He could not help teasing the old man a little. He also invited Callian to visit his palace.
And so, that led to the current scene. Because she could not ride a horse, she was forced to share one with Claude. Such close contact made her little face flush red with embarrassment. Seeing this, the young duke bent slightly forward.
"You should smile, Callian. Don't make it look like I've kidnapped you."
Callian's face turned even redder. Why was the road to the Imperial Palace so far?
It was her first time at the Imperial Palace, and she was both uneasy and nervous. The Imperial Palace really was magnificent. And those two were also her brother's friends. But Claude spoke with sarcasm, saying that she was very good at flattering others.
This immediately made Callian unhappy. Seeing this, the crown prince immediately ran over to smooth things over. But Claude stepped in front of him with a quick movement.
So last time, the crown prince had also toyed with others like this. He liked all beautiful things, including men, and had even suffered great humiliation because of it. So there was no need to let others seize on that as leverage again. And besides, Callian was far too beautiful. He would definitely become entangled in all kinds of scandals.
Yet the crown prince looked completely unconcerned.
Looking at the two of them, Callian felt speechless. She turned around and quickly walked away.
"I am not flattering others. I am being considerate of other people's feelings, Your Grace. Young Duke, I never thought of gaining benefits by flattering anyone."
After saying that, she walked around Claude and ran off with quick steps. This chain of reactions made Claude laugh out loud directly.
How interesting.
Callian and the others arrived at the crown prince's palace. Looking at those exquisitely delicate little desserts, her stomach growled with hunger. Claude finally could not stand it any more.
"Don't just look. Eat."
Callian looked proud and stubborn. "I was only staring because they looked pretty."
But the crown prince exposed her with a single sentence. "You came by carriage from Kosova, so you probably haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Were these two devils? Did Callian not need to save face?
"Then I'll reluctantly eat one."
The crown prince picked one up and placed it on her plate. After hesitating for quite a while, she finally took a light bite and chewed slowly. The next second, her eyes instantly lit up.
How could there be something this delicious?
Princess Rosina was finally getting engaged, and the person was Callian's older brother, Jaelan. Clearly, she knew nothing about it. Perhaps it was normal not to tell her anything, because an occasion like that would never invite her in the first place.
Seeing Callian's embarrassment, Claude gave a light cough. The Marchioness had always stayed in the north, so it was normal that Callian had not received the news.
Simply because she was not good at riding horses, the young master had been forced to share a horse with the young duke. In an instant, her little face had flushed red with embarrassment. And just now, from the crown prince's mouth, she had unexpectedly learned that her own brother was about to get engaged. Only then did she suddenly understand.
So, in this family, she had always been an outsider.
Claude, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. Just as she was touched that the young duke was being considerate of her—
"Looking at you makes me feel hungry too. So hurry up and eat."
Those words sent a chill down her back. What strange things exactly were going on in this person's head?
"I understand. In order not to let the young duke go hungry, I will sacrifice myself a little."
After saying that, she stuffed it into her mouth and started devouring it fiercely. Only then did Claude reveal a satisfied smile.
Seeing Callian eat like a little kitten, Claude's hand, which had reached out wanting to wipe her clean, changed direction halfway and steadily pinched her chin.
"I am looking forward to it. Callian Bell's future will surely exceed imagination."
The sky gradually darkened. Callian left first. The noble posture she had deliberately put on earlier, and her flustered reaction when being teased — in Claude's eyes, all of it actually seemed especially cute.
Wait. I actually think a man is cute? I must be crazy.
This face-changing speed could be called master level. It left the crown prince full of confusion.
"It seems the young duke likes Callian very much."
The crown prince said bluntly that he liked all beautiful things. Just as he would like Claude and Jaelan, it was the same principle.
"Don't make things too hard for him either. Maybe, just as he said, Callian is only an imitation of Jaelan. But sooner or later, he will become mine."
Seeing that Claude had not spoken for a long time, the crown prince stood up, preparing to leave. It turned out the banquet was about to begin. This banquet was mainly for selecting a crown princess for the crown prince, and Claude recommended the daughter of Marquis Selby.
The crown prince froze on the spot. "Marilyn? Isn't she your fiancée? Who doesn't know that you're going to get engaged to Miss Selby?"
At the mention of this, Claude got a headache, because he did not like Marilyn at all.
After Callian returned from the Imperial Palace, she had been feeling a little unwell. It turned out that she had eaten too much earlier and had indigestion. Since that was the case, her father did not force her to attend the banquet either.
Hearing this, Callian immediately let out a sigh of relief. She truly did not like that kind of occasion very much.