Chapter 12

“Shh.”

His deep eyes seemed to swallow her whole.

“Rohana.”

The cold sound of metal clashing as he sheathed his sword echoed in the room.

It felt strange for Rohana to be addressed by her name alone by someone like him.

While she was still in confusion, Kaiden’s large hand left her mouth and grasped her shoulder. His other arm still encircled her waist.

“Rohana, return home with Brandt.”

Her wide eyes stared at him.

“Do not speak of this to anyone. Not even to Gregory Hanover.”

His once fierce eyes had now calmed.

“Go quickly.”

As he stepped back, the cold late autumn wind rushed into her chest.

“Return the way you came. Even I couldn’t find it easily.”

Kaiden bent down to look into Rohana’s eyes. While she was startled, he remained overly calm.

“There are horses!”

The search party’s voice echoed as they discovered Kaiden and Heath’s horses. The sound of the lock breaking and the door opening followed. Then, one of the soldiers shouted.

“There is a door here!”

There was no time. Brandt was already heading out through the back door. Rohana looked up at Kaiden in disbelief.

‘Why?’

Before she could react, Brandt pulled her away from behind. At the same time, Kaiden gave her a light push. As soon as Rohana stepped out the door, it slammed shut behind her.

Rohana and Brandt started running towards the horses parked far away. They had to escape first.

While running hastily, something caught her foot. Rohana stumbled forward. Her long skirt finally caused her to fall.

Brandt quickly came to help his sister up. Pushing her hair back, Rohana took off her shoes and continued to run.

Her neatly tied long hair fluttered in the wind.

***

“Kaiden.”

Heath didn’t bother hiding his displeasure. He couldn’t understand. It was an action neither for the Kark people nor for winning the favor of the crown prince or the imperial citizens.

In other words, it was an action Kaiden Delcliff should never have taken.

“Why did you let them go?”

But Heath asked calmly. After all, it was Kaiden.

Kaiden held up his hand to stop Heath’s question, explaining the situation to the arriving search party and handing over Aurelia.

Unlike the search party’s noisy actions and expressions, Kaiden remained as expressionless as ever.

Even when the search party left and the surroundings fell silent, Kaiden said nothing. It was Heath who broke the silence again.

“You know better than anyone what Duke Hanover means to the Kark people. This was a golden opportunity to strike at Duke Hanover without offending the crown prince.”

Kaiden walked with his usual wide strides, following the path the noble lady had taken, seemingly indifferent to Heath’s words.

Heath sighed quietly. Kaiden finally spoke.

“That’s why I couldn’t hand them over to the search party.”

The disrupted footprints and traces left by the siblings naturally disappeared under the magic flowing from Kaiden’s fingertips.

“I need to have their throats in my hands.”

His voice, still overly calm and polite given the context, pierced through the sea breeze clearly.

At that moment, something caught Kaiden’s eye. Something small and sparkling in the moonlight on the ground.

‘What is that?’

It was a gold pin studded with several small diamonds. He recalled the side profile of Rohana he had seen on the balcony. It had shimmered elegantly in her flowing black hair.

Kaiden picked up the pin. The part meant to secure the hair was bent and unusable, but the jewels continued to shine insincerely.

Voices rose in excitement. The commotion indicated the arrival of someone significant.

Kaiden pocketed the diamond pin and turned towards the noise.

***

Bardi stood over the sleeping Aurelia.

The palace physician, who had rushed there, reported with a relieved expression that her vital signs were stable and she would regain consciousness before dawn. His words trailed off under Bardi’s cold gaze.

‘Duke Hanover…’

Bardi gently caressed Aurelia’s face. She looked as beautiful as a doll while asleep.

“Aurelia.”

Bardi whispered as he stroked her hair.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

He kissed her forehead and turned to leave when the guard captain announced Kaiden’s arrival. Kaiden bowed politely to Bardi, his silver hair shining brightly in the moonlight.

“Kaiden.”

“Your Highness.”

The indifferent and calm voice inexplicably irritated Bardi.

“Thanks to you, Aurelia is back. Truly, thank you.”

“I was merely doing my duty. I arrived only a few minutes before the search party.”

Kaiden responded with a nod.

After a moment of silence, the prince’s twisted smile returned.

“I see.”

As Kaiden nodded briefly and was about to leave, Bardi stopped him with a gaze and dismissed the surrounding people.

“Was it Duke Hanover’s doing?”

Kaiden merely furrowed his brow slightly without showing much reaction.

“It seems likely, but there is no evidence. And Duke Hanover wouldn’t conduct such a thing in his own establishment.”

“I see,” Bardi muttered, then added, “By the way, you must have been really surprised when Aurelia disappeared, right? I was too…”

Kaiden stared at the crown prince without responding.

“At first, I suspected you.”

Bardi’s sparkling blue eyes were vivid even in the dark night. Kaiden looked down at him without any change in expression.

“How foolish that was. Now, it seems ridiculous. I’m sorry.”

Seeing the subtle triumph in Bardi’s bright blue eyes, Kaiden smiled faintly.

“Your Highness, as I mentioned before…”

“You must have been really shocked. It must have been tough for you.”

Kaiden looked at the prince with his dark eyes, furrowing his brow and raising one eyebrow.

“Certainly not as much as Your Highness must have been.”

Bowing his head again, Kaiden turned to leave. As he did, the crown prince called out.

“No, Aurelia means more to you. You must have been far more shocked and angry than I was.”

Kaiden slowly turned back to look at the prince. Despite the tone filled with concern, his eyes held an unusual glint, as if expecting something.

That look brought a sense of déjà vu to Kaiden. His cousin had not changed, whether in Nopthal, now, or fifteen years ago. This palace had not changed at all.

“Rest well, Your Highness.”

Finally satisfied, Bardi gave a faint smile and turned away. The carriage headed towards the imperial palace. Kaiden mounted his horse only after the prince’s carriage had disappeared.

***

Rohana lay in the warm water of the marble bathtub, lost in thought. The water stung her knee, injured when she fell, but the pain helped her focus.

‘Why did he let us go? What could he gain from it?’

Rohana thought calmly, arriving at the only possible answer.

‘To use it as leverage.’

Deciding she needed to see Kaiden as soon as the sun rose, she slowly got out of the tub.

Her body ached all over, partly from the recent shock and the injuries. Outside, she heard Marie’s voice.

“My Lady, may I come in if you’re finished?”

“Yes, thank you.”

As Rohana, wrapped in a robe, sat at her vanity, another maid hurried in.

“Where’s Jody?”

“The maids are in an uproar after hearing that Lady Aurelia was kidnapped and returned. She’s there, gathering information.”

“I see.”

“My Lady, did you perhaps leave your hairpin somewhere? I’ll put it in the storage box.”

The maid asked while drying her hair. At that moment, Rohana’s face went pale.

“The hairpin.”

She stood abruptly and ran to the dressing room in front of the bathroom where she had left her clothes. The maid, startled, hurriedly followed.

On the floor were only the torn dress, cloak, and ruined shoes, and on the vanity were the necklace and earrings she had just removed.

“Wasn’t it here?”

Rohana’s voice trembled.

“No… I only saw the necklace and earrings, so I thought you might have taken them off in the tub…”

The maid answered in a troubled voice. Rohana closed her eyes tightly.

***

Morning arrived as usual. Having spent almost the entire night awake, Rohana hurried to Brandt’s room. A young page, looking a bit surprised, led her to the drawing room.

“Brandt.”

Her brother, already dressed in his guard uniform and ready for work, was sitting there. Though more stable than the previous night, his face was still heavy with worry.

“Father will be here by noon. What should I do?”

Brandt fidgeted nervously with his hands.

“Brandt.”

Rohana took his hand.

“They’ll want to kill me. My attendants, too…”

“Brandt, wait…”

“If only I had handled things faster, this wouldn’t have happened… How stupid…”

“Brandt, stop it.”

Brandt slowly looked at her at Rohana’s calm voice.

“The issue isn’t just about Father scolding you. It’s not about mishandling the task.”

Brandt lowered his head at Rohana’s words.

“I know our family is involved in various crimes. But this…”

Rohana bit her lip.

“We almost committed murder. Against someone powerless. Why did you do this?”

Brandt’s eyes widened in anger.

“It was for you and our family.”

A surge of malice radiated from Brand momentarily.

“If it weren’t for your issues with the crown prince, none of this would have been necessary…”

“What?”

“I aimed to resolve this while Father was away and then attend your birthday party. We couldn’t afford another embarrassment like with Vivian Huxley!”

Brandt’s outburst echoed through the room.

“We couldn’t endure another disgrace like with Vivian Huxley!”

Rohana’s brow furrowed.

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

Brandt’s lips twisted.

“I don’t mean to blame you.”

Rohana, about to speak further, pressed her lips together.

“I’ll talk to Duke Delcliff and then face Father. Until I return, stay out of sight. Don’t leave your post.”

Brandt slowly nodded.