Jeremy loved Shuri. it was obvious, even to someone like you, who wasn't the closest to him.

Though you were certain not many else had noticed the same. You had though, as you had found yourself noticing the young man a lot in a room full of people, even while not trying to.

He was a friend, of sorts. Just in that in most social gatherings like balls, after he's been exhausted by the never ending chatter of the Imperial Knights' commander or the racket his siblings always manage to create, he'd come sit with you. You would chat a bit but otherwise sit in silence. He'd appreciate the silent companionship but wouldn't seek you out specifically and never asked for anything like a dance.

But even despite all that, you found yourself always glancing at him from the corner of your eye. Noticing how he looked at the woman who was supposed to be his stepmother but was never perceived as such by Jeremy.

Given his life, you could understand that. What you couldn't understand however, was the way he looked. Even when she was talking to the young lord of the Nuremberg family, whom she obviously liked and who liked her, Jeremy never looked at them with any sort of contempt or negativity. He always looked at peace and happy for her. as if, over anything, he cared about her happiness.

Which could testify to why he never seemed to pursue her. He seemed just happy to see her happy.

And that type of selflessness was very admirable for you.

"You... like the marchioness, don't you?" she quietly asked the green eyed man sitting beside her, the words spilling out before she could process them as they sat on the same table yet again at a ball.