Chapter 69 …
I know Lucius’s personality better than anyone. There’s no way I could just let him slide.
Tolerance is a word far removed from him, yet right now, he seemed almost indifferent to the scandal.
“I just called you out because I wanted to go on a date with you. That’s all. I don’t believe the stories in the newsletters. What, ‘Puppy’ this and that… you said you were completely drunk when you blurted it out, right? Then it seems the existence of this ‘Puppy’ guy is real… Is that really your type?”
“We are not that kind of relationship, Your Highness.”
“Not that kind of relationship, yet you keep this ‘Puppy’ around. If I told you to get rid of him, would you? Isn’t that something you should comply with, at least if you’re dating me with marriage in mind?”
“…Even after marriage, if Your Highness wishes it, I will follow your will.”
Lucius, who had been quietly watching me, let out a flat, deflating laugh, waved his hand dismissively, and leaned back lazily in his chair.
“Fine. Your reaction is boring.”
“Pardon?”
“I thought you’d at least show a bit of shock when I mentioned ‘Puppy,’ or be flustered, not knowing what to do. But you answered calmly as if you’d expected it. Ah, although I have to admit, the moment you spit out your tea was quite impressive. That alone made the scandal worth it.”
After that, Lucius didn’t bring up Puppy again.
I also didn’t deliberately talk about Puppy, but seeing Lucius seemingly indifferent to him, I didn’t know how to respond.
‘Is this apology enough? Or should I make it clear in more detail that there’s nothing between us?’
Before I could even decide, Lucius continued.
“I won’t ask about this ‘Puppy’ anymore. Even if I dig deeper, it won’t make our relationship any better. But one thing is certain: if this ‘Puppy’ ever causes me harm in any way, you deal with him.”
“Deal with him?”
“Kill him, if necessary. After all, you said he’s a slave brought from a foreign land. He’s not an important person, right?”
Seeing Lucius speak with a grin, I was once again certain: as expected, he was saying insane things without exception.
‘He’s saying he won’t ask about the existence, so I have to deal with Puppy myself? What the—!’
My mouth felt dry, but I tried not to show it.
The social season would soon begin, and once the nobles gathered, rumors about Puppy would spread even more.
But unfortunately, I had no intention of killing Puppy immediately.
“I don’t want to kill him.”
His eyebrows arched sharply at my answer. As if thinking, How dare you? Lucius tilted his head challenging me, daring me to defy him.
“I haven’t kept him for my selfish desires. I only have him for other purposes.”
“What purpose? He’s not a parrot, repeating the same words. Daphne.”
“…I have him to debut in society, Your Highness.”
Lucius, who had been wearing an expression of boredom, now looked slightly intrigued.
“Currently, it’s not the royal family but the House of Duke Caleb and their relatives who dominate society. The Empress cannot attend gatherings properly while caring for the Emperor, and Your Highness seems uninterested in society, so the Duke of Caleb is trying to use this to his advantage.”
“Caleb has always been loyal to the royal family. As his trading business grew, his influence expanded, so it’s natural he’d try to gain social leverage.”
“Do you know how the Duke of Caleb grew his trade empire? He didn’t always operate by legitimate means. Individual corruption may not matter, but someone wielding the palace’s shield becoming corrupt diminishes not only the Duke’s house but the Empire’s honor, doesn’t it?”
These weren’t words for a first date, but it couldn’t be helped.
To distract Lucius even a little, I needed something to capture his attention.
As expected, his eyes sharpened. At the mention of the Empire’s honor, he nodded, as if to say, Go on. But I had no intention of revealing everything tonight.
“I’ll stop here for today. I’ll tell you the rest next time.”
“Next time?”
“Yes. After all, today is the day we planned to go on a date.”
“So you’re letting it slide like this?”
“You care more about the Duke than this date with me, it seems. If that’s the case, I’ll return to the castle immediately, gather the necessary materials and evidence, and report formally to the palace. Time is tight, so I’ll take my leave for now.”
As I stood up, Lucius grabbed my hand again and guided me back into the chair.
“Alright. Let’s leave this matter here. Daphne, you have a new way of shutting people up.”
“How could I possibly silence the Crown Prince, Your Highness?”
Even as I said that, I was inwardly relieved that he stopped me. My investigation into Duke Caleb was far from complete, and I hadn’t planned to bring it up in this way tonight anyway.
‘I didn’t plan to report like this, but somehow I ended up talking around it, and now it’s come this far.’
Of course, I hadn’t fabricated anything. Unlike the official report, it was true that Caleb engaged in illegal trade, and it was also true that I intended to debut Puppy in society.
But this could make it seem like I deliberately acquired Puppy to prevent Caleb from dominating society and shaped him to appeal to the nobles.
‘When he said to “deal” with Puppy, he looked sincere. If I replied carelessly, Lucius might actually try to kill Puppy.’
Once again, I had to applaud Lucius’s utterly reckless personality. He was a character I created, but truly remarkable.
Luckily, the course dishes began to arrive, allowing the conversation about Puppy to drift away naturally.
Of course, it helped that Lucius didn’t press the matter.
From there, the date proceeded fairly normally.
Half out of curiosity, half out of politeness, we talked about our preferences and values while eating dessert, then went for a walk and strolled through the shopping streets.
Surprisingly, Lucius and I shared many tastes.
Favorite colors, foods, teas, desserts; disliked colors, foods, teas, desserts. Even in small details, our preferences aligned. I thought, Maybe it’s just because I gave him a “broken personality” setting; I didn’t know he had such tastes.
“It seems our tastes match better than I thought, don’t they, Daphne?”
“Yes. Only ‘better than I thought,’ though.”
Lucius didn’t seem different or make my heart flutter, so I drew the line clearly. He laughed heartily.
The sun was slowly dipping below the hills. It seemed we should leave soon to avoid arriving too late.
“I booked the hotel where you’ll stay. You should sleep there tonight.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry—I’m not scheming. You wouldn’t need to sleep if Puppy weren’t around, right?”
“Don’t tease me. I merely have an appointment.”
“An appointment?”
“I promised my niece I’d return on time. She’s still young and seems anxious being apart from me. Please understand.”
“Then the dinner banquet will have to be canceled. You clearly cherish your niece. Very well, I’ll let it go today. But soon, Miss Dioana must realize that her aunt can’t always be by her side.”
“Dioana already understands. I just don’t want to let her go yet.”
“You love your niece like a child.”
“I raise her with the care of a parent… though I still have much to learn.”
“Then I have nothing more to say. But I think it’s better if I sleep over. Look at the sky. Judging by the clouds, it may rain tonight.”
I looked up. The clouds above the orange sky were heavy and dense, like wet cotton.
But it’s not the rainy season yet; even if it rains, how much would it matter? We might arrive before the downpour.
Thinking so, I shook my head, and Lucius said nothing further.
“It’s a pity to let you go just like this.”
“Since when did you become so sentimental?”
“Change that tone of drawing lines. We agreed on three dates, and if you keep drawing lines the same way, I can’t cross them.”
“Is it necessary for you to cross them?”
“Of course. In married life, the bedroom is a significant matter. You need to see if we’re compatible. For me, nothing is more important.”
“I also consider that important, but I think my tone of drawing lines doesn’t interfere. If a single tone can prevent crossing, then it’s not a line—it’s a wall. Falling off a high wall hurts a lot.”
Lucius raised his hands in surrender, smiling.
“Your lines are like traps; one wrong step and the wall could fall on me.”
Then, with a composed smile, he added that I should watch my step to avoid being crushed.
“Then, until next time, Crown Prince.”
“Lucius. Call me Lucius from now on.”
“Understood, Lucius, Your Highness.”
“You know very well that’s not what I want.”
“…Understood, Lucius.”
