RATBA 56

Chapter 56

After successfully seeing Aleyna off, I felt a strong sense of pride swelling inside me.

As soon as Nathan came out of his room, I wanted to tell him everything.

That even without him, I’d done my best—truly.

But even after ten days, he hadn’t come out.

I was told he’d be better in a week…

Waiting had become painful.

I asked His Majesty why, but got no satisfying answer.

“This time it’s taking a bit longer. But it’s fine. Just wait a little more, and he’ll come out.”

…was all he said, vaguely.

As always, I pretended to casually pass by and glanced at Nathan’s chamber window.

But as always, the thick curtains were drawn shut.

“How can someone keep their curtains closed for ten straight days? What is he even doing in there?”

Frustration made the thought escape my lips aloud.

In that moment, the fire spirit suddenly appeared, replying to my muttering.

<Maybe he’s just tired of you.>

Overhearing my private thoughts—how infuriating.

Still, I couldn’t just ignore him.

What he said gnawed at me.

“What do you mean, tired of me?”

<You idiot. Just what it sounds like—he’s lost interest in you.>

“What…?”

<Did you stuff yesterday’s leftover bread in your ears? The man’s bored of you, that’s what I’m saying!>

I hadn’t asked because I couldn’t hear him.

I just didn’t understand why he’d think such a thing.

“Why would you think that?”

<That’s one of the reasons I hate humans. So fickle. They act like they’d give you their heart, then turn cruel the moment they’re over you.>

“…”

<It’s common for a man who once promised marriage to suddenly change. He’s likely hiding in there, hoping you’ll get the hint and leave.>

I clenched my fists without realizing it.

I wanted to punch that smug, cruel mouth of his.

But of course, there was no visible form—just his voice in my head.

<If you don’t want to get hurt, get used to it. Or better yet, offer him to me as a sacrifice.>

Before I could chase him away, he vanished, leaving behind only his venomous words.

What do you know? Nathan would never do that.

My already low spirits now sank into a terrible gloom.

As I stared at Nathan’s curtained window again, lost in a storm of emotion—

“Your Highness! You’re here!”

“Nella?”

Nella, the maid assigned to me by His Majesty, ran up to me with hurried steps.

She seemed flustered, like she’d been searching for me a while.

“The wind is cold—please come inside. It’s not good for your health.”

“Huh? I’m not really cold…”

“Even if you don’t feel it, you should still be careful. This is the perfect season to catch a cold. Also…”

“…?”

“His Majesty said… maybe you shouldn’t visit His Highness Nathan’s palace so often…”

That last part was probably what Nella really wanted to say.

She looked uneasy that I kept lingering near Nathan.

Did His Majesty order her to stop me from getting close?

I couldn’t be sure.

Maybe I was overthinking things…

But being prevented from even standing near Nathan’s quarters?

It didn’t sit well with me.

It felt like everyone was conspiring to hide something from me—me, his wife.

I should be the one who knew him best.

This isn’t fair.

That thought made me stop walking.

Then, facing Nella, who was urging me to go inside, I asked:

“Before I go in… can I ask you something?”

“Me? Yes, of course. If I can answer it…”

“My husband… is Nathan sick?”

“….”

The warmth had vanished from Nella’s face in an instant.

“Tell me. He’s been in that room for ten days. What happened?”

“…I want to tell you… but…”

“I know. It’s a secret. But can’t you give me even a hint?”

“T-That’s…”

“This conversation will stay just between us forever. Please.”

I gently grasped Nella’s hand.

She avoided my eyes, squirming under my touch.

Then, suddenly, she clenched her eyes shut and cried out:

“I’m sorry! I really am! But I can’t say anything! His Majesty ordered me not to!”

“…”

“Especially with His Highness Regis’s life at risk—if I disobey now…”

“Wait, what? What happened to Prince Regis?”

Just moments ago, I was focused on Nathan’s secret.

But now, Nella had dropped a bombshell.

And unlike before, she didn’t hesitate to explain further.

“You haven’t heard? His Highness Regis was advancing to protect the Empire, but he’s already been pushed back!”

“Already?!”

He’d only been deployed a few days ago.

And now Regis was in crisis?

I expected this might happen eventually, but this fast…?!

To bring defeat so quickly…

Might even be a record in Empire history.

But I had no desire to congratulate him for such a worthless achievement.

“Nayla. I heard you’ve been holed up in your room. How long do you plan to keep hiding? Come out and explain what’s going on.”

Since returning from the island, Luke had been focused on recovering from his injuries.

He had so much to ask Nayla, but his poor condition had made that impossible.

Now that he was finally better…

It was Nayla who refused to come out.

Servants told him Nayla had hurt herself.

But no one seemed to know the full story.

Damn it. What’s going on? Father only gets mad when I ask.

When Luke brought up Nayla, the Duke flew into a rage.

“Don’t even mention that girl!”

Left with no other choice, Luke came to find Nayla himself.

He banged loudly on her chamber door again.

“Nayla!”

He was about to leave if she didn’t answer this time.

But then—click. The door creaked open.

And Nayla peeked her head out.

Her pale face looked ghostly, like a lonely spirit in the dark.

Regardless of what she’d done before, or how ghost-like she looked…

Luke immediately checked to see if she was alright.

“I was worried.”

“Worried…?”

Nayla echoed his words in a daze, then burst out laughing.

“Liar.”

She dismissed his concern with a twisted smile.

Though it was so quiet he barely heard it.

“What did you say?”

He didn’t quite catch her words.

But he could tell they weren’t kind.

Her eyes were filled with contempt as she looked at him.

Just like the way he used to look at Claudia.

Luke no longer recognized her.

And Nayla didn’t stop.

“You’re not here because you’re worried. You’re just curious. About what happened.”

“…”

“Go ahead, ask. I’ll answer honestly.”

Her challenge irritated Luke.

But he did want answers.

Following her invitation, he asked:

“I heard… you hurt yourself. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“…?!”

“It’s true. I wanted to pretend I was an abused orphan.”

Luke was already reeling from her attitude.

But this hit him like a hammer.

The once kind, gentle Nayla was saying—by her own mouth—

That she hurt herself to gain sympathy.

If this was a dream, he wanted to wake up.

But it was reality. There was no waking.

Nayla stood there, still smiling brightly.

It was a flawless smile—but beneath it was suffocating darkness.

“Sorry I’m not the perfect, moral little sister you imagined. I’m just tired.”

“What… do you mean tired?”

“Tired of pretending to be perfect.”

“…”

“No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be the real daughter. So I give up.”

What she thought was the Duke’s trust in her… had been a lie.

He never sent her to the academy because he trusted her.

It was only because Claudia asked him to.

That truth had flipped Nayla’s entire worldview.

As Luke stood frozen, Nayla chuckled.

“Surprised? You’d probably faint if I told you this isn’t even the first time I’ve self-harmed.”

Her words hit him like bricks.

And then—he remembered.

The time Nayla’s arms were covered in bruises.

She’d said Claudia did it.

That was the moment Luke began to despise Claudia.

He never imagined Nayla had lied.

Wait… were those bruises self-inflicted, too?

Goosebumps rose on his skin.

He’d always assumed it was Claudia’s doing.

But now… he wasn’t so sure.

And if that was true—

If Claudia had been wrongly accused…

Then he had wronged her beyond repair.

All the things he had said to her…

Unable to accept the weight of that mistake, he shouted:

“Are you insane?! What the hell are you saying?!”

“I’m not insane. I’m just tired of pretending. And I don’t need to anymore.”

She held up her hand.

There was a ring on her fourth finger.

“Today, one of Prince Regis’s attendants brought this to me. His Highness couldn’t give it to me directly because he had to leave urgently, so he left it with his servant in advance.”

“That’s… don’t tell me…”

“Yes. It’s an engagement ring. He proposed.”

This was the turning point.

She had finally received the proposal she had waited so long for.

“When he returns from war, I’ll become the Crown Princess.”

“…”

“I’ll be under his protection from now on. I won’t need your help anymore.”

Even if she was kicked out of the Duke’s house, it didn’t matter.

She believed the ring guaranteed her place in the palace.

But she didn’t yet know—

That whoever achieved the greater military feat would become the next Crown Prince.

That ignorance made it easy for her to throw away what she no longer needed.

“Thanks for everything, Lord Rubelecius, future Duke.”

With an elegant bow, Nayla closed the door.

Luke was left alone in the hallway.

Staggering under the weight of the truth.

Nayla was good, Claudia was bad…

He had clung to that simple thinking for years.

And just now, Nayla had shattered it completely.

He couldn’t even get angry. He couldn’t think.

What have I done to Claudia all this time…?

All the harsh words he’d thrown at her came rushing back.

And at the end of that painful flood—

He saw the face of his true little sister,

The one who had begged for his love.