Chapter 6 – Change (Part 3)

Cassius, still on alert, waited by the lakeside for King Clois when he sensed someone approaching. Soon, the sound of footsteps reached him. However, the steps were not the confident strides of King Clois. Cassius’s caution heightened.

Having someone else appear at the time appointed with the King was not a good sign. Since weapons were not allowed inside the palace, Cassius had no means of self-defense, making him tense as he turned around.

He was surprised by the person he saw.

“Princess Karinsa? What brings you here?”

Cassius was astonished to see Princess Karinsa at the lakeside of the palace, where he had expected King Clois.

Princess Karinsa, though the wind was still, gracefully swept her hair to one side as she approached Cassius. Her golden hair, illuminated by the higher-risen moonlight, shone like platinum. The silver dress she wore, reflecting the moonlight on the lake, seemed to enshroud her in a halo, and her blue eyes, brightened by the moonlight, sparkled like jewels. To an ordinary person, it would have seemed as if a goddess had descended from the moon.

“Karinsa’s attire looks different from usual.”

King Clois, hidden behind a column in the corridor, commented. From there, he could see Karinsa and Cassius at a distance, but he couldn’t hear their conversation.

“The Princess requested an outfit that would have the greatest effect in the moonlight.”

The head maid hiding nearby explained.

“Oh my! Princess Karinsa has gone to some effort. With such a beautiful appearance and a walk by the lakeside under the moonlight, even the most stoic man couldn’t help but feel the romantic atmosphere.”

The Queen admired.

“That lakeside is usually where Cassius holds secret meetings. I wonder if he’ll suddenly feel romantic there. Didn’t Karinsa consider that? It would have been better to create an atmosphere during a night walk in the far more beautiful gardens of the Princess’s palace.”

The King’s valid point made both the Queen and the head maid flinch, as they hadn’t considered that.

“The Princess insisted on this location because it’s the only place in the palace where the moonlight directly shines on the lake and the path.”

The head maid answered, trying to hide her embarrassment over the overlooked aspect. Knowing his sister’s stubbornness well, Clois sighed. It seemed Princess Karinsa was saying something to Cassius from afar.

“Of all places, they chose here, and I can’t hear a word they’re saying!”

King Clois was frustrated. Since this was a frequent spot for secret meetings, measures had been taken to prevent conversations from being overheard or eavesdropped upon by spies.

Unaware of those hiding, Karinsa was entirely focused on Cassius.

“Duke. No, Cassius-oppa. You seem surprised by my appearance. I have something urgent to discuss, so I asked His Majesty for this meeting. I apologize for summoning you in such a manner.”

“It’s fine. What is it that you wish to discuss?”

In his usual emotionless and low voice, Cassius inquired, causing Karinsa’s heart to flutter as she responded.

“Um… Before I say anything, would you mind walking along the lakeside with me?”

Cassius, trying to gauge the Princess’s intentions, looked at her quietly, while Karinsa tried hard to hide her blushing face. She assumed Cassius was wary of any eavesdroppers.

“Very well.”

Cassius began to walk towards a quieter part of the lake. Karinsa, expecting Cassius to offer his hand, was taken aback and followed the Duke.

“Would it be alright if we walked side by side?”

At those words, Cassius glanced around and slowed his pace. Although it appeared that the Princess had come alone, there was no way she would be without guards nearby. It wouldn’t be wise to stray too far from them. Thinking they might be near the colonnade, the Duke looked in that direction.

“Ugh!” 

The King made a startled noise as Cassius’s gaze seemed to pierce right through their hiding spot.

“Does that guy have some kind of clairvoyance? How could he look right at where we’re hiding?”

As the King became flustered, the Queen responded in a trembling voice.

“He’s probably checking where Princess Karinsa’s guards are. I don’t think we’ve been discovered.”

“Is that so?”

King Clois glanced around the surrounding columns. Besides the column he was hiding behind, there were guards for the King, the Queen, and the Princess concealed behind other columns.

“But, Your Majesty, is there any point in hiding like this when we can’t even hear them?”

“We don’t know what might happen! This is the only way to keep watch and be prepared for any eventuality.”

Queen Agnes gazed at her husband with a thoughtful expression.

“Your Majesty, are you worried about your sister, the Princess, or about the Duke?”

“What are you talking about, Queen! If my cute little sister comes out looking so beautiful, what if Duke Grendel harbors any impure thoughts? All men are beasts, except for me! Ah, no. If the Princess is dressing like that with ulterior motives…”

King Clois’s face turned ashen.

“What if Karinsa makes the first move on the Duke? The Duke wouldn’t be able to resist her and would succumb. Then, if they are forced to marry, Karinsa might soon fall for someone else and act recklessly, causing Duke Grendel to resent me and Karinsa, possibly harboring rebellious thoughts!”

As Clois’s imagination ran wild, the Queen shook her head. Even the Princess’s head maid looked at the King with a hint of exasperation.

Unaware of King Clois’s concerns, Karinsa continued to lead Cassius further away from the colonnade. She suspected that her overprotective brother might be hiding near the columns and interfere with her plans.

As they moved away from where she thought the guards might be hiding, Cassius remained vigilant, prepared for any suspicious individuals who might appear from the other side of the lake. 

In a normal stroll, he would have escorted the Princess by offering his arm, but now he needed to keep his hands free to respond quickly to any potential threats.

“Cassius-oppa, since it’s just the two of us here, is it alright if I call you as I did when I was a child? Isn’t the moonlight beautiful tonight?”

At Karinsa’s sudden remark, Cassius glanced at her briefly. The Princess gently smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear. However, as Cassius merely gave a short response and resumed scanning the surroundings, Karinsa pretended to trip to draw his attention. Cassius quickly supported her.

“Ugh… Karinsa, you need to be careful.”

Watching King Clois, who was almost groaning, the Princess’s head maid thought it was a sight too precious for her eyes alone.

‘His Majesty is excellent in many ways, but the people don’t know how doting he is in front of his sister. It’s probably fortunate for His Majesty’s dignity that they don’t.’

Queen Agnes, paying no mind to her surroundings, watched the two closely and repeatedly exclaimed in admiration, as if watching a romantic play, every time they got close.

Princess Karinsa blushed as Cassius supported her. Yet, contrary to her hope that he would hold her longer, Cassius quickly withdrew his hand once she regained her balance and resumed his vigilance against any potential threats. Karinsa bit her lip as she watched him.

‘I’m doing everything exactly as I read in the books, so why isn’t there any reaction? Am I missing something?’

While Karinsa pondered, Cassius was curious about what the Princess intended to say with all this delay. Since Karinsa did not involve herself in state affairs, it couldn’t be about such matters.

Eventually, Cassius began to wonder if there was someone new the Princess had fallen for who might be connected to the Ducal household. The only person fitting that age group was Aaron. Cassius tried to recall if Aaron and the Princess had any interactions.

However, Aaron wasn’t a noble and hadn’t attended the Spring Ball, and he had waited outside during the last luncheon. There weren’t many opportunities for them to meet, so perhaps they had encountered each other while Aaron was at the Administrative Palace. Cassius thought that the sudden visit to the Administrative Palace dining hall last time might have been because of this.

Cassius wanted to avoid a situation where Aaron was swayed by the Princess, so he pondered how to refuse if the Princess asked him to act as a go-between because she fancied Aaron Hass.

“Cassius-oppa, this is about someone I know, who knows someone else…”

The Princess finally spoke with difficulty. Cassius stopped walking and listened to her story.

“So… it’s a story from a neighboring country, no, a more distant country, where a princess fell in love with a high-ranking official. The official was already in an arranged marriage without affection with another lady, but it seems he also grew fond of the princess… What should be done in such a situation?”