Chapter 21
“Serden. I think Evelyn was really scared. We should leave first.”
I heard Veronica’s voice. She was by my side too.
“That’s probably best. But there are guests here, so control this area and clean up later. Send my mother back, Veronica.”
I saw Veronica smile faintly.
As far as I knew, the emperor hadn’t attended official events like this in a long time. I think I read in a novel that once Serden grew up, he left all duties to others and enjoyed gambling, drinking, and women.
So the empress often appeared at these events, but now she was frozen, staring at the scene.
The empress suffered from depression caused by her husband, and because she was weak, she didn’t know what to do.
Ugh, I’m really glad no one got hurt.
Serden continued speaking.
“Control this place and let the banquet continue. Can you do that, Veronica?”
“Yes, no problem.”
“Good.”
Serden nodded and left the banquet hall holding me. His arms held my thighs and hips firmly, but I didn’t feel heavy. I wasn’t angry or sad, yet tears came for some reason.
Slowly, the tears stopped.
I sniffled, looking down, and Serden pressed my back gently.
“Stay still, you little troublemaker.”
“I-I’m not a troublemaker!”
“Smells like chocolate.”
“Th-there was something on my foot! Evelyn didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Right. Evelyn didn’t do anything wrong.”
I don’t know why, but I felt relieved hearing that. I leaned a little on Serden’s shoulder. Did he know something?
I didn’t know.
With his personality, the moment he realized I wasn’t a fool, he would suspect me as a spy. The situation looked suspicious to anyone.
Serden carried me to the Crown Princess’s palace. Cherina and Rozy, who must have heard from the maids, came out to meet us, pale-faced.
They ran forward and bowed before us.
“C-Crown Prince! We’ll take care of her!”
“No, it’s fine. Did you prepare the hot water like I said?”
“Yes, yes!”
Serden strode in and placed me in my bedroom. Then he pressed my messy face gently.
The warmth of his touch seemed to melt today’s fear, tension, and tears. My heart beat fast in a pleasant way.
Somehow, that felt comforting. His smile too. The flickering lights of the bedroom reflected between us. Serden looked into my eyes and spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice.
“Wash up and check if you’re hurt. You can do that, right?”
I felt embarrassed and raised my voice.
“Of course! I’m not a child!”
Serden chuckled and left the room. His mood seemed unusually calm today. Taking me here, too…
…When he does something he doesn’t usually do, even kindness makes me nervous.
While I chewed my nails, Cherina and Rozy rushed in. Even being led by the maids to the bathroom, I couldn’t stop thinking about Serden.
I really want to know what’s in his heart.
Serden changed clothes and returned to the banquet hall. Luckily, Veronica had handled things well. People were enjoying the banquet as if nothing happened.
There was a reason the banquet wasn’t stopped. He needed to check something. What had Evelyn been trying to do with all her effort?
He needed to find out.
With a cold, serious expression, Serden returned. Duke Roger approached him worriedly.
“Is Princess Bi okay?”
“No injuries. She’s fine.”
“Thank goodness. Yulia was very worried too.”
“…But young master Augustine isn’t here.”
“He seemed to leave earlier. Could he have something to do?”
Serden shook his head. He saw people glancing at him. Pretending to pat Roger’s shoulder, he whispered:
“Draw their attention. I need to check something.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Duke Roger nodded without asking questions. He and Serden exchanged glances.
Serden went to sit next to Veronica. She asked with a worried face:
“Evelyn?”
“She’s fine.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed with her? After all, you’re her husband. She was looking for you first earlier.”
“I’m better off not being there.”
Veronica stared at Serden, not understanding. Meanwhile, Duke Roger and his wife gathered people’s attention.
“Today, we wish to express our loyalty to the royal family.”
Serden checked the people at the center of the banquet and found Duke Spellman’s location.
‘The duke hasn’t left. Is this Augustine acting on his own?’
Or maybe Augustine was acting under the duke’s orders.
‘What could they be planning?’
Serden narrowed his eyes.
Luckily, Duke Spellman’s attention was elsewhere. Serden moved naturally toward the scene of the earlier accident. He found something stuck in the hardened chocolate. He picked it up and put it in his pocket casually.
The duke hadn’t cleaned up yet, so traces remained. It was worth coming back quickly.
Serden returned to his seat naturally.
Everything happened when no one suspected a thing.
After the banquet, Serden checked the object in his pocket. Covered in sugar scent, it was a small bomb that had lost its fire. The fuse had burned down halfway.
“Hah.”
Suspicion turned into certainty.
Serden fiddled with the bomb. Spellman wouldn’t leave any traces again. Augustine disappearing earlier was likely to handle the aftermath.
I remembered Evelyn, covered in chocolate, arms wide, scared. And the warmth clinging to Serden.
The scent of green apple mixed with chocolate still lingered. Like a small animal.
Her hiccuping cries were still vivid.
‘I didn’t do anything wrong!’
Truly, Evelyn hadn’t done anything wrong. If it weren’t for her, many people at the banquet, including the empress, would have been hurt.
‘It hurts. I’m hurt.’
Her whining voice kept coming back. Serden had brushed her hair. He had felt her breath and tears.
An unexpected presence kept stirring him. Serden let out a soft, lazy sigh.
His hand on his forehead held a hint of confusion.
How could something so cute exist?
Augustine returned home late. Duke Spellman, waiting for him, called him inside. Augustine slumped on the sofa, tired.
He had left the banquet midway to handle the servant. Handling a palace servant was tricky, but luckily this one was from the main palace. He bribed the emperor’s head servant to resign the man.
Augustine fiddled with his fingers on the sofa.
“What happened today? The empress returned safely with her maids. I said I needed things done properly.”
He shook his head, annoyed.
“I don’t know. I was outside the whole time. Did the stupid servant mess up?”
Muttering about needless trouble, Duke Spellman spoke:
“No. The servant did what he was supposed to. The problem was Evelyn.”
“That idiot, why her?”
“Augustine, no matter what, she is the Crown Princess. Watch your words. Don’t show that attitude in front of others.”
Augustine nodded without care. Spellman frowned lightly.
“So what happened?”
“Evelyn passed by, tripped, and spilled the chocolate fountain and my drink. That probably put out the fuse.”
“That idiot.”
Augustine gritted his teeth.
