The grand hall buzzed with chatter as the courtiers gathered in preparation for a court event. The air was thick with expectation, with nobles whispering excitedly about the speeches that would be made, the gifts that would be exchanged, and the rumors that were sure to spread. At the center of it all stood Seraphina, who had just delivered a powerful speech advocating for a new tax reform that would benefit the lower districts. The hall had been silenced by her words, and for once, the whispers surrounding her were ones of respect rather than mockery.

However, as Seraphina turned to exit the stage, her eyes landed on none other than Crown Prince Aiden, who was standing with his usual aloof expression. His icy demeanor seemed to melt for a brief moment, and he stepped toward her, his face flushed with some hidden emotion. Seraphina’s pulse quickened slightly as she met his gaze. He looked... different today. Less distant. Less cold.

But of course, he had to ruin it.

“Lady Seraphina,” Aiden began, his tone unexpectedly earnest, though it was still shrouded in the familiar tsundere awkwardness that had become his trademark. “Your... your speech was... erm... very... very... well, it was fine. I guess. Good, even.”

Seraphina blinked. “Good? That’s all?”

Aiden’s eyes darted nervously around the room, clearly regretting his words the moment they left his mouth. “No, no! It was more than good! It was... it was impressive!” He stammered, taking a step closer, but his gaze shifted down at her dress, and his face scrunched in thought. “But I don’t know about... about the... um... the way your dress—your hair—looks.” He quickly fumbled for the right words. “I mean, it’s... it’s not bad. Not bad at all! It’s just... erm, I mean, it’s... um... you know what I mean.”

Seraphina stood frozen, completely caught off guard by the prince’s sudden backpedaling. The compliment — or was it an insult? — had left her speechless. He had started with an attempt at something resembling praise, only to veer into a complete disaster. Her dress wasn’t anything extravagant, and her hair was carefully done, but now she was beginning to doubt her own appearance.

“Are you saying... I look terrible?” Seraphina asked, her voice dripping with confusion and a little bit of amusement.

“No! No!” Aiden quickly protested, his face turning even redder. “I mean, you look fine! Perfect, really! I was just—just thinking... maybe—uh, maybe something a little less... you know, fancy?” He faltered, suddenly realizing just how bad it was sounding.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a laugh. “So, my dress is *too fancy*?”

“I... uh, well, I didn’t mean it like that...” Aiden stammered, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. He was truly floundering now, and it was clear he had no idea how to recover. Every word he spoke only seemed to make things worse.

The courtiers who had been watching the exchange closely couldn’t help but whisper and giggle behind their hands. The whole scene had become an unintentional comedy show, with Aiden’s failed attempt at a compliment being nothing short of cringeworthy. A few even exchanged knowing glances, whispering about the prince’s apparent “growing interest” in Seraphina, though no one dared speak too openly about it in the prince’s presence.

Seraphina, for her part, was still trying to wrap her head around Aiden’s words. She was a noblewoman who had dealt with court intrigue, political maneuvering, and even personal slanders, but *this* was something new. It wasn’t so much the awkwardness that threw her off; it was the sincerity in Aiden’s eyes despite his fumbling.

“You know, Your Highness,” Seraphina said slowly, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her lips, “I think I understand. You were trying to say that I’m... perfect, but in a *subtle* way, yes?”

Aiden froze. His brain seemed to shut down completely. “Uh... perfect?”

“Yes,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re not very good at compliments, are you?”

Aiden’s face went pale, the realization hitting him with full force. He had made a complete fool of himself in front of Seraphina, and there was no coming back from it. His tsundere nature had already led to embarrassing missteps in the past, but this? This was a disaster. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. “I—this is—uh, well, I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t worry,” Seraphina cut him off, her expression surprisingly kind. “I’ll take your ‘compliment’ as a sign of respect.” She gave him a sly look. “Next time, though, maybe keep it to yourself.”

Aiden’s face burned bright red. “I... right, of course.”

The tension was broken by a small, quiet chuckle. Both Aiden and Seraphina turned in unison to see Yuki, who had been watching the entire exchange from her spot on the windowsill. The little fox’s two-tone eyes gleamed with mischievous delight.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Yuki remarked dryly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “A perfect *tsundere* moment, don’t you think, Lady Seraphina?”

Seraphina shot a knowing look at Yuki, who was clearly enjoying the spectacle of the prince’s awkwardness. “It’s almost as though he can’t decide whether to insult me or marry me.”

Yuki snorted, her tail flicking with amusement. “Oh, don’t get your hopes up, Seraphina. He probably can’t even tell the difference between the two.”

Seraphina turned back to Aiden, now smiling openly. She was about to make another lighthearted remark when the prince suddenly blurted out, “I—I didn’t mean to insult you, Lady Seraphina, I really didn’t! I just... I don’t know how to—”

“You’re doing fine, Your Highness,” Seraphina said, her voice softening. She turned to the courtiers who were still gossiping in the background. “I’ll let you all be the judge of whether the prince’s compliments are as noble as his title.”

Aiden’s embarrassment reached new heights as the courtiers burst into laughter. With a deep, frustrated sigh, he turned on his heel and stalked off, his face an unhealthy shade of crimson. He was embarrassed. He was frustrated. But most of all, he was beginning to realize something he hadn’t allowed himself to think before — he liked Seraphina. He just couldn’t figure out how to express it without sounding like a complete fool.

---

Meanwhile, Yuki’s mischievous grin widened. The fox’s eyes sparkled as she watched Aiden retreat, her mind already forming new plans. “Well, that went spectacularly,” she mused. “One more push, and we’ll have a royal love story on our hands.”

Seraphina, still stunned by the prince’s attempt at a compliment, sighed and sat down on a nearby chair. “If this is how it’s going to be, I’m in for a lot of confusion, aren’t I?”

Yuki curled up at Seraphina’s feet, her tail flicking lazily. “Oh, I’m sure it’ll be *entertaining*.”

The game of royal romance had just begun, and neither Seraphina nor Aiden had any idea what was coming next.