Chapter 15: To You Who Have Forgotten Me (12)

The sky, tinged with the colors of dusk, had grown noticeably darker on the way back to the imperial prince’s palace.

Victor quietly watched his lord’s back as Caius strode into the main hall with his usual long, purposeful strides. After days of relentless meetings, one would expect fatigue, but he looked as resolute and unshaken as ever.

“My lord, might I suggest postponing tomorrow morning’s schedule and taking some rest?”

Knowing full well that Caius hadn’t had a proper break since his return, Victor made the suggestion gently. Caius said nothing as he crossed the hall’s long carpet and ascended the stairs. Only when he reached the landing, in front of the tall window, did he respond.

“Proceed as planned.”

With that, he turned to the staircase on the right and began climbing. Victor, concern still in his eyes, quickly followed. As they moved toward the west wing of the third floor, Caius spoke.

“Have you confirmed the Empress’s movements?”

“Yes, my lord,” Victor replied promptly. “She hasn’t had any notable engagements apart from hosting a salon recently. She hasn’t summoned Lady Lea either. However…”

Victor’s expression darkened slightly before he continued.

“It wasn’t the Empress, but the Second Prince who made a move. He visited the West Palace and had tea with Lady Lea.”

Caius came to a sudden halt, and Victor fell silent at once. When Caius turned his head to glance at him, the slight nod of his chin indicated he should go on.

“The Second Prince claimed he only stopped by during a walk, but the palace attendants had a different impression.”

Victor’s voice took on a graver tone, pressing into the air like a weight.

“They believe he deliberately went to see Lady Lea.”

Caius’s brows furrowed. He slowly turned his head back, his eyes narrowing as they gazed into the void.

“Find out if they’ve had any other contact before this.”

Though his presence radiated chill, Caius gave the order in a tone as detached as ever. He came to a stop in front of his bedchamber.

“Yes, my lord. I’ll take my leave.”

With a respectful bow, Victor began backing away. At the same time, Caius reached for the doorknob.

* * * 

Lea awoke from a light sleep just as the morning sun began to stream through the windows. She stepped off the carpeted floor and left her bedroom. In the antechamber, Sophia had already arrived with two handmaidens in tow to assist her.

“Did you sleep well last night, Lady Lea?”

Lea gave a gentle nod in response to Sophia’s morning greeting.

In truth, she’d woken up several times throughout the night and still felt tired, but there was no need to voice that.

After washing and refreshing herself with the prepared water, she headed to the dressing room. Sophia held out a navy-blue dress adorned with modest embellishments along the neckline.

Lea had often heard that wearing something too luxurious was inappropriate for a political hostage, while dressing too plainly would bring shame to the First Imperial Prince’s dignity. Aware of Lea’s delicate position, Sophia always chose outfits that struck the perfect balance.

“The weather’s lovely today. I was worried it might rain.”

It was the day of an official imperial ceremony to honor the military’s distinguished service. The Emperor himself would bestow titles upon knights who had shown particular valor in the recent war. As the Crown Prince’s fiancée, Lea was also expected to attend.

Sophia took more care than usual in preparing Lea. Only after layering the chemise, petticoat, and final gown was the dressing complete.  Lea turned and offered her usual thanks.

“Thank you, Sophia.”

“Of course, my lady.”

Sophia smiled, but her expression briefly betrayed worry.

Lea stood serenely, smoothing the hem of her dress as if nothing were wrong, but Sophia knew she had been going through difficult days. She recalled the first time she’d served Lea as a young girl.

At first, she’d been struck by Lea’s stunning, almost otherworldly beauty. Then came the shock of learning she was a hostage from Ainel. The most surprising part, however, had been discovering that it was Caius who had entrusted the girl to her.

Sophia hadn’t been free of prejudice against Ainel either. But those narrow-minded thoughts melted away once she began caring for Lea herself. Then, as now, Lea was a gentle, kind-hearted young woman. Not a trace of royal arrogance or vanity, just an ordinary girl.

Sophia knew how hard she had tried not to be a burden to Caius. Every word, every gesture was measured with the care of someone who couldn’t afford to make a single misstep. Even so, she had silently endured the veiled criticisms and disdainful glances directed at her.

Living in a foreign palace at such a young age, with no allies or family, must have been unbearably hard, yet she never once snapped at the maids or let her exhaustion show. On the contrary, she always smiled like a spring blossom in full bloom whenever she was with Caius, as if even that life was enough.

[“Please take good care of Lea. She always hides what she feels, no matter what. Don’t leave her alone.”]

Those were the words Caius left her before departing for the battlefield. He reassured Lea he would return, then turned to Sophia with a grave face and a quiet plea.

Even that hadn’t been enough to ease his mind. In the end, he secured the Emperor’s approval for their engagement, ensuring Lea would have the title of the Crown Prince’s fiancée before he left. It was a safeguard, something to protect her in his absence. And Sophia understood that.

She had believed, with certainty, that once Caius returned safely, the two of them would finally find happiness. But she had been wrong. The man who came back seemed like a different person.

He was as aloof and cynical as ever, but now that coldness extended even to Lea, where once it had not. Others might not notice, but Sophia, who had watched them closely, could see it plainly.

Their relationship was now frozen, stretched so taut it seemed on the verge of shattering.

“Well then, I’ll pin in your hair vine now.”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Sophia forced a small smile. Lea, seated quietly at the vanity, nodded.

Sophia gently brushed her silky silver hair, suppressing a deep sigh.

Lea finally left the bedroom well into the morning.

The weather was cooler than the day before. As she descended the stairs at a steady pace, she spotted Caius waiting in the hall. He noticed her at the same moment, lifting his head from where he stood, posture slightly turned.

He wore a pure white ceremonial uniform, an unusual sight. The bright color softened his normally sharp impression. Even so, his unmistakable air of gravitas remained.

Lea paused briefly, then resumed her descent. Caius’s deep blue eyes calmly followed her approach. As always, it was impossible to discern what lay behind that gaze. Perhaps that was why… today, the distance across the palace hall felt unusually long.

Stopping before him, Lea looked up after letting her eyes rest briefly on the silver trim and epaulettes of his uniform. He didn’t hold her gaze for long and turned away.

“Let’s go.”

She looked quietly at his outstretched hand for a moment, then placed hers in his.

Without a word, Caius led her toward the exit, hand in hand. He escorted her all the way to the waiting carriage, where he took the seat opposite her.

The carriage began to move without delay.

Lea lifted her eyes, which had been lowered slightly, and looked at Caius seated across from her. His arms folded, eyes angled down, he remained silent. The sweep of his long lashes half-veiled his deep blue eyes.

She had always thought they resembled a lake in summer: dazzling, beautiful, almost dangerous in their brilliance. And yet, when you submerged yourself, it had always been warm, comforting.

Now, that warmth is gone.

Lea pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze. At that moment, Caius slowly lifted his eyes. Their gazes missed each other by a hair’s breadth. Caius looked at her without a word, his expression still and unreadable.

[“My lord, I’ve investigated as you commanded.”]

Victor had reported to him that morning.

After questioning the attendants of the West Palace, he had uncovered a rumor that had quietly circulated during Caius’s absence at war.

It was a scandalous tale, whispers that the Second Prince and the princess had been secretly meeting.

[“Some even claimed to have seen them close together. But the story never left the West Palace. It was quietly buried.”]

A secret affair.

Caius slowly tapped a finger on the leather armrest. His eyes sharpened as he fixed his gaze on Lea, seated across from him.

……

T/N: Poor Lea 😢

And curse Diego 🤬