“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You don’t need to understand. Just give me an answer for now.”

“Without understanding your intentions, I cannot give an answer. Your Highness, I am a person, not someone’s property or a chess piece.”

“……”

His response was far from what he had hoped for.

And at the same time, it was an answer born from the certainty that Rajaden could never truly love another.

Rajaden reflexively wanted to argue that wasn’t the case… However, he fell silent.

Truly, was that the case?

The man, born with arrogance, possessed a strong sense of ownership, and this extended to people as well.

Could he truly be confident that his desire to be with Violet was not mere possessiveness, when even trivial things could spark the same intensity?

He could not answer the question he posed to himself.

Violet’s gaze indifferently shifted to the lake. Rajaden still had no answer to the question.

As a gentle breeze blew, ripples formed on the lake’s surface.

Violet’s gaze remained steadfastly on the lake, never once resting on Rajaden.

He was well aware of this fact.

If he commanded it, making Violet the crown princess wouldn’t be impossible.

Of course, there would be opposition, and there was a risk that Everett, a household steadfastly loyal to the imperial family, would turn against them. But still, it was doable.

However, Rajaden didn’t want to proceed in that way.

A feeling too murky and suffocating to be called love, yet too devoted to be labeled as obsession.

Acknowledging his feelings for her, yet unable to let go of his last shred of pride, Rajaden looked directly at Violet.

Her hair shimmered under the sunlight, a silvery white.

Beneath the hat, her alabaster skin was shadowed.

Her eyes, a clear and deep purple.

There wasn’t a single aspect of her that wasn’t beautiful.

“…Ducal Lady.”

“Why do you call?”

The wind rustled gently.

Despite his soft call, Violet did not look at Rajaden.

Her gaze remained on the clear and blue lake, especially beautiful as the light scattered across it.

“Do you remember what I said about creating opportunities?”

“……?”

Rajaden repeated the words he had said to Violet, causing her to turn naturally.

As Violet was about to ask what he meant, she froze at the sight of Rajaden’s golden eyes, now perilously close.

Their breaths could almost mingle. The small boat offered no space to retreat.

Unable to push away the crown prince’s noble person, Violet barely managed to raise her hand in front of her.

“You’re too close.”

“…Even this elicits no reaction?”

Rajaden slightly furrowed his brows at her attempt to push him away and avoid his gaze.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

He hadn’t expected her to actually push him away, a thought saturated with self-deprecation.

“…Why?”

His question was less about seeking an answer and more self-deprecating.

Despite not wanting to force anything, having boasted to a friend with good intentions, and being optimistic due to his confidence in himself.

Why?

It was a question that didn’t reach Violet, yet haunted him without rest.

Rajaden, unable to act on his impulses any further, winced with a bitter smile.

Can’t we stay like this, even for just a little while?

The words that should have been spoken remained unvoiced, swirling in his throat.

Rajaden buried his head in the crook of Violet’s neck.

“Your Highness!”

At the same time, Violet pushed Rajaden away.

If she had to describe her feelings, it would be, ‘Why is the Crown Prince acting like this?’

Even if she couldn’t fully grasp his reasoning, the principles behind the crown prince’s actions had always been simple up to now.

To act in a way that would ultimately benefit him.

Whether it was out of personal interest, other objectives, or even if it led to temporary losses, Rajaden’s actions were always aimed at securing his own advantage.

Thus, she presumed his current actions were no different.

However, Violet couldn’t imagine what Rajaden could possibly gain from his behavior right now.

Even without doing this, House Everett was of the imperial faction, and Roen was Rajaden’s close friend.

He even had the option of marrying a princess from another country.

Thus, Violet saw no reason for the crown prince to cling to her like this.

“……”

The face that had been resting on Violet’s shoulder moved away. The golden eyes seemed to tremble, as if hurt.

The boat rocked once. The vessel was so small that even slight movements caused it to sway significantly.

“Ducal Lady, I just….”

With eyes wounded like Cairn’s, the crown prince tried to come closer to Violet again.

However, even as she had been sitting quietly, Violet abruptly stood up.

The action was meaningless to her, but the fact that they were on a boat posed a problem.

Violet’s movement caused the boat to rock once more.

“Ducal Lady─!”

Simultaneously, Violet, unable to keep her balance, tilted.

The outstretched hand failed to catch hers.