Chapter 15

“It may be too late, but I still wanted to make a formal apology.”

She lifted her head and saw him. She could see his deep, serious eyes through his soft hair.

He had clear and beautiful eyes like the ice of a lake. The more she looked, the more helpless she seemed. At one time, he was a person whom she could not even stand side by side with, let alone exchange a single word with. She felt thrilled and even terrified to think that his eyes would contain only her image now.

Edwin ruthlessly trampled Herietta’s attempt to jump over with a blank expression. She didn’t know if she would rather see him smile. She was perplexed by his iron-like attitude. No, she was more than embarrassed, she was insanely embarrassed.

Eventually, Herietta closed the book and placed it on her lap. She set her gaze down, creating a gloomy atmosphere. After being silent for so long, she helplessly opened her mouth.

“You don’t like me being around?”

She asked gloomily.

“If so, please tell me. As I said before, if that’s your will, then I won’t bother you anymore.”

Herietta looked away anxiously. Because she was afraid that Edwin would answer yes even if she had said it herself.

Edwin looked at her without saying a word. He thought that if she had ears like puppies, it would have drooped down already. He stood at an angle with his arms crossed and his back against the wall of the warehouse.

Edwin struggled to convince himself but he quickly schooled his expression. Then, pretending nothing had happened, he supported her and lifted her.

Herietta stood up from her spot and looked up at Edwin.

“You know. I still vividly remember the moment you walked into the ballroom that day.”

Herietta’s eyes looking up at Edwin twinkled like stars in the night sky.

“Everyone’s eyes were on you, and so was mine. What should I say? It was like seeing a prince from a fairy tale book.”

“… But I am not a prince.”

He was known as the heir of the Duchy of Redford when he commanded the Knights of Demner protecting the borders before, and he was now known by a number when he was reduced to slavery without being able to keep his original castle. But never had he been called a prince since he was born. Although he may have once been regarded as the closest person to him, now he couldn’t be any further away.

Herietta looked at Edwin silently. She bluntly told a slave no nobler than her that she thought he was a prince nobler than her, and he blinked his eyes a couple of times as if trying to understand what the woman was saying.

Soon, she smiled at him bashfully.

“I know. You are so much cooler than that.”