Chapter 30
“What kind of tea would you like, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Hm?”
As Raindel sat in the chair across the round table, the head maid appeared right on cue, preparing a new teacup.
Unlike Liana, who had already sensed the maid approaching from the moment Raindel entered, he seemed quite startled by her silent appearance.
He never had a knack for sensing movement.
“Ah, just bring me whatever Liana’s having.”
Soon, the maid brought over a refreshing glass of iced tea.
Clink—
“Thank you.”
“It’s my honor. Please feel free to call if you need anything.”
With a polite bow, the maid left swiftly but gracefully.
Weeeeeng…
Liana quietly watched her go, but soon turned her sharp gaze toward Kkamang, who was perched on her lap, as if to calm him down for being wary of a stranger.
“Mmm, it’s okay. He’s not a bad guy. He’s my half-brother. No need to worry.”
Hearing such gentle words, which were very unlike the tone Raindel knew from his half-sister, his eyes slowly moved to Kkamang.
And then, their eyes met—those golden ones, more brilliant than molten gold.
For a brief second, Raindel felt as if a cold breeze swept from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
“…What is that creature?”
“He was hurt, so I brought him with me. His name is Kkamang.”
Liana replied flatly to Raindel’s hesitant question.
Since the emperor’s visit hadn’t been made public yet, as far as Raindel knew, Kkamang was just a creature Liana brought back from the border.
Wanting more details, Raindel sighed.
“Does Father know? If you brought him, he must’ve been near the Forest of Death. Just like three years ago, when you brought that other one. I had to deal with the mess that time, and it was such a pain—”
Raindel suddenly stopped talking.
The cold glare from Liana’s violet eyes made him flinch.
“What are you trying to hear from me? A thank-you? What you did back then wasn’t cleaning up—it was interference. Even if you hadn’t done anything, the result wouldn’t have changed.”
Her tone wasn’t icy, but it was far from warm.
Three years ago, Liana had returned to the capital with Rune for her coming-of-age ceremony.
By then, Rune had already proven himself on many battlefields alongside Liana. Even the king couldn’t harm him easily.
But Raindel had insisted on interfering, questioning Rune’s presence at the palace.
On the surface, his words seemed like concern for Liana. But if you listened closely, he was clearly criticizing Rune for his demonic blood and blaming Liana for bringing him into the capital.
“Hidden in your careful words back then… was Rune’s death. Or at the very least, exile to the Forest of Death. You thought I wouldn’t notice? Even now?”
Raindel’s body flinched again at her sharp words. His surprised expression lasted only a second, but Liana caught it clearly.
“…You’re being too harsh, Liana. Please don’t twist my words. I just meant that since the creature came from a dangerous place, it’s natural to be cautious.”
Trying to explain, Raindel forced a polite smile, but Liana tapped the table irritably.
He should’ve known that their barely civil relationship held only because Liana had been extremely patient.
Just like three years ago, Raindel’s underhandedness grated on her nerves.
“Brother.”
“…Yes?”
“Stop poking at me like that. I don’t want to ruin things after meeting you for the first time in three years.”
That look and tone sent chills down Raindel’s spine. In the end, he backed off.
“…You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
Only then did Liana withdraw her cold gaze and return to gently petting Kkamang.
The only reason she showed even a sliver of kindness to Raindel was because of his late mother—the former queen.
“I don’t care what you say or how you act in front of the queen or Father.”
“…Liana.”
“I don’t care about you protecting the queen’s authority or trying to please Father. It doesn’t matter to me at all. So stop trying to read me.”
“…Fine. I was out of line.”
Raindel finally replied after a pause, watching her quietly play with Kkamang.
“I just don’t want to forget how kind the late queen was to me and my mother.”
Hearing that, Liana didn’t say anything, but Raindel bit his lip.
“If you don’t have anything else to say, you should leave now. I think you’ve spent enough time acting like the kind older brother who looks after his little sister.”
Her emotionless gaze drifted toward Raindel’s subordinates waiting far off in the corner.
Realizing his intentions had been seen through, Raindel clenched his fists tightly.
“…Then I’ll get going. See you at the banquet tomorrow. Get some rest.”
Even though his intentions had been exposed, he still played the part of the gentle big brother until the end.
Raindel’s face was dark as he stormed away from Liana’s palace.
‘Liana… I really can’t stand you.’
Liana stood out among the royal family.
Her personality wasn’t like a royal’s. Her natural talent as a magic swordswoman made her unique.
Even before her coming-of-age, she had won countless battles and protected the dangerous border near the Forest of Death.
Her dazzling achievements captured the hearts of the people—and it always triggered Raindel’s inferiority complex.
Her relaxed attitude, her boldness in front of the king, the queen, and the nobles—things he could never imitate.
Her unmatched talent in swordsmanship and magic, and the support she earned from the public.
But the thing Raindel hated most… was himself.
He hated that he had to pretend to be close to Liana, even though he secretly resented her.
‘…Most of the knights support her.’
The scholars and civil officials mostly sided with him, but the knights were different.
They looked at him like he was a weakling. They never said it out loud, but he could feel it in their eyes.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince personally enters the battlefield… that’s a bit…”
“Hoho, having the First Princess around is so reassuring.”
“A true ruler must be strong.”
If this weren’t a kingdom where only males could inherit the throne, the title of Crown Prince would’ve already been Liana’s.
‘…I’m just lucky she doesn’t care about politics.’
Liana wasn’t just talented with a sword.
She had a sharp mind, could grasp the heart of a problem in seconds, and always found solutions with ease.
And she had a presence—an aura—that naturally overpowered others.
Raindel, who had once taken lessons with her under the late queen’s favor, knew this better than anyone.
‘Mother… You never knew your kindness to her would become a threat to your own son.’
His mother couldn’t bear to ignore Liana and her mother, who had been cast aside in the palace.
Raindel’s eyes turned cold as he remembered her.
Of course, he was sad when she died. But her death brought him some advantages.
The current queen absolutely despised Liana and her late mother.
After the former queen passed away, she made Liana’s life miserable.
She replaced all the staff in Liana’s palace and used her influence to block her from contacting nobles.
And Raindel had known about it… but did nothing.
Because he was scared too—scared of Liana’s talent.
‘But it’s almost over.’
Soon, Liana would leave Roen forever.
When that happened, the knights who once supported her would naturally shift toward him—her closest royal relative.
Raindel eagerly awaited the day she’d be gone.
“Power… Why does it make everyone act like that?”
Liana muttered as she watched Raindel’s figure disappear.
She knew he didn’t truly like her, even if he pretended to act friendly.
He probably thought he was good at hiding it. But she had seen the resentment and jealousy in his eyes for a long time.
“…How bitter.”
When she was young and didn’t understand these feelings, she once thought of Raindel as real family.
But she caught on quickly.
“This palace is just suffocating. Not a single decent person here.”
With a deep sigh, Liana stood up, holding Kkamang close as he affectionately rubbed against her.
For just a brief moment, she truly thought—
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… to get married and leave this palace behind.
