Somewhere, a breeze blew, causing Cynthia’s silver hair to sway like sea foam.
The Princess and the war hero’s kiss was beautiful, like a painting. Those who had initially watched with mere amusement were now deeply impressed by the youthful couple.
“What are you doing, being so tactless? You’ve only upset the Grand Ducal Princess for no reason.”
Another nobleman rebuked the one who had suggested the kiss.
These were the ones who had berated Cynthia in Medeian, the sons of vassals of the Grand Ducal family.
“No, it’s obvious Brigadier General Vicente doesn’t like it…”
“What are you seeing? Are you blind? You’re really showing you’ve never been in love.”
Masera’s face was usually expressionless, but the look in his eyes as he gazed down at Cynthia suggested otherwise.
Another nobleman spoke, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Honestly, the Brigadier General is handsome, but you can’t help but like that Princess… She’s lovely, and as harmless as a flower blooming by the roadside. I felt a little guilty for earlier.”
There was something about Cynthia that drew people in.
Meanwhile, Grand Ducal Princess Charlotte, sitting with the royals at a distance and watching the two, set down her glass with an indifferent expression.
The last of the royals, who had been hiding in the north after the fall of the royal family.
After appearing in society, she must have been followed by much contempt and criticism.
But for the protagonist of such a miserable story, Cynthia was too bright and untroubled.
‘It’s strange. Unless she’s incredibly skilled at social maneuvering…’
Just then, someone spoke to her as she was lost in thought.
“Charlotte, I heard you’ve had some good news recently. You’re soon to be Queen.”
At her relative’s question, she forced a smile and shook her head.
“Well, it’s just something my mother mentioned, so it’s not certain.”
“For you, a member of a minor branch of the royal family with a low succession rank, this is the only chance to rise to the highest position.”
“For the sake of your brother, the heir to the Grand Duchy, you must become Queen.”
Grand Ducal Princess Charlotte clenched her fist, recalling her mother, the Grand Duchess’s words.
With her extraordinary ambition, she did not want to become someone else’s possession.
“The Grand Ducal Princess has excellent information gathering and analytical skills. You are talented enough to play a big role in the intelligence agency.”
All Medeian royals had a duty to defend the nation, and accordingly, Grand Princess Charlotte had joined the military and worked as an intelligence officer.
It was then that she met Masera, who was a colonel at the time, and for the first time, her inherent abilities were recognized.
Since that day, Grand Princess Charlotte had a dream of her own, not a predetermined fate.
‘I don’t need the best husband, but a helper who recognizes me in an equal position.’
* * *
The passing breeze carried the beautiful melody of the performance.
‘That man, he really did it. He gave me an adult kiss.’
The sudden kiss made my legs weak, and I stumbled slightly before regaining my balance.
If Masera hadn’t supported me with his arm, I would have become a sunfish who fainted from just a kiss.
“I, I…”
“Why?”
Masera asked shamelessly, running his finger over his lips.
Why does he look so sensual? Is it because of the uniform? And are that man’s ears red because he’s cold, or because he’s embarrassed by the public kiss?
My cheeks are also burning, so I must look like a strawberry right now.
‘I can’t look him in the face.’
I lowered my head and sat back down, sipping lukewarm black tea.
I could feel Masera’s gaze as he sat across from me, propping his chin on his hand.
I was deliberately avoiding his gaze when it happened.
The Queen’s personal maid approached and spoke to me.
“Princess Cynthia, the Queen invites you to the cream tea party.”
“Cream tea party?”
“A cream tea party is held between afternoon tea and dinner. It’s like an appetizer.”
I had black tea after breakfast at the morning tea party, and I’m drinking black tea now, and I’m going to drink it again later?
Like Korea, where people drink iced Americanos even in the middle of winter, this country must be crazy about black tea.
After the maid told me the place and time and left, I glanced at Masera.
“I think I have to go to the cream tea party between afternoon tea and dinner.”
“I heard everything.”
“Then I guess I should go and prepare to meet the Queen.”
Then I got up from my seat and ran away faster than the speed of light.
‘My heart, don’t act up!’
I rubbed my lips frantically as I ran away.
My first kiss ever caused an uproar inside me. It was somehow embarrassing to show my pounding heart and flushed face.
* * *
Left alone, Masera stared at Cynthia’s retreating figure as she scurried away.
“Ha.”
I showed my affection in front of everyone as she wanted, but is she that displeased?
Suddenly, his fiercely furrowed brow slowly smoothed out.
“I think I’ve found a good method.”
Wasn’t the chatterbox, who never stopped talking, silent for a full five minutes? He smiled wickedly, like a strategist who had found the formula for victory.
On the other hand, he was very pleased with her red cheeks and flustered face, and he wanted to see it again.
Several nobles approached him and spoke to him, but he was too busy reminiscing about the earlier scene to answer.
* * *
As time passed, the tea party time approached.
The tea party was attended by high-ranking people and royals invited by the Queen, as well as Grand Princess Charlotte.
‘That clumsy woman’s bound to make a mistake with Her Majesty…’
Grand Princess Charlotte looked back and forth between Cynthia, who was smiling brightly, and the Queen, who was wearing a gentle smile.
The Queen seemed understanding at first glance, but if you offended her, you would pay a hefty price.
Her true self was an iron-blooded monarch who could turn a country into a sea of fire with a single gesture.
“Princess Cynthia feels familiar, perhaps because she is about the same age as my daughter. The Bariesa Dynasty is also a distant relative of mine. We had royal intermarriages a long time ago.”
“That’s right. According to the genealogy, the descendants of the great empire from two thousand years ago scattered and founded various countries, and according to the family tree, the Queen and I are related to each other…”
Most royal families are connected by blood.
As Cynthia was talking to the Queen about the vaguely remaining blood ties, a count spoke to her.
“I’ve heard stories about the Princess’s good fortune. And you can read people’s minds, which is very interesting. It would be nice to see that ability with my own eyes.”
It was a way of saying that Cynthia, like the Bariesa Dynasty in the past, was deceiving people with absurd stories.
“It was just a coincidence… and was greatly exaggerated.”
Unexpectedly, Cynthia denied her ability. Then she added with an innocent smile.
“There’s no way that could be true, right? Everyone must have a pure heart. Is it because of the Snow Queen myth? Count, do you like legends or superstitions?
“Ah, no… I…”
“If we meet next time, I’ll give you a feng shui item that brings money. I bought a few at the souvenir shop. They say if you put it on the front door, you’ll get lucky with money? Hahaha.”
At Cynthia’s laughter, the count blinked in embarrassment.
He could sense a sarcastic intention in her words, ‘You believe in such superstitions, are you naive?’, but he couldn’t get angry because of her innocent face.
“Ahahahaha.”
At that moment, the Queen, who had been watching quietly, covered her mouth and began to laugh.
Everyone in the room followed suit. Even those who did not understand Rutemian.
“By the way, how is your son’s health? I heard he hurt his leg.”
Then, suddenly, at Cynthia’s question, the laughter around her stopped.
Clang-
It was because the count’s face, who had dropped his teaspoon, turned pale.
“How did you know that…?”
The fact that his son had recently broken his leg in a fall from a horse was something he had not told anyone. Horse riding was a basic accomplishment, so if it became known, he would only be ridiculed.
“Was it a secret? I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
Cynthia looked apologetic.
However, the count could not hide the thought that those red eyes were piercing through his inner self.
“Really, you can read people’s minds…”
“I told you, I can’t.”
The more you deny it, the more it seems like you’re hiding the truth.
The count could no longer meet Cynthia’s eyes and turned his head away.
‘That Princess, there really is something about her. It’s not for nothing that such rumors are circulating!’
Seeing the terrified count, Cynthia nonchalantly picked up a scone and ate it.
‘I just happened to overhear the servant talking about it on the way here.’
He seemed to believe in superstitions, so I was just going to give him a cat ornament for a speedy recovery that I bought at the souvenir shop.
Oh dear. Look out, Cynthia. Masera has an excuse to give himself permission to do such things in the future. XD