For five years, I pursued the heir of the throne, Christof. One day, a large chunk of text floated in the sky.

[Sweetheart, stop being so stubborn. That useless prince isn’t worth it.]

[Just look at Prince Harald. He’s had a crush on you for the longest time!]

I turned to look at the unruly Harald.

He stiffened as his face turned dark.

“Why are you staring at me? Go find your precious Christof.”

[You fool. You’ve been hugging your pillow at night while saying her name.]

[This is how you lose a wife.]

[Mr. Ladies’ Man, you’ve fallen speechless around Louisa this whole time, haven’t you?!]

I cautiously handed him the elderflower wine I had brewed myself.

He snatched it from me and said, “Oh, so you noticed I’m thirsty? Good. You’re not completely useless.”

For five years, I pursued the heir of the throne, Christof. One day, a large chunk of text floated in the sky.

[Sweetheart, stop being so stubborn. That useless prince isn’t worth it.]

Before I could figure out what was happening, another chunk of text appeared.

[Just look at Prince Harald. He’s had a crush on you for the longest time!]

I turned and met the fifth prince, Harald’s gaze.

His gaze was dark, and his hand gripped the wine cup tightly as if he was holding something back.

It was rare to see the unruly Mr. Ladies’ Man looking so forlorn.

When our eyes met, he immediately put on a fierce look.

“Why are you staring at me? Go find your precious Prince Christof.”

The text changed.

[You fool. You’ve been hugging your pillow at night while saying her name.]

[This is how you lose a wife.]

[Mr. Ladies’ Man, you’ve fallen speechless around Louisa this whole time, haven’t you?!]

What?!

I cautiously handed him the elderflower wine I had brewed myself.

Christof reached for it. Sure enough, Harald’s gaze dimmed noticeably.

I walked past Christof and gave the wine to Harald instead.

He froze for a moment. Then, he took it and drank it all in one go.

After finishing, he let out a satisfied grunt.

“Oh, so you noticed I’m thirsty? Good. You’re not completely useless.”

[Is this how prideful guys show they like someone?]

[Attractive men always have flaws. Take a look at Christof. His problem is that he never says what he actually means.]

Christof frowned, looking upset.

“Louisa, what do you mean by this?”

I smiled plainly and responded, “Nothing. I just suddenly remembered that you don’t like elderflower wine.”

[Oh wow, my baby girl finally has the guts to talk back to Prince Christof?!]

Everyone in the capital knew that I loved Christof.

I had first met him at his tenth birthday banquet. He was fair-skinned and gentle-mannered.

Compared to him, the rowdy military kids I hung out with were all wet behind the ears.

Everyone at the banquet was reserved and polite. But I was different.

I had eagerly run up to him. “Prince Christof, can I be your queen, pretty please?”

My father was so frightened that he had dropped to his knees and apologized repeatedly, saying, “Children say careless things. Please forgive her, Your Highness.”

From that day on, I became famous.

On that day, while reading those weird words drifting through the air, I finally came to my senses. Christof had never treated me like anything special all these years.

He accepted every nice thing I did for him. However, he never treated me any better than he treated everyone else.

I twisted all of his basic thank-yous or small polite gestures into signs that he had feelings for me.

I finally realized he had been stringing me along on purpose the entire time.

Christof’s expression turned sour. It took him a long time to force out a single sentence.

“Weren’t you the one who offered to brew that for me?”

He was right. Back when I saw him compliment the wine that the foreign princess from the northern tribes had brought, I volunteered right then to brew him something better.

Before dawn, I went up the mountain on the outskirts of the capital to pick the freshest elderflower flowers. I skipped my teacher’s classes and stayed busy in the kitchen until midnight.

It was ridiculous when I recalled it.

I was the legitimate daughter of the duke’s family. Why should I compete with others? Why should I seek Christof’s approval?

[Sweetheart, why are you seeing things so clearly today?]

“Why should I bother embarrassing myself if you don’t like elderflowers in the first place?”

Before Christof could react further, I turned and asked Harald, “Prince Harald, what do you think of my wine?”

Harold hesitated for a moment.

“I drank it too fast. I didn’t really notice...”

[Seriously? The chance is right in front of you, and you still mess it up like that?]

[How could you call yourself the top wine taster of the capital?]

I took a deep breath and tried to suppress my anger.

Christof chuckled and was about to mock me.

Harald raised an eyebrow and said, “Well, it’s definitely better than the foreign princess’s wine. What good ingredients could they have in that godforsaken place anyway?”

His response was crude, but I liked it.

Christof did not hide his distaste. “Harald. Watch your mouth.”

“In that case, I’ll send my remaining two jars over to you later.”

Harald’s eyes lit up briefly. He then returned to his usual roguish demeanor.

“Since you’re the one insisting on giving them, I suppose I’ll reluctantly accept.”

[Of course, keep acting tough.]

[I bet he’s sleeping with those two jars tonight.]

Christof frowned. He pursed his lips until they turned white.

He stared at me for a few seconds. Then, he turned and walked away.

“Why aren’t you going after him?”

In the past, as soon as Christof’s face darkened, I would stay by his side and apologize to cheer him up.

But I had not moved one bit.

I raised the wine jug and smiled at Harald.

“Since you said my wine is good, it’s obviously more important for me to pour more for you.”

[You look so pretty when you smile. Harald is going to melt.]

[He’s blushing. He can’t handle it.]

[Spill the wine on yourself. Seduce him.]

I stole a glance at Harald. I did not notice anything different about him. Did he really like me?

As the thought crossed my mind, my hand trembled, and some wine spilled onto my front.

Summer clothes were already thin. The fabric stuck to my skin. The pink lining underneath faintly showed through.

“You!”

His eyes widened. He quickly pulled out his silk handkerchief and handed it to me to cover my chest.

He turned around and gave everyone else a warning glare.

[Haha. Anyone who dares look this way will have his eyes gouged out.]

“Go home and change your clothes.”

[Man. Louisa finally came over, and now Harald has to send her away.]

I froze.

“Your place is too far from my house. I’ll catch a cold with these wet clothes the whole way.”

Harald let out a cold snort. “Tch, Christof’s place is right there. Go change there.”

[Uh-oh. He’s jealous.]

[Did that backfire?]

He thought I was using it as another excuse to get close to Christof.

I admit that I had caused trouble on purpose quite a few times over the past few years. I had also used Harald and others as props just to appear in front of Christof more often.

But I truly was not meaning it that way.

“Can’t you just find me a room?” I tugged at his sleeve and looked at him pitifully.

“Huh?!”

He had a grim expression and was about to say something harsh when I sneezed.

“Follow me!”

[Look at how worried he became!]

[So Mr. Ladies’ Man is actually... a total cinnamon roll?]

[It looks like our baby girl finally came to her senses today!]

I did not like bringing servants whenever I went out.

The clothes Harald sent were gorgeous but complicated to wear. I struggled for quite a while to put them on.

When I opened the door, Harald was leaning against a pillar, looking back at me with a strange expression.

“You...”

Without explanation, he pushed me back in front of the mirror in the room.

“Do you really think you can go outside looking like that?”

He skillfully picked up a wooden comb and helped me fix my hair.

[Oh, I see. He just doesn’t want anyone else seeing how cute his wife looks, even when she’s a mess, huh?]

[Aw, he knows how to comb hair, too. Did he practice in secret?]

[Is this what a womanizer turns into after becoming a husband?]

[Come on, Harald. Get it together. Why are your hands quivering?]

I peeked at him through the mirror. His face was red, and his lips were pursed tight as he focused intently on styling my bun.

“Your Highness, I didn’t know you had such a sweet, domestic side. You really are the son of the king’s favorite.”

“Shut up.”

He tugged at my hair as a warning. I obediently stopped talking.

His late mother, Queen Mary, was the king’s favorite.

After she died, Harald started acting out and became more unrestrained. The king turned a blind eye to it. That was also why neither the courtiers nor the commoners dared to offend him.

The room fell silent.

After he did my hair, I let him fix my clothes. My eyes remained fixed on the constantly changing words in the air.

According to those words, Christof had been lukewarm toward me. After I had loved him one-sidedly for six years, he eventually married me and made me his queen.

But after he ascended the throne, he deliberately caused me to lose my child.

Eventually, he had my entire family executed on false charges.

I was given a cup of poisoned wine and died under house arrest in a remote tower.

As for Harald, after the incident, he rushed from his fiefdom to the capital. He sought justice for my family.

At court, he pointed his sword at Christof, but he could not bring himself to kill him.

In the end, Christof exiled him. He fell ill and died in the northern wastes.

He was once a fine young man who dressed in gallant robes. Ultimately, he passed away in a remote wasteland.

I felt a jumble of emotions.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. Harald stepped back and walked around me with satisfaction.

“See? I’m pretty good.”

I looked into the mirror. The hairpin, updo, and clothes were flawless. He was even more skilled than the servant who personally attended to me.

[He’s so proud of himself, haha! He really has a knack for serving others, too!]

I tilted my head and smiled at him.

“I guess you really do have a way with women. You’ve even got talent for this.”

His expression changed.

“What are you even saying? I’m not like that!

“I have very high standards. I’ve never touched any of those girls.

“That was all just for show. Just for show!”

[He’s freaking out. He’s totally freaking out!]

[Haha. That serves him right for being such a show-off before.]

I slowly grew to believe those floating texts as I watched him defend himself until his face turned red.

He really did like me.

“What are you two doing?”

Christof suddenly emerged at the doorway.

I shuddered.

Before, I could never bear to be apart from him, at that moment, I could not avoid him fast enough.

How could I feel affection for a cold-hearted king who killed their entire family?

“A man and a woman alone in a room? Louisa, you even changed your clothes!”

Harald frowned.

“Your Highness, barging into my private chamber like this isn’t exactly proper, is it?”

“I—” Christof was speechless. “If I hadn’t come in, how would I know what you two were up to?”

Rage surged when I heard this. “It’s not like I belong to you. I can do whatever I want!”

Harald was stunned. He looked at me and then at Christof.

“No, no. We didn’t do anything. Don’t go saying stuff like that!”

[Haha. Why is he backing down like that?]

[He doesn’t want to ruin Louisa’s reputation, I guess. That’s so sweet, I’m so moved.]

Christof whipped his sleeve back in fury.

“Did you swallow the wrong medicine today? I’m done with you!”

After Christof left, I looked at Harald with teary eyes.

“At least you’re kind, Your Highness. Boohoo...”

[Louisa has changed for the better!]

[The sweet, spoiled girl deserves the best life. Harald, your good days are here!]

[Oh man, Christof will be jealous if he hears that]

Harald’s face instantly turned red. He looked away awkwardly.

“O-Of course. Who do you think I am?”

[What a scaredy-cat this man becomes when it comes to love.]

Three days later, the royal family held a hunt. The king was in high spirits. He even offered a jeweled hunting knife as a prize.

I searched through the eager young people and found Harald.

“You’re going the wrong way. Christof is over there.”

Harald nonchalantly pointed to the opposite side.

[Yeah, right. Look at him acting tough when he’s been holding on to that comb every day like a lovesick puppy!]

[He’s been bragging about those two jars of elderflower wine to everyone.]

[Harald, I swear, try saying something useful for once.]

“I’m not lost. Thanks for the handkerchief, Your Highness,” I said and smiled plainly as I handed the handkerchief back.

He took it and glanced toward Christof’s side with a frivolous smile.

“Ms. Sinclair, if you keep this act up, you’re not going to be able to explain yourself to Christof.”

He thought I had been using him to make Christof jealous.

Just as I was about to argue back, some young aristocrats from the other side started making snide remarks.

“Ooh, Ms. Sinclair. Your Christof is right here.

“Are you lost?”

The people around Christof have always made fun of my one-sided love for him. They would tease and mock me from time to time.

Christof had never once stopped them. He seemed to enjoy watching the spectacle involving me.

Something was different this time. He raised his head and looked directly at me. “Louisa, come over here.”

The people around him chimed in, “His Highness is calling you. Hurry up!”

I frowned and snapped in a low voice, “I’ll stand wherever I want. None of you gets to tell me otherwise.”

I turned to Harald and said with a smile, “Good luck winning first place, Your Highness.”

Harald froze for a moment before he broke into a bright, cocky smile.

“Thanks!”

[Harald, honey, I can only imagine the butterflies in your stomach right now!]

[You go, Harald! You’re about to have a wife!]

Christof glared at me with a dark gaze and then stormed off angrily.

Before leaving, he said harshly that as long as he was there, no one else would take first place.

I regretted my actions. I should not have been so showy.

The hunting ground was vast. There was no telling what might happen in such a place.

“That sour expression looks ugly on you.”

“Harald!”

I was being worried about him, but he insulted me instead.

He patted my head and said, “Relax. I’m not some pushover.”

[So he sneaks in a sweet moment and then bails? Man up!]

[No, he was blushing really hard. He’s afraid Louisa would catch on.]

I watched as he left. I could feel myself blushing, too.

Horses galloped at full speed. Arrows tore through the air. The hunt was fiercely intense.

Harald moved with grace and struck with speed. Every shot hit its target. Many people paid attention to him.

“Wow. I didn’t know Harald was this skilled.”

“Right? He’s actually on par with Prince Christof.”

“How come we never noticed it once?”

Even the king stared at Harald’s figure and seemed lost in thought.

[Of course. That’s because he didn’t care before.]

[Now it’s different. For his wife’s sake, of course, he’s going all out.]

The herald announced the tally.

“Prince Christof: twenty-four.

“Prince Harald: twenty-four.”

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

“He tied with Prince Christof. That’s impressive!”

The king nodded.

“Harald, you did well this time. However, I only have one jeweled hunting knife.”

Christof glanced smugly at Harald and then at me. He then said, “Father, you’ve always given me plenty. I’m happy to give this jeweled hunting knife to Harald.”

Upon hearing that, the king nodded approvingly. The people also showered Christof with praise. They called him gracious and noble.

Harald clicked his tongue scornfully, then walked over to the hunt and used his sword to lift open the dead tiger’s mouth.

“Look here!”