Chapter 30
Living life, Claire found herself hearing words like this from the Crown Prince.
She swallowed dryly, keeping her composure. Although she was flustered by the unexpected change in how he addressed her, without prior agreement.
The more the Crown Prince immersed himself, the more she had to match his rhythm.
She grabbed Theodore’s arm, tilted her head slightly, and smiled sweetly.
“I like however Your Highness chooses to call me. Your voice is so pleasant.”
“This must be fate.”
The weighty tone of Theodore’s voice turned soft and sweet.
His eyes curved with delight.
“I also like your voice. So much so, I could listen to you talk all day.”
The people around them were dumbfounded.
The Crown Prince, known for his curt and stoic responses even to compliments, was acting completely out of character.
“Your Highness, you’re so handsome!”
“Indeed.”
“You’re always so impressive!”
“Is that so.”
“Such intelligence and elegance, truly remarkable!”
“Hmm.”
The classic three-word responses were all they used to expect from him. But now, he was smiling as if he had melted into the moment.
Theodore, wrapping an arm around Claire’s shoulders as if to shield her, looked down at the crowd with an air of superiority.
“I hope everyone treats Lady Ravello with utmost respect. Otherwise… I fear I may feel very, very uncomfortable.”
In short: “Mistreat her, and you’ll regret it.”
“I always repay what I receive tenfold, especially when it concerns someone close to me.”
This was a thinly veiled threat: “If you hurt her, expect to bleed.”
The gathering fell silent, all words lost. Only Theodore stood tall, seemingly pleased with himself.
***
Theodore, the Crown Prince.
There was likely no lady in the social circle who hadn’t fancied him at least once. It was a widely shared sentiment.
Despite his overwhelming popularity, Theodore had neither taken a fiancée nor engaged in any relationships.
For a time, Evelyn Muton, the Duke’s daughter, guarded him fiercely, shamelessly flaunting her infatuation for all to see.
“Don’t misunderstand, Evelyn Muton. You and I aren’t even friends. Don’t cross the line.”
Theodore publicly humiliated her during a royal party, and everything changed.
While Evelyn secluded herself in heartbreak, countless ladies made their move toward Theodore.
Yet, the high-nosed Crown Prince never opened his heart to anyone.
This indifference sparked countless debates and rumors.
“I’m convinced His Highness has feelings for Lady Lennox. They might even be secretly dating!”
“No way! I heard from my cousin’s friend’s brother-in-law’s uncle that His Highness fell for a foreign princess as a child and has been loyal to her ever since.”
“Both wrong! What if… His Highness actually prefers men?”
The Crown Prince’s lack of romantic pursuits during his prime years led to wild speculations. Every time he so much as brushed against a woman, the tabloids exploded with stories.
It seemed Theodore would remain forever unattainable. That is, until—
「The Strange Wizard’s Daughter Plucks the Cliffside Flower!」
In an unprecedented turn, he declared a relationship with someone entirely unexpected.
“Lady Ravello is my beloved. Treat her as you would treat me.”
“His Highness and I are meeting with affection. I kindly ask for your warm support.”
After the party at the Mitchell Marquessate, the couple flaunted their connection, making headlines daily with their public appearances.
Unsurprisingly, attention shifted to Claire, the Crown Prince’s unexpected partner.
For years, society speculated about who would stand by the Crown Prince. No one had predicted a woman with an unclear lineage would fill that role.
“Has His Highness gone mad? He should undergo a mental evaluation.”
“Her father was that eccentric wizard. She probably bewitched him!”
“Or perhaps the Ravello household and the Crown Prince have some secret arrangement!”
Amid the chaos of rumors, there were a few who defended Claire.
“Look closely. Lady Ravello resembles the former Duchess of Muton. To me, she’s even more beautiful.”
In truth, Claire’s appearance was hard to deny. She was the most striking figure to have stood beside Theodore.
Like the midday sun paired with a wolf prowling in the moonlit forest, their contrast was captivating.
Moreover, Theodore treated Claire as if she were a fragile glass figure, gazing at her with tender, love-struck eyes.
Anyone observing could tell: the Crown Prince was utterly smitten.
Young noble ladies, swept up in the romantic tale of a kind princess melting the heart of a cold prince, couldn’t help but cheer.
They paid close attention to every move Claire made, even to what she ate or wore.
This became a prime opportunity to drop hints about Darling Atelier.
As a result, reservations and custom orders flooded the atelier like a storm. Marie doubled the number of tailors working under her.
The nearby Minerva Trading Company also benefited from the ripple effect, seeing a significant surge in sales.
As the commercial district of 4th Avenue gradually shifted toward these two establishments, Claire successfully secured her place in high society.
“There’s an aura about Lady Ravello that I can’t quite describe.”
“Hmph, she’s all about appearances. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Amid mixed evaluations, no social gathering dared to exclude her anymore.
***
As Claire became more active in society, Marie grew increasingly busy.
She juggled the atelier’s operations with designing and crafting dresses that suited her mistress, leaving her with little time to breathe.
“Marie, aren’t you exhausted?”
“No, my lady! I’m the happiest I’ve ever been!”
Despite her dark eye circles from 72 hours without sleep, Marie beamed with delight.
Her gaze, bordering on madness, sparkled as she admired Claire in her creations.
“To think I can dress my muse however I please… This is the pinnacle of my life.”
Having been restrained with her previous muse, Marie’s current job satisfaction had reached an all-time high.
“If I can see my lady wearing my clothes, I could die happy.”
“Don’t say such unsettling things and go get some rest.”
After sending Marie off, Claire prepared for her outing.
Today, she planned to meet Nina Merison, Alex’s fiancée.
Before exposing Alex’s infidelity, Claire needed to verify a few things with Nina.
Learning that Nina would attend Countess Gordon’s exhibition, Claire decided to go with Theodore.
“My lady, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived,” Becca, now completely obedient, announced.
Claire grabbed her handbag and headed downstairs to meet Theodore.
Sensing someone approach, Theodore, who had been standing with one hand in his pocket, turned leisurely.
His striking face, framed by jet-black hair that shone even under sunlight, exuded sharp, cold beauty.
For a moment, Claire was reminded of how much he had grown into a man, far removed from the boy etched in her memories.
Despite her current physical age being younger, the image of Theodore from her time as Priscilla lingered vividly in her mind.
“You’re here?”
“Yes, shall we?”
“You’re not wearing a necklace today.”
Her neckline, twisted like a ribbon, left her slender neck exposed.
Instinctively brushing her collarbone, Claire replied calmly.
“Nothing caught my eye. I don’t have many accessories to begin with.”
Theodore’s gaze lingered briefly on her pale, graceful neck before he turned his head away.
The Countess’s exhibition was held at one of the capital’s most prestigious salons.
“Gasp, it’s His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Ravello!”
“They’re together again, as expected.”
The pair, currently the talk of the town, drew everyone’s attention upon their arrival.
Countess Gordon greeted them with a beaming smile.
“Oh my, you’ve made it! I’ve been eagerly waiting for the two of you.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Countess.”
“Oh, not at all! I invited you because I wanted to get closer to Lady Ravello.”
Sensing the Countess’s clear intent to build connections with the Crown Prince’s lover, Claire smiled softly.
People like her, transparent in their motives, were easier to deal with.
After the Countess left, Claire began scanning the venue. The person she truly wanted to see was…
‘She’s not here yet?’
Nina Merison was nowhere to be found. For now, Claire engaged in conversations with those flocking around her.
Most of the remarks were similar: compliments about how well-matched she and Theodore were, invitations to parties, and attempts to establish friendly ties.
Responding appropriately, Claire endured the monotony until her eyes caught sight of a young noble struggling with finger food.
The young man clumsily tried to tear apart an uncut piece of bread using just one hand, as his other held a glass of champagne.
‘Poor thing.’
Out of sympathy, Claire reached out to help him hold the bread. After all, he was likely the age of her nephew.
But before her fingers could touch it, a large hand reached out from the side and firmly grabbed the bread.
With a decisive motion, the bread was torn in two.
The young noble froze, staring at the two neatly split pieces now before him.
“…?”
“Darling.”
Theodore, leaning down, whispered softly into Claire’s ear, his voice low and intimate.
“This is something only lovers should do.”
“Oh, I just thought he seemed uncomfortable and wanted to help. It’s not like I was going to feed him…”
“Still, as deeply smitten lovers, let’s maintain the propriety expected of us.”
Theodore’s lips curled into a subtle smile, though his eyes remained cold and sharp.
“Whether he eats comfortably or awkwardly isn’t our concern as long as we’re together.”
—
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