ICOF 02

Chapter 02

“Ha… you’re really hopeless. Adrian is already being forced into this marriage by Father, so it’s not

like he thinks well of you—and you don’t even remember how you kept throwing yourself at him?”

My sister clicked her tongue as she elegantly brushed back her loose hair.

“Unbelievable. At that ball, you made a complete mess of yourself, crying and begging me to call Adrian for you—and now you don’t even remember that? There’s no bigger fool than you.”

“Unni, can you speak a little more gently? I’m a patient, you know.”

“You’re perfectly healthy—except for your head.”

“That’s exactly it… I’m emotionally fragile!”

Rosa still twisted her red lips and snapped back at me.

“If you’re going to be shocked, be shocked at me. At least don’t show it when you’re in front of Adrian!”

“That… makes sense.”

“Idiot!”

She frowned and scanned me from head to toe.

“Are you even eating properly? You’ve lost a lot of weight. You look terrible. You already got rejected once—you’re about to get rejected again!”

“Unni!”

Seriously… is she worried about me or just trying to insult me?

As she said, I really didn’t like the food here. Everything was greasy and unfamiliar, and it was exhausting to eat things I’d never had before.

If this were Korea, I’d just gulp down a bowl of hot soup and be done. But here, bizarre dishes were served in long courses over hours—it made sense I’d lose weight.

Rosa kept observing me with a frown.

“Your personality has gotten strange, your memory is gone, and now you’re even making predictions or something? When people change suddenly, they die. Don’t overdo it.”

“I-I didn’t change that much…”

“Your late uncle had medium abilities, right? They say that kind of thing is hereditary… it’s not that, is it?”

“N-no, it’s not.”

“You’re even stuttering. You’re really weird. Anyway, when you see Adrian, send him my regards.”

“Unni, where are you going?”

Why is she asking me to pass along greetings like she’s leaving far away?

“What are you talking about? I’m going on my honeymoon with Gus soon. It was delayed because of the war, so this time we’re going to enjoy it properly.”

“Oh, must be nice.”

“If you’re jealous, go yourself!”

…Seriously, what a strange personality.

I shook my head and sighed, when suddenly an image flashed through my mind, making me frown.

“Unni, if you go there, don’t board any ship with red letters on it! If you do, you won’t come back on time!”

“What nonsense?”

Rosa looked at me like I was ridiculous, opened her fan, and soon left the hall to find her husband.

***

The moment I had been trying to avoid finally came. Adrian was coming to the palace today.

Since yesterday, I’d been holding back the urge to grab anyone and ask them to at least show me his portrait.

But I knew absolutely nothing about him—not even his face.

So I needed to do some prior research. But asking maids what my future husband looked like would be absurd.

They were already glancing at me like I was strange—if I asked outright, they might call a doctor or even summon my father.

So instead, I stood near the open reception room where maids frequently passed by and secretly listened to their conversation.

“When do you think the princess’s wedding will be? There must be a lot to prepare.”

“Probably. But does she really have to marry him? If it were me, I wouldn’t marry a man who doesn’t like me.”

“He’s handsome though. I can see why she’d fall for him.”

“Other than being handsome, what charm does he have? The princess is too good for him.”

‘Thank you, Lin!’

I felt like giving my personal maid a reward vacation.

“Oh, come on. The princess is cute and pretty, but she’s a bit timid…”

“That’s true.”

I take it back!

Lin continued,

“Did you see the way Sir Adrian looked at the princess with those cold eyes? Every time I see that, I forget he’s handsome. Sigh… the princess still doesn’t seem physically or mentally well. I wish His Majesty would postpone the wedding until next year.”

Frowning, I listened until I noticed a royal guard passing by in the hallway. I cleared my throat and stepped away.

‘At least Adrian is handsome… that’s a relief.’

At that moment, sunlight poured in through the corridor windows, and I caught sight of my reflection in the glass.

He looked at me like that?

At someone as delicate and pretty as Giselle?

How could he?

Still irritated, I walked toward my room when someone called me from behind.

“Giselle!”

The ordinary-looking blond man with a moderate build was my older brother, the crown prince and future king.

And beside him stood two men in high-ranking knight uniforms.

“Did you just return from going out?”

As the three approached, I met my brother Lucas’s gaze and smiled.

“Yes. Sir Adrian and Sir Hugo came to see Father, so we’re on our way together.”

“I see.”

Which one is Adrian? They’re both handsome…

The first man, with black hair and blue eyes, was tall and strongly built.

His cold expression and straight posture gave off pride and confidence. If anything, he looked like what I imagined Adrian would be.

The second man, with blond hair and pale blue-gray eyes, was also tall.

He was slimmer than the first, but clearly very handsome.

With his sharp nose and slightly upturned lips, he looked like he would have a nice smile.

This one seems gentler… but the cold black-haired one looks more like Adrian, right?

My brother studied my expression and urged me,

“Adrian is back—why don’t you greet him? Weren’t you waiting?”

I faced the black-haired man, held my skirt, and curtsied.

“Hello, Sir Adrian!”

“….”

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Oh… wrong person?

“Your Highness, it’s been a while. I am Hugo.”

The black-haired man bowed politely with a gentle smile.

I awkwardly waved my hand in the air and laughed.

“Of course. My tongue just slipped. I meant Sir Hugo.”

What am I even saying?

I want to hit myself.

I should’ve just greeted both of them instead of jumping to conclusions. I should never tell anyone I used to be a shaman’s daughter.

Then the silent blond man—Adrian—slightly bowed his head and spoke.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. I’m glad you returned safely.”

“….”

…Huh?

That’s it?

A brief silence followed, but it felt like years.

My brother cleared his throat and placed a hand on Hugo’s shoulder.

“Since the two of them haven’t met in a while, Sir Hugo, why don’t you wait in my room and have something to eat?”

Hugo looked between Adrian and me, his expression slightly uneasy.

Do I look like I’m going to eat someone? Why does he look like that?

The two of them walked toward the end of the corridor to Lucas’s room, and I followed Adrian as he led the way down to the garden.

Unknown flowers were in full bloom, and the weather was nice. Around this time, I would’ve been following ritual performances back in my old life…

“I came to see His Majesty today…”

After a moment of silence, Adrian spoke first.

“…to ask him to reconsider our marriage.”

I see. So he really doesn’t like Giselle.

But honestly, it didn’t affect me much. I had just met him today, and no matter how handsome he was, he belonged to a completely different world from mine.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. I hope it goes well for you.”

“…What do you mean? Are you saying you’ll insist on this marriage until the end?”

Seeing his furrowed brows and cold eyes, I finally understood exactly what the maids meant.

He was looking at me coldly—no, with contempt—and yet Giselle still tried to push this marriage through? She wasn’t just timid… she was stubborn.

“No. It’s the opposite. Why would I hold onto a man who doesn’t want me? There are plenty of men in the world!”

“…?”

Seeing Adrian’s confused expression strangely lifted my mood.

So this is what it looks like when a proud man is caught off guard.

He paused, hesitating.

Does he think I’ve gone crazy?

Or that I’m plotting something?

“You seem to have changed over the past few months.”

“Do I?”

“Yes. You didn’t even recognize me.”

I swallowed a groan and shut my eyes tightly.

“Well… a few weeks ago, I fell off a horse and think I hit my head.”

“You… hit your head?”

“Yes. But that has absolutely nothing to do with this. I’m not going to cling to a man who doesn’t

like me. Since I’m living as a princess anyway, I plan to meet many men, date a lot, and then marry at the right time.”