Chapter 48
Three more days passed after that.
At last, the occasion was arranged for me to formally meet the First Prince.
Even though it wasn’t a wedding, from early morning the maids fussed over me endlessly—carefully styling my hair and applying my makeup—until they dressed me in an extremely elegant gown.
“You look absolutely beautiful, Lady Sibyl!”
“Thank you…”
When they showed me the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel moved myself at how beautifully I’d been made up. But thinking that the person I was about to meet was a prince whose face I didn’t even know made my heart feel heavy.
If it were Leo, I wonder what he would say.
“You’re beautiful, Sibyl.”
Imagining Leo saying that with a shy smile almost made me grin to myself—but indulging in such fantasies was pointless.
I am a lady. I am a saint. I have received education to become a queen consort. I must live for the sake of the country.
Repeating that to myself, I followed the attendant guiding me toward the audience chamber.
Even so, my heart felt heavy, and I walked with my gaze lowered.
“Lady Sibyl has arrived.”
Staring at the feet of the attendant leading me, I moved forward.
So this is it… the moment we meet.
The First Prince, who has spent most of his time abroad—what kind of person is he, I wonder?
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Sibyl Vias.”
Before the seated King and Queen, and the man standing before them—surely the First Prince—I bowed solemnly, keeping my eyes fixed only on his feet.
…Judging just by his legs, he seems sturdier than Prince Marcus.
No—more than that, there’s something very dependable about his presence…
Almost like Leo—
“Please, raise your head.”
“—?”
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a familiar voice fell from above.
“Good day, Sibyl.”
“—Leo!?”
I snapped my head up, and there stood Leo, impeccably dressed in formal attire, looking incredibly handsome.
“Eh…? Huh? What does this mean…?”
“This is Leopold Grandio, the First Prince of this country.”
“Prince Leopold…? Leo is… the First Prince!?”
“That’s right. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“—!!”
“Sibyl!?”
Seeing Leo smile shyly at me just like he always did, the shock was too much—and I fainted right there before Their Majesties.
“…Mm.”
“Sibyl, are you awake?”
“…Leo.”
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the bed in the room I’d been allowed to use these past few days. Leo was sitting beside me, looking at me with concern.
“I’m sorry… I actually fainted right there, didn’t I?”
In front of the King and Queen… How embarrassing, shameful, and unforgivable…
“No, that was my fault for startling you. I’m sorry.”
That’s right—that—!!
“…I really was shocked.”
So it wasn’t a dream or an illusion. The Leo in front of me now wasn’t dressed as a knight, but in formal attire befitting a prince.
No matter how you looked at him, he was every inch a noble prince.
…But even without his knight’s uniform, he’s still handsome…
“I’m truly sorry for keeping it from you.”
“No… I’m the one who didn’t notice. I suppose I’m unfit to be a crown princess.”
I’d never even considered it. I do remember that the portrait I once saw of the First Prince showed him with black hair. But I’d only ever seen a portrait from when he was a child. That must have been the only one. I didn’t think deeply about it.
“But whether I’m a prince or you’re a saint doesn’t matter to me. I love you, Sibyl.”
“Eh…?”
The sudden confession left me momentarily confused.
“I’ve loved you for a long time.”
“Is that… true?”
…I’m so happy. Can something this wonderful really exist in the world?
“It’s true. That’s why I want to marry you. But I also want to respect your feelings. Is there… someone else you like among the First Knight Order?”
“Eh?”
No, no there isn’t. Well, I like everyone—but not in that sense…
“I want you to be honest with me. I’ve actually had a suspicion.”
As I faltered and couldn’t answer immediately, Leo continued.
When he says he suspected… does that mean he knows I like knights?
“Do you like Mirko?”
“Mirko?”
“Yes. I’ve always felt a certain intensity in the way you look at him. He’s a good man. So if you—”
But what Leo said next wasn’t what I’d braced myself for.
“That’s not it!!”
“…Not it?”
I denied it loudly without thinking, leaning forward.
“I do like Mirko. As a person. And not just him—I like everyone in the First Knight Order. But—”
The man I like in that way… is only Leo.
“But you’re always so focused on Mirko—”
“That’s because… um…”
I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but Leo kept pressing on without waiting for my words.
I see… So he’s noticed that I’ve been staring at Mirko’s particularly sturdy build…
Ah… what should I do…? But Leo has confessed his feelings to me. It wouldn’t be right for only me to hide the truth.
“Actually, I…”
“Yes?”
“Um…”
“Yes? Be honest.”
“…I like them.”
“Mirko, right?”
“…Knights!! I love knights!! I love knights with well-built, muscular bodies!!”
“…Eh?”
Ah… I said it. I finally said it…!!
This is it—he’s going to hate me. But that’s fine. I couldn’t marry him while hiding my true nature. That would be deceiving him.
“You like… knights?”
“Yes…”
I’d prepared myself for disgust—but instead, Leo burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
“Pfft—hahaha! Hahahahaha!”
“Please don’t laugh so hard…”
“No, sorry. But I see… so that’s what it was.”
“Are you… not put off?”
“Not at all. In fact, I’m happy. I’m a knight too, after all. Does that mean I can think you like me as well?”
“Leo is different!!”
“Eh…?”
“Ah…!”
The words slipped out without thinking, and Leo’s expression twisted sadly.
“So… I’m different? Then I’m not as sturdy as Mirko—”
“No, that’s not it! I mean… I like you, Leo—not because you’re a knight, but… especially, uniquely, I like you…”
“…Especially… really?”
“Yes.”
I said it. I really said it!
My face feels so hot. I can’t look at Leo directly anymore…!!
“Really? You truly like me? Not because I’m a knight?”
“…Yes. Not because you’re a knight—I like you, Leo…”
I nodded, lowering my head, my face surely bright red.
“I’m so happy, Sibyl. Then… will you marry me?”
“……”
He gently took my hand and looked into my face as he said it. Gathering my courage, I looked back at him.
“…I may be unworthy, but I humbly ask for your kindness.”
“Haha, I’ve heard that line before.”
“Have you?”
“I love you, Sibyl.”
“—!”
Tilting my head in confusion, I felt him pull me close and wrap me tightly in his arms, as if he couldn’t help himself.
“Leo…!”
From his broad chest, I could hear his heart pounding loudly.
“I cherish you more than anything. I’ll protect your happiness.”
“…Yes.”
As he whispered that near my ear, I timidly wrapped my arms around his broad back.
Ah… truly… what a strong body…
Burying my face in his thick chest, I let my lips relax into a grin without holding back, savoring this moment of happiness to my heart’s content.
