Chapter 64
After I Die, the Little Groom
Epion was wearing a white jacket that perfectly matched his hair color. The sight made him appear more like a cleric than a prince, exuding a kind of sacred aura.
Unlike the guards who were frozen in awe, Nadia felt the mystery of time. Before dying in Rivenya, the boy, only eight years old, couldn’t even be called a prince.
No matter how much the Emperor cherished Tasha, inserting a child born outside into the imperial genealogy wasn’t an easy matter.
At the time, it had been regarded as a common scandal in the royal family, yet the Emperor’s favor hadn’t waned—it had only grown year by year, resulting in this boy becoming a prince.
Whatever she thought internally, Nadia maintained her usual impeccable etiquette as she bowed.
“Your Highness, Prince Epion. I am Nadia of the House of Baron Hess.”
Epion looked down at her, one hand behind his back.
“Rise. You must be the young lady the rumors speak of.”
“Rumors, Your Highness?”
“Too many to count, I imagine. You’re said to be the lover of Duke Baldwin and also the daughter of Baron Hess, who is supposedly running all over the place committing some offense against the imperial family.”
“My father may have made a foolish mistake, but he has never dared to commit an offense against the imperial family. Since the Emperor has graciously given us time, we shall uncover the truth within that period.”
“Hmm…”
Epion tilted his head and studied her face.
She was an unusual woman. Though she had debuted later than her age suggested, her round cheeks still radiated life, making her look a year or two younger than she was.
Yet, when performing formalities, she carried the refined bearing of a noblewoman.
And her gaze… it wasn’t unlike that of aristocrats who, upon seeing Epion after many years, would contemplate the fleeting nature of time.
Epion flicked his eyebrows and finally spoke, his voice carrying the purpose of his visit.
“Does the young lady of House Hess stand here to see Baron Hess?”
“No, Your Highness. I do not presume to request that. I only wish to deliver a letter, informing him that his family is working hard and not to worry.”
Nadia bent her body as much as possible. Though she did not know Epion well, she understood that royals with complex births valued appearances. There was no reason to offend him.
“A letter…”
Epion turned to speak to the guards this time.
“Is there a reason Baron Hess should not receive a letter from his family?”
The guard tensed, replying carefully:
“The rule is that those designated as criminals by the imperial family cannot communicate with the outside. Baron Hess hasn’t been officially convicted, but he may become a criminal of the empire, so we followed protocol.”
“Protocol, huh.”
Epion clicked his tongue and looked at the guard with disdain.
“So you treat someone as a criminal even if they haven’t been convicted, just because of your rules? Do you really think the gracious Emperor would say such a thing?”
“Eh? N-no, I… I merely…”
The guard lowered himself, unsure how to respond, and would soon be on his knees. He knew that even presuming to guess the Emperor’s will was a crime.
“No wonder the young lady of House Hess worries about my father.”
Epion sighed.
“Allow her to deliver the letter to Baron Hess herself. Don’t let your mistake become the imperial family’s mistake.”
The situation was turning extremely favorable for Nadia. She remained still, lips pressed together, seemingly ready to accept it politely.
But inwardly, she couldn’t help but wonder.
“Why is the prince helping me? Does he truly intend to?”
Nadia began reading Epion’s mana.
It contrasted with his handsome face, dark and murky in hue. It was overall gray, like a rainy sky, filled with various negative emotions.
There was inferiority, anger, but also curiosity mingled with mild annoyance.
Most puzzling was that he genuinely seemed to be helping her. She couldn’t discern his specific motives, but his superiority complex suggested that helping her was indeed his intent.
The guard hesitated briefly, but ultimately could not defy the prince’s command.
“Understood. I will bring someone to escort the young lady shortly.”
“Good. My knight will guard the entrance in the meantime, so do not worry.”
After the guard left, Epion fixed his gaze on Nadia. His eyes alone seemed to challenge her: “Don’t you have anything to say?” A strangely honest man, it seemed.
Nadia held her dress gently and bowed.
“Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness. I will not forget this honor.”
“Of course, you shouldn’t forget.”
Epion the prince spoke arrogantly, resting his chin on his finger.
“They say you’re clever… What do you make of this situation?”
The question immediately gave Nadia many clues.
Epion hadn’t appeared here by chance; he had come at a specific time to meet her.
Perhaps the guard was also acting under his orders. That would explain why bribes that normally worked didn’t today.
From all this, there was only one conclusion:
Prince Epion was deliberately indebting Nadia.
Nadia considered her usefulness to him. Currently, society had taken notable interest in her:
A foster daughter who negotiated with Duke Baldwin.
A lady attractive enough to become Baldwin’s lover shortly after.
Appeared in the capital to save her father.
“If I become Prince Epion’s ally, all attention on me would benefit him. Did he orchestrate this to secure his position?”
His motives: merely self-preservation? Or aiming for the throne?
After countless thoughts, Nadia concluded:
“Either way, if I’m not careful, I could get caught up in it.”
She bit her lower lip and hunched her shoulders, lowering her gaze toward her feet. She now appeared like a naive young lady, blind to the world and terrified of royals.
“In my view… the guard tried to overstep imperial authority, so the prince taught him a lesson. The guard erred, but he is foolish and still a subject of the empire, so the prince enveloped him in mercy.”
Epion raised his eyebrows, displeased. Not the answer he expected.
For Nadia, it was the correct one.
“Do you know why I came here?”
“How could I presume, Your Highness? I merely thought, since this is where imperial criminals are held, that the Emperor must have given you an important duty.”
Had Epion known her, he might have realized it was an act. But he cared only about standing above others, not about them personally.
‘Mother seemed to expect much, but she’s just an ordinary girl.’
Epion discarded any small expectations he had held; he was confident that nothing she did would be remarkable.
Still, planting a seed was important. Nobody knew which of the many seeds he had sown would take root.
He spoke to her with an expressionless face, as if instructing her.
“The important duty from the Emperor was given to you, not me. Isn’t that right?”
“…Merely a pawn in the Emperor’s game, nothing more.”
“Hmm, you understand that much.”
Epion spoke casually, then continued.
“As the Emperor’s son and loyal subject, I hope he enjoys the game. So if you need help, you may come to me.”
He showed no pride in saying it. For him, this was a tremendous favor, and the recipient should feel awe. No reason to feel proud of something so natural.
“…It’s an honor, Your Highness.”
Nadia bowed even deeper than before.
Soon after, a guard arrived with an escort, and Nadia, after one more proper bow to Epion, entered the prison.
Epion narrowed his eyes, watching the direction she disappeared.
A woman who yielded exactly as pressed—but strangely, he didn’t feel he had subdued her.
“…I doubt she’ll come asking for help.”
Epion twisted his face in displeasure and abruptly turned away.
