Chapter 18

Rowena also intended to choose only two dresses for the engagement, and the other three for the other uses.

The wedding dress will be tailored after entering the imperial family, so nothing has been confirmed yet.

“Just try it on.”

As Rowena headed to the dressing room, Pina and Anna followed in with a dress.

Lyria was next to Kian in a position some distance from the dressing room. Perhaps because of the slip of the tongue earlier, the designer somewhat kept her distance without actively recommending it.

“Welcome…?!”

When she saw someone coming through the door, the employee who greeted them kindly, froze. The designer looked back to see what was going on, but she also froze.

“Y-your Highness?”

“Who?”

Lyria, who was chatting with Kian, turned pale and bowed her head on seeing the Empire’s Prince!

“…What about Lady Adelia?”

The escort knight and entourage seemed to be outside. Cecil, who leisurely entered the store, asked Lyria. She was once almost a fiancée of his, but his eyes were very businesslike.

“I-in the dressing room…”

“Is that so?”

Cecil turned to the dressing room in relief.

The disturbance outside could not have been heard from the dressing room. Sure enough, the door to the dressing room burst open and Rowena in her dress hurried out.

“Your Highness.”

Rowena grabbed the hem of her skirt and bent her knees slightly and bowed her head. It wasn’t so bad that the fluttering skirt moved.

He didn’t know if it was because the dress was nice or that the person wearing the dress looked nice.

“This is good.”

He remembered thinking that Rowena’s shabby dress was also a neat design. Looking back, it was just a simple design and a dull-colored dress.

“… It’s hard to find something that doesn’t suit you.”

The words simply came out as she stared at him. Rowena quickly turned red. Lyria, two maids, and even Kian, who were looking at her, were surprised.

“Oh my.”

“Oh my gosh!”

There was clearly more to the crown prince’s gaze at Rowena than met the eye.

Vera, the owner, and designer of the dressing room had a hunch that for the engagement, she would not end up selling just one dress.

If she could seduce the lady, the crown prince would have been the image of this dressing room!

“You look great in that, my lady!”

The designer, who tried to speak in a charming voice, made eye contact with the crown prince who rolled his eyes away without saying a word.

It was a cruel look that would have had her decapitated without Rowena around.

Originally, commoners should not open their mouths without permission in the presence of the imperial family.

The designer regretted trying to jump on the so-called opportunity, so she swallowed her saliva and retreated.

Quick-witted Pina beckoned around. It was a desperate gesture that it would be good for them to leave at this point. Kian also silently escaped as he wrapped his arm around Lyria, and Anna and Pina quietly left their seats.

Rowena left alone, looked at Cecil in bewilderment.

“Why are you here?”

She couldn’t help but ask even though she thought it was a rude question. Cecil’s face relaxed, he felt better just by looking at Rowena’s face.

“Is that what you’re saying to someone who’s come all the way here? You’re too cold for your fiancé.”

“Please answer my question.”

Cecil grinned, rather than frowning, though she deserved an attitude. Rowena’s heart leaped at the grin. If it were her father or Matthias, they would have slapped her or raised their fist.

It’s different.

It wasn’t what she was told. But was this guy actually a good guy?

No, he wasn’t a bad person, but he wasn’t good either. The only way he got his marriage approval with her was close to fraud.

“What if I wanted to see your face?”

The whisper made her face flush even more.

Cecil’s fingertips tickled at the thought of biting her like last time. It was sweet at that time, but he thought it would still taste sweet if he bit her now. How fascinating it would be to scan that skin with the tip of his tongue.

“Why do you keep saying that…”

He was affected by her because it was lovely to see different expressions, anger, and embarrassment, on her. Rowena turned her gaze away from his, and Cecil quickly approached her.

Her eyes flinched and looked wary of him, but her heart fluttered. Cecil was pleased with the fact.

“Rowena.”

He whispered a name that pleased him no matter how many times he called her. Rowena couldn’t make eye contact with him again and turned her head away.

He wondered if love really needed time. The duration wasn’t important. It was important how much his feelings had moved now.

Cecil held Rowena’s hand and buried his face in her palm.

“I missed you.”

Rowena looked at Cecil, her heart thumping in her chest. Cecil still looked at her with his palm on her face, mesmerizing her for a moment with his sweet gaze.

Has anyone ever looked at her like that?