Even after all the conversations had ended, Violet couldn’t leave. She was detained by the princess, who appeared again as soon as the empress left the room.

“—Your Highness, are you giving this to me?”

The princess nodded, having picked flowers from the garden during the time. Even though it was clear that it was a carefully cultivated breed, the princess didn’t seem to mind and seemed to have roamed freely in the garden.

Violet looked at a maid as if asking for help, but the palace maids merely watched silently.

“I appreciate your gesture, but there’s no need to give it to me…”

“Please accept it. Celi seems to like you, Ducal Lady.”

“……?”

Although Violet directed her question to someone else, the answer came from an unexpected source.

Unconsciously, Violet dared to have been gently stroking the head of the imperial princess. She quickly withdrew her hand. The one who had witnessed the entire scene simply smiled.

“No need to worry. She’s lovely, isn’t she? She turned sixteen this year, but she’s still very much like a child. It’s not just a simple concern.”

Despite looking just a bit older than twelve, the princess seemed much older than Violet expected.

The child suddenly ran to her older brother and nestled into his embrace.

“Right. What have you been doing today?”

The princess didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her repeated attempts to speak seemed to imply that she had something she wanted to say. Rajaden gently stroked his younger sister’s head.

It was a rare sight of affection between brother and sister.

Violet couldn’t help but ask,

“—Your Highness, why are you here?”

“That’s true. It’s quite a busy time for state affairs… I suppose there must be a reason for my visit.”

With an affectionate expression, Rajaden looked at the princess and then playfully placed his finger on his lips.

“Keep my presence here a secret. I snuck out to play.”

His words sounded just like an innocent boy. Since the palace maids were already watching, there was no point in keeping it a secret.

Instead of responding, Violet adorned the princess’s hair with the flowers she received.

Rajaden’s face was full of affection, just as the empress had mentioned about him being overprotective. His gaze was quite different from Roen’s whenever he looked at Violet.

“Since we’ve met here, shall we have a short chat? We haven’t had a chance to meet often.”

“Well, Your Highness and I don’t have the kind of relationship to regularly meet face to face…”

“Well, from now on, we can have such a relationship. Oh, Celi. Feeling sleepy? Yes, it’s nap time.”

When the crown prince gestured, the palace maids lifted the drowsy princess.

“Celi takes a nap once a day.”

With the crown prince’s additional explanation, the princess quickly exited the scene.

“Mother invited you to this garden, huh. I didn’t expect that. She’s quite mischievous, isn’t she?”

“She… was quite interesting, Your Highness.”

“Haha, your expression doesn’t say the same.”

Violet responded with a subtle smile. After all the talk about the need for young men and women to spend time together, the empress intentionally arranged for the two to have a private conversation.

“Mother does worry a lot. Even when there’s no need for such concern.”

Whether or not he knew the empress’s intentions, Rajaden spoke while his gaze lingered on the palace.

For a moment, Violet felt like she was seeing the crown prince’s true self for the first time.

“Even without her excessive worries, I will protect my sister until the end. —Because I have to.”

As he said this with a smile, there was a hint of bitterness in his expression.

There might be various rumors about the imperial family, but they were still a family. Whether it was a political alliance or something else, they had each other’s backs.

“The position of crown prince is indeed favorable, but sometimes it feels burdensome.”

Rajaden looked up at the sky and let out a deep breath. Today’s crown prince seemed a bit more human, unlike his usual confident self.

“If it’s alright with you, would you consider drawing my portrait too?”

“I’ve already declined earlier.”

“You’re harsh only towards me, Ducal Lady.”

“That is not the case.”

Such casual conversations continued.

Just like when the empress talked about her son, Violet maintained her composure when it came to the crown prince. Rajaden seemed to accept it willingly.

“Sometimes, moments like these when we can relax are truly precious.”

Above all, it was a sincere statement. This meeting between a noble lady of a prominent family and the crown prince of the empire… It wasn’t often they could be so at ease.

Violet refrained from pointing out this fact.

“Oh, I heard that you find men who cry attractive, Ducal Lady. But what about men who smile beautifully?”

“……”

“Hmm. I guess I’ll have to make an effort to become a man who cries beautifully.”

It was indeed a peaceful time.

* * *

The empress’s request couldn’t be handled carelessly.

Thanks to that, Violet had to visit the palace periodically from then on. More precisely, it was to get closer to the princess. Her initial actions to draw the princess’s portrait were part of this effort.