Chapter 102
At Richard’s suggestion, Ailen went outside with him.
Breathing in the flower-scented air along with the fresh breeze, it felt as though the clutter in her mind was clearing a little.
Before she knew it, a smile touched her lips, and seeing that, Richard also lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
“Yes. But did you suggest we come out because of me?”
“Your expression looked complicated, Ailen.”
Ailen let out a small laugh. As expected, she thought Richard was the only one who truly understood her heart.
Richard quietly gazed into her eyes before bringing up a question.
“Marquis Hivis… or rather, should I call him Croker now? Is it because of him?”
“Yes.”
“That man cannot even be called Ailen’s family. There is absolutely no need for you to concern yourself with him.”
Richard spoke to comfort her, but Ailen merely smiled faintly, her gaze still complicated.
“I know. I told Adrian the same thing.”
“Then why…?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t really know why I’m like this either. Maybe it’s because I personally put the person my mother considered family into prison, or maybe it’s for some other reason….”
Ailen murmured as she lifted her head and looked up at the sky.
“It just weighs on my mind.”
Just then, a breeze blew, scattering their hair.
Seeing Ailen rub her arms as if slightly cold, Richard took off his outer coat and draped it over her shoulders.
“Time will resolve it.”
“……I suppose so.”
Ailen smiled softly. From that smile, one could feel her effort to forget unpleasant matters.
To lighten the mood, Richard deliberately spoke in a brighter tone. Casually taking her hand was a bonus.
“Ailen, if everything ends and peace returns, how about we go on a trip?”
“A trip?”
“We still haven’t gone on our honeymoon, have we?”
At the unexpected suggestion, Ailen’s eyes widened. Then she made a thoughtful expression.
Wondering if she disliked the idea, Richard grew slightly tense. But contrary to his worry, Ailen beamed and said,
“A honeymoon with Richard… That sounds nice.”
Richard abruptly stopped walking. Following him, Ailen also stopped and looked at him.
For some reason, Richard’s face had turned red.
“Richard?”
“Ha…”
Richard covered his face with his free hand—the one not holding hers. Then, in a voice as if suppressing something, he said to Ailen,
“Ailen, I would rather you didn’t smile at others.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just… how I feel.”
Ailen had no idea what he meant and wore a puzzled expression. Watching her, Richard felt somewhat bitter, as though he alone was the one agonizing.
“Anyway, to continue—Ailen, is there somewhere you’d like to go?”
“Hmm… Let me see. Ah.”
After pondering, Ailen let out a small exclamation and answered,
“I’d like somewhere very cozy and quiet.”
“Somewhere quiet?”
“Yes. Somewhere quiet and comfortable—somewhere you can’t experience in a city like this. A place where, befitting a honeymoon, we can focus only on each other.”
As Ailen spoke dreamily, Richard could almost see the scene unfolding in his mind.
After briefly imagining their future honeymoon, a gentle smile settled on his face.
“That sounds good.”
“Right?”
Ailen smiled back at him.
After that, the two of them roughly planned their honeymoon. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say they imagined it.
They were chatting happily as if they were already on their honeymoon when they sensed someone approaching.
“Your Grace.”
Ailen and Richard turned around. A knight of Olden stood there, bowing toward them.
“I have brought him.”
Brought him? Whom?
Ailen blinked in confusion. In contrast, Richard simply nodded calmly.
“Understood. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes.”
After the knight disappeared, Richard looked at Ailen. Seeing her still gazing at him with questioning eyes, he immediately spoke.
“Ailen, you know that if we are to enjoy the happy honeymoon we just spoke of, there is something we must resolve first.”
After hesitating, Ailen nodded.
Something to resolve. What that referred to was obvious.
First Prince Abelio. It was him.
Noticing that Ailen had thought of Abelio, Richard continued,
“The person who just arrived is a very important figure who will help us.”
“Help us?”
“Yes. And I would like Ailen to be present as well.”
Ailen’s eyes widened. Even if she went, there was nothing she could do to help. She looked up at him with concern, but Richard quietly waited for her answer.
After gazing at him for a moment, Ailen nodded.
“Alright.”
Richard smiled faintly and led her toward the room where the guest was waiting.
Ailen followed him, slightly tense.
❧ ❧ ❧
The place Richard led her to was not the drawing room. It was a small room tucked away in a corner where servants rarely came and went.
Though she wondered why a guest had been brought to such a place, Ailen silently followed him.
And the moment Richard opened the door, she understood the reason.
“You are….”
Ailen’s eyes widened as she stared at the person before her.
Though he was wearing a hood, that appearance made him even more familiar. Startled, Ailen looked at Richard.
He was quietly smiling at her.
“This man will help us.”
“It has been a while, Brother—and Madam.”
The man removed the hood he had been wearing and greeted the two of them.
“Have you been well?”
Ludwig stood there with a faint smile.
Ailen had many things she wanted to say, but she only parted her lips without speaking. Instead, a sigh escaped her.
“So that’s why you put him in such a secluded room….”
“Yes. It would be troublesome if he were discovered.”
Richard replied calmly.
Ailen shot him a slightly reproachful look before letting it go. It would have been nice if he had at least given her a hint.
Instead, she approached Ludwig and greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness. I’ve been well.”
“That is a relief.”
“More importantly, have you been alright, Your Highness?”
Ailen looked him over with worried eyes.
She knew that during the last hunting competition, he had secretly helped the two of them behind Abelio’s back.
That was why she was concerned—worried that Abelio might have done something to him.
But contrary to her concern, Ludwig calmly nodded.
“Yes. I am fine.”
“That’s truly a relief.”
Ailen let out a deep sigh, as if genuinely reassured. Seeing that, Ludwig let out a small chuckle.
She was still a warm person. This lady.
At that moment, Richard, who had been standing at a distance, cleared his throat and approached them.
“Let’s end the greetings here. Shall we all sit down and talk now?”
“Alright.”
“Understood.”
At his words, the three of them sat facing one another on the sofa in the room. Naturally, Richard took the seat beside Ailen.
Once the atmosphere for discussion was set, Ailen immediately voiced her question.
“By the way, how did this happen? I never expected Your Highness to help us….”
“I asked him.”
“You did, Richard?”
Ailen looked at him in surprise.
Richard nodded and continued seriously,
“Brother—meaning the First Prince—has already crossed the line he must not cross. I cannot leave him as he is.”
“……That’s true.”
After a brief hesitation, Ailen agreed. He had already committed too many evil deeds to be left alone simply because he was Richard’s brother.
Meanwhile, Richard turned his gaze to Ludwig, who was sitting quietly.
“But on our own, we can barely manage to stop the First Prince’s misdeeds. We never know what he might attempt. So I contacted Ludwig in secret and asked for his help.”
“What did you ask of him…?”
“I asked him to find out what the First Prince is plotting.”
Ailen reflexively turned to Ludwig. He wore his usual composed expression.
Knowing that her gaze toward him was filled with worry, Richard continued,
“If I move, it will attract attention. But Ludwig still seems to be outside the First Prince’s interest, so he is well-suited to investigate discreetly.”
“But Your Highness will be in danger.”
Ailen, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
As she said, this was extremely dangerous. If discovered, Ludwig’s life would be at risk.
Perhaps it might have been better for him to remain quietly outside Abelio’s attention, as he had been until now.
Even so, Ludwig spoke calmly.
“I am aware that it is dangerous. Even so, I accepted.”
As if about to continue, he pressed his clenched fist tightly and muttered,
“I no longer wish to remain still.”
Silence fell over the room. Though Ailen looked worried, she could not stop him.
He had already made up his mind.
After a moment of thought, Ailen turned to Richard and spoke.
“I don’t think you called me here simply to inform me of this.”
Richard smiled faintly. She was right.
“There is something I would like to ask of you, Ailen.”
“Just say it.”
“I would like you to create a magical device with Heinell.”
“A magical device?”
“Yes. According to the guide I provide, if possible.”
Richard handed her the guide for the magical device that he had prepared in advance. After unfolding it and reading it, Ailen nodded.
“Alright. I’ll make it as quickly as possible and give it to you.”
“Good. Then let us now discuss our plans going forward.”
Richard began the main discussion in earnest. Ailen and Ludwig focused on his words.
