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Johann was momentarily taken aback by her straightforward words. He hadn’t anticipated such a response at all.

“…I see. It is an honor that Your Highness the Princess liked it.”

However, Johann merely answered in a calm voice. His expression was close to emotionless, and his embarrassment was deeply hidden within his blue eyes.

“It seems you don’t quite like it. Is it rare for someone to be fond of me like this?”

This was Johann’s first encounter with Raliana, and he knew nothing about her, but he could tell right away.

She was quite capricious.

And, true to her royal lineage, very arrogant.

“I’m not expecting too much from the start. For now, I’m just satisfied to have time to get to know each other, if you will. Hehe.”

Raliana set her teacup down and continued nonchalantly, as if the conclusion had already been reached.

“So, what do you think? How about becoming my man?”

She smiled elegantly as she spoke.

“To be the man of a princess, isn’t that a glorious opportunity to share in the royal radiance? I think it’s quite acceptable.”

According to her words, it was a chance Johann would not get again. How often does a third son of a house get a chance to be connected with a princess?

“To be honest, I would like to refuse.”

But Johann had Fransia. Even if it wasn’t her radiance or the Ferbache Duke House, he would not betray her.

“Oh, that’s an interesting response. I didn’t expect you to flat-out refuse.”

Raliana’s eyebrows slightly raised.

“And what is the reason?”

“Because I have a lover.”

“You don’t want to betray your lover?”

“That’s right.”

Johann’s unwavering deep blue eyes piqued Raliana’s interest even more.

“Hmm, fine. Honestly, I was half-joking when I said that. It wouldn’t make sense to jump straight into a relationship after just meeting, right?”

Raliana winked at Johann, squinting one eye. Even her playful demeanor was breathtakingly beautiful.

“This is something time will solve, so I won’t worry about it. The Harsen Archmage is probably feeling flustered since we just met. As we continue to meet, you’ll naturally open your heart to me.”

There was conviction in her words, as if she foresaw Johann eventually coming to her.

Johann did not like that conviction, but he could hardly argue with Raliana.

“Did I offend you too much?”

A hint of dissatisfaction seemed to show on Raliana’s face as she slightly tilted her head. Her golden hair flowed downwards.

“Rather than being offended, I’m a bit perplexed that you summoned me suddenly to say such things. After all, I’ve just met Your Highness the Princess.”

Raliana gently curled her lips upward.

“So, you don’t understand why I’m acting like this?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… How should I explain it?”

She tapped her lips with her index finger and smiled brightly. It was a refreshing smile that matched her light demeanor.

“The emperor is slowly looking for a suitor for me, you see? It’s likely to be a prince from another country or a high-ranking noble. But I don’t want to marry like that. I want to choose the man I will spend my life with.”

Raliana had just turned twenty, having passed her birthday. The reason she didn’t yet have a suitor despite being an imperial princess was her stubbornness.

“So, am I the choice you’ve made?”

John asked with a stiff expression.

“Yes. It’s truly good for both of us, isn’t it?”

She would get to choose her marrying partner, and Johann would gain tremendous wealth and power from the royal radiance.

An ordinary man would probably have accepted her proposal.

But relationships shouldn’t be built that way. A relationship with clearly defined power dynamics is bound to crumble quickly.

He had no intention of betraying Fransia in the first place.

“It is an undeserved honor for me to be Your Highness’s choice. However, my heart is already set.”

Johann’s voice held no wavering.

“There can be no betrayal of my connection with Princess Ferbache.”

Even as he firmly rejected her with a stern expression, she did not give up.

“Hehe, let’s not decide right now and take your time thinking about it. I didn’t expect an answer immediately anyway.”

At this moment, Raliana’s feelings for Johann were more curiosity and interest than anything else, yet having such feelings meant he was already special to her.

“I don’t think I can give you the answer you desire, but understood.”

As Johann nodded with a serious face, Raliana appeared satisfied with that alone, smiling softly. After all, the crucial part of a beginning is to slip in through the gap.

“Alright. Shall we enjoy some tea time now?”

As Raliana lightly rang a small bell with her fingertips, a clear sound spread through the garden. Soon, servants appeared, breaking the calmness of the garden, setting teacups on elegantly designed silver trays.

The steam rising from the tea carried an exotic scent. The delicate fragrance of flowers and herbs tickled the nose.

“Isn’t it exotic?”

“It is.”

Raliana smiled broadly.

“Hehe, I specially obtained this for today. It’s best to have the first meeting be memorable.”

As a servant poured the tea into the cups, Raliana closed her eyes and inhaled the aroma.

“We shared heavy conversations before, so now let’s only discuss trivial matters.”

“…Yes.”

After that, Johann had to engage in light conversations with her, sharing various stories.

The meeting with the Third Princess Raliana Rojino… as its mission content indicated, was not that pleasant.

There was that unique arrogance carried by those at the peak of power who think the world revolves around them, and he could clearly see that she was targeting him.

‘This is quite troublesome.’

As soon as he got rid of Kasys, who was attached to Fransia, the Third Princess clung to him. Johann sighed inwardly even as he conversed.

He knew that being connected with the protagonist of this work would not be smooth sailing, but was it not too much?

However, it was impossible to give up everything now. He had started to genuinely like Fransia.

Johann forced a reluctant smile and had to match Raliana’s mood.

“After all… your smile is truly nice.”

Distracted, Raliana awkwardly set the teacup down. Watching her movements quietly, Johann immediately took out a handkerchief and placed it on the table.

“Be careful, as hot tea might splash.”

His tone was calm, but his actions contained a careful thoughtfulness for her.

“Um… thank you.”

Lost in admiration of Johann’s face, Raliana took the handkerchief and dabbed at the spilled tea. She felt good about the small consideration.

“…I’m sorry for staring blankly. But it’s not my fault that the Harsen Archmage is so handsome. You know? I just can’t take my eyes off.”

Raliana sounded just like Fransia. As Johann recalled her momentarily blushing face, he couldn’t help but smile.

Not a forced smile with just a smirk, but a soft and natural smile that reached his eyes.

“Oh… you really smiled.”

In that instant, Raliana felt her breath catch. A fresh smile fitting for a radiant garden with fluttering flower petals. It felt as if time stood still around him.

She was enchanted.

That was the right expression…

“…Is it not permissible to smile?”

Johann tilted his head while looking at Raliana, who had turned to stone.

He looked completely oblivious to what he had done.

“Hmm… It’s not that you can’t smile, but I think it’s better to be cautious. You shouldn’t enchant women at all times, you know?”

Raliana awkwardly cleared her throat and shrugged her shoulders, lightly smiling.

“Then, must I always keep a straight face?”

“You only maintained a straight face and a forced smile while speaking with me, so I think that’s what you should do?”

Raliana squinted one eye.

Her playful demeanor was an effort to hide that her heart was racing. She firmly resolved not to give the initiative to the other party.

“Hehe…”

Laughing softly, Raliana cautiously shifted her gaze to her teacup. Honestly, that moment felt dangerous.

Was it that he was more endearing because he hadn’t done that before? After only seeing his forced smile, seeing his genuine smile made her feel enchanted.

‘…Should I try being sincere a little?’

As they spent trivial moments together now, a desire to slowly get to know him sparked within her heart.

What started as mere playfulness was changing into sincerity.

“Hmm.”

Raliana, who had only been staring at her teacup, cautiously lifted her gaze. She saw Johann Harsen staring at her with a dazed expression.

Seeing him made her heart race and flutter again. It hadn’t been like this at first, but once she started to notice, it became all-consuming.

“…Okay. Let’s call it a day for today. Thank you for coming such a long way, Harsen Archmage.”

Feeling it was time to stop, Raliana rose from her seat with an awkward smile.

“It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness,” Johann responded as if he had been waiting for just that, smiling as he stood up.

Raliana found his demeanor strangely unappealing, but already melted by Johann’s smile, she could not say anything.

“…I’ll call you again.”

“Yes. Please feel free to summon me anytime.”

She laughed lightly, but did not look at Johann. He was wearing the same fresh smile as before.

The more she recalled that smile, the more heat she felt in her cheeks. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. If this continued, her face would turn crimson.

“……”

Johann noticed Raliana’s suddenly passive demeanor and felt it was odd, but he didn’t press deeper.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

He straightened his clothes and offered Raliana a polite bow.

Watching Johann’s departing figure, Raliana carefully brushed the cold sensation of the teacup from her fingertips.

‘…I’ve never been so swayed like this before.’

Raliana propped her chin on the table, pouting her lips. Just a smile made her heart flutter; she was taken aback to think she was such an easy woman.

Of course, there was delicate care and an undeniable grace within her…

Yet, she could not reconcile herself with how easily she fell for just a smile.

‘He’s more dangerous than I thought.’

A man who pulls at a woman’s heart just by his gaze and smile, how many tears from women might be hidden in his shadow?

Raliana suddenly became curious about that.