TRETTHD 98

#98. The Price of Letting One’s Guard Down

Raoul tugged at the corner of his mouth in a faint, bitter smile. His expression had changed so drastically that it was almost unrecognizable.

Velia couldn’t stop her body from trembling as she saw a face that somehow overlapped with the one that had once stared at her death without a hint of emotion.

If a dagger had been in her hands at that moment, she would have driven it straight into his throat. A tidal wave of anger engulfed her in an instant.

“Are you ready to speak with me now?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Velia replied, though she couldn’t yet reveal everything. She played dumb, pretending not to know.

“I understand your act of ignorance as well,” Raoul said with a laugh that was more mocking than amused.

“I know that you saw the future before I did. That’s why you must have stolen both the gold mine and the magical stone from me.”

Raoul spoke with the certainty of someone who knew no argument could ever shake him.

So Raoul also returned to the past, just like me…

Velia couldn’t bring herself to speak. How could such a thing be possible?

The day they had gone to the greenhouse with Erze, she had tested Raoul, and he hadn’t reacted at all. But now she realized it had all been an act.

“It seems my empress is quite startled. Shall we postpone our conversation for another time? Hm? Velia.”

“How… since when…?”

She didn’t even know what she had intended to ask. All she could feel was despair at the sight of the emperor from that day standing right before her.

If he knew all the events of the future, then everything Velia had been preparing until now would be rendered useless. And, on top of that… Khalid.

“I trust you won’t refuse my invitation. After all, the only ones who shared that time were you and I.”

“…You are not the emperor. And I am not your empress.”

Velia grit her teeth as she spoke, and Raoul merely shrugged lightly.

“Well, that may be true for now.”

Raoul gently brushed his hand across Velia’s cheek once more, then tapped it twice with his index finger.

A shudder of disgust ran through her.

Why was this happening?

When she had first returned to the past, she had wondered if anyone else had experienced the same. But not a single person had shown any sign of it, and even Raoul had acted as though he knew nothing of the future, repeating his past behaviors.

Velia had let her guard down, convinced that she alone had returned to the past and held knowledge of the future.

Even when she had suspected him, she had dismissed it as impossible. She had tested him, and when he showed no reaction, she believed that, unlike her, he retained no memories of his previous life.

“But, you know, Velia… this won’t be long, you understand that, don’t you?”

“…Get away.”

“Hahaha. Such words from such a pretty face. Learned all your mischief from Khalid, I see.”

Raoul laughed lightly, stepping back a single step. His movement was light, almost carefree. But for Velia, whose complexion was pale, it barely offered a moment’s reprieve—as if it were a gesture of kindness.

“You’ve been startled enough today, so let’s postpone our conversation. I’ll send someone to the Second Prince’s palace soon, so wait for them. You must have many questions, don’t you?”

“…Despicable man.”

“Oh? Your words have grown sharp. But it suits you—it’s a different kind of charm.”

Raoul smiled as he observed Velia’s glare, then, in his usual polite tone, he asked:

“Shall I escort you to the Second Prince’s palace, Velia?”

Velia let out a bitter laugh.

“You don’t think I’d allow that, do you?”

Since when had he been so kind?

“Wouldn’t it be difficult for you to return on your own? It’s merely a favor, so don’t be overly suspicious.”

Every word he spoke made her nauseous. Velia forced herself to stand, legs trembling, and pushed him hard. She created some distance between them.

“I don’t need it.”

Turning her back, she walked away.

“We’ll meet again soon,” Raoul’s voice called after her, tinged with amusement. Velia didn’t respond at all, walking as if she couldn’t hear him, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.

Back at the Second Prince’s palace, Velia collapsed onto the edge of her bed.

She struggled to breathe as if she had forgotten how. Only by forcing herself to exhale could she draw in air once more.

Khalid had fallen into Raoul’s trap.

He had tried to harm someone close to her even in this life.

Khalid…!

Velia raised her hands to cover her face. She had believed he was alive, yet a creeping anxiety filled her again.

If Raoul had set the trap openly, Khalid would have noticed and avoided it. But this was different. Raoul had used knowledge of the future to corner Khalid at the precise moment—leaving no evidence. Naturally, Khalid couldn’t have prepared for it.

“I must stay focused.”

Velia bit her lip out of habit. Raoul wanted her to break, but she would never act as he wished.

“Your Highness. The Marquess’s daughter, Rachel, has arrived.”

Rachel had just arrived. Velia stood, tidied her clothes, combed her hair neatly, and calmly opened the door to the reception room, hoping that Rachel brought good news.

But the moment Velia saw Rachel’s somber expression, she sensed that the news wasn’t what she had hoped for.

“Rachel. Any updates from Lunes?”

“…Your Highness.”

“What did they say about the search?”

“They’ve completed about half so far. They couldn’t finish because suddenly the lord’s knights and attendants interfered. The rest is being checked slowly so the search team won’t notice…”

“And… did they find anything?”

Rachel shook her head.

“So far, nothing.”

Velia exhaled a deep sigh of relief. At least there was hope—despite investigating half the site, no one had been found buried in the debris.

“And there’s a letter from Marquess Cellon that must be delivered to Your Highness.”

Rachel handed Velia a letter, which she opened and read with a puzzled expression:

Your Highness,
I apologize for omitting formalities due to urgency.
I will go straight to the point.
The First Prince knows that I am an executive of Lunes. Recently, he even asked if Your Highness had come to see me. It seems he suspects something.
I told him that when you were Princess Ronica, you had visited Lunes and sold valuable information. I also clarified that I, being under the Marquess Cellon, received training as an heir and had not met you separately.
The First Prince’s suspicion means I cannot contact you for the time being. Please proceed through the clinic’s administrator.
I will remain by the First Prince’s side to ease his suspicions. This may cause you some inconvenience, but I trust you will handle it wisely.
I will contact you again when the Second Prince returns. Please stay safe.
-Rain

Velia gritted her teeth, then brought the letter to the candle, lit it, and tossed it into the fireplace.

“Is it bad news?”

“…It seems contact with Derek will be impossible for now.”

“And the search…?”

Rachel asked with concern.

“That can continue with the administrator. The only issue is that the First Prince suspects him slightly.”

“Oh my.”

“But it’ll be fine. He’s smart,” Velia said, smiling faintly.

In their previous life, he had been one of the First Prince’s closest aides, yet Derek had always been loyal to Velia. Even when she was abandoned by the emperor, Derek had brought her gifts under the guise of official visits.

We shared so many conversations back then.

He would be the key in this struggle. Raoul didn’t know about the bond between Velia and Derek. He would remain unaware that the strongest ally was already in her hands.

“Derek said he would contact me when Khalid returns. It won’t take long,” Velia thought, drawing great comfort from the letter.

The search party included knights. Despite checking half the site, the lack of evidence gave her hope.

“Yes. He must be safe.”

Yet if Raoul, like her, remembered the future, their plans were in jeopardy. Everything she had prepared for this year’s harsh winter could become useless.

“Rachel,” Velia called in a firm voice.

Rachel looked at her immediately.

“There’s no evidence, but this incident was likely orchestrated by the First Prince,” Velia said. Rachel nodded.

“Now that Khalid, the Marquess, and the knights are gone, it’s natural to feel uneasy. But we can’t lose. We’ve built too much, and it will bear fruit for us.”

She still intended to secure the people’s support for the empire. This was not the time to hide in the palace. She had to go out, meet the people, and let their cheers reach the imperial palace.

“We’ll resume public activities. I’ll inform you once the schedule is set, Rachel.”

“Yes, Your Highness! I’ll do my best to help!”

“Let’s hold on a little longer. Everyone will return safely.”

The day Khalid comes back…

She would make his foundation stronger.

And if Khalid returns safely…

I’ll tell him I feel the same. That I love him.