Chapter 79
“That doesn’t mean you’re not of royal blood. Just as your true eyes are opal beneath the red.”
“…”
“Your Highness, human affairs are unpredictable. Sometimes, events that we try to avoid happen regardless. Like how you met me today.”
Kylus continued, staring directly into the Third Prince’s wavering eyes.
“I won’t force you. But when the moment comes that you can no longer avoid it, I hope you’ll take my hand. I won’t betray you.”
“…”
The Third Prince’s lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing. Then he turned and left.
This time, Kylus didn’t stop the departing Third Prince.
There was nothing more to say for now.
He could forcibly grab the Third Prince and throw him into the crown prince competition.
But he didn’t. He wanted the Third Prince to make up his mind on his own.
The future emperor he wanted wasn’t a puppet.
One foolish and stupid leader was enough with the current emperor.
Kylus was one who agreed with that sentiment.
The Third Prince headed towards the back alley instead of the main gate of the Imperial Palace.
It won’t be as easy as I thought.
Kylus turned away after watching the Third Prince disappear. He had one more matter to attend to.
“Unhitch one horse for me. You return to the duchy with the carriage as is.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Kylus took the reins from the coachman and mounted the horse lightly.
The sky was already darkening.
Kylus rode quickly towards the place he needed to visit before nightfall.
* * *
The next morning.
“Ughhhh…”
A groan like a monster’s cry echoed in the sunlit bedroom.
The one making this strange sound was none other than Alice.
“…I’m so tired.”
She wasn’t this tired even the day after meeting the assassin.
Today, she was truly exhausted.
It meant that yesterday had been that grueling for her.
It was understandable.
While the fear when meeting the assassin was momentary, yesterday she hadn’t rested for a moment from morning till dawn.
Going to Rocfen, meeting the Third Prince, and bringing him to the duchy was already a packed schedule. But on top of that, Sienna and the Third Prince had fought.
Sienna blasting away the Third Prince was truly shocking to think about even now.
Moreover… Sienna disliked the Third Prince.
Not just a lack of fondness, but an intense dislike.
After the Third Prince left yesterday, when Alice tried to change Sienna’s mind, she instead had to listen for a long time about how dangerous and undesirable the Third Prince was.
Telling her never to get involved with the Third Prince again.
Sienna seemed to treat the Third Prince almost on the same level as the thug Alice had encountered.
Saying that as soon as he woke up, the Third Prince had pounced on Sienna…
Why did that happen?
In the original story, he had been captivated by Sienna’s beauty upon waking, asking if she was an angel.
“Ah, I don’t know, I don’t know. I should just let them fight it out however they want.”
If she got caught between the Third Prince and Sienna, it felt like only her back would end up broken.
Alice shook her throbbing head and pulled the bell cord beside the bed.
Not long after, Aileen opened the door and entered.
“Good morning, my lady.”
Aileen, who had received a day off, approached her with a fresh smile.
But only for a moment. Aileen, who stopped in front of Alice, widened her eyes.
“Oh my. My lady, did you not sleep well? There are dark circles under your eyes.”
“Ah, I went to bed late.”
“How late did you sleep for your appearance… I mean, for your complexion to look so unwell?”
Aileen hurriedly changed her words, but Alice had heard.
Is my appearance that terrible?
Alice got out of bed and picked up a mirror. Seeing her reflection, she understood Aileen’s reaction.
The dark circles looked like they were about to reach her chin.
This is Kylus’s fault. Alice had stayed up late waiting for Kylus, who had gone to escort the Third Prince back.
The reason she waited was obvious, of course.
She wanted to know what Kylus thought of the Third Prince.
Since things seemed to have gone completely awry with Sienna, she had no choice but to cling to Kylus.
But last night, only the duchy’s carriage that had left for the Imperial Palace returned, while Kylus didn’t come back until late into the night.
As midnight passed, she couldn’t sleep, worrying if something had happened to Kylus.
Of course, her worry seemed to have reached its limit at 2 AM, after which she collapsed into sleep.
Anyway, Alice’s lack of sound sleep was because of Kylus.
Alice wiped her damp face and sat in front of the vanity. Aileen brought a large comb and began to brush her pink hair. How careful and delicate those hands were. Her throbbing head seemed to ease a bit.
As her mind cleared a little, Alice looked at Aileen’s reflection in the mirror and asked,
“Aileen, is the Duke in the mansion now?”
Surely he hadn’t been out all night.
If the person who left to escort the Third Prince hadn’t returned all night…
“Yes, he is. I saw the butler going to the Duke’s bedroom earlier this morning.”
“I see.”
She had been worried about what if he hadn’t returned, but it seemed he had come back safely.
Alice felt relieved, but at the same time, a question arose.
Where on earth did he go?
It wasn’t like he had gone out for anything special, and after saying he would escort the Third Prince back, he had come home late in the early morning.
What urgent matter could have come up while escorting the Third Prince?
Alice paused in her thoughts.
It’s enough that he came back, aren’t these thoughts now like those of a wife suspecting her husband’s whereabouts?
We’re not… that kind of relationship.
Alice put aside her curiosity.
What’s important now is Kylus’s thoughts about the Third Prince.
Since Kylus has returned, I should go see him right after breakfast.
“Aileen, I’m going to see the Duke right after breakfast, so dress me up now.”
“Yes!”
Aileen began to braid her hair thickly, looking excited. Alice closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her hands.
Unlike Maris, Aileen was quite skilled with her hands, so there was nothing to worry about.
“My lady.”
Alice, who had almost dozed off under the pleasant touch, came to her senses at Aileen’s call.
Opening her eyes and looking in the mirror, she saw her hair in thick waves, half-tied with a ribbon.
“My lady, do you like it?”
“Yes. It’s very pretty.”
As Alice smiled, Aileen beamed brightly too. Soon, Aileen brought a pale yellow dress from the dressing room.
Just as Alice changed clothes and Aileen buttoned the last button of the dress, there was a knock.
“My lady, it’s the butler.”
“Come in.”
The butler who entered the room bowed to Alice.
“What is it?”
“I’ve come to deliver a message from the Duke. The Duke asked if you would like to have breakfast together, if it’s alright with you.”
“Breakfast? The Duke hasn’t had breakfast yet?”
Aileen had said she saw the butler going to his room early in the morning.
The current time was quite late to be called breakfast.
“Yes. The Duke waited to have a meal with you, my lady.”
“Ah…”
He even waited.
Does he have something to tell me?
Kylus didn’t seem like the type of person who would wait just to have breakfast together…
I hope it’s nothing serious.
The word ‘waited’ made her feel uneasy, but it was a good thing since she also had something she wanted to ask Kylus.
Alice promptly answered the butler.
“Alright. Tell the Duke I’ll do so.”
* * *
“Good morning, my lady.”
As soon as Alice entered the dining room, a clear voice greeted her.
Although it was well past 11 o’clock, the person who greeted her kindly, matching her late breakfast, was none other than Sienna.
“I didn’t know Sienna was here too. Good morning.”
Alice smiled at Sienna and sat down in the chair that a servant pulled out for her.
It was the same place where Madam Quillian and Edellm had caused a commotion, but the interior had been completely changed since then.
The dining table had been replaced with a rectangular four-seater with a longer length, and the wall that once held a splendid portrait now displayed a subtle landscape painting.
It feels like a spot-the-difference game.
Alice, who had been observing the changes, turned her head to Kylus, who was seated at the head of the table.
“Duke. Good… morning.”
As she awkwardly greeted him, unable to brazenly say ‘morning’ to Kylus, a gentle smile was returned.
“It’s a sunny morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Ah… yes.”
Alice almost reflexively blurted out “No.”
It was true that she hadn’t slept properly waiting for Kylus, but it wasn’t something to confront him about.
He hadn’t told her to wait up for him in the first place.
Alice gave a faint smile, hiding her fatigue. Soon after, food began to be served on the table.
Soup, freshly baked golden bread, salad, and juice – a quick breakfast was laid out.
“Enjoy your meal, Alice.”
“You too, Duke. Please eat quickly.”
He must have been hungry waiting for her.
Kylus, as if understanding Alice’s discomfort, started eating first.
Seeing him eat, Alice turned her attention to the food placed in front of her.
Mushroom soup with a delicious aroma wafting up.
It was Alice’s favorite soup.
Just as she was about to pick up her spoon to eat the soup, Alice paused, looking across the table.
Unlike the food laid out in front of Kylus and Alice, there was nothing in front of Sienna.
Only a steaming mug was placed there.
Sienna, meeting Alice’s curious gaze, spoke up.
“I already had breakfast, my lady.”
“…I see.”
Then why did she come?
She didn’t come just to watch them eat.
As Alice tilted her head in confusion, Kylus said,
“I called Sienna too because I have something to discuss with everyone present. The food will get cold. Please eat.”
