A massive golden iron gate adorned with the crests of the Britte royal dynasties slowly opened.
At the faint noise, Johann slowly opened his eyes.
Outside the window, he saw Princess Kranz staring out silently. The carriage began to move again.
An expansive garden laid out in geometric patterns stretched endlessly.
At its end, a grand palace built of ivory-hued marble shimmered beneath the setting sun.
The carriage, having just passed through the great garden full of red roses—the national flower of the Kingdom of Britte—came to a stop.
“It’s been a while, Catherine.”
The crown prince and his wife had come to greet them.
“Have you been well?”
Crown Prince Alex and Princess Catherine exchanged a light embrace and brushed cheeks. Watching them, Anveline swallowed a sigh.
They truly looked like a perfect couple… if only Louise weren’t in the picture.
“Welcome.”
The crown prince, having let go of Catherine, greeted Johann warmly.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.”
Johann replied with a polite but dry tone.
“It’s good to see you again, Princess.”
Crown Prince Alex did not forget Johann’s fiancée and guided the guests inside.
He joked that he had taken extra care with tonight’s dinner, belatedly celebrating Catherine’s birthday.
At the same time, he praised his wife who had prepared the feast. Anveline was annoyed by how proudly he doted on her.
The lavish banquet table was beautifully set and filled with a sweet floral scent, more than worthy of honoring such esteemed guests.
But none of them, long accustomed to such extravagance, were particularly surprised—except for Catherine.
“Oh my, the colors are so beautiful.”
Catherine gently praised the crown princess who must have worked hard for the occasion.
Even if she hadn’t arranged the flowers herself, she had likely handpicked each one with care.
“Thank you for saying so.”
Louise smiled kindly at Catherine.
“I actually thought there were too many reds. A bit overwhelming, really. You’re too kind, Catherine.”
As expected, Anveline couldn’t resist commenting.
Louise hid her expression and responded calmly.
“Since the royal colors of Rondos and Kranz are red and crimson, I tried to be mindful of that.”
There was no way to disparage her now. Anveline demurely lowered her gaze and examined the table in detail.
Louise simply smiled in silence.
“Let’s have a drink.”
The crown prince lifted his silver goblet to lighten the mood. After a toast pledging the eternal unity of the three nations, the banquet began.
“How are preparations for the tournament going?”
Catherine asked Anveline as she neatly sliced venison.
“Smoothly.”
Anveline replied with a smile, though the truth was far from it.
She couldn’t find a designer that satisfied her. In the end, she instructed a replica of Madame Loren’s design to be made.
Even if Olivia wore the exact same uniform, it wouldn’t matter.
As long as Olivia Blanchet was seen as a woman copying the princess, that was enough.
“Did the ex-wife play tennis for a long time?”
The sudden question was directed at Johann, who had mostly been quietly listening.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
The impolite topic completely disregarded Johann’s fiancée.
Uncomfortable glances briefly chastised Anveline before slowly shifting to Johann.
“Not sure.”
Johann tipped his wine glass. The etched grapes and vines shimmered coldly in the chandelier’s light.
“Never saw her play.”
It was an indifferent answer that cut off any further conversation.
Meeting Johann’s iron-gray eyes, Anveline flinched and finally remembered the presence of his fiancée.
“I apologize. That was rude of me.”
“Not at all, Princess. Don’t worry about it.”
Irene offered a faint smile.
“You’re staying to watch the finals, right?”
Anveline shifted the topic back to the Dumblin Championship.
Johann instinctively checked the time. His long fingers slowly rolled up his stiff cuff.
“Think of me every time you see this watch.”
The handwritten words pressed in clumsy penmanship came to mind.
“Your Highness.”
Johann gently set down his champagne glass and called the crown prince. It was an impulsive act.
The crown prince, who had been talking to Catherine, turned his head.
“I think I’ll be heading out now.”
“Oh dear. I’ve kept a busy man too long. Let’s go horseback riding next time.”
“Call me anytime. Then, I’ll take my leave.”
The crown prince let him go without hesitation.
Johann stood, bowed formally, and left the banquet hall.
His action was extremely poised, yet no one found him rude.
Climbing into the carriage, Johann instructed the driver,
“To Riverside, 3rd Avenue.”
The carriage began to move. Outside, the city was bathed in crimson lights as darkness fell.
By the time the carriage entered the city, it was full evening. Traffic was unusually heavy, and the carriage moved in starts and stops.
Olivia struggled to maintain a straight posture, fighting off the drowsiness overwhelming her. But it wasn’t easy.
She concluded that playing with children was more exhausting than playing tennis.
The red glow of the streetlamps outside blurred as her eyelids drooped.
“You should close your eyes for a bit.”
Edgar said with a soft smile.
“No, I’m fine.”
Olivia firmly refused.
She jerked her head up and shook it, trying to stay alert.
She clutched her hands tightly together and kneaded them until they turned red.
Her movements slowed, and eventually her eyelids began to close. Olivia forced her eyes open again.
Edgar chuckled and offered a solution.
“Just pretend I’m not here.”
“But you are here.”
“You hear a lot about how stubborn you are, don’t you?”
“I just look bad when I sleep, that’s all.”
Olivia narrowed her sleepy eyes and retorted primly. Edgar laughed out loud.
Then, suddenly, his expression turned cold.
“How do you know that?”
His voice turned chilling.
He had never looked at a woman sleeping after they had been together. He had never felt that level of affection for anyone.
But with this woman…
His gaze on Olivia deepened, the heat in it slowly rising like a simmering boil.
The woman stared back at him blankly. Her lips parted.
“That’s…”
She trailed off.
‘Han Ji-an. You drooled.’
During stakeouts with her senior, they used to take turns napping.
No matter how hard she tried, she could never resist sleep. Every time she woke, he teased her.
‘You grind your teeth too.’
He would say with a grin.
‘Don’t sleep just anywhere. It’s not a good look.’
About to respond to Edgar, Olivia shut her lips and turned her head away. One man seeing her like that was enough.
Are you doing well?
That world where no one waited for her or welcomed her—whenever it came crashing in like this, her eyes would burn like a fool.
She missed him unbearably.
Watching her profile, flushed from her neck upward, Edgar’s eyes grew darker.
No one but Johann had ever seen this side of her sleeping.
‘Olivia is off-limits.’
What a joke.
Edgar sneered. Remembering Johann’s warning brought a wave of irritation that churned his gut.
How could you know unless you tried?
Still staring at Olivia, his smile twisted.
Her gaze drifted to the dusk-tinted scenery beyond the window.
The red in the sky faded into deep navy blue.
As her eyes slowly closed in the warm glow of the streetlamps, her slight frame swayed with the motion of the carriage.
Then, suddenly, the carriage came to a halt. Olivia’s head was about to hit the wall with a thud—but Edgar reached out.
Gone was the lady of flawless decorum.
In the dim glow filtering through the glass, her lashes cast delicate shadows.
With her lips slightly parted, Olivia rested her head in Edgar’s palm, breathing softly.
The quiet street echoed with every sound. Beneath her slender neck, the fabric of her blouse rose and fell in rhythm with her breath.
Watching that rhythm, Edgar’s throat bobbed.
The carriage moved again.
The jolt woke her. As she stirred, her eyes opened—just in time to lock directly with a piercing blue gaze right in front of her.
It was when Johann’s carriage had just exited the financial district, hellish on a Friday evening.
An old horse pulling a freight cart had collapsed dead in the road.
Just when the carriage had begun to pick up speed, it halted once more. Chaos erupted as carriages in every direction collided and tangled.
One dead horse threw the whole road into disarray.
Johann, sitting back with crossed legs and gazing out, lowered his eyes to check his watch.
7:45 PM.
Highly likely that Olivia was at home. A bit late for a lady to be out without an escort.
His carriage began to move again.
Just as he lifted his head and turned toward the window, his gaze froze.
It was her.
The woman who had once been his wife—Olivia Blanchet. And—
Just as the startled woman turned her face away in a panic—
Edgar’s hand firmly gripped her chin.
Her wide blue eyes darted nervously, her pale face slowly flushing red.
At that moment, Edgar leaned in.
“Right here.”
His voice, like a kiss, whispered against her ear.
“You had something on you.”
As he softly murmured into her ear, his gaze locked with Johann’s.
His lips curved in a long line. Edgar’s eyes remained fixed on Johann through the window.
The instant their eyes collided, the carriages slowly passed each other.
Utterly juvenile, but maddeningly exhilarating.
