Crown Prince, I hate you!

My mood was dreadful from the moment I woke up.

The unexpected meeting with Haelon was scheduled for today.

And not only was it arranged at such short notice, but it was also at his request. Yet, here I was, forced to rise early and rush to prepare myself for the imperial summons.

The thought of him lounging comfortably while I scrambled to meet him only added fuel to my irritation.

Still, what could I do?

He was the Crown Prince, and I was merely the daughter of a count.

In a quiet act of defiance, I deliberately delayed my departure, boarding the carriage slightly later than planned.

°˖✧๐·°º✲º°·๐✧˖°

The palace knights, clearly informed of my arrival, allowed me entry without any formalities. Just beyond the gates, a man I recognized immediately was waiting.

Leaving the coachman and Illa behind to wait outside, I approached him alone. When he noticed me, he stepped forward to meet me halfway.

“Are you Lady Verian Clody?”

His deep voice and familiar face left no doubt. It was Haelon’s aide, Dale.

It’s been a while.

“Yes,” I replied.

“His Highness is waiting for you in the office. Please follow me.”

Dale led me into the room where Haelon was supposedly waiting, but the only thing that greeted me was silence.

He isn’t here yet.

Though I couldn’t deny my nervousness about this unexpected meeting, I felt a small wave of relief at his absence. It gave me a moment to gather my thoughts.

The room was not the grand reception hall where nobles or foreign dignitaries were typically received. Instead, it was a more intimate space furnished with a table, several chairs, and shelves lined with books. It felt more like a study or an office.

From what I remembered, this room was often used for lengthy discussions with foreign administrators or officials.

Why did he summon me here of all places?

The question lingered unanswered as I tried to make sense of it.

Dale, after glancing at the clock, instructed me to take a seat before stepping out to fetch Haelon. Moments later, the door opened again.

And there he was.

“Greetings to the empire’s second sun,” I said quickly, standing to bow.

“Sit,” Haelon replied curtly, taking a seat across from me.

I followed his lead, returning to my chair.

So far, so good.

But then—

Why isn’t he saying anything?

The silence stretched on, unbearably heavy. For ten long minutes, he sat across from me without uttering a word.

The quiet was so profound that even the rustling of leaves outside the window sounded deafening.

The tension was suffocating, yet I couldn’t bring myself to speak first.

By the time the small hair ornament Meisha had carefully placed on me that morning began to feel oppressively heavy, he finally broke the silence.

“Lady Verian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you know why I summoned you?”

Of course, I knew. I knew all too well. The painful memories came flooding back, vivid and sharp.

But I couldn’t admit that.

“I don’t,” I replied as succinctly as possible, determined not to show even a hint of weakness.

“I wish to propose an engagement to you,” he said plainly, his tone composed.

“I decline,” I responded immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

For a moment, he seemed genuinely surprised. His eyes widened slightly before his expression returned to its usual calm.

“May I ask why? I was under the impression that this proposal posed no disadvantages to you.”

His confusion felt almost laughable. If this wasn’t a disadvantage, how was I to explain the nightmare that had been my past life?

The resurfacing memories of that time left me bitter, and before I realized it, my tone had grown sharp.

“I wish to live an ordinary life.”

His expression shifted to one of confusion, his gaze narrowing slightly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said,” I replied. “I want to do the things I desire, meet and befriend many people, fall in love with someone special, and live a life free from judgmental stares. That is my wish.”

These were all the things I had been denied in my past life.

As Crown Princess, everything I did was scrutinized and tightly controlled.

As Crown Princess, I had no friends who truly accepted me.

Even the person I loved eventually turned their back on me without hesitation.

All of my hopes and dreams—the life I longed for—would be crushed the moment I became Crown Princess.

“Lady Verian…”

His voice trailed off as he looked at me.

Confusion was written all over his face, a rare sight that left him momentarily speechless.

I didn’t look away. Instead, I met his gaze with the same composed expression I always wore.

I refused to be swayed anymore—neither by him nor by the lingering shadows of my past life.

“Don’t you think it’s a waste?”

His voice, now softer, pierced through the room and struck me squarely in the chest.

“…I’m not sure what you mean,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.

“It’s the position of Crown Princess we’re speaking of,” he continued. “A position that will one day lead to the throne of Empress.”

“…”

“With it, everything in this empire would be yours. Everyone in this nation would bow to you. Don’t you think it’s a waste to give all of that up?”

It wasn’t a waste.

How could it be, when it was something I never truly wanted or possessed?

“I don’t consider it a waste to lose something that was never mine to begin with.”

His expression changed then, becoming something unfamiliar, something unsettling.

I had never seen him look that way before.