The Crown Prince has arrived.
Accompanied by the imposing Imperial Knights, the Crown Prince seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed his journey, as evidenced by his bright and cheerful demeanor.
Lady Yekhaterina, who followed behind him, was in the same state.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince,”
Ian greeted as he stepped forward, prompting all the servants of the duchy to echo his words in unison.
“Thank you, Duke, for your warm welcome.”
“It’s nothing, Your Highness. I hope your journey was comfortable?”
“It was a delightful trip,”
Ian escorted the Crown Prince to the drawing room, exchanging light pleasantries along the way.
Meanwhile, Yekhaterina couldn’t stop glancing around as she followed them.
“Please, have a seat here,”
Ian said, directing the Crown Prince to a single-seater sofa.
Ian himself sat on a multi-seater sofa nearby.
Yekhaterina quickly trotted over and sat beside Ian, wrapping her arm around his and speaking in a friendly tone.
“Duke, I really like it here! I knew coming to the duchy was the right decision.”
Her familiarity was such that it could easily be mistaken for that of close friends.
However, Ian pulled his arm away and spoke coldly,
“Lady Yekhaterina, I don’t recall receiving your greeting.”
“Ah,”
Yekhaterina froze, her bright smile faltering.
“Even if you are young, shouldn’t you observe proper etiquette?”
“My apologies,”
Yekhaterina said, standing up and bowing according to protocol.
“Greetings, Duke.”
“Very well.”
Ian, clearly annoyed, gestured to the opposite sofa.
“Please, sit over there.”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Yekhaterina looked at Ian, but he remained indifferent.
“Aren’t you going?”
Biting her lip, Yekhaterina moved to the opposite sofa and sat down.
The servants then entered, bringing tea and snacks with precise and respectful movements.
After the servants left, the Crown Prince, appearing quite pleased, remarked,
“The duchy is well-maintained. Truly fitting for the family of a founding hero.”
“It is an honor to receive your praise,
Despite Ian’s modest words, the Crown Prince continued smiling.
“By the way, I understand the Grand Duke is staying at the duchy as well.”
“Yes, he will join us shortly.”
At that moment, a knock came at the door.
“Come in,”
The Crown Prince said. At his command, the door opened, and Edelmar entered, dressed formally.
The Crown Prince set down his teacup and approached Edelmar.
“Uncle, it’s been a while.”
“Indeed, it has. How have you been? I hear you’ve been traveling; your skin is tanned.”
“Really? Doesn’t it make me look healthy?”
“It does. You look well,”
While the Crown Prince seemed delighted, Edelmar’s expression was one of clear annoyance.
Edelmar casually responded to the Crown Prince’s words before crossing his legs and taking a seat.
“So, what brings you here? Why did my brother grant his permission?”
“The northern region is the Empire’s defensive stronghold. I requested permission from His Majesty to see it before ascending the throne.”
“I see.”
Edelmar nodded indifferently and lifted his teacup.
“How long do you plan to stay?”
“I won’t be staying long since I’ve visited other territories along the way. I’ll stay for about four days and return via the gate.”
Ian discreetly observed the Crown Prince and Yekhaterina.
The Crown Prince was engrossed in his conversation with Edelmar, while Yekhaterina quietly sipped her tea, a stark contrast to her earlier behavior.
‘Is that child really only five years old?’
It was hard to believe Yekhaterina was the same age as Rose.
While Rose would lose herself at the sight of snacks, Yekhaterina didn’t even glance at them.
And every time she sipped her tea, she raised her pinky finger—like a young noblewoman preparing for her debutante ball.
‘Something feels off.’
Ian averted his gaze from Yekhaterina and cleared his throat.
At the sound, Edelmar set down his teacup and spoke.
“Your accommodations have been prepared in the annex.”
“I understand.”
The Crown Prince accepted without any objections or complaints.
However, Yekhaterina placed her teacup down loudly, a deliberate action to draw attention.
She spoke with a tone meant to sound mature.
“Pardon me if I overstep, but His Highness, the Crown Prince, is the most esteemed person after the Emperor. How could he possibly stay in the annex? In every other place we’ve visited, he stayed in the main residence. Surely, the duchy should do the same—”
“You truly don’t know your place.”
Edelmar sharply interrupted her, fixing Yekhaterina with a piercing glare.
“How dare you meddle in a conversation among the royal family?”
Yekhaterina’s face turned pale.
“I-I didn’t mean…”
“You’re not even a noblewoman by birth. Do you fancy yourself royalty just because you’re friends with the Crown Prince? Or perhaps you imagine yourself as his betrothed?”
At that, the Crown Prince’s face turned white as a sheet.
“Uncle! That’s too much! Betrothed?!”
Edelmar then turned his scathing gaze toward the Crown Prince.
“And whose fault do you think this is? It’s because you’ve allowed her to behave so presumptuously without correcting her!”
The Crown Prince hung his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Royalty is chosen by the gods. Have you already forgotten that the first thing you must learn is how to behave as one?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“Grand Duke, that’s enough. It’s not His Highness’s fault that he has a kind heart,”
Ian interjected, mediating the situation.
Edelmar snorted, clearly displeased.
“I’ll be watching you from now on. You’re the Crown Prince. While kindness is commendable, you must also draw clear boundaries. If you allow others to cross them, they will look down on you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I apologize.”
Seeing the Crown Prince bow his head in apology, Edelmar turned his gaze away, clearly uninterested.
To ease the tense atmosphere, Ian began explaining why the annex had been chosen for their accommodations.
“According to etiquette, it would be appropriate to assign a room in the main residence for Your Highness. However, since you have traveled with Lady Yekhaterina and the main residence is currently crowded, I felt the annex would offer a more peaceful and comfortable stay. Additionally, a butler will be stationed in the annex to attend to Your Highness at all times.”
“That makes sense. I trust your judgment,”
The Crown Prince replied with a smile and a nod.
“If there’s anywhere in the northern territory you’d like to visit, please don’t hesitate to inform the butler.”
“Alright. I will.”
“Now, I will escort you to your accommodations,” Ian said, rising from his seat.
Ian led the Crown Prince and Yekhaterina to the annex.
***
Though called an annex, it was a castle in its own right due to the size of the duchy’s main residence.
The annex was well-maintained, and the Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction as he looked around.
“It’s quite nice.”
“It may not match the grandeur of the main residence, but we’ve done our best to ensure your comfort, Your Highness.”
“Not at all. This place is as splendid as the main residence.”
“Thank you.”
Ian guided the Crown Prince to the largest room in the annex and instructed a servant to escort Yekhaterina to the smallest guest room.
“Please rest comfortably. I will see you again at the dinner in the annex this evening.”
“Understood.”
As Ian was about to leave, he heard the Crown Prince addressing Edelmar.
“Uncle, if you’re not busy, could we talk some more—”
“I’m busy,”
Edelmar replied bluntly, cutting him off without hesitation.
Without sparing the Crown Prince another glance, Edelmar followed Ian out of the room.
Once outside, Ian whispered softly to Edelmar,
“Is that alright?”
“I’ve always been like this. It’s fine.”
“Ah.”
Ian had assumed Edelmar was kind and affectionate toward all his nephews because of how he treated Rose. It seemed Rose was an exception.
Nodding in understanding, Ian exited the annex with Edelmar.
“Do you suspect anyone?”
Ian shook his head.
He can’t suspect someone just because they seem mature or sip tea with their pinky finger raised.
“Is that so? Yan!”
A figure, Yan, materialized from the void.
“Start monitoring the annex. If anyone leaves, follow them, find out where they go, and report back.”
“Understood.”
After Yan disappeared, Ian turned to Edelmar.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“He’s the same as before. Nothing has changed.”
“Knowing about the ‘Flow’ doesn’t necessarily change a person.”
Edelmar glanced down at Ian.
“You’ve changed, haven’t you?”
“…People are different.”
Edelmar let out a snort, clearly unconvinced.
***
“Argh!!”
Yekhaterina screamed in frustration, her face twisted in rage, as she slammed a pillow against the bed.
“That bastard! He shook off my hand?! Does he think I don’t know etiquette?!”
With every swing of the pillow, feathers flew into the air, but Yekhaterina’s hands didn’t stop.
“What? I don’t know my place? I imagine myself as his betrothed?! Those bastards!”
She continued shouting and slamming the pillow against the bed.
“I won’t let this go. I’ll make them all pay!”
After venting her anger for a while, Yekhaterina finally tossed the pillow aside, panting heavily.
“Huff… huff…”
Trying to calm her ragged breathing, she pulled a communication stone from her bag.
She placed the stone on the bed and pressed her ringed hand against it. Black mana emanated from the ring, lighting up the communication stone.
– Did you arrive safely?
“Yes, I’ve arrived. Did you manage to acquire the sacred relic?”
– I failed.
“What? How could you fail when I gave you the exact location?!”
– Are you blaming me now?!
At the other person’s outburst, Yekhaterina bit her lip and replied,
“I’m sorry.”
– Remember this. It was I who gave you life. I have no need for a dog that disobeys its master.
“I’ll always keep that in mind.”
Yekhaterina replied, her face crumpling in humiliation.
– Did you acquire the mines?
“No, I haven’t met the owner yet.”
– Useless.
“It’s not that I didn’t try…”
– Enough. I don’t care about anything else, but you must secure the diamond mine in the duchy. Do you understand?
“Yes. I’ll make sure to secure the diamond mine.”
With a sharp crack, the communication stone went dark.
Even as Yekhaterina responded meekly, her clenched fists betrayed her suppressed anger. She glared at the communication stone.
“Master? Don’t make me laugh. I was the ruler of this world.”
Unable to contain her fury, Yekhaterina raised the communication stone in her hands, ready to smash it.
But she stopped herself at the last moment.
Taking a deep breath, Yekhaterina calmed herself and carefully placed the communication stone back in her bag.
After wiping her sweat with a handkerchief, she fixed her disheveled hair.
Pretending as if nothing had happened, she stepped outside and called a maid.
“The pillow burst.”
“Pardon? The pillow burst?”
The maid, confused, glanced at the feathers scattered across the floor of the room, her eyes widening.
“Oh dear, what happened here?”
“I don’t know. I just lay down for a moment, and suddenly feathers started flying out of the pillow.”
Placing a hand on her chest, Yekhaterina feigned innocence and concern.
The maid quickly apologized.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll clean this up and replace the pillow right away.”
“Take your time. There’s no rush.”
Her gentle tone and kind smile made the maid think that the lady staying here was a truly kind-hearted person.
