DD 42

Chapter 42

“You don’t look well, Duke. Is the workload too much?”

At the voice calling him, he lifted his head. The sight of that sly smile brought him fully back to himself. He had come here in the middle of work at the crown prince’s summons. And… what were they talking about just now? His memory felt oddly smooth, as if the middle had been cut clean out. He frowned.

“Your mind’s wandered off somewhere. You were staring blankly at nothing. Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

“Really?”

Facing that suspicious gaze, Ruiyan insisted he was fine. But at his answer, Jordan’s eyes narrowed. That mischievous smile hanging from his lips sharpened into something cutting, as if he had guessed the truth.

“I see. So you found your answer, did you?”

“……”

“You can’t even bring yourself to deny it.”

“No need to report it,” the crown prince muttered, lifting his teacup. Ruiyan turned away at the faint clink of porcelain. Marillian stood behind the crown prince seated on the sofa. Her eyes were shadowed with exhaustion; a bitter smile formed on her face. Before their eyes could meet, she looked away. Which one of us avoided the other first?

“They’re late. The appointed time has already passed.”

“I hear they’re on their way now.”

“No surprise they’re dragging their feet. I’ve never called them for a pleasant reason.”

They can’t exactly choose not to come, Jordan added, looking very pleased with himself as he wore that constantly spinning smile. …Arwin, then. And right as he thought the name, someone announced his arrival. Ruiyan lowered his gaze. A cup of tea had been placed before him. Undoubtedly tailored to the crown prince’s near-pathological love of sweetness. He was thirsty, but his hand wouldn’t reach for the cup. As he listened to the crown prince shooing Marillian out to bring more tea, Ruiyan drifted into thought.

I love you,

Lips trembling, pupils quivering, two hands clasped together as if afraid. She hadn’t been trembling out of embarrassment. It had been something else… His heart had burned, as if seared by fire. It throbbed and stung. Surely this pain was nothing compared to limbs being severed or a head crushed. And yet—this hurt more. His chest had felt tight. Sometimes a groan slipped out and his vision wavered.
…You—how did you endure this? All that time, just how did you…?

“What are you doing standing there? Come, sit.”

The steady footsteps staggered. “Pardon?” Ruiyan looked up at the startled voice. A few steps away stood Arwin. He had noticed Ruiyan but wasn’t approaching the crown prince’s side. Unable to bring himself to sit beside the prince, Arwin hesitated before sitting beside Ruiyan instead. Ruiyan sighed at Arwin’s sealed lips and the way he stared stiffly at Jordan. For someone so poor at hiding his emotions, he served as vice-captain of the Red Knights.

“As you know, I called you here to deliver a message.”

“…Is it good news?”

“Well… yes and no.”

“…Can I choose not to hear it?”

“You don’t have that right.”

“……”

At the prince’s indifferent tone, Arwin fell silent. Ruiyan watched them; such silence was rare. Jordan, staring at Arwin with an uncharacteristically stern face, finally spoke. The words he tossed out made Arwin’s green eyes quiver violently.

“…Pardon?”

“From this moment on, Marillian von Inderic has nothing to do with House Endrianz. She is a complete stranger.”

“…What… No—my apologies.”

“If I were to explain it all, it’d just be a nuisance. The duke should have held a much bigger wedding feast. An extremely troublesome situation—but hardly something I can take out on you.”

Don’t ask further, he said, and Arwin frowned. The abruptness left him stunned, and the look he gave Jordan bordered on discourtesy. I can see exactly what you’re thinking, the crown prince muttered quietly as he turned his head.

“You drift off constantly, Duke.”

At the mildly teasing voice, Ruiyan looked at him. As the two exchanged empty looks, a teacup was set down between them. A flash of red hair caught Arwin’s eye and made him frown. At the obvious hostility, Jordan clicked his tongue.

“My, my—where have you sold your knightly manners?”

“…Forgive me, Your Highness, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

“No need to make it complicated. Just accept that the romance between Lady Inderic and the Duke of Endrianz is over.”

“That isn’t something to ‘simply accept.’ What in the world—no, more importantly, why are you telling me this?”

“…Hmm.”

At that lukewarm response, Ruiyan sighed. The more Arwin spoke, the deeper the wrinkles on the prince’s forehead. Growing bored already. And as Ruiyan thought it, Jordan opened his mouth.

“When did you become so rude? Enough talking. Just nod at what I say.”

“But—!”

“Arwin von Agnes.”

At the irritated tone, Arwin snapped his mouth shut. His wide eyes were full of confusion. This was someone who would chuckle and tell others to try being ruder if they dared. Few ever took that seriously, of course. Ruiyan too was surprised by the prince’s uncharacteristic sharpness. Jordan glared silently at Arwin, then sighed. A calm voice followed.

“In a few days, strange rumors will circulate in the palace. When they do, your reaction is to stay silent. Don’t go ruining things by telling Isilia. The Count of Agnes should know too. Tell him the rest is none of his concern.”

“…….”

“Good, quick answer. You may go.”

It was an unmistakable dismissal. Arwin nodded, shoulders drooping. Through the open door, Ruiyan heard a familiar voice. Instinctively he turned his head, searching for its owner. Before he could identify it, Arwin shut the door. And the moment he vanished from sight, the crown prince laughed. Ruiyan frowned at the unreadable smile.

“He’s a decent man.”

“…Is he.”

“If you two had gotten closer, you’d have gotten along just as well as you and Brangio. A shame.”

“Sir Arwin and I, Your Highness?”

“Who else?”

…Not a pleasant thought. Ruiyan glanced at him with that unspoken grumble. The somber mood from before seemed false, replaced by a bright, playful grin. Jordan sank into the sofa as though Ruiyan no longer existed. …Is that my cue to leave? Jordan finally lifted his head under Ruiyan’s stare.

“…Not coming in? Did they leave?”

“You dismissed him, Your Highness.”

“I wasn’t referring to him.”

…I cannot follow this conversation. Ruiyan exhaled as the familiar headache of dealing with the crown prince returned.

“I heard you still have work left at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You’ll be done by evening, I suppose. Return with Marillian. She has business at House Endrianz. She won’t stay long.”

“Yes, as you command.”

Satisfied with Ruiyan’s compliance, Jordan’s blue eyes curved. Ruiyan stood. The prince waved lazily at his farewell and turned away. The woman standing behind him bowed on his behalf. Safe travels, she murmured. Ruiyan nodded.

Not long ago, he had heard that during the period when the young nobles stayed at the palace, the crown prince had gone to see them. Ruiyan had frowned at the rumor that Jordan, who usually attended only the second day out of courtesy, had visited several times afterward. Whenever the young nobles came, Jordan’s irritability peaked. He fussed over trivial matters and tormented his attendants in petty ways. For someone who despised such events to visit multiple times… he clearly had an ulterior motive. Only a few days ago, Ruiyan had looked with pity at those excitedly claiming His Highness was finally considering a crown princess.

Whether Jordan chose a crown princess or courted a young lady six years his junior, Ruiyan had no particular interest. If not for Princess Ariel’s precedent, twenty-one was still a fairly young age, and the position of crown princess was currently vacant. He understood why the ministers were hopeful. But he knew better than anyone that Jordan would not act the way they wished. Watching them gaze at the prince with sparkling anticipation had been pitiful.

Unless Jordan himself spoke first, premature interest was poison. Whatever the prince was planning—knowing it would do no good. But something nagged at him. He had begun to suspect that the prince’s strange behavior might somehow involve him.

“Is something on my face?”

“Eh? Oh—no! Nothing at all!”

The man flinched violently as he stumbled over his words. This had been happening a lot lately. The moment Ruiyan stepped off his carriage, countless eyes would turn to him; if he got distracted, curious gazes poured over him. Ruiyan was unsettled by the blatant staring. And moreover—

He looked away from the man and scanned the surroundings. Their eyes met—then quickly turned aside. Amused, Ruiyan smiled faintly. Day by day, the number of people staring at him grew. They were becoming increasingly bold.

“Did you need something from me?”

“…No. Nothing.”

“Then why were you staring at my face?”

“That… I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t looking for an apology. Ruiyan frowned at the unsatisfying answer. Where had the boldness gone, the nerve he had shown just moments earlier when examining Ruiyan’s face while he was distracted? He hadn’t even bothered to prepare an excuse. Flustered under Ruiyan’s cold gaze, the man faltered helplessly—yet no one offered him a lifeline.

At last his face turned pale, and Ruiyan clicked his tongue. His pale blue eyes lingered on the man before he flicked a hand dismissively. The man bowed as he was told he could go. Ruiyan returned the gesture vaguely and walked past him. Time he would never get back. He wanted to know why the man had been staring, but there was no leisure to waste—not with paperwork piling up. Ruiyan quickened his pace.