Synopsis

The Crown Prince arrives unannounced, having knocked out her guards, and is concerned about the protagonist's weight loss and appearance, assuming mistreatment by the Duchy. He brings gifts for her coming-of-age ceremony, revealing he came to see her personally. He proposes marriage, not as a crown princess, but as a lifelong partner, which the protagonist refuses, revealing her intention to find a partner on her own terms. She dismisses his concerns and proposal, stating they are incompatible and she won't accept a marriage chosen for her.