“I didn’t expect you to think that way.”
“Words imply that. The curse of silver hair began during the war. It was because of the exploits of the Ignace family and the royal lineage of Raglaras in several battles. After the war, they had to clean up the remnants left in the empire, using people’s fear to carry out witch hunts.”
Using rumors, they purged the remnants that had been hidden in the empire, but the curse of the silver hair, as it passed from mouth to mouth, lost its truth and became a tale of terror. Many innocent lives suffered during this time, and those who survived still had to hide.
“Summoning the prince of Raglaras as an envoy during this social season was also the Emperor’s plan. It was the Emperor’s final wish.”
Learning the truth through the imperial decree that only the nobility received, the Emperor wanted to end the tragic fate of the North and eliminate false rumors. Inviting Prince Norden Raglaras as an envoy was a move to test the North’s intentions and the beginning of a significant plan, so except for a few individuals, no one knew about it. “If Prince Norden Raglaras were to return and invite Rudenheim, I was planning to go as part of the envoy. I intended to inform you all at that time.”
“… Does that mean Father was aware of the interaction with Raglaras?”
“For such a significant matter, it’s not easy to decide without the consent of the noble faction. If trade with the North were to resume, they would gain substantial benefits, so they didn’t oppose it.”
“Norden. Norden…” Sat murmured Norden’s name as if something had occurred to him. The Emperor’s plan, Raglaras’s visit, the coercion by his father, Reticia’s ascent to the capital, and Retina’s secret Sat felt that something was happening that he didn’t know.
“Prince Herald Rudenheim, do you truly hold my sister in your heart?” With a sudden formality, Sat repeated Norden’s name. He sought an answer not as a friend but as a prince.
“Yes. I swear by my name. I truly love Retina Cecilica. I want to welcome her as my companion.”
“Will you protect her no matter what happens?”
“That goes without saying. I won’t let anyone touch what’s mine. Do you still not know me?”
Having confirmed sincerity from Herald, Sat nodded, accepting him. Swearing in the name of Rudenheim meant dedicating everything he had. Pressing his lips with the back of his hand, Sat witnessed Retina running away, and he read the emotions on her face. At the moment when she aimed for him, he wondered what to do. Until her debutante days, Retina claimed to have no feelings for Herald. But now, after a unilateral kiss from Herald, she looked not awkward but like someone in love.
“As one of your few friends and as Retina’s brother, let me give you some advice.” However, if Retina liked him and Herald’s feelings were genuine, Sat didn’t plan to interfere. Knowing Herald well also meant understanding how he behaved toward his people.
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
“If you really want to be with Retina, stop unnecessary acts right now.”
“I was already thinking of tidying up. Despite some outrageous actions, I gave her a chance not to embarrass herself at the debutante ball, but it seems she shows no signs of giving up.”
“It’s better to quit quickly. I think Father is considering marrying Retina to Prince Norden Raglaras.” Although it was just his speculation, Sat was convinced.
The reason Father readily accepted the Emperor’s plan for trade with the North Since falling in love with Retina’s mother, who had silver hair, Father had been investigating the curse and already knew that silver hair was a symbol of the Raglaras royal family. Perhaps he wanted to send Retina to the North, where she wouldn’t be persecuted for having silver hair, even if she no longer needed to hide. The engagement with Prince Norden Raglaras would be a secondary consideration compared to the alliance with the North, a plan proposed by the Emperor.
“Ah, so that’s why you were so obsessed with the Crystal Gate?” When the conversation with Sat, who seemed most likely to oppose, went well, Herald’s expression, which had regained composure, turned grim. Was it because Norden Raglaras persistently approached Cecilia? Even if it was for Retina, she was likely to know nothing about it.
Herald touched his lips and pondered deeply. He was born and raised in Rudenheim, but silver hair was a symbol of the Raglaras royal family. Even if it was a superficial formality, he would receive it. Once she went to the North, even if the marriage fell through, she could live freely in the North.
‘How did he find out, and I can’t let it be taken away when it’s right in front of me.’
Sat, clenching his fist, asked with a trembling voice,
“Is it okay if I hit you once?”
* * *
“Miss, what are you doing?”
“Huh? Oh, I was just thinking for a moment.”
“Is this the handkerchief you cherish? Are you going to throw it away?” Lena chirped from beside Retina, who had been staring at the two handkerchiefs on the desk for 15 minutes.
She thought one of them was a keepsake from Young Lord, a men’s handkerchief she claimed to have picked up at a party, washed it cleanly, and carefully stored it in the first drawer of the desk. But next to it, there was another handkerchief, identical except for the color.
“This one is stained. It’s been a long time, and it probably won’t come off easily. I should throw it away. What a waste.” Looking at the new handkerchief with a brown stain, Lena tasted the situation. If it were her, she would use such a high-quality handkerchief until it tore, even if it had a stain. But for a lady like Miss, using a stained handkerchief would be unthinkable.
“No, I’m not going to throw it away. I intend to return it to its owner.”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief. I was going to ask you to throw it away if you were going to. I could have put it in my pocket.” Even if it was stained, Retina considered the handkerchief precious and didn’t want to casually discard it. Lena, who thought it might be thrown away, expressed her relief in a cheerful voice.
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
“Surely the owner of the handkerchief would appreciate finding a lost handkerchief! You might even get a date out of gratitude.” Lena had a different development in mind. She finally hoped for a spring day for Miss, who carefully preserved young lord’s handkerchief with an unknown name.
“Well, that may not be true. I received it, too. I don’t know if they’ll like it. Ah, they may not even realize they lost it.”
Unlike Lena, who had been looking forward to a wedding for a long time, Retina, who had been fiddling with the handkerchief, raised her head. Moreover, she had told her to throw one away. It had been several days since Mary gave her the other one, but there had been no contact.
‘I should have returned it then.’
She should have returned the handkerchief on the day Mary gave it to her. Since the awkward encounter on the stairs and the embarrassment of seeing each other again, she hadn’t even created an opportunity to return the handkerchief.
“For you, Miss, I asked the butler to buy an aroma that’s good for sleep. I’ll massage you until you fall asleep.”
With the blackout curtains tightly closed, Lena lit a candle and sat by the bed. Lena, who had worried that Retina hadn’t slept well for a few days, didn’t even make a fuss about arranging the bed.
‘…But I don’t really want to return it.’ She felt foolish. She was no longer a seven-year-old child. It was embarrassing to worry about such things.
“Come on, Miss. It’s time for you to sleep. Even a beauty needs a good night’s sleep for beautiful skin.”
Having finished arranging the bed in the meantime, Lena led Retina to the bed. Although it was still early to go to bed, Retina, who had been losing sleep over something every night lately, prepared for bed earlier than usual.
The lavender aroma that Lena brought might not necessarily be good for sleep, but as Retina closed her eyes and smelled the fragrance, it felt like tension was easing.
“Miss, if you could sleep well today….” Lena’s gentle whisper was drowned out by the noisy commotion coming from outside. Startled, Retina, who was on the verge of falling asleep, sat up in bed.
“What’s that noise?”
“Wait a moment. I’ll check and come back.”
“No, let’s go together.” Retina, dressed in light sleepwear, draped a shawl over her shoulders.
“Hwan…, Quickly, hurry…, this way!”
“For heaven’s sake, call the doctor!” As Retina opened the door, several busy footsteps and the voices of her brothers shouting came with a sense of urgency. Ignoring Lena, who suggested it might be dangerous, Retina went out into the corridor. When she looked down from the central staircase railing, the first floor was as chaotic as the urgent voices.
“What’s going on?” As she was about to go down to see what was happening, she saw Prince Haint being carried on the back of servants, shouting urgently.
