A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Did your conversation go well? Any results?”

The moment Leonard returned, William spoke as if he had been waiting.

Leonard tossed his gloves onto the table.

“We arranged to have tea tomorrow.”

“She really fell for your looks? The princess must be blind.”

Eric, who had been sharpening a dagger nearby, looked up in disbelief. Leonard ignored him.

William continued,

“Your Highness, do you think the princess already knows we crossed the Resher Desert?”

“It didn’t seem like it. Taking the initiative was the right call. Or… she’s pretending not to know.”

Leonard dropped onto the sofa, resting his clasped hands behind his head.

“She’s the one who tracked down and eliminated Nox Glaston—the King of Darkness. We can’t underestimate her.”

“How did she uncover something like that?”

“She’s the royal relic manager. There may be relics in her possession we don’t know about.”

Leonard pulled a folded paper from his coat.

Like the parchment he had shown before, it was covered in unreadable characters.

“She has no divine power, yet she’s resolved multiple incidents on her own. That makes her both the most dangerous—and the most valuable—person to us.”

His low voice carried weight, his expression serious.

But then—

A short laugh slipped out.

“Your Highness?”

“…Nothing.”

Even Leonard seemed slightly surprised at himself.

He stood abruptly and retreated to his room under the pretense of changing.

Yet the image replayed vividly in his mind—

The princess leaping to her feet in panic.

“I cannot accept your proposal…!”

Was she narcissistic? Or simply exhausted from too many proposals? Or both?

She was beautiful.

He had heard the Saintess Aurora was dazzling—but Princess Charlotte was no less so.

Her soft pink hair looked as light as clouds, and her bright green eyes sparkled every time they moved.

As for her personality…

Unusual. That much was certain.

After all, she had looked ready to punch him just because he laughed.

Even if she didn’t realize it, Leonard had clearly seen the fist clenched inside her sleeve.

“Brother, Princess Charlotte is famous not just for her beauty, but for her strange personality. She’s probably as frightening as the women of Blake.”

His younger sibling’s words echoed in his mind.

Who in their right mind considers punching a foreign prince?

Most would slap him for rudeness—or call for guards.

“…She doesn’t seem like someone attending her birthday banquet to find a husband.”

If anything, she seemed better suited to standing at the edge of the world, looking outward—not confined within a noble estate.

Leonard shook his head.

“What am I even thinking? Did William’s nonsense about proposals get to me?”

He finished changing and sat at his desk, turning to the documents he had left unfinished.

A few hours later, Aurora came to my palace.

Without warning, she rushed toward me and spoke in a single breath:

“Charlotte. Don’t get close to Prince Leonard. If possible, don’t even speak to him before he leaves.”

“Why?”

I blinked, startled—especially since I’d just had a perfectly pleasant conversation with him and even agreed to meet for tea tomorrow.

“I heard from the Owls. He crossed the Resher Desert with his personal guard. There has to be a reason.”

“I heard that too—but from him directly.”

Aurora’s eyes widened, so I explained everything.

“Aurora, I don’t think Prince Leonard is someone we need to fear. He even gave me a gift.”

I took it out and showed her.

“It’s called the Tear of Deligno. A mana stone used for crafting powerful magical items.”

Since Singcester relied more on divine relics than magic, Aurora wasn’t very familiar with mana stones.

“…Let me check it, just in case.”

She placed her hand over the stone.

A golden butterfly appeared on the back of her hand, and threads of light flowed into the gem.

Her divine power.

“Your power is always beautiful.”

“Huh? Oh…”

Perhaps feeling a little guilty for using it in front of me, she quickly withdrew her hand.

But I didn’t mind.

I’d lived without divine power for nine years. Honestly, having power just meant getting dragged into trouble.

“So? No hidden spells?”

“No… which makes it even more suspicious. Maybe he told you about it in advance to cover his tracks after the Owls started investigating.”

“Aren’t you being a bit paranoid? He just crossed the desert.”

“He’s still a prince of Blake. People from that empire need to be doubted—and then doubted again.”

Aurora suddenly grabbed my hands.

“Charlotte. I know you’re planning to leave, so I understand why you’re distancing yourself from palace matters. But… I’m still sad about it.”

“Aurora…”

“You’re like a sister to me. Do you really have to go?”

“Well… not necessarily.”

“There are plenty of handsome men in Singcester. If you stay, His Majesty might even push for polygamy in the noble council.”

I felt both touched—and a little guilty.

“I want international handsome men. I need to travel the world to find them.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m joking.”

Smiling, I hugged her tightly.

“It’s just a short trip. I’ll come back. This is still my home.”

“Charlotte…”

I squeezed her hands.

“I promise.”

“…Alright. I guess I have no choice.”

Aurora sighed, then added firmly,

“But still—be careful around Prince Leonard.”

Since I had accepted his gift—and agreed to meet—I couldn’t cancel.

Not because he was handsome.

But because I had already postponed meeting him once. Rejecting him again might cause diplomatic trouble.

Even Erdan said it would be better to go.

So I prepared tea and refreshments on a terrace in the garden and waited.

However—

Leonard arrived thirty-four minutes late, making my maids visibly frown.

I was just about to complain when I noticed the knights behind him.

“Your Highness, why are royal knights accompanying you?”

Leonard looked… different from yesterday.

Less confident.

After a brief pause, he admitted,

“I… got lost and needed help.”

“…You’re serious?”

His face flushed red—

and this time, I burst out laughing.

“How do you get lost inside a palace? Isn’t Blake enormous? Ten times—no, twenty times larger than Singcester!”

“Let’s drop the subject. It’s not amusing.”

He sat stiffly, clearly annoyed—but I couldn’t stop smiling.

Despite his imposing build, the way he awkwardly sipped his tea felt almost… boyish.

Well, without navigation tools, I suppose it happens. Everyone in novels must have an internal compass.

His slightly embarrassed expression was just too funny—

and, strangely, a little cute.

I hid my smile behind my fan.

“Very well. I’ll graciously forgive your lateness.”

“…Thank you.”

Leonard replied stiffly—

and I couldn’t help but laugh again.