Chapter 46
“The red gemstone set in it is made from Sidevan’s eye.”
People often called him the mermaid of the sea, and the golden bracelet set with Sidevan’s red eyes made everyone gasp.
The value of a single Sidevan’s eye equaled the annual budget of high-ranking nobles.
And this wasn’t just one—it was a bracelet inlaid with several. Terran alternated his gaze between the bracelet and Perrphone.
It was inconceivable how a man who looked barely in his early twenties could possess such extraordinary jewels.
“Decide whether you’ll take it or not. If you refuse, I’ll go elsewhere.”
Perrphone spoke openly about going elsewhere right in front of him. Terran, who would sell his soul for money, smiled brightly and replied:
“Please tell me exactly what information you want, sir. I’ll look into it accordingly.”
Even if it ended up being a futile effort like two years ago, the payment for this request was worth taking the job.
The guest who had come after the guildmaster agreed to take the work, Perrphone took a short breath and spoke.
“All information on April Hill Rise, from the moment the princess was found again by the Rise ducal house up to now—everything.”
“Pardon?”
Although she specified a certain period, asking for ten years’ worth of information was impossible.
Seeing the guildmaster’s startled face, Perrphone smiled.
“You should pay that much if you’re receiving Sidevan’s eyes.”
“Well, I know the princess is twenty-three now. Even a young master is a bit harsh.”
“So you won’t do it?”
“…I will, of course.”
“I’ll give you a year. Find out everything about the princess. Especially—”
“Especially?”
Terran muttered Perrphone’s trailing words like a parrot.
“From three years ago to now.”
No, to be precise, there were times five years ago when Epi had seemed odd.
But a day or two of strangeness would pass, so he didn’t pay much attention…
Until one day—no, precisely three years ago—Epi became completely different.
Her tone, her voice, the way she referred to herself, the memories they shared, the smiles they used to make—all the same as the Epi he knew, but not the Epi he actually knew.
“All real information, rumors circulating in the capital, and gossip behind closed doors.”
And the Epi he had wanted to be betrothed to was not the current April.
“Find out everything about her.”
Because it was the April he knew three years ago.
Without waiting for the guildmaster’s acknowledgment, he left the room.
Even though the guild was disguised as a tavern, some customers and guild members were still creating a lively atmosphere despite the early hour.
The laughter of people and the sharp smell of liquor filled the air.
Closing his eyes slowly, he recalled the past three years.
Those three years were also the time when he often wondered, as April Hill Rise had said, if he had truly gone mad.
“What exactly seems different to you, Your Highness?”
He remembered the April who had cried and clung to him when she first demanded the annulment.
What had he said then?
“Epi.”
As he left the shop and alley, he slightly bowed his head.
“All of you.”
Yes, he had said “all.”
And he faintly recalled April’s face, streaked with tears at his words.
He had thought that if Epi ever cried, it would hurt him so much he’d want to cry in her place—but that day, he didn’t feel anything at all.
She had called his name with a face full of sorrow and resentment.
“Perrphone.”
“Perrphone?”
Hearing a voice that shouldn’t be heard at this time and place, Perrphone slowly turned toward it.
In the quiet city street stood…
“Why are you in the city at this hour, Perrphone?”
It was April.
“I’ll take you to the ducal residence.”
When they left Daryl Village and reached just before the capital, Tamitarte’s offer had to be quietly declined.
If the temple was making a potion to prevent aging for Rosian, and Rosian was protecting the temple’s interests, Tamitarte would surely also be under Rosian’s watch.
The person Rosian, who hadn’t found his father with holy power, would cling to even after death was undoubtedly Tamitarte.
It wouldn’t be good for anyone if it appeared that Tamitarte was close to the ducal house, especially the princess betrothed to the crown prince.
“You can’t make a potion to stop aging. That’s beyond human ability.”
“It’s beyond human ability, but Daniel’s power was not human.”
Tamitarte had said that to him anxiously.
“Be careful with Rosian. If he finds out you have the same power as Daniel, he won’t stay idle.”
“Indeed.”
As he approached the ducal house, he muttered briefly.
Rosian had released a leopard to eliminate Perrphone, but if he knew Perrphone had the same power as his father, he would surely try to exploit it.
Though he told the temple priest not to worry as he was under the ducal house’s supervision, worry still lingered.
He would survive the year under the ducal house—but after that?
As he whispered to himself, It’ll be fine as long as I’m not discovered.
“Epi.”
The nickname carried by the wind made him stop in his tracks.
To hear his nickname at this hour, in this place, so suddenly…
The words following were too soft to hear.
It wasn’t even his real nickname, but perhaps because he had been called “Epi” for a long time, he looked around for who had called him.
During the time he had lived as April, only one person had ever called him Epi.
It was…
“Perrphone?”
He cautiously approached the man standing in the darkness, cloaked.
The word “Epi” seemed more like a mutter than a call.
The man, slightly bowed, slowly lifted his head.
His amber eyes brightened like the sun rising, turning their original golden color.
Perrphone also hadn’t expected to see him in this part of the city at this hour.
“Why are you in the city at this hour, Perrphone?”
“I see the princess is speaking what I should have said.”
He glanced around Perrphone and let out a small laugh of disbelief.
It was a far cry from the kind, gentle Perrphone he had known in the royal court and since childhood.
“Does the duke know the princess is walking alone in danger without guards?”
“Does Sir Lervian know that Your Highness is walking alone like this?”
I spoke without pausing, and he closed his mouth tightly, then turned his head sharply.
By the way, why had Perrphone come out alone at this hour? Judging from the cloak, this part of the city had many taverns.
And also the information guild.
What reason could a crown prince have for visiting a guild? He would have sent his subordinates to gather information rather than going himself.
As Perrphone began to walk, I silently fell in step beside him.
“You must have had something to find out without Sir Lervian knowing.”
“….”
“Time really flies. I can’t believe Your Highness is at the age to make secrets.”
He had chattered constantly beside me as a child. I let out a short smile at the glance he gave.
Now the roles were reversed.
I would be the one chatting beside him. Meeting Perrphone after three years, seeing how different he was from the image in my memory, felt strange.
I wanted to ask about someone he liked, but couldn’t. I sighed quietly.
I also wanted to ask about my relationship with April and whether he knew anything about Rosian and the temple.
After much hesitation, I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Is the reason you want to annul the engagement solely because you’ve found someone else you like?”
“The princess doesn’t seem to trust my words.”
“I wanted to hear the honest reason if there is another.”
“You cried and still want to hear?”
“Huh?”
He looked at me as if he couldn’t understand, even slightly disgusted.
I faltered at the golden eyes glinting with a strange disapproval.
Was there something else between them besides the engagement?
When I hesitated, he continued:
“Because the princess isn’t the same as the princess I knew.”
The unexpected words fell heavily.
