“You’re really just like the Duke.”

Cameron’s face was full of surprise. I anticipated that from now on, everyone who knew Roan and met Jude would say the same thing, every single time.

“I wanted to personally thank young Jude today. I felt it was necessary to meet and speak with him in person at least once. Ah, of course, there will be a separate reward as well.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Jude rejected the offer so bluntly that it almost seemed curt. He didn’t use informal language, but it was as if he had just added a polite ending to his usual way of speaking. For a moment, I worried that Cameron, meeting Jude for the first time, might have taken offense, but then he burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha! You really are like the Duke.”

It became clear that he actually felt a sense of camaraderie with Jude because of how much he resembled Roan. Laughing heartily, he then turned his gaze to me.

“Duchess, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve suffered because of me.”

Cameron’s red eyes reflected his regret. His words caught me off guard, leaving me surprised.

“No, Your Highness. You were the one who suffered because of me.”

“How could that be the Duchess’s fault? Not at all.”

Cameron firmly denied my words. He didn’t seem to think it was my fault at all. This only deepened my sense of guilt.

“Anyway, thank you for staying alive.”

“I feel the same way. If something had happened to you, I can’t imagine how I would have faced the Duke… Just the thought of it is terrifying.”

Cameron shook his head, as if he didn’t want to think about it.

“And young Jude, I heard you weren’t well for a while?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

Publicly, Jude was said to have been away recuperating due to poor health. In some old noble families, there were cases where a child born with a weak constitution was hidden away to protect the family’s honor. However, not many people would fully believe that story. They were simply remaining silent out of respect for the Bannister family.

I wondered if Roan had told the Crown Prince the truth, but it seemed he hadn’t—or perhaps not yet. However, the Crown Prince probably had some idea about Jude’s origins.

“In any case, seeing you safe and sound…”

Cameron trailed off, then suddenly started coughing.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

It was clear he hadn’t fully recovered yet. After all, he had been poisoned by a toxin that would have killed him if the antidote hadn’t been found. His immune system must have been severely weakened. Even though he had taken the antidote, it was impossible for his body to fully recover so quickly. Even I, who hadn’t ingested such a deadly poison, still occasionally suffered from headaches, likely due to lingering aftereffects. As Roan had warned me not long ago, aftereffects shouldn’t be taken lightly.

*Cough, cough.*

“I’m alright. I’m much better than I was a few days ago.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how Cameron felt about “her,” the person who had left him with such lasting aftereffects. He hadn’t mentioned her even once since I arrived at the palace. In truth, one of the reasons I came to the palace was because of her, Grace. Grace was currently in prison, awaiting her execution date. Even her homeland, the Kingdom of Jallier, had abandoned her, so her future seemed all but sealed. I didn’t feel sorry for Grace, but I didn’t feel any sense of satisfaction either.

“Um…”

I cautiously began to speak. I couldn’t help but tread carefully because, honestly, what could be more shocking than discovering that your lover had tried to kill you for their own gain? In fact, I was surprised by how emotionally unaffected Cameron seemed to be.

“What is it?”

“You know, the Princess of Jallier…”

Cameron’s expression, which had been relatively calm, visibly hardened. After a brief pause, he replied in a composed tone.

“…Yes.”

I spoke to Cameron.

“Is it possible for me to meet her? I’ve already mentioned it to Roan.”

“Meet her?”

Cameron seemed surprised and asked me again.

“Are you sure you want to?”

“What’s there to be unsure about? I just… want to talk to her one last time.”

“…Very well, go ahead.”

“Have you met her, Your Highness?”

“…What would be the point?”

Cameron murmured bitterly, his eyes strangely empty.

“But it’s her last chance. You should at least express your resentment.”

In Cameron’s position, he should have at least told her off—how could you still call yourself human after what you did?

Why was he playing the role of a kind fool at a time like this? Honestly, it was Cameron, not me, who should have confronted Grace.

“…….”

Cameron remained silent, his lips tightly sealed. At that moment, Jude, who had been standing beside us, spoke up.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like he was trying to give us some privacy. I nodded in acknowledgment. Cameron, who appeared lost in thought, responded absentmindedly to Jude’s sudden farewell.

“Oh, yes. Young Jude, it was a pleasure seeing you, even if only briefly. We’ll meet again soon.”

Jude bowed his head and exited the Crown Prince’s chamber.

“…….”

Jude had just left, and the room was once again enveloped in silence. The quiet lingered for a while until I finally broke it.

“How about coming with me?” I suggested.

“…I…”

The Crown Prince couldn’t finish his sentence. He slumped into the ornate chair behind him, his body seeming to lose all its strength. He rubbed his face with his hands, as if trying to wash away his fatigue.

“Of course, it’s entirely up to you, Your Highness, but still…”

If the mere thought of meeting Grace was too painful for him, then perhaps it would be better not to see her. Yet, I had a feeling that if he didn’t, he might regret it later. I couldn’t shake that sense of foreboding.

“…Duchess,” Cameron called out to me, his face still buried in his hands.

“Could you… kill someone you ‘once loved’?”

“Pardon? …No, I couldn’t.”

I couldn’t kill someone, even if I didn’t love them. Grace and I had entirely different worldviews. But Cameron seemed serious. His face, etched with regret and sorrow, was not the face of someone thinking about a person who had tried to kill him.

“Then… what was I to her, really?”

“……”

I had my own conclusions, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Cameron. It felt as if saying it out loud would make things irreversible.

“Duchess… I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“…That Grace wasn’t truly sincere with me.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. Could it be that Cameron had known all along, yet still intended to marry her? I knew that Grace was necessary to counterbalance the influence of the noble faction, but I had assumed that Cameron believed she genuinely cared for him.

“I came to realize it naturally over time. No matter how much one tries to hide it, the absence of sincerity can’t be completely masked. But by the time I realized it, it was too late. I couldn’t let her go.”

“…….”

“I don’t even know why I couldn’t let her go. Was it love, a sense of duty, or something else entirely?”

To an outsider, the reason seemed painfully obvious.

A short while ago, Cameron had seemed perfectly fine, but now, he looked anything but. I couldn’t begin to understand what he was going through, so I refrained from trying.

I must have unconsciously looked at him with genuine sympathy because Cameron, meeting my gaze, smiled bitterly.

“You don’t need to look at me like that. In the end, this is something I chose and brought upon myself. It’s just a shame that your family almost suffered because of it.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…It’s strange, isn’t it? That I can confide in you like this now. There was a time when I would never have imagined doing so. They say couples start to resemble each other… perhaps I’ve even come to trust you as much as I do the Duke.”

Cameron laughed heartily as if the idea amused him. He let out a few more meaningless laughs before exhaling a deep sigh, as if to recompose himself. Then, as if making up his mind, he spoke resolutely.

“…I’ll go see her. You’re right—if I avoid it, I’ll regret it in the end.”

“You’ve made the right decision.”

But unlike when I first suggested it, my heart felt heavier now. Without further delay, we left the room and headed toward the underground prison.

***

The underground prison of Astrid was a place where day and night were indistinguishable. Grace was held much deeper within the prison than where I had been confined. We had to pass through multiple doors, descending further and further with each step, until we finally reached the area where Grace was held. I lost count of how many doors we had passed. According to Cameron, we were headed to the section reserved for confirmed traitors awaiting execution.

We passed by guards and soldiers as we made our way through. Before long, we stood in front of the door to Grace’s cell.

“Shall we go in separately?” I suggested.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Entering together would likely make it difficult for them to have a meaningful conversation. Cameron agreed to my suggestion.

TL NOTE: Visit and bookmark the story at dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and updates on its latest release.