Chapter 8
Leaving behind the words that we should have dinner together, Cedric abruptly left the room. Having my dinner practically pawned off without warning, I hurriedly followed after him.
But I was a step too late—he had already left the place.
I stood there blankly for a moment, then turned around as if to head back to my room, only to change direction again.
Since I was already out, I figured I might as well check on my husband’s condition.
Still, even as I headed to see the Fourth Prince, the bomb Cedric had dropped made the back of my neck throb. It was as if his unpleasant voice was repeating the words right beside me, buzzing in my ears.
Dinner together…
Cedric’s words and actions were often careless, but given his personality, he didn’t seem like the type to casually suggest sharing a meal.
I desperately hoped it had been a joke.
Honestly, I want to believe that.
If he truly meant to eat together, he would have sent an attendant separately. Believing that was better in every way. After fretting over it for quite some time, I finally decided to treat his words as nothing more than empty pleasantries.
It must have been a joke.
When I thought about it, there was absolutely no reason for him to take an interest in me. He was the kind of man who preferred being alone—there was no way he’d deliberately pull someone else into his space.
Especially not family he’d never cared about. Cedric was the sort of person who could ignore his own blood even as they lay dying.
With a deep sigh, I kept walking, and before I knew it, I had arrived at the Fourth Prince’s palace.
“Your Highness, the Fourth Princess Consort.”
Just as I was about to enter right away like yesterday, I found myself staring blankly at the maid who had come to greet me. She was a face I didn’t recognize.
Perhaps she noticed my puzzled look, because the maid smiled brightly and spoke.
“By order of the chief attendant of the main palace, I’ve been dispatched to the Fourth Prince’s palace starting today. Please feel free to call me Maria.”
Ah.
So the changes started today.
Rael had said he would reorganize things soon after seeing the state of the Fourth Prince’s palace.
I thought it would take a bit longer, but the replacement had happened faster than expected. I couldn’t help but admire how quickly things were carried out. It certainly made things easier when requests were handled right away. It also meant they were paying attention to Mikael.
“So everything’s been changed starting today?”
“Yes. The previous staff have likely already left the imperial palace or been reassigned to the annex.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Also, all the items in His Highness’s palace are scheduled to be replaced within today or tomorrow.”
“That’s fast.”
So they were planning to change everything while they were at it. Thanks to that, though, it meant one less thing for me to deal with.
If you’re going to change things, you might as well do it thoroughly.
“Where is the prince?”
“He has just finished his meal.”
“Did he eat well?”
“Yes. He ate a little more than yesterday.”
That’s a relief.
He already looked far too thin, so it would be best if he could eat as much as possible. After all, a person needs nourishment to move.
Besides, the original story never went into detail about his incurable illness. I didn’t know exactly what kind of care he needed, but I still had to try everything I could.
“Has the imperial physician been by?”
“He is scheduled to arrive shortly. Shall I inform His Highness that you are here?”
“Yes, please.”
At my words, Maria bowed her head and immediately informed the Fourth Prince of my arrival. A moment later, the door opened with a clear chime.
Perhaps the room had been aired out, because a cool breeze rushed in the instant I entered.
That’s better.
Was it because the people had been changed? Even though it was the same room, it felt completely different from yesterday. The atmosphere was noticeably brighter.
Slowly rolling my eyes around the room, I listened to the faint sound of footsteps. When I turned my head slightly, I saw the Fourth Prince holding onto the back of a chair.
…When did he get over there? I looked at him in confusion. Unlike the first day, even though we were in the same room, I could barely sense his presence at all.
“Wife?”
Mikael, the Fourth Prince, smiled brightly as he met my gaze, one hand braced against the chair. For a moment, I eyed him suspiciously, but at his utterly harmless-looking smile, my eyes narrowed.
Something felt off, but his face looked far too innocent to dwell on it any further.
In the end, I decided to set aside my doubts for the moment and walked over to him.
He’s pretty tall.
Was it because he was still growing? Even though he was sick and probably couldn’t eat much, he was still much taller than me.
I was on the shorter side myself, so he seemed even taller.
“Why are you standing?”
“Lying down the whole time felt stifling, so I was taking a short walk.”
A walk… inside the room. His matter-of-fact tone made my heart ache a little.
The illness he suffered from was practically a curse. He was always fatigued, and even the slightest thing could make him cough up blood.
Even so, I couldn’t afford to pity him carelessly. Even as his wife, there were lines that had to be respected. Sympathy that the other person didn’t want could easily turn into a kind of violence.
Not wanting to pry into him unnecessarily, I deliberately changed the subject.
“Give me your arm.”
“?”
“You said you were taking a walk. Let’s do it together.”
When I extended my left arm, Mikael blinked at me as if he’d just been struck. As though this was something entirely new to him.
That reaction irritated me strangely, and I spoke a little sharply.
“Are you not going to hold on?”
“I—I will.”
Flustered, he grabbed my arm, his face flushing red. Just like yesterday—he blushed quite often.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Do you perhaps flush easily under normal circumstances?”
“!”
Realizing what I meant, Mikael’s face turned even redder. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something.
I waited, listening carefully, but he only hurriedly avoided my gaze.
“Or perhaps you have a fe—”
“No!”
Ah—startled me.
If not, then just say so. I hadn’t expected such a strong reaction, so I simply nodded in confusion.
“Alright.”
“I—I’m not sick. I’m fine right now—”
Trailing off, he lowered his gaze. Still timidly holding onto my arm, Mikael murmured in a barely audible voice.
“Please… take a walk with me.”
“……”
At his pitiful request, I was rendered speechless.
As if I were the only person who could say such words to him, Mikael clung to me with desperate affection, like someone grabbing onto a lifeline.
That part I didn’t mind, but—
“…We can walk together, sure.”
I gestured with my chin toward the arm he was holding.
“But hold properly.”
Grabbing me with just his index finger—and only the fabric of my sleeve at that—what was that supposed to be? It was neither holding nor not holding.
Dumbfounded, I let out a hollow laugh. His timid movements were oddly amusing.
“!”
Startled by my laughter, he fidgeted with his fingers. After lowering his eyelids deeply, Mikael cautiously checked my expression.
“Am I… allowed to hold you?”
“Allowed?”
Of course.
I firmly took hold of his hand, then quickly loosened my grip, worried I might have squeezed too hard. He was so thin it felt like I might hurt him with even a little strength.
“Well, we’re married, aren’t we? There’s no need for words like ‘allowed.’”
“Married……”
Mikael repeated the word several times, then smiled shyly. His pale cheeks flushed red.
“Yes. We are married.”
Feeling the warmth of him through our clothes, I deliberately turned my gaze away. It wasn’t like yawns were contagious.
Yet my cheeks felt strangely warm.
How annoying.
Pointlessly handsome, of all things.
“…Dinner with the Second Prince?”
While we were walking around the room, Mikael suddenly stopped after hearing about what had happened earlier. It seemed surprising even to him.
Following his lead, I stopped and looked up at him. His large eyes were filled with questions.
“It probably wasn’t serious.”
“E-even so, you should be careful.”
“Hm.”
So you know your brother’s crazy too, huh?
I stared at him intently, my brow furrowed. I’d thought he might be completely ignorant of the world, but it was reassuring to know he could at least tell who the lunatic was.
“I hope not, but if he’s serious, there’s nothing I can do. It’s not like it’ll fall through just because I don’t want to.”
I wasn’t the Crown Princess. A princess consort who had only just spoken with the emperor wouldn’t have much power. If they told me to do it, I’d have to comply.
At my words, Mikael’s expression darkened rapidly. Knowing how deranged Cedric was, he couldn’t help but worry. After all, who knew what might happen at that dinner.
“Don’t worry. I doubt he’d actually harm me. We’re still family.”
In truth, even a brief look at Cedric’s past actions showed he wasn’t the kind of person to go easy on someone just because they were blood. If anything, it would be easier if they weren’t family.
Mikael looked like he had a lot he wanted to say, but I ignored it and continued.
I already knew exactly what he was thinking.
“More importantly, you’ve been eating properly, right?”
“…Yes.”
“And dinner too?”
Mikael nodded, saying he ate well. Then his lips parted as if he’d realized something.
“Wife.”
“Yes?”
“If you don’t end up having dinner with the Second Prince… would you eat with me instead?”
His voice grew quieter with each word, but since I was right beside him, I heard it clearly.
“Sure.”
Eating with him sounded far more comfortable than eating with the Second Prince.
When I accepted so readily, the anxious look on his face instantly bloomed into a bright smile. Seeing how happy he was, I subtly turned my gaze away.
His intense stare made my skin prickle.
How annoying.
I wasn’t really annoyed.
But as something tickled at the corner of my heart, my mood became strangely unsettled.
