Chapter 16
Dale, Crown Prince Heilon’s aide, appeared in a hurry and led me to the same audience chamber as before.
Unlike the previous time when I had arrived first and waited for him, Heilon was already seated, waiting for me.
“I pay my respects to the Second Sun of the Empire.”
As I bowed first, his expression betrayed a flicker of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected my greeting.
“My lady… what brings you here?”
Did he genuinely not know, or was he pretending ignorance?
His question irked me, but I remained silent and had the page deliver the items he had sent to me. One by one, they were placed carefully on the table.
Once the last item was set, I dismissed the page. Heilon’s gaze flicked repeatedly between the objects and me, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
“What is all this?”
Sitting upright, he examined each item I had laid out.
I spoke, my voice sharper than intended.
“Please refrain from speaking irresponsibly. Aren’t these the things Your Highness sent to me?”
Heilon said nothing, only staring at the items as if lost in thought.
Seeing him avoid giving an answer, my patience wore thin. I let out a deep sigh and spoke again.
“You surely understand that sending items without notifying me first is impolite. I won’t ask for anything more than that, but I do expect an apology.”
I had no illusions that he would apologize willingly.
Yet after holding back for so long, today I would extract one from him, no matter how long it took.
A small bead of sweat formed at my fingertips, betraying my tension. Heilon lifted his gaze from the items and slowly parted his lips.
“There is no reason for you to cover for my negligence, my lady. Nor do I expect you to. This was my mistake. I am truly sorry, my lady.”
‘Huh?’
An apology. I had received an apology.
It came easily, but it felt genuine—the first time I had ever received one from him.
My heart twisted like brambles at how effortlessly he could have done this all along.
‘If you could do this, why…?’
A soft breath escaped me, almost inaudible, and Heilon paused before continuing cautiously.
“You don’t need to accept it immediately. There’s no need to feel burdened. But as for these items… wouldn’t it be better to accept them?”
“Excuse me?”
I blinked, my voice escaping reflexively.
The table was laden with dresses whose value was hard to estimate, countless pieces of jewelry, and other expensive items—far beyond what a countess’s daughter might indulge in.
Even putting aside the extravagance, the real issue was that I had no intention of using anything he sent.
“No, that’s unnecessary. I find it a little uncomfortable to accept such gifts.”
Truthfully, even this situation was awkward.
Many nobles must have already caught wind of my frequent visits to the palace. Between the coming-of-age ceremony and circulating rumors, it was exhausting enough without complicating matters further.
I pressed my fingers to my furrowed brow, releasing the tension with a slow exhale. Heilon, watching me, nodded slightly with a subtle expression.
“I see. I hadn’t considered it fully.”
His frank acknowledgment left me momentarily speechless. Had he always been like this?
‘Perhaps he simply has no reason to cling to me now that other prospective crown princesses exist.’
No matter the path, it worked in my favor. It was time to end this particular connection.
“Well, then. I shall take my leave.”
As I rose, the awkward air pressing down, Heilon’s gaze lingered on a particular item on the table—a tiara.
“Do you dislike the idea of becoming crown princess that much?”
My fingertips twitched. His expression was calm, unchanged as always, yet today it carried a weight I could not ignore.
I felt a surge of irritation and injustice.
Why are you making that expression?
Past memories clashed with the present moment, and my emotions flared dangerously close to shouting. But no matter my anger, I could not raise my voice to the crown prince. I inhaled deeply, exhaling repeatedly to regain control.
“Yes. I do not wish it.”
In the end, I could not hide my refusal.
“My answer remains the same, no matter how many times Your Highness asks. So please, do not insist. There are countless young ladies more suitable than I in the social circles alone.”
The court was filled with alternatives far superior to me. Those who could easily take the place of a crown princess if he wished.
Even if he desired someone to simply fill the role quietly, there would be no shortage of candidates willing to step up.
Then why was he so fixated on me?
“I come from an ordinary count’s family, long past its prime. Why, then, must it be me?”
I wanted nothing to do with that hellish position.
He stared at me for a moment, then turned his eyes away, his smile vanishing.
“Indeed… why must it be you, my lady?”
His cryptic words hung between us, leaving only silence that refused to dissipate.
A knock at the door broke the moment, and Dale entered.
“Your Highness, a guest is waiting in the study.”
“…I’ll be there shortly.”
Heilon rose from his seat, and I bowed again.
“Thank you for granting me an audience.”
“Travel safely.”
Patting Dale on the shoulder, he sent him to guide me. I nodded, and Dale escorted me to the carriage, leaving the palace behind.
Whether fortunately or not, I had no time to dwell on the meeting.
High-ranking nobles had finally begun visiting Raisen.
Not only those summoned by other nobles, but anyone wishing to form ties with them also came to Raisen.
With Cheprin, Maritian, Jin, and myself handling administration, the paperwork easily doubled in volume.
I had underestimated the ripple effect.
The nobles arriving were not ordinary—they wielded influence across multiple regions, capable of affecting the capital itself.
Yet this brought a problem:
‘The issue is me…’
Raisen had belonged to the Marquis of Linotein, a high-ranking noble with extensive connections.
Those familiar with him would know me, and thus I could expect scrutiny.
Would they see me as a naive girl, or a spoiled noblewoman obsessed with wealth?
Neither would bode well. While the club could thrive now, the foundations could crumble under their distrust if mishandled.
I could not allow such a trivial ruin of something I had built.
With so many nobles arriving, it was finally time for me to step forward.
“Time to meet our VIPs.”
I had preparations to make.
I picked up a sheet of stationery and quickly wrote in bold black ink:
“Increase VIP benefits. Prepare information and people in advance. If insufficient, use some of Raisen’s income.”
After a moment’s thought, I added a few more lines:
“I won’t be able to manage Raisen for a while. Jin will handle the tasks I oversee. Please take care.”
A few days later.
“This is ridiculous!”
“What is?”
Maisha, adjusting my belt, gave me a sharp look.
“Why does the young lady have to go all that way herself? Outside the capital too!”
She yanked at my belt with more force, and the ribbon wound tightly around my waist. The ends seemed imbued with her mischief.
“Enough, Maisha. There’s a reason I have to go, and it’s not far from the capital.”
“Then take me with you!”
“Maisha—”
“It will take over a week. Who will assist you if I’m not there?”
“I can manage my own body. You stay with Mother.”
As we argued, a familiar, gentle voice interrupted from the doorway.
“Take Maisha with you.”
“Mother!”
She had somehow overheard and entered the room.
“One helper is needed for you. I cannot approve of you going alone.”
Maisha grinned triumphantly, mouthing: ‘I’ll pack my things.’
‘Oh…’
I tried to protest again, but Mother’s determined expression left me no room.
“…Very well, I understand.”
Reluctantly conceding, I nodded. Maisha dashed out, excited.
“Understand, she worries for your safety,” Mother said softly.
I acknowledged her with a smile, lifting the heavy bag prepared beside me.
“I’ll be back soon, Mother. Please don’t worry too much.”
She ruffled my hair with a complex expression.
“I don’t know when you grew so much… I still see you as so young.”
Her gaze was both bittersweet and proud.
“Take care of yourself,” I said quickly, blinking back an odd sting at the corners of my eyes, and stepped out of the room.
