Chapter 4: The Weight of Affection

The young lady Margareta, who had been beckoning to the boy, stiffened and turned her head in embarrassment.

‘Evan? Why is Evan here?’

At his appearance, the crowd gasped in shock. The one who had intervened in this situation was none other than the Crown Prince, Evan—the man who loved Cecilia dearly.

Even in this situation, Lady Margareta paid her respects to the Crown Prince with proper etiquette. Cecilia could only look back and forth between the two, her tear-streaked face bewildered. Her wide eyes looked just like Jelina, the fairy from the fairy tale.

Evan’s knights dispersed the people in the square.

“Margareta, aren’t you going to ask me? What about me?”

Evan asked with an amused expression.

The boy, unable to do anything, knelt back down, bowed his head, and trembled violently.

The situation was turning strange.

“Evan, what do you mean…?”

“You say this lady stands behind the ducal family? Then what if she stands behind the Crown Prince? Would that make things a little more forgivable?”

“Are you trying to insult me in front of Lady Mentheson?”

As the slight pleasure in Evan’s voice faded, the arrogant look on Margareta’s face crumbled.

“Why? You just insulted this young boy and this lady as well.”

Evan frowned briefly, then grinned playfully.

The Torento Family and the Imperial Family were currently discussing marriage alliances. Lady Margareta also admired the Crown Prince.

I remember catching a glimpse of her confessing her feelings to Evan during the summer festival. Maybe it’s a memory from the future—or the past.

“There’s nothing illegal about this. Lady Mentheson was rude to me!”

Margareta’s yellow eyes grew misty.

Her vicious expression while hitting the boy vanished. What replaced it was anger and distress.

But Evan didn’t let it go. Instead, he stood protectively in front of Cecilia, shielding her.

Since when did he become so close to Cecilia? Wasn’t their first meeting in the classroom?

‘Are those two truly fated?’

Evan gazed down at Margareta leisurely.

I thought Margareta and Evan had quite a deep connection themselves… Yet he stepped up like this for Cecilia, whom he’s just met? Or were they acquainted far earlier than I realized?

Even though he was siding with Cecilia, Evan glaring down at Margareta with his tall stature didn’t look good to me.

“I’m only saying what the lady herself said. What I’m doing to you isn’t illegal either. After all, I’m the Crown Prince. Isn’t that right?”

“…Call me by my name. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“Your Highness…?”

Cecilia gently tugged Evan’s sleeve as he stood in front of her.

“I’m all right. Please stop. It’s my fault, I wasn’t thinking.”

“Mentheson! Ha, earlier you wouldn’t even apologize properly, and now…”

Unbelievable.

Even if she didn’t know the rules of etiquette, how could she dare touch the Crown Prince?!

Margareta seemed at a loss as well.

Surprised by Cecilia’s touch, Evan turned to look at her, and I could now clearly see his face instead of just his profile.

Still radiant golden hair. Elegant features. The relaxed expression on Evan’s face became dazed, as if bewitched. Cecilia’s tearful beauty seemed to shine even brighter.

‘Ah, it must be now.’

In the past, I wouldn’t have noticed, but now I could see.

So clearly.

Evan had fallen for Cecilia. I even felt like I’d seen this scene somewhere before.

“Ah…”

What is this…? I suddenly felt dizzy. A knight took my arm.

“My lady. Are you all right? Please, get into the carriage.”

“No…”

I tried to brush him off, but it was no use.

“Just a moment…”

“Yes.”

I leaned against the knight and watched the situation unfold.

Why am I feeling dizzy all of a sudden? I even forgot what I was trying to recall.

“…Lady Margareta. Are you going to continue?”

Margareta surely couldn’t win this fight.

Evan gently wrapped his arm around Cecilia’s shoulders and fixed Lady Margareta with a chilling gaze.

Already wrapping his arm around her shoulders?

I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t understand. Cecilia had an enchanting charm, but he was the Crown Prince, and with the Torento Family discussing marriage alliances…

Margareta’s face turned crimson with humiliation. She glared at the two of them for a long time, then turned her back. A long line of servants and knights followed behind her. The square instantly became empty and cold.

Evan gazed quietly at the still-shaking Cecilia.

“This is strange, really.”

The two looked deeply at each other and exchanged words too softly for me to hear, as if whispering.

But only one thing was clear. That Evan had fallen for Cecilia.

Everything was already starting to change.

But some things hadn’t changed.

Like Evan and Cecilia, their fates meshed tightly together like gears.

Me… Which side am I on?

Cecilia’s moist, teary eyes and Evan’s intense gaze were locked onto each other. It seemed as if they would never look away. I too couldn’t tear my eyes away from them, as if captured.

“Let’s go back…”

My stomach churned.

“Yes.”

The carriage carrying me began to move gently. I buried my face in my palm.

Experiencing things I don’t remember is a frightening thing.

But what’s even scarier may be something like fate that flows on, just like a premonition.

Just like Cecilia and Evan are drawn together again.

Am I also being drawn back to being Cecilia’s ‘Best Friend 1’? Like fate?

Even if the situation changes, will I end up back at her side?

‘Confused.’

I couldn’t gather my thoughts about what I truly wanted.

“Miss Liana, are you all right?”

“I… I’m fine.”

His steady voice scattered my wandering thoughts.

The knight was too close. No, maybe it just felt that way because he was so large.

Ah, I must have looked so strange. Watching a fight with such interest and then trembling again.

“You’re shaking.”

I had nothing to say in response. Even I could tell that I was pitifully trembling. I wanted to say I was fine, but the words wouldn’t come out.

‘No, I’m not fine. I’m scared.’

It was only a brief moment, but I felt exhausted as if struck by a storm.

“I just watched from the sidelines… When my friend was in trouble, I didn’t even help. Isn’t it funny, me?”

I regretted saying it as soon as the words left my mouth. Saying it out loud made me feel even more cowardly.

My self-mocking tone sounded, to anyone, like a plea for comfort.

I waved my hand to dismiss my words, but the knight replied swiftly.

“No. It’s not funny at all.”

“…Isn’t it both laughable and cowardly?”

“…May I say something?”

He asked politely. I looked into his deep eyes.

“If you’re only saying this to take my side… I’ll have to decline.”

“There are choices appropriate for the situation.”

…Was I disappointed?

How ridiculous. Was I expecting unconditional sympathy? I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“You weren’t feeling well. There was no need to make enemies with the young lady of the Torento Family.”

He seemed to be saying that Cecilia had been rude. And if I had stood up for Cecilia, I would have hurt my relationship with the Torento Family, and Lady Margareta would have regarded me as rude as well.

“If you’d been well, you would surely have helped the boy. But you were trembling. You were not in your normal state.”

He spoke firmly. He was saying that, at that moment, it was impossible for me to step forward.

He was defending me. Even explaining the reasons for my own uncomfortable feelings that I hadn’t been able to put into words…

I stared at him in surprise.

“How can a knight speak so well?”

It felt empty. I felt a bit pathetic, too.

I let out a deep sigh. As the tension finally left my stiff shoulders, I felt pain.

“I’m sorry. I was rude.”

He bowed his head deeply, asking forgiveness.

“I could have helped, maybe.”

If only I hadn’t been so afraid…

“No. My lady, you were trembling.”

He was firm again.

“Ah…”

“I apologize for causing offense.”

“It’s all right…”

I ground my teeth, swore I’d give up this eighteen-year supporting role, even died bleeding. And after finally coming back…

Do I still want to just act graceful and virtuous?

How did I become so weak?

“Maybe…”

“Yes.”

“Maybe I… resented Cecilia a little. If I really cared about her, I would have stepped up…”

Cecilia is just as much a victim as I am. I have no reason to avoid or hate her. Really… shouldn’t I just keep my distance from Evan, Hawkins, and Benjamin?

Pathetic. Hating an innocent friend.

Stupid. Feeling so pitiful just because the knight didn’t immediately side with me.

I…

“My lady!”

He looked utterly flustered, not knowing what to do.

A wave of weakness.

A heavy lethargy overtook me, and I collapsed onto the sofa.

He hurriedly knelt by my side.

He checked my forehead and wrist, as if trying to assess my condition.

“You’re burning up with fever. Excuse me.”

He lifted me, blanket and all, and gently laid me on the sofa.

Worry flickered in his fierce eyes. I could sense he was choosing his words carefully.

“My lady?”

Suddenly, I felt like laughing.

Just having someone care about me—maybe that’s enough. This person worries about me. Even if it’s only as a knight of the household, doing his duty for his lord.

But that concern is genuine, isn’t it? At the very least, if I were on the verge of death, he wouldn’t abandon me, would he?

Rather than begging for affection, wouldn’t it be better to have… a knight at my side? Even such thoughts crossed my mind.

With my feverish mind barely following my own thoughts, I reached out my hand.

He took my hand in his.

His hand was even hotter than mine, burning with fever.

“If only I had… bam! solved everything myself, that would have been cool.”

Even at my random words, he didn’t falter.

Slightly tanned skin, the mark of an old scar crossing his eyes. Faded short blond hair, bleached by the sun, and fierce eyes that stood tall. Yet, the worry shining in those eyes. I parted my dry lips.

“Sir. At least you… wouldn’t just abandon me if I were dying, right?”

“My lady, what are you saying?”

“You wouldn’t let me die… Right?”

Ha. A dry laugh escaped. My brain feels mushy.

Only then did he realize I was serious, and he placed a respectful kiss on the back of my hand.

As if performing a simple oath at a knight’s investiture ceremony…

“Even if it costs me my life, I will certainly save you, Miss Liana.”

His steady voice, full of sincere affection, brought tears to my eyes.

His hurried search for a handkerchief, that warmth—perhaps that’s enough. I smiled softly.

“…What is your name?”