[Chapter 4] The Boy in the Imperial Palace’s Indoor Garden

“…Nyx.”

“……?”

“My daughter, it’s time to wake up now.”

At some point, I had fallen asleep. The carriage had stopped, and I could hear the noisy chatter outside.

‘Gasp! Did I drool? Dad’s wearing his uniform…’

I quickly touched the area around my mouth with my hand. Luckily, it was clean.

“We’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace.”

Dad adjusted my clothes and then opened the carriage door. In front of the palace gates, nobles and attendants stood in neat rows, welcoming the guests.

“Marquis Elach and Lady Elach, welcome.”

A waiting attendant greeted us at the entrance.

I accepted the attendant’s escort and stepped down from the carriage.

“Thank you for welcoming us. Please, lead the way.”

“Yes, this way, please.”

Before long, we passed through the lavishly gilded main gates.

After walking for about seven minutes, the main palace came into view.

With its marble arches, golden embellishments, and intricate sculptures, it was the pinnacle of grandeur.

Soon, the palace doorman opened the doors, and we stepped into the imperial palace lobby, proceeding down an extended corridor.

“This is the guest room.”

After some time, the attendant leading us stopped and gestured toward a room.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re too kind. Please rest comfortably until the main assembly begins.”

With that, the attendant finished his duty and disappeared.

“My daughter, I need to meet with the other nobles. Stay here and keep yourself entertained.”

Yes! This was music to my ears.

“Yes, Dad.”

Dad gently patted my head and then left the room.

‘Perfect!’

The moment I confirmed he was gone, I slipped out of the room and began my exploration of the imperial palace.

The corridors were lined with elegant and extravagant sculptures.

‘Wow, even Michelangelo would cry at this.’

As I ventured deeper inside, I spotted trees.

‘An indoor garden?’

Pushing aside a blossoming spirea curtain, I was met with a breathtaking sight—a vibrant array of flowers, each accentuating the lush green backdrop of the trees.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

A gasp of awe escaped me at the enchanting view.

I followed the stone-tiled path deeper into the garden.

Usually, in an enclosed space like this, there would be a damp, musty smell from stagnant water. But here, there was none of that. Instead, a fresh, woodsy scent filled the air, as if the entire place was brimming with phytoncides.

‘This would be the perfect place for forest bathing.’

As I ventured further, I spotted a cluster of yellow flowers blooming beautifully. Wanting a closer look, I made my way toward them.

And that’s when it happened.

My foot caught on an awkwardly protruding stone, throwing off my balance.

‘Ah, I’m going to fall.’

Thud!

Expecting the hard impact of stone tiles, I instead felt something warm and soft.

And then, a calm male voice spoke above me.

“…Are you alright?”

Regaining my senses, I realized that I had tripped—and landed in the arms of an unknown young man.

‘Is this… that classic novel cliché? Did I really just experience it firsthand?’

Wow. Life sure is full of surprises.

The man who had asked if I was okay carried a fresh, grassy scent.

Sniff, sniff.

‘Refreshing.’

Without thinking, I instinctively took in his scent. Then, as warmth spread through my body from where our clothes met, I suddenly felt the firm yet soft muscles beneath.

‘…Oh.’

Startled, I hurriedly straightened myself.

“Thank you for your help.”

My noble upbringing took over as I naturally performed a proper etiquette bow before looking up.

“……!”

His hair was styled in a 6:4 ironed ash perm, and his golden-blond locks shimmered as if dipped in honey, exuding a brilliance that seemed to declare, I was born to be the empire’s sun.

Beneath his long, perfectly shaped eyebrows, his peridot-green eyes, filled with the fresh color of thriving nature, exuded a peaceful aura.

He wore a white uniform adorned with golden embroidery, bearing the imperial crest. His height seemed to be around 175 cm, but he looked like he still had a lot of growing left to do.

“You don’t seem to be hurt. That’s a relief, Lady.”

His voice, now past puberty, had a calm yet gentle charm—the kind of voice that would sound even more mesmerizing at night.

Only two people in the empire were allowed to wear the imperial crest—the Emperor and the Crown Prince. And judging by the description from the novel, there was no doubt.

This was Nocturne Dominique.

My favorite’s rival in love.

But with four years left until the main story began, he was only fifteen right now.

I still vividly remembered all the scenes from the novel, but there was no reason to be emotional over something that hadn’t happened yet.

‘For now… I’ll just observe.’

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Please forgive my carelessness.”

I once again performed a formal royal bow. The etiquette lessons I had rushed to learn from the head maid were finally paying off.

“No need to apologize, Lady. Given the situation, it was understandable.”

The Crown Prince responded graciously, his voice carrying a natural warmth.

“I’d like to know your name, if you don’t mind.”

“I am Nyx Elach, from the West.”

‘Yes, remember it well. I’m the one who will take the princess away from you and hand her over to my favorite.’

The Crown Prince had everything.

His mother, the Empress, had died from illness, but while she was alive, he had been cherished beyond measure.

The imperial court, the citizens of the empire, even those from the Kingdom of Embrace, and most importantly, Princess Ovard—all of them adored him.

Men, women, young, old—everyone loved and followed him. And since he was an only child, he never had to fight for power. He naturally became the Emperor of Dominique without opposition.

On top of that, he was extremely capable.

With his charismatic warmth, he excelled in politics and diplomacy, and he was even a Sword Master.

‘His looks go without saying.’

If Leon was the epitome of beauty, then the Crown Prince was the definition of handsomeness.

Unlike my baby, who had lost his parents to monsters and had to worry about survival since he was four years old, the Crown Prince had never known hardship. And in the end, he was the reason my baby vanished without a trace at the conclusion of the novel.

‘So at the very least, give up the princess. My baby deserves that much. You already have everything.’

Even though I told myself not to get worked up, my resolve crumbled the moment it involved my favorite character.

“The Marquisate of Elach lies close to a monster-inhabited region and is a crucial military stronghold for the empire. Thank you for holding your position so steadfastly.”

As my emotions swayed, the Crown Prince smoothly continued the conversation.

I felt embarrassed—I was mentally an adult, yet it felt like I was losing to a mere fifteen-year-old.

Regaining my composure, I responded.

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.”

“I heard that due to poor health, you spent most of your time confined to the estate. How is your condition now?”

“Yes, I’ve improved significantly, which is why I was able to visit the capital.”

The Crown Prince was known to be warm and considerate, but he rarely asked personal questions. Yet, he seemed unusually interested in me.

“You were staring at something for quite a while earlier. What caught your attention?”

‘Wait… since when has he been watching me?’

Caught off guard, I answered calmly.

“I was admiring the yellow flowers. I tried to get a closer look but tripped on a stone.”

“You must mean the evening primroses. Allow me to escort you.”

The Crown Prince extended his hand, guiding me deeper into the garden.

The bright yellow flowers had eight large petals, each bursting with vibrant energy.

‘Wow. The bigger it is, the prettier it looks.’

“They’re stunning.”

“The evening primrose blooms at night and withers in the morning. Thanks to the magic in this garden, it remains preserved. It also has a symbolic meaning—would you like to know?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“It means unspoken love.”

“…That’s quite a heartfelt meaning.”

“If you like it, I’ll have it magically preserved and sent to your townhouse.”

“Oh, there’s really no need for that.”

‘…What’s up with him?’

“No, please accept it. Consider it a gift to commemorate our first meeting.”

“…I understand. Thank you, Your Highness.”

‘The Crown Prince is a natural-born gentleman.’

At that moment, Leon came to mind.

‘If Leon wants to hold his own against the Crown Prince, I need to teach him to be gentle—at least with the woman he loves.’

And then—

Growl—

“…….”

“…….”

‘…This is so embarrassing.’

There was no mistaking it. The culprit was my stomach.

“…I was in a rush this morning to get to the palace…”

The Crown Prince retrieved a pocket watch from his coat, checking the time before speaking.

“It’s already lunchtime. No wonder you’re hungry. I am as well.”

Sensing my embarrassment, he smoothly reassured me.

“Would you like to have lunch together?”

With a soft smile, he extended the invitation.

“My father might be waiting for me.”

“He is likely dining with His Majesty as we speak, so you needn’t worry. Also, seeing that you are not present, he will assume you’re having lunch. The palace ensures that all honored guests are provided with a meal.”

Before responding, I considered my options.

As a dedicated reader of the novel, I had already altered the original story by possessing Nyx. Even though the main plot hadn’t started yet, gathering information about the palace could be crucial.

‘This is an opportunity. I should talk to him and learn what I can.’

“It would be an honor, Your Highness.”