It was a day when the clouds looked a little ominous.
Patricia had been summoned by her fiancé, Alex, and came to the Royal Palace.
The place was their favorite Rose Garden.
There, where the colors, shapes, and fragrances of the roses changed with the seasons, the two of them had held countless tea parties like this.
They always drank rosehip tea, which Alex procured from Patricia’s favorite shop.
The sweets laid out were also thoughtfully prepared: cookies topped with rose jam, small tarts decorated with fresh cream shaped like roses—so many delicacies that showed his careful consideration.
――In the past.
Now, they simply drank ordinary tea, accompanied by plain sweets.
There was a faint chill in the air.
“……”
“……”
They were truly just having tea.
Though Alex had been the one to call her here, he hadn’t said a word.
Patricia tilted her head, wondering why she had been summoned, when Alex suddenly spoke, as if losing patience.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“…Something to say?”
She wondered why he would ask that, since he was the one who had summoned her.
Still, she had a hunch as to what he meant and answered.
“Is it about the Slavery Emancipation? Congratulations. It was thanks to your efforts, Alex-sama, that it was passed.”
“――Do you really think so?”
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy.
Even the maids and knights standing a little away turned pale.
It seemed something had struck a nerve.
“Why do you ask such a thing?”
“…You are clever, yet you don’t understand this.”
He let out a heavy sigh, lightly waved his hand, signaling the attendants.
They promptly turned and left, leaving the two of them alone.
Apparently, this was a conversation he did not want overheard.
After confirming with just his eyes that no one remained nearby, Alex rested his elbows on the table, propping his chin on the back of his hand.
“I know it wasn’t by my own power. Everything was thanks to you.”
“That’s not true… Alex-sama, I—”
“I don’t want to hear it. You’re always like this. You say it’s for me, yet you always do things behind my back that go against my wishes.”
What did he mean by going against his wishes?
He had said that the bill had to be passed no matter what.
That’s why Patricia had used her connections and asked Lady Drake to help.
How could that be against his will?
“Do you know what the vassals say about me? The ornamental Crown Prince. But the future is bright, because Lady Patricia stands by his side.”
“…That is not true. Alex-sama has always devoted himself to the country.”
“But that’s how I’m seen by those around me. And with what happened the other day, that rumor has become certain.”
This was the first she’d heard of such rumors.
True, her words the other day may have been the final push that got the bill passed, but if Alex hadn’t persisted so strongly, it probably wouldn’t have even come up for discussion.
Even the Emperor had taken time because it was his son’s request.
Patricia alone would not have been able to bring it up in that setting.
“…I’m sorry. But without my power alone, the topic of Slavery Emancipation wouldn’t have even been discussed that day. It was only thanks to Alex-sama’s efforts.”
“…I know. I know you acted for my sake. But I can’t let those rumors continue. Next time, please speak with me first.”
“…Understood.”
Though everything she did was for him, it had backfired.
Alex glanced at the downcast Patricia, then without a word, stood up and disappeared somewhere.
“……”
They used to be so close.
The last time they held hands and went to a flower field was when Patricia was thirteen.
Since then, their skin rarely touched except at parties.
She didn’t even know what had caused the change, but now there was clearly a deep rift between them.
Even so—
‘…I am the future Crown Princess.’
She slowly closed her eyes.
Floating in her mind were the childhood days that felt like a dream to her.
Studying together, occasionally skipping lessons to have picnics.
The adorable prince who brought her beautiful flowers—she loved him with all her heart.
“It’ll be alright. Someday, we’ll be like we were before…”
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