Chapter 66
Because the secret salon had ended abruptly, Nadia hadn’t gotten to taste a single one of the famous coffeehouse’s desserts.
She wasn’t particularly interested in food, so it didn’t bother her much — but Vivian, on the other hand, seemed unable to forget the muffins, cakes, and sandwiches that had filled the display case.
Nadia remembered her decision to treat Vivian better after what had happened last time.
“Should we go back to the coffeehouse where the salon was held?”
“Really? But you must be busy…”
“Busy? Not really. Time feels like it’s crawling by.”
There were only two days left until the decisive day. But since all the seeds had already been sown, there was nothing left to do except wait.
After weighing it carefully, Vivian decided it wouldn’t interfere with Nadia and was delighted.
When they returned to the coffeehouse, the sweet aroma Vivian had longed for enveloped the two of them.
A server guided them to a table, handed them the menu and a bell, then drew a curtain to divide the space before retreating.
It wasn’t as private as a separate room, but since they didn’t have any secrets to discuss, it didn’t matter.
Nadia handed the menu over to Vivian entirely and turned to gaze outside the window.
Beyond the glass, the streets were dyed in autumn colors. Carriages stood here and there, and people walked by at their own pace, each heading somewhere.
Among them were commoner children selling newspapers and nobles dressed in elegant suits.
“My lady, the Mont Blanc looks so good! Should we get that?”
“Sure, I like whatever you like.”
“But my lady doesn’t really like sweets, so hmm…”
Vivian’s excited voice faded into the background.
Nadia was too absorbed watching the quietly bustling street.
She rested her cheek on her hand, observing people one by one — until suddenly, her gaze was drawn to one spot as if pulled by a magnet.
A perfectly tailored suit, jet-black hair, and ruby-like eyes that could be recognized even from afar.
A man she could never mistake, even in a crowd.
“Heiny…? When did he…”
She hadn’t heard that Heini — Heinrich — was in the capital. But thinking about it, that was only natural. Nadia had avoided mentioning Heinrich, so Vivian and Conrad must have refrained from telling her as well.
At the secret salon earlier, she’d wanted to ask about him, but that wasn’t the kind of thing one could bring up the moment they met — especially among elegant ladies.
The man she suddenly found herself looking at was still beautiful — and still expressionless.
As she stared at that emotionless face, Heinrich’s last letter came to mind.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Such a sudden, curt farewell, without even the word goodbye.
Since she could only remain by his side as long as he permitted it, Nadia had stepped out of that line without hesitation when it was drawn.
Perhaps “just in time” wasn’t the right phrase, but thankfully, around then, Baron Hess had encountered a major incident — one that consumed all of her focus.
If not for that, she might have been swallowed up by a hollow emptiness she hadn’t foreseen.
For a moment, she thought Heinrich’s gaze brushed hers. Startled, she turned her head away, then chastised herself for overreacting.
When she looked forward again, she found Vivian watching her in confusion.
Why? Did she notice me looking at Heiny?
Her head was full of Heinrich, so no other thought came to mind.
Then suddenly, a faint rose fragrance drifted under her nose.
Nadia looked up, sensing a strange unease —
— and there stood a man she never wished to meet again, wearing a shameless smile.
Startled, Nadia rose from her seat and bowed formally.
“I greet His Highness Prince Epion.”
She didn’t bother to hide her discomfort.
Though she wasn’t in a private room, she was behind a curtain meant to give a semblance of privacy. For the prince to walk in uninvited was, at the very least, impolite.
“If I have committed an offense against Your Highness, please tell me.”
In other words, unless she had wronged him, even a prince had no right to intrude upon a lady’s space.
Epion smirked.
“It seems I’ve behaved rudely to a lady. My apologies.”
It was clearly an apology in words only. Still, Nadia didn’t show her irritation; she simply bowed her head, her face devoid of expression.
Epion glared at her for a moment, then sat down at the table as if he owned the place. He motioned to the seat opposite him with his chin.
“Sit.”
“I’m of humble birth, Your Highness. I dare not sit at the same table as you.”
At her polite yet firm refusal, Epion clicked his tongue but didn’t insist further.
“You don’t seem eager for a long talk, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
That was a relief for Nadia. But this coffeehouse was open to all nobles — and this particular space was only divided by a thin curtain.
Just as she wondered why he would meet her here, she realized that all background sounds had vanished.
The gentle chatter, clinking dishes — all gone.
Now, only Nadia, Vivian, the prince, and his guards remained in the silent coffeehouse.
Why go this far?
She couldn’t find a good reason.
If his goal was to please the Emperor, there were far more appropriate ways to do it. There was no need for a prince to associate with a country baron’s daughter.
Whether he knew her confusion or not, Prince Epion crossed one leg over the other arrogantly and spoke.
“I know you understood His Majesty’s intent well. A few noble ladies went to fortune-tellers in groups, and apparently they found out they’d been scammed.”
“Is that so? How unfortunate.”
“I know you’re at the center of it. Don’t play innocent.”
Epion pressed his temple in irritation.
“I can’t understand you. When you ignored the hand I extended, I thought you simply lacked confidence. But if you could handle things this well, why not ask for my help?”
“I… beg your pardon?”
“Don’t you realize it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to form a connection with a prince of the Empire?”
Nadia almost laughed aloud. If she hadn’t had experience navigating high society, she might have actually scoffed in his face.
She could tell now — this prince wasn’t just arrogant; he was clingy and overbearing.
He’d never meant to help her. What he wanted was to claim credit for her success — to polish his image — and in exchange, “grant” her his favor.
How grand that favor was supposed to be, she neither knew nor cared.
But clearly, now that she’d rejected it, he was furious that his opportunity for glory had slipped away.
Nadia opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, suppressing a sigh.
The noble society she had once despised — that ugly world she’d abandoned as Rivenia — was right before her eyes once more.
Even its gaudy shallowness was identical.
She’d seen plenty like him as Rivenia, but as Nadia, she’d lived among simple, honest people — and had almost forgotten that such creatures existed.
The only way to deal with such people was to remind them that they stood to lose something.
“Your Highness, may I share a humble opinion?”
“Go ahead.”
“Helping me would bring Your Highness no benefit.”
Epion raised an eyebrow, folding his arms, curious to hear more. Nadia lowered her gaze to avoid the disgust she felt and continued calmly.
“His Majesty seeks to destroy the Marquis of Desmond for both public and private reasons. Publicly, to remove an empty shell of a vassal. Privately, to please someone he loves.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?”
“If you know that much, then you must also know why Your Highness should stay uninvolved. Publicly, aiding in this matter means a royal interfering in the Emperor’s affairs. Privately, it would mean a prince, who should be a national example, struggling to buy luxuries for his mother.”
Her reasoning was airtight, and Epion fell silent.
“His Majesty wishes for the outcome he desires — but from the person he desires it from. That’s why he entrusted this task not to Your Highness, capable and noble as you are, but to our humble Baron Hess family.”
The moment she finished, Epion shot to his feet.
He loomed over her, towering close enough to feel oppressive.
“You have a point. So I’ll step back, for now.”
“I’m honored that Your Highness values my poor judgment so highly…”
As Nadia moved to step back politely, Epion suddenly grabbed her arm tightly.
“But now I’m curious what goes on in that clever little head of yours. You might prove useful.”
His eyes narrowed, gleaming like a predator that had found a new toy.
Over his shoulder, Nadia saw Vivian’s hand move to her waist — where her blade was hidden.
She looked ready to cut the prince’s throat at any second.
Nadia gave her a subtle look, warning her not to act — but Vivian turned her gaze away.
Vivian?
Just as confusion crossed Nadia’s face—
“Your Excellency, you mustn’t go in there!”
A commotion erupted at the entrance of the shop.
