NIYTR 28

Chapter 28

Enclosed Space

“You just made that up on your own.”

Damian twisted his face as if he had heard something horrifying.

“Brother, you must be embarrassed.”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

“He’s embarrassed.”

Damian let out a deep sigh and gave up dealing with Princess Charlotte.

The greenhouse garden, built by the Emperor for Princess Charlotte, was filled with a fairytale-like atmosphere. Having Damian there felt strangely out of place.

“Only calla lilies? Does the princess like them?”

All the blooming flowers inside resembled lilies, specifically calla lilies.

Their pure white petals glistened as though soaked in morning dew, and their smoothly curled edges gave off a refined elegance.

The yellow stamens at the center glowed softly like candlelight, emitting a gentle fragrance.

Edelweiss revealed the green butterfly.

“Wow, when did the butterfly get in?”

The green butterfly landed on Princess Charlotte’s head.

She giggled as it tickled her cheek. That laughter sounded unusually pleasant.

“Charlotte seems really excited thanks to you. Can the butterfly only be summoned when its master wills it?”

“Yes. If one carries the blood of a Blossomweaver, they can see it even if I don’t reveal it.”

“Was your visit to the palace today solely to give Charlotte a gift?”

Edelweiss looked at Princess Charlotte, then turned her gaze to Damian.

“There’s another reason. An anonymous tip about me was sent to the Boniel Newspaper, and they published it.”

“What kind of story was it?”

“One of them involves Your Highness. Because Your Highness has broken off engagements three times, they’re wondering if ours will also fall through just before the wedding.”

“…That engagement wasn’t of my own will.”

Damian avoided her gaze and rubbed his temple.

“Well, marrying me isn’t your choice either. It was my request, after all.”

“Should I act like I’m desperately clinging to you at the coming-of-age ceremony?”

Damian let out a quiet scoff.

“Then I’ll have to respond like I’m reluctantly accepting it.”

“As you wish.”

“…Lady Shasha?” Just then—

Princess Charlotte took the baby parrot and stepped out of the greenhouse, closing and locking the door behind her.

“You little rascal—what do you think you’re doing? Open this door at once!”

Damian’s tone turned irritated.

“Just one hour! You two need to get closer! I’ll help! When two people are stuck alone in a closed space, affection is bound to grow!”

Princess Charlotte shouted gleefully and hopped away.

“One hour…”

Edelweiss was rather at a loss. What was she supposed to talk about with this man, alone?

They had just been speaking fine moments ago, but now that the awareness of being alone together sank in, her mind went blank.

Even the air seemed to shift slightly.

It felt strangely heavier, harder to breathe.

“Wh-Why…”

Damian suddenly reached out and touched the hair near her ear.

The cold sensation brushed against her skin, making her heart pound out of rhythm.

“It looked like it was about to fall.”

“…”

“It feels like I’ve gained another little sister.”

He was adjusting her hairpin that had come loose. His movements were deft—he must often fix Princess Charlotte’s hair accessories.

“I… I can do it.”

“It’s done.”

Damian casually withdrew his hand.

Don’t catch feelings. Absolutely not.

It was a meaningless gesture—done only because she reminded him of Princess Charlotte.

Both she and Damian needed to keep the line between them clear.

“While we’re here, should we verbally go over the terms of our prenuptial contract?”

Since this was a relationship that started as a deal, Edelweiss suggested continuing in that vein. Damian nodded and stated his terms.

“As I said before—twice a year, you’ll give Charlotte blue roses. But I’d like us to be able to adjust the number by mutual agreement.”

“Alright. Anything else?”

“I’ve been thinking… do we really have to divorce after five years?”

Damian had been the one to bring up divorce in the first place. She couldn’t understand why he was now suggesting otherwise.

“Why?”

“Because I find you… increasingly agreeable.”

“…”

“You’re not a burden, you’re smart, Charlotte likes you… I think we could make good business partners.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Living as Damian’s wife forever…

“Your Highness. Please don’t take any mistresses or have illegitimate children.”

Just the thought of him turning into someone like the Duke of Stern was unbearable.

Even if I don’t bear Damian’s child, that was a separate issue.

“Edelweiss.”

Damian called her name in a deep, heavy voice. It was laced with anger, confusion, and displeasure.

Did I overstep…?

Of course.

Would he have been fine with it as long as it stayed out of sight?

“I hate people.”

“…Pardon?”

“And I hate children even more. I don’t care to live passionately enough to go sneaking around behind my wife’s back.”

Discover more

Hair Care

married

Self-Help & Motivational

“……”

“That’s my way of saying you don’t need to worry about that.”

So that sigh had meant that.

Won’t Damian betray me?

Even if he falls out of love, can he still be trusted?

Will he one day turn his back like Adolf did?

Will he stab me in the back and laugh like Rosemary?

Edelweiss, who had already experienced the betrayal of those she trusted most, hesitated.

Perhaps confused by her silence, Damian asked again.

“Am I really that unreliable? Do I seem like the kind of rotten husband who’d already be thinking about taking mistresses and fathering illegitimate children before we’re even married?”

Edelweiss lowered her lashes.

“If I offended you, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that about you, Your Highness.”

“I know you didn’t. Given the Duke of Stern’s precedent, and the fact that our marriage isn’t based on love, it was fair to ask. But that’s not what I’m really curious about.”

“…Then what is?”

“What are you thinking right now?”

Shaa—

Suddenly, heavy rain began to pour.

Even from inside the greenhouse, the sound of raindrops was sharp and clear.

‘Maybe now you’ll finally get the praise you always wanted—‘She took her life for the sake of the family’s honor,’ or something.’

The moment when she’d fallen from the balcony at Rosemary’s hands came back to her.

Rosemary’s laughter seemed to mix with the rain, making it thunder even louder.

Her ankle, still unharmed, began to ache strangely.

The searing pain of her bloodied head seemed to return too—accompanied by a splitting headache.

She could barely remain standing. Her breath came short, her body growing weak just like that day.

It felt like her strength was draining from her limbs.

Damian caught her waist just as she staggered and nearly collapsed.

“…You almost fell.”

“…!”

“Are you hurt?”

Her tilted body quickly righted itself, and Edelweiss found herself leaning close to his chest.

“Hehe, I’m so clever. You think so too, don’t you, Elba? There’s no better way to get them closer than this.”

Back in Calliope Palace, Charlotte hummed cheerfully.

Her brother hated nuisances, disliked meeting new people, had a bad temper, and loved to tease her.

And yet now, there was someone who might break through his coldness—

A pretty, kind, and sweet older sister!

Honestly, she didn’t quite understand why her sister wanted to marry her brother.

She lacked nothing—why him, of all people?

Guess she has peculiar taste.

Well, maybe it was because he looked like her. That part wasn’t bad.

In any case, if this didn’t lead to progress, she’d just have to lock them up together regularly.

Charlotte grinned slyly as she schemed.

“Big brother will scold me later, but that’s a problem for future me!”

It was snack time.

She figured it’d be perfect to eat her strawberry cake, then return to the greenhouse and unlock the door—timing it just right.

“Catherine, bring me a snack!”

Charlotte trotted over to Head Maid Catherine, who happened to be walking nearby.

“Where is His Highness Prince Damian? You’re alone today?”

Catherine tilted her head in confusion.

“He’s with big sister!”

“Big sister… You mean the Marchioness of Blossamweaver who entered the palace today? Then the two of them are alone together right now?”

“Yup!”

Was it just her imagination?

Catherine’s expression seemed to stiffen for a moment.

Even her voice carried a faint trace of irritation.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing, Your Highness Charlotte. Would you like some strawberry cake?”

Catherine quickly lifted her lips into a smile and returned to her usual gentle tone.

Hmm… Did I imagine that?