Episode 130

When I hurriedly opened the carriage window upon hearing that the Crown Prince was looking for me, a valet was standing there.

“The Crown Prince?”

“Yes, I serve His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness has requested your presence, so I had to stop your carriage. My apologies.”

“No, it’s fine. Lead the way.”

“Please follow me. The Crown Prince’s residence is nearby.”

“Understood.”

I immediately got out of the carriage and followed the valet.

I was relieved that the Crown Prince had taken the initiative to summon me, saving me the worry of not being able to meet him.

As I walked, I pondered why the Crown Prince might be looking for me.

‘Did he also feel that our conversation at the banquet was unfinished?’

That seemed like the most plausible explanation.

With a sense of optimism about the conversation ahead, I followed the valet until we reached a building.

‘So this is it.’

Even though I had never been to the Crown Prince’s palace before, it was unmistakable—grander than the surrounding buildings.

As we entered, the interior was surprisingly minimalist, contrary to its grand exterior. Only a large chandelier hung from the high ceiling, shining brightly, while the rest of the decor was simple and orderly.

‘Is this a reflection of the Crown Prince’s personality?’

After all, a home often mirrors its owner.

I recalled the Crown Prince at the banquet, unable to tolerate even the slightest wine stain on his collar.

Soon, we stopped in front of a door painted entirely black.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

I nodded as the valet raised his voice towards the closed door.

“Your Highness, Duchess Blighton is here to see you.”

“Let her in.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Duchess, please enter.”

As the door opened, I cautiously stepped inside.

The first impression of the room was one of neatness, with few furnishings despite the large space.

Books filled a shelf along one wall, while a sofa and table occupied the opposite side.

By the window, at a large desk, sat the Crown Prince.

The moment our eyes met, I quickly bowed.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Welcome.”

The Crown Prince rose to greet me, striding towards me with such confidence that I felt an odd sense of suffocation.

I had never felt this way with Lloydin, which was strange.

I resisted the urge to step back, realizing that retreating would make me seem submissive.

I was unusually sensitive to things I wouldn’t normally care about in front of others when facing the Crown Prince.

‘Stay calm.’

After steadying myself, I looked up at the Crown Prince.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

I spoke as if I hadn’t planned to see him at all.

“Please, have a seat here for our conversation.”

The Crown Prince gestured to the sofa, and I nodded slightly before moving to the indicated spot.

Tea and snacks were soon brought to the table.

“Please, help yourself.”

“Thank you.”

Although I had already had plenty of tea with the princess, I didn’t refuse and pretended to sip the tea.

“It’s quite good.”

“Please have more.”

“Thank you.”

I mechanically thanked him, carefully observing the Crown Prince.

In his own space, he seemed more at ease than usual.

“Are you returning from a visit with Princess Daina?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I see.”

After that, we fell silent.

The awkward atmosphere grew as time passed.

The Crown Prince continued to watch me with a peculiar gaze, saying nothing.

I didn’t avert my gaze, and we stared at each other in the growing twilight.

‘What is this?’

Why isn’t he saying anything?

It would be nice if he started the conversation. For some reason, it seemed like the Crown Prince wasn’t going to break the silence first.

As the interior grew darker through the red-tinged window, I realized that if I delayed any longer, Lloydin might return to the mansion before I did. It was best to finish the conversation and leave quickly.

Finally, I decided to speak first.

“You summoned me because you had something to discuss, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Please feel free to speak.”

“I wanted to continue our unfinished conversation from the banquet.”

Just as I suspected.

I was inwardly pleased, but I maintained a neutral expression.

“If it’s about our unfinished conversation at the banquet…”

“Yes, it’s about Princess Daina and Lord Jade Anaïs.”

“Do you still have something to say about that?”

“Indeed. And I believe you have something to hear from me as well, don’t you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Hmm, you don’t know?”

The Crown Prince looked at me with the same enigmatic gaze as before, now mixed with a hint of interest.

I had intended to feign ignorance, but it seemed that wouldn’t work with the Crown Prince.

“Then I’ll be direct. Why did you tell me those things?”

“Why do you think I told you?”

“I don’t know, which is why I’m asking Your Highness.”

“You really don’t know?”

“No.”

“It’s a pity you don’t understand. I thought I had made it quite clear.”

“What did you make clear? What exactly are you trying to say?”

Despite my outward response, I was beginning to grasp his intentions, and a sense of unease crept up. I tried to dismiss it, hoping it wasn’t what I feared.

But my hopes were always eerily accurate in such situations.

The words I least wanted to hear soon came from the Crown Prince.

“Come to me.”

“…What are you saying?”

I stared at him in shock, as if confronted by something horrific.

“I am the Duchess of Blighton. Do you realize you are insulting me?”

“This is not an insult at all.”

Unlike my confusion, the Crown Prince remained relaxed, smiling leisurely.

“I am making you an offer, Duchess Blighton.”

The way he emphasized my title seemed deliberate.

“An offer?”

“Yes, if you come to me, I will make all issues concerning Ian Blighton disappear.”

“What…?”

My mind was too chaotic to fully comprehend his words, so I repeated them, trying to grasp their meaning.

Seeing my confusion, the Crown Prince began to explain in detail.

“If the incident where Prince Noah Anaïs used divine power to stop Ian Blighton’s rampage becomes known, both families will face severe consequences. The Blighton family might survive due to necessity, but the Anaïs family? If His Majesty the Emperor is greatly angered, do you think even the most prominent family could survive a charge of treason?”

Despite his words, I found it difficult to listen properly. Only the word ‘treason’ resonated loudly in my mind.

“It wasn’t treason. I did it to help the brother of the man I was to marry.”

“While you might have acted out of pure intentions, others, especially His Majesty and the temple, will never see it that way.”

“Then I’ll say it was my decision alone, not my family’s…”

“Duchess.”

The Crown Prince cut me off, his tone firm.

“Who would believe that? Even if you claimed you acted alone, no one would believe it. And above all, His Majesty has always seen the Anaïs family as a thorn in his side.”

“What?”

“Of course. Who would be pleased with a noble family enjoying authority akin to the royal family? If His Majesty learns of this, it’s obvious what will happen next.”

The Crown Prince continued to bombard me with shocking statements, seemingly trying to keep me off balance.

And, as I had no experience with such matters, I was helplessly caught in his web, staring at him in a daze.