“So, who is this person you’re interested in?”
– That was the question Robert had thrown out as soon as he saw me, making unnecessary movements to keep the conversation going. However, at some point, that question had neatly vanished. Miragen’s gaze on Robert was hard to break away from.
“….Ultimately, I realized that Teresa had other intentions behind my back.”
“I can’t understand. What on earth—”
Could someone really harbor other feelings towards this person? Even though we’d only met briefly, it had been enough time to grasp his character and integrity. Robert Taylor was clearly different from the rumors; he was a much better person and not nearly as delicate as I had heard. If he were that weak, he would have crumbled when he realized that Teresa had betrayed him.
But he had overcome it, and now he was living completely open about it… Miragen herself had become so enchanted by Robert’s words that she didn’t even notice. She could not entertain the thought that this was wrong; she merely felt pity. To think that the person she believed loved her was actually one-sided love.
Being able to talk about such things so calmly must be a skill. Already having elevated her opinion of Robert in her mind, Miragen looked at him with a sense of pity and parted her lips.
“Forget about that person. If you keep thinking about it, it’ll only be painful for you.”
“I’m trying. Still, talking about it like this helps a little.”
As Miragen naturally patted his shoulder, Robert had to suppress a laugh. He never thought he’d find her personality this easygoing. He hadn’t imagined that just a few exchanged words could change her attitude so much. He understood, though. Given how confined she had been in the palace, she probably found him quite refreshing as someone sharing stories from outside.
However, there was not even a hint of distrust like before, which made him wonder if this might not be an act after all. But Miragen’s eyes showed none of that suspicion. Flickering emotions swirled in her eyes, possibly hinting at genuine anger.
He was grateful she was angry, but it felt like her emotions might even be more intense than his. Robert smiled softly, slowly rising from his seat and reaching out his hand to Miragen. They had come to a distant garden away from the hustle and bustle of the ballroom. Not a maze-like garden, but one meticulously tended by the princess.
At his gesture to cool off, Miragen seemed to agree, gladly taking his hand and standing up to walk together. Even after their hands had parted for a moment, the warmth from that brief contact didn’t easily fade away. Robert didn’t mind, but Miragen was still swallowing hard, feeling that warmth. Perhaps it was because she had been so immersed in their earlier conversation.
Wasn’t it a bit too profound for a tale from a stranger?
The fact that I hadn’t heard much about stories outside the Imperial Family added to it.
There was also the similarity in Robert’s situation to mine.
The firstborn of Taylor, yet with nothing to his name. No matter what he does in the future, he can’t claim anything as his own.
Even with the names of the Imperial Family and Taylor attached, I realized they were repeating a vicious cycle rather than bringing about any good for individuals.
Perhaps they were shackles. If Robert and I didn’t have the names of the Imperial Family or Taylor, we might have lived a bit better life.
Though I had never been betrayed by someone I loved, I could empathize with Robert for that reason.
We were in similar situations, so it wouldn’t be strange if I experienced something like that myself, making my heart ache more for him.
While Robert spoke calmly in his own way,
Miragen caught on that the heart of the speaker was quite painful.
She wasn’t the type to be oblivious since childhood. If she had been any less perceptive, she might not have survived until now.
What thoughts she was recalling, and what the woman named Teresa meant to Robert Taylor… those were quite easy guesses.
“It’s a bit cool, isn’t it? And it’s still summer.”
But she didn’t voice it. Robert’s reason for wanting to stand up wasn’t ordinary,
He probably didn’t want to talk extensively about the woman named Teresa.
Even when she brought up the wind that didn’t blow, Robert didn’t respond.
The atmosphere while they walked side by side was awkward enough that Miragen eventually sighed and poked Robert’s shoulder.
“Are you not going to say anything? You were the one who called me to talk.”
“…That’s true. I did have something to say.”
Looking at Miragen, who frowned in confusion, Robert chuckled to himself at a thought that popped into his head.
He approached her with the intention of using her, but that story seemed too precious to treat her as a mere tool.
The fact that he didn’t laugh after hearing Teresa’s tale, and the shared sense of kinship due to similar circumstances, applied to him as well.
“I heard there’s someone you’re interested in. Can we talk about that a bit?”
“Have you still not noticed?”
Even though she locked eyes with the turned face of Robert, Miragen didn’t catch his meaning.
She couldn’t believe he hadn’t realized it yet. Didn’t their previous conversation imply there was talk about someone he liked?
However, all Miragen had heard from Robert was about Teresa.
Unless he were a fool, it wouldn’t mean he had developed feelings for a woman like Teresa again.
It didn’t take long for Miragen’s narrowing eyes to reflect her thoughts.
As her vague thoughts gradually organized, she hastily turned to look at Robert, her lips parting slightly.
Saw it.
“Could it be—”
“I think that ‘could it be’ is probably right.”
Since the person she was initially interested in was the princess, Miragen’s face began to turn bright red as she realized this.
She never imagined she would receive such attention.
Of course, it was Robert who was the first to say such words to her in her life.
#
“Step back a little. Just a bit more, yes. Stay right there.”
“If we do this, it’ll be hard to hear each other’s voices.”
She knew that, but despite keeping a distance from Robert, Miragen didn’t feel at ease. She never even dreamed that he approached her with such intentions.
After all, people usually try to gain something else or are looking to build connections with her older brother, Kaitel.
If Robert had other motives, she figured they would fall into that category.
Yet for him to actually be interested in her, Robert, who raised both hands with doubt-filled eyes, sighed, but that wouldn’t change the situation.
“…Are you serious about what you just said?”
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
“You’re asking about the ‘interest’ comment. If you had said from the beginning that it was me, I wouldn’t have come this far. What on earth are you thinking?”
“I just wanted to talk a bit more. I only thought moving to a different spot would create a better atmosphere.”
Since it was certain that he meant to draw her in, it was true he approached with that purpose. However, the method changed slightly because of Miragen’s attitude.
Rather than simply using it as a way to navigate a more complicated situation, there was a need to get a bit closer.
Although it was still an ulterior motive, there was no pretense in the natural smile he gave Miragen.
She was a woman with whom he could get closer. If possible, rather than using her, he aimed for a better relationship. Who knows, they might even become lovers and support each other much more.
He didn’t particularly mind reaching such a relationship.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say he hoped for it.
Feeling her cheeks flush under his steady gaze, Miragen eventually looked away first and gently bit her lips.
“I really don’t know where your interest came from. We just met today, didn’t we?”
“It’s the first time we’ve met, but you can see from a distance, can’t you?”
That meant he had been watching her since a time Miragen didn’t even know of. Struggling to erase the rising heat once more, she quietly rubbed her cheeks.
She had never seen someone openly expressing affection like this.
Unsure of how to deal with it, or what to say to respond properly, she simply glanced at Robert while touching her forehead.
“…That sounds like you’ve been watching me for a long time.”
“That would be right. It’s been… well, about 10 years, I suppose?”
“Hey. Has it been about 10 years, I guess?”
“How old are you?”
“I’m 20.”
Of course, for Robert, who had gone through reincarnation, it was just mentioning the time he had experienced, but to Miragen, it sounded like he had been watching her since her childhood.
Even though they couldn’t see each other, there was a sense of kinship born from growing up in similar circumstances. Didn’t it mean that Robert’s gaze had unknowingly been upon her?
The gap between reality and imagination was severe, but miraculously misunderstanding it, Miragen looked at Robert with a strange gaze.
“Okay, I can accept that you’ve been watching me, but I have no idea why you became interested.”
When she thought about it, aside from their similar situations, they had no real connection. They were basically strangers.
It was just an illusion of her own that he had been watching her since childhood, and now he approached her for some reason that she couldn’t quite grasp.
Maybe he was just making excuses? How could he suddenly show interest and come closer in such a situation?
Curiosity made her ask if he had any reason, and Robert, with a gentle smile, opened his mouth.
“Because you’re beautiful.”
“…What did you say?”
“I said I fell in love at first sight.”
It didn’t take long for the tips of her ears to turn red.
Miragen wasn’t a fool; she understood quite well what that meant.
She just needed some time to comprehend it.
They had just met today, she had just learned his voice today, and he just confessed to her for the first time. How was she supposed to accept that the man she just locked eyes with had fallen for her?
And whether what this man was casually saying was really true…
While she couldn’t be sure of anything, at least one thing was certain.
Thump, thump—
Wasn’t it that Miragen felt a flutter in her heart in this situation?
Facing a situation like this for the first time, locked in the Imperial Palace, she only knew about the outside world through books and novels.
Wasn’t it like something out of a romance novel?
A gentle breeze carried petals, and the wind of spring brushed her cheek, so maybe that’s why it felt hot.
With her cheeks turning as red as a cherry blossom, Miragen unknowingly played with her trembling lips and then firmly shut her mouth.
It was because Robert’s eyes had come so close to her.
When his cool gaze touched hers like flowing water, she felt a thrilling jolt, wondering what kind of response she should give him.
A man who seemed quite charming, someone who looked like he stepped out of a novel, was confessing to her.
What kind of feelings could a princess, oblivious to worldly matters, possibly have in response?
It must be something akin to love.
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