You hadn’t originally planned to attend the tea gathering. If it weren’t for etiquette, a princess would hardly need to accept such an invitation.

Count Sebastian’s name was known to nearly everyone—handsome, formidable, and decorated with countless victories in war. The noble ladies spoke of him with shining eyes.

But you had little interest in him.

As fate would have it, it began to rain that day.

The carriage was delayed on the muddy road, and not far from the castle, one of the wheels sank into a rut. While the attendants struggled to push it free, you watched the darkening sky with only one thought in mind—

The royal family must not be seen as unpunctual.

So you stepped down from the carriage, lifted your skirt, and ran through the rain. By the time you reached the castle garden, your breathing had grown uneven.

You pushed open the garden gate.

The place where the tea gathering should have been held was already empty. Teacups still sat on the tables, chairs hastily moved aside. When the rain began, the nobles must have retreated to the castle’s banquet hall.

You were about to turn back when you noticed someone standing beneath the colonnade.

A tall figure leaned against a stone pillar, a dark green cloak draped over his shoulders. He glanced at you, his gaze lingering briefly on the mud-stained hem of your dress before drifting away.

You frowned.

“Did the count leave you here to wait for me?” you asked. “Please lead the way.”

The man let out a quiet chuckle.

“It seems Her Highness holds quite a poor opinion of him.”

“If a man’s reputation rests entirely on war,” you replied coolly, “then I find it rather difficult to think highly of him.”

The man studied you for a moment.

“If you were to meet him in person,” he asked slowly, “would you still say the same?”

“Of course.”

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed across the garden. A servant rushed over and bowed deeply.

“My lord Count, the guests are already waiting in the banquet hall.”

You froze.