Chapter 9
Lloyd looked at me as if to say—
If you dragged me here for something trivial, you’ll regret it.
It was a little early, but in this situation, the only card I could play…
was his secret.
Even though we were in a private room, I lowered my voice as if being extremely cautious and spoke just loud enough for him to hear.
“You possess the light attribute, don’t you?”
His jewel-like eyes widened.
“And you’re hiding it so the Grand Temple doesn’t find out.”
“How do you know?”
Lloyd muttered quietly, clearly aware of how sensitive this was.
Then, in the same low voice, he asked,
“What exactly are you? Who else knows? Don’t tell me the duchess knows this secret as well—”
“Please calm down.”
I spoke gently, trying to settle him.
“I’m the only one who knows. And I’m very good at keeping secrets. No one—not the Grand Temple nor anyone else—will learn of it from me.”
But he still looked unconvinced.
So—
I decided to reveal my secret.
The one I had fabricated together with Theor.
“Do you see this?”
I gathered dark magic in my hand and formed a shadow similar to Theor’s.
“…Darkness attribute!”
Lloyd immediately recognized it.
He raised his voice in surprise, then quickly glanced at the door and lowered it again.
“Why do you have the darkness attribute?”
One of my ancestors had a child with a former grand duke. The darkness attribute was passed down through that lineage—and now, in this generation, it has manifested in me.”
“…!”
“My case is a bit different from yours, Your Highness. You were born with two attributes, weren’t you?”
“The light attribute is a secret known only to His Majesty, the Emperor. Everyone else who saw or heard of it at my birth… was killed.”
That alone showed how dangerous his secret was.
If the Grand Temple found out, they would use it politically—
claiming that even the royal family stood beneath them, since light was considered the closest power to the divine.
Thankfully, the Northern Grand Duke’s family opposed the Temple, and Theor’s darkness attribute kept them in check.
“You meet Caroline often because of the light attribute, don’t you? And to hide that, you treat my sister—Lady Perioze—coldly.”
A shadow crossed Lloyd’s face.
“It’s not easy for me either.”
That unexpected answer made me realize something.
Right now—
He didn’t hate Pere as much as he did in the original story.
“I have no choice. The duchess, who knows nothing, keeps interfering with my meetings with Lady Caroline.”
I leaned forward slightly, eyes shining.
“So you don’t dislike my sister?”
Lloyd let out a quiet, tired laugh.
“She is my top candidate for a fiancée. Why would I dislike her?”
“Then why treat her so coldly? Just because she interferes with your meetings with Caroline?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I must develop this power in secret. And for that, I need Lady Caroline, who has already awakened the light attribute. You should know light and darkness are supposed to appear only once per generation.”
“But that’s not entirely true, is it? I have darkness as well.”
It wasn’t true at all—but I said it confidently.
Lloyd nodded slightly.
“There are always exceptions in this world.”
His eyes gleamed faintly.
“Anyway,” I continued, “I’m the only one who knows your secret. And I won’t tell anyone.”
I added that if his secret were ever revealed, it wouldn’t be because of me—
but possibly the Emperor, Lloyd himself…
or Caroline.
(I subtly emphasized her name, since in the original story, she was the one who let it slip.)
Lloyd shook his head.
“There’s no need to worry. Lady Caroline doesn’t know about my power. She only thinks I have an interest in the light attribute.”
I nodded.
“That’s good. Words spread faster than you think. Until you’re absolutely certain she can keep a secret, it’s better to be cautious.”
“I intend to.”
Then he narrowed his eyes slightly.
“But how did you really find out?”
“It’s hard to explain… I just felt it.”
“…Felt it?”
“Yes. Like an instinct. Something… supernatural, maybe.”
His eyebrow twitched.
“So you’re saying you guessed?”
“Let’s just say it’s not an instinct ordinary people have.”
I smiled casually.
“Anyway, I’ve promised to take this secret to the grave. So you should trust me.”
“Words are cheap.”
“Exactly. Words are the cheapest thing in the world.”
I nodded, then raised three fingers.
“So let’s make a deal. Three wishes.”
Lloyd’s expression turned cold.
“Do you think that’s appropriate right now?”
“Yes.”
I answered without hesitation.
His eyes widened slightly.
“Be honest, Your Highness. You don’t expect me to keep such a heavy secret for free, do you?”
Then I lowered my voice and added softly,
“You could easily kill me. But I’m not reckless—I’ve prepared for that possibility. So don’t think eliminating me will solve anything. If I die without a trace, this secret will be revealed to the world.”
He looked at me as if to ask, How?
I just smiled.
“You know better than I do that even a rumor of the Crown Prince possessing the light attribute would be enough for the Grand Temple to act.”
His face stiffened.
Of course it did.
The temple had always tried to control the imperial family using “divine will.”
And to them, light belonged to the Temple—not the throne.
I pressed further.
“The moment your power is exposed, the Temple will celebrate. And then, under the pretense of being God’s representatives, they’ll turn the royal family into puppets.”
Lloyd pressed his lips together.
He had clearly thought about this before.
Then—
I opened my palm and formed a sphere of dark magic.
It pulsed like a beating heart.
“And this is my secret. If the temple learns of it, they’ll label it evil and come for my life.”
“……”
“We’re already in the same boat, Your Highness.”
I met his gaze steadily.
“The choice is yours. If you take my hand—then when you become emperor, I’ll make sure the Grand Temple can’t even step into your shadow.”
His eyes wavered.
I didn’t miss it.
“Three wishes.”
I wiggled my fingers slightly, smiling in a harmless way—softening the threat.
“If you grant me three wishes, I’ll use everything I have—my power, my wealth, my connections—to protect your secret and shield you from the Temple.”
Silence filled the room.
Lloyd seemed to think for a moment.
Then—
He let out a quiet, resigned laugh.
“You’re quite insolent.”
“You have to be shameless to survive.”
“…Fine.”
His expression turned serious.
“I’ll grant you three wishes. But only within my ability.”
Yes!
I cheered inwardly and smiled brightly.
“Of course, Your Highness!”
