ETCHY 04

Chapter 04

“Will the Grand Duke also come to the party?”

At the Emperor’s answer, Crescentia’s face lit up with joy. Davit’s eyes widened at the slight rise in her voice, then he smirked and said.

“I issued an imperial decree, so he will come.”

“I see…”

Crescentia’s heart began to race. She could meet him again. Her mind filled with various expectations.

This time, she would definitely have a proper conversation. She would thank him, and she should also invite him to Reginia.

She would have liked to develop a friendship with the Grand Duke, but unfortunately that would be difficult. After all, the Karola Sea lay between the Empire and Reginia.

“The lighting ceremony at the party that day will be quite a sight. I hope one day electricity will come to your country as well.”

“…That is.”

“Your pardon, Your Majesty. Count Sheller has arrived.”

“Already? Oh dear, I’m afraid I must take my leave now.”

Davit rose with a look of regret as a knight who had been standing at a distance approached and spoke during their conversation.

“See you at the party.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will see you at the party hall.”

Crescentia, elated at the thought of meeting the Grand Duke again, saw the Emperor off with a bright smile. Davit smiled back and left the rose garden with the knight.

“He wasn’t bluffing.”

Davit murmured as he entered the main palace.

Actually, a little while ago, Erich had suddenly appeared and told him not to forget to invite the princess to the party.

Davit had suggested that Erich take a break for a while, but Erich refused to back down, saying he would see the imperial command through.

His attitude was too confident to be mere stubbornness. So Davit had personally moved to invite the princess.

“Indeed.”

Judging by the princess’s attitude, Erich’s seduction seemed to have been effective. For a moment, her pure appearance pricked his conscience and he considered retracting the invitation, but he soon changed his mind.

Because he thought a romance that started this way might not be so bad.

Isn’t everything fine as long as the ending is good?

At least when it comes to love, if not other things.

The princess was clearly head over heels for Erich to anyone who saw her. Someone like her, warm as spring sunshine, would surely be able to melt Erich’s heart, cold as ice.

Thinking that good news would likely come soon, Davit smiled contentedly.

Because an unfortunate accident had occurred on the first day of the exposition, the Emperor made the party even more magnificent. He invited more guests than originally planned and expanded the venue to the entire imperial palace building.

It seemed his intention was to showcase the Empire’s technological prowess through the party combined with the lighting ceremony, thereby heightening interest in the exposition.

“Princess, what’s this lighting ceremony everyone keeps talking about?”

Crescentia turned her eyes at Hilda’s question as they headed to the party hall. She smoothed the lace of her lilac dress and spoke.

“It’s an event where they turn on the lights. They’ve replaced all the palace lighting with electric lamps, and they’re going to turn them all on at once at today’s party.”

“All those lamps with electricity? Wow. The Empire really is different.”

“Indeed.”

Crescentia echoed Hilda’s words with a small smile. But inside, she felt as if her heart was shrinking with anxiety.

‘Will I be able to meet the Grand Duke?’

After tonight’s party ended, she had to board the ship to Reginia tomorrow. Today was her only chance to meet the Grand Duke.

“It’s been a while.”

Crescentia had left Hilda at the entrance and was about to step into the party hall when a familiar low voice pierced her eardrums.

Turning her head absently, she caught her breath at the sight of the man approaching her.

At some point, a man in a black uniform stood before Crescentia. It was Erich von Peter, the Grand Duke, who had been stirring her heart all along.

Unlike when she had seen him at the exposition, his black hair was swept back, revealing his cool forehead. And thanks to that, his moderately dark black eyebrows, which traced gentle curves, were visible.

His form-fitting uniform looked disciplined yet somehow provocative.

Broad shoulders, a firm and narrow waist, and long legs as thick as Crescentia’s own waist.

Even when she tried not to look, her eyes kept drifting to his body.

Crescentia wasn’t the only one captivated by the Grand Duke’s attire, which revealed the shape of his muscles so clearly.

The ladies entering the party hall were busy stealing glances at Erich from behind their fans.

“Oh my. Look at His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“That face with that body. If only I could be held in his arms just once.”

…Yes, if only I could be held in his arms just once.

“Princess?”

“Yes?”

Crescentia, who had been dazedly agreeing with the ladies’ sentiments, snapped back to her senses at Erich’s call. The Grand Duke tilted his head slightly and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”

Crescentia secretly swallowed and answered. She smiled awkwardly and continued the conversation.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Grand Duke.”

“His Majesty the Emperor commanded my attendance. And I have someone to meet as well.”

Erich answered calmly and extended his firm arm.

“Will you grant me the honor of escorting you, Princess?”

Despite his impassive face, his active gesture made Crescentia’s heart leap. She clenched her fist lightly, then placed her hand on his thick arm.

“…Yes.”

“This way.”

Erich skillfully guided Crescentia into the party hall. She stepped into the dim space with a trembling heart.

It felt as if she could hear the time she would spend with Erich—perhaps for the last time—flowing by.

Even after the party began, Crescentia could hardly exchange words with Erich. She was too busy dealing with the people who swarmed her with curiosity and interest in the Princess of Reginia.

Only after she finally managed to send off the elderly marquis, who had claimed to enthusiastically support Reginia’s noble decision to close its borders, could Crescentia catch her breath.

‘Where is the Grand Duke?’

When she came to her senses, she realized she had been separated from Erich. Crescentia’s pink eyes gleamed as she searched for the dark-haired man.

But since it was before the lighting ceremony, the surroundings were dark, making it difficult not only to find him but even to identify her surroundings. So much so that the moonlit balcony looked brighter than the party hall.

‘I’ll just go there and catch my breath for now.’

Crescentia headed to the balcony to escape the crowd.

Usually, balconies are popular spots for lovers’ secret rendezvous at parties.

But tonight was different. Anyone on the balcony might miss the spectacular sight of all the electric lamps turning on at once.

Thanks to that, Crescentia reached the balcony without difficulty. As she opened the curtained glass door, the summer night air enveloped her, accompanied by the sound of garden leaves rustling in the wind.

“Finally you come out.”

And then, she heard the deep voice of the man she had been searching for so desperately.

“Grand Duke!”

Crescentia smiled brightly at Erich, not hiding her delight. Because he stood with the moonlight behind him, she couldn’t see his expression, but surely he was smiling too.

Since he had welcomed her.

“I was waiting.”

“Really?”

Crescentia couldn’t contain her excitement as she closed the balcony door.

“Why didn’t you tell me in advance? What if I hadn’t come out?”

“But you did come out.”

Erich answered leisurely to the pure woman who didn’t even know she should hide her feelings from him.

“When people want to avoid the crowd, there’s no place like a balcony. I thought you’d come out eventually. You already look a little tired.”

“Yes, a little.”

Crescentia answered shyly, then rolled her eyes searching for a topic. She didn’t want to fill this precious time with him in silence.

“Oh, by the way, you mentioned you had someone to meet at the party. Did you meet that person?”

“I’m meeting them right now.”

Erich spoke lowly and moved his steps. With each step he took, the moonlight shadow cast over his chiseled face gradually receded.

Crescentia couldn’t take her eyes off him and asked hesitantly.

“Me? Why would the Grand Duke…?”

“I have something to give you.”

When his face was finally clearly revealed, Erich stopped. The distance between them had become close enough that not even a handspan remained.