/
A few days later, Jerome visited the imperial palace again.
Given that Rosé was so enamored by Jerome, and that Ferre was also very fond of him already, Helios gave them another chance to have a playdate.
And, this time again, Sera was given the task of looking after Rosé, Ferre and Jerome.
Not that far away, Helios, the marquis and the marchioness were having teatime together, and they would sometimes look this way towards Sera, wondering what the children were doing.
“Seeeraaa.”
Sera was peacefully drinking a glass of cold black tea by herself when Ferre ran to her side.
He jumped immediately into her arms, and she sat him down on her lap.
Sera patted his golden hair. Every time Ferre came running to her like this, she already knew that he was here to cry and belabor all the injustices he had faced until now.
“Did something upset you, Your Highness Ferre?”
How does Sera know what I’m feeling?
Ferre’s eyes went wide open in surprise.
“Sera, you can read my mind?”
Well, rather than reading his mind, she could guess what had happened just by observing.
“Not really, Your Highness. Still, please tell me what happened.”
“It’s just
 Sera, I’m really, really upset.”
His expression crumbling, Ferre grumbled. He stuck out his lips in a pout, and he puffed up his cheeks as well. He made no effort to hide his sulky appearance.
“RosĂ© won’t play with me.”
As expected.
Sera sighed.
“Rosé’s really weird now. She’s still the same when it was morning, but now she keeps looking at me and just trips all the time and gets surprised.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. And Rosé’s so mean. I dunno why, but she only keeps talking to Jerome? But then it’s so weird! She keeps stuttering over and over again! I think she ate something wrong.”
As he lamented his troubles, the way Ferre spoke right now made it seem like his anguish had accumulated immensely.
He was truly distressed by the injustices he’s facing. And he couldn’t believe how unfairly she’s treating him until now.
If only he knew what kinds of thoughts Rosé had about Jerome right now, Ferre might have started laughing at his twin sister already.
But unfortunately, the seven-year-old Ferre had absolutely no clue how Rosé felt.
“What’s wrong?”
Just then, Helios walked up to Sera and Ferre’s side.
“Heli Hyung!”
“Your Majesty.”
Sera bowed her head to Helios, as well as towards the marquis next to him.
The marquis, whose black hair and red eyes were inherited by Jerome, and the marchioness each gave her a kind smile as a greeting to her.
“Heli Hyung, RosĂ© doesn’t wanna play with me. She just keeps playing with Jerome.”
Not holding back for even a moment, Ferre quickly jumped down from Sera’s lap and clung straight to Helios’ leg, once again expressing his frustrations and lamentation. By the tone of the boy’s voice, it’s clear that he’s hoping that his older brother would scold RosĂ© right away.
A conflicted expression flashed over Helios’ face. Sera leaned over and whispered to him.
“It’s become obvious to His Highness Ferre that Her Highness RosĂ© only wants to play with Young Lord Jerome. That’s why he’s upset.”
“Ah.”
As if he was already expecting this, Helios smiled.
It must be that he felt sorry for his younger brother, so Helios lifted up Ferre and carried him in his arms. Ferre instantly clamped his legs around his brother.
Ferre’s mood lightened somewhat, but on the other hand, there were two other people who started to feel a little troubled—the marquis and the marchioness.
Perhaps flustered by the whole situation, the couple looked quite worried.
It’s not a good thing that the imperial prince had gotten upset because of their son.
“Jerome must not be acting according to his age, Your Majesty. We express our deepest apologies.”
Hesitantly glancing towards Helios, the marquis quickly apologized.
It’s not actually Jerome’s fault, but he knew that the fault would eventually turn their way.
“You don’t have to apologize, Marquis Brunner. It’s only because RosĂ© seems to like Jerome a lot.”
Even as Helios dismissed their apology in stride, the marquis and marchioness still bowed their heads.
Then, they all watched Rosé and Jerome a short distance away.
With the garden in full bloom as their background, the children were having an interesting conversation together.
They gave off the atmosphere of sunshine and the yellow warmth of the afternoon sun.
“Hey, Jerome.”
Rosé called him, her voice shy and trembling.
Whether he was aware of it or not, Jerome continued having the same aloof expression as he usually did, and he turned to face Rosé.
Really. With a face like that, it’s easy to understand why RosĂ© had fallen for him.
“Yes, Your Highness Roseline?”
He answered her stiffly and formally, but nonetheless, Rosé’s cheeks bloomed. She kept her hands behind her, which fidgeted due to her nervousness.
“Um
 Can I ask
 Do you have someone you like?”
“!”
While watching, Helios couldn’t help but bow his head to hold back the laughter that threatened to burst through his lips. Beside him, Sera also bit her lower lip and tried her hardest not to laugh.
Marquis Brunner smiled bashfully, while Marchioness Brunner covered her mouth in surprise.
It was only a conversation between two young children, but my oh my! How considerably forward of our dear princess!
The marquis and the marchioness were at a loss really, and they wanted to apologize, saying that their son was guilty.
“Why are you all smiling?”
But on this side of the garden, only one person couldn’t understand the situation. As he was in Helios’ arms, Ferre asked.
Helios smiled at his younger brother, then brought one finger to his lips.
“Shh, Ferre. Let’s watch a little more.”
So, they watched Rosé and Jerome without interrupting them, feeling a bit giddy and curious.
“Huh? Your Highness?”
Jerome tilted his head to the side. He didn’t seem to have heard what RosĂ© asked.
Because it was quite a difficult question to ask, Rosé unknowingly mumbled when she had said it.
With her ears turning bright red, Rosé fixed her eyes on the ground and mustered her courage to ask the same question again.
“No, um
 I’m asking if there’s someone you like.”
“Someone I like? My parents.”
Jerome answered in a polite and blunt manner. But that only served to frustrate Rosé more.
“No, not them.”
Looking at him with rose-colored lenses, Rosé glanced up at Jerome and shook her head.
“Not your mom or dad
 I’m asking if there’s someone else you like. Maybe a lady who’s close to you
”
“Ah
 You’re asking if there’s someone I have feelings for
”
Jerome paused for a moment, only understanding Rosé’s intention at that moment, and then he sighed.
He glanced briefly behind them, towards the adults, then looked back at Rosé and answered confidently.
“I fell in love at first sight with one person.”
“R
Really? Who?”
Rosé’s eyes were full of anticipation as she looked at Jerome.
Ba-thump, ba-thump.
Little Rosé’s chest started pounding heavily.
“Teacher Sera.”