BRRC CH 10

Posted by bed0zx_, Released on July 6, 2026

hapter 10 – The Prince’s Wounds and the Snake in Silk

They said he was violent. That he killed people like swatting ants. That he was obsessed with women.

I sighed quietly and looked at Tian’s face, which was red as a beet.

“Hurry up. Or at least unbutton a few buttons so I can check if you’re hurt.”

I just wanted to make sure he didn’t have any bruises.
I doubted anyone would dare to actually hit the Crown Prince… but after what I’d just seen, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Tian stammered, his face burning.
“I-I’m fine! He just pulled me a little, that’s all! I’m not weak enough to get hurt from that!”

I frowned.

“Just pulled you a little”?

That wasn’t something you could say about a prince.
Even a light shove against royalty could get someone executed.

Still, I didn’t push further and simply studied him closely.

No visible bruises on his face.
No marks on his neck either.

But that didn’t mean there weren’t injuries hidden elsewhere.

He’s only eight, and already so embarrassed. I can’t exactly strip him down to check, can I?

As I debated what to do, I felt his sharp gaze.

Tian was glaring at me with his small fists clenched.

“Don’t you dare pity me,” he said coldly.

Then he snatched the white cloth from my hand and threw it to the floor.

“You don’t need to do useless things like that.”

I blinked.

“Eh? I wasn’t pitying you. I was angry.”

His mouth shut in confusion.

“You gave me jerky earlier, remember? So I just got angry on your behalf.”

“Y-you call that getting angry? Then why’d you wipe my face?”

“I told you already! You were sweating, so I didn’t want you catching a cold.”

“You don’t get colds from a little sweat!”

“You do! I’m from an orphanage, you know. The kids there get sick all the time after sweating in the cold.”

He puffed up, but didn’t argue further.

Sensing my victory, I kept going.

“And why are you mad at me anyway? The mean one was that old man.”

That caught him off guard.

“What?”

“If I were you, I’d have gotten even. You’ve got the power to fight back.”

I stepped closer, looking up seriously.

“Speaking of which… I don’t know all the details, but—”

“…”

“Why are people treating you like this, Your Highness? You don’t deserve it. You’re strong and smart—like, really strong for your age.”

I couldn’t help remembering.

I’d been happy until I was twelve—
at the orphanage, with Miss Anne’s care, and even later, when I was adopted by the Longton family.
At least, until Hiana came.

But this boy… he’s the Crown Prince.

And yet, he was being treated worse than I ever had.

Worse still, I knew how his story ended.

In my previous life, he’d been stripped of his title, exiled from the palace,
and a few months later… found dead.

So how could I not care?

My voice rose before I realized.

“And another thing—who worries about the person who insulted them?
You got mad when I called you a ‘former prince,’ but then you scolded me for saying dangerous things.
What kind of royal does that?”

Then I hesitated and added sheepishly, “But, um… since I’m just a kid, maybe let it slide this once.”

Tian let out a long sigh that sounded somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion.

As I turned my gaze elsewhere, something clicked in my head.

***

“But isn’t there still the Dowager Empress? I heard she supported him to the end.”

“Her support won’t help. She’s just an old woman tucked away in her chambers.”

My eyes widened.

Right—the Dowager Empress.

In my previous life, she had been the only one who stood by Tian after he was deposed.
She even mourned longer than anyone else after the Empress’s death.

“Have you ever told your grandmother? I mean—the Dowager Empress.
About that servant hurting you?”

Tian frowned.

“What?”

“I mean, did you tell her he’s been mistreating you?”

He hesitated, then shook his head, looking almost sulky.

“No. I barely even see her.”

“Why? She’s your grandmother.”

His face darkened, and I nodded to myself.

So that’s how it is.

Even with only fragments of knowledge, I could piece it together easily.

“Better this way. Now we can side with Queen Karin and her new prince.”

After Tian was deposed, it was Queen Karin’s son—the Second Prince—who replaced him.

The rumors about Tian being violent were lies.
Everything had been staged.

And the only person who truly gained from it all was Queen Karin herself—
the woman who wanted her own child on the throne.

“I don’t get it,” I said aloud, pretending to puzzle over it.
“Why would it be so hard for you to see your grandmother?”

His face turned complicated.

Of course, I already knew the answer.

Because Queen Karin made sure of it.

She must have isolated him—cut off all his connections, especially with the Dowager Empress—
so she could control everything around him.

Maybe it was the jerky giving me energy, but my brain was running fast now.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Tian’s hand.

“Listen, Your Highness. If that old man bothers you again…”

I leaned up on my toes, bringing my mouth close to his ear, and whispered,

“Do this. Promise me, okay?”

When I stepped back, his face was red again from ear to ear.

He stumbled backward, flustered.

For a second, I wondered if I’d gone too far—

Did I just overstep with the prince?

Then I shrugged inwardly.

Eh. He’s got at least ten years before he grows into a proper adult. He’ll live.

* * *

“What do you mean you couldn’t find Tian?”

Queen Karin’s voice was sharp enough to cut glass.

Jacques bowed so low his nose nearly touched the carpet.

“M-my apologies, Your Majesty. He was nowhere to be found in the mansion.”

A bald-faced lie.

He’d just seen the boy—in fact, he’d run straight from the east wing after meeting that girl.

That silver-haired little brat who had dared to talk back to him.

He prided himself on knowing every noble lady in the Empire—
yet he had never seen a child like her before.

Karin sighed, pressing a hand to her temple.
“I suppose he’s no longer just a child.
Still… when will he ever learn to be worthy of the throne?”

Across from her, Sharon Abner smiled faintly.

“His Highness gives you much trouble, I hear.”

Karin returned the smile with perfect composure.
“You know how I feel about him, Countess. I think of Tian as my own son.
It pains me to see him stray so far.”

“I can imagine,” Sharon replied smoothly.

Between them lay a thick stack of documents —
a five-year supply contract between the Imperial Palace and the Abner family’s weapons division.

“In any case,” said Karin, “I trust the Abner House will continue to deliver.
If you perform as you have so far, I’ll be more than satisfied.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

Just then, the door opened.

To both women’s surprise, Tian entered.

“I’m sorry,” he said, lowering his head. “I got lost… in the east garden.”

Karin’s brow twitched.

Idiot.

So she scolded him a little, and he ran away terrified—
only to get lost and embarrass her in front of a duchess.

Annoyance flared, but she didn’t show it.
Not with so many eyes watching.

Her gaze drifted to Sharon Abner.