Chapter 101: Metaphor

“Are you on escort duty again today, Heyrad?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“…”

Today was the day of the banquet.

Yesterday, she had spent time with Prince Raphael to appreciate a play.

The atmosphere between them hadn’t been bad.

She could tell that the prince had developed feelings for her.

In other words, everything was going according to Isaac’s plan, and things seemed to be flowing towards an easy success, but…

For some reason, Clarisse—who was staring out the window with a blank expression—felt this strange emptiness in her heart.

“Princess, it’s time to put on your dress.”

“…Ah, yes, it’s time, isn’t it?”

She was about to get dressed for the banquet, but Heyrad didn’t leave, and instead stared at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“As you know, Princess, I’m against your marriage to Prince Raphael.”

“I know. You’ve said it so many times already.”

“Yes, I wish for you to find true happiness, and I don’t think you’ll find it in this political marriage.”

“My happiness is the kingdom becoming prosperous through this political marriage, Heyrad.”

Heyrad nodded at her blunt statement.

“I understand. I’ll accept it.”

“…”

“I heard most of Brentarion’s nobles have been invited to today’s banquet. Some even came from far away.”

“Yes, I assume so.”

This is an important banquet where a prince and a princess from two different countries would be wed, after all…

“There will be so many people that I might lose sight of you at some point, Princess.”

“…What?”

Just as Clarisse was about to snap back, asking how that was possible for an escort knight…

“If such a moment comes…”

Heyrad bowed his head with a gentle smile.

“Please go to the garden outside the banquet hall. Baron Logan has agreed to guard that area. You can temporarily entrust your protection to him.”

“…!”

Hearing that, Clarisse’s eyes widened.

“Heyrad—“

When she called out to him, Heyrad cut her words as he left the room.

“The choice is yours, Princess. I just sincerely wish for your happiness.”

A group of women then entered the room to tend to the princess, passing by Heyrad.

Meanwhile, the princess herself rooted to the spot, unable to say a word.

Late at night, when the moon was high in the sky.

Brentarion Palace was bathed in bright light.

Nobles in splendid attire laughed, chatted, and engaged in lively conversation.

It was truly a magnificent banquet.

Considering its purpose was to celebrate a marriage that would bridge the two kingdoms, it was only natural.

Outside the banquet hall.

People scattered about in the beautifully decorated garden.

Some were there to clear their heads from the alcohol, some to set a romantic mood with their partners, some to have private conversations with another.

In a secluded corner.

Isaac, who was supposed to be on guard duty, but he really was just swaying his body to follow the rhythm, enjoying the night air.

While he was doing that…

“What are you doing?”

“…?!”

A familiar voice entered his ears, prompting him to turn around and find Clarisse, standing there, wearing a black dress.

“Princess?”

“Some guard you are, not even noticing someone approaching from behind.”

He replied dazedly to her curt question.

“Your footsteps were those of an attendance to the banquet. If they had been an intruder’s or an assassin’s, I would’ve noticed immediately.”

“Hmph, excuses.”

“Anyway, why are you here? Where’s Heyrad?”

“I don’t know. There were too many people, and I lost him.”

“…”

Isaac’s expression visibly twisted.

There was no way someone of Heyrad’s caliber would lose the princess at a banquet. Even if he did, that still didn’t explain how she was able to find where Isaac was.

Heyrad…

Isaac found out immediately that the escort knight who wished for nothing but the princess’ happiness had meddled in the matter.

He let out a sigh before gesturing to her.

“I’ll find Heyrad for you. Let’s go.”

“Wait.”

When he was about to step forward, she stopped him. Crossing her arms, she questioned him in an accusing tone.

“Why didn’t you come to my room yesterday? Thanks to that, I couldn’t practice!”

“You went to see a play, no? There wouldn’t have been much things to practice anyway.”

“Do you think that excuses you for disappearing without saying anything? Also, what’s with you swapping your roles with Heyrad without asking my permission, the strategy commander’s permission?”

“…I apologize.”

She snorted at his polite apology.

“Hmph, seriously, what’s going on? It’s really unpleasant to be treated like this. Are you trying to avoid me?”

“…”

He couldn’t say anything to that because it was true that he had tried to avoid her.

Conversely, she also knew that he had intentionally avoided her, despite her asking him that.

A moment of silence enveloped them as a subtle battle of wits unfolded between them.

But, that battle was cut off short when Clarisse showed off her black dress with a shrug.

“Look at this. This is the dress I wore at the banquet the other day. When you became my partner.”

“Why did you wear this one again?”

“Because I liked it.”

“…”

“I even did my hair the same way as back then. You told me that I looked like a real princess this way, remember?”

“I did.”

Isaac nodded awkwardly.

Even as he did so, he kept glancing towards the banquet hall, wondering if anyone was looking for Clarisse.

After all, she was the main character of this banquet.

“Princess, we should really head back now—“

“Doesn’t this bother you at all, Isaac?”

“Pardon?”

She puffed her cheeks slightly, as if sulking.

“My dress, my hairstyle, both are exactly the same as back when I was your partner at the last banquet. But this time, my partner isn’t you, it’s Prince Raphael.”

“…”

“Does it bother you at all?”

“No.”

As Isaac nodded calmly, almost to the point of cruelty, Clarisse bit her lip.

“How could a human be so mean?! After seducing me like that, you said you’re not bothered at all?! That I’m partnered with another man?!”

“Princess… Haa…”

He couldn’t help but sigh at this.

Yesterday, the Grandmaster and Sharen.

And today, her.

Just how many times do I have to say it…?

“I’ve never seduced you. If anything, I taught you how to seduce a man.”

“Y-You didn’t seduce me?”

“No. Let me be clear. I never, ever, made any advances towards you, Princess. I can swear on that.”

“Oh, come on!”

Clarisse fanned herself as if she were feeling hot. Then she pointed at Isaac and exclaimed.

“You’re saying that wasn’t seduction? We held hands late into the night, embraced each other, whispered to each other, and all that!”

“Those were all part of the practice, and you know that.”

Of course, Clarisse knew that.

And that she was being unreasonable.

But she didn’t want to admit it.

Instead, she wanted to think that the reason why her heart wavered towards him was because he had seduced him.

Because, if her heart had fallen for him just due to the practice…

It’ll be way too embarrassing…!

All those pondering about what love is, me asking him to be taught about love would look dumb now!

I refuse to believe that I’ve fallen so easily!

Hence why Clarisse wanted to hear it from his mouth.

That he had actually been subtly making advances on her.

Because it would be easier on her heart if it turned out that such a handsome man had been making advances on her.

It would be easier for her to claim a mental victory and protect her pride, but…

Isaac’s answer was firm, to the point of being hurtful.

“I never made any advances on you.”

“Ngh!”

What should I do with this frustrating man…?!

The master strategist pondered and came up with a clever move.

“Let’s do the opposite then.”

“Sorry? The opposite? No, that isn’t important. We really don’t have time to be doing this—”

“Just once. Try to seduce me for real.”

“…Excuse me?”

As he responded with an expression that said ‘What nonsense is this?’, Clarisse shrugged.

“If you really didn’t make any advances on me, then, I’ll feel a different thing when you actually try, right?”

“…”

“If I really feel the difference, I’ll acknowledge defeat and accept this.”

“…Does being a princess usually make one so brazen?”

“A little? After all, everyone’s always so cautious around me~”

Clarisse smiled playfully.

“Just once. Try it. Honestly, I’m a bit curious about your true feelings.”

“…”

“Hurry up. If you don’t, I won’t go back to the prince.”

“What’s with that childish threat…?”

Isaac let out a sigh.

Watching him racking his brains, Clarisse covered her mouth and laughed slyly.

“Is it hard to seduce someone with just a few words, even for a handsome man? Well, I suppose it would be.”

“Princess, first, let me be clear. I don’t like you.”

“I-I-I know that!”

Clarisse hastily retorted, startled by the sudden confession.

Looking at her, Isaac spoke clearly, as if issuing a warning.

“I’m doing this because you asked me to. Understand? Once you hear it, promise me that you’ll return.”

“Fine, fine. How amazing could it be anyway?”

It’s just a minute or two of talking.

Even if it’s him, there’s no way he can captivate me!

Clarisse thought as she crossed her arms.

“Go ahead.”

“Haa.”

What am I getting myself into?

Though he couldn’t understand how this could happen at all.

Isaac met Clarisse’s eyes and opened his mouth. The words that came out of his mouth were a little more sincere than usual.

“You look beautiful today.”

“Pfft, what? That’s it? What an ordinary—”

“Just like a rose.”

“…”

A rose.

An actually boring and common metaphor.

However, when it came to Isaac, rose had a different meaning.

It symbolized a certain woman.

A woman that he had truly loved.

The Blood Rose of Helmont, Rianna Helmont.

And Clarisse knew all too well of the weight behind the word ‘rose’ in his mind.

“…!”

Her mouth clamped shut as her eyes slowly widened.

Of course, her face turned bright red.

Clarisse