Chapter 18
Bang—!
With the burst of energy, the flow of air twisted. As the storm-like wind swirled and then began to settle, the surroundings came into view.
Tables and objects around the training ground had fallen or overturned onto the floor.
‘A monster, that one.’
Crown Prince Ludwig lowered the hand he had raised to shield himself from the blast of air and muttered to himself. He had clearly waited for the right moment to move, but Rashid had swung his sword even faster and blocked the strike.
The clash of their swords caused a shockwave of energy that left the area in disarray. Ludwig lowered his sword and approached him.
“If we do that again, we’ll bring down the entire palace. Don’t you know that harming the Crown Prince amounts to treason?”
“…Are you hurt, Your Highness?”
“No. It’s not like this is our first sparring session. You should know how to hold back.”
“My apologies.”
“Let’s end it here for today. If either of us picks up a sword again right now, one of us might actually die.”
Rashid sighed and sheathed his sword.
“Have some tea before you go. There are things we need to discuss.”
The Crown Prince handed his sword to the attendant who had approached him and headed toward his palace. In the garden, cold drinks and refreshments had been laid out on the tea table.
“Cool your head a little. Every time the lady is mentioned, you get too emotional. What will you do if she ends up in danger because of that?”
“……”
“Is it really that shocking? That I said I’d send a marriage proposal to the lady?”
“Your Highness!”
Rashid’s brow furrowed again.
“There’s nothing strange about the Crown Prince proposing to a noble lady. Even if she is only a half-noble lady.”
“That’s going too far.”
His voice turned cold. The air around them grew tense, but Ludwig merely chuckled.
“Face reality, Rashid. Even if she holds the title of ‘Lady’ and is your sister, everyone in the Latran nobility knows she has not a drop of Hespelt blood.”
“……”
“You’re different. You’re a proper heir. But she’s not.”
Expression drained from Rashid’s face. Watching him conceal his thoughts behind a blank facade, Ludwig clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Such a young man, and he’s already learned to hide his emotions.’
Still, he didn’t stop speaking.
“By becoming engaged to me, she would hold the highest position in Latran, second only to the Empress.”
“……”
“Don’t you want to see her rise to the highest rank in the Empire?”
Crown Prince Ludwig straightened his posture from the sofa.
“That was your wish, wasn’t it?”
Rashid did not respond.
He had once said something along those lines. A passing comment, uttered on a breeze. That he wanted to see Tericia in the highest seat possible.
“If you don’t like that plan…”
The Crown Prince paused before continuing.
“Then take full control of your family. I’ll secure the Imperial Palace. That’s where our real story will begin.”
Though he was the Crown Prince, Ludwig’s position was still unstable. With so many waiting to seize the throne, he needed to build his own power base.
In that context, Rashid Hespelt was a risky card. Though the legitimate heir, his power base was still weak. Whether the heir to a vulnerable dukedom could become a pillar of strength was uncertain.
But in terms of personal capability, Rashid was a man worth coveting.
If he inherited the duchy and pledged his support, there would be no obstacle to Ludwig ascending the throne and establishing a secure lineage.
Marriage was the best way to unite two forces.
“I think it’s a reasonable proposal. Marriage is the strongest form of alliance.”
“……”
Rashid knew that well enough. If the Imperial Family became his ally, neither his uncle nor anyone else would dare covet his position.
But he couldn’t accept it.
‘For her to leave me… for someone else.’
His fist clenched involuntarily. Just the thought made his teeth grind in frustration.
“Think about it seriously, Lord Rashid Hespelt. You can’t make her happy.”
There was sincerity in the Crown Prince’s words. And that made it hurt even more.
＊＊＊
Tericia, who had been poring over the ledgers, finally lifted her head and rubbed the back of her neck. She had been bent over for too long—her shoulders were stiff.
The announcement of the heir had led to the planning of a grand banquet, and everything suddenly became hectic. It was usually the Duchess’s role to oversee such affairs, but Lady Borren showed no interest in anything related to Rashid.
If anything, it was a relief she wasn’t interfering. So Tericia had stepped up herself and declared she would handle the preparations.
She had assumed it wouldn’t be easy to wrest control from her mother, but surprisingly, the duchess accepted it without resistance. That, more than anything, unsettled her.
‘She’s not scheming something… is she?’
She could only hope it was something she could prevent. As Tericia stood and stretched, her joints creaked in protest.
Budget allocation, vendor selection—there had been so much to review that night had fallen before she realized it.
“I’m starving. Should I grab something to eat?”
Knock knock.
Just then, someone knocked at the office door.
“Come in.”
“Sister.”
“Rashid?”
She was surprised to see him. Of all people, she hadn’t expected him.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
She couldn’t hide the joy in her voice. Rashid, with his hands behind his back, walked in quietly.
“You’re still awake?”
“I didn’t realize how late it had gotten. What about you? What have you been doing this late?”
“I just returned from the Imperial Palace.”
“That’s quite late. And instead of heading to bed…”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
In his two hands was exactly what Tericia needed. One hand held a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses; in the other, a basket of simple snacks.
“Mandy was complaining that you’ve been working all evening without even having dinner, so I brought this.”
She could just imagine her personal maid fussing and exaggerating. The thought made her chuckle.
“I was hungry.”
Her face brightened as she looked at the snacks Rashid laid out. He poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her.
“This looks delicious.”
Seeing the food only made her realize how hungry she truly was. Rashid watched her eat with a contented smile.
“Ah… I feel alive again.”
“Would you like more?”
“I’m good.”
When she emptied her wineglass, he refilled it.
“Did you go to the palace to see His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
A flicker of displeasure crossed Rashid’s face.
“His Highness seems like a good person.”
“That… person, you say? Are you serious?”
Hearing her say that word made her eyes widen slightly—he almost sounded like he was suppressing something.
“What, is there something you don’t like about him?”
“…No. He’s decent enough, I suppose.”
As long as he doesn’t try anything with you. Rashid swallowed the words that almost escaped.
“Well, he seems like a good man.”
Tericia’s tone softened.
“But what is he really like?”
“……”
The Crown Prince was known for his gentle and composed demeanor. But that was only the impression he gave from afar. It was hard to truly know what kind of man he was.
Even if he was genuinely kind, his status as Crown Prince meant that the world might not allow him to remain that way.
‘Men like that rarely survive.’
Tericia knew the truth well.
The Rashid of the past had been a good person—a kind child who couldn’t say a harsh word even to his stepsister.
Perhaps that was why he ultimately threw away his own life and walked toward death.
To shake off the thought, Tericia shook her head.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Rashid, ever perceptive, asked gently.
“No, it’s nothing. My shoulders just ache a little—maybe I’m tired.”
“Allow me to massage them for you.”
Before she could even protest, he stood from his seat and moved behind her.
“Rashid!”
“Trust me. I’m actually pretty good at this.”
His large hands began kneading her shoulders and neck. The pressure was gentler than she expected, pressing exactly where it hurt, and Tericia was surprised.
“You’re good.”
“There’s nothing I can’t do,” he replied.
She laughed at that, and Rashid smiled in return, drawn to her clear, genuine laughter.
“The Crown Prince…”
He started speaking slowly as he continued to massage her shoulders.
“…is not in a strong position.”
Just like me.
Tericia felt as though she could hear the unspoken end of his sentence.
“He’s known as a kind man, but he’s not someone to be underestimated. He has a lot of secrets.”
“……”
“His mother’s family, the Count’s house, has collapsed, and the Empress is gravely ill. His base of support is weak. Even so, he was named Crown Prince and has survived until now. A man like that…”
“Wouldn’t be easy to deal with.”
Just because he wore a gentle smile didn’t mean someone from the Imperial Family could be taken lightly. If anything, such people should be approached with greater caution.
“His Highness wants to join hands with me. Because we’re in similar positions.”
“……”
“He’s proposing that we, who both lack strong support, join forces and fill in each other’s gaps.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“…It’s worth trying. There are limitations and some conditions, but still.”
“I see.”
In her previous life, Rashid and the Crown Prince had never crossed paths. Perhaps something had happened between them beyond her knowledge, but as far as she knew, there had been no connection.
“So, what do you plan to do?”
“I haven’t decided yet. My father is still well… This isn’t something I should be stepping into just yet.”
“True. It’s not something to rush into.”
“……”
“Nothing comes easy, does it?”
She murmured like a sigh. The wine and his shoulder massage had relieved much of her fatigue.
Her thoughts were tangled, but the moment felt so warm that drowsiness began to creep in.
‘I should think this through…’
Time passed quietly.
Tericia’s head drooped to the side.
“Sister?”
“……”
“Are you asleep?”
She had finally succumbed to her exhaustion.
“Oh, dear…”
Rashid’s voice carried a hint of helplessness. Tericia had fallen asleep, and her small shoulders rested in his hands.
That fragile back—so small and delicate, as if it might break at any moment.
He raised a hand to rub his face. If he didn’t, he feared his hands might become rough. Something fierce was bubbling up from deep within his chest.
“Sister…”
Rashid reached out again and gently ran his fingers through her hair. Her soft locks slid between his fingers like silk.
As he watched, just before they all slipped away, he curled his fingers into a fist. The strands, catching the warm light with a hint of reddish-gold, remained in his palm.
“Are you happy?”
Staring at them for a long while, Rashid brought the strands of her hair to his lips and whispered,
“Is it all right if I believe… that your happiness is because of me?”
His voice was so soft, no one would ever hear it.
