for male protagonists, though…?
“I’ll become the perfect man for you.”
“No, wait—”
“I thought I might not get to see you, so I was thinking of leaving a letter. Glad I got to say it in person.”
“…Huh?”
“Well then, Abel! I’m off to slay a dragon!”
Who knows when he’d packed, but the prince waved and walked off with his luggage.
Abel, still stunned, didn’t come to her senses until his black-haired head was just a dot in the distance.
“Crazy bastard, hey!”
Her voice rang loud through the royal palace.
The prince, off to slay a dragon on a whim, was now far away, still waving.
“Hey! Chessa Lagracio! HEY!”
Who would’ve thought this would happen when she read him all those romance novels?
She only wanted the villain to grow up with enough conscience to not massacre innocent noble families!
Her legs gave out.
Sitting down and holding her forehead, Abel muttered with a sigh.
“This insane idiot…”
Why the hell is he dragon hunting in this peaceful era!?
* * *
Chessa Lagracio hadn’t believed Abel’s words were gospel from the beginning.
In fact…
“It’s an honor to meet you again, First Prince. I’m Abel, eldest daughter of Baron Dellafion.”
“How pretentious. Spare me the pleasantries.”
“Shall I?”
“Hah!”
Still prepubescent, the boy scoffed even as a cute little girl reached out to him.
But Abel Dellafion wasn’t someone to back down.
She had too much to do to be hurt by that kind of response.
Her towering self-esteem and steel mental fortitude helped too.
“Prince, I brought an interesting puzzle today.”
“Prince, this book’s really popular in the market—want to read it?”
“Prince…”
So, how did the First Prince react to Abel’s tireless efforts to survive?
“Shut up.”
“Don’t need it.”
“Get lost.”
The treatment was so consistent, she’d considered tossing aside all dignity and challenging him outright.
“Got nothing better to do?”
“Pathetic.”
“Trying to get something from me? Give up.”
But even that didn’t break Abel’s determination.
If anything, it only fired up her competitive spirit.
“It’s my job to be by your side!”
“You don’t seem to smile much—how nice would it be if you laughed because of me?”
“Give up? What’s that?”
Chessa Lagracio would never know just how stubbornly she clung on with superhuman patience and tenacity.
Even when he clearly didn’t want her there, she stuck around and swore to herself:
“Just you wait, Chessa Lagracio. I’ll get you nominated for a Kingdom Peace Prize.”
Back then, when she still named her fists “Peace” and “Talk,” the young reincarnated girl never imagined—
That her early education would work this well.
