Chapter 52
“I’m looking for a princess consort.”
A princess consort?
The sudden mention of a princess consort froze everyone in the reception room in shock—everyone except Prince Q, the one who had spoken.
Prince Q continued to look up at Princess Pireone with a serious expression, his youthful face full of sincerity.
A princess consort? Are you proposing to Princess Pireone right now? That little runt!
Haon felt inwardly indignant. Luckily, he restrained himself from speaking, but he couldn’t hide his expression.
All of a sudden? When did he even fall for the princess?
Haon glared at Prince Q with fiery eyes.
The first to regain her composure was Princess Pireone.
She gently pressed the hand she extended toward Prince Q and helped him to rise.
“First, let’s sit and have a proper conversation.”
“Ah, yes. I was too hasty.”
Prince Q nodded and took his seat.
Today, he seemed unusually mature. His usual playful tone and cute expressions were nowhere to be seen. He wore a serious, almost adult-like expression, as if he had firmly made up his mind.
Once seated on the sofa across from her, Princess Pireone calmly gave instructions to Anten, as she usually would.
“Prepare some tea and light refreshments.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Anten, as always a capable maid, showed no outward reaction but couldn’t take her eyes off Prince Q as she left the room. She too seemed quite concerned about his unexpected statement.
Haon worried that Princess Pireone might assign him a task as well. He absolutely did not want to leave this spot.
Fortunately, Princess Pireone started the conversation immediately.
“So, you’re looking for a princess consort?”
“Yes.”
Prince Q answered clearly, his gaze firmly fixed on Princess Pireone with a remarkably challenging look.
Though he was seated as Princess Pireone suggested, he perched on the edge of the sofa, leaning forward as if ready to spring up at any moment.
“Who is this princess consort you’re looking for, that you’ve come to speak to me about her?”
Haon slapped his forehead inwardly.
Oh no, our princess has no clue. Of course, it’s her…!
Just as Haon felt frustrated, Prince Q answered boldly.
“I don’t know either.”
Huh?
What did he just say?
Haon’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.
Wait, what’s happening? Isn’t he supposed to ask Princess Pireone to be his princess consort?
Haon stared back and forth between Prince Q and Princess Pireone in confusion.
“You want me to help you find your princess consort?”
“Yes!”
Prince Q shouted excitedly, unable to contain his excitement.
Wasn’t he saying he wanted our princess to be his consort?
Haon was still bewildered.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t said he wanted her to be his consort—he only said he was “looking” for one. Everyone had mistaken the term “princess consort” and his proposing pose for a marriage proposal.
It wasn’t that Princess Pireone lacked awareness—she was simply the only one who had listened to Prince Q clearly and objectively.
“Are you looking for a specific person, or are you asking me to introduce a suitable young lady? If it’s the latter, you’ve come to the wrong person. I don’t have close relations with many young ladies…”
Prince Q’s face turned red as he hastily replied.
“N-No, that’s not it!”
No wonder his posture seemed precarious—Prince Q suddenly stood up. Though small and young, even standing, he was still shorter than Princess Pireone on the sofa.
His face, flushed pink like a ripe peach, he continued speaking with determination.
“She… she is my first love!”
Even with this sudden declaration, Princess Pireone didn’t flinch.
Haon, on the other hand, perked up instantly, fascinated. What could be more interesting than someone else’s love story?
And first love, no less!
This young prince is surprisingly mature.
Haon watched eagerly, anticipating the continuation of Prince Q’s story.
“She appeared out of nowhere, and I flew to embrace her. Like an angel—or maybe a devil—she appeared suddenly and… she… she…”
Prince Q stammered, clearly embarrassed. Fidgeting with his tiny fingers, he squeezed his eyes shut and shouted:
“She stole my lips! My first kiss!”
Haon’s jaw dropped.
The kid kissed someone? Is that okay?
No, wait. Maybe it’s just innocent childlike affection, and an adult’s perception is overcomplicating it.
Haon was confused but couldn’t help being captivated by the story’s intensity.
Not an angelic first love descending from the sky, but he flew to her himself? And calling her a devil? His expressions are… imaginative.
Because of the unusual phrasing, Haon had to digest it slowly.
“A first-kiss at the first meeting… quite the bold partner.”
Princess Pireone regarded him seriously.
As expected of our princess—she treats even a child’s pretend romance with utmost seriousness.
Haon, however, didn’t feel that way. Considering Prince Q’s age, “first love” sounded simply cute, like watching kindergarteners play house.
“She said she knows me very well. Perhaps she’s been watching me from afar all this time, admiring me?”
His words were cautious yet confident.
“And maybe she appeared suddenly so that I would fall right into her arms!”
Prince Q seemed almost dreamy. Whether Princess Pireone was listening attentively didn’t seem to matter to him. He continued immersing himself in the tale of his “first love.”
“She left me with so much curiosity, then suddenly stood up and disappeared.”
At this point, he sighed in disappointment and reached into the air as if trying to grab someone.
It seemed like the first meeting with his first love was still unfolding before his eyes.
“She disappeared so quickly I couldn’t even stop her. Perhaps she anticipated that I’d be searching for her like this?”
Without waiting for a reply, Prince Q continued, his voice livelier now.
“But then I saw her. Where she went, there stood Princess Pireone, blazing red.”
“Me?”
Ah, so this is why he came to find a princess consort. Suddenly, everything made sense.
Seeing herself involved, Princess Pireone became curious.
Prince Q looked at her with expectant eyes and nodded.
“Yes! She surely went to Princess Pireone. I saw her return with you clearly.”
He cautiously added:
“Her bright red hair could only be yours, Princess Pireone, recognizable even from afar.”
Princess Pireone tilted her head.
“If it was recognizable from afar, then it could be me… but I can’t think of any young lady it might have been. When was this?”
“A few days ago, at Count Sis’s tea party.”
…Huh?
Trillinia’s tea party.
Haon, who had been enjoying Prince Q’s story with interest, froze when he heard the words “tea party.”
Princess Pireone’s eyes gleamed for a moment, though she remained silent, while Prince Q continued, still excited:
“Her hair, blacker than darkness itself, was perhaps the hair of a devil trying to charm me? Her dress, filled with flowers, wasn’t as beautiful as her smile.”
Black hair.
Floral dress.
Damn it. Haon should have realized earlier.
Prince Q had descended from the sky.
It was certain.
The “first love” he spoke of was Haon. It had to be!
Wait, when did I steal his lips?
About to protest, Haon remembered the pain when Prince Q had collided with him earlier—smacking his face and falling backward.
Of course, he had no way of knowing where those tiny lips had landed.
Was that considered a kiss?
Haon frantically rubbed his lips with the back of his hand. Then he looked at Prince Q and froze—after all, the kid was just a little child.
A kiss from a baby? That’s not a kiss! Adults might call it a peck on the cheek, no big deal!
Haon justified it internally.
Just then, a knock came at the reception room door, and Anten entered.
“Tea is ready, Your Highness.”
Anten placed the tea and simple refreshments on the table.
Princess Pireone, still composed, smiled gracefully at Prince Q.
“Shall we have some tea and discuss your first love in more detail?”
Her voice seemed slightly higher—was it Haon’s imagination?
She elegantly lifted her teacup.
“A devilish first love I met at Trillinia’s tea party, you say.”
Closing her eyes briefly, she swirled the cup to enjoy the aroma, then opened her eyes, which sparkled like rubies with intrigue.
“Perhaps I might help make your first love come true, Prince.”
…Princess? Did she just say that?
Haon stared at Princess Pireone in disbelief.
Princess Pireone smiled, locking eyes with Haon.
So it’s you, huh?
Her amused gaze clearly said those words.
