The meeting between Joannina and Prince Konstantinos was not a long one.
Despite seeing each other for the first time in ages, they now stood in entirely different positions from when they had first met.
Even the simple fact that the two of them were meeting privately could easily give rise to needless rumors.
And so, barely after exchanging a few words, the prince stated the reason he had come.
“Joannina, I came to offer you my apology.”
But Joannina shook her head in silence.
Of course, it wasn’t something easily forgiven. The prince was just beginning to brace himself for rejection—when he noticed that Joannina was smiling brightly, her eyes clear and firm as she looked at him.
Of course, it wasn’t because she had accepted his apology. That wasn’t what she truly wanted from him.
“You know the words I’ve been wanting to hear, don’t you?”
“……”
“You know, right? Your Highness?”
Even though she had grown into a dignified woman, that mischievous habit from when they first met remained unchanged.
When the prince was still a boy, he had mistaken that for arrogance.
But now, he saw it differently. Even so, now wasn’t the time to lay everything bare.
Joannina surely understood that, and perhaps her teasing held a mix of both playfulness and sincerity. That’s why the prince gave a response she hadn’t asked for—one she hadn’t expected.
“Joannina. The answer to the question you once asked me—I cannot give it as a royal, nor as a prince.”
“I know. Was I a little too mean?”
“So I’ll answer you simply as a man. No matter when, I will make sure that I can be with you.”
“……”
Joannina’s large eyes blinked a few times in surprise.
She clearly hadn’t expected that response.
After all, who was Prince Konstantinos? A man who had always done whatever was necessary for his empire, regardless of the cost.
A man so disciplined he had long suppressed even his own emotions.
Who could have foreseen such resolute words coming from his mouth?
It was only natural to be caught off guard by such an unexpected answer.
But even so, it wasn’t something she could rejoice in entirely.
“…It won’t be easy, Your Highness. Just meeting like this is already enough. I don’t want to get in the way of your future, not just for the sake of some reward for my waiting.”
“Joannina.”
His calm, steady voice interrupted her—the voice of a man who was keenly aware of his own position and hers.
It was his long-held resolve that now moved him.
A truth he had failed to realize in the midst of a grim and chaotic war—he now understood.
The survival of the empire and the happiness of those around him—those two things weren’t necessarily incompatible.
“You must not think of yourself as an obstacle. You are not in my way. You are one of those I intend to walk alongside from now on.”
“…Tch. A married man saying such things to a married woman—what nonsense.”
“……”
Right on the mark.
If one were to view things coldly, the prince was the lowest of the low.
A complete scoundrel. A tangled mess of politics and powerful enemies had twisted everything until it became this complicated.
And Joannina had been the greatest victim of it all. If she said that to him, he couldn’t argue. He lowered his head in shame.
Thanks to that, he didn’t see her cheeks flush red as she struggled to suppress a smile.
It wasn’t until Joannina finally gave in to her laughter that the prince realized she had been teasing him.
Even then, he couldn’t protest—not when even her teasing came as a relief.
“Pfft… You’ve changed so much, Your Highness.”
“……”
“You really have changed. Truly.”
There were tears in her laughter.
“They say you’ve brushed with death time and again. That you’ve crossed into mortal danger countless times. If that’s why you’ve changed this much, then… I can understand.”
“…Joannina.”
“I always wanted to be with you, but… when you were on the brink of death, I wasn’t there.”
“From now on, you will be.”
“Along with your other women, right?”
The table that had sat between them during the conversation now seemed meaningless—the distance between them had vanished in an instant.
The prince quickly turned his head to avoid meeting her gaze, but the pressure didn’t fade in the least.
It felt so intense, he could almost believe he was standing on a battlefield.
If he were in the right, he could have answered her honestly and boldly—but with Ivania still fresh in his mind, he couldn’t.
What saved the cornered prince was a familiar voice.
“Your Highness Konstantinos, His Majesty the Emperor is asking for you.”
Saved.
That was the first thought that crossed the prince’s mind—yet at the same time, he found himself nervously gauging Joannina’s reaction.
Sure enough, she wore a faintly displeased frown. Her half-lidded gaze seemed to say, I figured as much, with a warning undertone that left him uneasy.
But a summons from Emperor Manuel was not something Joannina could prevent. The prince rose naturally from his seat and spoke.
“It’s been nice reminiscing with Your Majesty, but I’m afraid this is where we must end it. Please excuse me, Empress.”
“…Then allow me to see you off, Prince Konstantinos.”
“There’s no need for that—”
A silent pressure weighed on him once again. The prince decided silence was the best way to preserve his well-being.
As the two stepped out from the room where they had shared their private conversation, familiar faces awaited them.
The first was Georgios Sphrantzes—the young imperial secretary who had led the prince here. Which meant the second was—
“Your Highness, I’m glad to see you safe. I checked the area just in case, but thankfully…”
A blonde, blue-eyed knightess—someone who had not forgotten her womanhood despite living the life of a warrior. Not merely delicate, she had a body that balanced subtle musculature with graceful curves: the epitome of a strong and healthy woman.
With that kind of presence, it was only natural that Joannina’s emotions would stir.
And the knightess clearly wasn’t unaffected either.
“…I don’t see any threats in the vicinity—aside from Her Majesty.”
Though she hadn’t specified who the “threat” referred to, both the prince and Joannina understood.
Joannina glanced between the prince and Ivania, then turned her head away with a annoyance, pretending not to care. Her voice came next—cooler than before.
“That will be enough of a farewell, Prince Konstantinos. Take care on your way.”
Wasn’t that rather cold?
The prince hesitated briefly, unsure what to do—just long enough for Ivanea to seize her chance.
She walked forward confidently, came to stand beside the prince, and volunteered as his escort.
“If Her Majesty says to take care, then I shall take utmost care. Please rest easy, Your Highness. I will protect you, even at the cost of my life.”
If a common soldier or guard had said that, the display of loyalty might’ve been touching.
But the problem was—it was Ivania.
She moved in just close enough for their arms to almost touch, wearing a confident smile. Only the gods could know what that sight must have looked like to Joannina.
Her shoulders flinched ever so slightly before she turned and retreated into the room without another word.
Should he follow her?
Or should he let it go and walk away?
Faced with a truly agonizing choice, the prince found himself empty of the insight and decisiveness he usually prided himself on.
It was Ivania, standing beside him, who gave him a push.
“Your Highness, we should go. Didn’t they say the emperor is waiting?”
“…Y-yes. You’re right.”
“Please don’t worry. I, Ivania, will remain by your side.”
And so, half-dragged and unable to protest, the prince let himself be led away.
Sphrantzes, who had silently observed the entire scene, began guiding them forward without a word, leaving the prince no way out.
As they moved further from Joannina, the prince finally began to regret his decision.
“…Was that really the right choice?”
It was only natural that a sigh escaped his lips.
And there was no way Sphrantzes—the emperors secretary of many years—would have missed it. Though still young, his competence showed as he offered words perfectly suited to the moment.
“Normally, this is when they say the dice has already been cast, Your Highness.”
“You think it would’ve been better to turn back right away?”
“Your Highness, once you’ve crossed the point of no return, it’s already too late. I’ll help smooth things over with Her Majesty, so don’t worry too much.”
“…What a helpful bit of advice.”
“That’s what a secretary is for.”
And so, with only Ivania smiling happily beside him, the prince continued walking toward the emperor—while already bracing himself for the storm to come.
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