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Unlike Yevgenia's infinitely cautious knocking, the voice heard from beyond the door was utterly light.
“Come in.”
Swallowing hard, Yevgenia opened the door and stepped inside.
In that moment, she felt as if she had returned to the day she first met Yulan.
It was likely because the room looked so dreadfully identical to how it had been back then that she felt such a sentiment.
As she glanced up, she noticed that the gems of the chandelier—which Yevgenia had pointed out previously—had been changed.
That made her feel a little more at ease.
Her footsteps, which she had been taking with a resolute heart as if entering enemy territory, became lighter.
‘Right, I’m the one who came here to receive an apology. What am I doing being so nervous? I shouldn't even open my mouth until Yulan apologizes first. Yes.’
Keeping her chin tilted up, she sat on the luxurious sofa.
With her back straight and her gaze slightly lowered, she looked at the person opposite her.
She had assumed he would naturally avoid her eyes, but instead, he was staring at her even more intensely.
Flustered, Yevgenia forgot her resolve and spoke immediately.
“...Why, why are you looking at me with those eyes?”
“And what eyes do you claim I am looking at you with?”
“No, it’s just, it feels a bit different from before...”
However, if asked exactly what kind of look it was, it was difficult to explain.
Ultimately, Yevgenia gave up on explaining and shut her mouth.
Instead, she crossed her arms, leaned back, and glared at Yulan.
Yevgenia was completely unaware that her attitude made her look exactly like a pouting child.
Yulan fought hard to suppress the laughter that nearly burst out.
Instead, matching Yevgenia's energy, he kept his expression infinitely stern.
Since this was a setting where he was supposed to be serious, it wasn't a difficult task.
Letting out a small sigh, Yulan slowly spoke.
“As I conveyed in my letter, I will say it clearly with my own mouth.”
“...”
“What I did to the Imperial Princess previously was a terrible act, one that is difficult to be forgiven for. I sincerely apologize.”
Along with the apology delivered in an utterly solemn voice, Yulan bowed his head.
The sight of a man whom even the Emperor of this empire described as a mere peasant bowing his head had a considerable power to move one's heart.
However, no matter how great a man he was, Yevgenia's pride was far too noble to let him off the hook this easily.
‘No, even if I didn't have pride, this is the kind of thing I should definitely receive an apology for and get a promise that it won't happen again.’
Swallowing hard in a way that wouldn't reveal her nervousness, Yevgenia spoke.
“Do you know exactly what you did wrong?”
“I engaged in forced physical contact without your consent. Also, I treated you too roughly.”
“...Ahem, you do seem to know exactly.”
Why on earth had a man with such sound reasoning acted that way back then?
It wasn't that such a question didn't cross her mind.
However, she had an inexplicable feeling that digging into this part would somehow lead to a result that wasn't very favorable for Yevgenia herself.
Thus, Yevgenia naturally changed the subject.
“I hope such a thing never happens again in the future. Not just for me, but that kind of attitude isn't good for the women you meet afterward either. I may be in a position to receive an apology from you like this, but other Young Ladies wouldn't dare to do so.”
Well, seeing as he had sent an apology letter first even before Yevgenia pointed it out, it seemed he would behave himself...
‘Still, I should make this clear. He's not just any man, but a prince; he should have some sense.’
Though she spoke as if warning him, Yevgenia's voice had certainly softened.
After a moment of hesitation, she added belatedly.
“...I accept your apology.”
She thought it might be unnecessary words, but hadn't she received a quite positive reaction when she added 'unnecessary words' to the Madam just before?
Since Yulan was quick-witted, he likely already knew she intended to forgive him from the moment she accepted the invitation.
Nevertheless, she thought it would feel different to hear the answer that she accepted the apology directly from her own lips.
Curious about his reaction, Yevgenia couldn't resist and stole a glance at Yulan.
And just then, their eyes met.
“...”
Yulan's green eyes, which seemed to sparkle exceptionally under the candlelight, made her heart flutter for some reason.
She suddenly felt the urge to leave the room.
This tingling sensation in her fingertips and toes, and the way her toes kept curling—what on earth was this feeling?
Unable to think of anything to say, she simply bit her lip repeatedly.
Even so, she kept stealing glances at Yulan.
Seeing as their eyes met every time she did, it was clear that he hadn't moved an inch and was continuing to gaze at her.
‘Isn't that... a bit strange? Or is it? It is polite to look into the eyes of the person you're talking to... but staring this intently can't be polite...’
In that silent stillness, Yevgenia's eyelashes fluttered for a long time.
Fortunately, Yulan was the first to break the silence.
“...How is the Rose of Light? Is it truly as beautiful as the rumors say?”
It was just that the topic of conversation didn't sit well with Yevgenia.
To be precise, rather than the 'Rose of Light' itself, she disliked the presence of Raymond that would inevitably follow this conversation.
However, since she didn't have the courage to abruptly shut down the conversation he had initiated, she had no choice but to answer.
“Yes. It wasn't called the Rose of Light for nothing. It was a beauty that didn't get overshadowed at all, even when brought into the Duke's estate.”
“Ah, is that so? Is that why you bought it so expensively?”
...It seemed Yulan wanted to bring that piece of trash into the conversation.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have disparaged the price—which was not just appropriate but could even be seen as a bit cheap—as being 'expensive.'
The Rose of Light was an artifact so precious that it could have fetched up to 1 billion gold if Raymond and Yevgenia hadn't intervened.
Yulan, who couldn't possibly be unaware of this, was asking in such a way, meaning his intention was very obvious.
Letting out a small sigh, Yevgenia spoke.
“It wasn't that expensive. Rather, I bought it quite cheaply. Why is someone who should know better acting like this?”
“I heard a strange rumor. That some shameless fellow tried to snatch a precious artifact by using his rank to press down on others.”
“...”
“And then, a woman who had a one-sided crush on that shameless fellow interfered with the snatching. They said it was because the artifact looked like something that would be used as a marriage proposal gift. Do you know anything about this?”
At this point, pretending not to know was practically an answer in itself.
Haaaa.
Letting out a long, blatant sigh, Yevgenia leaned back deeply into the sofa.
“Didn't a rumor circulate that the woman said she would round up all the people spreading such nonsense and throw them into the guardhouse?”
“Unfortunately, that was the case. It's just that there was no information at all about that woman. Ah, though it was known that she was a woman as noble as the Imperial Family.”
“...Stop being sarcastic and say what you have to say properly.”
At Yevgenia's rebuke, Yulan shrugged his shoulders.
“I was truly just curious. About what the truth is.”
“The truth?”
“Whether that noble lady really made such a decision out of madness from jealousy, or if she simply happened to like that artifact far too much by a very great coincidence.”
Yulan's narrowed eyes turned toward Yevgenia.
At the gaze that seemed to be questioning her, she unconsciously turned her head away.
However,
“I believe I am sufficiently qualified to hear the truth. What do you say, Imperial Princess?”
The fact that she couldn't simply ignore his voice as well was her downfall.
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