The ball party that seemed to last forever finally ended. 

I set foot into the Crown Prince’s palace alongside Damian. 

“Wow…”

Admiration left my lips. 

Yes, the palace of the Crown Prince had been renovated and spruced up. 

All the decrepit and shabby areas of the palace were repaired and renovated. 

Additionally, all of the garden’s dead trees were uprooted and replaced with new ones. 

I was briefly overcome with emotion. 

“It reminds me of the past.”

“The past?”

“Yes. When I first arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace, I thought there would be a ghost.”

I looked back at Damian and smiled broadly. 

“It’s so pristine and glamorous now, isn’t it?”

“Do you like it?”

“Absolutely! But…I’m a little sad, that’s all.”

“You’re sad?”

A puzzled Damian asked. 

“Well, after his Highness had left, I would visit the Crown Prince’s palace from time to time.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I would wipe and sweep, waiting for his Highness to return…”

I gazed at the panoramic view of the Crown Prince’s palace. 

“Now, all that was of that time, has disappeared without a trace.”

“Instead, I’ll always be by your side from now on.”

“What?”

“From now on, we can make new memories.”

Damian looked at me warmly. 

I suppose. 

Damian won’t be leaving now. 

I’ll be in the Crown Prince’s palace forever…

For some reason, I felt my heart pounding as I nodded my head slightly. 

“You’re right, your Highness.”

“Right? It’s getting cold, let’s head inside.”

I followed Damian’s stride. 

Suddenly. 

“OH!”

Tripping, I reflexively grabbed onto Damian’s arm. 

“Lize! Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I didn’t fall, so I’m okay.”

I responded to Damian’s urgent call with an assuring smile and nodded. 

However….

‘Well, I think it’s better for us to get inside sooner.’

It was my first time wearing heels and my feet were killing me. 

When I was at the ball party, I was so nervous I didn’t even notice the constant aching. 

‘It hurts a lot right now.’

I limped rather than walked. 

But then. 

“Really? Can’t you tell me if you’re not feeling well?”

Hearing that worried voice, my eye level all of a sudden rose sharply. 

Damian narrowed his brow and had effortlessly picked me up in his arms. 

I was shocked and feebly said to Damian. 

“Your Highness, I told you I’m fine…”

“No, you’re not,” Damian replied emphatically. 

Then I saw it. 

The maids, who followed behind us, looked at each other meaningfully. 

I look like a laughing stock right now, don’t I?!

‘What do I do, I’m going to die from embarrassment!’

I closed my eyes tightly and laid my head against Damian’s chest. 

By the way. 

‘…..his chest.’

It’s so incredibly tough?

Seriously, how do I describe it! His chest is like a utopia of chiseled abs…

I gulped my saliva without realizing it. 

‘I-I want to touch it. Can’t I?’

No, I shouldn’t think any more about this!

I used every ounce of willpower in me to stop myself. 

At the same time, Damian laid me down on the sofa. 

The way he looked at me was weird. 

“…Lize.”

“Y-Yes?!”

I came to my senses and met Damian’s gaze, trying to act as naturally as possible. 

Damian squinted his eyes. 

“What was that very weird expression you had just now?”

“W-What are you talking about!”

“You were smiling while I carried you, and that smile was… to put it bluntly…resembled a pervert’s?”

“I’d never do that!”

AHHH, I don’t know!

I raised my voice. 

Damian shrugged his shoulders. 

“Well, if you say so…”

Then he suddenly bent down and took off my shoes.

“I, your Highness!! What are you doing?!”

“What do you think I’m doing? I’m removing your shoes.”

Damian replied sullenly.  

Then he sighed deeply.