CH 31

"You love Count Fidelo, don't you?"

Mariabelle envied the couple's serene love.

She wondered if one day she and Renato would be able to be like this.

"I think love is like a wellspring, so don't be afraid of that feeling."

Saying this, Therese placed her own hand on top of Mariabelle's on the table.

"I know you have suppressed your feelings because of the hardships you have experienced in the kingdom, but His Highness is faithful, and also a man of integrity, so you can trust him. He was so faithful to the engagement that began as a child's promise..."

When Mariabelle turned around to meet Therese's gaze, Renato was there.

The kitten on her lap was startled when she flinched, and it jumped down from her lap, trying to run away, but when she got up to say hello to Renato, it clung to the hem of her dress and began to play with her.

"Melty, no, come here."

Therese hurriedly tried to catch Melty, but perhaps thinking that she was playing with her, she jumped up and down and that made it even harder to catch.

"Hey, you naughty kitten!"

Then, Renato quickly bent down and pinched the nape of Melty's neck with his finger.

When she became quiet, he picked her up.

Whenever Melty tried to get out of control after being picked up suddenly, Renato would pinch it on the nape of the neck, and that made it calm again.

"Well, you are quite used to dealing with cats, aren't you?"

Renato replied to Therese, who seemed impressed, "My brother is a cat lover."

Then, he gently lowered Melty to the ground.

The kitten quickly ran off.

Renato looked at Mariabelle, who had a look of disappointment on her face, and giggled.

"Do you like cats, Miss Berkeley?"

"Yes. I think that... they are very cute."

In the kingdom, it was forbidden to touch animals because they might scratch your hands or other parts of your body.

The first time she touched a small kitten, it was warm, soft, and heartwarming, and she wanted to pet it all the time.

"There are cats in the imperial palace, too... I wonder if there are any cats with orange fur."

Renato looked over his shoulder, and Carlo shook his head.

"I haven't seen any..."

Seeing Renato look in the direction Melty left with a slightly disappointed look, Mariabelle couldn't help but laugh.

Perhaps Renato thought Mariabelle would be happy if the imperial palace had an orange cat.

It's nice to see that even though he is the crown prince of the empire, he pays attention to such small things.

"Someday..."

Mariabelle smiled softly and stood beside Renato.

"Would you like to adopt a cat with me?"

The promise of the future was the first step forward for Mariabelle.

Mariabelle was determined to walk with Renato for the rest of her life.

Her emerald green eyes sparkled brightly with determination.

"Of course."

Renato noticed the change in Mariabelle and admired her figure once again.

She was not only beautiful, but he also loved her willingness to stand side by side with him.

She was embarrassed to see Renato squinting at her, and she swept her gaze away, but then she saw a red rose blooming a short distance away and uttered a small 'ah.'

She hurriedly called her maid and received the sachet she had made in the carriage while coming here.

"I was thinking of giving it to you as soon as I had the chance, so I prepared it."

When she gave him the sachet, Renato was very pleased.

"So I guess that means we're both covered in the same fragrance."

Mariabelle's face turned bright red as she looked at Renato's streaming eyes while smelling the sachet.

"Your Highness... Please, leave it at that. It's too stimulating for Miss Berkeley."

"Is this much?"

"After all, she is a perfect lady."

After placating the dissatisfied Renato, Carlo told him unsympathetically, "It's time for you to go."

Renato, who had taken time out of his busy schedule to come here, had to return to the capital again soon.

Forcing Renato, who still had more to say, into the carriage, Carlo bowed graciously and said, "Well then, Miss Berkeley, I will be waiting for you in the imperial capital."