Chapter 56
“What?”
Jade wore an expression that screamed, What kind of nonsense is that?
“You always pick a fight with me every time we meet.”
“Well, that’s…”
“I admit I was in the wrong for seeing what I shouldn’t have, but it wasn’t on purpose. The door was open, and my eyes just happened to land there. That’s all. And even then, you glared at me!”
Reina had sensed it for a while now—Jade clearly didn’t like her.
The way he always spoke to her with that sarcastic tone—wasn’t it obvious?
“Reina, are you saying I’ve been picking fights with you?”
“Yes.”
“I did?”
“Yes, you absolutely did.”
Jade blinked, genuinely taken aback by her firm nod. He stared down at his glass, stunned, then knocked back the rest of his whiskey soda in a single gulp. He waved for another glass, still wearing a blank expression.
He seemed deep in thought, unmoving, until he eventually muttered:
“…How’s your body? Are you okay?”
“Took you long enough to ask.”
Reina’s tone still held a bite of resentment.
But remembering how Kiri had healed her, she softened a little.
“Thanks to Kiri, I’m doing much better. Before I leave, I’d like to thank him properly.”
“Kiri should be thanking you. I gave him a hefty bonus. I’ll pass along your thanks.”
“Thank you.”
Reina replied in a flat tone.
Jade observed her for a moment, then adjusted his posture and spoke seriously.
“Reina, when I return this time… if I come back…”
Clap clap clap!
Suddenly, thunderous applause drowned out his words.
Bianca and Kalis had just finished their performance.
Bianca beamed like a victorious goddess as she waved to the admiring crowd. Kalis offered a neat bow in return.
“What did you say?” Reina asked once the applause faded.
“…It’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
Jade looked deflated, the moment lost.
With the pianists returning, their conversation quickly faded.
“Brother, how was our performance?”
Bianca’s green eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked.
“You were wonderful.”
“!”
Reina turned to Jade with a look of surprise.
He hadn’t paid attention to the performance at all.
Yet here he was, lying so easily to his sister’s face.
‘Does he even know what sincerity means?’
“We should get going.”
Kalis didn’t even sit down before announcing their departure.
Reina perked up at the suggestion, relieved to escape the awkward four-person seating arrangement that had plagued them earlier.
Bianca had spoken to her kindly enough, but beneath the surface, there had been a layer of disdain that made Reina uncomfortable.
“Leaving already?”
“We have to pack before heading to the estate.”
“I see. Then let’s meet again soon.”
Jade accepted Kalis’s words without protest, while Bianca alone looked disappointed by the early farewell.
She thrived on being the center of attention in places like this.
After a brief exchange of farewells, Kalis and Reina exited the café.
Bianca, watching them leave, became certain: Reina was seducing her brother.
‘That vulgar girl! The daughter of a traitor, a half-blood—how dare she!’
Bianca glared daggers at Reina’s retreating back.
Inside the carriage headed to Welch House.
Reina’s mood was the polar opposite of that morning.
She had been silent ever since leaving the café—nearly an hour had passed without a word. Kalis, seated across from her, broke the silence first.
“Still in pain?”
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Then why the gloomy face? You haven’t said a word.”
“…I guess I’m tired from shopping for gifts.”
Reina closed her eyes as if weary.
But this time, Kalis wasn’t going to let her off the hook.
“We picked the gifts together. So why do I feel like I’m the one walking on eggshells?”
“…”
“You were smiling a moment ago. Where’d that smile go?”
“…”
“Did you leave it at the café?”
That last jab finally provoked her.
She snapped open her eyes and glared.
“Oh no, I’m scared.”
“You’re not scared at all! You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m teasing you. But seriously—what happened at the café?”
Kalis’s mouth curved into a teasing grin, effortlessly charming.
“….”
Reina didn’t answer. She couldn’t quite explain what had upset her.
Seeing her hesitate, Kalis leaned in with curious eyes—just like a mischievous boy.
“Come on, tell me.”
“Hmm…”
Reina groaned softly.
How could she possibly say that just watching him with someone else had made her heart ache?
Ashamed, she lowered her head—only to catch sight of his hand.
It was large, rough, and calloused—nothing like Bianca’s elegant, pale fingers.
As she stared, another hand overlapped hers—Yanika’s.
It hit her like a hammer.
All the feelings she’d been developing for Kalis—those secret hopes—were instantly extinguished by a cold wave of reality.
She finally saw just how foolish she’d been.
‘He belongs to a world I can never touch.’
She could only sigh at her own delusion.
Wanting to break out of her thoughts, she forced herself to say something different—to change the subject.
But what she chose completely shifted the mood.
“…Do you think it was really the Crown Prince who tried to harm you?”
The moment she asked, the playful smile vanished from Kalis’s face.
His voice turned sharp.
“…Is that what you were thinking about all this time?”
“Yes… It’s important to resolve this if Yanika and I are to live freely.”
He hadn’t expected that answer.
Kalis straightened up.
“…Right. There’s still the employment contract… You really want to leave Burkina, don’t you?”
“In Burkina, people like me and Yanika—children of traitors—will always have to live this way.”
“…There’s no hope.”
A flicker of discomfort passed over Kalis’s face.
Her words made it painfully clear: being in his service was the best option she had in this country.
Her desire to escape to the Ismail Principality with a new identity suddenly seemed all too reasonable.
He felt a twinge of frustration with himself—for not realizing sooner.
In a much colder tone, he said:
“The Grand Hunt will begin soon in the Grant territory. Darkel and his cohorts will be there. We’ll get a better sense of the truth then.”
“….”
“Don’t worry. Once this is resolved, I’ll make sure you and Yanika can live safely in the Principality.”
The air in the carriage grew cold.
With each lost in their own thoughts, silence descended.
Meanwhile, Darkel was feeling great.
He woke up refreshed, despite the heavy drinking from the night before.
“Haah!”
Stretching, he sank into the warm bath his servants had prepared. As the tension drained from his body, memories of the previous evening resurfaced—and brought a smile to his lips.
The so-called “elite” nobles had practically groveled before him, laying on the flattery thick.
‘Your Highness, congratulations! All this is thanks to your grace!’
‘Everyone hopes you’ll soon restore order to the kingdom!’
Dangerous words—but Darkel, drunk on success, had welcomed them.
And then there was the funeral for Count Falcon at the Grand Temple.
It had felt more like a coronation ceremony than a funeral.
