Faced with blue eyes like the sea on a summer day, Rosaline carefully scanned Cherryl’s appearance. Her dazzling bright blond hair, small face, dense features, and overall slender figure could catch other people’s eyes. She would have been lovelier if it wasn’t for her pale complexion which made her look weak. She was, apparently, Cade’s bride-to-be whom Rosaline had just pitied.

‘How hard must he have treated you if you look like that?’ Rosaline thought casually when she saw Cherryl’s pale face.

Cade was the first person to close the distance between them and asked in confusion.

“Lady Cherryl, what have you been doing at this early hour?” Rosaline wrinkled her brow and glanced up at Cade. The man, who was aloof with another as if he would rather talk to a doll, showed deep emotions not only in his voice but also in his straight face. As if to let her know that she had no reason to misread their situation, Cade asked Cherryl questions one after another.

“Aren’t  you supposed to be asleep?”

The three of them, who were all quite surprised for different reasons, observe each other with trembling gazes. Cherryl took a deep breath at the unexpected encounter, confused about what Cade had been doing with an unknown woman at dawn. When she heard him ask why she had woken up so early when she shouldn’t have done so brought her back to her senses. Cherryl’s fluttering eyelids slowly returned to their place.

‘What is this?’

Wasn’t this a line that one should utter when one met a lover whom one thought would never return home but then decided to, out of the blue, after cheating on her with another woman? Wasn’t Cade supposed to be working right now instead of meeting a friend? Wasn’t she supposed to be interrogating him instead of the other way around? Various emotions warred on Cherryl’s face.

“I don’t think that’s important. Who is the guest right next to you, Your Grace?”

Rosaline, who was flashing Cade’s side profile with frantic glances, made eye contact with Cherryl the instant she addressed her. The princess took a step closer and curtsied.

“I apologize for the early visit without contacting you beforehand. Nice to meet you, Lady Milose. I’m Rosaline Viate.”

The splendid knights wearing expensive full-body armor outside must be escorting this well-mannered woman from the Viate family. Her instant realization compelled her to give the princess a bewildered curtsy.

“Princess Rosaline. It is an honor to have an audience with you, Your Highness. I am Cherryl from the Milose family.”

“They’re planning to make an enemy out of the Blkanovs in 11 days.” Cade, who had suddenly asserted, approached her with great strides. He squeezed Cherryl’s chin lightly and began examining her, turning her face around.

“Why did you wake up so early, My Lady?”

He was asking the same question as before.

“What? Ah! It’s due to rain———”

With her beautiful face caught in his hand and tilted from various angles, Cherryl’s eyes wandered relentlessly.

“Wait, Your Grace——-”

“It hadn’t been long since you fell asleep. I expected you to get up early, but not at this time. You look quite pale, Lady Cherryl.”

Checking if she had a fever, he urgently settled his hand on Cherryl’s forehead, cheek, and neck.

“Wait! Wait a minute. The princess is watching, Cade.”

Cherryl also thought that her face was a bit pale when she glanced at her reflection in the mirror before leaving the room. In Cade eyes, her sick complexion made her look like she was about to die. The man, who used to worry about her oversleeping habit, was making a fuss this time, saying she only slept a little.

She could understand where he was coming from to some extent. She just didn’t expect this man’s mercurial nature would continue despite the princess’ presence. Rosaline, who had been neglected since her greeting, widened her eyes and mouth in shock as if she had witnessed a talking monkey.

“Cade.”

Cherryl grabbed Cade’s wrist. In the meantime, he interlocked their fingers and squeezed them tight.

“I don’t know why you’re visiting our castle, princess, but….  please let go of my beloved’s hand for now.”

Cherryl heard rumors that the princess was among the many women who had chosen Cade as their potential bridegroom. Didn’t she just witness the scene where the person involved in the uncomfortable rumor suddenly had a tryst with Cade this morning? There was even a strange atmosphere between them as if they had just shared some physical contact.

‘There was something. I mean, he looked affectionate.’

Of course, she had only seen it on the princess’ side but not on Cade’s. It didn’t make her feel better at all. Even if she tried to think rationally, she couldn’t think of a clear explanation to describe this. “Please explain it later.” Pouting, she pushed Cade’s shoulder and stepped forward.  However, his excessively hard and bulky physique didn’t budge at all. Cherryl, who had bounced off a bit, stood in front of the princess with a hunched face.

‘Even if you look dignified, it’s not enough.’

A red blush appeared belatedly on her white cheeks.

Although it was a bit embarrassing to wear loose pajamas, Cherryl still bowed her head politely.