Chapter 10
Clang—
The sword the knight had been holding plunged straight into the ground.
For a moment, the knight who had lost his grip stared blankly at his own hand. Then, snapping back to his senses, he bowed his head toward the man in front of him.
But Cedric had already thrown his sword aside and was walking away with his back to the knight.
“……”
After finishing his morning training, Cedric returned, took a quick shower, and entered his room. However, seated inside the room—where there should have been no one—was an unexpected, unwelcome guest.
Towel-drying his hair, Cedric narrowed his eyes when he saw the man sitting on the sofa.
“Last time you scolded me for running around everywhere. And now you came on your own?”
“……Sit down.”
While Cedric had been at the training grounds, Arthur had already come to his room. Calmly, he lifted his teacup.
Seeing the high-quality tea set on the table, Cedric let out a scoffing laugh.
“You even ordered tea? Looks like you’ve been here a while.”
“About an hour.”
“And yet, for that entire hour, I had no idea you were here.”
The remark was aimed at the attendants who hadn’t reported Arthur’s presence. Cedric shot a sharp glare at the door behind him.
Setting his teacup down, Arthur crossed his long legs.
“I told them not to say anything.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you remember what happened last time I told them? You smashed part of the palace wall.”
“……”
At the cutting reply, Cedric was momentarily left speechless.
No matter how reckless he was, Cedric wasn’t shameless enough to deny the many incidents he’d caused so far.
“So why are you here? You didn’t come all this way just to act crazy in the morning, did you?”
“Just shut up and sit down. I came to check something.”
“Check what?”
What kind of nonsense was that now? Had he done something worth being interrogated over?
As Cedric mentally reviewed the recent trouble he’d caused, he ambled over and plopped down on the sofa.
Crossing his arms as if telling Arthur to go on, Cedric watched him. Arthur lifted his gaze from the teacup, his eyes sharpening.
Setting the cup down with a faint clink, he spoke just one word.
“The Hendron Marquisate.”
“…Ah, damn it.”
That’s what he came to ask about? Leaning back against the sofa, Cedric let out a soft laugh. He’d thought he was handling things fairly quietly.
“So when did you figure that out?”
“Were you roaming around at night because of the Hendron Marquisate?”
“So what if I was?”
“That mouth of yours—”
Swallowing the curse that almost slipped out, Arthur let out a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. As always, that mouth of Cedric’s was the problem.
Arthur grabbed a document envelope beside him and tossed it onto the table. Cedric’s gaze naturally followed it.
Whatever was inside, it looked quite thick.
“Did you run a background check?”
“I was wondering why you were wandering around so much when you’re supposed to be confined.”
“So all you found out is that it’s the Marquisate?”
“That’s hardly ‘all.’”
Staring at the edge of the documents, Arthur continued.
“The Hendron Marquisate has been moving goods toward the Sorviche Mountains lately.”
At that, Cedric’s eyes widened slightly before quickly narrowing.
Just as Arthur said, Cedric had been keeping an eye on the Hendron Marquisate. Their recent movements had been suspicious.
“Of course, the area around the mountains is underdeveloped. They claim it’s support and ship iron there.”
“……”
“But the way things are unfolding is strange.”
Damn it. Draping the towel over his shoulders, Cedric ran a hand through his hair as if his head hurt.
What he’d been digging into on his own was now being poked at with a sharp awl, and the relaxed expression on his face gradually hardened.
Sharp as ever.
“And on the other side of those mountains is Revilia. Shipping iron to that area feels… off.”
“So what are you planning to do about it?”
“If you’re curious, go pay the Hendron Marquisate a visit. There’s a social gathering coming up soon.”
“What?”
At the suggestion tossed his way, Cedric’s handsome face crumpled like paper.
“Are you insane? Why would I go there?”
“The goods heading toward the mountains are leaving from within the Marquisate. If you’re curious, go see for yourself.”
“If you’re so interested, why don’t you go, Brother?”
“I have a meeting that day.”
Unfortunately so. At the infuriating follow-up, Cedric cursed.
“I always end up doing all the dirty work. How am I supposed to go there alone? That’d be embarrassing.”
“If it annoys you that much, drag someone along.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
“I know. So find someone—friend or not—on your own. If you nail the Marquisate, His Majesty will probably lift your confinement.”
“…So basically, you’re telling me to deal with my in-laws.”
There were two simple reasons for wanting to tear the Hendron Marquisate apart.
One was the lingering sense of unease. The other was to get the confinement imposed by the emperor lifted. After being confined for so long, he was starting to feel restless.
To cover up one incident, he just needed to produce an even greater achievement.
But the more he investigated, the more unsettling things he found. He’d already been considering infiltrating the Marquisate anyway.
Still, he didn’t want to attend a tedious social party alone. And there wasn’t exactly anyone suitable to drag along.
—
“Nothing else, really. I just wanted us to get along.”
“Pardon?”
—
…No, wait.
There is one person.
Cedric recalled the black-haired girl who had caught his attention. Thinking back on the conversation they’d had earlier, the corners of his lips lifted on their own.
Watching him with unease, Arthur quietly warned him.
“Don’t kidnap anyone.”
“Hm. True. She probably wouldn’t come even if I did.”
“Who are you talking about?”
Arthur asked, genuinely curious, but Cedric only smiled brightly.
“There’s someone.”
Someone worth bringing along.
“Elly! The dress and jewelry?”
“They’re ready!”
“Hurry and bring the jewels His Highness sent!”
The moment Cedric’s invitation arrived, I was forcibly separated from Mikael.
The maids who barged in out of nowhere ruthlessly dragged me off under the pretense of dressing me up.
Skipping lunch entirely, I spent the entire afternoon being pampered with baths and massages.
Even the bath was in a much better place than the one I usually used.
This is amazing. Seriously.
Power really is the best!
Skillfully hiding my thoroughly capitalistic thoughts, I sprawled out on the sofa.
Now I get why people get massages.
As hands kneaded my body, a contented purr slipped from my lips like a cat’s.
Hearing it, the maid working on my legs let out a small laugh.
When I turned my head at the unexpected sound, she hurriedly bowed.
“I-I’m sorry! You were just too cute, I couldn’t help it—”
“…Huh?”
That word was the last thing I’d expected. Cute? That was a first.
It was a bit embarrassing, but since it was a compliment, it didn’t feel entirely bad.
“…It’s fine. Just keep going.”
“Yes!”
At my reply, the maid clenched her fists and sparkled with enthusiasm.
I felt like I was being completely trapped by her shining eyes. Watching her overwhelming motivation in a daze, I started to feel uneasy.
And just as I’d feared, she—and the other maids—didn’t leave me alone.
“Your hair is so beautiful!”
“Your features are so striking that you’ll look great in all kinds of colors!”
As soon as the massage ended, the maids dressed me in the gown Cedric had sent and seated me in front of the vanity.
Sitting there absentmindedly, I watched as they each picked up different makeup tools.
After blinking my eyes just a few times, half my makeup was already done.
They’re insanely fast.
Back when I did my own makeup, it took forever.
And they’ll remove it later, too.
Once again, I savored the thrill of power.
“How would you like your hair styled?”
“Half-up.”
Having always believed that ponytails and half-up styles were the ultimate classics, I answered without hesitation. At my serious gaze, the maids’ expressions turned almost reverent.
Apparently, they thought the same.
Placing a white flower into my half-up hair, a maid lifted her already raised cheekbones even higher.
“I had no idea His Highness had such good taste!”
“And the flowers from the main palace are just gorgeous!”
“Y-yeah.”
I nodded vaguely in agreement.
Honestly, more than his sense, what surprised me was that Cedric had sent not just a dress but all the accessories as well.
What is he thinking?
I’d assumed it was a joke. I hadn’t expected Cedric to actually invite me to dinner.
Not only me, but even Mikael—he’d sent gifts along with the invitation.
At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder what his true intentions were. I had no idea what he was thinking.
It’s not like he suddenly misses his family or feels apologetic.
If anything, it seemed more realistic that he was sizing up when to kill someone.
“Your Highness, white suits you so well!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Until now, he’s only ever given… necks as gifts—ah, no, I mean other things! This is the first time he’s gifted a dress like this!”
…I heard the ‘necks’ part. Loud and clear.
But unable to bring myself to ask about it, I turned my head away.
After some time passed—just when my mind was starting to feel fuzzy—I finally heard the signal that everything was done.
Caught off guard, I widened my eyes the moment I looked into the mirror.
Whoa.
Staring dumbly at the woman reflected there, I pinched my cheek lightly. No, seriously—this face is supposed to be a supporting character?
“Ah! You shouldn’t pinch yourself!”
“Mm……”
I nearly grabbed the mirror, barely managing to swallow.
I knew I was pretty to begin with, but seeing myself become even prettier almost drove me crazy.
With my fair skin, the pure white dress suited me perfectly.
Wow. This is kind of unreal.
Is this what it feels like when celebrities go to a styling shop?
As I kept staring at the mirror, the maids behind me puffed out their chests proudly.
Just then, as dinner time drew near, an attendant came to call me.
“His Highness the prince has arrived.”
“Alright.”
When I stood up, the attendant’s eyes widened briefly before he hastily turned away.
But my attention was fully captured by the long, flowing dress, so I carefully gathered the hem without sparing him a glance.
I’d better walk carefully.
The skirt was so long that I felt like I might trip if I wasn’t careful.
The heels weren’t familiar either, so I had no choice but to steady my ankles.
“?”
But the moment I stepped out of the room as gracefully as I could, a large shadow fell over me.
When I lifted my head, I saw silver hair as white as my dress.
“Wife?”
