Chapter 4
A Thunderstrike in Clear Skies
“Ugh…”
“Are you alright?”
At the sound of the woman’s sobs, Richard bent down.
Her slender, pale arm was covered in dirt, and blood could be seen seeping through.
“Can you get up? We should go to the infirmary…”
“Charlotte! What happened?!”
Just as Richard reached out to her, Albert rushed in with a shocked expression.
Charlotte, upon spotting him, quickly lowered her brows.
“Your Highness…”
Her voice cracked in a long, shrill tone, as if calling for help.
Despite her loud and strong voice, Charlotte didn’t rise from her position until Albert helped her to her feet.
Using Albert’s arm as support, Charlotte struggled to stand.
“Are you alright? Where are you hurt?”
“This part’s scraped…”
“Oh my, you’re bleeding.”
Albert grabbed Charlotte’s arm, shouting in alarm.
The pale skin made the injury appear worse than it was—it was just a minor scrape.
But Charlotte, acting as though she were gravely ill, exaggerated her pain and whimpered.
Albert, overly sensitive to her distress, fussed over her as if she were gravely injured.
‘Has my nephew grown up to be such a nuisance?’
Richard recalled the youthful face of Albert the last time he had seen him.
The once bright blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence had now dimmed, their light faded.
Watching Albert’s flustered fussing with an impassive expression, Richard turned his head to see Albert glaring at him.
The glare was filled with irritation and wariness.
Without showing any sign of surprise, Richard casually greeted him.
“Your Highness, it’s been a while. I trust you’ve been well?”
Albert’s eyebrows twitched in response.
“Who are you?”
“This is a bit disappointing. Have you forgotten your uncle’s face?”
Richard subtly lifted his head.
“It’s Lord Norbert, isn’t it?”
Albert quickly corrected himself upon recognizing Richard, his expression shifting.
Though Richard held a lower rank than Albert, he was still considered his superior by bloodline.
As such, no matter how much Albert may have tried to dismiss him, he could not treat him with disrespect.
“It’s been a while, Lord. Could you explain what happened here?”
“Explain? There’s nothing to explain. As you can see, the young lady ran into me while rushing here. That’s all.”
Richard pointed at Charlotte.
If Charlotte had run into him on her own, then the responsibility was entirely hers.
But it was also Albert’s fault, as the Imperial Palace was a sacred space where running or making loud noises was strictly forbidden.
Yet Albert had been entranced by Charlotte’s smile and hadn’t stopped her.
Albert clenched his fist.
“And who is the young lady standing over there?”
Richard turned his eyes to Charlotte.
“This is Lady Charlotte Granoff, the daughter of Count Granoff.”
“I see. You seem quite close. I assume you’re very good friends?”
“She’s not a friend!”
Charlotte, who had been hiding behind Albert all this time, suddenly yelled.
“I’m the only lover of His Highness, so please mind your words.”
Lover?
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
He gave Albert a significant look.
“Oh? What about Lady Greyston?”
“Ahem, Duke.”
Albert cleared his throat loudly, stopping Richard from continuing.
“I’m glad we’ve met again, but Charlotte seems to be hurt quite badly. Let’s call it a day for now. Charlotte, can you walk?”
“My… my ankle hurts…”
Charlotte shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
Richard quietly observed Charlotte.
While Albert might have been fooled by her, Richard, having seen his fair share of wounded soldiers, was not deceived.
Richard smirked at her unconvincing performance.
Unaware of Richard’s thoughts, Albert sighed and picked Charlotte up.
Charlotte, like a fainted person, closed her eyes tightly and burrowed herself into Albert’s arms.
Richard, who had been quietly watching, suddenly shouted.
“Ah, I forgot to apologize.”
He took a step toward Albert.
As Richard’s shadow loomed over Charlotte, she subtly opened her eyes.
“Lady, I truly apologize for making you fall.”
“Oh, um… it’s fine…”
“I’m sorry for giving a mere apology when I have nothing to offer. If we meet again, I’ll give you a copy of the Imperial Etiquette Book as an apology.”
At Richard’s blunt remark, Albert lowered his head deeply.
Seemingly unaware, Charlotte shook her head.
“I don’t like books.”
“I’ll take my leave then.”
Albert hurriedly walked off.
Their shadows began to fade.
Where had that little hand, once clutching her fiancé’s sleeve, gone?
“My nephew has truly grown up to be shameless.”
Richard’s voice echoed in the distance.
“Uncle!”
As soon as the door opened, Princess Yvon ran up to Richard and hugged him.
Richard effortlessly caught her.
“Princess, you’ve gained a bit of weight since I last saw you.”
“That’s rude to say to a lady!”
Yvon pouted, but then Richard quickly reassured her with a smile.
“I meant it as a compliment. You’ve grown a lot, don’t be upset.”
Richard ruffled Yvon’s hair.
“It’s been a year.”
“No, it’s been two years!”
Yvon shouted back.
Though it had been nine years since Richard left the capital, it had been two years since he last saw Yvon.
After Richard left for the North, Yvon had visited the region whenever there was no war. She had a special affection for him.
Richard felt the same way. Since Yvon’s birth, he had always been there to protect and care for her like a shadow.
It was a gesture of respect for the late Empress Beatrice, who had taken care of him as a child, despite his status as an illegitimate son.
Even though she had raised him as a replacement for her lost son, Richard owed her a great deal.
The love the Empress showed him was now passed on to Yvon.
Yvon had grown up under Richard’s endless affection and now poured that love back toward him.
“Unlike the smart prince, this uncle isn’t very good with memory. Please don’t be angry at me.”
“Hmph.”
Despite Richard’s pleas, Yvon remained stubborn.
“This is troublesome. I even brought a gift for you, Princess.”
“A gift?”
Yvon’s blue eyes lit up with curiosity.
With a dramatic expression, Richard pulled out a box of chocolates.
“Monsbrau Chocolates!”
Yvon hugged the box and bounced up and down with excitement.
Monsbrau.
It was a chocolate shop that had existed before Richard left the capital. A few years ago, it had been just another dessert shop, but since last year, it had gained popularity among noble children and was now in high demand.
“Princess, please! You’ve already had cake. Too much sugar is bad for your health.”
As Yvon started to unwrap the packaging, her maid Paula sternly interrupted.
“Give it to me. You can have it tomorrow.”
Yvon reluctantly handed the box to Paula.
Paula was the one person Yvon couldn’t defy.
Not only was she strong-willed, but she also came from a family close to the late Empress Beatrice, which made her position even more unassailable.
“One’s enough, don’t you think?”
“No, it’s not. You can’t have more than the prescribed amount in a day.”
“You haven’t changed.”
Richard shuddered slightly.
Paula, now Yvon’s maid, had once been his tutor.
She had been appointed by the late Empress herself, and her strict teaching had once terrified him.
“Don’t you have any other gifts?”
“Unfortunately, this is the only one I have, brought by this lady.”
Richard politely gestured toward Paula, who seemed resolute in her stance.
“Well, I’ve brought a few interesting stories you might like to hear. Would you like to hear them?”
“Which stories?”
“Have you heard about the witches’ festival in the Northern Forest?”
Yvon’s eyes sparkled with interest.
When Richard left the palace, the sky greeted him with clear blue.
He could smell the damp earth in the breeze.
“It looks like it’s going to rain.”
“Really?”
Gerard glanced up at the sky.
“Did you meet with the princess?”
“Yes, I put her to bed for a nap.”
“She must have enjoyed it a lot.”
Gerard carefully removed a star-shaped sticker from Richard’s shoulder.
“Gerard, you go ahead and take the carriage first.”
Just before getting into the carriage, Richard turned, seemingly drawn to something.
“Why the sudden change?”
“I just don’t feel like getting in the carriage.”
There was no particular reason. It just felt like the right thing to do.
Gerard reluctantly sent the coachman ahead and followed Richard.
“Go ahead first, I’ll follow.”
“Your Highness is here, how can a servant go ahead?”
“Ridiculous.”
“Of course.”
Gerard snorted.
When they reached the front of the mansion, the sky was filled with dark clouds.
As Richard stepped into his garden, a massive bolt of lightning struck, splitting the sky in half.
A black smoke rose from the spot where the lightning had struck, and in an instant, the mansion was engulfed in flames.
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