"Hello, princess."
'Ah, of course. Because trouble finds you on its own—you don't have to chase it.'
[The princess drew in a graceful breath. Sunlight spilled through the golden latticework of the palace garden's pergolas, brushing her skin like fingers through the leaves. Everything was so… perfect. Too perfect. The garden wasn't freedom, it was a showroom, a display built to remind her what she could never truly have-]
That stupid pink system was babbling nonsense again. I waved a hand to dismiss the screen from my eyes, then slowly turned around. Before me stood a blond boy, nearly glowing in the sunlight, draped in silks.
"There was a fly… And you are?"
The golden embroidery along his cuffs caught the light—it was unmistakably Veyrond craftsmanship. Thanks to Arianthé's memories, I knew that much. And since this was obviously a cliché romance, anyone could guess the boy before me was the prince of Veyrond.
'Show-off brat. Even if I knew him, I wouldn't let him see it and feed his ego.'
"Prince Cassius of Veyrond," he said, bowing as he extended his hand, "greets the blossom of Kylessa, the princess."
He reached to kiss my hand, but I didn't give it. My eyes slid from his fingers back to his face, my smile empty. Honestly, I'd rather die than allow that kiss. Cassius, didn't falter. He only smiled wider, as if expecting it.
"Your beauty outshines even the rumors," he continued, voice dripping with honey. "I've heard your health is fragile, that you often fall ill and cannot enjoy your stay. Should there be anything you need—or anything that troubles you—I would be glad to help."
'Hah. What a sly little prince.'
The words were sweet poison, the same kind they'd used when negotiating access to Kylessa's harbors. Still, I couldn't help smiling. With that admiring glint in his eyes and honey on his tongue, he could charm anyone.
[Candidate dislikes you. Compatibility difficulty is increasing…]
To be honest, he deserves some credit. Somehow, I found this sly prince more bearable, almost amusing. Like a child puffing his chest after lying and thinking he'd fooled you.
'Almost cute.'
"Prince," my voice came out softer than expected, "I'm honored you came all this way to ask after me."
The little fox was likely hoping to snare the helpless fawn locked away for the sake of politics. But even if I let him, he wasn't skilled enough to catch me. And besides, I wasn't a fawn.
"As you said, I've only just recovered, so this is my first time outdoors." I lowered my eyes. "Forgive my boldness, but might I trouble you to show me around?"
I smiled warmly at him. He was handsome, tall—like any proper romance prince—but not particularly muscular. His features were softer than most men's. His blond hair reached his nape, part of it tied back with a jeweled clasp I didn't even want to imagine the price of.
The first impression was obvious: a boy who loved showing off and was far too stubborn when denied what he wanted.
'Why do I feel so old? Before this transmigration I was twenty-four, yet here I am, trapped in eighteen-year-old Arianthé's body, talking to her peers like some tired auntie.'
[The princess felt the stirrings of love for the beautiful prince before her—]
I stifled a cough, fighting to keep my smile in place. This chirping pink screen was far too eager to write its own stupid fairytale while pushing my patience to the limit.
The prince, still waiting for my reply, tilted his head with a spark in his eyes. "It would be my honor, princess."
"In that case," I said, adjusting the hem of my dress with feigned indifference, "since I don't know the palace grounds, I'll rely on your guidance."
Before he could offer his hand, I rose and began walking beside him, keeping a small distance. As we strolled, a thought tugged at me. Did the main quest require me to find all the soulmate candidates in the palace? Or was meeting Cassius enough?
Surely the system would have told me if I'd completed it. Which meant I had to track down every single candidate. And God help me… in a palace almost as big as my kingdom, how many "soulmates" had that perverted author hidden?
'As I said. I won't chase them. Just thinking about it is exhausting.' I sneaked a glance at the boy's young face. 'Do you really expect me to flirt with these kids and win their hearts? Too much work.'
I sighed, and realized the prince had noticed. He must have taken it personally. Assuming he'd be more forward, I had dragged the little fox along… yet he made no move. Silent.
To break the strange quiet, I tried: "I've never left Kylessa before. What are your lands like, prince?"
His eyes drifted, as if he could see the scenery in his memory. Then he looked back at me, excitement flickering like a secret.
"If your islands are the jewels of the sea… then Veyrond is the breath of the earth. Mornings rise with river mist; evenings, the farmers' songs ride the wind to brush against the palace walls. There, a princess is not only a crown—but the guardian of bread, of water, of the soil's bounty…"
As he praised his homeland, I couldn't help critiquing. Is this really how he plans to charm a girl? If that's the little fox's best trick, then there's nothing to get excited about.
Before long, I realized we were leaving the Red Blossom Palace's garden. Cassius pretended not to notice, continuing his talk. But of course, I didn't believe for a second that he hadn't. Clearly, he didn't want our little walk to end here. The real question was—why? Did he want to show me something? How was I supposed to figure out what the sly fox wanted?
In the distance, the walls of another palace rose up, its gardens spilling into ours. A glamorous blonde woman stood there, speaking with two men. Suddenly, her head lifted—our eyes met. Her smile was as sharp as a dagger.
I froze. Cassius followed my gaze, lifted his brows innocently, and said, "I suppose we ought to greet the Sun of the Empire."
At the same time, a familiar ominous chime rang in my ears. I didn't even need to look at the screen to know what it said.
[Congratulations! You've encountered a new soulmate candidate. The system is in awe of your incredible speed!
Bonus rewards will be given for fast completion.
Targets remaining: 1]