Chapter 151
“Well… it’s a bit uncomfortable to sleep in.”
“Lately you’ve been wearing dresses with lace collars that come all the way up to your neck, so I thought you always had it on.”
I nodded vaguely and let it pass. I was planning to retrieve the necklace using the promissory note Millian had given me, so I didn’t say that I’d lost it—I didn’t want to upset him.
As the morning sunlight streaming through the corridor windows grew brighter, I could see people going up and down the stairs in the distance. Perhaps noticing that I was still in my loose nightwear, Jereon opened the bedroom door and told me to go back inside.
“I’ll head to my office first. Take your time getting ready and come later.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I greeted him politely, as if we’d only had a formal work-related exchange, and went back into the bedroom. Nancy, who had been standing by a far window on purpose, approached as soon as I entered.
She didn’t ask why the Crown Prince had come so early in the morning, and instead guided me straight to the partition where my clothes were hung. It felt like she was deliberately pretending not to know, so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
“Since it’s entering early winter, you should dress warmly. How about this purple velvet dress?”
“I like it. Let’s go with that.”
“Shall I lace the corset this tightly? You’ll be eating, so I’ve loosened it a bit.”
“Yes, that’s perfect.”
During my stay here, Nancy had taken such good care of me that I hardly needed to say anything. Among the similar dresses she’d laid out, there was one with a square neckline that exposed the neck.
But she hadn’t recommended it—probably because she didn’t want to remind me of the necklace I’d lost and make me feel upset.
“Nancy, have a wonderful day today.”
“You too, Lady Shanael. Take care.”
After breakfast, I left the detached palace with Nancy seeing me off. While staying at Duke Memerus’s estate, I’d been putting together bits of a storyline, and I figured I could start unraveling it properly today.
After everything that had happened lately, I no longer struggled to find material for my next installment. Instead, new side worries had cropped up—like the missing necklace, or this secret relationship.
For now, I decided to look for the necklace. If I truly couldn’t find it, then I’d be honest about it later, and headed toward the office.
I usually arrived right at nine, but knowing that Jereon had come in early today, I hurried. As I approached the office, the guard on duty opened the door for me.
Bang.
Since I’d come earlier than usual, I thought Jereon would be alone inside. Instead, Berin and Hasel were there too, all three of them seated around a small conference table in discussion.
It’s not even 8:30 yet…
I walked over to the table and greeted Jereon as if this were the first time I’d seen him today.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Morning, Shanael. That dress looks lovely on you today.”
“Thank you.”
After exchanging nods with Hasel and Berin, I turned to head for my desk—but suddenly, Jereon grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
He stood up abruptly, took something out from his pocket, and opened it. Inside the round case—about the size of half his palm—was something that looked like a clear, hardened ointment. The form was different, but it resembled what Nancy sometimes applied to my lips while helping me get ready.
I was wondering why he was showing it to me when he suddenly dabbed some onto the tip of his pinky finger and immediately applied it to my lower lip.
Startled by the unexpected action, I leaned my head back. His finger, which had been moving toward my upper lip, froze midair.
Seeing my resistance, Jereon calmly explained the contents of the case, as if nothing strange had happened.
“It’s a moisturizer. It’s made by refining sperm whale oil. They say it’s good for chapped lips.”
“But why would you suddenly put that on me? You startled me.”
“Why do you think I did?”
“Well, that’s…”
There was a correct answer hidden in his words. My lips must have been rough when we kissed, so he’d gone out of his way to get something like this. But if I said that out loud, it would be practically announcing our relationship to Hasel and Berin, who were staring straight at us.
Taking a deep breath, I explained things in a way that wouldn’t give them the wrong idea.
“Yesterday, on the way back, my lips bled while I was eating bread in the carriage, so you felt bad for me and applied it, right? I should’ve taken smaller bites, but I tried to shove in a piece the size of my fist—it’s no wonder my lips split. You must’ve felt sorry for me. Haha. Your Highness is so magnanimous. Haha.”
After hearing my explanation, Hasel and Berin seemed to interpret the Crown Prince’s behavior as something like please do something about that mouth of yours, and nodded subtly while exchanging glances.
Besides, since the Crown Prince was known for doing odd things even on a normal day, everyone had grown numb to his eccentricities.
At the moment, Jereon had his back turned to them and was looking at me, so only I could see his expression. He stared at me with a baffled look, sighed as if he’d given up, and placed the round case into my palm.
“You’re quick on the uptake. Use it often—so your lips don’t bleed when you eat bread. And if they bleed again next time, I’ll be applying it for you whenever I feel like it.”
“Hahaha, yes. I’ll make sure to use it diligently.”
Returning to my seat, I pressed my lips together. They felt slightly slick, but it was obvious this worked better than what Nancy usually used—my lips became soft almost instantly.
When I touched them myself, I couldn’t feel any of the rough patches that had been there before.
Back when I worked at the newspaper, I’d used something similar made from lard, but it made my lips smell like bacon. Jek and the editor-in-chief used to ask if I’d been eating meat somewhere, which always felt unfair.
This one, though, had a floral scent mixed in—it smelled pleasant. As expected, anything that comes from a sperm whale is expensive. Even ambergris—its droppings—is costly.
He’s more attentive than I thought.
Honestly, I was a little touched. I never imagined he’d care enough to notice something as small as my lips being rough during a kiss. When someone treats you with care like that, even the smallest gestures feel deeply moving.
As I continued writing, I stole a glance at Jereon while he was in a meeting. He looked completely different from when he was with me. Even now, the gestures he used while giving instructions to Hasel and Berin carried the authority of a strict ruler.
Though young, Jereon was politically astute, quick to judge situations, and eloquent. He was also highly skilled in martial arts—having won swordsmanship tournaments—and brave enough to win every war he participated in.
As far as I knew, there wasn’t a single thing he lacked.
Isn’t he… too perfect?
This wasn’t just my rose-colored glasses talking—it was an objective assessment. Compared to him, the only thing I had going for me was my record of finishing a serialized novel completely bald-headed.
Ah… don’t get discouraged. In a relationship, who’s better doesn’t matter. What matters is how you feel about each other.
Telling myself there was no need to feel inferior, I focused back on my writing.
…That sweet honeymoon-like dream didn’t last long.
That day, just like any other, Rose began her morning gazing at the wedding ring she shared with the Crown Prince. Suddenly, the maid attending her burst into the bedroom in a panic.
—Madam! Something terrible has happened!
—What is it, Camellia?
—H- His Highness! He fell from his horse during a hunt! We’ve received word that he’s being rushed back to the imperial palace!
—W-What…?
Rose’s vision went dark, and she collapsed weakly to the floor. All she could do was pray tearfully, day after day, for the Crown Prince’s safety.
(Omitted)
Ten days passed like an arrow in flight, yet the Crown Prince never once came to see her. She’d heard through others that he’d regained consciousness on the day of the accident and was recovering well.
She understood the need for a few days of rest—but when even ten days passed without a visit, Rose grew increasingly anxious.
—If only I could see His Highness’s face…
Because the Emperor had restricted her access to the palace, Rose couldn’t visit the Crown Prince officially. Left with no choice, she disguised herself as a palace maid and hid inside a supply carriage to sneak in.
After many twists and turns, she reached the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, but the guards posted at the door made it impossible to enter. So she hid in a corner of the hallway and slipped inside among the maids who entered to clean the room.
Pretending to tidy up, Rose glanced at the bed. Thankfully, the Crown Prince appeared fully recovered—he was sitting upright, reading a book. There were no visible injuries.
Relieved, she pretended to clean the adjoining room and hid inside the wardrobe. After some time, the surroundings fell quiet—apparently everyone had left. Taking the chance, Rose stepped out, removed the hat covering her head, and revealed her face.
—Your Highness. You’re safe! I was so worried!
Overcome with emotion, Rose burst into tears and threw herself onto the bed where the Crown Prince lay. But the man who usually comforted her so gently was staring at her coldly today.
—Who are you? How dare you sneak into my chamber!
—Your Highness, it’s me—Rose. Your little doe.
—What nonsense are you spouting? I don’t know any “little doe”!
—H-How could you forget me…?
—Guards!
At the Crown Prince’s shout, the bedroom door burst open and guards rushed in. Trembling like a leaf, Rose looked between the shouting Crown Prince and the guards threatening her with spears.
—Throw this woman out at once!
—Yes, Your Highness.
Rose looked at him with a face full of despair, but when she met the Crown Prince’s gaze—filled only with contempt—she finally broke. She offered no resistance as the guards dragged her away.
Cast out beyond the city walls, Rose collapsed onto the ground, forced to face her tragic reality. Due to the fall, the Crown Prince had lost all memory of her.
—To be continued in the next chapter—
※ All characters, locations, and events in this work are purely fictional and bear no relation to real people, places, or organizations.
Just as I finished writing, the sound of the bell tower rang out beyond the window.
Dong— dong—
It was noon.
I stood up, planning to return to the detached palace to eat lunch with Nancy, when Jereon looked at me.
“Shanael, wait a bit. Have lunch with me.”
“Ah, yes.”
I sat back down and waited for him to finish his work. But even past lunchtime, it didn’t seem like they’d be done anytime soon. Eventually, they closed the documents they’d been reviewing and stood up.
“We’ll go over the rest later. I need to step out briefly this afternoon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
When Jereon rose, Hasel hurriedly gathered his things and followed behind him. Thinking we were all eating together, I stood up as well—but as Jereon moved to escort me, he glanced sharply at Hasel standing behind him and frowned slightly.
“Why are you following us?”
