HYR 3

Chapter 3

As expected, my actions seemed to have irritated him.

I tightly shut my mouth, lowered my head, and grabbed the hem of my dress.

‘My pride is hurt, and my heart hurts too. I just wanted him to eat something because I was worried…’

I suddenly wondered if other people in political engagements lived like this too.

“Isn’t it normal to suggest food to an engaged partner who skipped breakfast? I was just worried because he worked without eating…”

Of course, our relationship was worse than most political engagements.

I was the Emperor’s daughter—the symbol and head of the imperial faction.

He was the leader of the noble faction.

My father had forced this engagement to keep the nobles in check, so Alphius hated me deeply.

“If only we had met normally.”

The time when I hoped for his love was already long past. Now, I didn’t even expect his attention.

Still, when he said hurtful things like this, I couldn’t help wishing he would be just a little kinder.

‘I still think like this… How foolish am I?’

Of course, I never said these thoughts out loud. If I did, it would only upset him again—just like before.

……

……

Silence filled the office once more.

In that silence, I slowly checked the clock. It felt like a long time had passed, but I had been there for less than ten minutes.

The ticking of the second hand felt loud in my ears, as if it were whispering.

“You can do this, Isabel.”

The silence was painful, but like they say, time heals everything. Even this was starting to feel familiar.

“Yes.”

I broke the tense silence.

“Even if I die tomorrow, I’ll still host tea parties. You know me well, Alphius. I guess we’ve known each other for a long time.”

I smiled lightly as I said it. Alphius looked at me as if I were shameless.

So I lifted the corners of my mouth even higher.

“…Ha.”

After staring at me for a long time, he let out a dry laugh. He looked tired of me.

He probably thought I was incredibly shameless.

But in truth, I was far from shameless.

Despite my calm expression, my hands were soaked with sweat. My smile trembled.

“I see.”

He replied with clear sarcasm and smiled faintly.

I barely held my expression together and forced myself to smile.

On the outside, I looked cheerful. Inside, I was burning with tension.

“Of course. I am the empire’s only princess.”

I covered my real feelings with a mask of arrogance.

‘To hide my true face. I should get going now.’

I glanced at the time.

Normally, I stayed at least half a day when I visited his office. Today, I planned to leave much earlier.

“Leaving early is better for both of us.”

He seemed especially sensitive today, probably because he was busy.

Still, I couldn’t go straight back to the palace—it would attract my father’s attention.

“I’ll stop by somewhere else on the way back.”

With that decided, I headed for the door.

“Princess Isabel.”

His voice stopped me before I could open it.

When I turned around, Alphius was staring at me silently.

“What is it?”

I braced myself, expecting another sharp remark.

But the silence continued.

“Why call me and say nothing?”

Just as I found it strange, I noticed my small bag resting on the sofa.

“Oh. My bag.”

He must have called me to tell me I forgot it.

Feeling awkward, I went back, picked it up, and bowed slightly.

“I almost forgot it. Thank you.”

Still, he said nothing and just watched me.

“Well then—”

As I turned back toward the door, I heard the harsh sound of furniture moving.

I turned around in surprise.

Alphius was standing.

“What is this now?”

Why did he stand up in the middle of work?

His expression didn’t change, so I couldn’t read his intention.

“Alphius, do you need something?”

As if my words triggered him, he suddenly walked toward me.

“I thought he’d be glad I was leaving early.”

I was the one confused now.

He hated sharing space with me, so I thought he would welcome it.

But somehow—

“Does he regret me leaving?”

The thought felt strange, so I shook my head.

At that moment, he finally spoke.

“His Majesty—”

I almost laughed bitterly.

Of course. It was about my father again.

“He’s worried the Emperor will hear about this.”

No matter what, I would never escape my father’s shadow.

If I returned too early, my father would notice and question us.

Because the closer Alphius and I appeared, the more power my father held over the nobles.

“Alphius, I understand what you’re worried about. It’s fine. I’ll stop by somewhere else before returning, so His Majesty won’t know.”

I smiled gently, relieved that I hadn’t expected anything this time.

But his expression still didn’t relax.

“Why does he still look like that?”

“Are you worried rumors might spread?”

He frowned slightly.

So I waved my hands quickly.

“Don’t worry. The people with me are those I personally trust. They won’t talk.”

They were my people, and they had long known I was treated coldly here. They would stay silent.

“I’ll see you next week.”

As expected, his brow furrowed at the words “next week.”

I pretended not to notice, adjusted my slipping bag, and prepared to leave.

If not for what he said next—

“Aren’t you eating the dessert?”

Dessert?03

Confused, I looked at the table where I had been sitting.

Most of the dessert was still untouched because I stood up early.

“Was there something wrong with it?”

I hadn’t eaten much, and I was too tense to taste anything—but there was nothing obviously wrong.

I looked between Alphius and the dessert, but I couldn’t understand.

“Is he telling me to eat more?”

That couldn’t be right.

Alphius had never offered me anything.

If there was one exception, it was a glass of wine at a social event.

That was how little he gave me.

“Is there something wrong with the dessert I ate?”

Was there some hidden meaning?

“It’s not poisoned… right?”

As I stared at it seriously, Alphius tilted his head slightly and spoke.

“Princess, if the dessert was beneath your standards, you should have said so.”

I blinked, not understanding.

He walked over to the table.

At first, I was confused. Now I was completely frozen in shock.

“Is he angry because I didn’t finish it?”

He swept all the cookies I left onto the floor.

“What are you—”

I started to speak, but his next words stopped me cold.

“Aren’t you leaving early because you were offended by such low-quality desserts?”

He thought I left because the dessert wasn’t good.

I loved desserts, and normally I finished everything.

Today, I only left early because he seemed busy—not because of the dessert.

“That’s not it. You looked so busy, so I thought I’d leave first—”

“Would it satisfy you if I had everyone who made this punished?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

With an unreadable—no, slightly angry—expression, he continued,

“Isn’t it enough of a reason to say they served trash-level desserts to the Princess?”