“Truly, I’m relieved you’re safe. The culprit behind this incident will soon be revealed.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s truly regrettable you had to go through this on such a good day. You won’t be left with a scar, so don’t worry. Your older brother was extremely worried about you.”

“I see.”

Violet’s responses were consistently calm. Her tone revealed her exhaustion.

Rajaden observed her.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“I wish to go home, Your Highness.”

Violet seized the opportunity to speak her mind. A bright smile appeared on Rajaden’s face.

“No.”

“Haa.”

“Is it that unpleasant? The imperial palace is uncomfortable, huh? I should take more care of such a precious guest.”

Violet’s expression soured even more at his seemingly joking words.

On the other hand, Rajaden couldn’t help but be surprised that Violet S. Everett wasn’t even trying to manage her expression.

“I’m doing this for your safety. The only people who know about today’s incident are me, the people from Everett, Lady Leshan, and Sir Aesir. You don’t need to worry about rumors spreading.”

“Alright.”

“That sounded reluctant.”

“I just want to rest.”

Despite having rested, she expressed her desire to rest once more.

It was impossible to truly relax in a place that wasn’t home. It’s only natural that Violet would ask to leave, but it was a request difficult for the crown prince to understand.

“You want to leave that badly?”

“Yes.”

“Quite adamant.”

“The imperial palace makes me antsy.”

The woman who spoke her mind even in front of the crown prince of the empire—the man destined to be the master of this very imperial palace.

Pondering, Rajaden stroked his chin.

“…Then, you may leave after the hunting competition ends.”

“You won’t detain me any longer?”

“It’s not polite to detain someone so exhausted. I’d like you to rest comfortably.”

“……”

Surprised at the crown prince’s easy concession, Violet looked puzzled.

His usual arrogance was gone, replaced only by fatigue. His eyes were slightly shadowed, perhaps from a lack of sleep.

I just wish he’d leave now.

Internally, Violet thought this.

Still, talking was better than this awkward silence. She soon spoke up.

“Has something been troubling you lately?”

“You’re asking me that, Ducal Lady? That’s unexpected. What makes you think so?”

“You seem particularly tired.”

At Violet’s words, Rajaden smiled. It was more of a small grin than a wide beam.

“I haven’t been sleeping well recently.”

“Goodness.”

Violet’s response was a simple ‘goodness’.

Seeing her nonchalant attitude, the crown prince wore an uncertain expression.

Aren’t you going to ask more?

Even as his expression seemed to demand it, Violet calmly thought to herself.

‘International affairs must be troublesome. He must have a lot on his plate.’

Rajaden’s expression became more awkward.

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“About what?”

“Why I’m not sleeping.”

“Ah. I have no intention of prying into your personal matters.”

Despite being prodded, the reply she gave was utterly composed.

Observing her, the crown prince rubbed his face with one hand in a self-deprecating manner.

It wasn’t a gesture typical of a self-assured man.

Curiosity faintly sparked within Violet, but it wasn’t a significant matter of interest. As she met his gaze, his self-mockery deepened.

“You don’t seem to be bothered at all by my presence.”

His words sounded like his usual arrogance, but his tone was uncharacteristically subdued.

Touching her bandaged neck, Violet met his gaze and replied without a trace of tremor.

“I know you’re not a tyrant, Your Highness.”

Those words were quite far out of context.

The crown prince meant to ask if she wasn’t nervous being alone with a handsome man like him, yet Violet replied that she wasn’t scared because she knew he wouldn’t oppress her with his power.

It was a confirmation that she hadn’t even been conscious of him from the start.

Rajaden felt a brief pang of despair.

All his appeals towards her had been mostly political suggestions, aimed at consolidating his power. Even if she had been swayed by such offers, Violet wouldn’t have been concerned about him.

There had never been a chance from the beginning.

Still, he felt despair.

Rajaden finally realized what had been troubling him throughout those countless sleepless nights.

Knowing further denial was pointless, he let out a wry smile.

Violet wondered why the usually smug crown prince was putting on such a tragic act today.

Pretentiousness suited Rajaden, but melancholy did not.

For whom exactly had he lost sleep?

The unaccused words stayed at the tip of the crown prince’s tongue.

Nevertheless, Violet seemed completely unaware.

“Do you really have no interest in becoming the Crown Princess?”

“None at all.”

“Even if you could easily become the Empress?”

“I don’t need it.”

“…Even if I could give you love?”

“That would just be an act, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

The back-and-forth questions and answers were as bland as a mundane conversation they’d have any other day.

The difference was that the crown prince now had ‘feelings’.

Because of that, this dry conversation plagued him with a multitude of emotions.

His golden eyes wavered.

His gaze shifted from Violet’s eyes, to her injured neck, then back to the floor.