Chapter 10: The Villainess Is Afraid of the Crown Prince
The tea with His Highness was held indoors rather than in the garden.
Even so, sunlight poured in through the large windows, and vivid greenery spread beyond the glass.
“Thank you very much for arranging this opportunity for交流 today.”
Claudia executed a flawless curtsy and, after receiving permission, took her seat on the sofa.
Across the table sat His Highness, and beside him was another boy with red hair.
‘Standing behind him is Tristan, the knight commander’s son.’
She recognized the face from her condemnation.
She remembered being reproached with righteous words.
In that situation, she had unquestionably been in the wrong, so she held no resentment toward him.
Even if she had been deceived, the wrongdoing had been hers.
Both His Highness and Tristan were the same age as Claudia, and they appeared younger than in her memories.
‘Just like Brother, everyone seems adorable when you are older in spirit.’
From his position, Tristan was likely present as a guard.
Yet she did not understand why someone still inexperienced as a knight would attend this tea.
The tea itself was already irregular for Claudia.
She could only hope His Highness had not requested Tristan’s presence because he wished to avoid being alone with her.
“As a token of acquaintance, may I ask you to accept this?”
When she lifted the small prepared package, Tristan stepped forward.
Though already in knightly training, he displayed no roughness, and his movements as he received the parcel were polished.
Still, Claudia did not miss the way his gaze lingered on the bandage wrapped around her finger.
His Highness accepted the parcel from Tristan and tilted his head slightly.
In doing so, his silver hair, cut neatly at the nape, slipped softly across his collar.
‘H-how lovely.
If he remained silent, one might mistake him for a porcelain doll.’
His long lashes, as lustrous as if touched by morning dew, framed golden eyes that symbolized royalty.
His nose was slender and straight, his lips thin.
His skin, like white porcelain, was breathtakingly beautiful even in Claudia’s eyes.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.
It is nothing remarkable.”
She smiled, scolding herself for nearly being captivated by his beauty.
Inside was a handkerchief she had embroidered, bearing the royal crest.
“Oh?
As the rumors say, Lady Claudia is quite skilled at embroidery.”
Apparently satisfied, His Highness turned to show the embroidery to Tristan behind him.
“Rumors?”
“You presented a handkerchief to the duke, did you not?
Word of your impressive craftsmanship has reached my ears as well.”
Indeed, she had gifted one to both her father and Virgil.
She had not had the chance to present it personally to her father, so she had asked the butler to deliver it to his office.
She had not expected it to become the subject of rumor.
‘Fermina is also skilled at embroidery.
I assumed mine would not even draw attention.’
Yet he had opened it properly.
If it had become a rumor, then he must have shown it to others.
‘…Of course.
Even Father could not boast about the mistress’s daughter’s embroidery.’
Because it was the work of his legitimate daughter, he could proudly display it.
She felt grateful she had honed her embroidery at the brothel.
“I-I am embarrassed.
The one I gave Father had some rough spots.”
“It is a lovely gift.
Is that injury on your hand from embroidery as well?”
At his gaze, she hastily hid her hand from view.
This was precisely why she had asked the maid to rewrap the bandage before leaving.
‘If this highlights my earnest effort, all the better.’
In truth, her body now lacked the dexterity of her adult self, and she had pricked her fingers many times.
Still, the bandage was admittedly somewhat exaggerated.
“Yes.
I am still not accustomed to it.
I apologize for the unsightly appearance.”
“Even so, to produce such work is admirable.”
Tristan nodded in earnest agreement.
True to his straightforward nature, he seemed to recognize her effort.
“It reassures me greatly to hear that from you, Your Highness.”
“Since this is a good opportunity, please call me Sylvester.
In turn, I shall call you Claudia.”
“It would be my honor.”
The tea proceeded smoothly.
Being permitted to use his given name should have been a positive sign.
Yet Claudia felt a chill at Sylvester’s reactions.
Her hidden hand grew damp with sweat.
‘I cannot read his emotions at all…’
From the beginning of the tea, Sylvester’s expression had remained serene.
It was as though he were conversing with a porcelain doll.
And yet, when those golden eyes met hers, she felt as if her heart were being seen through.
‘Was Brother simply too easy to read?
No, Tristan’s expressions are still discernible.’
Tristan maintained composure, but when he saw the embroidery, he had shown genuine admiration.
It was Sylvester who was abnormal.
‘Are all royals like this?
How frightening…’
Though Claudia herself revealed only the emotions she intended to show, she conveniently ignored that fact.
Facing an opponent whose inner thoughts she could not grasp, she nearly lost confidence in continuing as a fiancée candidate.
If he were this unreadable, perhaps it would be easier to yield him to Fermina.
Just as that thought began to surface—
“You may speak with me more freely.”
When he narrowed his eyes playfully, Claudia saw his emotion for the first time.
‘He is testing me…?’
She felt as though she were being probed.
Perhaps it was only her imagination, but the sunlight made his golden eyes gleam.
Her instincts, honed at the brothel, did not lie.
Then the answer was—
“I would not dare.”
She returned a modest smile tinged with shyness.
There was no need to take risks here.
Her father had said that as long as she avoided impropriety, it would suffice.
“Claudia is quite reserved.”
‘Why does my heart race so, though his tone is gentle?’
This was not the sort of flutter that maidens dream of.
It felt more like a frog caught beneath a snake’s gaze.
On the surface, all was calm, yet beneath it ran tension.
‘Ah, I see…’
There were no barbed exchanges, but it was a contest of deception all the same.