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148 확

“Your Highness, I…”

“What is it?”

Just as I was about to respond, Caesar suddenly popped out and hid me behind him, answering in my place. He seemed to be suppressing something, but I couldn’t help but sense the murderous intent emanating from him.

“I have something to discuss with my Kashmir for a moment.”

Despite facing a bloodthirsty Sword Master, Diego remained unfazed and continued speaking calmly. It was clear how strong his mental fortitude was.

‘Please, spare me.’

Even though Diego seemed nonchalant, displaying such intent in front of royalty could be considered treason. As I poked Caesar in the side to deliver a message, he glanced at me, bit his lip, and withdrew his killing intent.

“Shushu isn’t feeling well yet. She complained of a headache from being out too long today. I think I should head back.”

I felt perfectly fine and could do a cartwheel around the Temple if I wanted to, blinking and wrinkling my forehead while attending to my clear and refreshed mind like a sky after rain. Diego gave me a side glance before shooting me a cold look.

“If you ask the princess, I believe you’ll receive a different answer.”

“Still, the fact that Shushu has only just recovered doesn’t change.”

“I asked for the princess’s opinion, not the Duke’s.”

Caesar stubbornly held his ground despite Diego’s counter, urging me to leave with a commanding glance. Diego, standing firm against Caesar’s icy demeanor, was certainly not the usual type.

“Father, I’m fine. I believe I should have a word with His Highness.”

Caesar’s eyes sparkled with interest. In contrast to Caesar’s expression, which seemed to have much to say, Diego wore a victorious smile.

“Oh, it seems the princess and the duke don’t share the same opinion.”

“……My daughter is just too kind to refuse your request, Your Highness.”

Caesar glared at Diego with an expression that seemed to say he wanted to bite him in pieces.

I nervously watched Caesar’s hand clutching the sword hilt, blocking their exchange before he could draw it.

“There’s something I must discuss with His Highness. I will converse with him and return on my own. Please go first.”

I offered a gentle smile toward Caesar. Though he still appeared unsatisfied, he didn’t stop me. He also understood how close I was with Diego.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to escort your daughter back safely.”

“My daughter does not need Your Highness’s protection.”

“I know. I’m going with her because I need the protection.”

“The Imperial Palace and Duke’s Mansion are in opposite directions, though.”

“Oh, is that so? Well then, I can just stay overnight at the Duke’s Mansion while I’m at it. Nighttime can be dangerous.”

“Are you suggesting you’ll stay with my daughter until nightfall? Are you serious?”

Diego flirted with an ambiguity that made it hard to tell if he was joking or being serious, dancing on the edge of arrogance while Caesar glared at him.

The two locked eyes, and it felt like sparks would fly at any moment.

“Please, Father, go in first. I won’t be late returning.”

With a sigh, I addressed Caesar. He stared at me for a moment, biting his lip and turning his head. That was his way of expressing disappointment.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Caesar pivoted and strode off, leaving without so much as a farewell, which was rather rude, but I could tell he was holding back by even acknowledging me.

‘So Caesar does recognize Diego to some extent.’

Caesar personally didn’t have a liking for Diego. Their dispositions clashed, and he seemed displeased with how close I was to him.

‘Diego Solarit is undoubtedly blessed with the qualities of a ruler.

He’s definitely not some rookie. Given a little time, Diego Solarit will grow into a far greater monarch than the current Emperor.’

Nevertheless, regardless of personal feelings, Caesar held Diego in high regard. For someone as stoic as Caesar, that level of praise was practically nothing short of a compliment.

“Kashmir.”

While I was lost in thought, a warm voice called out to me. I turned my head towards the source of the voice.

“May I have a moment of your time?”

Diego smiled weakly, as if reaching this point had exhausted him. His smile stirred something within me, and I nodded firmly.

Guided by Diego, I headed toward the garden located within the Temple. As I took in the sight of blooming white lilies, one of the symbols of sanctity, I momentarily focused on their fragrance.

‘Does living in a place with such a garden mean I smell like lilies to El?’

A figure imprinted in my mind that smelled like lilies came to mind. It seemed reasonable, but the scent of lilies from El was much more enchanting and profound than the garden’s, so I couldn’t be certain.

“What are you thinking about?”

Diego broke the silence as we walked together, jolting me back to reality. I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I was thinking how beautiful the lilies are.”

“……Do you like lilies?”

“Um, yes. In fact, I like most flowers.”

Aren’t they beautiful? They bloom brilliantly and fade quickly. It makes you think of living life to the fullest and brightly.

At my affirmation, Diego slightly narrowed his eyes. Even though it was just for a moment, I, who had been by his side for a long time, couldn’t miss that change. I looked at him with concern.

“Do you perhaps dislike lilies? Should we move?”

“No, dislike… well, a little, yes.”

Diego, who initially denied it, took a brief pause before admitting it. His deep blue eyes, which seemed to dive into the deep ocean, gazed at me.

“I mean, they are a symbol of the Pope. Seeing you like them… I dislike them even more.”

I blinked slowly.

Diego never outright expressed what he disliked in front of me. Especially regarding things I liked.

‘If you like it, then I like it as well.’

That was perhaps the phrase I’ve heard most while being with Diego, as he was gentle and gracious. He often said things were good, making it a little challenging to discern his true likes and dislikes, but he certainly had a way of making those around him feel at ease.

‘If he dislikes it enough to say it directly… how much does he really hate it?’

I merely hoped Diego wouldn’t set this flower garden ablaze. Though he could clean it up, it might spark a bloody war between the Temple and the Imperial Family at the mere fact that the Crown Prince set fire to the temple’s garden.

“Should we head out now?”

I cautiously asked, observing Diego’s expression. Instead of answering, Diego slowly clenched his right fist and then opened it slowly before me.

“Wow.”

From his large, beautiful hand, a flower bloomed gracefully. I let out a short gasp. I could see magic multiple times a day thanks to Aria and Cal, but the sprouting magic of producing flowers from bare hands was still something magical.

“Impressive.”

“Just a simple basic spell. Merely a parlor trick.”

“Still, it’s beautiful.”

A thing is beautiful regardless of its difficulty in magic. I examined the flower he had conjured.

“Ah, it’s a delphinium.”

Multiple blue flowers clumped together on a single stem. It was definitely a delphinium. Diego raised his eyebrows, surprised that I recognized it so quickly, and smiled faintly.

“That’s correct. It’s a delphinium. I like them more than lilies.”

Bending forward to match my line of sight, Diego gently moved his hand and tucked my hair behind my ear. The soft touch of the flower petals tickled my ear.

I slightly closed and opened my eyes, alternating my gaze between the delphinium hanging from my ear and Diego.

“Do you know the meaning of delphinium?”

He interrupted my moment of confusion and casually threw out that somewhat random question.

‘It grows in highlands, and delphinium stems and flowers are used for treatments related to convulsions, paralysis, and syphilis… but…

While I was knowledgeable about plants, it was only regarding their use in medicine. The language of flowers wasn’t part of my knowledge base.

Not receiving a response, Diego chuckled softly and bent his head down. His face came closer towards mine, deviating slightly from the norm until it reached just in front of my left ear where the flower hung.

“The meaning of delphinium is ‘please understand my feelings.'”

His breathy whisper warmed my ear. Diego, having slightly straightened up, met my gaze once more.

‘…I think I understand why he likes delphiniums.’

I noticed that Diego’s pupils were the same bright blue hue as the delphiniums.

I too felt like I might begin to love delphiniums.

“I hope you understand, but I also don’t want to be exposed. Yet, I somewhat wish to be exposed.”

Diego calmly stated this contradiction. He briefly lowered his gaze, then quietly raised it. The depths of his clear blue eyes revealed endless depths.

“As long as you don’t notice, I’ll remain anonymous forever.”

Diego’s eyes slightly squinted. He smelled as soothing as vanilla, just like always. Sweet, yet with a somewhat bitter note at the same time.

The sunlight filtering through the glass ceiling of the indoor garden gently illuminated both him and me. Though Diego’s shadowed face was dark, his eyes continued to shine.

“But I think it’s a big deal that I feel this way.”

I didn’t understand what Diego meant. But the intuition that I shouldn’t ask gnawed at me like lightning.

He wished for me to understand while also hoping I wouldn’t get it. That seemed to be something I had to figure out on my own.

“Oh, about last time during the terror incident… I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

In a daze, I had been gazing at Diego’s face when suddenly I recalled something and opened my mouth.

Diego, who had unexpectedly received my apology, narrowed his brows slightly.

I focused my senses, a bit tense. I felt no presence nearby, except for the temperature control device’s magic.

It meant I could talk about my story as Mir.

“Um, I wasn’t able to save Didi and His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Oh, that time?”

Diego sighed, running his long, beautiful hand over his chin.

“Back then… Count Einhart was also involved. Didn’t Count Einhart manage to safely disarm the bomb? In the end, everyone was safe; even if they hadn’t, you wouldn’t need to apologize.”

Diego spoke in an utterly rational voice.

He wasn’t wrong. There was no reason for me to feel guilt since I wasn’t the mastermind behind the terror.

‘But…

“I’m sorry for not being able to go disarm the bomb in the carriage with Didi. Of course, it was to disarm the bomb in the plaza, but it still felt as though I didn’t go save a friend…

Regardless of the unavoidable circumstances, I ‘decided’ not to go save Diego. I wanted to apologize about that at least once.

I felt Diego’s gaze on me while I kept my head down. I worried he might feel disappointed. After some time just staring at me, Diego lifted my chin with his index finger. His warm fingertips touched my chin gently, his pure white, slender fingers were beautiful.

“Don’t bow your head. You are a hero of my nation; how could you do that?”

“…Still,”

“Rather, I should express my deep gratitude. For saving my people instead of me.”

His long fingers combed gently through my black hair.

“Thank you for standing against fear and fighting for the Empire. It makes me much happier that you went to save the people of the Empire rather than me.”

There was no hint of falsehood in the sincere tone of his voice. Diego was a true ruler. He prioritized the people of the Empire over himself.

Facing away from the sunlight, Diego smiled brightly.

“You are my pride and my hero. Don’t feel a shred of guilt.”

Diego shone brighter than the sun.

 

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