Chapter 13 – Part 7

Howard grabbed Anne’s wrist and quickly ran off.

Evan hesitated to follow but then stopped. He still wasn’t sure if he had the right to interfere in their meeting.

Anne was flustered but had no choice but to match Howard’s pace to avoid falling.

“My Lady, you need to run faster. We might get caught,” Howard urged, his voice strained from the effort.

Anne, her voice breathless, replied, “Your Highness, do you even know where we’re going?”

“Anywhere we can be alone,” Howard responded.

Anne tilted her head, puzzled. What could be so important that he needed to talk to her alone? In truth, she wanted to stay by Evan’s side. It had been so long since she’d seen him, and in his formal attire no less! She cherished every moment, but Howard seemed urgent, so she followed him.

Howard flung open the door to a lounge. “Can we talk here for a moment?”

Anne nodded.

Howard sat heavily on the sofa, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Anne quickly asked, “Do you know what that poison was?”

Howard nodded. “It’s Seipa, used either for contraception or to cause infertility.”

Seipa was a high-priced herb traded among the nobles of Vails for its contraceptive effects, but when misused, it could become toxic. The effectiveness of contraception depended on how much of the herb was boiled. Exceeding the standard dosage could lead to infertility.

In the Kingdom of Vails, Seipa was used to prevent heirs among royals other than the eldest son. Due to its limited production, many misconceptions surrounded the herb, one being the false belief that it caused miscarriages.

Seipa had no adverse effects on pregnant women or fetuses. Since it didn’t grow in Terossa, many were unaware of its properties, including Anne, who assumed it had caused the Empress’s miscarriage.

“What about the potion I drank earlier?”

“That potion is a rare antidote that neutralizes many poisons,” Howard explained.

“Does that mean… Leodoho?”

“Correct. However, I can’t guarantee that Leodoho will neutralize Seipa.”

Anne turned pale, not from the fear of infertility, but from the realization that Leodoho had been used on her. She had read about its rarity and value.

Now she understood why a prince from the Kingdom of Vails had Leodoho.

Anne hurried to Howard and raised her voice, “Why did you give me that potion? Such a precious thing!”

“Indeed. There could be more dangerous situations ahead.”

“……”

“I expect to be compensated.”

Anne quickly calculated the money she had. It was barely enough to buy a small house, nowhere near the value of Leodoho.

“How am I supposed to repay you?”

“Well, I used you to meet the Emperor of Terossa, so the rest can be repaid with a little amusement.”

Anne’s face turned white. Amusement?

She didn’t find this amusing at all.

“When I was believed to be a slave, why did you make those comments about serving at night?”

Howard laughed heartily.

It had all been an act, but seeing her react so sensitively even now, he thought she might repay the debt within three days.

His time with her was genuinely enjoyable.

Howard took a red candy from a glass jar on the table, popped it into his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully before replying.

“Well, aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know more?”

Anne’s face flushed bright red.

“I’m not curious!”

Really, this prince was so unpredictable.

‘I should have just stayed,’ Anne thought, close to tears.

“What are you trying to do?” she asked, voice trembling.

“Who knows?”

Howard’s smile widened. It was time for her to answer his questions.

“Have you promised to marry the Duke?”

“No!” Anne exclaimed, startled.

She put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, and continued in a whisper.

“Oh, don’t say such things lightly. How could I possibly? This is a real secret, but I think the Duke is interested in my appearance but maybe it’s just a fleeting interest? So please, be careful what you say in front of others!”

Anne’s tactical manner of speaking made Howard suppress his laughter by pinching his thigh. A duke going to such lengths for a woman he simply fancied? Even a novel would be criticized for such a plot.

Unaware of anything, Anne’s innocent demeanor was endearing, almost tempting him to tease her.

“What if I said I fancied you?” Howard asked.

At that, Anne jumped to her feet and bowed her head, realizing for the first time that Prince Howard had been using respectful language all this time.

“Please, forgive my rudeness. You don’t need to use formal speech with me.”

Howard chuckled behind his hand, his laughter ringing in Anne’s ears.

‘Please, Prince!’

“Well, as someone who was once your master, it’s hard to drop formalities so easily….”

As Anne, on the verge of tears, started to kneel, Howard quickly helped her up.

“I’m just joking, Lady Anne Vanessa. I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?” she asked, curious.

“Have you ever considered marrying someone else?”

Anne frowned and shook her head, clearly uninterested.

“Then what’s your plan when the Duke is released?”

“I haven’t thought about it much. I’d like to live peacefully in a small house, invite friends from the Carl Hessens Field Hospital over occasionally… That’s all,” she replied, her answer surprising for a baron’s daughter.

Howard laughed as if he had expected her answer.

“Then, how about announcing that we are considering a future together?”

Anne’s eyes widened in shock. Howard’s proposal didn’t exactly thrill her.

“Why?” she asked, suspicious.

Howard moved a chess piece on the board. “Our kingdom seeks a mutually beneficial relationship with the Terossa Empire through this opportunity. To be blunt, as a third prince with no chance of the throne, I’m looking to marry a noblewoman from the empire, and I find you suitable.”

Anne didn’t respond immediately, instead, she picked up a bishop from the chessboard.

‘A piece that can only move according to its color….’

She moved the piece away from the king, expressing her desire to live solely in Terossa. With a determined voice, she answered.

“I cannot do that, Your Highness.”

Howard let out a low laugh.

He then knocked over all the pieces on the chessboard with the back of his hand, leaning closer to Anne.

“Actually, I don’t know the rules of chess well. I only know the rules of this world.”

“……”

“I have no interest in the throne, nor in marriage. If I were to marry you, we’d be a happy couple with no ties to the throne. What do you think about making a contract with me?”

This was not Howard’s original proposal. He had intended only to pretend to be engaged for a short time, but for some reason, he found himself wanting to be with this woman.

In just a few days.

Was it her adorably flushed cheeks or her fierce expression when expressing her will?

‘Does it even matter?’

“I’ll give you time….”

Howard added with a bright smile.

“Please consider it deeply, my lady.”

Anne glared at Howard, her expression clearly one of irritation.

‘He’s definitely teasing me. Really.’

Thinking of Evan without realizing it, Anne put her hands on her hips and said firmly, “Please, stop calling me your lady, Prince. Such nonsense….”

At that moment, the lounge door burst open. Both of them turned to look.

It was Evan, panting from running.

After catching his breath, Evan closed the door and entered the lounge. Crossing his arms, he looked at the two of them with a raised eyebrow, exuding an intimidating presence.

But Howard remained unfazed, addressing him casually.

“Isn’t the Duke under house arrest? Can you wander the palace freely?”

Evan snorted, unable to hide his disdain. After all, it was a bit rich for a prince who had smuggled himself into an enemy kingdom to question his movements.

“Then, can a prince of a former enemy kingdom roam the palace freely?”

Anne found their conversation strange.

She had planned to visit Evan at the Duke’s estate after her talk with Howard, assuming he would have returned by now. But it seemed Evan was not restricted.

Given the recent chaos, it made some sense that security might be lax.

Evan and Anne’s gazes met.

His jaw clenched, Evan strode over and lifted Anne effortlessly by the waist.

“Ah!”

In an instant, Anne was slung over Evan’s shoulder.

She tapped his waist lightly, but Evan didn’t budge.

“Your Highness, you no longer need to play the role I requested. Thank you for your cooperation,” Evan said formally but with an edge.

Howard smiled, looking at the toppled chess pieces. Among the scattered pieces, he stood the king upright and looked at Evan.

“It’s not over yet, don’t be too complacent.”

“……”

Evan gave a slight nod and turned to leave. Still on his shoulder, Anne looked up and gave a small wave.

“Thank you for today, Prince!”

“We’ll meet again, Lady Anne Vanessa,” Howard replied.