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According to Oksana's claims, Valentin was...
"Count Valentin is currently testing the waters with several women... He flirts with this woman and that woman to gather a group of followers. By raising his value that way, he can attract even better women. Eventually, he'll weigh their conditions, looks, and personalities, and weed them out one by one... I call this kind of man a 'beehive'."
Either trash or...
"Actually, I'm praying it's not this one... because it would mean he has a massive flaw in his character. If Count Valentin is truly an irresponsible person, the time he spends with Your Highness would be nothing more than a momentary diversion. He wants to enjoy every fluttering moment to his heart's content, but he doesn't want to take responsibility. He wants to share love lightly as if passing by, but he doesn't want to be bound by that love... I call this kind of man 'filth'."
Even more of a piece of trash. And finally.
"This would be the best case. If Count Valentin is sincere toward Your Highness and is simply timid, he might spend a long time trying to confirm Your Highness's true feelings... However, this case is very rare. My mother told me that when it comes to romance, men are usually brimming with baseless confidence, so they'll throw themselves at someone even if there's no hope."
A coward.
They were quite plausible theories, but the image of Valentin I had seen and experienced was too firm for me to be completely swayed. For example.
"Valentin is indeed the type of person who would use others for his own gain."
"A-as I thought? So he's either a beehive or filth..."
"Listen to me first. Actually, he had someone he was scheduled to marry a long time ago. But not long after it was mentioned, it fizzled out quickly. It wasn't even known to the public. As you know, Valentin spends a lot of time abroad, and for long periods, right? He didn't want to tie the other person down."
"Hmm... so he uses people, but maintains a certain boundary...?"
Oksana muttered, having piled up a mountain of pulp novels brought from the study and magazines weaving together various socialite rumors (she said she only picked the bestsellers published in the last ten years).
"I looked through the incidents and stories that circulated after he became an adult... Count Valentin is strangely devoid of rumors... Usually, people with worldwide fame like the Count cause a stir with every single action or word..."
That's probably because there's almost no information from Valentin's footsteps that would actually float to the surface, isn't it?
"So far, there have been exactly two women linked to Count Valentin."
Two people.
"One of them is me, right?"
"Yes..."
Then who is the other one? Even though it was nothing, I started to feel strangely curious. Surely, there wasn't another woman without my knowledge...
"The other person is Princess Tatyana."
Huh?
"There were rumors of an engagement between the two of them once. Look here, it says, 'The individual attending the banquet reportedly shuddered and shook their head when the name of the great prophet was mentioned. Due to the blatantly displeased reaction, those present realized once again the uncertainty of the rumors.'"
Tatyana's shuddering face. While I was nodding at the plausible credibility of that, Oksana turned her eyes—which had been sparkling like jewels the whole time—toward me.
"I see. Truly... the only woman linked to him is Princess Larisa. Not a single one of the anonymous rumors reminded me of Count Valentin! Are they all afraid? A-actually, whenever my mother mentioned the Count, she always advised me to 'be careful as he is a dangerous man, but always maintain a good relationship'..."
I think I heard something similar from the Duchess during one of her drunken ramblings. Considering Valentin's precognition and decisiveness, it was an unremarkable description, so I listened quietly, but my eyes snapped open at the story that followed.
"T-that's why, when I heard that Count Valentin was going to propose to me, I was suddenly terrified."
A proposal!
The moment that word hit my ears, I consciously struggled to maintain a neutral expression. I couldn't let Oksana get scared and shut down.
"...When did you hear that?"
At my question, which sounded surprised and intrigued, Oksana glanced at me and continued softly.
"That was... a few months ago... Seeing as my mother hasn't mentioned anything further, I think it's been dropped. Come to think of it, you said there was a case like mine in the past, right? I wonder if there's a reason?"
"Well. Valentin's reasons... there are probably many."
Even I, who knows his secrets and prides myself on knowing him quite well, still have a mountain of things I don't know.
'Valentin hasn't proposed to Oksana yet.'
[Valentin. What do you like about Oksana?]
[Are you curious about the reason Illin is proposing to Oksana?]
Looking back, Valentin's answer to my question that day was a bit off. When asked what he liked, didn't he talk about the reason for the proposal? There must have been another purpose besides the union of families.
'So in the end... even if he doesn't propose right now, he can propose again someday?'
Good heavens, I must prevent such a disaster. Hiding my growing urgency, I pressed Oksana.
"Oksana, so what is it that I need to do?"
No, wait. Before that.
"You said there was talk of marriage between you and Valentin. Would it be okay for you to help me? Don't you want to marry him?"
"...I."
Oksana cleared her throat softly and stated her thoughts in a voice clearer than ever.
"My type is a kind man with dark hair. I prefer someone who isn't too tall. I'm small, so it's hard to look up at them. I also don't like skin that's too pale; if we were together, we'd both look like sick people. And I don't like people who are scary, secretive, and arrogant. My mother told me that if I fall for such a man, I'll surely be swept up in some disaster. And it's a bit embarrassing to say this, but..."
"..."
"Since I was young, I dreamed of a brave knight who would rescue a princess trapped in a tower... and I can't really imagine Count Valentin doing that. I feel like he might do it if it were necessary, but not out of love... In that regard, Ivan-nim is more... T-that's not to say Count Valentin doesn't know love..."
Yes, yes. I get it. Your taste is firm, so Valentin isn't even in your sight.
Afterward, I listened to several lectures from Oksana on how to confirm someone's feelings.
To be honest, rather than nodding in deep empathy for the time I spent with her... how should I put it? It was purely fun. This moment of chatting with a girl my age until past midnight.
Perhaps because I poured all my energy into chatting, I fell fast asleep long before the sun rose.
I regained consciousness due to a throbbing pain in my shoulder.
While I was groaning and rolling around the bed, a cool warmth embraced me.
He lay beside me, holding me and gently stroking my back. I clung to him as if hanging on, and at other times, I struggled to push him away.
Nevertheless, he stayed by my side for a long time. When I finally came to my senses, the tedious pain was gone. It was truly like magic.
"Valentin."
He, who had been caressing me for a long while, answered quietly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Feeling an unbearable sense of relief, I whispered while nestled in Valentin's arms.
"I like you so much..."
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