Chapter 5: Damian Rejenoel

“Nanny! What happened!”

The Marchioness of Riche’s daughter rushed over in a panic and helped up her fallen nanny.

‘She must’ve caught Rosemary trying to take her anger out on Lulu by throwing stones at the canary.’

Just like last time, Rosemary had repeated the same foolish act.

“She was about to throw a stone at Lulu, and I was so startled that I tried to stop her… but then she pushed me.”

“She tried to throw a stone?”

“Wait, this is a misunderstanding!”

Rosemary denied it in panic, but small stones scattered around her feet told a different story.

It was hard to call it a misunderstanding.

‘She should’ve been more careful—this place isn’t her turf. She never knows who might be watching.’

Rosemary’s greatest flaw was her impulsiveness. Once angry, she couldn’t think ahead.

“She’s mad about the dress, isn’t she? Is she insane? It’s not enough to abuse a speechless animal—now even a nanny?”

Lady Scherna muttered in shock beside them.

“Even if your dress got wet because of Lulu, this is too much, don’t you think? How could you hurt the nanny who raised me?”

The Marchioness’s daughter stepped closer, beginning to scold Rosemary.

“I told you, it’s a misunderstanding. And seems like you’ve all forgotten—no matter if I’m illegitimate, I still have the name of Stern behind me. You sure you want to go there?”

Rosemary stood tall, undaunted, trying to regain the upper hand.

“Are you sure this is the best course of action, especially with the Marchioness’s poor health?”

She was subtly threatening—what if they didn’t get the fox’s heart the Marchioness desperately needed?

“Did you just use the Marchioness as a bargaining chip?”

Lady Scherna demanded, and Rosemary crossed her arms with arrogance.

“I merely stated a fact.”

Edelweiss glanced at the uneasy nanny, then bent to pick up the scarf she had dropped.

“Lady Riche. Please don’t worry about the Marchioness. I promise you’ll receive everything in full.”

“Lady Edelweiss…”

Edelweiss neatly dusted off the scarf and handed it to the nanny.

“If the nanny needs any medical treatment, feel free to charge it to the Stern estate. As the rightful daughter of Stern, I’ll take full responsibility.”

She made sure to reinforce her position as the legitimate daughter of Stern—

To make Rosemary, who arrogantly boasted of sharing Stern’s blood, look utterly laughable.

When sisters show opposite behavior in the same situation, Rosemary’s reputation would plummet even further.

As if she couldn’t believe she was being humiliated, Rosemary opened and closed her mouth wordlessly.

Lady Riche, touched by Edelweiss’s words, gave a small nod of gratitude.

“What’s this commotion?”

A deep voice cut in, unfamiliar but commanding. Edelweiss froze at the sight of the man approaching.

Platinum hair gleamed under the light. His eyes, as blue as the sea, glinted sharply.

Damian Rejenoel.

The imperial crown prince of the Rejenoel Empire and the admiral commanding the navy.

‘Right, the Marquis of Riche was Damian’s maternal uncle.’

He was Lady Riche’s older cousin.

‘Rosemary doesn’t fall for him until the naval victory ball next year… so for now, she doesn’t have feelings for him.’

Realizing too late that the Riche family was connected to royalty, Rosemary’s face paled with fear.

She took a step back and bit her lip.

Lady Scherna pointed right at her and tattled to Damian.

“Your Highness, Lady Rosemary tried to throw stones at Lulu!”

“…Stones?”

Disdain flickered in Damian’s cold gaze.

“Y-Your Highness, it’s not what it looks like!”

Under the weight of his icy stare, Rosemary looked like she might burst into tears any second.

“Lady Rosemary of the Benel household.”

“…Y-Yes, Your Highness Prince Damian…”

“I hate noise.”

His sharp rebuke sliced the air.

Then, his gaze shifted to Edelweiss.

She quietly lowered her head, hiding the stirring of emotion in her chest.

It felt surreal to stand before him again.

‘Prince Damian goes missing in the strait later… not yet, but still—’

He was treated as dead, with even a royal funeral held for him.

Seeing him here now made the reality of this second chance hit home again.

Damian turned and walked back into the mansion.

Rosemary, panic-stricken, burst into tears and ran to the carriage.

“W-Wait, she’s just leaving like that? Without even an apology?”

Lady Scherna stared after her, stunned.

‘I need to establish a connection while I can.’

Edelweiss stepped toward Lady Riche.

“Please allow me to apologize in her place, Lady Riche. I’m so sorry.”

“No, this isn’t your fault at all, Lady Edelweiss. Thankfully, Lulu doesn’t seem seriously hurt.”

“Still… I can’t stop thinking about how we may have upset His Highness Prince Damian. Would it be alright if I offered him a personal apology?”

“Of course. Come with me.”

Lady Riche kindly led her to the room where Damian was staying.

“This is it, Lady Edelweiss. Should I stay with you?”

“No, thank you. I’m sure Lady Scherna and Lady Chedil were shocked too. You should check on them.”

After seeing her off at the door, Edelweiss took a deep breath to calm herself.

Then, she carefully raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Clack—

“Chloe?”

Damian, assuming it was Lady Riche, opened the door shirtless.

His sun-bronzed skin spoke of long hours spent beneath the harsh glare of the sea.

His taut, perfectly sculpted torso looked as though it had been carved from marble.

Thick, dark veins traced his forearms, and a deep, rake-like scar ran along his wide shoulder.

Edelweiss’s eyes involuntarily landed on that shoulder.

Then Damian’s Adam’s apple moved.

“If you’ve seen enough, you can stop staring now.”

He murmured lowly, a faint smirk playing at his lips.

Only then did Edelweiss realize she had been staring.

She quickly averted her gaze.

“…I-I’m sorry.”

She stammered, flustered, unsure what to say.

“No need to apologize. I’m the one who showed you.”

Damian replied indifferently as he pulled on a robe draped over the couch.

“I should introduce myself properly first. Edelweiss Stern of the Duke of Stern’s household…”

“……”

“I greet His Highness Prince Damian of Rejenoel, protector of our empire’s coast. Thanks to you, we continue to live in peace.”

She stepped back with one foot, curtsied gracefully, and lowered her head—a proper courtesy to a royal and naval commander.

“As Grand Admiral of the Navy, I’m only fulfilling my duty. I don’t require formalities.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“If you’re here to apologize on behalf of the Stern bastard, I have no interest in prolonging this conversation. It’s not worth the trouble.”

“……”

“I’d rather not be caught in a scandal just by standing here with you.”

His cool, ocean-blue eyes held no warmth.

‘If I marry Damian—when Rosemary can’t—’

She wouldn’t just be upset. She’d be furious.

Edelweiss longed for that moment.

To return the pain exactly as she had received it, it had to be him.

Damian.

Because when Rosemary fell for Damian later, realizing Edelweiss stood at his side would drive her mad.

What’s more—this time, Edelweiss intended to block Adolf from becoming crown prince.

That meant joining forces with Prince Damian.

She knew something useful to him.

Damian was a legitimate heir, but also the son of the deposed and posthumously honored Empress Anastasia.

That legacy had kept him from becoming crown prince.

Eventually, Adolf had taken that title. But he had a fatal vulnerability.

Roxanne, Adolf’s mother, had an affair with Baron Seyren… and that scandal hasn’t surfaced yet.

Later, a paternity test would prove Adolf was of royal blood, but the affair would tarnish him and give him headaches for years.

He only became crown prince after becoming engaged to me and gaining political support.

If that scandal were revealed again, Adolf would be in serious trouble.

“I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”

Edelweiss decided to dive in and bait his interest.

Damian’s lips curled into a sharp, wide smile.

“Lady Edelweiss. I told you, I don’t want to have a long conversation.”

It was the first time he called her by name.

Even though it was the same name everyone used, it sounded different from his lips.

She couldn’t name the emotion it stirred, but it felt like a ripple across her heart—something small, something sharp.

“What could a lady like you possibly have to say that makes you this bold?”

“……”

“And why, exactly, should I listen to it?”

“………”

“If you understand, then leave.”