TYWN Ch 21

“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess.”

During the brief moment their lips touched and parted, Yuris’s mind raced.

When did the Princess of Dekron arrive in Flete? And even if she did, wasn’t it for the treaty?

“The honor is all mine.”

Maria Rolichev, the third Princess of Dekron, smiled gently. Contrary to her youthful appearance, her hazel eyes were as firm as an ancient tree.

“What brings you here?”

“Just like Prince Julian, I was thankfully invited to this occasion.”

Damn father.

Yuris gritted his teeth, recalling who might have sent the invitation. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy as he considered Julian’s intentions in escorting the Princess. The King’s words about marriage proposals echoed in his mind.

Could this be the Princess who’s supposedly interested in me?

“I don’t know if you remember, but I’ve met Sir Astrian once before.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it was at a shipboard party…”

The woman recounted their meeting at the party four years ago, but unfortunately, Yuris had no recollection of it.

Claude rolled his eyes, looking embarrassed as he watched Yuris skillfully feign agreement with Maria.

The financial firm Yuris originally worked for often attracted overseas clients, and overseas business trips were quite frequent. It would make sense if they had met during one of those trips, but… it was unnatural for him not to remember meeting a foreign royal.

On top of that, his cousin had an impeccable memory. No matter how well he acted, anyone who knew Yuris well would notice the subtle discrepancies.

Like Julian, standing right next to him, for instance.

Soft music drifted through the ballroom, sounding melancholic. Taking advantage of the attention focused on Yuris, Claude discreetly checked his pocket watch and sighed softly.

He had planned to slip away before the speech, but now he was stuck.

After the speech, the ball would begin, and interactions among the guests would start in earnest. While Claude might be able to escape, as the heir, Yuris would undoubtedly be held captive until late at night.

“Perhaps, would you grant me the first dance?”

Staring at the elegant face asking the question so boldly, Yuris suddenly became curious.

Does this woman know I have a lover and is still saying this?

“I’m very grateful for the offer, but I already have a prior engagement.”

Julian’s reason for bringing this woman here was crystal clear. Of course, Yuris had no intention of playing along.

Maria’s eyes drooped slightly at the polite rejection.

“May I ask who you have a prior engagement with?”

“Excuse me?”

“My schedule is tight, and opportunities to attend events like this are rare…”

So, is she planning to ask the other person to give up their spot?

Yuris was internally amused by the innocent question but didn’t show it. He wanted to avoid causing a scene at the party as much as possible.

“Ah, well. It’s my lover.”

Claude shot Yuris a disgusted look as he shyly lowered his gaze, pretending to be embarrassed.

So what? Yuris adopted a shameless expression.

“Your… lover?”

Maria blinked in surprise, as if she hadn’t expected such a response.

“Who… exactly…?”

“Over here.”

The moment Yuris heard the elegant voice, he almost lost control of his expression and frowned. Turning his head, still smiling, he saw Lily, elegantly dressed in a wine-colored gown, grinning.

“Hello?”

Along with Radia, standing beside her.

“No, that woman is…”

Lily’s eyes sharpened as she watched Yuris and his group from afar. Radia, who had been blankly observing the situation like everyone else, asked in surprise,

“Do you know her?”

“Maria Rolichev. The third daughter of the Rolichev royal family. I heard a delegation arrived, seems they brought the Princess along too.”

Since her workplace, the bank, had branches overseas, Lily was quite knowledgeable about foreign affairs.

Radia carefully studied the face of the woman called Princess. She was a cutely beautiful woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties.

“Are they discussing business matters?”

“Could be. Could not be.”

Muttering ominously, Lily snapped her fan shut and grabbed Radia’s arm tightly. Before Radia could ask what she was doing, Lily whispered,

“Radia, let’s go!”

“Huh?”

Radia’s arm was caught by Lily, and she was dragged towards Yuris.

“Lily Silveria.”

Lily, who had wedged herself between the four, greeted them with a bright smile. She boldly extended her hand, and Julian, with a smile still on his face, clasped it. An invisible battle of wills took place between them.

With the sudden appearance of a sophisticated beauty, a look of wariness appeared on Maria’s previously innocent face.

“Excuse me, but who… Ah, are you perhaps the lover?”

“No, very regrettably, that’s not the case.”

Responding with a face that showed no regret whatsoever, Lily subtly pushed Radia towards Yuris. Yuris, who had been watching Lily, tactfully wrapped his arm around Radia’s shoulder – they were surprisingly in sync at times like this.

“Allow me to introduce you. My lover. Radia, this is Princess Maria Rolichev.”

A honeyed, affectionate voice followed. With the warmth of his arm around her shoulder and back, Radia suppressed her racing heart and spoke in a calm voice.

“Hello, Radia Jin. It’s an honor to meet you, Princess.”

Although she didn’t know what was going on, judging by everyone’s actions, there must be a reason. Radia deduced the general situation from the Princess’s subtle gaze towards Yuris, who was about the same age as them. She extended her hand as if to offer a handshake.

Maria just stared blankly at her hand. Radia waited patiently, and finally, the small hand cautiously took and released hers.

“Hello, Miss Radia. This is rather opportune. Might I ask you a favor?”

“A favor?”

“Yes, I would like to have the first dance with Sir Astrian after the speeches.”

As soon as she heard those words, Radia grasped the situation completely. The hand on her shoulder seemed to tighten ever so slightly. Glancing up at Yuris, she saw his sharp jawline, upturned lips, and bored eyes.

The Princess in front of her might not know, but Radia had experienced similar situations quite often. So, the words she could say were clear.

“Why?”

“Excuse me?”

“Considering the meaning of the first dance, I don’t understand why you’re asking such a favor.”

In Flete’s social circles, the first dance was usually shared with the person one admired most in the ballroom. Something precious and prioritized.

At least outwardly, she was Yuris’s lover. Radia had no intention of backing down.

Perhaps she hadn’t expected Radia to be so assertive, as the princess in front of her had a bewildered look on her face. Radia stared intently at her.

‘Is there a marriage proposal going on, after all?’

If so, it made sense for her to say such a thing. Even if she was innocent, a noble was still a noble. Their way of thinking wouldn’t be that different from others.

The upper class still believed that Yuris would eventually come to his senses, break up with her, and marry someone of his “status.” The career she was building was nothing more than insignificant in their eyes.

…The thought that it might actually turn out that way left a bitter taste in her mouth. Leaving aside whether Yuris would fall in love with a noblewoman as they wished.

“Your request is a bit… difficult to understand, Princess. There are clear priorities. Is there perhaps a special reason?”

“That’s…”

Even if she thought so, directly stating the reason was considered unrefined behavior. It was an unexpected person who rescued Maria, unable to answer and trailing off.

“That’s rather amusing.”

Julian, who had been observing the situation as if it were a play, spoke up. Everyone’s attention, including Maria’s, turned to him. If the ability to attract attention was a virtue of a king, this man, with a faint smile, undoubtedly possessed a natural regal presence.

“Something precious…”

Julian’s slow stroking of his chin felt threatening to Radia. She wrapped her arms around Yuris’s waist as if seeking support, and Julian’s eyes turned blood red.

“Didn’t you anticipate this? Really?”

[I was just going to have a little taste. You shouldn’t have taken your eyes off her, should you?]

Everyone looked bewildered, but Radia understood the implication of his words, and goosebumps rose all over her body. She tried to maintain a composed expression, but Yuris, who was closest to her, sensed the change.

To Yuris, who was staring at him with a “what are you playing at” look, Julian spoke with a theatrical sigh,

“You don’t remember.”

“Your Highness, we’re running out of time. Perhaps we should continue this conversation later…”

“Remember what?”

Claude tried to quickly intervene, but Maria’s question cut him off. Even though she felt like she was drowning in the numerous gazes directed at them, Radia held her ground. The dress she wore felt like it was constricting her chest.

“Your acting is quite good, but it’s a pity. Your eyes lack anger right now.”

Julian clearly remembered the look in Yuris’s eyes when he swung the cane at him. After his mother’s death, it was the first time he had seen such fierce emotion flicker in those eyes that had been slowly sinking like a calm sea.

At that moment, an intense, incongruous joy surged within him. Finally, you too will fall into the same place as me. Into this filthy, disgusting darkness.

But paradoxically, it was this woman who prevented that.

A damnably lovable, and damnably loathsome opponent. The impudent woman who declared she would never be his.

“They say the opposite of love is indifference.”

Julian continued, speaking slowly as if reciting poetry. A smile graced his face.

“Well, I suppose there’s no way you could love someone you don’t even remember.”