The Runaway Female Lead Doesn't Run Away

How long had Rose been staring at the Crown Prince's face? Alexion, who had silently endured her gaze, asked.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

"Huh? Ah...!"

Only then did Rose realize she had been staring rudely at the Crown Prince and quickly lowered her head.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was just so surprised to see you suddenly that I..."

Staring at the face of royalty without permission, especially so intently, was against proper etiquette.

Fearing she might be reprimanded, Rose quickly apologized, swallowing dryly.

However, amidst all this, her mind was pure chaos.

'Why do the Crown Prince and the Duchess have the same pendant...?'

It was no surprise, as Dalia's necklace and the Crown Prince's cufflink were definitely not common designs.

Rose knew more about jewelry than anyone else, if nothing else.

This was because Rose's only hobby, since she couldn't leave the house, was inviting merchants to the mansion.

Among them, merchants who dealt with jewelry frequently visited, so Rose knew that the designs of the jewelry worn by the two were not ordinary.

Rose recalled something a merchant had once said to her casually.

'At one time, it was a trend in the capital for lovers to exchange tokens. They would have the same pendant design, but the man would usually wear a ring or cufflinks, occasionally a brooch on his jacket, and the woman would wear a necklace or a ring to exchange tokens of love.'

'Could it be a coincidence?'

There were too many uncomfortable points to call it a coincidence. After all, Dalia had the necklace, and the Crown Prince had the cufflinks. This meant...

Rose swallowed words she couldn't bring herself to say.

'Maybe the Crown Prince and the Duchess have a secret that no one knows about.'

While Rose was lost in her imagination, the Crown Prince, who had been staring at her with indifferent eyes, silently accepted her apology and left his seat.

Once the figure in front of her disappeared, Rose slowly straightened up. Then she turned around and watched the Crown Prince's back as he walked away.

A seed of doubt began to sprout.

* * *

While Dalia was in the bridal waiting room, Clayton was with the other main figure of today's wedding, Duke Chaser.

Although he lived in the north and wasn't someone Clayton saw often, they had had a fair amount of interaction when they were younger.

"I heard that Rachel and your wife are quite close friends."

Duke Robert Chaser, with his dark brown hair and gray eyes, led the conversation. Clayton nodded in response to his question.

"She's been to the mansion a few times."

Clayton had also heard about Rachel from Dalia many times. Just a few days ago, Dalia had mentioned Rachel's name.

Robert nodded as if he had expected that.

"Maybe that's why Rachel suddenly insisted she wouldn't go to the north, which caused some problems. Now, she'll be staying in the capital for the time being."

Surprised by this, Clayton asked.

"She won't stay in the capital forever, when will she go to the estate?"

"Probably around winter? As you know, our estate is a bit harsh in the winter. So, I'll need to go there and check a few things myself. I might go alone at that time, but nothing's decided yet."

"A separation right after marriage. That's just perfect for rumors."

"It's a bit unfair hearing that from you."

Clayton's face stiffened menacingly, but it didn't affect Robert.

"I heard your rumors even reached the north. You made quite an impact at the Emperor's birthday banquet. Don't pretend you don't know."

"..."

There was nothing to say in response to that, so Clayton took a sip from his drink. Suddenly, the area around them started to murmur, and a man appeared in front of them.

"I was curious about what interesting conversation you two were having, so I came over."

At the center of the commotion was the Crown Prince, Alexion.

"I greet the little sun of Granos."

With the Crown Prince's appearance, the two of them greeted him with respect. Though the Crown Prince rarely showed himself at events other than official ones, he attended this one to represent the royal family due to the union of the two ducal families.

"Congratulations on the wedding, Duke Chaser. The union of the Roman family and the Chaser family... I believe it will be of great help to the empire in the future."

"I will do my best to meet Your Highness's expectations."

The Crown Prince, who had been looking at Duke Chaser with satisfaction, now turned his gaze toward Clayton.

"It's been the first time since the Emperor's birthday banquet that I've seen Duke Seayer."

"Yes. That's correct."

"You've been keeping a low profile. How is Duchess Seayer?"

When Dalia's name was suddenly mentioned, Clayton's eyebrows twitched.

He thought they would just exchange political pleasantries and move on, but asking about Dalia's well-being made him uneasy.

Of course, it was a question that could be asked casually.

But he felt uneasy because the Crown Prince, of all people, seemed to be hiding a sinister agenda behind it. More than anything else.

"…She's doing well."

Women involved with the Crown Prince didn't have good outcomes.

If Clayton regretted anything at this point, it was that he had allowed Dalia to catch the Crown Prince's eye on the Emperor's birthday.

Had he brought Dalia as his partner instead, maybe the Crown Prince wouldn't have noticed her. But now, it was pointless to regret.

"If I run into her later, I'll be sure to greet her."

As Clayton thought it was fortunate that Dalia was in the bridal waiting room, Alexion patted his shoulder a couple of times.

"Let's have a drink sometime. Well then…"

Clayton glared disapprovingly at the Crown Prince's hand patting his shoulder. Then.

'That's...'

Suddenly, the cufflinks on the Crown Prince's jacket caught his eye. And the pendant on those cufflinks was something he recognized.

'It's the same as Dalia's necklace.'

The moment he realized it, Clayton couldn't hide his expression and scrunched his face in disbelief.

'What is that necklace? I've never seen it before.'

"It's something precious to me."

Dalia's voice, saying it was something precious to her, echoed in his ears.

"Your Highness."

Clayton, his stiff lips finally moving, called out to the Crown Prince as he was about to turn.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

His gaze was fixed on Alexion's cufflinks.

"…I'm sorry for asking such a sudden question, but... could you tell me where you bought the cufflinks you're wearing?"

"Oh, these?"

Noticing Clayton's gaze, the Crown Prince pulled his lips into a smile.

He hoped they were just common, mass-produced items. He hoped they were something trending in the empire without his knowledge.

"Seems like many people are interested in this pendant today."

"I just couldn't help but notice the pendant."

"Well, this pendant is quite unique. It can't be helped."

But the Crown Prince's next words shattered Clayton's expectations.

"This is a pendant I specially ordered from a craftsman."

"…Custom-made?"

"Yes. There are probably only two of these in existence. I ordered two identical pendants."

As the Crown Prince continued, Clayton's mouth dried out.

"So where is the other one?"

"The other one…"

Alexion paused for a moment, as if thinking, then answered.

"I gave the other one as a gift to someone else. A token of affection, you could say."

A subtle smile lingered on the Crown Prince's lips as he murmured this.

The word "token" echoed repeatedly in Clayton's mind, just as the bell signaling the start of the wedding began to ring.

"Then I'll head to my seat."

As Duke Chaser left to start the ceremony and the Crown Prince moved toward the guest seats, Clayton stood there like a statue.

It was Dalia who finally brought him back to reality.

"Duke! What are you still doing here? Let's sit down quickly, the ceremony is starting soon."

Clayton turned his head at Dalia's bright voice. She was smiling sweetly as she grabbed his arm and guided him.

'I just saw the Roman Countess. Her dress is so beautiful! She said she had it made by Madam Louise, and it seems Madam's skills have gotten even better. You'll be surprised when you see it!"

Dalia was so excited, chatting away as she led Clayton.

As soon as they sat down, the trumpet sounded to announce the start of the ceremony.

The petals of fully bloomed flowers fluttered in the wind, filling the outdoor venue with beautiful melodies.

And countless people blessing the young couple, dreaming of their new beginning.

A beautiful day, where everything seemed perfect.

The doubts she had thought were buried deep within her began to surface again.