"Father–Your Majesty–must we really go all the way to the Kingdom of Rubere ourselves? We are the Emperor and Crown Prince of the Aureum Empire."
Luias asked his father, the Emperor of Aureum.
A trace of displeasure crossed his face.
He did not like the idea of a mere kingdom summoning the Empire at will, especially a kingdom with which they had little goodwill with.
The invitation itself felt uncomfortable and suspicious.
"Whether it is an empire or a kingdom, it is proper to accept an invitation once it has been extended."
The Emperor replied.
"From a kingdom we barely tolerate, no less. Doesn't it seem suspicious to you?"
"What one hears and what one sees with one's own eyes are not the same."
The Emperor said gently and added.
"If you go in person, you may discover something different from what rumors suggest."
Even before his father's warm smile, Luias could not hide his sulky expression.
Yet, he followed his father without further protest.
When they arrived at the Kingdom of Rubere and stepped down from the carriage, the King of Rubere greeted them personally.
"Welcome!"
It was a greeting far too simple for welcoming the Empire, but the Emperor accepted it with a smile.
The palace itself was decorated decently, and the preparations for receiving guests appeared more sincere than expected.
As the Emperor and the King walked ahead toward the luncheon hall, something caught Luias' eye.
A girl with hair that shimmered like red silk.
She was moving cautiously, sneaking out of the palace as though she were a thief.
Drawn to her without thinking, Luias quietly slipped away from the group and followed her.
The girl was hiding behind a patch of tall grass near the carriages.
Approaching her carefully from behind, Luias spoke.
"Are you trying to steal a carriage?"
At the sudden voice, the girl jolted in shock and clamped both hands over her mouth.
"Eek—!"
Instinctively, as though sensing she must not be discovered, she pressed her hands more firmly over her lips.
Luias found the sight oddly cute.
She had pale skin and eyes the color of amber. Cute and beautiful, like a living doll.
But then he noticed the faint redness beneath her eyes, still glistening as though she had just been crying.
"Why are you crying?"
"…I'm not crying."
She turned her head away, as if trying to hide her tears.
Even that small gesture looked endearing to Luias.
"Who are you? What's your name? Why are you here alone?"
Before he realized it, questions poured out of him.
"…And who are you to speak to me so casually?"
Her guarded yet bold tone reminded him of a frightened kitten putting up its defenses.
Luias almost laughed.
"Kh— ahem. I'm… As. As… Arum."
Not knowing who she truly was, he hesitated to reveal that he was the Crown Prince of the Empire and awkwardly concealed his identity.
"I've never heard of that family."
She eyed him suspiciously.
Avoiding her gaze, Luias quickly added.
"Ah—well. I came here with my father today to receive a title."
Cold sweat formed on his back. It was an obvious lie, but he hoped she would believe it.
"Hah… So they're even showing off noble titles today just to impress the Imperial Emperor?"
Dahlia muttered softly to herself.
"Hm? What was that?"
"Oh—nothing."
"Then what about you? What's your name?"
"I—I'm… L-Lia. Lia… Bess."
This time, Luias looked at her suspiciously, and Dahlia avoided his eyes.
Despite that, Luaias found the entire situation oddly enjoyable.
"What are you doing here alone?"
"Well… um. I wanted to see the city outside the castle, but… I don't have a carriage."
Though she said it casually, Luias could tell she was trying to sneak out secretly.
Because there were countless carriages nearby, yet she couldn't just get one.
Which meant she needed to leave without anyone noticing.
As she hesitated, Luias smiled.
"I'll help you. See that carriage over there? I know the driver. Wait here for a moment."
After exchanging a few words with the coachman, Luaias gestured for her to come over.
"Here. Take this carriage. No one will question you."
For someone who claimed to be a noble receiving a title today, he handled the situation far too smoothly.
Dahlia looked at him with suspicion once again.
"…Are you sure your family is really receiving a title today?"
"O—of course! You can speak freely too. Aren't you a noble lady?"
"I am… no—I mean, yes. A count's daughter."
She hesitated before continuing.
"Thank you. If you ever visit the capital, come near the small orphanage. I'll repay you then."
"I'll be able to see you there?"
"I volunteer there sometimes."
Luias felt his heart flutter.
Not only was she beautiful, but she was kind.
Smiling brightly, he saw her off.
"Alright. Then you have to spend time with me when we meet again."
The carriage door closed, and Luaias stood there until it disappeared from sight.
"Lia… Bess. That family name must be a lie. Just who are you…?"
He wanted to see her again.
From afar, he could hear servants calling out, searching the palace for someone else.
Reluctantly, Luias turned and left.
***
The luncheon between the Emperor of Aureum and the King of Rubere was painfully uncomfortable.
Luias sat through it, eager to escape the tense atmosphere.
Then the King suddenly spoke.
"Crown Prince Luias is of marriageable age now, is he not? How about forming a match with my daughter, Dahlia? It would bring our kingdom and the Empire closer together."
The very daughter who should have been present had not shown her face.
The King's intentions were painfully obvious.
Luias was deeply irritated by the King's audacity.
The Emperor smiled quietly.
"I believe the Crown Prince's thoughts are more important than my own in this matter."
The words were brief, yet Luias understood the meaning behind those words.
The decision was his—but he was expected to choose carefully.
And Luias's heart was already elsewhere.
On the red-haired girl he had met earlier.
Lia.
Her eyes would not leave his mind.
That was why this conversation irritated him all the more.
"There is still much I must learn. I would like to consider marriage later, at my own pace."
Firm, yet courteous.
The Emperor smiled in satisfaction.
In contrast, the King of Rubere stiffened. Unable to hold back any longer, he raised his hand and ordered the maids.
"Bring Princess Dahlia here at once!"
The maids bowed deeply, trembling as they spoke.
"Your Majesty… no matter how much we search, we cannot find Her Highness."
The King's face froze.
Not knowing his own daughter's whereabouts before the guests was a devastating blow to his dignity.
Luias smirked inwardly.
'What a pitiful king, and his princess as well.'
The awkward luncheon ended hastily.
The Emperor canceled the remaining schedule and decided on an early return to the Empire.
The King of Rubere, whose plans had completely fallen apart with Dahlia's disappearance, was in no mood to entertain guests further.
***
On the way back to the Empire, Luias finally spoke.
"That was truly a waste of time, Father."
"You think so?"
The Emperor asked calmly.
"Yes. He invited us with such obvious intentions to gain something from the Empire through marriage. A shallow scheme."
The Emperor merely nodded, then he asked lightly.
"Where did you go earlier?"
After hesitating for a moment, Luias smiled faintly.
"I met a cute girl with red hair."
Seeing the smile on his son's face, the Emperor smiled as well.
"Red hair… Then you must have already met the Princess of Rubere. Did she seem as greedy as her father?"
Luias froze.
"…The princess?"
The Emperor nodded.
"In the Kingdom of Rubere, only the Queen and the Princess have red hair."
Shock and disbelief washed over him at once.
'Lia… was the princess?'
Of course.
The name Bess was surely a lie.
"No. P—Princess Dahlia was different. But the girl I met…. I didn't know she was royalty."
The Emperor smiled knowingly.
"Do you regret rejecting the King's proposal, then?"
Luias was silent for a moment before answering.
"…For the sake of the Empire, I do not regret it. And… one cannot truly know someone from such a brief meeting."
But it was an obvious lie.
Though their encounter had been short, it left a deeper impression than anything else.
Her voice, her gaze, everything about her had etched itself into his heart.
Luias gazed out the carriage window at the Kingdom of Rubere fading into the distance.
Only one name echoed in his mind.
'Lia… I want to see you again.'
He hoped they would meet again someday.
And when they did, he vowed to introduce himself properly.