Chapter 19
Rachel entered a shabby house with a man, but the person waiting inside was an old woman with white hair.
Who is that man to Rachel?
The combination of the old woman and another man seemed suspicious.
Hmm, where have I seen that man before? He looked familiar.
I rested my chin on my hand and thought for a moment, then smirked.
If I used the bait the detective had given me well, I felt like I could catch a big fish.
The palace servants were busy carrying in bribes as usual.
Watching them, Brefni let out a long yawn and stroked the cat sitting on his lap.
“Your Highness, Prince Claude is requesting an audience.”
“Claude?”
Brefni raised his sharp, high nose, making his neatly cut short hair sway slightly.
With a smirk, he stroked the black cat on his lap and said, “Let him in.”
A moment later, the door opened, and Claude entered the office.
A massive silver wolf followed closely behind him.
“Meow!”
Unlike the sharp cry of the cat, the wolf sat calmly beside its master.
Brefni gently stroked his cat, which had raised its tail in alarm.
“Oh, don’t worry. He’s just a visitor.”
Brefni dismissed Claude as nothing more than a ‘guest’ and smiled slyly.
“So, big brother, what brings you to the palace?”
Brefni casually played with his thin mustache, which didn’t quite suit his pale complexion.
Claude’s voice was calm but cold.
“How is Duke Spiegel doing?”
“Oh, Uncle? He’s doing well. Why do you ask?”
“The duke planted a spy in my castle.”
“Oh dear, did Uncle do that again?”
Brefni raised his eyebrows as if it had nothing to do with him.
Claude knew all too well that acting innocent and cutting off ties at the right moment was Brefni’s specialty.
“Brefni.”
“Yes?”
“His Majesty is growing weak, and soon, he will appoint the Crown Prince. You’ll do anything to get that position.”
“Hahaha!”
Brefni burst into laughter, shaking his shoulders and holding his stomach.
His black hair, which just brushed against his shoulders, swayed with his movements.
“Have you taken up writing novels lately? That’s quite the plot.”
His sharp eyes curved mischievously.
“So, what happens next?”
“Keep your mouth shut about my marriage.”
“Huh?”
“Whatever you heard from Duke Spiegel, don’t go around talking about it.”
Claude’s red eyes gleamed like a predator’s.
Brefni, suddenly tense, grabbed the cat tightly as it tried to escape.
“Meow!”
The cat let out a sharp, furious cry.
“You mean the rumors that you got engaged to Lady Rondinella and will be getting married soon?”
Brefni tilted his chin smugly, and Claude’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“So, it was you who spread that.”
“Hey, what do you take me for? I don’t play cheap tricks like that.”
Brefni shrugged, playing innocent.
Then, narrowing his eyes playfully, he smirked.
“But why Rondinella? That family has nothing special except for her late mother being the royal apothecary. And she already had a fiancé, didn’t she? Did you steal her away?”
Claude remained silent.
Brefni chuckled mockingly.
“What’s so special about her? I heard she’s too clueless to even realize her fiancé was cheating on her with her own sister.”
Claude’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
His deep red eyes glowed with a dangerous light.
“Watch your mouth.”
Claude’s voice was chilling.
His wolf circled him slowly, baring its teeth at Brefni.
“Wow.”
Brefni clapped his hands together sarcastically.
“Judging by how defensive you are, you must really like her.”
“I’m just fulfilling my duty as her fiancé. Unlike someone, I’m not a rabid dog.”
Claude stood tall, his red eyes filled with hostility.
Brefni sighed and waved his hand dismissively.
“Fine, I’ll keep it secret until the wedding. So, in return, keep living quietly like a ghost, just as you have been.”
Brefni smiled sweetly, but his words carried a hidden blade.
With a loud bang, Claude slammed the door open and walked out.
The large wolf followed closely behind him, like a guard dog.
Brefni scowled.
Now was not the time to provoke Claude.
According to imperial law, Claude, as the firstborn prince, had the strongest claim to the throne.
On the surface, people saw him as ‘the incompetent prince who got thrown out after making a scene at the emperor’s funeral.’
But that was just a false rumor Brefni had worked tirelessly to spread.
In reality, everyone in the palace knew Claude had chosen to leave, despite the emperor urging him to stay.
Even now, the emperor kept calling him back, but Claude refused, using his ‘recovery’ as an excuse.
For Brefni, this was a golden opportunity. But something felt off.
Claude must have a plan. That’s why Brefni had been spying on him.
And yet, his spies got caught so easily?
It was infuriating that Claude was blackmailing him with the crown prince issue.
Brefni smirked as he recalled the way Claude’s expression had darkened at the mention of Lady Rondinella.
Then, his face turned serious.
He rang a small bell, summoning his trusted servant.
“Find out why Lady Rondinella agreed to marry my brother. She must have a reason. And since we’re about to be family, we should understand each other, don’t you think?”
A week later—The day I met Prince Claude.
Following the butler’s lead, I entered his office.
Claude was sitting at his mahogany desk, reviewing documents.
With slow, deliberate movements, he signed the papers with a quill.
As his large hand moved, elegant yet bold handwriting filled the pages.
Even as I sat on the sofa, he didn’t glance at me once.
I felt like I shouldn’t interrupt him, so I waited quietly.
Scratch.
The sound of the quill moving across the paper was the only noise in the room.
I was used to seeing him lounging around lazily, so this focused version of him felt unfamiliar.
I watched him with curiosity.
His eyes, usually half-lidded and indifferent, seemed sharper today.
It looked like the Lazeren potion was working.
Feeling oddly proud, I kept watching him with a satisfied expression.
Then, clack.
Claude set his quill down.
Leaning back in his chair, he finally spoke—without even looking at me.
“This time, I didn’t overdose.”
“Huh?”
“I followed the correct dosage, just like you said.”
His voice was a bit sharp, but I smiled out of habit.
“Good job. If you keep taking it regularly, you’ll get even better.”
When I added a gentle compliment, his thick eyebrows twitched slightly.
Then, leaning back against the chair, Prince Claude slowly closed his eyes.
His illness wasn’t fully cured yet, so long hours of work must still be tiring for him.
“Your Highness, are you very tired?”
“…….”
“I need to check the progress of your spots and apply the ointment. Is it okay if I do that now?”
Claude gave a faint nod.
“Alright, then I’ll begin.”
I took out the ointment from my bag and placed it on the table before moving closer to him.
His long, thick eyelashes rested against his skin as he kept his eyes closed.
His finely sculpted features, the tall and straight bridge of his nose—under the light, they created soft shadows.
He looked like a masterpiece painting.
Carefully, I reached out my hand.
As I unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time, my heart started pounding.
He’s a patient, just a patient. Don’t think weird thoughts.
I pushed aside my unnecessary nervousness and finished undoing all the buttons.
Pulling his shirt apart, I saw his broad, firm chest beneath his collarbones.
I carefully examined his skin.
“It looks really clean. All the spots are completely gone.”
I spoke in a deliberately bright voice and began fastening his buttons again.
But just then, a warm hand grasped my wrist.
Claude’s eyelids lifted, and his gaze met mine.
“Lady Aselin.”
“Yes?”
At my response, his voice dropped into a sharp, almost teasing tone.
“When are you planning to deal with that one guy?”
Caught off guard, I blinked and stared at him in confusion.
His expression was sharp, as if something was bothering him.
Seeing my puzzled face, Claude let out a cold chuckle.
“Your former fiancé.”
“…….”
“If you’re thinking of keeping both of us, forget it. Even if this marriage is temporary, I’m not the type to share my wife.”
Claude spoke decisively, his gaze piercing straight through me.
For some reason, I felt like his eyes were burning with intensity.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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Advance chapters of this novel are available of my kofi channel
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