Chapter 7

He stood a short distance away from the main entrance, waiting for her to emerge. As Rohana pondered what to say, he spoke first.

“No need to thank me.”

His voice was polite but subtly brazen, causing Rohana to raise an eyebrow.

“Should I be thanking you?”

When she responded in kind, his sharp black eyes regarded her with interest, almost as if piercing through her.

“The horse you chose for the back alley lacks a family crest, the documents you’re holding, the hat might be excusable, but even the veil…”

His low voice was calm and leisurely. His keen observation made Rohana frown slightly.

“You clearly wish to remain unnoticed…”

Kaiden tilted his head slightly as he added.

“You should’ve just ignored it and walked away.”

“Even after witnessing such a ridiculous situation?”

Rohana barely concealed her disdain as she responded.

In the original story, his betrayal was solely driven by his affection for Aurelia. Betraying the Kark who killed Axebone, and forming another alliance to start a rebellion—all of it.

“People don’t die from such trivial matters.”

His voice and face were cold.

“Just because they don’t die doesn’t make it acceptable.”

Rohana thought of Jody, who had returned recently covered in wounds. And the nanny who had died in her home, without even knowing her name.

“The world isn’t always full of good things happening. And not every time someone can step in to save the day.”

His cold black eyes looked down at her.

“Isn’t it unnecessary? Didn’t it just disrupt your plan? Whatever that might be, you didn’t want to be noticed.”

It wasn’t a debate she wanted, and normally, she didn’t engage in word games, but his peculiar way of speaking made her want to respond.

“Indeed, if you had acted first, I wouldn’t have had to step in.”

When she snapped back, Kaiden fell silent for a moment before responding calmly.

“You’re peculiar.”

His eyes narrowed as if finding it odd that an Arin lady would get worked up over a lowly Kark boy.

“Even if I had intervened in that situation, which I still don’t understand why I would…”

He explained nonchalantly that no one should be concerned about the fate of a lowly Kark boy.

“There’s a right time and way for everything.”

The last words, accompanied by a slight tilt of his head and a faint smile, had a hidden edge.

“Ah, I’m truly sorry. What a mess.”

Just then, a cart loaded with boxes from the trading company approached, barely maintaining its balance.

The cart driver seemed flustered and amazed to see such high-ranking individuals standing in the street.

Rohana moved to walk away from the cart when Kaiden casually reached out, pulling her to stand right in front of him.

Suddenly close to him, she caught that distinct woody scent she had noticed before. It reminded her of a tree standing in a snowstorm.

The tension in the air grew sharp. It was uncomfortable and awkward.

Realizing she had overstepped, Rohana quickly regained her composure.

“Thank you for the chandelier incident.”

Changing the subject, she turned to face him again, avoiding his eyes. Making eye contact felt like hearing a dangerous warning bell.

As she hastily donned her leather gloves, she finally asked after his well-being.

“Are you uninjured?”

Slowly raising her head, Kaiden looked at her with lazy eyes, as if amused by the idea that he could be harmed by such an incident.

“I’m glad to hear you’re unhurt.”

As Rohana put on her hat and veil, his low voice caught her attention.

“And you?”

His black eyes sparkled with a variety of hues in the autumn sunlight.

“Are you alright?”

His voice was so gentle that it almost seemed kind. Rohana nodded slowly.

“Yes, thanks to you.”

At that moment, she noticed Heath walking slowly from a distance, smiling brightly while chatting with the boy.

“About today…”

Rohana started to say hurriedly, but Kaiden closed his eyes and opened them slowly, indicating he understood.

“Yes, you guided me to the Zitni Trading Company at my request. Heath knows nothing.”

After a brief pause, Rohana spoke again.

“You didn’t have to do all this.”

Kaiden shrugged, and she added a polite remark.

“If there’s a way I can repay you, please let me know.”

“A way to repay me?”The Duke’s face, previously indifferent to her polite offer, now showed a rare flicker of interest.

“Now that you mention it, I’ll think about it.”

Rohana nodded slightly at his characteristic politeness.

“Then.”

She turned and hurried away, hearing Heath’s disappointed voice behind her, lamenting that he didn’t get to say goodbye. She couldn’t hear Kaiden’s voice.

***

“Lady Rohana, where have you been?”

As she entered the mansion, finally calming her oddly racing heart, Jody came running out to the front garden, causing a commotion.

“Jody, are you alright?”

“It’s not about me right now!”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she clung to Rohana’s side.

“What happened?”

Rohana asked, hastily hiding the bag in her hand under her cloak.

“He’s here, finally.”

Rohana didn’t need to ask who Jody was referring to, given her excited tone.

As she walked towards the grand reception room, she saw the guards in red uniforms standing at the entrance.

Rohana knelt and bowed. The tall man in the well-fitted red uniform rose. His dark blue eyes glimmered beneath his auburn hair.

“Your Highness.”

It was the Crown Prince, her long-time lover. Bardi strode over and embraced Rohana warmly.

“How are you?”

His voice was kind and familiar, as if nothing had happened.

Bardi still spoke to Rohana the way he had since they were children. It was a mark of their special bond.

Rohana looked up at Bardi.

She hadn’t expected to feel so shaken by betrayal again. Betrayal hurt, and she felt pathetic for still feeling glad to see him.

“I’ve been so busy with the upcoming wedding. I’m sorry.”

“The wedding?”

The preparations she had forgotten about resurfaced in her mind.

The most skilled maids in the palace had been sewing her dress stitch by stitch, decorating the banquet halls with flowers that could only be found in spring.

Her hollow question was followed by a short silence.

“Rohana, I told you our relationship wouldn’t change. I’ve just been too busy to make time.”

It had been three years since the current emperor, Bardi’s grandfather, had taken to his bed. The royal family wasn’t optimistic about his remaining time, which meant the Crown Prince had to be busy. His month-long tour of the eastern regions was part of that.

But still.

Rohana felt a headache coming on.

“Your Highness.”

‘What about Aurelia?’

But the words stuck in her throat. Despite planning a secret escape, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to cling to him pathetically.

Was it truly love?

“I’m truly sorry about Aurelia. I know what people are saying.”

The Crown Prince’s face darkened as he looked down at Rohana.

“But… I couldn’t leave her with Kaiden. You don’t know how hard her life has been.”

“She’s had a hard life?”

“I couldn’t let her live with the Kark. Aurelia is from the south.”

At least that part of the story remained consistent with the original.

Adding to today’s events, Rohana was struck by the Crown Prince’s strong aversion to the Kark, a sentiment she hadn’t realized before.

The original story hadn’t detailed this.

“And Kaiden…”

“Duke Delcliff?”

Bardi’s expression turned sour when his name slipped from her mouth.

“He’s not someone who could have anyone close to him. I couldn’t leave her in distress.”

Recently, Bardi had admired Kaiden as a brother who protected the rugged eastern borders, but now he seemed uncomfortable with him.

The protagonists and antagonists’ tension had begun.

At that moment, a large, warm hand grasped hers.

“Rohana, let’s not stay here. The weather is wonderful.”

“What?”

“It’ll be too cold once winter arrives. We always spent time outside in autumn.”

His firm grip pulled her up decisively, lifting her from her seat.