Chapter 08
“……Mmm.”
My fumbling hand in my half-asleep state touched something warm and soft—a pillow.
As I felt the sunlight gradually filling the room, a sudden thought made my eyes fly open.
“He didn’t come?”
On the wide bed, I was lying there all alone.
So… just like usual.
Beside me, there were only neatly placed beddings with no trace of anyone else having slept there. I frowned instinctively.
The disappointment I’d felt on the very first night crept up again, leaving me feeling awkward.
At first, my lips pouted without me realizing it, but soon enough, worry took over.
Was he okay?
He said he couldn’t fall asleep unless it was next to me, so he probably hadn’t gone to sleep by himself…
Could it be he had too much work?
Maybe he was so busy that he just stayed up all night.
If that were the case, what about his health?
He said his body felt heavy when he didn’t sleep… what if something was wrong?
While all sorts of thoughts ran through my head, Lily came in.
“Good morning, Your Highness!”
“Good morning, Lily. By any chance… did His Highness the Crown Prince come here last night?”
“No? Oh my, don’t tell me His Highness stood you up again?”
Her face, which had been lively and bright when she greeted me, twisted into fury in an instant.
I hurriedly tried to calm Lily down as she fumed.
Really—was she my maid or my friend?
Well, to me, Lily really was like a friend.
“He might’ve been too busy to come, that’s all. It’s not what you think.”
“Hmph, I don’t know about that. Back when Your Highness was unconscious, he came every single day.”
“……What? He came every day?”
“Yes! He even made sure the physician examined you thoroughly, with the utmost devotion.”
“The physician came too?”
“Of course. And even when the physician assured him you were only sleeping, he was still dissatisfied.”
So apparently, while I had been unconscious, Blake had kept coming to visit me.
Then why had he later barged in, complaining about my strange condition, only to fall asleep beside me?
Recalling my petty husband’s odd words, a good idea suddenly crossed my mind.
“Lily, could you prepare another simple breakfast this morning? I’ve got somewhere to go.”
“Your Highness, don’t tell me…”
Lily’s eyes narrowed.
Seeing my sheepish expression, she winked knowingly, then dashed out.
In the meantime, I washed up quickly. Lily came back with a basket of food and began humming as she dressed me up.
The look on her grinning face made me nervous, so I begged her.
“Please, keep it simple, okay? And put that back—the dress with the open back.”
“Well, I suppose it’d be a bit much for the morning. A pity, but let’s save the alluring look for night. Ah, what about this one?”
What Lily pulled out was a dress of calm green tones.
With emerald, pearls, and graceful patterns blended tastefully, it gave off a refined aura without being too somber. I nodded in agreement.
Once the dress was chosen, the rest of the dressing went quickly.
With my hair braided up at both sides, I wore nothing more than a small pearl necklace. Then, holding the basket Lily had prepared, I carefully stepped outside.
My destination was… my husband’s office.
‘Did I overdress…?’
Since I rarely engaged in social activities, it felt awkward to dress up with care for the first time in a while.
Was this all right?
It made me hesitate, but I’d made up my mind—I had to go through with it.
On the way to my husband’s office, which I had never once visited before, I awkwardly fiddled with my hair the whole time.
I kept looking around nervously, wondering if I was even going the right way.
Since it was still early morning, the palace was quiet—hardly any courtiers, aides, or nobles were around.
Finally, I arrived at the door to his office and took a small breath.
There was no sound from beyond the door, so I stood hesitating for a while before knocking softly.
“Come in.”
The answer came sooner than expected—my husband’s voice.
So he really hadn’t gone to sleep and was working instead.
I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
The spacious office had documents piled up everywhere, and beside the large desk was a long sofa.
Blake was lying on that sofa, apparently resting.
Because of his tall, broad-shouldered frame and long limbs, his legs stuck out beyond the sofa.
Since he’d told me to come in, he didn’t seem to be sleeping…
Was he just cooling his head?
With his forearm draped across his forehead and his eyes closed, he probably thought the person knocking had been one of his aides.
“……”
Looking at him like that, I didn’t know what to say and just stood there hesitating.
After a long silence, Blake finally opened his eyes.
When he turned his head toward me, his expression changed—from weary annoyance to surprise.
“Um… is it all right if I come in, Your Highness?”
“……”
He stared at me blankly without answering.
The way his eyes narrowed slightly, it almost seemed like he was trying to judge whether I was an impostor. It was absurd. But then, suddenly, he shot up.
“Ariel?”
He even called me by name.
When had he ever done that? Normally, he insisted on calling me “Master” or some other strange title.
And yet, hearing my name on his lips made my ears burn hot.
Blake’s gaze shifted to the basket I was holding, and the corners of his lips curved faintly upward.
His tired, sensitive complexion looked noticeably brighter, as if his mood had lifted in an instant.
“You came to check whether I showed up last night?”
“Yes.”
At his teasing smile, I nodded obediently.
Because right now, I was his guardian!
I came to make sure he was all right after failing to show up last night.
That was why I nodded—but Blake, embarrassed by my honest reply to his own question, turned his head and cleared his throat awkwardly.
His complexion seemed slightly healthier than yesterday, too.
Yesterday, he’d looked pale as a sheet.
I took a couple of steps closer to see more clearly, but Blake raised a hand as if to block me, looking troubled.
“Don’t come closer.”
“Why…?”
“If you’re next to me, I start to feel sleepy again. I can’t—since I have to go out later.”
He was going out?
Of course, being Crown Prince wasn’t all about sitting in his office doing paperwork.
But officially, he’d only recently been “revived” from death.
Should he really be overworking himself, without even sleeping?
I hesitated, then sat down on a nearby chair and set the basket on the desk.
As I did, my eyes accidentally fell on the document sitting at the top of a stack.
[On the Imperial Reallocation of the Orion Territory]
I quickly averted my gaze as if I hadn’t seen it.
That document…
It was something I remembered from the original novel. What was it about again…?
It was one of the key turning points.
I’d have to review my notes on the novel when I got back.
Thinking that, I turned to Blake.
“By the way, you haven’t slept, have you? You told me before that your body feels heavy when you don’t sleep… are you really okay?”
“…So you really did come just to check on my condition.”
Blake looked baffled.
I didn’t know what he thought of me, but I just shook my head and began unpacking the basket.
I pulled out a sandwich of lightly grilled ham, eggs, and fresh lettuce.
Even if he claimed he couldn’t taste anything, that didn’t mean he didn’t need food.
Hesitating a little, I handed the sandwich to him. He looked at me strangely, then at the sandwich, before taking it.
“Be honest—did you even eat dinner properly last night?”
In the original novel, Blake often skipped meals when he was stressed, preferring quick, simple food like sandwiches to elaborate banquets.
His rival, Prince Alec—the Empress’s son—used to sneer at him for having “lowborn tastes,” but honestly…
Blake just reminded me of an overworked modern man, and I could relate.
“You’re being almost too kind. Makes me wonder if I did something wrong.”
“It’s not that. Just try it—I have a theory.”
“……”
He stared at me blankly for a moment, but under my urging, he finally took a bite.
Seeing his usually cold face look so bewildered while he chewed was unexpectedly… cute.
But soon his eyes widened in surprise.
“I can taste it.”
“Knew it! I thought so—it’s because I gave it to you. My touch was on it.”
I clapped my hands, grinning proudly.
If I could be the only one to restore Blake’s senses—
If food I touched could bring back his taste, even a little—
Then my idea had worked, and I couldn’t help but smile brightly.
But Blake, instead of eating more, just kept staring at my smiling face.
Was the sandwich not actually tasty, even if he could taste it?
I tilted my head, puzzled.
Then suddenly, from outside, came a loud commotion—like furniture being kicked or thrown.
Startled, I turned my head just as the office door burst open without so much as a knock.
And in walked, most regrettably…
“Hah, what a sight. Watching filthy commoners clinging together first thing in the morning.”
Golden hair that shone, blue eyes like Blake’s.
His flashy attire screamed noble royalty.
But his face, twisted in anger, was more suited to some back-alley thug.
Alec Hal Escani.
The man who constantly picked fights with Blake over the throne—his half-brother, son of the Empress.
