☀ Chapter 10 ☀
“Oh, right. Sis, could you contact my house and ask them to bring my things from the laboratory in my room? It’s really inconvenient without my usual tools and materials.”
While I was organizing the gifts the Emperor had given me in my bedroom, I asked Sis to send a message to my house. The new laboratory was spacious and comfortable, but I still preferred using my own tools.
“Ah, Lady Rine. I heard that yesterday His Highness the Crown Prince already asked Count Astel’s estate to send your belongings. They should arrive this afternoon.”
“Ivan? I didn’t know because he never mentioned it.”
“He said you treasure your materials, so you’d probably look for them soon. He said he would contact them himself.”
He contacted them in advance because he knew I would need them?
I’d noticed it before, but his thoughtful side really seemed to be genuine. Since Ivan’s public image was so perfectly built, it was hard to tell which parts of him were real.
Well…
Just because he’s a demon doesn’t mean he can’t be thoughtful.
“Did my family say anything? If Ivan contacted them, they must already know about the engagement…”
“Yes. They only asked me to give their regards to the future Crown Princess.”
Sis smiled awkwardly and explained that, since it was a family matter, they planned to tell everyone after the party, when things had settled down.
I could already imagine what my family was like right now.
They had probably thrown a celebration.
They had been so happy even when the scandal happened, so now…
It makes sense.
I had lived like a complete recluse.
Forget social gatherings.
I barely even left the house and spent every day locked inside my laboratory.
Even my parents—and even the servants—used to worry about me.
At least they’re not strongly against it.
If my parents had already accepted it, then only one person remained…
Rion Astel.
My older brother.
Just like a true sibling, once Rion buried himself inside the Magic Tower to do research, he completely forgot about the outside world.
It was so hard to see him that I usually only knew he was still alive whenever a poor junior magician escaped from his laboratory crying,
“That man is insane!”
Honestly, it’s for the best.
If Rion found out, he wouldn’t even listen to the reason. He would immediately oppose it.
I hope he doesn’t find out until this contract engagement is over…
There were about two hours left before the victory banquet.
It would be unacceptable to arrive later than the Emperor, so I had to get there early.
But before that…
There was somewhere I wanted to visit.
“Sis, have we received a reply from Carrot Palace yet?”
“No, Lady Rine. We sent word quite a while ago… It’s strange. I’ve already sent someone again, so could you please wait a little longer?”
I had sent a message to Carrot Palace, where Ate was staying.
I wanted to deliver the gift and also check on his condition.
But no matter how much time passed, there was still no reply.
If Ate had simply fallen asleep, the attendants would have told us.
The complete silence bothered me.
“I’ll go there myself. It’s strange that there’s still no answer.”
“The gift for His Highness has already been wrapped!”
I had asked them to wrap the artifact the Emperor had permitted me to give him.
After all, a beautiful package always made receiving a gift more enjoyable.
We hurried toward Carrot Palace.
But the closer we got, the stranger it felt.
Of course, Carrot Palace wasn’t very close to Diamond Palace, where the banquet would be held.
Still…
It was the Imperial Prince’s palace.
It should have been full of life.
“Why is it so quiet?”
“I don’t even see any servants. Are they all inside?”
“…Let’s hurry. I have a bad feeling.”
If the Imperial Prince had fallen seriously ill, the news should have spread already.
The fact that everything was this quiet made me uneasy.
As soon as we entered Carrot Palace, I spotted a passing servant and quickly stopped him.
“Excuse me. Where is His Highness? Is he very sick?”
“Ah… L-Lady Astel? His Highness is in his bedroom.”
The servant answered nervously.
But he didn’t say anything more.
It was obvious he was hiding something.
When we reached the bedroom, the maid standing outside looked extremely flustered.
Of course, we had come without an appointment.
But…
This wasn’t just the reaction of someone surprised by unexpected visitors.
“Could you tell His Highness that I’ve come to see him?”
“Um… Lady Astel, I’m very sorry, but His Highness is not in a condition to receive visitors. Please forgive us, but you’ll have to return.”
“Lady Rine only came to deliver a gift granted by His Majesty. If His Highness is awake, please allow her to see how he’s doing.”
Sis pointed at the gift she was carrying.
The moment the Emperor was mentioned, the maid hesitated before finally opening the door.
“Please… don’t make too much noise. His Highness… has been suffering since early this morning and is very sensitive.”
So I was right.
Ate wasn’t just feeling a little sick.
Sis looked confused.
“Why wasn’t anyone informed?”
“His Highness said he didn’t want to disturb His Majesty on such a joyful day, when he was returning with news of victory. He insisted so strongly that we had no choice…”
The maid quietly explained with a gloomy expression.
Only then did I understand why everything had been so silent.
Inside the room…
Only Ate was lying in bed.
Sis handed me the gift before quietly leaving to wait outside.
The room became silent.
As I walked closer to the bed, I saw Ate struggling to breathe.
His breathing was rough, and he looked like he was in pain.
“Again…?”
“I told you to leave.”
“Those medicines don’t work anyway.”
Hearing someone enter, Ate waved his hand irritably without opening his eyes.
When I didn’t answer…
His blue eyes slowly opened.
“…You?”
“How did you get here?”
His eyes widened for a moment.
Then he let out a long sigh.
“Isn’t the banquet starting soon?”
“You don’t have time to be hanging around here.”
“Hmm…”
“I don’t know why a ten-year-old is trying so hard to act like an adult.”
“W-What…?”
Ate frowned as if he couldn’t believe what I had just said.
Since no one else was here…
I decided to speak honestly.
“If you’re sick, just say you’re sick.”
“It’s okay for children to do that.”
“Once you become an adult, there’ll be far more days when you’ll have to endure being sick.”
“…You don’t know, do you?”
“I’ll never become an adult.”
“The doctors all said I’ll die before reaching adulthood.”
A dark shadow crossed Ate’s pale face.
Without saying anything, I gently placed the gift package into his arms.
“What’s this?”
“A gift from His Majesty.”
“He brought it back from the western region.”
“Father…?”
He carefully unwrapped it.
The moment he saw the brilliant diamond necklace inside…
He slowly frowned.
“Wow.”
“It’s awful.”
“Who even wears something like this these days?”
“Oh?”
“If you don’t like it, then give it back.”
“I-I never said I didn’t like it!”
The moment I reached out my hand…
Ate hugged the necklace tightly.
Ha.
So you actually like it.
Got you.
When I also told him the artifact contained defensive magic…
His expression became even brighter.
He looked happy that the Emperor knew what interested him.
“You came just to give me this, right?”
“I’ve received it.”
“You can go now.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Huh?”
“Why now…?”
No matter how I looked at it…
The luxurious outfit hanging in one corner of the room was clearly meant for today’s banquet.
Which meant…
He had been looking forward to attending for quite some time.
“You want to go to the banquet, don’t you?”
Ate remained silent.
He probably needed time to think.
Maybe I should wait.
“But…”
“If I cough up blood there…”
“I’ll ruin the banquet.”
“And besides…”
“It’s already too late to get ready now…”
After a while…
Ate finally admitted what he truly felt.
He had been trying so hard to act like an adult.
But after receiving the gift…
His guard had weakened.
Now he finally acts like a real ten-year-old.
“Well then…”
“Would you like me to help?”
“Would you like me to help?”
…Huh?
A voice suddenly came from behind me.
Startled, I turned around.
Ivan was leaning casually against the wall.
I had no idea when he had arrived.
His neatly combed black hair matched his dark forest-green uniform so perfectly that it was almost frightening.
“…Brother?”
“Ivan?”
“When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“More importantly…”
“It’s not too late yet.”
Ivan smiled as he opened the door.
The maids waiting outside immediately entered with determined expressions.
“Hurry.”
“The banquet is about to begin.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
While Ate was surrounded by the maids…
Ivan quietly walked over to me.
His expression became slightly serious as he gently took my hand.
“Rine… come with me for a moment.”
