Episode 195
“Y-Your Highness?”
Elonia grabbed Young Master Luneus’s wrist as he was about to leave the banquet hall.
Her sudden action drew everyone’s attention.
Elonia, seemingly oblivious to the consequences, dragged Lucius back inside, then towards the terrace.
Lucius, flustered, tried to leave as soon as they reached the terrace, but Elonia pulled him back.
He looked at her, his face flushed, and called out her name.
“Your Highness!”
“I’m not a princess anymore, Lucius.”
“Ah.”
Lucius, startled, covered his mouth with his hand, then stammered another excuse, trying to leave.
“If I’m seen here with Your Highness, it will damage your reputation—”
“Lucius.”
Elonia cornered him against the railing, blocking his escape route. Lucius, unable to push her away, pleaded with her, his eyes filled with tears.
“Your Highness, please.”
But Elonia wouldn’t let him go.
She had something to say, something she hadn’t been able to say before.
“I like you, Lucius.”
“…What?”
Lucius stared at her, stunned, and Elonia, looking up at him, repeated her confession, her voice clear and steady.
“I like you, Lucius. And I’m sorry for hurting you with my thoughtless words before.”
“Your Highness…”
“I was embarrassed, so I said stupid things. I was afraid you would be offended, since I’ve known you since you were a baby.”
“…”
Lucius’s struggles ceased, his expression softening. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and hope.
“You like me?”
His voice trembled slightly.
Elonia replied instantly,
“Yes, I like you, Lucius. I want to marry you.”
Lucius’s gaze fell upon her hand, the small hand that was still gripping his wrist, trembling slightly.
Elonia, misinterpreting his gaze, quickly apologized.
“Sorry, I startled you.”
She was about to release him when,
“…Lucius?”
His hand tightened around hers.
He blushed furiously, then gently took her other hand in his, holding both her hands in his.
His touch, so gentle, so respectful, so reverent, made Elonia blush.
Just as she felt a surge of hope,
Lucius, pressing her hands against his forehead, murmured,
“…No.”
“What?”
Elonia’s heart sank. Was he rejecting her?
“Why? Why not?”
Was it because of her clumsy first proposal?
Seriously?
She was speechless, but she pressed on, pushing him against the railing, standing on her tiptoes to meet his gaze.
“Why not? Because of my terrible proposal?”
“W-well…”
“Tell me!”
Now it was Elonia’s turn to be on the verge of tears.
Lucius, seeing her expression, his own face turning red, as if he was about to burst into tears, tried to cover his face with his hand. But Elonia, her grip tightening, wouldn’t let go. He turned his head away, burying his face in her shoulder, and mumbled,
“…I want to date first.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to get married right away. I’m also concerned about the age difference, and I don’t want to rush things. Let’s start by dating.”
“…Ha.”
Elonia let out a sigh of relief.
So that was why he had rejected her.
She was relieved, and also amused.
‘He wants to date first.’
How cute.
She grinned at him.
“Lucius, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“You’ve been lurking around the palace lately. Why?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Lucius averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing. But the one who loved more always lost, and he confessed,
“…I was summoned by Their Majesties. They seem to have noticed our feelings and wanted to assess me.”
“Oh?”
Really? Elonia was surprised, and Lucius, as if he couldn’t stop himself, continued,
“I didn’t tell them about your proposal. I just reassured them that I wouldn’t act on my feelings for now.”
…Ah. So that was it.
Elonia finally understood why Artius, Philemon, and Sarah had been smiling so knowingly.
There was nothing more amusing than watching someone’s romantic struggles, especially when it was your own daughter.
‘Although Lucius’s reaction is cuter right now.’
Lucius’s face was as red as a ripe apple, his cheeks so hot that Elonia’s hand, still holding his, felt almost burned.
Elonia chuckled.
“So, do you like me? I haven’t heard it from you yet.”
Her lavender eyes twinkled mischievously, while his passionate red eyes shone with a soft light.
Lucius, after a moment of shy hesitation, nodded firmly.
“…I do. More than anyone.”
“Can you promise to love only me, forever?”
“I promise. You’re the only one I’ll ever love, Your Highness Elonia.”
This time, his answer was immediate. Elonia chuckled happily.
She smiled, then, with her free hand, gently turned his face towards hers.
“W-wait, I’m not ready to face Your Highness yet…”
A quick peck.
Elonia didn’t wait for him to finish. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
She touched her forehead to his, his mind blanked by the unexpected kiss, and whispered,
“Alright. Let’s start dating. Starting today.”
“…!”
Lucius’s face turned even redder. Elonia grinned and gently bumped her nose against his.
Her own lips tingled. Kissing his cheek had felt nice. What about his lips?
His lips were so red, so full, so inviting. It would definitely feel nice.
She lifted her head, about to kiss him, when,
“No!”
A hand, soft and warm, covered her mouth. She glared at Lucius, who had quickly turned his head away, his face burning.
“B-but starting a relationship right now… it’s a bit much.”
“What?! We already kissed!”
“Someone might misunderstand! What do you mean, ‘we already kissed’?!”
“We kissed!”
Was he mocking her?
Elonia frowned, and Lucius, flustered, quickly explained,
“Even though you’ve lived two lives, Your Highness, there’s still a significant age gap between us! It’s not appropriate for me, an adult, to date someone who isn’t even of age yet…!”
Elonia was speechless.
“If you’re concerned about that, you should be the one who’s offended! I’ve seen you as a baby!”
“Th-that’s…”
Now Lucius was speechless. He had always considered it a blessing to be connected to Elonia.
He couldn’t explain his arbitrary moral standards. He chose to flee.
“Hey, where are you going?!”
“…Please confess your feelings again after you come of age!”
“No! Tell me you’ll date me now!”
“Please respect my dignity!”
Lucius ran out of the terrace, and Elonia chased after him.
This time, she won. She caught him and snapped her fingers.
Lucius, in the blink of an eye, found himself lying on a soft bed.
“Your Highness!”
“What?”
“…!”
A brief silence, followed by a soft, wet sound.
A muffled protest, quickly swallowed, followed by a burst of laughter that filled the Crown Princess’s Palace.
<Main Story End>