As a man? I tilted my head slightly, my eyes darting as I tried to process his question.
“Umm…”
But no answer came easily. I had never thought about him in that way before. I could see his face gradually hardening as he waited for my reply.
How dare I make a member of the imperial family wait for an answer?
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I don’t know.”
It was the only evaluation I could offer.
“No, it’s fine. That’s the expected answer.”
He looked sad, but he didn’t seem angry at me. Instead, he politely offered his arm.
“Since the duke isn’t here, may I escort you?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Kasion could return at any moment.
“But wouldn’t it be better to link arms? Otherwise, the marks on your shoulder might be visible to others.”
So, it was that noticeable.
I gave an awkward smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to take his arm. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because of the question he had just asked.
“Thank you for your consideration, but if we walk out like this, it might cause a misunderstanding.”
“True. There’s no need to add more rumors when people have already seen everything. But… did the duke cause that mark?”
“What? Absolutely not.”
“Then was it another man?”
What kind of misunderstanding was this?
“No, it’s just a bruise that happened by accident.” I had no choice but to explain, indirectly blaming Diana in the process.
“Ah… so it was my older sister’s doing again. I apologize on her behalf.”
Dertis apologized once more and extended his hand. Since I didn’t take his arm, he kindly offered his hand instead. Grateful for his politeness, I smiled slightly and took his hand.
“It’s an honor to be escorted by a member of the imperial family.”
“The honor is mine.”
Together, we slowly walked down the hallway.
Dertis was as kind and gentle as ever, and his demeanor was calm and respectful.
“But…”
Just before we reached the banquet hall, he hesitated as if wanting to ask something but unsure whether to proceed.
“Yes? Please, go ahead.”
“I was wondering if you remember…”
“Remember what?”
“My 17th birthday banquet.”
I blinked, trying to recall. Dertis and I were the same age, so that would have been three years ago.
“Could you be more specific about what you’re referring to?”
I did attend since I received an invitation. But the imperial palace was not exactly a pleasant place for someone like me, with few friends in high society. At the time, the princess wasn’t looking after me yet, so I likely spent the time exploring the imperial library with permission, as always.
“I see. Well, I suppose your lack of memory answers my question.” His face looked even more forlorn than before.
“I’m sorry.”
Had I offended him? His voice, full of disappointment, made it hard to tell if he was upset or simply sad. Fortunately, we were nearing the end of the hallway.
“Oh, and one more thing. Please don’t pay attention to anything the crown prince or the princess says outside.”
“Do you think they’ll give me special instructions?”
“It’s just that everyone knows you’re innocent, so I hope you don’t get hurt.”
I didn’t understand his advice at all, so I paused for a moment. Dertis turned to look at me.
“Is this why you offered to escort me earlier? To help me?”
“Yes.”
“And you believe the actions of the crown prince and princess might not be moral?”
“That’s right.”
“But you can’t stop them?”
Dertis’s brow furrowed at my question. Was it from guilt? Or self-blame?
I understood his situation. His mother was originally a servant of the Bayonne family, the maternal family of the crown prince. After the first empress died in an accident, the marquis adopted his mother as a foster daughter and made her empress to protect the crown prince. However, she was frail and passed away early. I could imagine how difficult life must have been for Dertis in the imperial family with no real support.
“…I know I’m being a coward.”
“So, how long do you plan to hide?”
My words were as much a criticism of his future self. I had decided, as the priest suggested, not to cling to the novel I had read. But I couldn’t help but feel angry.
The thought that the incompetent, perverse crown prince would eventually become emperor. Wasn’t that because Dertis had always stood by, silently watching the crown prince’s atrocities without intervening?
Of course, Kasion, obsessed with women, was no better. But things had to change now. This was the world I would continue to live in. For Serhen, Lireania, and my future nieces and nephews. If Aenix became emperor, then what was the point of me trying to change the future?
“I am a powerless prince, born to a lowly mother. Even though the marquis adopted her, her origins were still…”
“They say that nobility and baseness are not decided by bloodline.”
That was something Serhen had always taught me.
“A person is shaped by the experiences they’ve lived and their mindset over time.”
Had I been too bold with a member of the imperial family? My words could easily be interpreted as incitement to rebellion. If Dertis continued to serve Aenix, he could report me for this.
Seeing his silent gaze fixed on me, I began to sweat nervously. I’d really done it now. Why do I always act so impulsively? I’m going to get myself into serious trouble one day without thinking things through.
“Lady Mellin.”
“Yes?”
“You’re still the same as ever.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“I didn’t expect you to say exactly what you said back then when you thought I was just a librarian in the imperial library.”
I blinked in surprise at his words. A librarian? Had I really said something like that?
“Ah… Aah! The one crying in the corner back then!”
“Seems like you finally remembered.”
“I-I-I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you as a member of the imperial family back then…”
I quickly stepped back, bowing deeply. As I repeatedly apologized, clasping my hands together respectfully, he approached me.
“You don’t need to apologize. I was the one who misled you.”
“But still…”
“It was my fault for running away from the banquet and not showing my face to the people of high society. That was my mistake.”
“Even so…”
“Really, it’s fine.” He took another step closer and gently grasped my clasped hands, raising them toward his lips. “As expected, I still don’t want to give up.”
As his lips neared my hand, I quickly pulled away.
“W-Wait a moment!”
My hand stopped short. I had tensed up, pulling back just in time.
“So it’s fine for the duke but not for me?” He must have seen Kasion’s earlier vow to me.
Embarrassed, I covered the hand that had nearly been kissed with my other hand. It was the same hand Kasion had kissed earlier.
“I’m sorry, but I’m sure you understand. After all, we’re dealing with a very jealous and aggressive duke.” My words implied that he could be killed.
I didn’t believe Kasion was a bad person, but it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious, right?
That’s when Dertis’s expression suddenly grew cold. At the same time, the door at the end of the hallway swung open.
“Oh my, what were the two of you doing in the lounge?”
The person who opened the door was Diana. And around her was a group of ladies from high society.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry if I was being too oblivious. I didn’t realize things had gotten so intense between you two already.” She blatantly pointed at the bruise on my shoulder.
“That’s not it!”
“Then… was it the duke who made that mark?”
“No, it wasn’t him either.”
“Oh my… then who could it be? Who left such a mark of love on this young lady’s fair skin?” Her words sent a ripple through the gathered crowd, and their whispers filled my ears clearly.
“Could that rumor be true after all? They say Lady Mellin is secretly the marquis’s lover.”
It was the worst insult I’d ever heard.
* * *
“Serhen, I need to talk to you.”
Having just returned to the temple, Kasion discreetly pulled Serhen aside, with Lireania, now the marchioness, by his side.
“What’s going on? Where did you go?”
“I’m sorry, but your honeymoon will have to be postponed.”
“What?”
“Did something happen?” Lireania asked calmly, unlike Serhen, who had raised his voice.
“Viscount Kainum has disappeared,” Kasion explained everything that had happened so far.
Serhen glanced at Lireania, who nodded in response.
“I’m fine with dealing with him completely before we go on our trip.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. And this time… don’t hold back. If it’s to stop him from harming Lady Ariel again.”
Kasion had worried Lireania might disapprove. No matter how close she was to Ariel, a wedding and honeymoon only happened once.
The couple went to speak with their servants to reschedule while Kasion hurried to find Ariel. She wasn’t far away.
At the entrance to the lounge, a crowd had gathered. Annoyingly, the second prince was standing next to her. Getting angry now would only make him look ungrateful, but he couldn’t help but feel irritated. He began to walk toward Ariel to take her back. Then, he heard something strange.
“Could that rumor be true after all? They say Lady Mellin is secretly the marquis’s lover.”
It was the scandalous rumor Viscount Kainum had worked hard to spread. Kasion and Serhen had done everything to keep it from reaching Ariel’s ears. But how dare they try to hurt her with such a filthy rumor?
Ariel lowered her head as if she had been wounded.
Kasion had promised to protect her from being hurt…
Furious, Kasion started pushing through the crowd to reach Ariel. But just then, a sharp sound of skin slapping echoed through the temple.
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