Side Story 1 - Reversed Love Advice

By now, it could almost be called a familiar sight to see Nicholas in the de Broy family’s sitting room.

Back when Lucien had been agonizing over how to treat Marguerite, Nicholas had visited this house time and again to encourage him.

However, today was different.

Across from a downcast Nicholas sat Lucien and Marguerite.

“Please… tell me how to win Sharon over…!”

At Nicholas’s squeezed-out plea, the two exchanged glances.

Sharon of House Murese and Nicholas of House Meresen had met through their respective close friends.

While the couple they were cheering on stubbornly refused to move forward despite being perfectly matched, the distance between Nicholas and Sharon had gradually closed before they realized it.

Even so, a decisive change in their relationship had yet to occur.

Just today, Nicholas had strolled through the Royal Capital with Sharon and confirmed that she had no other such companion—but from there, he could not take the next step.

He had always thought of himself as someone accustomed to flirting, certainly more so than Lucien, who used to clam up at social gatherings.

Yet when faced with Sharon, words refused to come.

Instead, he found himself saying things like:

“Since the royal family has begun intervening in the factional disputes along the border, it would be prudent for us to maintain amicable relations as well.”

It sounded more like business than romance.

Worse than harmless small talk about the weather.

Sure enough, Sharon gave a small laugh and replied confidently,

“Oh, House Murese will be just fine. Mother is already on such friendly terms that she’s invited to Queen Emilenne’s tea gatherings.”

Not the house—what about you?

That was what Sharon’s gaze was asking. But Nicholas lacked the courage to meet it head-on.

After hearing Nicholas’s turmoil, Lucien and Marguerite exchanged another look.

Sharon could be strong-willed, but like Nicholas she was considerate and kindhearted, and the two would surely make a well-matched couple.

Still—

“When you ask us how to court someone…”

“Do you really think we’d know?”

Lucien’s blunt remark made Marguerite nod in agreement.

It was Nicholas and Sharon themselves who had supported these two—who, due to their narrow past relationships, had never known how to approach the person they loved. He should know they had no refined romantic wisdom to offer.

“But you’re completely lovey-dovey now! Just the other day at the banquet you were glued together, drawing everyone’s attention!”

“What!? Were we really like that? How embarrassing…”

Marguerite covered her reddening cheeks. Beside her, Lucien looked away.

‘Oblivious, the two of you.’

Nicholas stared at his longtime friends with a sticky, knowing gaze.

Lucien, for his part, looked a little awkward at being called out—but when he saw Marguerite flustered, a gentle smile crept onto his face.

‘What if everyone thought poorly of us? Wouldn’t that tarnish the de Broy name?’

‘Flustered Marguerite is adorable.’

‘You’re definitely thinking she’s adorable, Lucien…’

Each of them lost in their own thoughts, a brief silence fell over the room.

“…Well, Lucien, you really have changed. Tell me the secret.”

Lucien de Broy had once been known as a handsome yet distant man, difficult to approach.

Now, with Marguerite at his side, he softened his expression, gazed at his wife with open affection, and escorted her tenderly.

With behavior like that, no young lady could remain unmoved—and indeed, Marguerite herself had looked blissfully happy throughout the banquet.

In truth, Lucien drew even more admiring glances from women than before his marriage, but he noticed none of them.

To Nicholas, who remembered Lucien agonizing and groaning because he couldn’t confess his feelings, the transformation was astonishing.

There had to be some trick to it—or so he thought.

“The secret… well. You’re the one who said it, weren’t you? Be honest with yourself.”

Lucien folded his arms and frowned, his expression utterly sincere.

“So I’m just acting the way I truly feel.”

“I’m also trying not to suppress my feelings too much…”

As they spoke, the two met each other’s eyes and smiled softly.

“…Still oblivious, the two of you.”

The retort Nicholas had thought earlier slipped out of his mouth this time.

“But… I see. You’re right.”

Back then, Lucien had lacked confidence and constantly dwelled on the negative. Nicholas had told him to be honest with himself.

Apparently, Sharon had given Marguerite similar advice.

And yet Nicholas himself, wanting to look good in front of Sharon, had tried to appear calm and unhurried—only to end up going in circles.

Acknowledging one’s feelings and expressing them honestly.

That was all there was to the secret of love.

‘To think my own words would come back to bite me.’

With a wry smile, Nicholas looked at Lucien and Marguerite. Their faces no longer carried the shadows they once had when he first visited this manor.

“So it comes down to resolving myself. Thanks.”

At Nicholas’s newly resolute expression, both Lucien and Marguerite smiled warmly.