It was the first time she had ever entered the largest mansion in the city.
The mansion had been built as the lord’s summer villa.
However, its owner had never once visited—he disliked this remote countryside—so the butler had been left in charge of maintaining the place.
“Miss Senaren?”
“Hello, sir.”
“What brings you here today?”
Although it was called a “city,” it was really closer to a small town—everyone knew each other by face and name. Senaren, too, was on familiar terms with the butler.
“I was invited here today.”
“My goodness, so the guest was you, Miss Senaren.”
“It just turned out that way.”
“I thought you’d be arriving by carriage.”
They had offered to send one, but she refused. Her house was deep in the forest, and there was no proper road a carriage could take. Besides, riding one from the village entrance would have felt silly, so she said she would come on her own.
“Please, come inside. Lord Rex is waiting.”
The name was unfamiliar to her. He must be using a false identity.
If his real name were known, it would cause an uproar.
“The garden is beautiful,” she said.
“That’s the part I take the most pride in,” the butler replied.
“It shows. The flowers are blooming so beautifully.”
“Thank you.”
Despite the mansion being ownerless, the garden was meticulously kept.
She never imagined she’d one day get to see it properly—until now, she’d only ever glimpsed it while passing by during errands.
“Lord Rex, what are you doing out here?”
The butler sounded surprised to see Regios in the garden—he should have been waiting in the drawing room.
“I’ll take over from here,” Regios said.
“Then I’ll go prepare the meal.”
“Thank you.”
The butler gave Senaren a polite nod and disappeared into the mansion.
“The meal’s not quite ready yet. Shall we take a walk in the meantime?”
“Of course.”
She was fond of the garden anyway, so she didn’t mind.
As Regios watched her look around with curiosity, he asked,
“Does the garden fascinate you?”
“It’s just… so beautiful.”
“Is that so?”
He didn’t say much else, but she could tell he was thinking something along the lines of Beautiful? This?
“I’ve never been inside this mansion before,” Senaren said. “I’ve never seen such a lovely garden.”
“Then shall I let you come whenever you like? No—perhaps I should just give you the entire mansion.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, startled.
The butler would faint if he heard such a thing.
“Consider it an apology for my rudeness.”
“That’s far too much. I couldn’t even afford to maintain a place like this.”
She laughed softly, brushing it off.
“I could take care of the maintenance costs for you.”
“I’m satisfied with my life as it is. Having too much is no better than having too little.”
“Is that so?”
Perhaps she was the missing princess. Her hair was white instead of gold, but she had no memories—so who could say for certain?
Still, Senaren valued her peaceful present more than any lost identity.
She had kind parents and a comfortable job. She wished life could always stay this way.
She didn’t tell him, but when her parents had first found her, she had been in a terrible state—near death, even. They had taken her in and nursed her back to life.
“Let’s see the garden later. We should eat first.”
“Alright.”
When she saw the table, Senaren froze for a moment.
Lavish dishes she’d never seen before gleamed on fine tableware—it looked more like a work of art than a meal.
But there were so many knives, spoons, and forks laid out that she didn’t know which one to use.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“I just… don’t know which utensil to start with.”
What was second nature to him was entirely foreign to her.
Realizing this, Regios didn’t bother to explain that she could simply start from the outermost ones. Instead, he said,
“…Just eat comfortably.”
Then, watching her awkwardness, he swept away all the excess utensils and began eating with only one piece of cutlery.
Only then did Senaren reach for her food.
“I didn’t think to be considerate.”
“It’s only natural for you. Things like this aren’t part of my world.”
“Do you like the food?”
“Yes. It’s delicious.”
The salad was fresh with orange dressing, the mushrooms had the rich texture of meat, and the clams were soft and savory. The roasted duck was crisp on the outside and tender inside.
Every dish was wonderful, and Senaren ate with wide, shining eyes.
“Ice cream?” she said when the dessert arrived.
In such a remote place, the fact that he’d managed to prepare ice cream was impressive.
The moment it touched her tongue, it melted—leaving behind a cool sweetness laced with fresh fruit.
“You seem to like the ice cream the best,” he said.
“It’s not something you get to eat often.”
Perhaps she looked a little too happy—her cheeks flushed as she answered.
“It’s really good.”
“The princess used to love it too.”
“I see.”
“In truth, she loved anything sweet.”
He smiled faintly as he said it.
In his memory, Ephilia had always been sad—his guilt only allowed him to remember her that way.
But as he watched Senaren now, for a fleeting moment, he could almost see that girl again—the one who had once been so radiant and full of life.
“Were today’s dishes the ones she liked too?”
“Yes. Would you like some of mine?” he asked, sliding his glass bowl toward her.
“Why aren’t you eating it?”
“Because this isn’t the kind of sweetness I crave.”
She didn’t understand what he meant.
“No, thank you.”
“I wish you would. Watching you eat… it feels as if she’s really come back.”
“That makes it even harder to accept,” she said softly.
Regios gave a bitter smile. The expression was so sorrowful that she couldn’t help but speak words of comfort.
“My condolences… about the princess.”
It wasn’t much of a comfort—just a polite, detached phrase anyone might say.
“It’s alright. I’d already given up, to be honest.”
“…Had you?” she asked carefully.
“If she were alive, she would have come back—no matter how much she hated me.”
Senaren didn’t know what to say. Her silence made him smile faintly again.
“Aren’t you curious why she hated me?”
“I don’t think it’s my place to ask. It was between the two of you.”
“You’re not curious at all?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“I hurt her,” he said quietly.
“Why?”
“Because it was my fate.”
He had rejected his fate—but it was Ephilia who had paid the price. Only after losing her did he realize how cruelly selfish he had been.
“Shall we move to the drawing room?” he asked.
“I think I should be going.”
He gave her an apologetic, wistful smile.
“Just a little longer. Please. Being with you… it really feels as if she’s here again.”
“I’m not her replacement.”
She already knew he saw the princess in her face—and even if she understood, that didn’t make it pleasant.
“I know. I’m not mistaken. But… there won’t be another time like this.”
His expression was pained—so much that she couldn’t bring herself to refuse again.
Besides, his words implied he would be leaving soon.
“…Alright.”
“I’ll serve tea.”
“You’re preparing it yourself?”
“It’s part of my apology.”
“How humble of you.”
To share tea with the Crown Prince himself—alone, without attendants—was an honor in itself. His humility made the situation oddly amusing.
“If you wanted something material, I could easily grant it,” he said, pouring the tea.
Senaren accepted the cup with a polite smile.
“Thank you.”
Her answer had a double meaning—it could apply both to the tea and to his offer of wealth.
Regios chuckled quietly.
“If there’s anything you do want, you need only ask. Sugar—three spoons, right?”
“Yes,” she said automatically, before realizing—too late—that her answer was wrong.
