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Lucas pursed his lips in disappointment, casually tossing the roasted tea leaves provided by the waiting maid onto his platter.

“Good grief… You know, you’re probably making things awkward for her by acting like this,” Lucas chided.

“I don’t know… I find it hard to believe any noble would turn down the chance to marry into Archduke Estrada’s family. Could it be she’s from a lower-class family?”

“Wait, hold on. Don’t tell me she’s a commoner?! Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but let’s be real—this isn’t some fairy tale. Love between a prince and a commoner doesn’t work out as easily as the stories make it seem.”

Christoff noticed the shift in his friends’ attitudes from teasing to genuine concern as they pressed him further. A wave of warmth filled him, and he dismissed their imaginations with a wave of his hand.

“It’s nothing like you’re imagining. If anything, my status is the one that might not measure up—”

Christoff froze as he noticed the baffled expressions on his friends’ faces. Realizing too late that he’d made another slip of the tongue, he pressed a hand to his temple. “Haa… Maybe my thoughts really are getting the better of me.”

“What royalty is this princess from that even you feel outmatched?!”
“What are you even talking about? There isn’t a single royal family on this continent that surpasses the Estrada family.”
*So that means…”
“It can’t be…”
““Princess Oliana?!””

Christoff gave them a bemused look as they spiraled into their own fantasies, then cut them off immediately.

“No, it’s not her.”

Christoff wasn’t surprised they’d bring up Imperial Princess Oliana. After all, rumors about him marrying Oliana Eineas Mirn Graviol—the first princess of the Graviol Empire and his cousin—had been widespread enough to reach his ears.

From an objective standpoint, Oliana was a budding beauty, perfectly suited for the title of the ‘May Bell Princess.’ At just thirteen years old, she was already recognized as a prodigy. Her wit and ambition had placed her firmly in the line of succession for the Graviol Empire’s throne.

She was a cousin he held in high regard. But on a personal level, she was nothing more than a relative to him. He had never considered her a romantic interest.

That aside, he understood why the topic would inevitably surface. The shared platinum hair with Oliana, coupled with concerns over preserving the imperial lineage amidst the empire’s internal power struggles, made it unavoidable. If his father or the emperor ordered such a match, he wouldn’t outright refuse. In fact, the freedom to choose a preferred partner in a marriage of convenience was a rare luxury for someone of his standing.

Ultimately, however, no official discussions ever reached him. Perhaps it was thanks to his father’s progressive stance on free love, which diverged from traditional imperial and noble customs, and the absence of concubines in their family. If his guess was correct, he owed his father endless gratitude. After all, his father’s choices had allowed him to meet her. As Christoff drifted deeper into his thoughts, an image of long, raven hair surfaced in his mind. A wistful smile touched his lips as he wondered when they would meet again.

Afterward, Christoff remained resolutely silent, ignoring every bait his friends tossed his way. Predictably, this led to another wave of rumors—this time even more exaggerated—spreading across the academy and beyond. Thankfully, no one managed to uncover the truth.

◆◇◆◇

“Thank you for your efforts, Uncle—ah, I mean, Your Excellency Archduke Estrada.”

Hearing the composed greeting from his niece, Imperial Princess Oliana, Archduke Estrada nodded in acknowledgment.

“I’ve read the report. You’ve achieved outstanding results, Your Excellency.”
“Haha, I merely gathered the leftovers from Her Majesty’s efforts, if anything.”

Oliana dismissed her uncle’s humility with a smile. Then, with a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes, she leaned forward like an eager child—an uncharacteristic gesture for her—and asked: “So, about Her Majesty… What do you think? Does she seem like a suitable match for your son?”

Archduke Estrada folded his arms solemnly and gave a firm nod.

“I put in considerable effort on my end, but I hadn’t expected the arrangement to surpass my expectations.”

Oliana shrugged lightly in response, her expression tinged with regret.

“Ah, just as I expected. Her Majesty truly is an adorable woman, after all. Honestly, I’ve never felt so vexed about not being born male. If it were me, I’d already be holding a wedding ceremony with her by now!”

“I see. So my son is essentially acting as your proxy, Princess.” Archduke Estrada’s wry smile deepened.

“Bluntly speaking, yes. But you should know, he’s the only one I’ve deemed worthy enough to act as my proxy.” Oliana spoke with a tone of pride, her expression unwaveringly serious.

“It’s an honor to hear such words, Your Grace. Regarding Her Majesty, if I may share a personal opinion, it seems they’ve established some goodwill between them. However, the progression of those feelings from here entirely depends on his efforts.”

The memory of a cheerful young man and woman sharing laughter brought a gentle smile to the Archduke’s face. Turning his gaze to Oliana, who seemed amused by his words, he fixed her with a curious look.

“Just to clarify, was the pirates’ extermination and the bait merely a convenient excuse to orchestrate a legitimate meeting between my son and Her Majesty?”
“Oh, of course not,” Oliana replied smoothly. “That said, both objectives were ultimately achieved, so I’m quite satisfied with the results.”

Recognizing how cleverly Oliana sidestepped revealing her true motives, the Archduke chose to shift the topic.

“I see,” the Archduke murmured. “Alright, let me ask you this—not as an Archduke or a soldier, but as a father—are you trying to pair them for the sake of national interest?”

“Well, not precisely for national interest.” Oliana chose her words carefully, speaking slowly. “It’s more about considering the bigger picture. To be specific, it’s for the harmony of the world.”

Oliana’s smile didn’t waver. If anything, she chuckled softly at the sight of Archduke Estrada, who now wore an expression akin to a pigeon struck by a pea shooter.

“That said, I genuinely think Her Majesty is an exceptional person.”

“This certainly exceeds my expectations, albeit by a small margin. So, essentially, my son’s efforts are now tied to world peace—is that correct?” The Archduke let out a sigh, his expression tinged with perplexity.

“Exactly. I believe that only an honest and straightforward person like Christoff should remain by Her Majesty’s side.”

After all, if Her Majesty were to truly go berserk, the collapse of the world would be inevitable—Oliana thought to herself. She firmly believed that a grounded individual with a healthy mindset, someone who could eloquently navigate tense situations, was essential to balance the rather… volatile personalities surrounding Her Majesty.

“I truly have high expectations for Young Christoff,” Oliana said earnestly.

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