The crown prince, the princess, and even the prince. All these ‘imperial’ titles have one thing in common—they’re nothing but bad luck. I thought Dertis was different, a good person, but he turned out to be just the same. Like his siblings, his character is deeply flawed. Perhaps their parents raised them wrong?
“I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s no surprise that a lady of noble birth doesn’t know how to make milk tea. But from now on, it’s better to cook only for the Duke. Or better yet, leave it to the servants.”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t undermine Ariel’s confidence, Your Highness,” Kasion cut in smoothly. His gaze, which had been sharp earlier, had softened completely. There was no trace of his previous wariness.
“If that’s what you wish, so be it.”
“And Ariel, I enjoyed it, so feel free to keep making it for me.”
Who said I would? I’m never making it for him again. He humiliated me with his lie, making me think I was a good cook.
I didn’t respond to Kasion, pressing my lips together and lowering my head. Next to me, the puppy, which had protected me, lay bandaged around its side. Kasion had treated it himself, saying it was common for military dogs, and had even prescribed medicine.
“The puppy really resembles the Duke.”
I kept silent, even at Dertis’s remark. I just wanted this moment to end.
“Your Highness’s answer is still insufficient. If you have no interest in Ariel, why did you act that way earlier?”
“…Because it’s what the future emperor, who holds my life in his hands, wanted.”
I couldn’t help but look up. Not that the imperial family deserved pity, but… I felt a little sorry for him. I barely held back the urge to voice my thoughts.
“Did the crown prince threaten Your Highness?”
“He didn’t outright threaten me.”
I understood what he meant. As a prince—especially one born from a different mother—the paths available for survival were limited. Either you live quietly, hiding in the shadows, you build a faction and rebel, or you become the crown prince’s loyal follower. It seemed Dertis had chosen the last option.
Aenix’s maternal family was powerful. His maternal house, the Marquisate of Bayonne, was one of the most prestigious, second only to the duke’s and the Marquis Mellin.
Dertis’s mother was a woman Marquis Bayonne offered to the imperial family after the empress died of illness. She was the daughter of the vassal and had been placed there to protect her maternal grandson. Thus, Dertis lived as the crown prince’s pawn. How pitiful.
“So, what did he order you to do?”
“Today, he simply told me to wait at the marquisate in case anything happened. He even handed me a parchment.”
“That parchment… was it a marriage proposal?”
“Yes, it was.”
An awkward silence filled the room. The two men exchanged glances I couldn’t understand and shook their heads. What’s with this feeling of being left out?
“Looks like you were planning to blame everything on the second prince if anything went wrong,” I interjected, and Dertis glanced at me. “Isn’t that right?”
“Then, what about the marriage proposal sent to Serhen?”
I widened my eyes at Kasion’s question. Serhen was already engaged, and there were no other unmarried members in our family except for me.
“Me? Is it for me?”
Feeling left out again, I chimed in. Kasion took a sip of his milk tea, looking displeased.
“Yes, it’s a marriage proposal for you and me,” Dertis answered in his place.
“What?”
“The crown prince had Baron Kainum act on his orders.”
Why on earth would the crown prince do that? First, he suggested a political marriage for me, and now he was pushing me toward Dertis?
“So… is Your Highness planning to marry me?” I quickly glanced at Kasion as I asked that question.
Dertis, watching Kasion, laughed. “If I did, I wouldn’t live to see another day.”
“Good choice. Very wise of you.”
Thank goodness. At least this kind-hearted prince wasn’t doomed to follow Serhen’s tragic fate in the book. So it’s just me who has to deal with this mess, huh?
“Now that everything’s cleared up, I’ll be on my way.”
“Ah, yes.”
“No need to see me off. I wouldn’t want the Duke to resent me for taking up more of your date time.”
“A date? Yo-Your Highness, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“Well then, I’ll be off.” Dertis patted my shoulder and left. The one to see him off was Kasion.
Left alone, I looked at the men’s teacups. “How strange, he said it was bad but drank it all.”
Dertis’s cup was completely empty. Despite his words, his actions were still as kind as ever.
* * *
“You’re quite the liar. But I suppose you’re better than the crown prince.” Kasion spoke to Dertis as they strolled through the garden.
“I wasn’t lying.”
“Yet you drank all the milk tea.”
“If I didn’t, the lady would’ve been hurt, wouldn’t she?”
“Save that kind of consideration for the woman who’ll be your future wife.”
Dertis smiled gently at Kasion’s warning. The smile was so unreadable that it irritated Kasion.
“Someone else is pulling the strings behind Baron Kainum and the crown prince.”
“What do you mean?”
“You already know who it is. Someone who has a grudge against you.”
“Could it be…?” Kasion quickly caught Dertis’s meaning.
“Yes, so be careful. Even the princess bears a grudge against you.”
“I fear nothing. My fate is in someone else’s hands.”
“Is this related to that oath?”
As expected, Kasion’s instincts were correct. For a brief moment, disappointment flickered in Dertis’s eyes.
“It’s similar but different. This is strictly a family secret.”
“Very well, it can’t be helped then.”
Kasion could confidently say that he had won. There was no way he would let someone else take what was rightfully his. How could he let someone steal the treasure he had protected for so long? He would never allow it.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Take care.”
* * *
Kasion returned, followed by the butler of the duchy. He brought an overwhelming number of boxes with him.
“What’s all this?”
“The butler made sure to pack what I couldn’t bring earlier when I had to rush here.”
“You’re something else, Kasion.”
He began to open each gift one by one and explain them to me. “This is a snack that’s great for the hounds’ growth. They’ll love it since it’s dried with meat.”
It came from the first large box.
“This is a brush. It’ll come in handy during shedding season, so make sure the servants use it often. Otherwise, the fur might cause allergies.”
A needlessly large box for such a small item.
“This is a book about the characteristics and training methods of dogs.”
I liked this one.
“I also brought the cookies you always eat when you visit my estate.”
They were mostly for analyzing the recipe, but they were tasty, so that’s fine.
“What’s this?” I pointed to the thinnest envelope, which bore the Duke’s seal.
“This is what you’ve been wanting the most.”
At his words, I widened my eyes. I was about to question him about his lie concerning the milk tea, but… Now, I felt like I could forgive everything.
“Really?”
“Yes, and this marks our third promised tea time.”
“For real?” I asked him repeatedly, unable to believe it.
“Why don’t you open it and find out?”
At his suggestion, I quickly tore open the long envelope. Inside was a document written in bold, authoritative handwriting. I carefully read the words. It was real. He had truly kept his promise to me.
“A no-confinement pledge…” Overwhelmed with joy, I hugged the document to my chest.
Kasion watched me with a soft smile, resting his chin in his hand. His gaze was warm, and his lips curled up kindly. It felt strange. This wasn’t the Kasion I had known growing up, nor the Kasion described in the book. He seemed like a completely different person, one I didn’t even recognize.
“Are you happy with it?”
“Yes, I love it. It feels like I can finally live now.”
“Then, were your words yesterday sincere?”
“I told you they weren’t!” I pouted my lips.
Suddenly, Kasion reached out his hand. Memories of the last time I visited his estate flashed in my mind. Instinctively, I shut my eyes tightly. Then, I felt his fingers gently brush against my lips.
“I know. So don’t make that upset face. If you keep making it, I’ll start feeling hurt too.” Kasion softly stroked my lips. His calloused touch was surprisingly gentle. It made me feel unfamiliar.
To me, Kasion had always been a stern figure, like a father or a teacher. But suddenly, my heart began to race. It felt strange. What’s happening to me? Could it be that the no-confinement pledge made me this happy?
This fluttering sensation was like the excitement of discovering something truly delightful… Yes, that must be it.
“Ariel, so when will you give me the positive answer you promised?” His voice was even closer now, and with it, so was his breath.
Startled, I opened my eyes. His warm, golden eyes twinkled softly just inches from my face. And within them, I could see nothing but myself.
“Hmm? Ariel.”
His sweet voice sent a shiver through me, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
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