Chapter 5.

Vanillin, Come Here

I forgot the situation for a moment and felt a chill run down my spine.

‘That smile….’

Even after hearing his mother insult him to his face, he hadn’t been shaken in the slightest.

The corners of his lips still formed a gentle curve, and his gaze remained perfectly composed.

…That was even more frightening.

He was clearly human, yet there was something about him that didn’t feel human.

‘Come to think of it, he was exactly the same when the Celestial’s Porcelain almost broke.’

Even at the moment when everyone else held their breath, he alone remained calm.

As though he’d known all along that something like this would happen.

“…You know nothing of the ways of the world. Why on earth do you refuse to marry my daughter?”

“There are too many eyes watching. …Are you trying to deal with the situation?”

“…Answer me!”

BANG!

Marquis Desmond stomped his foot violently.

“Hic!”

W-What a scare!

That snapped me right out of my thoughts.

In the short time I’d been distracted, the situation seemed to have reached its limit.

“Always pretending you’re the only good and virtuous person….”

With bloodshot eyes, the Marquis roughly shoved the Third Prince’s arm away.

“It’s disgusting. Stop wearing that smile.”

Crash!

The wine glass in the Third Prince’s hand flew through the air and shattered against the floor.

His slurred speech and presumptuous pointing made it obvious that he was already in no state to reason with anyone.

The Third Prince sighed and gestured toward the knights.

“Escort the Marquis outside. It seems he’s had quite a lot to drink.”

His voice was quiet, but the knights moved the instant his words fell.

There was no hesitation, no questioning.

It felt as though they’d been waiting for this very moment.

“I know people like Your Highness very well. Pretending to be gentle and kind in front of everyone, while scheming all sorts of things behind their backs! You’re a despicable lot!”

There was nothing Marquis Desmond could do, even as he struggled against them.

Everyone already knew.

Who was at the center of this gathering.

“That’s enough! What kind of disgrace is this at the Founding Festival banquet?!”

“Let me go! You’re all being deceived! Deceived by that hideous smile!”

“We will tolerate no further disturbance! Let’s go!”

Click!

The knights dragged Marquis Desmond away somewhat forcefully.

Fortunately, they were heading in the exact opposite direction from the door where I was standing.

Ah, of course, Dai was no exception.

“Young Master, you should come with us as well.”

“What? No, wait! I…!”

“Yes. Let’s go outside and talk.”

There was no point in flailing both his arms around.

Dai was dragged away right behind Marquis Desmond.

“I will uncover everything! For the sake of the Empire!”

The Marquis continued shouting at the top of his lungs until the very end, but no one listened to him.

And then—

Boom!

The heavy doors closed with a deep, weighty sound.

The nobles all watched the Third Prince’s reaction.

“Your Highness….”

“Are you all right?”

“Oh, dear.”

The Third Prince smiled as though he were troubled.

“I’d like to say I’m fine….”

He lowered his eyes sadly.

“But it seems I’m rather unlucky today.”

As he gently brushed his sleeve, everyone’s eyes naturally followed the movement.

Looking closely, I saw a vivid red stain spreading across his pristine white formal attire.

It was the mark left by the wine glass Marquis Desmond had practically thrown at him.

“That madman…!”

“Your Highness, your clothes…!”

“I’ll call a servant immediately.”

“What an uncouth man, right until the very end…!”

The nobles’ faces were filled with undisguised hostility.

The Third Prince stared down at his stained sleeve for a moment.

Then he shook his head.

“No.”

Although he forced a smile as though everything were fine, his long eyelashes drooped pitifully.

“I’ll step away for a moment. Please continue enjoying yourselves.”

With a polite yet firm bow,

the Third Prince also left the banquet hall.

Only then did I release the breath I’d been holding without even realizing it.

“Haa….”

The Imperial Family really was something….

How should I put it?

It seemed it wasn’t all beautiful and glamorous after all.

The never-ending stream of incidents was so fascinating that I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

My strength finally gave out, and I sank to the floor.

Come to think of it, I felt like I’d forgotten something….

‘Oh, right! Dai!’

He’d been thrown out, hadn’t he?

Only then did reality hit me.

Ugh… What should I do?

‘I should go to the meeting place first… right?’

Groan.

I should’ve gone after him sooner.

I sighed and hurried along.

‘Why is this place so confusing?!’

I had no idea how many times I’d already gotten lost.

“Sniff….”

I swallowed my tears.

The Imperial Family’s abandoned garden.

They said it was located inside the Fifth Detached Palace, which had been sealed off after everyone inside died due to a terrible curse.

No one would willingly set foot in such a place, making it an excellent meeting spot for petty thieves.

‘Dai… He’ll come, right?’

He had to.

I let out a deep sigh.

It had been a very long day.

I’d gone through an interview for a position as an Imperial maid, stolen a useless Divine Contract,

saved the Celestial’s Porcelain, and watched one incident after another unfold at the banquet….

‘I even met the Third Prince.’

A man who was truly beautiful, yet terrifying beyond words.

Shiver.

Even thinking about him gave me goosebumps.

‘Though I’ll probably never see him again.’

It was like a midsummer night’s dream that would end with today.

I probably wouldn’t see the Third Prince again for the rest of my life.

I had no idea when I’d ever be allowed to come outside again.

Droop.

I trudged onward.

Dai was a complicated person to me.

He was my benefactor, the person who took me in after my only family, my older brother, died and left me alone.

But he was also a terrible employer who beat me whenever he got the chance and constantly ordered me to go out and earn money.

In exchange for investigating my brother’s death, I had to work without even being allowed to go outside.

It had all started when I was very young—when I was five years old.

Rustle.

A small sound interrupted my thoughts.

I looked around and realized I’d already reached the front of the Fifth Detached Palace.

I sensed someone in the distance.

It was probably Dai.

I quickened my pace.

But as I drew closer, I began to hear voices.

‘Is he with the Marquis?’

I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they were definitely men’s voices.

Step, step.

I walked faster.

“…You should blame yourself for being so perceptive….”

“…Please, just let me live…!”

The words that had been indistinct gradually became clearer.

The content was a little strange, but….

‘What is going on…?’

I continued forward for the time being.

And finally, when I cautiously turned the corner—

“Repent for your sins through death.”

Along with that strangely familiar, sweetly gentle voice—

Slash!

I locked eyes with the Third Prince as he slashed across Marquis Desmond’s chest.

“Ah…?”

No… Wait a second.

The Third Prince?

I froze completely, my eyes darting around.

Marquis Desmond, covered in wounds and bleeding profusely,

and farther away, Dai lying motionless in the same manner.

My mind stopped functioning.

‘No, seriously…?’

I cautiously rubbed my eyes.

But the scene before me hadn’t changed.

Two fallen men…

And the Third Prince staring intently at me.

‘The Third Prince…?!’

Yes.

It was the Third Prince.

The Saint of the Empire, loved by everyone—

the man who had calmly endured insults to his face,

who had smiled and said he was fine even after wine was spilled all over his clothes.

He smiled, his eyes curving beautifully.

“Vanillin?”

The sound snapped me back to reality.

‘I’m screwed…!’

A vulgar curse nearly escaped my lips.

With tears welling in my eyes, I cautiously glanced at the man’s hand.

The blade of the sword, gleaming sharply in the moonlight, was drenched in blood.

“It’s Vanillin.”

His voice was as soft, gentle, and warm as ever.

…Then why was there such a cold wind blowing all around me?

Sniff.

Swallowing my tears, I spoke as harmlessly as possible.

“If I told you that I couldn’t see or hear anything, would you believe me…?”

Tears welled in my eyes.

As I pleaded with my reddened nose, the prince smiled, his eyes curving into crescents.

“Of course.”

“R-Really…?”

“Do you really think I would?”

No….

Sniff.

I shook my head tearfully.

‘I’m screwed….’

No matter how I looked at it, this was on a scale that I absolutely should never have witnessed.

My gaze shifted once more toward the people lying on the ground.

“Marquis Desmond….”

And Dai…!

What on earth had I gotten myself into because of those damn men?

As I trembled, his gentle voice descended upon me.

“Oh? You said you couldn’t see or hear?”

You seem to know exactly who they are.

The Third Prince glanced at Marquis Desmond, who was bleeding from the chest, then met my eyes.

Then—

Swish.

With a perfectly calm expression, he flicked the blood from his sword.

“Vanillin.”

A smile blossomed across his face like a flower in full bloom.

“Come here.”

It was the exact smile of someone who had just spotted their prey.