11.

“Why are you giving me this?”

Julie was startled by the voice as cold as falling snow.

Blood trickled from Wyatt’s slightly cracked lips. But what surprised Julie more than that was the unusually sparkling red eyes even in the darkness.

Even in the dark room, his eyes twinkled as if they were receiving light.

The gaze was so intense that Julie couldn’t dare turn her head first.

It felt like her body was frozen. Julie stood still, trembling.

Even Wyatt’s fierce gaze caused his face to contort miserably for a moment.

It was the first time.

It wasn’t an expressionless or angry face as usual.

‘…It can’t be true.’

Wyatt’s expression, which fully revealed raw emotions, looked starkly contrasting to the fierce eyes that seemed to kill Julie.

It seemed like it would crumble at any moment.

…Wyatt seemed like he would cry.

Just when Julie unconsciously reached out to him,

“Julie Lirv. Keep your boundaries. There’s no need to get close. Skip unnecessary conversations and just do what you have to do.”

Wyatt spoke.

His expression had returned to its usual state. Just now, that expression seemed to be nothing more than Julie’s imagination.

“Do you dare to think you’re similar to me?”

A birthday never celebrated in her entire life.

It would be a lie if she didn’t feel a sense of camaraderie. If she could give someone the sincere blessings she never received, that would be enough.

Blood dripped from Wyatt’s slightly cracked lips.

He slammed the box onto the floor.

“Like trash.”

Roll.

The gift Julie had given Wyatt fell and rolled on the floor.

Her heart was as miserable as if it were rolling on the bare ground. The days she had thought about giving him a present passed through her mind like a mirage.

As expected, it wasn’t.

“Don’t have pity. Don’t sympathize, don’t think we’re the same.”

“…”

“I am different from you.”

Whether he was right or not.

Yeah, maybe Julie was expecting.

That Wyatt might be someone similar to her.

That they might understand each other.

Julie didn’t bother to pick up the fallen gift.

No, she couldn’t pick it up.

This was the line between her and Wyatt.

But she dared to cross that line.

…Even though he had no intention of doing so.

She got carried away and deluded herself.

“Serenity, Serenity?”

Adele’s voice woke Serenity from her reverie.

Adele, who shook her hand over Serenity’s face, flicked the remaining moisture from her hair.

Like a person waking up from a dream, Serenity stared at Adele’s hand for a moment, then suddenly shuddered.

‘Why am I thinking like this?’

It was a memory she didn’t want to recall.

Looking at Serenity like that, Adele tilted her head in confusion.

“Do you have any worries?”

“Nothing.”

Serenity quickly turned the end of her words. It seemed she had fallen too deep into old thoughts.

Since she heard Wyatt’s name, it wasn’t unreasonable.

“Crown Prince is coming to the Duchy. I didn’t expect that. I didn’t.”

Adele chattered. Serenity found Adele cute and smiled slightly. Her chatter relieved the tension.

“Do you like it so much that Crown Prince is coming?”

“He’s handsome, he’s a prince, and he’s capable… He’s the heir to injustice. Most importantly, he’s still unmarried!”

Adele said the last words and laughed while looking at Serenity.

“Even Serenity would know what I mean when she sees him.”

Even without saying it, she understood.

How many people could be fascinated just by Wyatt’s presence?

“Maybe Crown Prince might like Serenity too. Because Serenity is so beautiful!”

Adele laughed as she said the last words while looking at Serenity.

In Adele’s mind, it seemed that Wyatt had already fallen for Serenity.

But Serenity knew very well that Wyatt was not that kind of person.

Even if he liked someone, it wouldn’t be because of appearance. Wyatt couldn’t judge someone solely by their appearance. As a prince burdened with too many considerations, he was a person who had to think about thousands of things.

Even if he had a liking for her, it wouldn’t be because of her appearance.

“I visited Braiden’s shop! Did you enjoy it?”

Adele brought a box from Braiden’s shop.

The luxurious wrapping paper with an impressive blue ribbon. The logo stamped in gold on the right accurately indicated where this box came from.

“Sorry. I didn’t think about bringing you with me. I’ll take you next time.”

Seeing Serenity feeling sorry, Adele felt embarrassed instead. A noble feeling sorry to someone like her. Sometimes Serenity reminded her of her own sister.

A somewhat gentle atmosphere. It was the look she wanted to protect, like a person she wanted to take care of.

“Don’t worry too much, and take me out when you’re comfortable. I don’t want to be a burden to Serenity.”

Adele smiled brightly and unwrapped the package.

Inside was a light blue dress. The dress, contrasting with her pink hair, had impressive lace layered down from the waist to the ankles in a rounded line.

The lace and appropriate frills looked like a pattern. It was certain to captivate people’s attention instantly with its gorgeous design.

“Oh my… It suits you so well with Serenity.”

Seated, Serenity, with Adele’s help, changed into the dress. She liked it more than when she first tried it at Braiden’s shop.

The dress, with its delicate color and smooth texture without any wrinkles, fit perfectly.

Serenity, sitting in front of the mirror, started doing her makeup. Lips on her moderately white face and her pink hair were of similar colors. The slightly flushed cheeks gave Serenity’s face a lively appearance.

A proper shade appeared on her forehead, making Serenity’s features stand out more with the light makeup that suited her.

“I’ll just leave my hair down. Serenity’s hair looks beautiful as it is.”

Glossy strands flowed down her long hair. The hair swayed in Adele’s hands. The face seen through the floating hair was innocent.

A wealthy young lady who never experienced hardships or difficulties.

Fingers that never knew labor in her life.

Beautiful appearance and a bloodline that instantly captivated people’s attention.

“Now, preparations are complete.”

Serenity had everything that Julie couldn’t have.

Perhaps because of this. The feeling of lack that Julie had little by little disappeared.

Happiness filled her heart, and the sense of deficiency was no longer felt.

When she went to buy the dress.

When she received compliments as Serenity.

It was the same.

“Cordelia will join us. She’s probably preparing right now. Would you like to wait, or shall we go?”

“I’ll go.”

Serenity was content with her current situation.

She no longer needed to cling to someone or despair in her life. And she hoped it would only get better.

She didn’t want the futile hope of wanting support, love, and understanding from someone.

Such futile hopes had torn her apart.

She hoped such a thing would never happen again.

* * *

In front of Cordelia’s room, Serenity was nervous. Cordelia had visited her several times, but Serenity had never visited Cordelia. There was no opportunity for that.

When the attendants saw Serenity arriving, they opened the door.

Entering the room, Serenity saw Cordelia, dressed in a striking red dress that suited her. Unlike Serenity, Cordelia had applied dark makeup.

A brownish hue that complemented her red lips lingered on her eyelids. Despite being a completely different appearance from usual, Cordelia flawlessly pulled it off.

Cordelia, evaluating her reflection in the mirror with an expressionless face, noticed Serenity.

At that moment, her frozen face melted like ice. A bright smile blossomed on Cordelia’s face.

“Serenity, you look so beautiful!”

Approaching Serenity, Cordelia hugged her tightly. Serenity, in an awkward posture, awkwardly patted Cordelia’s back.

‘She smells nice.’

There was a pleasant fragrance emanating from Cordelia, perhaps from just having finished bathing.

Cordelia’s embrace was warm. Although they hadn’t spent much time together, Serenity could feel that Cordelia’s feelings towards her were sincere.

It was evident in her words and actions.

There was so much Serenity didn’t know.

And Serenity liked Cordelia for being like this.

So, she…

“…Sister too.”

She also wanted to say these words to Cordelia.

She had practiced countless times, wanting to tell Cordelia. The effort had paid off.

It was more natural than she had thought.

“Serenity, what are you…”

Cordelia, who had hugged Serenity, released her and widened her eyes.

“Sister.”

“Say it again, will you?”

“…Sister.”

As Serenity spoke again, Cordelia warmly smiled.

Serenity felt happy in response to Cordelia’s sincere smile.

“Will you give me the opportunity to escort you?”

Cordelia extended her hand, and Serenity firmly took it.

* * *

Though there was still time before the party started, Serenity couldn’t rest.

Cordelia was taking her to meet Wyatt.

“It’s rare for the Crown Prince to visit this place before the banquet starts… Maybe it’s because of you.”

Wyatt probably wanted to maintain a good relationship with Zeros. It was natural for him to seek Serenity, now that their beloved youngest daughter had awakened.

Just by coming to meet Serenity, Wyatt could earn favor with Zeros’s people.

They were well aware of how busy Wyatt usually was. Even amidst his busyness, the fact that the Crown Prince thought about Zeros in such a way was a gesture that spoke volumes.

“Don’t be too nervous. Just a simple greeting will do.”

When Cordelia held her hand, the fear lessened. Serenity nodded and swallowed. Her mouth felt dry.

The corridor leading to the grandest and most luxurious room in the mansion, the one heading to meet Wyatt, was long. Serenity recalled the last time she had seen Wyatt’s face.

“Here.”

After giving her some time at the door, Cordelia grabbed the doorknob.

“Let’s go.”

Creak. The door opened.

The sound of the door opening in the quiet room broke the silence. Wyatt, who had been standing with his back turned, turned his head at the sound.

He looked the same.

Just like that day in her memories.

Walking towards this direction, every step of his firm strides caused his hair to lightly flutter. His bangs were disheveled. Thick eyebrows. Crimson eyes. Firmly closed lips.

Even his posture, like that of a tree, and his graceful movements remained the same.

The man who, just by his presence, brought the image of an emperor to mind, showed no change.

“Is this Serenity?”

Wyatt slightly bowed towards Serenity.

…Serenity doubted her eyes.

“Yes, that’s right. Serenity, may I introduce you to Crown Prince?”

“…Serenity?”

She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Was she mistaken?

But no matter how many times she blinked, it was still clear.

Why?

Why was Wyatt wearing the necklace she had given him as a birthday present?

It was incomprehensible.