TBSIVD~11

While hesitating over whether to ask or not, Blake arrived in front of the reception room and stepped inside.

Blake, seated on a deep green velvet sofa inside the white marble reception room, finally spoke.

“Is there any report today?”

At those words, Ronald—who had been completely distracted by the bird’s nest on the back of Blake’s head—flinched in shock and hurriedly pulled out his report documents.

And just like that, he immediately forgot about the bird’s nest and quickly began reporting the schedule.

The moment Vivian’s irresponsible belief—“someone will probably tell him”—completely disappeared into the distance.

“After your private meeting with His Highness Crown Prince Edwin, you will need to review the documents for selecting a new administrator of the Riner estate.”

“Cut off the bastard who recommended a corrupt estate manager too. We need to replace that position as well. Incompetent heads are parasites who just suck the blood of the estate citizens.”

“Yes, understood. Ah, also, we received contact from Elio of the Eastern Mecain Cartel. A demonic beast has appeared again in the eastern region. This time as well, Ophelia’s prophecy has proven correct.”

“…How many sacrifices were required in this prophecy?”

“…A total of one hundred people.”

“Damn it.”

A curse slipped out between his red lips as if being crushed.

Ronald also lowered his head deeply and bit his lip tightly.

Ophelia, the Empire’s saint and imperial prophet.

When her predictions came true, it was a relief because the future could be prepared for—but at the same time, it brought despair over the horrific price that had to be paid.

She was a woman of mysterious power.

The protagonist of an unbelievable story—an imperial prophet since the time of the current Emperor’s grandfather.

A woman who neither aged nor died.

Ophelia’s prophecies were absolute. A single word from her could determine the empire’s greatest affairs.

Of course, Blake LeBlanc was the only one who did not bow to Ophelia’s prophecies.

Because he never made judgments unless he saw and confirmed things himself.

At that moment, a knight waiting outside the reception room spoke in a loud voice.

“His Highness Crown Prince Edwin Albert Cardenas has arrived.”

The door opened abruptly, and a man with soft impression and pale pink hair entered, greeting him.

“Hello. Blake LeBlanc. It’s been a while.”

A gentle, sweet voice like cotton candy clouds carried warmth and familiarity.

A servant approached and poured tea beside Edwin, who sat on the opposite sofa.

His delicate fingers lifted the teacup with elegance, as though he were dancing a waltz.

“You make me come all the way here yourself. You really are more of a lord than I am.”

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, thanks to you, our empire is always at peace. I was delighted to hear you returned victorious from the war against the demonic beasts. As expected of Blake LeBlanc, who is said to cut down even his own escort knights when bored.”

“……”

Blake simply stared blankly at Edwin, no matter what he said.

His lazy posture, leaning back in his chair in front of the Crown Prince without responding, was arrogant.

For a brief moment, Edwin’s gentle eyes trembled—unnoticed by anyone—but he quickly composed himself and continued.

“Moreover, it seems we’ve become closer in the time we haven’t seen each other. It’s the first time I’ve seen your hair so messy.”

Only then did Blake react.

Without realizing it, he reached back and brushed the back of his head.

Feeling the uneven, sticking-out hair he hadn’t noticed before, he bit his tongue slightly.

‘…Vivian, that brat. She definitely saw it and said nothing.’

That playful bear-like girl probably pretended not to notice just for fun.

Just as always—unpredictable.

Blake clenched his teeth and stared at the annoying guest.

“Anyway, since you won the war, it means you’ve once again overcome Ophelia’s prophecy.”

“Prophecies are not always correct. Sometimes truth is hidden behind what sounds plausible.”

“Haha, as expected of LeBlanc. Even Ophelia herself cannot control you. Sometimes I think I would kneel if it meant making you truly mine.”

“That is not what I want. I refuse.”

“My, you draw the line so clearly. Think about it. If you come to me, I can give you many things. Even your first love, Lea Everett, whom my half-brother took from you. I also have many things I need to reclaim from Ian anyway.”

That child took far too much from me.

Edwin smiled softly, the kind of sweet expression people praised—yet the moment he mentioned his half-brother, Ian, a hidden hatred flickered.

Ian Garner Cardenas.

A bastard prince who appeared over ten years ago and turned the Cardenas Imperial family upside down.

Ian was also Blake’s longtime friend.

Or more precisely, the friend of Blake’s childhood acquaintance, Lea Everett.

Blake already knew this man misunderstood many things about him, but he chose not to correct them.

He only wished this exhausting meeting would end quickly.

“Anyway, I hope you carefully choose the one who will become your true ruler—”

Crash! Thud!

A loud noise of something falling and breaking came from outside the reception room.

“…I didn’t hear what you just said.”

Edwin’s gentle eyes briefly distorted, but he quickly continued smoothly.

“I said, I hope you carefully choose the one who will become your true ruler—”

Crash crash crash!

“Kyaaah! What is that!”

This time, a maid’s scream followed.

Edwin, smiling with veins popping on his forehead, finally turned to Blake.

“What on earth is all that noise?”

Ronald, sensing the situation, quickly ran out of the room and returned immediately. It took less than a minute.

“What happened?”

“Well… it seems it was just frightened maids making a commotion. I have already given them a stern warning.”

“Frightened?”

As if amused, Edwin tilted his head with narrowed eyes.

“Do servants working in a cold-hearted noble house always get frightened? How interesting.”

Suppressing his rising anger, Ronald bit his lip.

Blake, without any emotional reaction, looked at Ronald and asked.

“Just tell me briefly what happened.”

“You might find this a bit absurd.”

“I’m curious too, so go ahead.”

At Edwin’s urging, Ronald reluctantly explained.

“One of the young maids said she saw a shadow writhing like a ghost at the end of the hallway. But it looked fluffy, like fur, so she thought it might be a rat or an animal and approached it. Then a doll with rolled-back eyes suddenly disappeared behind a statue, and the statue fell forward…”

Creeeak—

At that sound, Blake stood up abruptly, his face turning completely pale.

“LeBlanc.”

His deep eyes beneath thick brows twisted with urgency.

It was the instinctive movement of someone who had realized something.

Knowing it was improper to stand before the Crown Prince, Ronald fidgeted nervously, while Blake turned to Edwin.

“Please excuse me. I have something to attend to.”

Bang!

Though he was walking, his strides were so large it looked like he was running.

Ronald quickly bowed and followed him out.

Inside the now silent reception room, Edwin was left alone.

Replaying Blake’s expression, he frowned.

“…What was that about?”

Unaware that it was all because of a runaway bear doll.

*****

What an careless Blake.

If he truly wanted me to stay still, he should have locked the door.

“Fufu.”

It was a mistake to knock over a statue and run away, but still.

Sorry, Blake.

I’ll make up for it somehow.

If I can return to Holloway Castle, I’ll ask Max to throw me the most expensive statue before the portal closes.

As I wandered secretly through the mansion, writing apology letters in my head with every step, I eventually hid inside a white porcelain object.

While thinking about when I should come out—

“Did you hear? His Highness Crown Prince Edwin is coming today?”

“Oh, that Crown Prince Edwin? The one as kind and beautiful as an angel descended from heaven.”

Crown Prince Edwin?

So Blake went to meet that guy?

Relieved to finally know the identity of the guest, I also felt a bit worried.

Blake’s hair looked really messy earlier.

And Crown Prince Edwin…

Why does that name sound familiar?

“I really want to see him at least once. They say he’s incredibly gentle too.”

“Really? Where is he?”

“The reception room. But you know that already, why ask?”

“Huh? I didn’t ask.”

“Hey, stop joking. You’re scaring me.”

Silence fell for a moment.

Then two pairs of eyes slowly turned toward me.

Their gazes shifted between the white porcelain and me, and someone slowly approached.

A maid’s shadow fell over the porcelain opening.

“A teddy bear?”

The maid who found me gestured to another maid.

“There’s a teddy bear here. I definitely heard a sound from here… why is there a teddy bear?”

“Yeah… but there are no toys in this mansion at all.”

Just as her hand reached to grab my ear—

A large figure silently appeared and blocked her hand.

A gentle grip stopped them, and I instinctively rolled my round eyes slightly.

What I saw was—

“…Found you, my teddy bear.”

Blake, with his white silver hair disheveled, had rushed over.