ITD

CHAPTER Xll

Yet, Richard kept smiling at her, his voice soft as a spring breeze.

“Courtney. May I call you that?”

He had already called her by her first name several times, but Courtney didn’t feel like pointing that out. She simply nodded, and Richard continued.

“What do you know about me?”

“Um… You’re the Crown Prince of this nation…”

Courtney began, but then suddenly stopped. Despite his kind demeanor and respectful attitude, what came to mind were the negative rumors she had heard about the Crown Prince.

No one openly spoke of them, but there was always a strange reaction whenever Richard’s name came up—awkward expressions and vague comments. If one were to unpack the cryptic hints, they all carried a similar sentiment.

That the outwardly gentle and kind Crown Prince was, in truth… somewhat odd. Perhaps his personality wasn’t quite right.

Courtney raised her eyes and met Richard’s gaze. No one had ever treated her so kindly before, and yet here she was, thinking of bad rumors. She felt a pang of guilt, but Richard, as if he had read her thoughts, spoke in a calm, reassuring voice.

“It doesn’t matter to me how others judge you. You shouldn’t worry about anything else either. Just look at me now and ask yourself—do you want to accept my proposal or not?”

Courtney found herself at a loss for words, her lips moving without sound. If Richard truly wanted to marry her, he could simply issue a command. No one in the empire would dare disobey the Emperor’s will. But here he was, asking for her consent. That alone left no room to doubt his sincerity.

He genuinely wanted to marry her—not as the Crown Prince, but as a man.

Overcome by his charm and the situation, Courtney nodded slightly, still dazed.

“Thank you. I promise you’ll never regret this.”

Richard wasted no time. He immediately slipped the ring onto her left hand’s ring finger and even kissed her fingertips with an expression full of emotion.

“Ah…!”

“Is something wrong?”

“I-It’s nothing…”

That was the hand that touched my foot though.

…But she decided it was best to let it go.

Right now, Courtney Devon, the sharp-tongued woman, was nowhere to be found. In her place was just a girl, enchanted by the attentions of a very handsome man.

Richard helped her slip her shoes back on, and surprisingly, both the ring and the shoes fit perfectly, as if they had been made for her.

Even without his imperial status, would she ever meet someone as perfect as this man? The lingering doubts in Courtney’s mind disappeared completely, replaced by a flush of warmth. Her cheeks reddened as she shyly asked the question that had been nagging at her.

“But… why did you choose me?”

For a brief moment, the smile on Richard’s face faltered, twisting in an odd way. But before Courtney could fully register it, his warm, bright smile returned.

“I’ll visit your home soon and explain everything.”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself with that. I mean, the house, uh… it’s a bit… messy for a man of Your Highness’s stature to visit.”

Courtney, flustered, tried to dissuade him from coming to her rundown estate. But Richard, seemingly unaware of the dire state of the Devon household, remained unfazed.

“You won’t need to worry about those things anymore.”

Courtney found herself unable to speak. It wasn’t just that Richard had the power and wealth to back up his words—there was something deeply reassuring about the way he said it. She had never heard anything like it, even from her parents.

Richard helped her to her feet and guided her back to the Emperor’s audience chamber. His courteous and attentive manner never faltered, making Courtney feel special in a way she had never experienced. The walls she had built around herself crumbled as easily as if they had been made of mud.

“Then, may I ask how you hurt your ankle?”

“I just… tripped by accident.”

Courtney just brushed it off. Despite Richard’s affection, she wasn’t about to complain about her older brother or Marquis Mallon. Richard didn’t press her further.

***

On the way back home in the carriage, her father, Hendrick Devon, looked like a man who had been robbed in the night.

“I still can’t believe what just happened…”

Neither could Courtney. The Emperor had not only promised to clear all of House Devon’s debts but also to provide a generous dowry. The imperial household would cover all wedding expenses as well.

“Me neither…”

It felt as if some god—or perhaps a devil—had appeared and turned her life upside down overnight.

That night, Courtney couldn’t fall asleep. She was afraid that if she closed her eyes, everything that had happened would vanish like a dream.

And every time she closed her eyes, she couldn’t stop thinking of the Crown Prince’s handsome face.

‘Courtney.’

She kicked her feet under the blanket, her heart pounding. It was a night that felt like her chest might burst.