* * *

In response, Hena mouthed, ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

“You don’t trust me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Henry quickly waved his hands, though his expression shifted between complex emotions.

Originally, he had almost forcibly arranged a marriage for Hena in another country, which had estranged them.

He had hoped she would find a good partner, but the idea of her succeeding the dukedom had never crossed his mind.

Imagining Hena as the duchess, Henry’s expression visibly brightened.

Her confident demeanor suited the role perfectly.

“Of course. You were right here all along.”

“That tone is annoying, you know?”

Hena pouted, taking his words to mean she hadn’t been considered at all.

“I’ve been learning a lot from Father lately. I might not be as good as you now, but I’m confident I can handle it.”

Hena enthusiastically listed the times she had spent with the Duke—debating into the night, working alongside imperial administrators, and generally immersing herself in the role.

It seemed the Duke had known all along that Henry wouldn’t inherit the title and had been preparing Hena for the role.

Realizing this, Henry laughed and ruffled her hair.

“You’ll do great. I mean it—you’ll be amazing.”

Thinking he was teasing her, Hena was about to retort when she caught the sincerity in his eyes, which made her cheeks flush.

She averted her gaze and mumbled, “Good. As long as you know.”

Hena, flustered, gulped down her wine, prompting Henry to burst into laughter.

He couldn’t help but think how utterly adorable his sister was.

At the same time, he found himself eagerly anticipating the new twists her fate would bring.

In comparison, Henry’s own destiny hadn’t changed significantly.

He was still set to marry Edwin, albeit with a slight delay.

Yet, there was no despair in the prospect of their marriage.

While he couldn’t avoid the union, the thought of the future they would build together filled him with a sense of anticipation.

They had fully imprinted, their hearts intertwined, leaving him with a strange sense of relief.

As Henry continued his meal with a noticeably lighter expression, the rest of the family followed suit, their attention returning to their food.

It was an ordinary dinner, interspersed with casual conversation.

---

“Master Henry, a guest has arrived.”

As Henry stepped out of the dining room, having just finished his meal, the butler approached him.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Prince Kayla.”

Henry froze for a moment at the mention of the name he had nearly forgotten, then turned to the butler with questioning eyes.

The butler confirmed it with a nod.

“He’s waiting for you in the drawing room.”

---

“It’s quite late, isn’t it?”

At Kayla’s question, Henry’s gaze flickered to the side before returning to him.

He’d come to meet Kayla after learning the prince had been waiting for him since the family dinner ended.

“It’s fine.”

Henry was not unused to Kayla’s late-night visits.

Remembering past instances, it didn’t feel odd.

Henry sipped a soothing tea to unwind before bed, his thoughts lingering on a bath and a good night’s sleep once Kayla left.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Kayla’s direct words made Henry pause and set down his teacup.

Since the moment Kayla arrived, Henry had been thinking about the prince’s previous confession.

Although Henry had rejected him, the parting had not felt definitive.

This unresolved tension had kept him from meeting Kayla until now.

Henry exhaled a quiet sigh, pushing away his distracting thoughts.

“I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner. I wasn’t sure what to say.”

Though he had thought of Kayla several times, he couldn’t bring himself to visit the prince at the palace.

“I don’t even remember much from our childhood days, and even after we became friends, I couldn’t treat you as just a friend.”

Friends come in many forms, but to Henry, Kayla was someone with whom he shared only a moderate sense of familiarity.

Knowing Kayla’s feelings had made their interactions all the more awkward.

“After you confessed, it became even harder. It forced me to reflect on how I truly felt about you. And my conclusion, as you can see, is that it’s difficult for me to approach you.”

Kayla had been destined for Edwin, the original male lead, and Henry couldn’t shake the discomfort of being the one in Edwin’s place.

It wasn’t that he disliked Kayla; rather, he felt guilty about being with Edwin instead of him.

Kayla let out a low chuckle, his expression tinged with a sadness he couldn’t fully suppress.

He had wanted to see Henry again, to hear his thoughts.

Though Henry didn’t say much, he made it clear that he was drawing a line between them.

Kayla sighed as though releasing a burden.

“I knew this, but hearing it out loud still stings.”

Clutching his chest in mock pain, Kayla pulled a playful grimace, prompting Henry to speak up in a fluster.

“That doesn’t mean I dislike you, Your Highness. It’s just…”

“You don’t dislike me, but I make you uncomfortable, which is why you keep calling me ‘Your Highness,’ isn’t it?”

“Ah…”

Realizing the truth in Kayla’s words, Henry felt a twinge of guilt.

He used to call Kayla by his name with ease, even before they decided to be friends.

“I’m sorry for that too.”

At Henry’s apology, Kayla dropped his exaggerated expression and opened one eye slightly to examine him.

After a moment, Kayla seemed to decide to stop teasing him.

“I still like you, Henry.”

Kayla’s voice was calm, but the weight of his words made Henry tense.

Feeling Henry’s gaze, Kayla hesitated before continuing.

“I’m disappointed we can’t be more than friends, but I’d rather stay in your life than lose you entirely.”

Kayla spoke softly, revealing his true feelings about the days he had spent waiting for Henry.

“So, I want to see you often. Though I admit, seeing you with Edwin might make me a little jealous.”

Kayla ended with a joking tone, but his sincerity was evident.

Henry rubbed his face, embarrassed.

“Still, I want to see you. So, Henry, please come find me and stay in touch.”

“Now you’re just making me feel more guilty.”

“Why? We’re friends, aren’t we? You’re my friend, and Edwin is your lover. Simple as that.”

The distinction seemed to irritate Kayla himself, as his brow furrowed.

“But honestly, I don’t understand. Why Edwin, of all people?”

“What?”

Henry blinked, confused by the sudden question.

“He’s not even that great. He’s not kind, and he’s always frowning.”

“Um… is he?”

“Yes, he is. And he doesn’t even speak nicely to you.”

Kayla didn’t hold back, highlighting Edwin’s flaws.

He couldn’t bring himself to wish Henry and Edwin happiness, so he nitpicked Edwin mercilessly, leaving Henry feeling uneasy.

After a pause, Henry began to defend Edwin cautiously.

“He’s not obviously sweet, but he does look after me. And while he frowns, he also smiles a lot.”

“Really?”

Kayla tilted his head, seemingly skeptical. His reaction made Henry’s voice grow a little firmer.

“And before we were lovers, we were friends, so I didn’t expect sweet words from him. I wasn’t that way either.”

Henry fidgeted with his hands, unsure how to respond to Kayla’s criticisms.

Though Edwin wasn’t perfect, to Henry, he was a kind and loving partner.

Kayla’s words stung more than he expected.

“I don’t know. He’s just… a good partner for me.”

“I see. So, Edwin is your ‘good person,’ huh?” Kayla muttered, a resigned smile gracing his lips.

* * *