IPWDP 16

Hailen sat casually on the balcony railing.
For a man of the royal family, he was rather free-spirited—but never to the point of seeming frivolous.
It was a side of him he only ever showed to Ephelia.

“You’ll fall if you sit like that.”

Ephelia’s voice was filled with worry. It was a dangerously careless position—one wrong move backward and he could fall to his death.

“Touching,” Hailen said with a grin. “You used to try to push me off the second floor when we were little.”

Ephelia’s cheeks flushed instantly.

“That’s because you were teasing me.”

She had been an energetic, outspoken child—bright and lovable.
But now, she was embarrassed by that version of herself.
Ever since her uncle and aunt had received a dukedom and taken her into their home, they had restrained her every move.
That’s not how a lady behaves.
Don’t smile showing your teeth.
Every admonition became another shackle that bound her.

“How have you been?” Hailen asked lightly.

Could she really say she had been well?
Since losing her entire family, her days had felt the same—an endless stretch of solitude and despair, as if no one in the world was on her side.
But there was only one answer she could give.

“I’m fine. And you?”

“About the same.”

“So, you’ve been playing around as usual.”

“You know me too well. But seriously, isn’t it about time you visited again? Come to the palace once in a while.”

“I doubt His Highness would be pleased with that.”

“Then just don’t see my brother. Come to see me. Didn’t you miss me?”

“Of course I did. Then, invite me.”

“Invite you? Between us?”

Hailen blinked in surprise.
They were childhood friends long before they were a prince and a duke’s niece.
So her request for a formal invitation letter seemed strange.
But she had no choice—without one, her uncle and aunt would never allow her to visit the palace.
There was another reason too: Regios didn’t want to see her.

If Regios had told her she could visit the palace anytime, things would’ve been different.
But by now, everyone knew—he treated Ephelia as nothing more than his fiancée, sometimes even coldly so.

“…I’d like that,” she said softly.

“That’s easy enough. But don’t be surprised if I send one every day.”

Ephelia smiled faintly. Hailen’s gaze lingered on her.

“Ephelia.”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

She looked at him quietly. Hailen opened his mouth, then hesitated.
His lips moved, but no words came out—just a faint, self-deprecating smile.

“Never mind.”

“Come on, what were you going to say?”

“Have you ever… regretted that my brother is your destined partner?”

The question took her completely off guard. Her eyes widened, then she smiled softly. The answer was simple.

“No.”

Regios had changed after learning that Ephelia was his fated one.
But Ephelia had never once regretted it.
It wasn’t a fate she could choose, but she was glad it was him.
The only sorrow was that her existence seemed to bring him pain.

“Really?”

“Even if fate hadn’t chosen him, I still would have.”

“So you’ve never wished it were someone else?”

“No. Never.”

It hurt that he denied and rejected her, but she had never wished her fate belonged to another.

“Even after how he treats you?”

“Yes. Even then.”

“I see.”

“Thank you for caring, Hailen.”

He forced a bitter smile.
This lovely woman had no idea why he was asking.
She thought he was simply worried for her.
But he had loved her since the very beginning—since they were children.
Ephelia had always been his first love.

“What did you think of me when you first met me?”

“I was surprised.”

“Surprised?”

“I woke up, and there was a strange boy I’d never seen before.”

That was how Ephelia remembered their first meeting.
But it wasn’t how Hailen remembered it.

He had seen her before that day—on the very first day she arrived at the palace.
He’d been walking through the gardens when he heard a faint sound of crying.
There she was—a tiny girl, delicate and adorable.
Her light brown hair shone like gold in the sunlight, and tears rolled down her round cheeks like crystal beads.
He’d wanted to comfort her, to wipe those tears away.

Should I go talk to her? he’d thought.

But he hesitated, afraid of startling her even more.
While he lingered, his brother had stepped in first.

Regios had been so naturally gentle with the crying child.
Soon enough, she’d been smiling.
Hailen could only watch.
It was already too late—Regios was holding her hand, leading her back.

From behind, Hailen had simply watched them go.

If only I’d spoken first.

That had been his one, lifelong regret.

If I’d met you first… could I have been your destiny instead?

He knew the answer was no.
Even if he had gone to her first, perhaps fate would still have chosen Regios.
Perhaps that sweet little girl would have feared him instead.
Still, he couldn’t help but regret it.

If only you’d said you regretted it—just once.

If she had said, “I wish it wasn’t him,” even once, that would have been enough.
But his desperate, prayer-like hope faded the moment she smiled at him again.

Knock, knock.

Someone tapped on the balcony door.
It was closed—which meant someone was outside.
And for someone to knock on it was considered rude—
unless that person had every right to.

It was Regios, her fiancé.

“Your Highness.”

Ephelia looked at him with tender eyes as he stepped inside.
Even knowing he didn’t welcome her affection, she couldn’t stop her heart.

“Brother,” Hailen greeted.

“What were you two talking about?” Regios asked.

“Oh, uh…”

His tone was unusually sharp, almost irritable.
Ephelia immediately sensed his displeasure.
She’d learned to read such moods all too well.

Had she upset him again—without realizing how?
She couldn’t even guess the reason, and that only made her feel guiltier.

Why do I always make you unhappy?

Before she could speak, Hailen answered for her, casually, “Just catching up. It’s been a while.”

“You skipped the banquet for this?” Regios said coldly.

Why was he angry with Hailen too?
Ephelia glanced between them nervously.

“The guests are there for Father and you, not me,” Hailen replied easily. “No one cares if I’m around.”

Regios frowned.

“And you? Why are you out here instead of inside? I’m sure many are eager to talk to you.”

“I’ll head back in.”

Ephelia placed her hand on his extended arm.

“You coming?” Regios asked, turning to his brother.

“I’ll give you two some privacy.”

“Do that.”

“Ephelia, I’ll contact you,” Hailen said gently.

“Okay.”

She smiled faintly and nodded.
Regios’s eyes caught on that small, soft smile on her cheek.

Then Hailen disappeared from sight, climbing down from the balcony.
Escorted by Regios, Ephelia stepped back into the ballroom—
and every gaze turned toward them.
Among them, Seluna’s eyes burned hottest.

“What did he mean, he’ll contact you?” Regios asked.

“Oh, he said he’d invite me to the palace sometime.”

“Why?”

How was she supposed to explain that?
It hadn’t seemed strange when they talked earlier,
but now, under his stare, the words sounded awkward.

“Was it a difficult conversation to talk about?”

“No, not really, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“He said I should come see him…”

“So you want to see Hailen that badly?”

Did he hate it so much—even the thought of her visiting the palace if it wasn’t for him?
Was it so unbearable for them to exist in the same space?
Her face dimmed with sorrow.

“That’s not what I—”

“The crown princess, meeting her fiancé’s brother in secret?”

Shock flooded her eyes.
Put that way, it sounded scandalous.
It had never even crossed her mind how it might look.
They weren’t like that—
but Regios’s piercing gaze demanded an explanation she couldn’t give.

“That’s not it, we’re just—”

“We?”

“Your Highness.”

A noble approached and addressed Regios, cutting her off.
And so Ephelia remained at his side, silent and decorative—like a piece of jewelry.

Until the banquet finally ended.
Feeling humiliated by how happy she still was just to be near him.

“Then, I’ll see you again,” Regios said.

His “again” meant at the next official event.
He never sought her out otherwise.

The next event was his birthday celebration—
a month away.