Now, Go Ahead and Stamp It - Chapter 33

The next day, Ellen asked the maids.

“Did His Highness not come in last night?”

Maria smiled, looking a bit awkward at her question.

“Ah, well… He did come to his chamber, but he instructed us not to disturb him while he was sleeping.”

Which meant the Crown Prince had ordered them to keep quiet. There was nothing the maids could do.

“I see. Then could you please send a message asking if I may visit His Highness?”

“Yes, understood.”

However, they replied that he was busy with work and that she should do whatever she wanted until he came to see her.

“When does His Highness usually finish his work?”

“He typically finishes around dinner time.”

At Maria’s response, Christie added,

“Since there’s quite some time until dinner, why not think about what you’d like to do for now?”

“I would also recommend that. If you’re interested in books, the imperial library is worth a visit.”

The maids took turns suggesting various activities.

Ellen checked the clock briefly.

It seemed a waste to let the entire day slip by.

“…In that case, there’s no choice. I should at least get permission to enter the palace.”

“Permission to enter? Pardon me, for whom…?”

“I thought I might visit my father while waiting for His Highness.”

Ellen said casually and began to wheel herself forward.

“Please, don’t strain yourself. We’ll assist you.”

Having missed the chance to stop her, the maids quickly composed themselves and pushed her wheelchair.

Knock, knock.

Hearing the knock, Kaiden frowned.

“Again? Who is it this time?”

“Miss Crient is here.”

“…If it’s not urgent, tell her I’ll see her later. Didn’t I already say that?”

“I did, but she came asking for Count Crient’s permission to enter the palace.”

“For the Count? Wait a moment.”

He opened a drawer, pulled out the necessary documents, quickly wrote Count Crient’s name and his signature, and handed it to the chamberlain.

“Here. Deliver this.”

“You’re not giving it to her yourself?”

“No. You deliver it.”

Something felt off.

The chamberlain thought so but took the document without comment.

Outside the office, Ellen waited in her wheelchair, accompanied by a maid.

“Here is the permit you requested.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

Ellen’s expression was subtle as she accepted the document with a brief acknowledgment.

There wasn’t much change in her face.

But for a single piece of paper that could have been delivered by a maid, she had come in person despite her discomfort.

It clearly indicated she had something to say, even if briefly.

“…Please tell His Highness that it doesn’t matter how late it is today, I’d appreciate it if he could contact me at his convenience.”

“Understood.”

Feeling uneasy, the chamberlain returned to the office and asked,

“…Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“How long do you plan to avoid her?”

“Avoid what?”

“Miss Crient, Your Highness.”

At the chamberlain’s question, Kaiden nonchalantly averted his gaze.

“I’m not avoiding. I’m truly busy. You’ve seen it yourself.”

It was true he had been busy.

An incident occurred at an imperial event, and he had personally declared it would be handled strictly.

To show people he was serious, he had to follow all procedures correctly.

Just yesterday, he had been drowning in reports and instructions, only retiring to his chamber at dawn.

“You personally invited her as a guest and meticulously checked her meals, clothes, leisure, and treatment. Yet, you haven’t seen her face. There’s no logic in that, Your Highness.”

“You’re not someone I need to convince, so it’s fine.”

Kaiden snapped back.

But the chamberlain, who had been by his side since he started to toddle, continued to speak his mind.

“Your Highness, let me add just one thing.”

“……”

“Don’t let avoidance drag on too long. You know that, right?”

“I told you I’m not avoiding!”

Kaiden shouted, feeling a pang in his heart at the chamberlain’s words, which expressed a lack of trust in him.

* * *

A guest arrived at the famous Rose Room in the Crown Prince’s palace.

The guest was Count Crient.

The father of the lady currently staying in the room.

“Ellen!”

“Father, you’re here?”

“Don’t even mention it. Do you know how worried I was? I stayed up all night fearing something might happen to you.”

Daniel scolded her, raising his eyebrows sky-high.

“I’m sorry. But as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Perfectly fine! Sitting in a wheelchair and saying that, it’s making me wonder where you sold your conscience!”

“Hmm. I sold it for a good price.”

Ellen laughed, and Daniel waved his hand as if he couldn’t handle her.

“Seeing your smiling face is enough. So, is everything else alright?”

“Ah, about that.”

Ellen brought up matters she had been considering but hadn’t been able to implement.

“First, please organize the information network. Domestically and even in Triballos.”

“Triballos? To another country? We don’t even have a branch there.”

“Think of it as an investment for the future. We need to expand, Father.”

“Alright… I’ll see to it. Anything else?”

“One more thing. Find a doctor skilled in surgery. The best we can hire, no matter the cost. They must become our family’s physician.”

“A doctor now? Haha, I can’t guess what you’re thinking.”

Daniel straightened his bent back and spoke to her.

“It’s not so much a thought… Just acting on the idea that it’s better to be prepared.”

Daniel chuckled at her not-so-convincing excuse.

“You should deceive someone who can be deceived. Do you think I’ll believe that after looking into your eyes?”

“Well, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”

A lie known to be false by both the deceiver and the deceived.

Yet, smiles lingered on their faces.

A smiling daughter and a living father.

They were happy just for that fact.

* * *

A few days passed after Count Crient left.

Once again, sitting in his office, Kaiden buried his eyes in the documents to avoid the persistent gaze of the chamberlain.

The reason was obvious.

Ellen had requested a meeting yesterday, but he had sent her away, promising to meet later.

But he couldn’t help it.

He simply couldn’t face Ellen right now.

He hadn’t expected to drag things out indecisively like this.

“I’ve done plenty of ridiculous things, but I’ve never been this nervous.”

He rubbed his hands together for no reason.

He had an inkling of why.

Instinctively, he realized that unlike past incidents, his relationship with this woman would be a decisive move in his life.

“Fools are brave, they say. How have I managed until now?”

He let out a hollow laugh.

Fear kept him pausing.

What if he made another mistake? What if he lost her?

He realized how much resolve it took to discard a card.

In her case, she and her beloved family had invested time and money to acquire it.

Yet, she had done so.

Ellen Crient. Had she become so strong through such processes?

“But even so, I can’t approve of that method…”

Kaiden sighed at the dilemma.

If he didn’t want to fall out of her favor, he could just stay silent about her actions.

But despite desperately wanting her, he couldn’t blindly applaud all her actions.

No. Because he needed her so much, he couldn’t approve.

“This time, it was too reckless. If luck hadn’t been on her side, she’d be dead.”

Her falling from the horse was still vivid in his mind.

“…I never want to see that again.”

Kaiden rubbed his shoulder and clenched it.

But he couldn’t get angry like last time.

What if she left him?

What if she discarded him like she did Gillian?

“I know nothing good comes from prolonging this. But…”

He gripped the pen tightly.

“Damn. Why did she have to get hurt? If she was going to do something so bold, she should have at least done it safely!”

At Kaiden’s muttering, the chamberlain asked,

“Are you talking about Miss Crient?”

“Yes. I can’t decide. I feel like a child.”

Kaiden eventually gave up on the words dancing before his eyes and tossed the pen aside.

Maybe he should go see her now.

He needed to confirm her safety, and only then could he focus on work.

“…How is the young lady?”

At Kaiden’s question, the chamberlain looked at him with an exasperated gaze and said,

“If you ask one more time, it’ll be the fifth today.”

“Five times, including waking, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. Isn’t that a regular number?”

“And it’s only noon.”

“But it’s check-up time.”

“Then summon the doctor and ask them directly.”

“…Yes, let’s do that. Tell the doctor to come after examining her. Oh, and the maid attending to her as well.”

The chamberlain looked at him with a sympathetic gaze.