The next day, I ultimately had to go to a café in the very center of the city to et with Richard.
From early morning, a strange feeling had not subsided within — a mixture of curiosity and caution. I did not know what to expect from this eting, and that was precisely what troubled most.
I decided not to tell anyone about this eting. Not even Ruby.
Instead, I rely ntioned casually that I was going into the city to do so shopping — to replace my gloves and perhaps stop by the bookstore.
Since I still had not the slightest idea of the true purpose of this invitation, I preferred to keep everything a secret. Just in case.
The café turned out to be small but elegant — light-colored walls, neat little tables, a delicate aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries lingering in the air. It was located just a few steps from the central square, yet secluded enough to avoid unnecessary glances.
When I entered, he was already there.
The prince was seated at a table by the window, where soft daylight fell gently upon him. His golden hair shimred in the sunlight, and his posture remained impeccably straight, even when he appeared relaxed. He noticed almost imdiately.
The young man stood up as soon as our eyes t.
"Lady Weinstein, you did co after all," a faint, almost satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
I approached the table smoothly, maintaining my composure, though my treacherous heart was beating slightly faster than usual.
"Of course," I replied with a polite bow. "How could I not co when His Highness himself invited ?"
There was courtesy in my words, but I carefully watched his reaction.
Whatever was hidden behind this eting, I intended to find it out today.
Well, since a prince was sitting before , I had to maintain impeccable politeness.
I allowed myself a light, slightly strained smile — exactly the kind one expects from a well-bred lady of a respectable family. No more, no less.
Richard de Stone did not yield in courtesy. As soon as I approached the table, he imdiately pulled out a chair for , even though I asked him not to trouble himself.
"Your Highness, truly, there is no need..." I said softly.
But he only gave a barely noticeable smirk, as though such formalities were not an obligation for him, but a habit.
In any case, I did not argue further. We took our seats, and for a mont, a pause hung between us.
As soon as we settled, the prince gestured for the waiter and offered to place an order.
"It’s all right," I replied. "I’m not very hungry, so I will only have a black coffee."
"Very well," he nodded, not taking his attentive gaze off . "In fact, I do not particularly wish to eat either. So I shall order the sa as you."
Only a few minutes later, we were served cups of steaming, richly fragrant coffee.
I wrapped my fingers around the cup, feeling its warmth through the porcelain.
After hesitating slightly, I finally decided to break the silence.
"...Your Highness," I began cautiously, lifting my gaze a little, "may I know the reason why you wished to see today?"
The question sounded gentle, but direct.
I did not intend to beat around the bush for long.
In the end, it was this very question that concerned most.
If the prince personally arranges a secret eting in the city center, then there must be sothing more behind it than a polite conversation over a cup of coffee.
I ran through dozens of possible reasons in my mind. Politics? Possible pressure on our family? Or... a warning?
But contrary to all my expectations, Richard suddenly said sothing entirely different:
"Do not worry. I had no particular reason for this eting. In fact..." he held his gaze on the surface of his coffee for a mont, "I simply wanted to see you."
He smiled slightly and calmly brought the cup to his lips, as though he had not just said anything unusual.
As for — I was stunned.
"What?" The word escaped faster than it should have.
The prince looked remarkably composed. Not a hint of a joke, not a trace of embarrassnt.
"I rely wished to know how you are," he continued just as calmly. "As I have heard, you recently encountered difficulties with the mine in the south. But it seems you managed to resolve everything safely."
My fingers tightened around the cup.
"Your Highness is remarkably well inford," I said with a light, carefully asured smile.
I took a small sip of coffee, hiding my expression behind the rim of the cup.
"Thank you for your concern," I added in an even tone. "Fortunately, the situation has indeed been resolved."
The prince gave a barely noticeable nod, as if confirming so thought to himself.
"Would you tell how exactly you managed to accomplish that?"
I froze for a mont.
I was genuinely puzzled that the heir to the entire empire would show such keen interest in what was, essentially, a private property dispute of a single noblewoman. Yes, the mine in the south was important to my family. Yes, the losses could have been serious. But on the scale of the state — it was rely one point on the map.
And yet... he was asking about it.
Which ant that evasion would be impolite — and perhaps unwise.
"Of course," I replied calmly, setting the cup aside.
I spoke evenly and to the point, avoiding unnecessary emotion.
Richard listened attentively, without interrupting .
When I finished, a brief pause lingered in the air.
"Now I understand..." he finally said and nodded. "Lady Weinstein, you are truly remarkable to have resolved such a serious problem on your own!"
There was no mockery in his voice. Only sincere acknowledgnt.
And that was precisely what unsettled the most.
I cleared my throat lightly, looking away.
"Your Highness exaggerates. I rely did what I had to do."
I raised my eyes to him again.
"Your Highness," I said more directly this ti, "is that the only reason you wished to see today?"
For a mont, the prince looked perplexed, as though he had not expected such a question. Then his expression grew more serious, and his gaze deeper.
"No," he answered slowly. "Not exactly."
He smiled charmingly once more.
"In fact, I also wished to personally deliver sothing to you."
I frowned.
"What? What exactly?"
Instead of answering, Richard unhurriedly slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his coat and drew out a thick envelope with golden embossing along the edge. He placed it on the table before .
"It is an invitation," he explained, noticing my confusion.
"An invitation?" I repeated, not hurrying to touch the envelope.
"Yes," Richard smiled a little wider. "In the near future, I intend to host a small party. Nothing official. Only for my closest friends and acquaintances."
He made a short pause, not taking his eyes off .
"Lady Weinstein... you will attend, will you not?"
For a mont, I froze.
Could it really be true? Was I truly such a significant figure in his eyes that I had been granted the honor of being invited to a private event of the heir to the empire?...
My fingers finally touched the envelope.
For so ti, I still hesitated.
But then I slowly raised my eyes.
And at that very mont, as our gazes t, I felt a strange tension.
Sothing in him had changed.
His gaze... It seed to that his gaze now differed sowhat from the usual? Richard de Stone at this very mont looked sohow frightening.
anwhile, in the café at that mont, a strange but rather pleasant lody was playing.
Was it only my imagination, or had I heard it sowhere before?...
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