Chapter 17

The unexpected visit startled Karina, but Becky moved first.

Before Karina realized it, she had already been dressed in a different outfit. She was practically pushed toward the drawing room.

‘What’s this about, coming without any notice…?’

Walking down the corridor with an uneasy feeling, Karina slowed her steps as a thought crossed her mind.

Come to think of it, when did it become the norm for her and Phyllis to meet only by appointment? Even just thinking about it in her head made the situation feel indescribably awkward, yet strangely natural at the same time.

“Phyllis.”

“Karina. You came quickly.”

As she opened the door to the drawing room and entered, Phyllis, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up to greet her. Without a word, Karina sat across from him.

Despite her hurried arrival, tea was already prepared on the table.

“What brings you here all of a sudden?”

When she got straight to the point, Phyllis, who had been reaching for his teacup, froze. His gaze lingered on her with a subtle, unreadable emotion. Karina pretended not to notice.

“…Does there have to be a reason for me to visit?”

A faint, awkward smile appeared on his lips—or could it even be called a smile? Although they had only exchanged a few words, the atmosphere in the drawing room was already uncomfortable.

‘Did he really come here for no reason?’

Karina glanced at Phyllis briefly before belatedly following his lead and picking up her teacup.

The faint sound of the window rattling echoed softly. The sharp wind outside hinted at the cold weather. The fact that he had come to see her on such a day meant there must have been a reason. In the end, Karina broke the silence first.

“Wasn’t it cold on your way here?”

“No. I came by carriage.”

“The weather seems to have gotten colder lately.”

What would have been a natural conversation in the past felt precariously strained.

“Maybe it’s because winter is approaching. The wind has been strong too.”

At her casually added comment, Phyllis’s expression stiffened slightly. With the atmosphere turning strange again, Karina rolled her eyes. It didn’t seem like she had said anything wrong.

Everything felt slightly off today. The suffocating silence made her forget how to breathe. Karina took a slow, deep breath to calm herself.

Phyllis, seemingly unaware of her effort, abruptly spoke.

“Actually, I came to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

Despite her prompt response, Phyllis hesitated for a moment before carefully asking.

“That man, Noah—do you know exactly what he does?”

Hearing the familiar name, Karina momentarily failed to connect it to the person in question and tilted her head in confusion. It took her a moment to realize he was talking about Noah.

“A few days ago, I happened to run into him, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

Phyllis immediately explained, clearly conscious of the incident. He must have seen Noah at the Imperial Palace that day. Thinking of Noah’s carefree demeanor, it seemed almost certain.

Karina started to shake her head but stopped and lowered her gaze. For some reason, she felt displeased.

‘He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it?’

She remembered feeling similarly unsettled a few days ago.

Back then, her childish reaction had been driven purely by stubbornness and defiance. But this time, it was different. While she understood Phyllis’s concern as a friend, this time he had crossed a line.

Above all, Karina liked Noah. At the very least, she was sure he wasn’t a bad person.

“Why does it matter what he does?”

“It’s not that it matters, I just—”

“Sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Karina, please listen to me. The truth is, that day at the Imperial Palace…”

She didn’t want to hear any more. Karina reached out and pushed her teacup forward. The clear signal that she wanted to end the conversation left Phyllis unable to continue, and he closed his mouth.

“I understand your concerns, but I think you’re overstepping.”

“…”

“At the very least, I know more about Noah than you do.”

This was the first time Karina had expressed such discomfort toward Phyllis so openly.

“And… we’re no longer in a relationship where we can interfere in such matters, are we?”

With her final words, the most silent and tense atmosphere yet enveloped the room. Strangely, it didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. In fact, she felt so indifferent that it made her question herself.

After a long silence, Phyllis nodded and finally spoke.

“Sorry. I was being rude. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

It was obvious he was trying hard to act unaffected. If anything, she thought it would have been easier to deal with if he had gotten angry.

“I sincerely apologize. I made a mistake.”

With him saying that much, there was nothing more to say. Karina shook her head, indicating it was fine. The awkward topic dissipated into thin air, as if it had never existed.

Even so, Karina was certain of one thing: their relationship had changed. Neither of them said it aloud, but both were undoubtedly aware of it.

***

As usual, Cornell left the Imperial research institute after the meeting ended. Her steps led not to the front gate but toward the main palace. Today, she had an appointment more important than anything else.

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has instructed us to escort you to his office.”

The waiting guards escorted her. In truth, Cornell didn’t need an escort; she was already familiar with the place.

After walking down the second-floor corridor for quite some time, a particularly large and ornate door appeared. Cornell entered through the open door and bowed to the person leaning against the desk.

“I greet you, Your Highness.”

“Spare me the formalities and get to the point.”

Before she could finish speaking, a disinterested voice responded. Cornell straightened her posture and walked forward as if she had been waiting for this. It was a privilege granted only to her. In situations where they were alone, unnecessary formalities could be set aside.

“So, are you prepared to pay the price for daring to threaten me?”

Essis asked, his arms firmly crossed. Cornell deliberately widened her eyes.

“Threaten? That’s a ridiculous accusation.”

“Your shamelessness seems to have grown, just like your father.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

When she replied brazenly, Essis let out a hollow laugh before his expression turned serious.

For most people, this would have been an intimidating situation, but Cornell remained calm. She had been summoned countless times to represent her late father whenever there were issues within the Imperial Family.

Lawrence, her father, had been the Emperor’s advisor and the Crown Prince’s mentor. Though they were not related by blood, Cornell was his daughter.

“I thought I told you to drop the pretense. Why don’t you show me the card you so arrogantly played?”

Knowing how much the Crown Prince hated troublesome matters, Cornell complied with his command.

“I know who Noah Velcarid is.”

With just one sentence, Essis’s expression subtly shifted.

“How?”

“Do you think there’s anything related to the Imperial Family that I don’t know?”

“Ha.”

“What matters isn’t how I found out, but the truth of the matter.”

Cornell finished speaking confidently and smiled. Essis let out a groan and rubbed his temples. It must have been a headache. After all, something he thought no one knew had been revealed.

Handling it quietly wasn’t an option, as Cornell had unknowingly planted herself deeply into many aspects of the Imperial Family.

“I won’t ask why. Just tell me if it’s true.”

Knowing this fact better than anyone else, Cornell could afford to be so confident.

“Damn Lawrence… leaving behind such a cheeky thing.”

“Thank you.”

Essis glared at Cornell as if he wanted to kill her. If it weren’t for all the help he had received from her, he would have dismissed her on the spot.

“Yes, it’s all true.”

He was quick to assess the situation. Cornell struggled to suppress the corners of her lips from curling upward. She had expected this outcome. Even without her sharp mind, Cornell was quite lucky.

“Now tell me, how did you find out? Even His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t know about this.”

“Hmm, so that’s how it is.”

“You’d better answer carefully.”

Essis asked through gritted teeth. No matter how she answered, it didn’t seem like it would end well. After some thought, Cornell decided it was time to reveal the truth.

“Do you remember the advice I gave during the diplomatic issue with Creten about two years ago?”

At the sudden mention of the past, Essis furrowed his brows. Ignoring his reaction, Cornell continued.

“The Emperor was quite troubled because of the territorial disputes with the nobles in that region.”

“I don’t see why you’re bringing that up now.”

Creten was a small Kingdom bordering the western part of the Empire, constantly eyeing its territory. At that time, the nobles in that region had gotten into territorial disputes. With troubles both inside and out, the Imperial Family eventually summoned Cornell.

The advice she gave after hearing the situation was simple.

“What’s more dangerous than the truth being exposed is admitting it to be true.”

Essis, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, finally realized what she meant.

“If you ask how I found out, I can’t answer that. What could someone like me possibly know about something even His Majesty doesn’t?”

Realizing he had been completely fooled, Essis leaned back and let out a bitter groan.

Cornell smiled brightly and added a teasing remark.

“Oh, but I wasn’t lying. Sir Noah is very… precious to you, Your Highness. Isn’t that right?”

“For the love of the heavens, could you please just shut your mouth?”

Essis, who had been thoroughly played, belatedly realized that Cornell’s knowledge about Noah Velcarid was limited to just that. She didn’t need to know more. All Cornell needed was someone who could turn the situation around.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of digging any deeper.”

“Well, I’m grateful for that. So, what scheme of yours led to me being made a fool?”

“Certainty.”

“What?”

Essis frowned and asked again. Cornell let out a steady breath.

What she needed was someone who could shatter the unspoken bond between Phyllis and Karina, something she couldn’t interfere with. A justification to separate Phyllis, who was deceiving even himself under the guise of friendship, from her.

Even if the justification was unclear, it didn’t matter. Whoever Noah Velcarid was, Cornell sincerely hoped that he would come to love Karina.