Chapter 6

After sending Brandt away, Rohana dismissed her maids and retrieved a paper box hidden under her bed. Inside were piles of documents.

She hadn’t been relying solely on the Crown Prince for her future. Her plans had always gone awry in her past life, so why should this life be any different?

Rohana calmly flipped through the stack of papers with her long fingers.

Compared to the vast wealth of the ducal family, it was a paltry sum, but there were various bonds she had discreetly written. Ownership of a few pieces of land and ships was quickly scanned by her sharp eyes. All assets she had siphoned off.

Her father, Gregory Hanover, had used her for various shady deals.

Being a woman whom no one paid attention to, she could operate unnoticed in various transactions by simply covering her face and hair.

“It would be best to liquidate everything.”

Though she was contemplating a nighttime escape, her hands slowed as the heavy thought of what would happen to those left behind crossed her mind. What would become of the numerous maids, especially the closest one, Jody, and most importantly, Brandt?

Rohana’s hands trembled as she methodically reviewed the documents, hoping she would never have to make that choice.

The cost of a failed escape was severe. In her past life, it had cost her father’s life; in this one, it had already cost her maid’s life.

Still, money was better to have than not.

“I have to do what I can.”

Rohana left her room, heading towards the city.

***

The Zitni Trading Company was one of the businesses managed by the Hanover family. The small back office she secretly visited was rarely used and covered in dust.

She met with Job, the most discreet and least connected to the ducal family among the employees. She waited for him to convert the bonds into cash.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to do without the Duke knowing,” Job said cautiously, despite his loyalty to Rohana, mindful of Duke Gregory Hanover.

“I want to prepare a surprise gift for my father,” Rohana replied sweetly, smiling with her eyes.

“Like building a villa in the south?”

Finally reassured, the young man nodded.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep this strictly confidential, just as you want. I’m still grateful for arranging a private physician for my child.”

Rohana smiled and rose from her seat. Outside, there was a commotion.

“You should leave through the back door, right?” Job asked, seeing her veiled face and understanding she didn’t want to be noticed.

It was then that a sharp scream echoed through the building. It sounded like a boy’s scream, making Rohana frown. The scream of a child was the last thing she wanted to hear.

Without a word, Rohana turned toward the center, past the entrance, and headed toward the source of the commotion, walking quickly.

A small boy lay under a grown man, glaring up with fiery eyes.

“You brat, who do you think you are?” the man snarled.

Rohana’s calm eyes, veiled, fixed on the man cursing at the boy.

“You’ll get paid when it’s time. You should be grateful you’re even being used.”

The man bent over and flicked the boy’s forehead with his finger.

The boy, about ten years old, didn’t seem able to move, glaring at the man with hatred.

The man kicked the boy again. He tumbled weakly down the few steps. No one stopped him. It was seen as normal.

The man moved again toward the boy. Just as he raised his leg,

“Stop that.”

Rohana’s low voice made everyone turn their heads.

“And who are you?”

The man, hands on his hips, waddled towards Rohana with a swagger. The stench of alcohol was overwhelming even from a distance. Rohana looked at the boy.

“How much is owed?”

The boy, eyes burning with fury, glared at Rohana as if he wanted to kill her too. His gaze was familiar.

Rohana sighed softly and gave the boy a look, urging him to answer. The hulking man closed the distance.

“What’s it to you? Who do you think you are?”

“Stand back,” Rohana said in a low, commanding voice.

In an instant, the man’s rough hand grabbed the front of Rohana’s cloak. Job, startled, fidgeted nervously behind her.

“Do you think this trading company is a joke because a woman is involved? This is a maritime company. What are you doing here, bringing bad luck?”

Rohana roughly knocked his hand away. Unsteady on his feet from the alcohol, the man staggered slightly.

Blood from the boy had pooled on the floor.

“You, come with me,” Rohana called to the boy, intending to leave without attracting more attention.

“You b*tch!”

The rough fingers grabbed Rohana’s shoulder. The force nearly made her fall, but she managed to slip away.

In the commotion, her hat and veil fell to the ground, revealing her face.

Job’s superior, the deputy head, recognized her and gasped. The drunken man, now seeing his superior’s face, frowned at Rohana.

The deputy head bowed deeply, flustered.

“Ah… Lady Hanover.”

The name Hanover caused a stir. The drunkard looked confused and alarmed.

“A trading company dealing with the Hanover Dukedom can’t even pay a boy his wages?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was drunk… I wasn’t thinking…”

“I hope this never happens again. My father wouldn’t be pleased. We must uphold our duties as citizens of the Empire.”

At that moment, Zitni, the head of the trading company, came rushing in, his heavy footsteps echoing through the building.

“L-Lady Hanover, what brings you here? You didn’t mention a visit today!”

Rohana cursed inwardly. With the head of the trading company involved, it was only a matter of time before Gregory learned of her presence.

“Well, I…”

What excuse could she use? It was unwise to reveal her independent dealings to anyone.

Should she abandon her plan?

As Rohana quickly pondered, a voice spoke from the front entrance.

“I asked for her guidance.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the door. A tall man, so tall that the ceiling seemed low, leaned casually against the frame. His silver hair, neatly styled, shimmered in the autumn sunlight.

‘Kaiden?’

He wore a simple blue cloak over his shirt. Seeing him in the daylight for the first time was startlingly perfect.

Sharp eyes, a high, straight nose, and a strong, angular jaw framed his face.

He glanced at the boy briefly before turning his gaze to Rohana, looking unbothered as if nothing had happened.

Everyone fell silent, seemingly overwhelmed by a primal fear.

‘The half-blood prince.’

It was clear from a glance that the boy was of Kark descent, just like Kaiden.

Despite being the hero who eradicated the Kark, there was a palpable tension regarding how Kaiden would react to seeing a boy with the same hair color being mistreated.

“Push Sam in front. It’s his fault anyway,” whispered some company members.

“Never mind. Who was it that decapitated Axebone? The Duke is a legitimate Ardgold Empire noble.”

Rohana was about to speak, but Kaiden’s gaze stopped her.

‘Just stay silent.’

Rohana closed her slightly parted lips. There was something irresistible in his eyes.

“D-Duke Delcliff.”

Zitni, flustered by the sudden appearance of a high-ranking noble, no, a royal, bowed deeply.

It was rare for a noble of such stature to visit a trading company. Only someone as paranoid about managing their wealth as Gregory would do so.

“How can I assist you?” Zitni asked nervously.

“Ah… I’m interested in maritime trade.”

Kaiden replied calmly, his gaze still fixed on Rohana.

“I prefer to see things for myself.”

There was an inexplicable chill in his polite words, though the surrounding men seemed oblivious, looking relieved and smug.

“Did Duke Gregory Hanover recommend our trading company to you?”

Zitni asked, unable to take his eyes off Kaiden’s retreating figure, nervously wringing his hands.

“I recommended it. It came up in conversation. I thought I’d stop by since I was in the city.”

Rohana calmly played along.

“Ah, I see. Lady Hanover, I will dismiss Sam immediately. Are you hurt at all?”

“No,”

Rohana replied curtly, following Kaiden out.