Chapter 69
“The condition?”
“That will be explained by someone other than me.”
“…And the other one?”
“The other one is to live here for the rest of your life. I don’t know if you remember, but do you recall the woman you tried to touch before?”
Demiore’s shoulders seemed to shake, then his upper body straightened. His lips, slow and slightly parted, whispered a name.
“…Ludia.”
“The woman you touched became the Crown Prince’s consort. Though she broke the law, the reason a noble was confined in this spire was because of that. The Crown Prince personally punishes those who commit crimes, and the woman named Ludia gained immense power. She rode on the back of Liana, the viper of the Schubernia family, and seized the Crown Prince for herself.”
Bredald’s eyes shifted lightly up and down.
“Some become wrecks here, while others are promised a brilliant future. Isn’t it unfair?”
“What do you want?”
“Simple.”
Bredald twitched his fingers. When the prison bars opened, the prisoners reacted, but the soldiers suppressed them fiercely. In the silence, Bredald whispered lowly.
“Follow me, and your position will be restored. Not only that, but if you wish, you can inherit the House of Count Brancis…”
“That’s enough.”
As Demiore flashed his eyes, seemingly about to deliver a persuasive speech, he interrupted him and spoke. Bredald, closing his mouth with a slightly displeased expression, nodded his chin.
Demiore took a step. The clinking of chains struck the ears. In the darkness, his figure moving one step caught the eye a little more.
Bredald clicked his tongue lowly. As a fellow noble, he could understand the sentiment to some extent. Was touching just one woman really such a grave crime to warrant this? It was so atrocious that even the leaders of the noble faction could rage in vain.
“Just give me what I want.”
“I’ll hear it first and decide.”
Bredald’s response made Demiore move his lips. His large smile was chilling. Slowly, Demiore spoke.
“You won’t be able to answer. So guide me. To your master.”
Few people in the world can meet royalty just because they want to. At most, the head of a duke’s house or Liana, perhaps. Especially the Crown Prince, not just ordinary royalty. The threat of assassination and his dignity created a clear boundary between him and commoners.
No matter how much I knocked on doors, claiming to know the Crown Prince, I would inevitably be stopped at the entrance. There are countless noble ladies, but the Crown Prince is one of a kind.
Maybe if word got out that I had a personal relationship with the Crown Prince, I might be allowed in. But since that wasn’t possible yet, I had to take another approach.
As always, I could ask Liana or Kabes for help, but I felt guilty for always relying on others. So there was only one approach left.
“Here, have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled lightly at the attendant and took the teacup. In the end, one must remain calm. No good comes from rushing or worrying. People around me whispered, but it didn’t matter. I hadn’t come somewhere forbidden.
I leisurely sipped the fragrant black tea, gazing at the training ground. My method was simple: wait.
Ban was a disciplined man. His habit of never letting go of the sword since childhood remained like a ritual. It was well known that at certain times, he would come out to the training ground for exercise. The Imperial Knights’ training ground, led by Marquess Berhardt, wasn’t open to just anyone, so it was a satisfying space even for Ban.
Thus, I thought that by waiting here, I could meet him anytime. It was unexpected that someone found me before I found them.
“Long time no see.”
“Marquess.”
I stood up. Greeting Roman lightly with a smile, he raised his hand.
He glanced at the table. Roman looked at the teacups and snacks that had been placed earlier and spoke softly.
“I see you were having tea. Is it alright if an old man joins?”
“Of course.”
Who would refuse the commander of the Knights? When I invited him to sit, Roman gave a short response and took a seat. The attendant placed a teacup in front of him and poured the tea. I sat back, quietly watching Roman.
Since the first time I saw Roman here, it felt awkward meeting him again after so long. Many found Roman difficult to approach—his reputation for being a hot-tempered man preceded him. His perfectionist approach to all matters likely contributed to this, similar to how others found me difficult.
Roman sipped his tea, satisfied, and interlaced his fingers.
“What brings you here today?”
“I had a bit of time, so I stopped by on the way.”
I didn’t need to be fully honest, but Roman’s tiger-like eyes could not be avoided. He checked the time and smiled leisurely.
“It’s too early for His Highness the Crown Prince to arrive.”
“Eh? No… well, that is—”
“I’ve watched Prince Berthasilin closely for the longest time. I was his guard knight and now, as you see, his mentor. I can read his thoughts just from his face.”
“…”
Unsure of what to answer, I gave up explaining and turned to the knights. Soft laughter could be heard.
I rolled my eyes. Roman, also observing the knights in training, spoke.
“They’re all more disciplined than usual.”
“Are they?”
“Of course. Anyone wants to make a good impression on the future empress.”
“Where have the rumors reached…?”
“We’ve known these knights for a long time. Even if the Crown Prince disguises himself, we would notice. Everything becomes known.”
At this point, it was better to give up secrecy. Doing so would allow me freer access to the palace. Perhaps I should later tell Ban.
I sipped my tea while observing the knights.
“Don’t worry. Our knights keep secrets. I’ve made sure nothing leaks. Maybe not for life, but until the founding ceremony, it’s manageable.”
“Thank you…”
I sighed lightly, raising my teacup. The clinking sound suggested he raised his cup too.
A moment of silence passed. The movements of the knights training in the distance were both light and heavy. Naturally, as the finest martial artists in the empire trained here.
I cautiously asked a question that had been on my mind.
“Marquess.”
“Hm?”
“May I ask something?”
“Of course.”
His normally sharp, tiger-like expression softened, almost gentle. Could anyone imagine this man commanding the entire knights? He was skilled at controlling himself, radiating authority effortlessly.
“How skilled is the Crown Prince?”
“Do you mean as a knight?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, haven’t seen him in action?”
“No chance yet.”
“Understandable.”
Roman leaned back and smirked. After a brief pause, he answered plainly.
“Not impressive.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Literally. He trained for almost 15 years but isn’t extraordinarily talented nor particularly skilled. His level is comparable to the knights over there. Well, the knights here are among the best in the empire, so relatively speaking, he’s decent.”
He chuckled.
“To my eyes, he’s inadequate.”
“Is that because your standards are high, Marquess?”
“Perhaps, but even without that, he’s still not remarkable. And what good is a royal being skilled with a sword? What would people like us do for a living?”
I smiled awkwardly at Roman’s amused expression. I had assumed Ban would be skilled with the sword, but perhaps not.
In the novel, Ban never wielded a sword. He excelled in strategy and managing others, more of a ruler than a knight. That was why he was the Crown Prince. Yet, even as the novel’s hero, perfection was hard to achieve.
“Still, compared to my brothers, he’s the most capable. The eldest, Bolintlan, is useless physically. Yet he supposedly suppressed the rebels and gained acclaim.”
Roman’s gentle face momentarily twisted into disapproval, his tongue clicking as the attending knights stiffened.
Roman exhaled heavily, forcing their eyes away.
“People celebrate him despite his massacres, labeling struggling citizens as rebels. Is power all that matters, Lady Mertens?”
“…”
“Those lacking skill attack the weaker to elevate themselves. Think carefully. The world isn’t only about power. It shouldn’t be. The weak and unfortunate suffering isn’t right.”
His expression softened.
“That’s why we exist, and why I support Berthasilin.”
“The Crown Prince…”
“He can at least envision the ideal world we dream of. The world that the rich and poor alike can hope for will be better than it is now. That’s why I favor you.”
“Me?”
Roman nodded calmly, standing with a smile.
“It’s rare to have such a pleasant conversation in this dreary place. Talking to a lady who makes me smile is unusual. Others might get jealous.”
He laughed continuously. As his laughter faded, he raised his arm and pointed.
“He’s here.”
