“But truly, I can’t accept something so precious for such a reason. I merely observed the situation and offered my opinion to His Majesty. The Emperor agreed it was right, and so he approved it.”

“……”

“I only did what I believed was right, so please think nothing of it.”

“Even so…”

“If you truly wish to show your gratitude, then give me something else instead.”

“Anything. Please, just tell me what you’d like.”

Eager to express her thanks somehow, Anita urged him to speak. Gerard hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he finally murmured, his voice low and uncertain,

“That hair ornament of yours… no, I meant the hairpin on the other side.”

“Is this what you mean?”

Following Gerard’s gaze, Anita raised a hand to her hair and tilted her head slightly. The ornament he had asked for was nothing more than a simple pearl hairpin.

“Yes. Would you give that to me as a gift?”

“This? No one would ever covet such a thing. I’ve just had it for so long that wearing it’s become a habit.”

The pin featured fine silver branches and eight small pearls arranged in the shape of a modest flower. It was elegant yet plain. It was hardly eye-catching, let alone something a royal would desire. Even its owner, Anita, only kept it out of sentimentality. On days like this, when her hair felt bare, she would simply reach for it without thinking.

“But I do want it. It looks lovely to me.”

“Still… it’s hardly worth anything. Please, choose something else instead.”

“……Would that be too much to ask, Sister-in-law?”

His tone became unexpectedly earnest. Embarrassed by the seriousness in his eyes, Anita hesitated before finally removing the pin and handing it to him.

“It’s such a small thing that I’m embarrassed to give it as a gift… but may I ask what you plan to do with it?”

“As I said, it just looked beautiful to me. I’d like to keep it, that’s all.”

Surely the Prince of Laxion must have more exquisite treasures than this? Although she found it strange, Anita couldn’t bring herself to question Gerard further when he beamed with delight upon receiving the pin.

After exchanging a few more words, Anita glanced at her watch. Although the conversation had been pleasant, she felt uneasy about staying too long in the palace of another man, especially as the wife of the Crown Prince.

“I fear I’ve taken up too much of Your Highness’s time.”

“Not at all, Sister-in-law. Please, at least stay for a meal.”

“No, I should be going now.”

Seeing her firm resolve, Gerard didn’t insist. Instead, he offered a faint, wistful smile and extended his hand.

“Then allow me to walk you at least as far as the gate.”

Anita started to refuse, but the look on his face made her change her mind. If he had offered to accompany her all the way to the palace of the Crown Prince, she would have refused outright. But only to accompany her to the outer gate? She could allow that.

They walked through the garden in silence. When the time came to part, Gerard suddenly spoke.

“Sister-in-law, please don’t worry too much. Callithea remains one of Laxion’s most important allies.”

“……”

“More than that, how could I stand idly by while you are here?”

It was the sort of thing a family member might say; innocent enough in itself, but Anita was suddenly seized by confusion.

For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to look Gerard in the eye.

Unable to think of a response, she remained silent. The moment she left the Second Prince’s palace, she avoided his gaze entirely, offering only a polite nod before walking quickly away with Renee at her side.

“Then… I’ll take my leave.”

He stood and watched as Anita retreated, her figure growing smaller with each step. He didn’t even notice the many pairs of eyes observing him from the shadows; he just stood there for a long while, motionless.

··· ✦ ···

“Unsavory rumors have begun to spread, Your Highness. Apparently, the Second Prince and the Crown Princess had a brief meeting, but the story has been distorted and is now circulating throughout the palace.”

“And who bears the brunt of the blame?”

“…It seems to fall more heavily on Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”

No matter how careful she was, Anita was always the easiest person to condemn. When Cedric heard Dian’s report that one careless word about Anita had grown into hundreds of malicious whispers, his lips curved faintly upwards.

“Is that so?”

Now that Gerard’s name had become associated with hers, almost all of the slander was directed at Anita.

The servants of the Crown Prince’s palace, who already resented their mistress, would undoubtedly bare their fangs even more openly now.

Cedric imagined how Anita must be struggling under those watchful, judgemental eyes, and he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

“Then spread it further. Let them talk until their throats are dry. If they’re going to gossip, it’s only fair they drag us both through the mud, don’t you think?”

“Your Highness… if the rumors continue, they may begin to harm your own reputation as well.”

Dian cautiously suggested that it would be best to stop here. Cedric himself had originally ordered the rumor to be spread, intending to tarnish Gerard’s reputation, but the effect had been negligible. To Dian, this seemed like the right time to put a stop to it.

“Hah… so what will they call me this time? The fool who lost his wife to his half-brother? Tiresome. I’ve heard it all before.”

“……”

“My dear wife never fails to disgrace my name. She must be very ignorant. No matter how many times I warn her, she never seems to understand.”

Although Cedric had started the rumor himself, Dian sensed that his master was far from triumphant. He had given the order, yet now he was hearing the results and discontent clouded his expression.

But such thoughts were not for a vassal to voice. Dian bowed his head in silence.

“You won’t be wandering about ignorantly for a while, at least. I hear she can’t even leave your bed.”

“Yes. The palace doctor says fatigue and worry have worn her body and spirit down.”

Shortly after the rumors spread, Anita fell seriously ill and was confined to her room for days. Dian recounted what he had heard from the court physician, then clenched his fist for no apparent reason. He felt oddly heavy-hearted and ashamed, as if he had committed a cruel deed against someone weak. Indeed, it was a terrible thing to do: to spread rumors that one knew to be false.

Cedric sensed his retainer’s mood and tapped the desk without speaking. Then, pretending to be busy, he reached for the pile of documents and gave an order in a detached voice.

“…See that the Crown Princess is properly tended. If she falls ill and dies, the Emperor will be heartbroken.”

··· ✦ ···

‘I can’t understand it. Why would the Crown Princess meet the Second Prince on her own?’

Before she fell ill, Anita had been summoned by the Empress, who had given her a gentle but cold rebuke. The warmth that had once characterized the empress’s demeanor had disappeared, replaced by restrained displeasure. It was as though Anita’s brief encounter with Gerard had somehow tarnished the prince’s reputation.

She tried to explain, insisting that she had done nothing improper and promising to be more careful. However, when she returned to the Crown Prince’s palace, she was met with eyes full of disdain and contempt.

Perhaps it was the relentless hostility she faced, or the growing turmoil in Callithea, that finally broke her. That very night, she collapsed with a fever, her mind clouded and her lips murmuring delirious words in the darkness.

“Your Highness, please, come to your senses.”

Renee was the only person who stayed by her side out of genuine concern. Distrusting the Laxion maids, she stayed awake and kept watch.

“I’m… all right, Renee. Go and get some rest, will you?”

Anita was worried about Renee and then fell asleep after taking the strong medicine. However, the drugs did not allow her to sleep peacefully; instead, she was tormented by nightmares. Voices, frantic and pleading, haunted her dreams.

“Anita. My daughter. My baby.”
“Anita. You—please…”
“Save us. Help us. Anita. We are family.”
“Aunt! Please save me. Waaah!”

In her nightmare, Anita saw the scene she had feared most: her family tied to a stake. Her brother’s children — her twin niece and nephew — struggled and reached out with their tiny hands, and this tore Anita apart. They were only five. They knew nothing of the world. How could such innocent children…

The blood of her family, relatives and close friends splattered all around her. Something warm and red began to pool beneath her feet, rising and splashing until it reached her throat and choked her.

Anita screamed, trying to break free, but her body was bound tightly and she could not move. It was only when she was about to drown in that sea of blood that she finally woke up.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, please wake up!”

“Haah—!”

With a sharp gasp, the dark bedroom came into focus. Renee was beside her, weeping as she wiped the sweat and tears streaming down Anita’s face.

Too weak to move a finger, Anita let Renee tend to her, her voice faint and trembling.

“Renee… in the bedside drawer… bring me my necklace.”

Renee nodded quickly, opened the drawer, and handed Anita the broken locket, which was now just a pendant. Anita clutched it tightly in both hands and began to pray with all her remaining strength.

“Merciful Goddess, hear my prayer. Bless Callithea, my brother, my mother, my family, and everyone I hold dear. Protect them from misfortune and grant them happiness. I beg you, please hear me.”

Her voice cracked as she prayed, her hands trembling. With tears glistening in her eyes, Renee clasped Anita’s hands and prayed beside her.

Neither of them noticed. Through the small gap in the half-open door, a pair of eyes watched them silently.