These fragmented whispers, once secret murmurings among the elves, slipped quietly into Daniel's ears, carried along the path of the wind.

  The elves were born with keen hearing, and now, as the breeze stirred, distant voices were clearly conveyed to him.

  As long as the wind blew in the right direction, their hearing far exceeded that of humans by tenfold. Yet this remarkable gift now forced Daniel to confront the waves of doubt and speculation swirling around him.

  Leaning against an ancient tree by the lakeside, Daniel idly twisted the trailing vines around his fingers. These past days, such discussions had been as persistent and irritating as summer mosquitoes, refusing to fade away.

  His identity as the Third Prince had become a hot topic amidst the undercurrents of political intrigue. Were he truly the Third Prince, one might expect a furious response—thunderous rage ignited at the first spark.

  But to Daniel, these words were nothing more than passing clouds, incapable of stirring even the faintest ripple within.

  After all, being ordered to marry a succubus labeled as "lustful and shameless" was nothing short of a ridiculous fantasy—he would rather die than obey.

  In fact, these rumors only served to help him play his role more convincingly, to bring this act to life with even greater realism.

  Just as he was about to turn and leave, a familiar figure entered his line of sight.

  Orlanis—the name that had haunted his memory for days—now took physical form before him, not far away.

  Since the annulment of their engagement, they had drifted apart like two lines that once crossed but now never met again.

  She stood backlit by the setting sun, her silver hair edged with golden light, outlining a dreamlike silhouette.

  The eyes that once sparkled like stars now shimmered with a veil of moisture. And when they met Daniel's gaze, the pain within her eyes rippled out like waves on water.

  She stared at him in a daze. Time seemed to freeze. No one knew how long passed before she suddenly turned away, her skirt sweeping through the air like the wings of a shattered butterfly, as she ran off toward the outskirts of the city.

  Daniel's heart clenched, as though seized by an invisible hand. He knew, with bone-deep clarity, that if he didn't give chase now, he might truly lose the most important thing in his life.

  From the fleeting anguish in Orlanis's eyes, he had caught a clear and undeniable truth—her feelings were not a mere illusion, but burning and sincere.

  Deep within the moss-scented forest by Skyheart Lake, Orlanis stood beneath a thousand-year-old tree, her fingers clawing desperately at its rough bark, crimson beading from beneath her nails.

  Hearing footsteps behind her, she forced herself to stay composed, though her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

  "Your Highness Daniel, what brings you here? Following a young lady like this… it hardly befits someone of your station."

  Daniel cleared his throat, as though vines were wrapped tight around it—dry and constricting. He opened his mouth, but the lines he had rehearsed countless times in his head now tangled together into a mess.

  In the end, all he managed was a clumsy, awkward sentence:

  "Miss Orlanis… are you all right?"

  The moment the words left his lips, he cursed himself inwardly.

  Even before he came to this world, he had never been good at speaking to girls—and clearly, this miserable flirting technique had followed him even after the crossing.

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  Orlanis stood with her back to him, her frail shoulders trembling slightly like autumn leaves barely clinging to a branch.

  She tried to make her voice sound calm.

  "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm perfectly fine. Your time is precious—surely you must be busy preparing for your wedding to the noble demon princess.

  Don't worry. I'll send you my blessings and a gift."

  Her words were laced with barbs—resentment and bitterness entwined like a cup of acrid wine that was hard to swallow.

  Daniel's heart began to race, as if a wild deer were thrashing inside his chest.

  Now he was certain—she was merely putting on a front. Beneath that prideful shell was a tender, aching heart.

  If she didn't have feelings for him, he'd gladly hurl himself into Skyheart Lake.

  But just how deep those feelings ran, and whether they were strong enough for her to give up everything—that, he still needed to find out.

  He sighed, brow furrowed in frustration. "Miss Orlanis, I never intended to betray our engagement. It's just that… there are some things—"

  "I understand," she cut him off, her voice quivering. "You're making a sacrifice for the empire and your people. I understand completely.

  All I can do is wish you well in the future."

  Her voice trembled, the bitterness overflowing like a rising tide.

  Daniel knew this place wasn't safe—if someone discovered them here, the consequences would be disastrous.

  But sweet talk had never been his strength. He braced himself and decided to face things head-on.

  Taking a deep breath, he looked directly at her back and asked earnestly:

  "If… and I mean if you had the choice—would you give up your status and position for the sake of love?"

  The moment the question left his lips, Orlanis spun around, her eyes blazing with scorn and fury.

  "You think far too little of me, Your Highness Daniel!" she hissed, biting her lower lip as her nails dug deep into her palm.

  With that, she turned and walked away, her steps swift and determined.

  Yet the tears glistening in the corners of her eyes betrayed the vulnerability she could not hide.

  Only then did Daniel realize how deeply his words had hurt her—like a sharp blade, cruelly piercing the heart of this innocent and lovely girl.

  Without hesitation, he reached out to grab her sleeve, only to be met with Orlanis's cold warning: "Your Highness, please show some respect. My strength is not inferior to yours. This place may be secluded, but if you intend to use force, you won't get the chance."

  Daniel let go helplessly and quickly caught up to her, his voice tinged with urgency. "If I choose to leave the continent of Lundberg, what would you do?"

  Orlanis stopped, her tone laced with sarcasm. "So, you're planning to run away from your marriage? Do you really believe that in your eyes, a mere elven girl is worth more than royal status?"

  Daniel shook his head firmly, his gaze unwavering. "An ordinary elven girl couldn't, but Orlanis could."

  As the words left his lips, he felt his cheeks burn as though scorched by fire. He couldn't believe such cheesy, melodramatic words had come from his own mouth.

  Orlanis's face flushed a deep red, like the glowing hues of twilight. Her hands trembled slightly, her heart overwhelmed with a storm of emotions.

  Her sister Eirwyn had been right—when falsehoods are mixed with sincerity and delivered with such a handsome face, it's all too easy to fall.

  Yet, she had deceived this deeply affectionate young man with false intelligence. Guilt surged over her like a tidal wave. She whispered softly, "I'm not worth it."

  "No one is more worthy than you. I'll begin making preparations. Please, don't expose anything. Before I leave, I'll ask you one more time—if you're willing to go with me, I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you."

  Daniel's voice was resolute and sincere, each word etched into Orlanis's heart.

  Orlanis gave a small nod and was about to leave when Daniel called out to her. "Wait! I suspect someone may be watching us—I need your help to put on an act."

  "How do we act it out?"

  "Slap me hard—knock me into the lake—then cover your face and run away," Daniel replied without room for discussion.

  Orlanis stared at him in disbelief, her lips trembling wordlessly. Daniel urged her anxiously, "Quick! We can't stay here too long."

  She took a deep breath, struggling to calm her turbulent emotions. "If I have new information, I'll send Eirwyn to find you. She's absolutely trustworthy." Then, her eyes reddened, and her voice choked. "I'm sorry, Daniel."

  The sharp sound of a slap echoed by the lakeside. Pain flared on Daniel's cheek as a powerful force sent him flying, plunging him into the waters of Skyheart Lake. The freezing water enveloped him, a biting chill consuming his entire body.

  Orlanis covered her mouth as tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes. She turned and fled. Her skirt was snagged by the jagged grass, its thorns slicing her delicate arm. Blood seeped out, staining the snow-white fabric crimson.

  But she didn't notice. Her heart was consumed by sorrow and remorse. Had she known Daniel cared so deeply for her, why had she used false intelligence to deceive him?

  Roughly seven kilometers away, atop a tall tower, two grand magi were watching everything unfold at Skyheart Lake through a magical crystal orb. Like many of the elven high society, these two archmages had a keen interest in gossip.

  They watched as His Highness Daniel and Miss Orlanis argued heatedly by the lake, tugged at one another, and finally ended with that dramatic slap.

  The elder mage stroked his beard, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Oh, by the Moon Goddess... how beautiful is youth. That damned scent of love in the air—it reminds me of my own days of springtime romance."