Kaiden sighed softly and began walking. The stares in the hallway were unusually intense.

What are they thinking?

Were they curious about the thoughts of the returning royal? Did they admire him as the Empire’s loyal servant, as rumors suggested? Or were they mocking him?

It didn’t really matter.

Uncharacteristically troubled, he ran a hand through his silver hair as he turned into the library corridor.

Something felt off. Armed guards stood by the door to Kaiden’s quarters, and there were more servants than usual.

What’s going on?

As Kaiden gripped the hilt of his sword and moved forward, a familiar figure burst through the crowd.

“Duke!”

Aurelia ran towards him, her golden hair bouncing. She was petite, almost childlike, and dressed lightly like Kaiden.

Kaiden reflexively caught her as she tried to hug him, stopping her in her tracks.

“Duke! Why haven’t you come to see me? Were you planning to deny me the chance to thank you for saving me?”

Kaiden looked around. Too many people were watching. Maids and servants pretended not to notice, whispering among themselves.

“What’s going on?”

“They said the meeting ended this afternoon, but you’re out until dusk. Where have you been?”

Aurelia pouted, her pretty face scrunched in displeasure.

“Have you been waiting here all this time?”

Kaiden glared at Aurelia’s guards, who looked away, unsure of what to do.

She must have been waiting a while; her body was cold to the touch.

“I’m sure they told you it’s still dangerous outside.”

“Then have dinner with me.”

Aurelia whispered so softly that no one else could hear.

“My Lady, it’s already getting dark. You should go back to your quarter now…”

The head guard stammered. Kaiden glanced at him and sighed.

“If you don’t have dinner with me, I’ll really starve, you know?”

Aurelia said brightly but with a hint of menace. Kaiden sighed. He’d known her for ten years. She wouldn’t leave easily.

“Just dinner.”

Aurelia clapped her hands in excitement.

“Let’s go! I’ve already set everything up in my room. I’ll show you how well Prince Bardi decorated it.”

“Your room?”

Ignoring Kaiden’s frown, Aurelia grabbed his hand. Her hand was ice-cold.

“Let’s go!”

She hurried along with small steps.

***

Rohana sat at her vanity, fiddling with a small wooden box. She opened it carefully, revealing a broken diamond pin.

Kaiden had brought it to her the morning after it broke during her escape with Brandt.

As she lifted it with her slender fingers, the diamond glittered in various colors.

Remembering the hot sensation she felt when Kaiden’s long, straight fingers brushed against hers, Rohana let out a low, bitter laugh.

There was a knock at the door.

“Lady Rohana.”

Jody peeked in cautiously.

“Yes?”

“His Highness, the Crown Prince has summoned you.”

Rohana frowned slightly.

“Tell him I’ll be right there.”

Closing the box containing the diamond pin, Rohana took a deep breath. Her chest felt tight, but she thought it was for the best.

Hanover’s power was evident in its annex being the closest building to the main palace where the Crown Prince resided.

Thanks to that, Rohana, starting from her room, arrived at the Crown Prince’s private quarters quickly, even at a slow pace.

She stood before the servants, thinking how she had never imagined such close proximity would become uncomfortable.

“The Lady Rohana Hanover has arrived to see the Crown Prince.”

The heavy door opened. The tall windows, requiring servants to climb ladders to open and close, were draped with thick velvet curtains.

The spacious drawing room, large enough to host several parties, was furnished with various pieces.

Decorated with red velvet and white fox fur, the room, bearing the Rentworth family’s emblem, seemed prepared for the coming winter, making it appear almost too warm.

Bardi emerged from the corridor leading to the bedroom. He was dressed casually. His face was bright, as if nothing had happened, his reddish-brown hair disheveled as usual, and his blue eyes clear, showing no sign of worry.

Looking at his bright face, Rohana almost wondered if everything that had happened recently was just her imagination.

“Rohana!”

As Rohana silently bowed, the servants closed the door behind her. The heavy door shut soundlessly but firmly.

“Rohana, how have you been? If you haven’t had dinner yet, would you like to join me?”

Bardi spoke as he walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured whiskey into a crystal glass.

Rohana, who had already eaten, answered and took a seat. The firm sofa, decorated with red velvet and edged with gold, felt familiar under her.

Bardi slowly brought his drink over and sat down opposite her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

He often got reprimanded for not behaving like a crown prince, but it seemed hard for him to change. Rohana remembered the past when she would scold him for such things and smiled bitterly to herself.

“Do you remember?”

His blue eyes glinted with a hint of amusement at her questioning look.

“When you told me not to go on that trip.”

“Don’t go.”

“Back then?”

“When we were kids. You told me not to go to the south.”

For a moment, the memory of that day from fifteen years ago resurfaced, and Rohana cleared her throat in surprise.

She had thought it was a trivial memory for him. The Crown Prince Bardi was capricious and innocent, often changing his plans.

So she assumed he would quickly forget the summer vacation he canceled because of her words.

“Oh… I did say something like that, didn’t I?”

“Do you remember what you said when I asked why you didn’t want me to go?”

His blue eyes were gazing at her as if she were a treasure.

“You asked if I was worried about you, and I said yes.”

As she calmly answered, Bardi ran his large hand through his hair.

“That’s right.”

A rare, strange smile briefly crossed his face.

“I asked if you were worried first. It wasn’t you who spoke first.”

The Crown Prince Bardi wasn’t usually so cryptic. Rohana narrowed her eyes.

Surely, he had something else he wanted to say. Bringing up the past before a separation was more suited for someone who was at fault.

Then Bardi broke the silence.

“I have something to tell you.”

Rohana smiled, relieved that the real topic had come up.

“Yes.”

But the words that followed were unexpected.

“His Majesty the Emperor has decided to pass the throne to me first.”

That can’t be.

Her large violet eyes wavered. In the original story, the Emperor passed away, and Crown Prince Bardi ascended the throne. But why now?

“How…?”

“I know. Everyone advised against it, but His Majesty’s mind is made up. So, I need to hold the coronation first, which means we’ll have to postpone our wedding. I’m sorry.”

Their eyes met seriously. Rohana slowly spoke.

“Your Highness, if you are hesitating about the marriage, you should tell me now. Especially if you’re going to ascend the throne.”

Bardi’s brows furrowed deeply at her words. His blue eyes narrowed between his reddish-brown hair.

“You have no intention of holding onto me, do you?”

“What?”

“Don’t you even want to ask about my relationship with Aurelia? It’s been quite a while.”

Rohana almost laughed in disbelief but held it back. How audacious could he be?

“Your Highness, you’ve already called it a ‘friendship.’ What more should I ask?”

Her pointed words made Bardi’s face harden immediately.

“And one more thing I haven’t mentioned…”

He had the peculiar talent of switching from a boyish smile to a serious face instantly.

“You heard that I had the chandelier keeper and the lighting managers executed. How come you haven’t thanked me for that?”

His audacity was absurd. Was he asking for praise for that? She had always known he could be childish, but this was too much.

As she stifled an exasperated sigh, something caught her eye.

On the back of the red sofa, also adorned with gold, near the window, she saw something unfamiliar.

A delicate white nightgown made of intricate lace.

It was draped over the backrest as if hastily thrown off, the fine butterfly-patterned lace standing out against the red velvet.

‘Don’t be surprised.’

Despite her mind freezing in shock, her heart pounded uncontrollably. She forced herself to rethink the thoughts racing in her head.

Why do I have to witness this?