"I cannot allow you to go out on your own." Allen said as we were having dinner together. "You are much safer here, with our knights having a strict schedule around the clock."

Konrad nodded his head at that as he cut up the meat on his plate. "The knights employed in your House actually put our Royal knights to shame, with their diligence and loyalty."

"Don't you have to return to the royal palace soon, Your Highness?" Allen said with a sharp smile directed at the prince, who lazily shrugged it off.

"I can work here just fine. They don't need me there, since father's up and about."

"The King had to force himself out of his sick bed because you're slacking off here."

"I'd definitely want to slack off in Aine's company tomorrow."

"In your fucking dreams, asshole."

I stared at Allen, surprised to hear such strong language coming out of his mouth and directed at the prince.

He's always been snarky towards the prince, but this is the first time I've heard him cuss.

Wouldn't that get our family in trouble? Even if people say that the royal family favors us because I'm engaged to Konrad…

"Oh my, you should mind your language, Allen." Konrad chuckled. "You're scaring Aine."

"Stop pretending to be a Saint in front of my sister." Allen snarled. "Why don't you just go home, Konrad? It's unbecoming of the crown prince to stay too long in his fianceé's home without a valid reason."

"Please, is one civil and peaceful dinner too much to ask?" I told them tiredly.

☆☆☆

In the end, my requests of going out and having a peaceful dinner didn't get any positive response.

I sat by the terrace, sighing as I looked up at the night sky.

The crescent moon was smiling down at me, without a single wisp of cloud to hide it.

"Your Grace, it's cold out." Marie said as she brought over a thick shawl to cover my shoulders and back. "Shouldn't you go to sleep soon?"

I gently smiled at her, patting her hand. "I'm fine. I'm only checking our territory's ether. You can go ahead and rest, little one."

Marie's cheeks flushed at the endearment. "B…but Your Grace…how could a mere servant like myself rest before you do…"

I blinked at her, confused. "You're still young. You shouldn't push yourself too hard and must take care of your health properly or else it'll bite you when you get older."

"But…"

"Marie, are you really going to talk back to me?"

Marie bit down on her lip and fidgeted uncomfortably.

I stood up to pat her head gently. "Don't worry. You will not be replaced. You will still be my personal maid once you turn eighteen."

Of course, the only reason why I gave that condition when they were asking me to pick a new maid is because it didn't sit well with me that a minor is working their ass off to serve me.

I smiled at her, cupping her face in my hands. "Now, be a dear and go rest, okay?"

Marie reluctantly nodded and I let go of her face. She then bowed politely towards me.

"Please be in bed before midnight and lock the terrace doors properly, Your Grace."

I chuckled at her reminder, watching her go out of the room and locking the door behind her.

A cool breeze then passed by and I held onto the shawl she had given me.

"I'm glad that my gifts weren't thrown away to the storage."

I whipped around sharply upon hearing that chuckling voice, before looking up to see Konrad descending gracefully in his sleepwear, his robes flapping quietly around him.

Look at this guy, showing off his flight magic. Not many could do it due to the complexity of its execution.

He casually landed onto the terrace with a radiant smile that could rival the crescent moon I was admiring earlier.

"Why would you sneak around with flight magic, Your Highness?" I sighed. "Aren't you afraid you'd be mistaken as someone scouting our defenses?"

Konrad laughed heartily at that. "Why would I spy on my wife's family?"

I grimaced at him, shaking my head in defeat. There’s no reasoning with him and I’ve lost all interest in stargazing upon his arrival.

"I'm turning in. Good night, Your Highness."

"Wait."

I looked back at him and was shocked to see his kicked puppy expression.

No one told me that he could make such a face.

"W-what?"

"Do you hate me now, Aine? Is my face…not living up to your expectations after all? You haven’t been calling me by my name at all since I arrived…"

Excuse me??

There’s nothing wrong with your face, in fact it’s still the epitome of handsomeness to my eyes that I’m starting to hate myself as to why I did that to you and Aine!

I'm avoiding you for the sake of my peace of mind and life!

Also, I can’t call you by your name to your face because that’s awkward for me, knowing my crimes against you and your true love!

"Your Highness, what in the seven rings of hell are you talking about?" I told him, unable to hold back my language and keeping the screeching of my feelings to myself.

Konrad's eyes widened at it as well when he heard it and he had to rub his ears in disbelief.

"Aine, did you just…?"

"You heard me right, Your Highness. You were spouting nonsense."

"Oh…so then…why are you so keen on avoiding me?"

I stood rooted on the spot, struggling on dealing with his pitiful expression.

Someone should ban him on using that expression.

Clutching onto my shawl, I frowned at him. "I…didn't want to hurt you by accident since I don't have my memories…you might say something about the past that I couldn't remember."

Konrad blinked stupidly at that before opening his arms wide, stepping forward quickly so that I wasn't able to dodge his embrace at the last minute.

"I see. I apologize for harboring stupid ideas…I don’t know what I’d do if you were really considering breaking our engagement.  I don't think I could live without you by my side."

"You'll be fine, Your Highness…my ether will always be with the kingdom."

My words only served for Konrad to tighten his hold on me, making me regret it. I raised a hand to pat his back awkwardly.

"Dearest, why do you want to go out all of a sudden?" He asked out of the blue as he continued to hug me. "I know we've made plans to travel once I become King and you as my Queen…"

"Ah, that…well. I'm curious about the world and people's lives…"

"Is that really it, Aine?"

I cleared my throat guiltily at that. "Yes…?"

Konrad finally let me go, looking straight at my face before gently smiling again.

"I see, and here I thought something was amiss when you sent me that letter."

Silence.

"What letter?" I asked with a frown, making Konrad blink again in surprise.

"You sent me a letter a day ago, asking to see me but I couldn't go since I have to work overtime thanks to Allen. I thought something was up when you suddenly asked to go out."

"I couldn't even write properly." I mumbled, embarrassed about that truth. "My penmanship is too embarrassing for a Holy Maiden or for a member of House Carran to have…why would I go out of my way to humiliate myself to others on purpose?"

The smile on Konrad's face dimmed at that realization.

"I see…" He murmured before pressing a kiss onto my forehead. "You should go rest, my dear."

I was unnerved by how his mood changed so quickly but I retreated into the bedroom, with him following close behind as I got into the bed.

He closed the terrace door, locking it securely and pulling the curtains close.

"Uh, why are you…?" I asked, a little unsure.

Konrad smiled at me and sat down on the bed, gently threading his fingers through my hair.

"I'll accompany you until you fall asleep."

I deadpanned at his words, pulling the sheets up around me protectively.

Konrad chuckled at that. "I mean what I said. I will not do anything to you as I'm not so keen on the idea of Allen running me through with his sword."

☆☆☆

Konrad stealthily left Aine's room through the door when his beloved, who had shyly held onto his hand, finally went to sleep and made his way back to his quarters where his knight captain, who also serves as his butler on the duration of his stay in the Carran's estate, was waiting for him.

His uniform of white and gold accentuated his silver hair and amethyst eyes as he gazed at his liege quietly.

"Did something come up, Your Highness?"

Konrad pulled out the pretty envelope he had received the day before and tossed it at his knight who, despite his serious and capable look, fumbled to catch it, shock written all over his face.

"Your Highness…?"

Wasn't this…a letter from the Holy Maiden?

Why is the devoted prince throwing it around as if he finds it offensive to be in his possession?

"Find the culprit bold enough to pretend to be my princess, Fion. Deliver whatever punishment you deem fit, as long as they can still talk when you bring them to me."

The knight's expression turned grave at that.

Someone bold enough to pretend to be the Holy Maiden and lure the prince out?

What kind of idiot would do that?

Did they have a death wish to try and play the overly devoted prince to the Holy Maiden to the point he wouldn't even go to war to conquer lands or even take in mistresses, even though the King's Court have been nagging at him for years since he wouldn't set a wedding date?