Strange Things Happening
Strange Things Happening
I stared at Father’s disciple. Why was he so ungrateful? I had given him a place to sleep and I woke him up on time, but he was still speaking to me in the same rude and impolite way he did last night. He reminded me of someone in my previous life who refused to open up to me even though I had treated him very nicely.
Seriously, why was he so obstinate? He gave off such a familiar feeling… for a moment, I began to reminisce about who he reminded me of, but then I regained my senses. That wasn’t important right now. I had to ask this guy why he was speaking to me so rudely.
“What are you looking at?” he asked aggressively.
I suddenly forgot what I was going to say and burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
He was clearly displeased, but I couldn’t stop myself. He and that one little guy from my past life were so much alike.
He glared at me. “Don’t laugh,” he said fiercely.
I felt bad about laughing at him for what must’ve seemed like no reason, but it was difficult to control myself after seeing the expressions he made. Yes, just as I had thought: he resembled the aggressive little black kitty I often saw by my house.
He frowned, unhappy with the smile on my face. “Stop laughing,” he commanded once more.
It was difficult to control myself, especially since we weren’t in any dire situations anymore. Then, I heard Merilyn’s voice outside the door. “Have you awakened, Lady Floyen?”
I immediately stopped laughing and calmed. I needed to keep myself together. First, I had to do something about the man on top of me.
“Hey, can you move?” I asked. He frowned at my request but stood up anyway. “You have to help me up, too,” I said. I extended my hands out to him, but he glared at me and turned around, leaving me no choice but to get up myself. I frowned and dusted off my clothes.
Seriously, what was the matter with this guy? With his stubbornness, he wasn’t going to listen to my plan.
I supposed it couldn’t be helped. Rather recklessly, I grabbed his hand.
“What are you doing?” he asked. Surely enough, he didn’t budge when I tried to tug him away. I had no choice but to trick him.
“Come here. I have something to show you,” I lied.
He frowned but didn’t put up a fight when I dragged him into my dressing room, which was connected to my bedroom. It should prove safe for him in here.
I began to open my closet door. “If you don’t want there to be any misunderstandings, stay here and be quiet.”
“Misunderstandings?”
“You know, something like how we spent the night together. Well, we sort of did, but I mean it in a different way.”
“A different way?” he asked with curiosity.
I was surprised that I had to explain this to him, but I tried to do so in a refined way. “Like how animals mate,” I explained tactfully.
“What?! What kind of—” he yelled, but I quickly covered his mouth with a hand. How could he raise his voice like that when Merilyn could hear? I couldn’t believe how careless he was.
When it seemed like he was calming down, I removed my hand.
“You don’t want anyone to think that, right? Great,” I said. “Me neither.”
His handsome face twisted at my earnest statement. Alright, he was listening to me now. I smiled. “I’m just asking you to cooperate since you've been staying in my room.”
The man stared at me then nodded slowly. I felt somewhat dispirited since this rebellious guy suddenly turned obedient. “How nice it is now that you’re listening to me,” I muttered unconsciously
I saw him frown again. “You—” He tried to say something, but I hurriedly closed the closet door before he could finish.
“Is everything okay, Lady Floyen? Why is the door locked?” Merilyn asked.
As soon as I heard her, I rushed to my bedroom door and unlocked it. I could’ve gotten into big trouble if I didn’t. Sighing in relief, I opened the door, revealing Merilyn standing behind it. She regarded me with puzzled eyes.
“Did something happen?” she asked, worried. “You’ve never locked your door before…”
“Oh, um…” I scrambled to make up an excuse. “…I was afraid that someone might break in.”
“Huh?” Merilyn asked, surprised. Then, she smiled. “My lady, there exists no such person in the world who would try to break into Duke Floyen’s house! If there did, they’d be out of their mind. It’s a well-known fact that neither assassins nor thieves would ever dare to come near the mansion.”
I sighed. While I was free from assassins and thieves, there was definitely an insane guy in my closet at the moment. Merilyn was always pretty careless about such possibilities.
I couldn't tell her about the intruder hiding in my closet, so I hurriedly added, “We can never be too sure, especially since Father isn’t here.”
Merilyn’s expression hardened at my words as if she suddenly realized the danger we could be in. She took my hands into her own. “Lady Floyen,” she said with a somber expression, “Master will return home safely.”
“Yes, I know,” I answered. Although I was confused as to why she was suddenly saying this, I agreed with her. After all, how would others return to their homes safely if the strongest swordsman in the empire could not?
Merilyn still watched me with worry. “It’s a wonderful day, my lady. How about taking a walk?” she suggested.
Again, I didn’t understand why she would suggest such a thing. However, if this were any other day, I would’ve joyfully agreed, but I couldn’t because of Father’s disciple. I had no choice but to lie to her. I looked down. “No, I’m not feeling well today,” I said.
Technically, this wasn’t a complete lie since I felt a little sick from the cold air last night. Also, I had gotten a bit sore after Father’s disciple pinned me to the floor earlier.
“Really? What’s wrong?” Merilyn asked.
“Oh, I'm just feeling a bit under the weather today. That’s all,” I reassured her. I deliberately remained vague about my symptoms so I could use them as an excuse not to go outside, but Merilyn wasn't just going to let it slide.
“Shall I call for Dr. Allen?”
“No, you don’t have to do that,” I said.
She shook her head seriously and said, “Even the smallest of things shouldn’t be overlooked. You are the only heir to the Floyen family.”
“It’s really not that big of a deal, though.”
She looked dissatisfied. “You must remember that you’re the only one who can lead the family during the master’s absence, my lady.”
I inhaled sharply at her burdensome reminder. I had no intention of leading the family whatsoever…
“As I thought, I can’t just let this slide,” she sighed. “I will call Dr. Allen, after all.”
A thought suddenly occurred to me. Even if this ruined my image any further than it already was, I had no choice but to make this excuse. “It’s really not a big deal,” I said. “Truthfully, it’s actually because… I fell out of bed.”
Merilyn widened her eyes. “You fell out of bed?”
She was probably surprised because this had never happened to me before. I nodded. “Yes, but it doesn’t hurt that much because I fell on the carpet. My back just aches a little.”
I thought this was a pretty good excuse considering that I had indeed fallen on the carpet, albeit not of my own accord…
“Oh, then I will just bring some medicine for muscle pain,” Merilyn said.
I nodded, then wondered what time it was. I was hungry, but the clock indicated that it was just before eleven in the morning, which was too late for breakfast yet too early for lunch. If I didn’t have someone waiting in my closet, I would’ve gone downstairs and wolfed down a filling brunch.
“Merilyn, could you bring me some sandwiches as well? More than you usually would, please.”
“Of course, my lady. Is there anything else that you need?”
“I didn’t sleep much because I was reading late into the night. I’m feeling a little cranky, so please don’t enter my room without permission,” I added. It was actually Father’s disciple who was feeling cranky, but this request probably wasn’t strange, considering Jubelian’s past personality.
“I will do as directed.”
As soon as Merilyn left, I hurriedly focused back on my closet. When I had pushed the man inside, I had forgotten that some of the dresses I had in there were made out of fabrics that wrinkled easily. I just hoped he didn’t move around too much.
Opening the door, I checked over my clothes first and thankfully found that they looked perfectly find. Then, looked down and spotted Father’s disciple crouching in a really uncomfortable position. I felt rather proud of him.
“Can I come out now?” he bluntly asked me.
“No, I’m just checking on you. I asked my maid for something, so you’ll have to wait a little bit longer.”
The man’s expression twisted with further dissatisfaction. “How annoying,” he spat. Despite his glower, he still looked handsome.
Thinking that didn’t mean I had feelings for him, though. I occasionally admired his appearance, but my appreciation held no deeper meaning; it was akin to how an art enthusiast would admire a painting that pleases them. More than anything else, however, I refused to get involved with people who only looked good on the outside and proved far less beautiful within.
“What are you looking at?” he asked me. It seemed to me that his manner of speech defaulted on disrespect and incivility. Because I was a noble lady, this was enough of an offense to press charges, but I had given up on teaching him manners last night. I wasn’t even angry at him anymore, not after seeing how much he acts like a wild animal. It would’ve been a waste to pick a fight with him knowing he would only be staying for a little while. I shouldn’t have to exhaust myself on immature people.
With this in mind, I asked him something that I had been curious about.
“How long do you plan on staying here?”
Although I was doing him a favor, I couldn’t keep him here forever. I would make a decision on how to proceed based on what he planned to do. Instead of answering me, however, the man looked surprised.
I hoped he didn’t plan on staying until Father returned. I didn’t know when that would be.
My thoughts were beginning to get more and more complicated when he finally replied. “I intend to leave… today,” he said, hesitating a little. The expression on his face didn’t look too good either, which made me feel a little bad.
Did it sound like I was trying to kick him out? Out of concern, I asked, “Do you have a place you can go?”
He stared coldly. “Does it look like I don’t have a place to go?”
Getting upset over a sensitive topic was a natural reaction. And, well, he had no reason to come here if he had a place to go in the first place. Nor would he have worn such simple clothing.
“It’s okay to be honest with me,” I said with a sigh.
He frowned. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Even though I was trying my best to be considerate, he was still acting absurd. What was causing him to be so rude? My frustrations absorbed me for a while, but soon I began to suspect the cause of his unhappiness. If he was kicked out yesterday, he probably skipped dinner and didn’t have anything to eat since then.
I could suddenly empathize with him a little better. People were prone to easier irritation when they were hungry and homeless. I couldn’t help but pity him.
“Let’s have brunch together later,” I said softly.
He stared at me stonily. “What?”
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“Our chef is pretty skilled, so you can expect delicious food,” I said as I closed the closet doors again.
✤ ✤ ✤
Eat together?
As he sat quietly within the closet, Max replayed the woman’s words in his mind, bearing an odd expression all the while.
Wait, why was he even listening to her?
Suddenly plagued by doubts, he came to his senses and became engulfed in anger. He should just break the doors open and leave—
At that moment, he sensed someone’s approach. Judging by the rhythm of their feet, it was the maid who had visited previously. Frankly, Max was irritated; he felt the impulse to break the closet doors down and ruin the woman’s plans to keep him out of sight, but upon remembering her expression when she had offered to eat together, he paused, mollified.
He was going to wait for just a little longer.
This was the first time he had ever decided to patiently wait for someone else.
“I brought some medicine and sandwiches, Lady Floyen.”
“Thank you, Merilyn. Just a second.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Could you come over here and apply the medicine to my back and my neck?”
Max had expected to get out of this stuffy closet soon, but Jubelian was taking her sweet time. His patience had been difficult to muster, but it was quickly running out. He gritted his teeth in anger. She had told him it would only take a second. What in the world was she doing?
Max clenched his fists, ready to break open the closet doors, but then he remembered what the woman had said once again: “Let’s have brunch together later.”
Strangely enough, he wasn’t able to succumb to his fury whenever her laughing face came to mind.
Why was he…
Now that he thought about it, many things were strange. He hadn’t thought about leaving until she had asked, and his heart had tingled when she had offered for them to eat together. Now, he found himself unable to defy her wishes. Max furrowed his brows and contemplated his behavior.
Suddenly, his musings were interrupted by a scream coming from the very woman who had bothered him this entire time.
“Ah!”
Although he couldn’t see her, he became alert. Was there an ambush? What happened? All sorts of scenarios crossed his mind. Only two people should have been in the room, but there was a possibility that an adept assassin had hid somewhere.
She had even gone to sleep without locking her windows… from Max’s perspective, she was defenseless. It wouldn’t be strange to discover she had been attacked.
He needed to see what was happening. He reached out to push open the closet doors, but then he froze.
Why did he even care?
He frowned at himself for a moment, but when he heard another groan outside, he backtracked. He was only helping her because she was of use in the future… that was all. Max tried to rationalize his incomprehensible behavior and reached out again. He stiffened when he heard the woman’s voice for the third time.
“It’s a little further down, Merilyn.”
“Right here, Lady Floyen?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
After listening to their conversation, Max finally figured the situation out. His face scrunched up. What on earth was he doing? He couldn’t believe he had been swayed by a woman like that… an overwhelming sense of shame wove through him.
“I think it’d be better to get some pain medicine from Dr. Allen, my lady,” Merilyn said.
“It’s okay. I’ll get better now that you put some medicine on me.”
Max frowned. She was good at putting on an act, especially considering she hadn't even been injured. His expression hardened further when Merilyn spoke again.
“It’s only natural for your back to feel sore. There are some bruises under your shoulder blades.”
Bruises? What kind of…
“Oh, I thought it’d be okay because I just fell on the carpet… I didn’t know this would happen,” Jubelian replied casually.
It was then that Max remembered shoving her to the floor this morning. Damn it. It was natural for the weak to be the first to perish, so he usually didn’t care if others were hurt, but the moment he learned that she had been injured because of him, he felt a little sick to the stomach.
“Anyway, I feel better than before. Thank you,” she continued.
“You’re welcome.”
“Could you bring dinner to my room later as well?”
“Yes, my lady. Please rest.”
When the maid left the room, Max obediently stayed put in the closet and eagerly watched the door. A few minutes later, he sensed the woman’s light and careful gait nearing him.
She’s here, his anticipation told him, and surely enough, the closet door opened, putting her into view.
“You can come out now,” the enchanting woman said. Her surroundings were bright, encasing her in a ring of light. It was as if she had been enveloped in a halo.
“Ah…” Max opened his mouth unconsciously, then closed it. He wanted to ask her if she was okay but he found himself unable to do so.
She laughed brightly, like a bellflower in the breeze. “As promised, we’ll eat now.”
If Max had been rational, he would've refused her offer since he usually didn’t have an appetite and he didn't accept food from strangers. He didn’t feel very rational right now, though. Instead, he felt strangely hungry.
“Come this way,” she said. Max felt his heart tingle once more when she gestured at him with her hands to usher him.
Again, he tried to explain his confusing actions. I’m only doing this because I’m hungry, he tried to tell himself.
He followed her to a small table in her room where he could see some sandwiches arranged in a way that eased their consumption. He frowned at them when he took a closer look.
Was this what he thought it was? Max wanted to get angry because the sandwich contained an ingredient he hated, but he found himself unable to do so when he saw Jubelian’s face.
“Here you go,” she offered. Max couldn’t refuse when she handed a sandwich over. “Try it,” she said. “Our chef is very skilled.”
At her request, he took a bite and tasted the very thing that made him tense right up. It was indeed what he thought it was.
The sandwich was full of cucumbers. It was honestly terrible.
“How is it?” Jubelian asked.
Truthfully, Max didn’t even know what it tasted like because he had swallowed the sandwich whole. Nevertheless, he continued forcing more into his mouth.
Why was he doing this?
She smiled. “Do you not like it?”
He hated it, but instead of answering truthfully, Max slowly shook his head and met the woman’s smiling face. It made his heart give that odd tingle again.
“I was worried because I have strange tastes, but I’m glad you like it as well,” she said as she bit into a sandwich.
Max looked at Jubelian. Then, he looked at the cucumber sandwiches he never would’ve spared a glance at upon any other occasion. Was it that good to her? He took another bite, savoring it this time. The cucumber’s bland flavor coupled with its peculiar smell reignited his dislike for the vegetable, but as he continued to eat, he slowly got used to the taste.
Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought it was.
✤ ✤ ✤
After eating brunch with Father’s disciple, I started getting a bit sleepy, but I didn’t want to take a nap while he was in the room. Anyway, it wasn’t like I was going to pass out.
I decided to read a book to stay focused, but my eyes kept fluttering shut. What should I do? I was so tired. My vision gradually started blurring, but I managed to stay awake for a little longer.
“Hey,” Father’s disciple suddenly said.
I flinched at his voice and unconsciously yawned. I really needed to control myself right now. Out of embarrassment, I covered my mouth with both hands and barely suppressed another yawn. Even so, I couldn’t stop tears from forming in my eyes.
At least my mouth didn’t show this time. I squeezed my eyes shut at this thought and the tears I tried to hold back ran down my face.
Ugh. Why did I always do this when I yawned? I tried to wipe the tears away, but I stopped when I caught Father’s disciple looming over me.
Huh? When did he get so close? I was staring back at him when something soft touched my eyes.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
My eyes widened when I realized that he had wet his sleeves with my tears. His shirt was surprisingly soft to the touch, perhaps even softer than my handkerchief, which was made out of the finest cotton in the empire. This was the highest-grade fabric I’ve ever felt. Wasn’t he kicked out because he didn’t have any money?
Suddenly, I became filled with doubt, wondering if I had guessed incorrectly about his identity. Then, a thought occurred to me: a person doesn’t need to be wealthy to wear high-quality clothes. Some people save up to buy expensive things to feel better about themselves even if they normally don't have much money to spend. Father’s disciple was probably like that.
At that moment, he frowned and repeated himself. “I asked why you were crying.”
“Oh… it’s nothing. You don’t have to worry about it.”
“Tell me now.”
It was honestly a little embarrassing. I didn’t want to tell him that yawning made me cry.
“Just because,” I replied vaguely. Then, I quickly changed the topic. “By the way, you’re really fast. I was startled when you suddenly appeared in front of me.”
Although I wanted to change the subject, I was truly surprised. He appeared before me in a flash.
He laughed. “You were surprised by that? How pitiful.” It seemed like arrogance was this man’s default personality, seeing as he was mocking me.
“You must be a really good swordsman,” I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice. “Like the Imperial Palace knights.”
“I am much stronger than them,” he replied with a frown. His personality clearly fit his status as Father’s disciple, but even though Father could be cold and inconsiderate, he wasn’t this arrogant.
Why was this guy like this? I was silently lamenting his attitude when I noticed him staring at me again.
“So, why were you crying?”
His persistence was a little annoying, so I felt the urge to tell him the truth and get it over with, but before I could, I heard a knock on the door. “It’s Derrick, Lady Floyen,” said a voice.
I sighed when I heard. If it were a maid, I would have dismissed her, but I couldn’t do that to Derrick because he wouldn’t have come up to see me for nothing.
I stood up. In this mansion, male servants only attended to Father while female servants only attended to me. Since Derrick personally came to my room, something must've happened.
“If you don’t mind, can you go in there again?” I asked Father’s disciple as I pointed at my closet.
Although he wore an unpleasant expression, he obediently complied with my request. At least he was listening to me now. After he successfully hid himself once more, I approached my bedroom door and opened it.
“Hello, Derrick,” I greeted. “Did you need something?”
“A messenger just arrived from Marquis Crocus’ family. He wants to convey a message from Ronald, the eldest son of Marquis Crocus, to you, Lady Floyen.”
The Crocus family was prestigious, so the message probably dealt with an important matter. This situation called for me to go downstairs to meet the messenger himself, but I didn’t want to leave Father’s disciple alone in my room. What if one of my maids were to come in and spot him while I was downstairs? I couldn’t let that happen.
I coughed deliberately and replied, “Unfortunately, I am not feeling well, so it will be difficult for me to go downstairs. Could you receive the message in my stead?”
Derrick regarded me worriedly and said, “Of course, my lady. Please rest.”
When he left, I glanced at my closet and sighed in relief. Hopefully Father’s disciple decided to stop asking me about my tears.
✤ ✤ ✤
Max tried not to think about it, but the image of the woman’s big eyes filling up with tears plagued his mind. Why was she crying?
Unbeknownst to Jubelian, he still worried about this as he sat in her closet.
What had been so sad that she even had to compose herself by covering her mouth with both hands? He suddenly remembered something that he had heard from his close entourage a while ago.
“I heard that Lady Floyen really liked Sir Mikhail. People say that she chased him around without caring about her reputation… in some ways, it’s fortunate that they separated.”
Was she crying because she couldn’t forget about her ex-boyfriend? Max clenched his fists.
✤ ✤ ✤
Not long after I sent him downstairs, Derrick came to visit me once more. “It’s Derrick again, Lady Floyen,” he announced.
When I opened the door, I saw him smiling. “Should I be expecting good news?” I asked.
He straightened himself up. “My lady, the esteemed son of Marquis Crocus sent a message about wanting to be your partner for Count Arlo’s banquet.”
I widened my eyes. No way. Why would such an esteemed person…?
Marquis Crocus’s son was considered to be the most suitable successor for the foreign ministry. It felt surreal that such a person was asking to be my partner.
“What is your response, my lady?”
I pondered over this, but it was difficult to come up with a decision on the spot. At that moment, a strange sound came from my dressing room.
No, it couldn’t be…
I trembled a little and felt the blood rush from my face. Derrick looked at me with a serious expression. “Did you hear that? A sound came from your dressing room, my lady.”
“No, I didn't,” I responded calmly. "What do you mean?”
Derrick gave me a wary look. “I clearly heard something… maybe it was a rat?”
I chuckled breathlessly. “That’s impossible,” I replied smoothly. “However, I’m still not feeling well, so could I rest for now? As for the reply… let the messenger know that I will send one by letter soon.”
“Of course, Lady Floyen. Please rest well.” Derrick bowed his head slightly and left without another word, as if he didn’t want to irritate me.
I sighed in relief. I had really thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest this time.
I went back to my closet and opened its doors to find Father’s disciple sitting with a blank expression. “Excuse me. Did you just make that noise?” I asked.
He stared at me and asked, “Are you going to accept his invitation?”
Why was he curious about something like that? Not only was it a strange thing to inquire about, but it wasn’t something I could answer right away.
“I’m thinking about it,” I said. The esteemed son of Marquis Crocus was clearly qualified to become my partner. His appearance was outstanding and comparable to that of Mikhail’s. He was also very popular due to his excellent social skills.
The problem was… I had no idea why such an outstanding individual would want to be my partner.
I sighed. Father’s disciple pulled a face. “You should think about it carefully. Appearances aren’t everything,” he advised.
I shot him a dumbfounded look. This man had a difficult personality and meager social skills to boot; his only asset was his remarkable appearance, but for him to say that… I couldn’t believe it.
I was still staring at him in shock when he turned towards me and asked, “What are you looking at?”
I frowned. “You didn’t answer my question. Did you make that noise when Derrick was here?”
He parted his lips. Then, he stiffly replied, “That’s none of your business.”
“Did you know that we almost got caught because of it?”
“But we didn’t. That’s all that matters.”
I shook my head at his shamelessness. “It doesn’t work like that. If you were caught, it would’ve caused a commotion and alerted the messenger downstairs. I could've been caught up in a scandal with you.”
In aristocratic society, a scandal with someone of a different status meant immediate ostracization. I personally didn’t care about what other people thought of me, but I was still living in Father’s house. He would hate me even more if I did something wrong. In the worst-case scenario, if I was kicked out, I would’ve had to face numerous dangers all by myself.
“I’m taking a big risk by letting you stay here,” I said. “I would appreciate it if you were more considerate.”
He turned around to look at me again. His red eyes seemed to pierce right through me, but I managed to meet his gaze without backing down. After a while of simply staring, he finally looked away. “Okay,” he said quietly.
I was relieved to see he had some conscience, at least. “You can come out now,” I said as I reached out to him.
He took my hand and stood up. Then he leveled me with a determined gaze. “If such a thing were to happen… I’ll take responsibility,” he said.
I sighed. Why was he being so serious now? I couldn’t find it in myself to do the same and found his sincerity so funny that I ended up laughing. “Alright, but I doubt anything will happen.”
“You don’t know that,” he said, pulling at my hand slightly.
I looked into his bright crimson eyes. Oddly enough, it almost seemed like he was hoping that something would happen.
I needed to hand this guy over to Father as soon as possible… when was he coming back? I rarely wondered when Father would return home, but I couldn’t help it after spending so much time with the man beside me.
✤ ✤ ✤
Rumors about Duke Floyen working as an escort for the emperor had begun spreading in secret. It was only a matter of time before it reached the prime minister’s ears.
“This will rouse the people’s resentment, resulting in the same thing that had happened back then…” he thought.
During the war with the Tezeria Kingdom twenty years ago, the young emperor had abandoned the imperial palace and fled from the capital. His people, whom he had deserted, became distressed by their leader’s cowardice and pessimism.
In his absence, a young knight took the lead in defending the capital: Regis Floyen, a member of the Imperial Knights and next in line to become a duke. Although many people told him to give up and run away, Regis annihilated the enemies who invaded the capital.
As the successor to a prestigious family that produced great knights every generation, he became known as a war hero who led the empire to a great victory. However, where there was light, there was darkness in equal measure. The emperor, having deserted the capital, became known as a coward and traitor. Many people criticized him and urged for his disposal, but Regis had turned the tables by expressing support for him.
Presently, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his rapport had barely been maintained by his eldest son, the crown prince, who fought for the empire at the borders.
After realizing the crisis the empire was now in, the prime minister entered the palace and asked for an audience with the emperor. “I need to see His Majesty,” he realized.
✤ ✤ ✤
“Do you plan on keeping him in the palace for much longer, Your Majesty?” the prime minister asked.
The emperor raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it obvious? There is no one more skilled than him for the job,” he said. His fierce voice revealed an underlying resentment toward Duke Floyen.
The prime minister sighed. “Of course, Your Majesty. The duke’s presence will scare these scoundrels in advance and lay their efforts to waste, but…”
You are belittling his reputation as a national hero.
He kept that last part to himself then tried again. “If you continue to keep him in the palace, the people’s resentment will only increase. I believe it is more important to devise a plan to identify the mastermind behind the assassinations rather than order the duke to stay,” he said.
The emperor glared at the prime minister, displeased by his unwelcome advice. “I will make the right decision. You don’t have to be so concerned,” he said stubbornly.
“But—”
The emperor cut him off. “You can leave, Duke Elios.”
The prime minister sighed. “Duke Floyen had a great reputation in the past, but his current prestige is even greater. If you want to keep him in check, you must bring His Highness the Crown Prince back into the capital. Please use good judgment.”
With these parting words, he bowed and left.
The emperor’s face twisted as he stared at the ring on his middle finger. How dare the prime minister advise him without knowing anything? The ring he wore was the eye of Kirke, a symbol of imperial sovereignty created by an archmage who became the very first emperor.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
As long as I have this, he cannot disobey me, he thought.
✤ ✤ ✤
Somewhere near the central palace, Regis sat on a tree branch with his eyes closed. He didn’t budge even when a weary little bird perched on his shoulder. It jumped up and down a few times before settling comfortably on his shoulder to fall asleep. The atmosphere was so peaceful that it seemed like Regis was taking a break rather than guarding the palace.
Then, he sensed someone close by. Opening his eyes as the wind rustled his hair, he observed the person he caught approaching the central palace. When he realized who it was, he relaxed and let out a yawn. It was just Roy.
Well, he should probably get down now.
“Go,” Regis ordered the bird on his shoulder. When it woke up, the bird chirped and clung to him in resistance. “My daughter dislikes small animals,” he said firmly. It gazed at Regis with rueful eyes before spreading its wings and flying away.
When the duke jumped down the tree, Roy reeled back with amazement. “S-so… you were here.”
“What is it?”
“Oh, I just received some news from the mansion—”
“Go on.”
Roy sighed. His boss impatiently cut him off before he had even finished speaking. “Yes. It’s about Lady Floyen—”
“What? Did something happen to Jubelian?” Although his boss was far from talkative, he cut Roy off again.
“No, it seems like she is… anxious because of Your Grace’s absence…”
Regis’s blue eyes glinted when he heard the news. Jubel was looking for him? The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Roy was surprised for a moment. Was His Grace smiling?
Nevertheless, he continued reporting the news from the mansion. “Lady Floyen is also feeling unwell,” he said. “It seems like she’s very anxious because she hasn't left her room since you left.”
The duke’s smile disappeared from his face. “I see. It's time for us to drop this act after all.”
He gazed at the window that led to the emperor’s office.
✤ ✤ ✤
I glanced at the three-seat couch that had become the bed of Father’s disciple. He really made himself at home, huh?
Four days had already passed since I first let him stay. Thankfully, my large room boasted a bathroom connected to it, so it wasn’t an inconvenient accommodation. I just had to be careful when the maids occasionally came by to clean my room or see how I was doing. Still, secretly cohabiting with someone wasn't just smooth sailing.
He probably didn’t know that the couch he currently lay comfortably upon was originally where I tended to lounge. I complained silently to myself. His presence didn’t just diminish my personal space considerably, but also made it difficult to differentiate our boundaries.
“What is it?” the man questioned, his gaze expectant. He must’ve noticed that I had been quietly sighing to myself, so he was probing for the cause of my dissatisfaction.
“Oh, it’s just… you look comfortable. That’s all,” I mumbled.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Not really,” he grunted. Then, he closed his eyes.
His response disheartened me. I gave up my rest spot for him, but this was the response I got back?
I turned my head toward the window. There, I could see the sunset.
I wonder why he had to meet Father…
“Why do you keep staring at me?” he asked, interrupting my train of thought. My gaze had found him once more.
“Oh. I was just thinking… that it seems like you have a good relationship with Father...”
There was a moment of silence before he finally said, “It’s not like we’re on each other’s bad sides.”
Of course it wasn’t. I chuckled emptily. In front of his disciple, Father’s facial expressions and manner of speech were so foreign to me that he seemed like a different person.
Now that I thought about it, I still had to give him back his pendant and gift him the cufflinks I bought, but… I really didn’t want to do it in person. I was afraid that he might not like the gift because I was unfamiliar with his preferences. I didn’t want him to throw them away because I would surely be offended.
Wait a minute. This man might have known more about Father’s tastes than I did.
“Hey,” I called out. When his eyes turned to look at me, I reconsidered my actions. There was no way someone with a terrible personality like his would answer me honestly.
As I contemplated whether I should ask him what I had in mind or not, he grew impatient. “Say what you have to say,” he said. “I hate it when people stall.” His tone was blunt, but it seemed like he was willing to help me.
“What do you think about giving a set of cufflinks as a gift?” I finally asked.
He frowned. “A gift?” His eyes became hostile, making me flinch.
Why was he looking at me like that? Does he not like the idea of cufflinks?
✤ ✤ ✤
Cufflinks were usually gifted to a woman's lover. Max immediately thought of Mikhail when Jubelian asked him about cufflinks. “Who are you giving it to?” he asked.
“Who else would I give it to? You should know who,” Jubelian replied quietly.
Max felt his mood worsen. Was this stupid woman thinking about clinging to her ex-lover once more? He had learned to never show his true emotions, lest it could be used against him, but his expression became fiercely independent of his own accord.
“You’re going to give cufflinks to someone like that?”
As soon as he asked this, her eyes turned cold. “Hey, that’s a little too harsh,” she replied sharply. It was unlike her.
Max rarely gave advice because he simply wasn’t interested in other people, but it was frustrating to see her defending Mikhail without thinking for herself. He felt a rush of anger and his stomach roiled. He was trying his best to be considerate of her, so why was she taking that other guy’s side? His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists.
“How can you cling to someone who’s so indifferent to you… do you have no pride?” he asked coldly.
Try refuting that, he thought with snark, challenging her. Max had never regretted insulting someone before, but the moment he saw the woman’s face turn pale, he couldn’t explain the subsequent aching in his heart.
What on earth…?
His face twisted as he tried to cope with the strange pain. Although he was angry, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The unfamiliar sensation only subsided when she next spoke, mentioning someone unexpected.
“I’m not clinging to him. I just want to get along with Father,” Jubelian said.
Max’s fierce, crimson eyes wavered. “You’re planning to give them to your father, Duke Floyen?” he asked for confirmation.
She frowned. “Who else?”
Max felt his mood improve greatly. It didn’t seem like she knew how much her father cared about her. She had easily misunderstood his sharp insults, which revealed that they probably didn’t get along very well. Was this what you wanted? he wondered silently, ridiculing, thinking of the countless array of sacrifices his foolish master made for the sake of his daughter, only to hide them from her.
Finding the situation both funny and pathetic, he chuckled.
“Hey, stop laughing and say something,” Jubelian said, sulking.
If he didn’t listen to her, would she get upset again? Max usually wouldn’t think this far, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her shocked face blanching at his biting claims. He sighed and unconsciously hardened his expression.
How annoying.
✤ ✤ ✤
I had felt somewhat dispirited until I learned that we weren't talking about the same person. Who was he talking about, if not Father?
At that moment, the man suddenly laughed. Although his handsome face was pleasing to the eye, it didn’t make me feel any better. Was he making fun of me?
“Hey, stop laughing and say something,” I responded brusquely, displeased by his rudeness.
At my words, he stopped laughing and looked at me. His gaze was so serious that I became nervous. What did he want to say?
“The gift is a set of cufflinks?” he finally asked.
“Yes, here they are.”
When I showed him the cufflinks, he frowned slightly. “They’re not a very useful gift for a swordsman.”
I frowned. Although I wasn’t a swordsman, I still thought it was a good enough gift. Was this guy trying to start a fight with me?
“You must be very good at picking gifts,” I said sarcastically.
A smile appeared on his face. He was handsome indeed, but that was all he had going for him. Nevertheless, my eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, captivated by the rare change in the direction of his lips.
“I gave my father a present a while ago.” His smile began to fade, replaced by something steelier. “He looked bored these days, but thanks to my gift, it seems like he's gotten more energetic now.”
Upon seeing his content expression, I supposed that he must’ve been a filial son. But what kind of gift would help his father become more energetic? “So, what did you give him?” I asked with sudden curiosity.
“That’s none of your business,” he said sternly.
Of course he wouldn’t tell me. Although I hadn’t expected an answer in the first place, I frowned at his disgusting personality.
Then, he continued. “The duke will like anything from you.”
What? Anything from me? That would only be possible if Father was possessed by someone warm and friendly. I was a little offended by his insincere answer. I guess he didn’t know Father as well as I thought despite being his disciple.
I sighed. These cufflinks were expensive, though… I should just give them to Father anyway, since I have to return the pendant.
If I didn’t leave a note, he wouldn’t know they were from me. Since he was a workaholic, he was probably going to stop by his office first upon his return, right? With this in mind, I decided to write a letter that would explain where the pendant and cufflinks came from before leaving everything to sit in his office.
✤ ✤ ✤
Four days had passed since the emperor called Duke Floyen to the Imperial Palace.
“Why are you taking so long, Duke Floyen?” the emperor silently questioned. Although more reinforcements were brought in besides the duke, who was guarding the Imperial Palace, the emperor couldn’t be sure he was completely safe.
He reminded himself that he could not be careless. If the duke betrayed him, the assassins would easily be able to attack him. He gritted his teeth. “If you betray me, everything you care about will crumble to dust, Regis,” he swore.
At that moment, the grand chamberlain entered the emperor’s office. “Duke Floyen has asked for a private meeting, Your Majesty,” he announced.
“Of course he would.” The emperor observed his ring with a smirk. He was very curious to know who the mastermind of the attack was. “Tell the duke that I will see him in the evening,” he ordered sternly.
Although he didn't have anything important going on right now, the emperor had a reason for stalling the meeting. The duke made him anxious by taking too long to complete the task, so he thought to make the duke wait in turn.
“There is another piece of news, Your Majesty,” the grand chamberlain said, continuing carefully.
It didn’t matter; the emperor was content with himself. “What is it?”
The grand chamberlain swallowed nervously. “Several officials have signed a petition calling for the return of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The emperor’s gaze turned fierce. “Bring it here.”
The grand chamberlain delivered the petition to the emperor on a golden tray. When he read it, his expression contorted with anger.
“These men must be torn to pieces! How dare they?!” He crumpled the petition up and threw it to the floor. “Find a companion for the crown prince and educate him to become the next emperor? They've gone mad!”
A twisted smile suddenly slithered onto his face. “They dared to sign a petition like this when I’m still in good shape. They must think too lightly of the throne.”
The grand chamberlain swallowed nervously; the emperor’s obsession with the throne was close to madness. He did his best not to provoke the emperor any further, afraid that his anger might befall him as well.
“Bring those impudent men before me,” the emperor ordered coldly. “Right now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the grand chamberlain replied. He stayed complacent, wary of irritating his sovereign any further.
✤ ✤ ✤
I grabbed my quill pen to begin writing the letter. Then, I froze.
Hm… what did people normally talk about with their fathers? In my previous life, I had been raised by a single mother. In my present life, I had an awkward relationship with Father. I doubted that Merilyn could help me with this.
I was still deep in thought when I noticed Father’s disciple staring at me curiously. “What?” I asked.
“What are you doing?” he replied, anticipatory.
“Oh, I’m writing a letter.”
“To whom?”
“To Father.”
His gaze softened slightly at my answer. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
I wanted to counter him, but it occurred to me that he was Father’s disciple. He probably knew more about him. I didn’t have any expectations… but…
I set down my quill pen and called out. “Hey.”
Although I wasn’t sure if he was going to ignore me again, he responded quickly, as if he was in a good mood. “Yes?”
“What do you usually talk about with Father?”
“You mean my master?”
“Yeah.”
He sat upright and stroked his chin for a while. Then, he leaned back on the couch. “I’m not sure. We don’t talk much.”
I was disappointed by his abrupt, lackluster answer. Well, neither of them were the talkative type, so that was to be expected.
After deciding that it was futile to rely on others for this matter, I began to write the letter by myself. In my previous life, I volunteered for public institutions and had a lot of experience writing for official matters, as well as writing with pen pals. It should be fine.
My letter was completed not long after. This was probably good, right? I read through it and didn’t find any mistakes, at least.
Since I had worked hard, I decided to eat something delicious. While I silently praised myself, Father’s disciple came up behind me.
“Are you really going to give that to him?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes,” I replied earnestly. Then, I took another look at my letter.
Dear Father,
How have you been? To think that I’m all grown up now, with my 19th birthday just around the corner… time flies by, doesn’t it? Considering all the hectic years that have passed by, forgetting important things is normal.
You lost your pendant a while ago, did you not? I just want to let you know that I had it. I should’ve given it back to you earlier, but this was delayed due to unavoidable circumstances. I hope you understand. These cufflinks are a gift for being so patient with me.
I apologize again for not returning your pendant earlier due to personal reasons.
Sincerely,
Jubelian Eloy Floyen
I thought this was good. I admitted my faults and asked for forgiveness, so he couldn’t be angry with me. The letter was also clear and to the point. I was certain that Father was going to let this incident slide.
“His reaction would be an interesting sight to see,” Father’s disciple said, smirking. I assumed he was just bitter that I was able to write an acceptable letter without his help.
“I’m going to go to his office and come back. You know what to do if someone tries to enter the room, right?”
“Whatever.”
Despite his response, he nodded at my request. After his initial hostility, it was a little odd to see him show some consideration for me now.
✤ ✤ ✤
Duke Regis Floyen visited the emperor’s office even later than the time scheduled and bowed to his superior. “Your Majesty,” he greeted.
“You came even later than I told you to,” the emperor scolded.
Regis remained indifferent. “Yes.”
How shameless. The emperor was irritated by Regis’s stoic confidence, which never seemed to waver even in the most unfavorable circumstances.
The emperor struggled to regain his composure before speaking. “So, did you figure out the identity of the vile rat who was behind all this?” the emperor demanded.
Regis smiled instead of revealing the truth right away. Max had also called my daughter a rat… I guess this was retribution, he thought wryly to himself. He had known for quite a while that the assassinations were the work of his one and only disciple, who was skilled at both swordsmanship and manipulation. Although Max despised the emperor and hoped that he would clash with his master, he miscalculated Regis’s patience.
“I could not find the culprit behind the assassinations.”
The emperor frowned. “Are you serious? If you didn’t accomplish my order, then why…”
As the emperor angrily went on, Regis recalled his disciple's challenge: “Are you really afraid of a guy as weak as him?”
No. Regis only permitted the emperor to live because it wasn’t the right time to rid of him just yet. When that time came, his prey wouldn’t be able to run away no matter how hard he tried.
Soon, the duke promised himself.
Then, he leveled the emperor with a calm gaze, never betraying even a hint of anger. “Don’t you know why, Your Majesty?” he asked.
The emperor found it difficult to breathe under Regis’s burdensome stare. Was he trying to start a rebellion? Overwhelmed by fear, he was incapable of responding for a while.
It was Regis who finally broke the silence. “As long as I stay at the Imperial Palace, they won’t attack you.”
There was no sign of reproach in his calm voice, but the emperor, who had felt the weight of his monstrous energy, felt as if he had just heard a thousand criticisms directed his way. He clenched his fists with resentment.
Then, he glared at the duke and raised his voice. “How can you guarantee that when I had already been attacked?”
The duke could guarantee it because he was certain that his disciple, the mastermind behind the assassinations, wasn’t going to act rashly from now on. As long as he stayed calm, Max knew a revolution wouldn’t take place no matter how much he tried to push the emperor to the extreme.
“Tell me right now!” the emperor shouted. Even now, he was causing a scene, oblivious to the machinations that brewed below the surface. By nature, he was an easy man to manipulate.
In response, Regis allowed a small sigh to escape him. “Your Majesty has become increasingly guarded, so the mastermind probably realized that sending out more assassins would be futile,” he supplied vaguely.
Although Regis spoke kindly, the emperor regarded his words as an implication that he himself was frightened of the assassinations. How dare he…!
He fumed with resentment, but the duke continued. “There’s no need to act rashly in a situation like this, seeing as it has already attracted a lot of attention from people.”
Every word he said was right, but the emperor refused to admit it because doing so meant admitting defeat.
That vile rogue. The emperor knew Duke Floyen was just running his mouth to cover up for his incompetence. The emperor was flooding with indignation, but he calmed down by stroking the ring on his finger. “No, as long as I have this… he cannot disobey me,” he assured himself.
Even so, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. The duke didn’t seem concerned about his weakness anymore; in fact, he hadn’t in a long time. Since the emperor couldn’t be sure, he had to find something else he could use.
At that moment, the prime minister’s advice came to mind. “If you want to keep him in check, you must bring His Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital,” he had said.
The emperor had finally found a use for his son, who he had always considered nothing more than a terrible existence that threatened his place on the throne. Yes, it was a good idea to use him to keep this atrocious man in check. His son wouldn’t suspect anything if he acted like he was planning on giving him the throne.
“I realize my personal affairs have bothered you, duke,” the emperor said, adopting a relatively mild tone.
His subjects would usually refuse to admit such a bold claim, but the duke didn’t respond. It was like a silent affirmation. The emperor clenched his fists, barely suppressing his urge to throw something at him.
“Seeing as the mastermind might still be observing the situation, shouldn’t you guard the palace for at least another week, Duke Floyen? Please work hard for three more days.”
Upon this last-notice command, Regis bowed at the emperor. “Yes, I will do my best to serve you, Your Majesty.”
As soon as Regis left the office, he heard the sound of something breaking. Despite the commotion, he wore a pleasant expression upon his handsome face.
“I’m getting bored of how predictable he is,” Regis mused to himself, tilting his head back to wearily observe the night sky. When he witnessed the moon glowing amidst the darkness, a hint of warmth colored his frozen expression.
He wondered if his precious child was doing well.
If he stayed in the palace for a little longer, the people would blame the emperor for mistreating him. The duke just wanted to go back home to see his daughter.
Jubel…
It had only been four days since he left the mansion, but Regis couldn’t wait to go back home and see how she was doing.
✤ ✤ ✤
It was quiet. Without Father in it, the office felt far emptier than I thought it would. I didn’t know his absence would make it seem so deserted.
Even so, I was relieved that Father wasn’t here. I would be too mortified to give the letter to him in person.
He would read it if I put it on his desk, right? I walked toward it. Once there, I spotted an opened ink bottle, so I secured the lid back on it so it wouldn’t dry up. As I pondered over where I should place the letter more specifically, I glanced over a stray sheet of paper without much thought.
Huh? Wait, a list of prospective marriage partners?
I wondered if I had seen it correctly, so I carefully read it from top to bottom to be sure. The list clearly contained the names of eligible noblemen around my age.
Why did he make this list without confiding in me…?
I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with him after I broke up with Mikhail. “What is your ideal type?” he had asked.
No way… was he actually trying to find me a man with all the conditions I had provided? I inspected the list with trembling eyes. Among the many names, some were underlined. Was he really trying to set me up on extravagant blind dates with these distinguished men?
One of the underlined names was the son of a foreign royal family. Another one was Lord Frederich, the only son of Duke Elios, the prime minister. Although his family was wealthier than Mikhail’s, he was the supporting character of another supporting character who didn’t even appear in the original novel.
For a brief moment, I thought it might be a good idea to marry one of these men and live happily ever after. Doing so would allow me to live comfortably, as well as escape my predestined death.
Lord Frederich had good qualifications and good looks. He was probably the best choice that I could ask for. Even so, I had no intention of changing my mind about getting married. The moment I did, I would have to live as that man’s wife and not as myself.
It was reassuring that both of these underlined names were from families that were just as wealthy as ours because I had asked Father for someone whose wealth exceeded ours. I could only think of one family that was qualified in this aspect. There was no reason for us to get involved with them, though, so that was a relief.
I continued to skim through the list with a smile on my face until I stumbled upon a circled name. Huh? Why did Father mark this? When I looked closer, curious, I ended up dropping the paper I was holding.
Maximillian Casein Assiette?
I couldn’t help but be shocked. This man was the heir of the only family that was wealthier than the Floyen House, and the person who was written to kill me in the future…
Why was the crown prince's name here?
I remembered a part of the novel that encapsulated the crown prince as a psychopath who neither shed blood nor tears. Although this sounded harsh, it probably didn't even do him justice. I heard that he didn’t hesitate to kill his victims, and there existed quite a few anecdotes of his cruelty. One of them was about the time he sent an assassin’s severed head to his sister, Beatrice, as a gift for her coming-of-age ceremony.
That one incident ought to be enough to prove how insane he was, but his atrocities didn’t end there. At the beginning of the novel, he sent assassins to kill the emperor. He wasn’t just a psychopath. He was a wicked man who seemed to have split personalities; a purely tyrannical character who shed neither blood nor tears.
If his name was circled, that probably meant he was Father’s final choice… he was going to be my partner… the thought was dizzying and I was barely able to support myself when I stumbled.
No matter how much I think about it, isn’t this too cruel? Even other nobles try to avoid marrying their daughter off to the crown prince…
Although the crown princess’ position was usually sought after, there was another reason why it was left vacant. At the beginning of the novel, bizarre rumors about a burn scar on his face circulated, which explained why the crown prince always wore a helmet.
What’s more… yes, there was another rumor that didn’t concern his appearance. It was that he was a sadist who was violent in bed.
These rumors caused many noblewomen to hasten their marriages with other men to avoid getting engaged with the crown prince. So did their parents, who didn’t wish for their daughters to marry a man with such a violent temper, even if he was the crown prince.
In the memories I had of my future foretold, he had even visited me in prison! In the novel, Jubelian had ended her life to avoid being tortured. She realized that it would be better to die than to fall victim to his vices.
Was Father really trying to sell me to this terrible man? I gritted my teeth. Although I had asked for someone who excelled in terms of wealth, competence, and fame, this was just too much…
He forgot about the most important thing, too… I definitely mentioned appearance, Father. The crown prince always covered his face, so no one knew what he looked like, but even if he was attractive enough to meet my standards, I still didn’t want anything to do with him.
My life would always be in danger if I married him, but the most urgent problem was…
My head started to hurt as I mulled over my predicament. I could reject other noblemen because I was the daughter of an esteemed duke, but I couldn’t reject someone from the imperial family. If I was set up on a blind date with the crown prince… I couldn’t refuse to go.
Of course, the prince had to like me for us to marry… but if he was truly a psychopath like he was rumored to be, it didn’t matter who his partner was; it simply would be enough for him to have someone to harass.
The most I could do was change Father’s mind about the crown prince, but that wasn’t going to be easy. I sighed and placed the list back on the desk.
I had to come up with a countermeasure without letting Father know that I saw the list. Otherwise, he might hasten the blind date so that I wouldn't be able to avoid it. For this reason, I left his office with the letter, cufflinks, and pendant back in hand.
✤ ✤ ✤
Was her room always this spacious? Max looked around the desolate quarters and sat on the chair the woman always used. It was uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he slumped into it, feeling strangely weak.
When was she coming back?
He rarely talked with the woman when she was around, but now that her constant presence was gone, he didn’t know how much longer he could endure being alone. He felt a strange sense of emptiness in the desolate room.
Why was she taking so long? Max looked at the door forlornly. Then, he suddenly became alert.
Someone was here. His gaze snapped towards the open window that faced the balcony. He moved so fast that the culprit lost track of him for an instant before he reappeared.
They screamed.
“Who are you?” Max grabbed the unwelcome visitor by the neck, firm even as the man gasped and struggled in his hostile hold. “I asked who you are!”
“Please let me—argh…!”
Max tightened his grip. “What business do you have here?”
“Madam sent for—” The man squirmed and spoke with difficulty.
When Max loosened his grip, the man collapsed like a marionette cut from its strings and coughed. He stared at the intruder. “How did you know that I was here?” he asked coldly.
“Madam said you might be here…” When the man just trailed off, Max furrowed his eyebrows.
“So, what do you want?”
The man managed to catch his breath and replied, “We received a report saying that the emperor’s movements have been unusual as of late.”
Max smirked. “Yes, he should be busy trying to keep himself alive.”
In response, the man shook his head. “I was told that he was impatiently calling for the return of the crown prince at the advice of the prime minister and the other officials.” Max listened without saying a word. “I think you should head back to the palace right away, Prince Maximillian.”
Max knew that he should leave the mansion quickly because this was an urgent matter, but for some reason, he didn’t move a muscle and stayed rooted to the spot.
Did he really have to leave right now?
Max turned around stiffly. Why wasn’t she coming back? He glared at the door that she had tightly shut behind her, but he couldn’t feel her presence no matter how hard he tried.
“Your Highness?” the intruder asked, puzzled.
Max’s face twisted. Why was he…
Each time he made up his mind to leave, his body wouldn’t listen. He was filled with worry about Jubelian, concerned that she might try to look for him if he disappeared without a word.
“Wait for me outside,” he said. “It’ll just take a second.”
The man noticed that the prince possessed an unfamiliar look in his eye, his gaze hesitant, but he silently obeyed and left the room. Max exhaled when he couldn’t feel his subordinate’s presence anymore. He couldn’t believe he was doing something like this…
He went to the woman’s desk, pulled out a piece of paper, and began writing diligently.
“This should be enough,” he thought, his tense posture relaxing.
✤ ✤ ✤
It was eerily quiet when I came back to my room.
I figured he must’ve been hiding well. I was proud of him for it. Walking toward my closet, I expected to find him there. I hoped he wasn’t annoyed at me for taking so long.
I opened the door, and…
Huh?
Instead of a man pouting as he huddled among some tulle, I saw only my clothes. Did he decide to hide somewhere else? I searched through my other closets, but he was nowhere to be found.
Where did he go? I already had a lot on my mind right now… I was about to place Father’s letter on my desk before searching for him elsewhere when I saw a piece of paper lying atop it, scribbled with some words.
What was this? I inspected the letter with a strange sense of foreboding and frowned. The handwriting was horrible. Even a cat could write better than this.
I concentrated on the contents of the letter and read what it said: Don’t look for me. I’ll come back when the time comes.
“I never told him he could come again,” I sighed. Then, I sprawled out on the couch that he used to occupy.
I finally got my place back, at least. I relaxed on the comfortable couch. It was still warm with his body heat, but I felt as if I had gone back to my days of silence and peace.
He said he would return, but when would that be? I pondered over what he wrote for a moment before I quickly came up with an explanation: he probably intended to come back to see Father, so it had nothing to do with me.
I frowned when my head started to ache. Ah, I felt really tired. I was drained from worrying about how to avoid the incoming disaster that was my prospective marriage partner, the crown prince.
What should I do? Although I was anxious, the fatigue that weighed down on my body proved persistent. I closed my eyes.
✤ ✤ ✤
When Max left the duke’s mansion, his body tensed and his senses sharpened.
He was back to how he used to be. He faltered. That woman. He wondered if she read his letter.
Max unconsciously glanced back at the duke’s mansion. When he spotted the marble building, he realized what he had done and pulled a face.
A letter… it was unlike him to leave such a thing. Why did he do that?
When he was a child, Max learned that carelessness was a direct cause of death, so he always remained vigilant. Strangely, however, the days he spent in Jubelian’s room had not been spent in perpetual caution. He had even allowed himself to remain defenseless a few times without realizing it.
If his subordinate hadn’t come for him, he might’ve continued staying there. Max couldn’t understand this change in heart; it was as if he had been bewitched. He wondered if she had some sort of secret method she used to make him feel this way, but he didn't dwell on that thought for long.
First, he needed to go back and do something. Max fastened his pace and headed towards his destination.
