TLMC 11

Merni returned to her room with Ellie.

“A cold? As if! She was obviously pretending to sleep, wasn’t she? That sly little witch.”

Just thinking about what Hayla had done to her at the banquet made Ellie want to rip out her hair.

“She really was shivering that night. Lord Ron couldn’t bear to watch and took off his coat for her.”

“Who is Lord Ron?”

“I’d never seen him before either. He looked like some wealthy gentleman who had just returned from studying abroad. He had striking looks and refined manners. That’s probably why he even danced with someone like Hayla.”

“If my dress hadn’t been ruined, I could’ve seen him too. Damn her!”

Ellie ground her teeth.

“Hmph! How dare she lay a hand on me? Just wait—I’ll completely destroy her.”

“She’s not ordinary. Be careful. I don’t know what she’s relying on, but she’s getting more arrogant by the day.”

Merni nearly let Hayla’s engagement slip.

Fortunately, the chilling aura of the Third Prince came to mind, stopping her from opening her mouth.

She had expected him to be the deranged lunatic everyone described, but his charisma had been on another level.

Now she understood why her father had repeatedly warned her to be careful around him.

No matter how insane the prince was, he was still royalty.

Even the Count’s family had no choice but to tread carefully.

“Everyone kept staring at her. I knew she’d become the talk of high society.”

“Tch! She’s still nothing compared to me.”

Ellie pulled something out from the folds of her skirt.

With a smug smile, she laid several letters on the table.

“Don’t tell me… you took those from Hayla’s room?”

“I borrowed a few.”

“What are you planning to do? Once you’re gone, they’ll think I took them!”

“Why worry? We’ll just blame one of the maids.”

Merni clenched her fists.

She couldn’t explain why Hayla had become someone they needed to be careful around.

When will the order to keep silent be lifted…? It would’ve been better if the Imperial Family had just announced everything already.

“Sis, look! This one is from Ron!”

As Ellie flipped through the invitations, she held up a single envelope.

“My goodness!”

There was no family seal—only a name written on it.

“Looks like those two really have something going on.”

“No way!”

“So is he really as irresistible in society as you said?”

“That can’t…”

If Ellie found out Hayla was actually the Third Prince’s fiancée, what kind of face would she make?

She would probably rush straight to the gossip papers and expose Hayla as a shameless future princess.

Merni’s lips itched to tell her, but she couldn’t.

Is she really planning to go crazy together with a mad prince?

Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to open the letter.

Part of her wondered if she would only be creating trouble.

Another part burned with jealousy toward Hayla.

She remembered Hayla using Ervin, the young master of the Bagdik family, to keep her in check.

The memory made her blood boil.

That little fox…

Unable to resist any longer, she ripped the envelope open in anger.

The first day of next month, during the Mask Festival, would be ideal. Let us meet at the hat shop on Asiteng Street. Please look for the crow wearing a hat.

“Hah.”

Merni let out a dry laugh.

“They’re really playing games.”

Ellie, reading over her shoulder, scoffed.

“I think I should tell Mother.”

Merni muttered almost unconsciously.

“Aunt will probably be happy about it. Didn’t she move Hayla into a better room because she wants to marry her off as soon as possible?”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

She couldn’t think of anything to say against Ellie’s perfectly reasonable interpretation.

“Sis, I’ve got a great idea. Let’s humiliate her right in front of that man!”

Ellie’s eyes sparkled as she stopped twirling her hair around her finger.

* * *

Grad and Prince Niel dismounted, handing their reins to the attendants before leaving the riding grounds.

Grad often rode horses with other nobles, but this was his first time riding alone with the Second Prince.

“You’re quite skilled.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“You weren’t at the banquet.”

“I had returned to my territory on official business and couldn’t make it back in time.”

“I see…”

Niel climbed into the carriage where his attendants were waiting.

With a tilt of his chin, he gestured for Grad to join him.

“Come. Have some tea.”

“It would be my honor.”

As Grad sat across from him, he couldn’t help noticing Niel’s broad shoulders.

His riding attire, embroidered with gold thread, made his sturdy physique appear even more noble.

The moment their eyes met—those distinctive violet eyes unique to the Imperial bloodline—his spine stiffened.

It feels like he’s seeing right through me.

Being with the prince alone felt completely different from merely seeing him among crowds of nobles.

When Niel had invited him riding, Grad had naturally assumed others would join them.

He had never expected to spend two hours alone with the prince.

Watching Niel gallop across the fields as though horse and rider were one had been breathtaking—even another man couldn’t help but admire it.

Despite riding for hours, Niel wasn’t even breathing heavily.

No wonder he personally commands the Imperial Knights.

Soon, the carriage entered the Imperial Palace.

Inviting me for tea… this must be where he gets to the real point.

After getting off the carriage, they walked side by side through the corridor leading toward the prince’s palace.

If only I’d spoken with Father beforehand…

Grad’s mouth had gone completely dry.

He had no idea what Prince Niel intended to discuss.

Just as they were nearing the end of the corridor, someone approached from the opposite direction.

Niel stopped walking.

Grad halted a step behind him.

“So, you’ve been loafing around the palace for days now. You must be terribly bored.”

“You know lounging around is my specialty.”

The sparks flew between them immediately.

Grad swallowed hard.

Who is that…? Ah… could it be the Third Prince?

This wasn’t a conversation.

It sounded like two predators growling at each other.

The man was half a head taller than Niel, with even more striking features.

Yet his appearance was far sharper and more intimidating.

Even the brief glance he gave Grad was far colder than Niel’s.

“If you’re heading off to waste time anyway, come have tea with us.”

“I’m on my way to see His Majesty.”

“Oh? Becoming a dutiful son now? If he’s awake, give him my regards.”

Niel resumed walking first.

So it really is the Third Prince.

Grad glanced back one more time, hoping to get a better look.

But the prince’s piercing gaze made his courage fail.

He hurriedly bowed before quickly following after Niel.

Rohen watched the two of them disappear into the distance.

More and more people are entering the palace. Is Niel trying to recruit every noble in the Empire?

Anyone associating with Niel automatically drew his suspicion.

Ever since childhood, Niel had never moved alone.

He always surrounded himself with attendants, knights, and nobles alike.

He had an exceptional talent for handling people.

Beck, on the other hand, preferred solitude.

He spent his time buried in books inside the library or quietly conducting research.

He had even authored several books on history and art.

Even when the Empress’s faction openly began pushing for Niel to become Crown Prince, they hadn’t eliminated Beck first.

His lack of political ambition worked in his favor.

With no faction and no desire for power, killing him would only invite public suspicion and unnecessary backlash.

As a result, all of the Empress’s attention had been focused on Rohen instead.

They had driven him to the brink once and believed he was finished.

Instead, he had returned alive—and showed no intention of leaving again.

Naturally, that left them with a headache.

Rohen understood their frustration perfectly.

Perhaps I should stop refusing Niel’s invitations, even if it’s only for appearances.

At the very least, it would help him understand how the situation was developing.

With that thought, he leisurely continued toward the Emperor’s Palace.

“Was that Prince Rohen we just met?”

Grad carefully asked after taking a sip of warm tea.

“Yes. Is that your first time seeing him?”

“I missed the banquet, so I never had the chance.”

“What did you think?”

“…Pardon?”

“What impression did the Third Prince leave on you?”

“He seems very different from the rumors.”

“The rumors…”

Niel frowned slightly, trailing off.

Grad grew anxious.

Rarely did he have the chance to speak privately with royalty.

He felt he had to offer something of value.

“Your Highness… I may have some information regarding Prince Rohen…”

Throwing caution aside, he cast out the bait.

Niel slowly placed his teacup down and looked directly at him.

His relaxed expression suggested he’d been expecting this all along.

Grad cleared his throat.

Am I making a mistake?

If I get too greedy, I might make enemies of both the Second and Third Princes…

The thought unsettled him.

But the words had already left his mouth.

Since there was no turning back, he had no choice but to side with Prince Niel completely.

“You may already know this… but Prince Rohen has a fiancée.”

“An engagement? I heard he declared his intention to marry. Who is she?”

Seeing Niel show genuine interest, Grad gained confidence.

“My half-sister.”

“…”

“Prince Rohen ordered us not to reveal it before he makes the announcement himself. As far as I know, very few people are aware.”

“Hm.”

Niel was genuinely surprised.

He knew Rohen planned to use marriage as an excuse to remain in the palace.

He hadn’t expected him to actually move forward with it.

And least of all with the illegitimate daughter of a mere count.

So he deliberately chose a disposable card.

Which means he has no intention of borrowing the power of a prestigious noble family.

Even so, it was impossible to determine Rohen’s true intentions.

“How strange. Keeping an Imperial marriage secret.”

“We don’t know His Highness’s reasons either.”

“Well, they’ll become clear eventually. He’s always had an eccentric side.”

“If I learn anything new, I’ll report it immediately, Your Highness.”

Niel nodded slightly.

I expected him to exaggerate baseless rumors just to flatter me…

Instead, he brought something genuinely useful.

The corners of his lips curled upward.

“So… that would make us relatives by marriage?”

Niel chuckled in amusement.

Ah! I hadn’t even thought of that.

Grad laughed awkwardly, though his thoughts were in turmoil.

“I suppose we’ll be seeing each other much more often from now on.”

“It is an honor.”

“I won’t see you out. Travel safely.”

“Yes. I shall take my leave.”

Only after climbing into his carriage outside the palace did Grad finally relax.

But why did he summon me in the first place? I thought he had something important to discuss.

The possibility that Niel had abandoned whatever he intended to say after hearing about the engagement left Grad with a sinking feeling.

The moment he returned to the Count’s estate, he went searching for his father.

But the Count had not yet returned.

No matter how much he thought about it, Grad couldn’t decipher the purpose of today’s meeting.

What he didn’t know was that Prince Niel had never intended to discuss anything important.

Just as noblewomen built relationships through tea parties, this was how Niel cultivated connections with the nobility.

People tended to let useful information slip when they were relaxed and off guard.

* * *

As dusk settled, I stepped out into the garden.

With the weather growing warmer, evening walks had become even more pleasant.

The garden, once filled only with anemones, now overflowed with blooming daisies and tulips—a true festival of flowers.

Lost in their fragrance, I completely forgot the passage of time.

“So, Prince Niel summoned only you.”

Suddenly, Count Sharek’s voice reached my ears.

In the darkness, it was impossible to tell whether the towering shapes were trees or people.

“Stay close to Prince Niel. Prince Beck is finished anyway. Keep your wits about you.”

“And Prince Rohen…?”

The Count and Grad spoke quietly.

Not far away, I spotted their silhouettes.

I quickly crouched down and hid myself without making a sound.

“He’ll probably be discarded even before Prince Beck. If only he’d stayed at the border army.”

“It’s rather awkward that our family has become directly connected by marriage to someone destined to be abandoned.”

“There’s nothing difficult about it. Just keep both sides balanced until the time comes—then discard him without hesitation.”

“And Hayla…?”

The moment my name was mentioned, my heartbeat quickened.

“Depending on how she conducts herself, she may prolong her life for a while… but in the end, she’ll share the same fate as Prince Rohen.”

“I suppose that’s inevitable.”

“It has become a matter tied to our family’s survival. Don’t act rashly. Conduct yourself properly.”

“Yes, Father. I understand.”

Their conversation ended there.

Soon even their silhouettes disappeared, as if they had returned to the mansion.

Even though I already knew these facts, hearing them with my own ears was shocking.

Rumors had long spread throughout the Empire that the Emperor was on the verge of death and that a bloody struggle over the succession would soon erupt within the Imperial Palace.

The real problem was that I was no longer an outsider to it.

The warm evening breeze suddenly felt icy.

Goosebumps rose across my skin.