Chapter 3.2

I instinctively patted my clothes, searching for my phone, but all I felt was the frilly, pocketless fabric of my dress. Only then did I remember that phones didn’t exist here. Even though my favorite character was standing right in front of me, the fact that I couldn’t take a single photo of him was truly devastating.

Eyes brimming with unshed tears, I tried to burn the image into my memory instead. But just then, Axel turned his head in my direction, and our eyes met. I had been spying on him from behind a bush, and instinctively, I whipped my head away.

…I must’ve looked suspicious to anyone watching.

My plan had been to casually approach him once the crowd cleared, pretending it was all just a happy coincidence, but I had already been caught red-handed from the start.

‘W-What do I do? Wait, now that I think about it, I look like a total stalker…! Ugh, this wasn’t the plan. Should I just run away?’

My vision of a ‘fateful, perfectly orchestrated encounter’ was crumbling!

While my brain scrambled in full-blown panic, I saw Axel start walking toward me. His brow was furrowed in suspicion.

I stood there, frozen, completely forgetting my escape plan. I just watched him approach with wide eyes. My heart thudded wildly, and before I knew it, I had my hands clasped over my mouth.

It felt like he had a literal halo glowing behind him.

“What… are you doing, hiding here like this?”

“Oh god…”

Even his irritated voice was unfairly perfect. If I could, I would record it and listen to it all day long.

Axel looked at me like I was something that shouldn’t exist, then muttered to himself.

“I thought you were supposed to be chasing the Crown Prince.”

“…Huh? Me?”

My eyes widened at the sudden mention of the Crown Prince, and I did my best to feign total ignorance.

“I assumed you knew he was on vacation. You didn’t?”

Of course, I didn’t because I didn’t care about the Crown Prince at all. The only one who mattered to me was the Grand Duke, standing right there in front of me. I had told him once before that I liked him, but… it seemed that hadn’t gotten through to him at all.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame him for not believing me. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t buy it either. Still, being misunderstood by my favorite character, and for liking someone else, no less? That, I absolutely couldn’t tolerate.

This false accusation had to be cleared up, no matter what.

Axel, true to his role as commander of the knights, continued speaking with an air of interrogation.

“Then what brings you to the imperial palace, Lady? Especially in such a suspicious manner?”

“…The truth is, I came here to see you, Your Highness.”

“…Me?”

His brow twitched, clearly displeased with my answer. I held his gaze and responded firmly.

“I told you back then, didn’t I? That I like you.”

“You’re still… saying that? I’m pretty sure I told you last time that I wouldn’t let it slide if you brought this up again. It seems you’ve already forgotten.”

Axel’s expression sharpened instantly.

“If you tell the truth now, I’ll let it go. What are you really thinking? Did the Duke put you up to this and tell you to say those things to me?”

“There’s no way he did! This isn’t some trick; it’s how I really feel!”

The way he stared at me with those dark eyes… it didn’t look like he believed me at all. If anything, it seemed like he was watching just to see how long I would keep up the act. The frustration felt like a weight on my chest.

Biting my lip, I knew I had one last card to play.

I dropped my gaze and put on my best heartbroken expression.

“The truth is… it was about two weeks ago. I got really sick. Bedridden. I was so weak, I thought I might actually die. And in that moment, I realized something.”

“…What did you realize?”

“That the one I truly had feelings for… wasn’t the Crown Prince. It was you, Your Highness! But I realized it too late!”

As my tearful performance wrapped up, Axel stood with his arms crossed, staring down at me. He quietly said my name.

A cold silence settled in the air.