Chapter 29
(Lord Edward… is crying…?)
Natalie couldn’t believe what she was seeing—she blinked several times in disbelief, but no matter how many times she looked, tears were undeniably falling from Edward’s eyes.
“…Lord Edward.”
“……!”
When she called his name, his body jolted as if startled, like a small frightened animal. Her voice seemed to bring him back to his senses, and he hastily tried to wipe his tears with his sleeve. Worried that rubbing his face like that would leave marks, Natalie quickly walked over.
“If you’d like… please use my handkerchief.”
“…Ah, thank you.”
Opening the small pouch she had brought along just in case, she took out a handkerchief and handed it to Edward. Hesitant but obedient, Edward accepted it.
“The stars are beautiful tonight, aren’t they?”
“…Huh?”
“May I sit beside you?”
She wasn’t sure where exactly the Third Prince had brought her, but there was a large opening in the ceiling through which the night sky could be seen. Countless stars twinkled brightly above—it was breathtaking.
It didn’t seem right to suddenly ask why he was crying… Maybe if they simply looked at the stars together, it would help him relax. Since Edward didn’t reject her offer, she took his silence as consent and quietly sat beside him on the grass, leaving a small space between them.
“…Heh.”
“Eh? Wh-what is it…?”
“No, it’s just… I can tell you really want to ask why I was crying.”
“Eh—!”
Natalie stiffened, caught off guard. Seeing her expression, Edward gave a small, amused smile and glanced past her shoulder. “It seems my brother brought you here.”
When Natalie turned to look, she saw the Third Prince playing with a group of baby lions. It was clear he had intentionally left Edward in her care.
“U-Um, well…”
“This is actually a garden used by the royal family within the castle.”
“…!”
(Wh-what did he just say!)
She had followed along without thinking and was now sitting here boldly. Could this be a crime even worse than disrespect toward royalty?! She hurriedly tried to stand up, but Edward stopped her.
“It’s all right. As long as my brother or I grant permission, there’s no problem being here.”
“Ah, I-I see… hohoho.”
“Natalie, you’re so easy to read.”
He must have noticed how obviously her emotions showed on her face. Regaining her composure, she looked up at the sky again and sat back down. After a few exchanges, Edward seemed to have calmed—his tears had mostly stopped. He glanced down at the handkerchief in his hand.
“About this handkerchief…”
“Please don’t worry about it.”
“…Huh?”
“You might not have any use for it now, but I’d like you to keep it.”
“……”
“Oh, and you don’t need to thank me! After all, I owe you for the bread earlier, so it evens out!”
Natalie had truly given it to him out of kindness and wanted him to use it freely.
“Um…”
Edward, who had seemed so open and friendly when they went into town, now appeared rather distant—just as he had on their way back to the castle. Seeing how uneasy he looked, Natalie began to wonder if it was her fault.
“Lord Edward!”
“Hmm!?”
“I know I spoke my mind today… but I never meant to deny your thoughts or beliefs!”
She had considered taking everything back and apologizing just to smooth things over, but that would have felt like betraying herself. Perhaps she had inherited a bit of her father’s stubborn streak, that refusal to back down once she had decided something.
Still, she had no desire to force her opinions onto Edward. She simply wanted to convey her sincerity in some way—especially if her words had caused him distress.
“So… if my tone upset you, I…”
“Ah…”
“!! Truly, I’m so, so sorry—”
“No, don’t apologize. I didn’t mean ‘ah’ as in agreement. I just meant… your words didn’t upset me.”
His response startled her. He looked thoughtful, almost hesitant, and when she tilted her head in confusion, she noticed him struggling to find the right words.
While he hesitated, one of the baby lions climbed onto Natalie’s lap and curled up, probably to escape the chill of the grass. She gently stroked its fur, and it began to purr contentedly.
Watching her with the lion seemed to help Edward gather his resolve.
“Hearing your words, Natalie… I started to wonder…”
“…?”
“I started to wonder if I’m… a heartless person.”
“…What?”
Natalie blinked, startled by his confession. Edward, his brow furrowed, continued softly.
“I don’t mean it’s your fault or anything like that… It’s just that I—”
Even now, he spoke as if taking full responsibility for everything—for his tears, his words, his emotions. Natalie couldn’t help but protest.
“That’s not true at all!”
“…What?”
“Lord Edward, you have a kind heart!”
She knew better than anyone how gentle he really was. At first, she had thought him difficult to read, a prince with hidden depths—but after spending time together, after talking and walking through town…
“The ‘Eddie’ I saw in town smiled so warmly while watching the people live happily.”
“……”
“And you kept visiting that bakery, checking in on everyone, caring for your citizens.”
Edward looked at her, stunned. She met his gaze earnestly, speaking from the heart.
“If you were truly heartless, then neither I nor that shopkeeper would ever have smiled because of you.”
“That’s…”
“It’s true we disagreed earlier, but one opinion doesn’t define everything.”
Edward looked down, deep in thought, then slowly lifted his face.
“…But I… let someone I could have saved die. With such a tainted soul…”
“……”
His guilt seemed to run deep. Natalie exhaled softly and met his eyes.
“Lord Edward… do you kill people carelessly? Or take pleasure in it?”
“No! Of course not!”
She had known that would be his answer, yet hearing it still made her feel relieved. She looked straight into his eyes.
“Then I don’t believe you’re tainted in the slightest.”
“Eh…”
“Everyone has regrets or things they can’t undo. No one is perfect.”
Memories of her days at the duke’s estate flashed through her mind. She could only guess what incident Edward referred to as “letting someone die,” but she believed he had done what he thought was best at the time.
“If you wish to make amends, it’s never too late to start now. And to me… Lord Edward, you shine brightly.”
“…Truly?”
“Yes! I’m quite confident in my eyesight, you know—look, I can even see that star glowing over there!”
Natalie pointed at the sky, where countless colorful stars glittered. Edward followed her gaze and chuckled softly.
“Natalie, thank you.”
“It’s nothing special.”
When she turned to answer him, she found that he, too, was now looking at her instead of the stars. Their eyes met—each reflecting the other. And in Edward’s gaze, there was a warmth she had never seen before.
It wasn’t the heat of tears—it was something else entirely.
“…Natalie.”
“Y-Yes?”
Edward leaned closer, closing the small space between them. Before she knew it, his beautiful, sculpted face and those emerald eyes were right in front of her—
“…I like you. If you don’t feel the same—”
Something soft brushed against Natalie’s face—a puff of fur—and before she could process what was happening, just as his lips were about to meet hers—
“Meow!”
“……!”
The kiss never happened.
Because the baby lion that had been napping on Natalie’s lap had suddenly stood up—and pressed both of its tiny, padded paws right against Edward’s face.
