Estelle Will Not Forgive a Second Time: The Condemned Noble Lady Returns in Elegance to Dance with the Incompetent Prince - Chapter 17

Tonight, the square is brimming with a different kind of energy than during the day.

The glow of street stalls and food carts illuminates the darkness, mingling with the sweet and savory aromas that float through the air.

I walked beside Lord Leonhardt, our hoods pulled low over our faces as we made our way through the crowd.

It had been quite a while since I’d come to a place like this.

No—if I consider this my second life, perhaps it’s the first time altogether.

“There are so many people here. I suppose we don’t have to worry much about an assassination attempt tonight.”

I murmured casually, and Lord Leonhardt, walking beside me, gave a slight nod, the hint of a smile visible beneath his hood.

Everyone around us seemed too absorbed in the stalls and shops to notice that we were nobles.

There was little chance anyone would recognize him as a prince.

“Yes. With this many people around, it’d be difficult to attempt an assassination. And if we keep a low profile in the crowd, it’ll be harder for any hired blades to make a move. Of course, we can’t let our guard down completely… but I’ll take care of that.”

“Thank you, Lord Leonhardt.”

I found myself wanting to lean on those words.

He insists he’s merely acting as a mercenary escort, but it’s still hard to believe that the second prince himself is guarding me.

Still, I decided not to dwell on it for now.

Just as he said, maybe it’s okay to relax a little once in a while.

The night square was far more crowded than I expected.

Especially in the narrower alleys, it was so packed that people brushed shoulders as they passed.

As I lagged a step behind to avoid being swept away in the flow of people, Lord Leonhardt suddenly reached out and took hold of my arm.

“I’ll escort you so we don’t get separated.”

“Ah… y-yes, thank you.”

In high society, walking arm-in-arm with a gentleman is perfectly normal, and yet I felt strangely flustered.

Maybe it’s because no one here cares about noble customs. That very freedom made me all the more aware of our closeness.

We stopped at a few stalls and chose some food together.

Sweet pastries, spiced grilled meat skewers—things I wouldn’t normally eat.

When I quietly exclaimed, “They all look so delicious,” Lord Leonhardt responded with a gentle, “Shall we try them?” and paid without hesitation.

“You don’t have to. I brought my own purse.”

I tried to decline politely, but he shook his head firmly, as if paying for me was only natural.

What a strange exchange this was—if anyone had told me I’d be on a date like this with royalty, I would’ve laughed it off, even in death.

Though I was once engaged to Crown Prince Victor, we certainly never went on anything resembling a date.

Eventually, we found a small bench at the edge of the square and sat down side by side.

It was a bit removed from the bustling center, so the air here felt noticeably calmer.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be eating street food after attending a formal evening party?”

I chuckled, and Lord Leonhardt removed the bandage from his mouth, revealing a smile.

“Well, it’s not so bad, is it? Honestly, all the formalities of high society don’t suit me. Experiencing the liveliness of common folk like this… it’s rather enjoyable.”

I bit into one of the pastries and couldn’t help but smile at the simple sweetness.

He handed me one of the meat skewers he had bought, and I took a small bite. The spices were rich and warming.

“Mmm… it’s delicious. I never knew food like this could warm the body so much.”

“Right? The royal chefs make fine meals, but every once in a while, something like this hits the spot.”

As we exchanged these lighthearted remarks, I felt my nerves completely ease.

The fear and tension from earlier now seemed like a distant memory.

“Lord Leonhardt… do you usually have friends?”

I asked suddenly, curious. He never seemed close with anyone in high society.

Now that the tension was gone, it felt natural to ask as part of our casual conversation.

“Friends, huh… I used to. Like you, I suppose you could call them ‘former’ friends.”

For a moment, I thought I saw sadness flicker in his eyes.

“As the king’s half-brother, I had a fair number of friends when I was young. But once I was branded incompetent, they all drifted away. Turns out, most of them only approached me because being ‘the second prince’s friend’ seemed beneficial.”

His voice was calm, but I could sense the loneliness behind his words.

I understood that feeling—Clarissa betrayed me, too.

Losing someone you trusted that deeply isn’t something you recover from easily.

“…I see. I thought Clarissa was my best friend once, but she betrayed me. So… I think I can understand how you feel. At least a little.”

I let out a bitter laugh, saying it aloud.

Lord Leonhardt nodded quietly beneath his hood.

“…I see. You’ve had your fair share of hardships too, haven’t you? Well, in the end, we became partners in crime, didn’t we? That’s all that matters. Stories about former friends aren’t worth much anyway.”

“Hehe… You’re right.”

We shared a small laugh, and quietly, I found myself thinking—

Yes, perhaps we both carry the same kind of wound: the pain of losing a dear friend.

And more than that, we were both betrayed when personal gain entered the picture—a betrayal driven by self-interest.

“As fellow conspirators, why don’t we toast… well, we don’t have glasses, but we could at least share some food as a substitute?”

I said it with a teasing smile, and Lord Leonhardt laughed, clearly amused.

He extended his arm slightly, raising the meat skewer toward me.

“Then shall we toast with this? …It’s odd, sure, but not a bad idea.”

“Yes. Cheers.”

I lifted my pastry in response and matched his gesture with a soft chuckle.

Who would’ve thought that such a simple moment could warm my heart?

“It’s strange, isn’t it? To have a moment this peaceful. The old me couldn’t have imagined it.”

When I voiced my thoughts aloud, Lord Leonhardt gave a gentle smile and said, “I feel the same.”

The lively noise of the square seemed to fade into the distance, as though we alone were enjoying a small pocket of peace.

There were still battles ahead, and we couldn’t let our guard down about the assassination plot.

Even so, knowing that I had someone beside me—a partner sharing the same goal, a companion, maybe even a friend—gave me comfort.

Lord Leonhardt bears a wound much like mine.

Perhaps that’s why he protects me… why he worries about me.

With those thoughts in my heart, I sat beside him, nibbling at my pastry.

The faint sweetness in the air seemed to gently ease the loneliness we both carried.

“Shall we head back? We still need to gather more intel tomorrow… But tonight, I think I’ll be able to sleep well.”

When I rose to my feet, Lord Leonhardt stood with me, quietly and naturally.

“That sounds good. It’s been a while since I’ve had a night like this. Thank you, Estelle.”

“No, thank you, Lord Leonhardt.”

We smiled at each other, honestly and without pretenses, before pulling our hoods low once more and blending back into the crowd.

It wasn’t all battles and walking treacherous roads in carriages.

Moments like this… they mattered too.

And with that, we stepped once more into the night—partners in crime, companions who shared the same scars, just a little closer than before.