Chapter 22
Clang.
I saw it clearly. Isabel had deliberately placed the fork right at the edge of the table!
I even witnessed her lightly knocking it off with her elbow.
‘She’s trying so hard.’
I didn’t know what she was up to, but it was obvious her intentions weren’t pure.
Even though the table was large, you know how sometimes in movies, when a woman tries to seduce a man, she stretches her leg out to get his attention? I couldn’t rule out even that ridiculous possibility. I had some idea of how desperate Isabel was. But still, would she really do something like that? Just as I was about to take a bite of food—
“Oh dear, the fork fell,” Isabel said casually.
Swoosh.
I saw Isabel start to bend down, and I quickly hit the table. Startled, Isabel straightened up immediately. I easily ignored her sharp glare.
“Isabel, surely you’re not thinking of picking that up yourself, are you?”
I immediately signaled to a maid.
“Sister, it’s fine. I can just—”
“Bring a new fork, please.”
I naturally ignored Isabel’s words, as if I hadn’t heard her. The maid quickly brought a new fork and picked up the fallen one.
“Be careful not to drop it again. Then you won’t have to make someone else pick it up for you.”
“You’re right… Maybe I’m tired from riding in the carriage for so long.”
“I think it would be best if you went to your room and rested early tonight. Why not visit the garden tomorrow?”
“But I’m so curious about it.”
Isabel fidgeted with her hands, glancing at me nervously. The way she looked made it seem like I was the one forbidding her from going.
“If you’re curious, go ahead. But I don’t think I’ll be able to join you today.”
“It’s a little scary to go to the garden alone at night…”
She glanced at Cedric, then spoke cautiously with a sad look on her face.
“Your Highness, would you perhaps be willing to accompany me?”
Cedric wiped his mouth with a napkin and replied with a calm expression.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“…What?”
Isabel blinked in surprise at his firm rejection. It seemed she didn’t want to accept that she had been turned down.
“My wife is unwell, and I need to take care of her. I’ll send someone else to go with you.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Cedric’s impenetrable defense.
Isabel frowned and set down her knife and fork, probably thinking Cedric was making excuses.
“I feel like I’d be more comfortable if Your Highness were to go with me.”
“Oh, I see. But I’m not comfortable, so I refuse.”
“…Please reconsider.”
Isabel gave him a sweet smile, staring at him intently. I waited silently for Cedric’s response.
“I’ve reconsidered, but my answer remains the same. Butler, call Sir Caven immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Cedric’s decision made Isabel’s face scrunch up in frustration. Cedric, however, paid no attention to her and spoke to Caven, who had entered the room.
“Her Highness wishes to see the garden. Please escort her.”
“Understood.”
Caven didn’t ask any questions. He simply waited for Isabel to get up.
“Madam, have you finished your meal?”
“Yes, I’m full.”
“Then let’s get up. Since Her Highness is going to the garden, we don’t need to stay here any longer, do we?”
“Shall we?”
Cedric stood up and helped me out of my chair. He didn’t even glance at Isabel, his attention entirely on me.
As I leaned into Cedric’s arms, I flashed Isabel a confident smile.
It was my perfect victory.
Isabel clenched her fists and glared. Caven had stepped out, saying to come out when she was ready.
Suppressing her rising anger, Isabel trembled with rage.
“This can’t be happening to me.”
She was a princess of the Empire. No one had ever dared to look down on or ignore her.
But both Cedric and his wife were completely ignoring her.
Isabel had never experienced such humiliation, and she had no idea how to react other than by seething in anger.
She had thought Cedric would at least regret not marrying her instead of Claire, but there was no sign of any regret in him.
That fact wounded Isabel’s pride.
If the two of them had a distant, cold relationship as the rumors suggested, she might have understood.
But they seemed to be far too close for comfort.
‘Claire must’ve known all along.’
She was the only one who had told me that things would be different when I said I didn’t want to marry Cedric.
If I had listened to those words back then, it might be me smiling now.
I was certain that I wouldn’t be sold off to someone else because I had a special ability.
I never thought my father would sell me to a foreign country, despite my powers.
To make me fill the place of a dead queen in exchange for money?
“He must have thought that since the king is old, the country would eventually become his once the king died.”
If I had known what he was thinking, I would have married Grand Duke Cedric instead.
Isabel tightly gripped the hem of her dress.
“Just watch. I won’t stay quiet.”
She had come up with a clever plan. The only one who could come between Claire and Grand Duke Cedric was her father.
And it wasn’t even a difficult plan.
What if she could send Claire back to the Imperial Palace, the place she hated most?
A smile suddenly spread across Isabel’s face.
I returned to the room with Cedric.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. Provoking Isabel wouldn’t do any good, and if Cedric ended up in a troublesome situation because of me…
“Cedric, I can’t help but feel uneasy. You won’t get into trouble because of me, will you?”
“It’s fine. There’s no need to worry.”
He seemed completely unbothered as he gently laid me on the bed and patted me.
“But if Isabel stays here, Zeno won’t remain still.”
Zeno needed to come back here. He had a contract with me, so he couldn’t stay away for too long. Even temporarily, I could feel the connection.
If Isabel and Zeno were to meet, she would notice his power. And if she found out about Zeno, it was only natural that news of my ability would reach my father’s ears.
“Don’t worry. The princess will be leaving soon. I do have one thing I’m curious about, though. Please answer honestly.”
“I will.”
“Are you really anxious about the fact that the divine beast could end up in the hands of the royal family?”
It seemed like Cedric was wondering why I was so attached to Zeno.
Could I tell him everything?
I hadn’t told him about my ability, and that made everything feel twisted.
But I couldn’t say it. It was because of my father’s power.
My father could find out anything he wanted to know. As much as he liked, using his own power.
If he found out that my ability had manifested, he would dig into Cedric’s thoughts and feelings about me. If that happened, my ability would be completely exposed.
When I saw Isabel’s ability today, I understood. I realized why she had been sent to a foreign country.
It was because her ability didn’t matter, no matter where she was. The sky covered the entire continent, so it didn’t matter where she was; she could use her power anywhere, and my father knew that.
He must have used her ability as a bargaining chip for a favorable deal with another country without revealing it to anyone.
The more I thought about it, the more disgusting that old man seemed.
That must be why Isabel was so eager to come here. She didn’t care about the divine beast.
“If the divine beast belongs to the North, it will be a great power for Your Grace.”
I smiled awkwardly, trying to hide my true feelings. It wasn’t time yet. Once I was sure I could avoid my father’s gaze and things were more stable…
Then, I would be able to tell Cedric about my ability. I was starting to trust him, just a little.
Cedric smiled more deeply than before and gently patted me.
It felt like his smile was telling me that it was okay, that he would wait for me.
“You don’t seem to be feeling well, so get some rest. Don’t think about anything else.”
As his large hand covered my eyes, my vision instantly went dark.
“It seems like you need some sleep right now.”
“I’m not sleepy yet.”
“It would be best if you slept.”
“…Why?”
Cedric leaned down, closing the distance between us. I instinctively curled up as I lay there.
His scent filled the air between us as his breath brushed against me.
“If you can’t sleep, I can help. Though, you might end up staying awake all night.”
At those words, I hurriedly shut my eyes tightly.
Chuckling softly, Cedric’s low laughter tickled my ears.
‘Ugh! He’s so mean.’
He was definitely teasing me. But if I opened my eyes, I knew he would carry out what he’d just suggested.
I had learned that much in the short time we had spent together. Cedric never made empty promises.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“You really are a good actor, Your Grace.”
He looked at me with a complicated expression and then gave a faint smile.
“When the acting is over, you’ll have to grant me a favor.”
“I will, but I’m not sure what I can do for you…”
I closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep. At that moment, I heard Cedric’s soft laughter again, close to my ear.
I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring straight into Cedric’s.
