Chapter 87
When Hans held out the tray, Franz raised one eyebrow and picked up the letter.
“Grenville?”
“Yes.”
“They say it was sent by Mr. Murray.”
“Really?”
“If it were urgent, he would have sent a telegram. What could it be?”
Franz carelessly tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter. His casual air vanished the moment he read the first line, and he asked urgently:
“When did this arrive?”
“They say it came yesterday afternoon. Lindbergh placed it on your desk, and I checked it this morning. Is it something urgent?”
Franz let out a sigh instead of replying and began to read the letter carefully.
To my dear Prince Franz,
I take up my pen with regret that I cannot greet you in person. I hope you will kindly understand.
First, thank you for everything until now. The social season will be ending soon, so it seems my role has come to an end as well.
It looks like today will be the last. I am going to Phaerix. I will be studying art there at the National Academy. All of this is thanks to you, Your Highness. Your plan was a complete success.
From our first meeting, filled with doubts, until now, I have always been sorry and grateful. I have so much to thank you for, and yet I can only leave these words in a letter—I am truly sorry.
I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me. Nor will I forget my memories in Grenville. I had so much I wanted to say, but in the end, all I can say is thank you.
I sincerely pray that you will meet someone truly meant for you.
With wishes for your happiness,
Iella Clarence.
“Hah!”
The laugh burst out of Franz involuntarily—half in disbelief, half in shock. It wasn’t amusement but hollow laughter, and his eyes were cold. Hans, watching from the side, fidgeted nervously.
“Hans.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Hans, already tense, answered quickly.
“Check if Iella Clarence’s name is on the passenger list of the ship bound for Phaerix. Immediately.”
Traveling to Phaerix by train had its limits. She would almost certainly have gone by ship, so she would have to pass through the harbor.
At the icy command, Hans’s eyes widened in shock. It was incomprehensible, unthinkable. If it was true, this was no small matter—it was an outright scandal.
“Yes, understood.”
For now, understanding didn’t matter. Obeying the urgent order did.
What kind of bolt from the blue was this, so early in the morning? He rushed off toward the harbor. Every second counted.
He could only pray that the ship to Phaerix wasn’t today—or, if it was, that it hadn’t left yet.
At the harbor, he ran breathlessly into the office. He was panting so hard he thought he might collapse.
The two clerks inside looked up, startled by the sudden intrusion.
“What’s the matter, sir?”
“Ah, hello.”
Even while gasping for breath, Hans forced himself to continue speaking.
“The, the ship to Phaerix—when is it?”
“Phaerix? You’re late. Today’s ship has already departed. The next one won’t be for three days.”
“It’s left already?”
Hans nearly collapsed into the sofa in shock.
“It left two hours ago, at 9 o’clock. It’s now 11.”
“Did someone run off with stolen money or something?”
“No, nothing like that… But may I check the passenger list for that ship?”
“That is not allowed.”
The once-friendly clerk suddenly shook his head firmly. Left with no choice, Hans pulled out his credentials from inside his jacket. The royal seal on the document proved he was in service to the royal family.
“There is something I must confirm. Please, I beg you.”
“Oh! Why didn’t you say so earlier? You there, hurry and bring the passenger list!”
The older clerk ordered the younger one, who quickly brought over a stack of papers.
“This is the passenger list for this week.”
Hans started scanning today’s passenger list first. With over two thousand names, finding the one he wanted was not easy. The clerks, perhaps moved by his urgency, offered to help.
“Who are you looking for? If we search together, it will be faster.”
“Thank you. The name is Iella Clarence.”
“Iella Clarence… Understood. Let’s check quickly.”
The three of them spread the papers across the table and searched together. After about twenty minutes, the younger clerk suddenly shouted:
“Found it! Here!”
He handed over the sheet, and Hans’s eyes fell on the name.
[Iella Clarence]
The sight of it made Hans groan aloud.
“Ah…”
He had desperately prayed her name wouldn’t appear on today’s list.
But it had. His legs gave out beneath him, and he sank down, dazed.
“Is this the person you were looking for?”
“Yes.”
“You look quite shaken. Are you all right?”
“I… I am fine. Just shocked, that’s all…”
“Shall I bring you some water?”
“No, thank you. You’ve already helped me enough.”
Hans forced himself back to his feet. There was no time to waste.
While Hans was at the harbor, Franz was already preparing to depart.
He didn’t even know how many times he had reread the letter. No matter how often, it didn’t make sense. It was absurd—utterly ridiculous. He found himself laughing, again and again, at the sheer nonsense of it.
What the hell had gone wrong? Where had this twisted mess begun? The more he replayed the situation in his head, the less he understood.
What was the problem? It felt like the world was mocking him, playing some cruel trick. It didn’t just ruin his mood—it enraged him.
Iella hadn’t lied to him, and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been deceived somehow.
In front of his desk, Lindbergh stood with his head hung low, like a criminal. Every time Franz gave a bitter laugh, Lindbergh flinched and paled.
Finally, the door opened, and Hans returned. Franz, still seated with a dark aura about him, glanced up briefly before turning back to the letter.
“Well? Was her name on the list? When?”
His voice was calm, even laced with laughter. But Hans knew. He knew how hard the prince was fighting to suppress his emotions.
That knowledge made it all the harder to speak. But he couldn’t stay silent forever.
“She was on the passenger list for the ship that departed to Phaerix this morning at 9 o’clock.”
Hans drew in a deep breath and added:
“And her boarding was confirmed. She did get on the ship.”
“With whom?”
“She was accompanied by Lady Bernie Linton.”
“….”
Franz said nothing. He turned his chair and gazed out the window for a long time.
‘I’ve come to see Miss Clarence.’
‘Our Iella isn’t well enough to see Your Highness.’
‘Is she very unwell?’
‘Surely Your Highness knows better than I. In any case, she cannot meet you today. Forgive the discourtesy, but I must ask you to leave.’
That day, Mrs. Clarence’s icy tone had been unprecedented. She had looked at him with eyes full of reproach, as if Iella’s illness were entirely his fault.
Iella was sick because of him?
He was the host of the ball, yes, but it wasn’t as if he’d caused her suffering. What was that resentment about?
He couldn’t recall doing anything deserving of such blame. The whole thing felt strange.
“I must go to Billn.”
“Yes, I will prepare immediately.”
Hans answered without hesitation and hurried out of the office.
As Franz rose from his chair, Lindbergh—who had been standing nervously the whole time—finally dared to speak.
“My apologies.”
Franz stopped mid-step and cast him a cold glance.
“The words I hate most are ‘I’m sorry.’ Anyone can make a mistake. But I do not tolerate the same mistake twice. Do you understand me?”
“Yes! I will work harder!”
“Not harder. Better.”
Franz held his gaze until Lindbergh bowed deeply and shouted, “Yes!”
Franz left the office, and Lindbergh quickly followed, heart pounding at the chilling sight of the prince’s back.
Meanwhile, in the Clarence residence, Laura Clarence was doing embroidery in the parlor when she was startled by unexpected news.
“What? Who’s come?”
“Prince Franz Princeton wishes to see you, madam,” the young footman said.
Laura casually picked up her embroidery hoop again.
“Why didn’t you tell him Iella isn’t here?”
“He didn’t ask for the young lady—he asked for you, madam.”
“For me?”
Laura’s eyes widened, surprised not only at the sudden royal visit but also at the fact that the prince wanted to see her instead of Iella.
“What should I do?”
“Wait a moment.”
She sat in silence for a while, deep in thought. Why had he come here? What could he possibly want to say to her? She couldn’t imagine.
“You asked for me?”
When Laura entered the parlor, Franz and Hans rose politely to greet her.
“Good day, Lady Clarence.”
“Well, not really a good day,” Laura replied coldly.
To her, Iella’s sudden departure for Phaerix felt entirely the prince’s fault. Her resentment was still directed straight at him.
“I thought you had something to say to me, so I came to hear it.”
“To you? Did I?”
“Am I mistaken?”
“I think you are. Perhaps you don’t know, but I’ve been on edge because of my eldest daughter’s situation.”
Laura’s voice was calm, hiding the resentment that simmered underneath. No matter her bitterness, he was still the Prince of Lapland.
She couldn’t forever lash out at him just because he had courted her daughter and then failed to propose. After all, it had been Iella who had turned down countless suitors and left of her own accord.
