Chapter 37
“Ah…!”
“Who…”
When the Crown Prince of Anasis tried to turn around, Layla panicked and immediately stood up.
However, she had no strength in her body—only the momentum of standing carried her forward—so she ended up leaning against the Crown Prince of Anasis, her arms wrapping around his head.
“What are you doing, my lady?”
“Y-your Highness is just… cough, cough…! Ugh…”
Layla tried to make an excuse, but her throat hurt too much for her to speak properly.
It seemed the Crown Prince didn’t hear Rainier calling Layla’s name. He sighed and tried to push her away.
“Let go. You’re heavy.”
“Y-your Highness… is… too handsome.”
“…What?”
With a face that looked like she was on the verge of death, Layla shot Rainier a glance, urging him to get out quickly. She didn’t know how he’d gotten in, but he really ought to know the situation wasn’t one where he could just stand around so calmly.
Her head throbbed so badly she really felt like she might pass out.
“Your Highness… ugh… you’ve been… my dream… cough… since I was a child…”
“…”
“My… ideal type…”
Her voice started to come out strangely, and soon she couldn’t speak at all. Cold sweat trickled down her face, and she couldn’t even wipe away the tears pooling in her eyes.
She couldn’t wipe them because that would mean letting go of the Crown Prince. If she did, he’d see Rainier standing behind him—and the blood Rainier had given her would spill right out here and now.
Ah, why did it have to be voluntarily given blood? Why couldn’t it be taken by force?
Her chest felt unbearably tight.
“My lady has good taste, I see.”
“Ugh… yes…”
Layla jerked her chin toward the door, telling Rainier to leave. But he only watched her coolly, even though she looked ready to collapse while still clinging to the Crown Prince.
Her arms trembled violently, but she held his head even tighter.
She cleared her throat with difficulty.
“Layla.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Now that she’d barely regained her voice, the sound of the Crown Prince’s voice right against her chest felt unbearably oppressive—especially because Rainier still hadn’t left.
This was all to stay alive.
“Would you rather be Empress than the Marchioness of Bruce?”
“…What?”
The Crown Prince had used this trick before—feeding false hopes to young ladies for his own ends. The reason he had no fiancée was to leave the position open, to give the impression anyone could stand beside him. That baseless hope helped him solidify his influence.
Of course, in reality, the Empress held such overwhelming power that no lady could match her—save the Emperor himself.
But the Emperor was old and ailing now. The Crown Prince kept company with the daughters of ministers favored by his mother, weighing his options.
Many women had tried to win his favor this way.
So when Layla suddenly began showing affection, he spoke to her in the same way.
“When I become Emperor, I’ll be sure to make you my Crown Princess.”
But for the daughter of a mere count to become Empress was impossible. That’s why the Crown Prince made a “realistic” offer instead.
After all, Crown Princess was still an exalted position—nearly equal to the Empress—so long as she bore him children.
“No, I…”
Layla looked toward where Rainier had been.
But he was gone.
“Huh?”
She released her arms and glanced around the room.
“What is it?”
As if she’d been under some spell, she realized the room now held only the two of them.
“Ah… I don’t know.”
That was her limit. Layla’s strength gave out, and she fainted outright. She’d pushed herself far too hard, despite already being unwell.
“Layla?”
“…”
“Was my confession that good? Good enough to make you faint?”
The Crown Prince smirked and laid her straight onto the bed.
“So she really doesn’t want to be Marchioness of Bruce after all.”
He gazed at Layla lying defenseless on the bed.
Her wavy pink hair was bright, but not so much that it made her skin look dark.
Such a light shade of pink hair was rare even in the Empire.
And though her eyes were closed now, their teary blue shimmer—born from her illness—was rather…
“She’s beautiful, I’ll give her that.”
There were many beauties in the palace, but none quite like Layla.
He thought she was only doing this to prove she was better than her sister. Either way, he didn’t care—if he could use her to kill Rainier, that was enough.
Still, as he was about to leave, he found himself thinking it might not be so bad to make her his Crown Princess for real, since she wouldn’t live long anyway.
She was too weak to bear children, which made her perfect to toy with before discarding.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Murmuring to himself, he left the room.
“I greet the little sun of the Empire.”
“Layla seems quite ill. Keep a physician by her side at all times.”
Feigning courtesy, the Crown Prince gave the order to Count Abierre. The Count bowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Oh, and—I’ll come again tomorrow, so have things prepared. And I hope Layla will be recovered by then.”
“I will do my utmost.”
“Good.”
With that, the Crown Prince descended the steps of the main building.
“Oh, Count.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sonette Bruce—whose fiancé is he?”
“…He is set to become Layla’s fiancé.”
Seeing the Count’s displeased expression, the Crown Prince smirked. As he suspected, the rumors were true—Layla Abierre’s affections seemed to shift toward whoever showed her interest.
Well, he was one of the most handsome men in the Empire. It was only natural she’d act that way when he paid her attention.
“If the engagement falls through, send her to me.”
“…Pardon?”
“In the future, the seat beside me won’t be reserved for the Empress alone.”
“Ah… yes!”
The Count’s face lit up. That was as good as saying Layla could stand beside him as Crown Princess when he became Emperor.
Though wealthy, the Count had no standing among the elite central nobility. This could be his chance to climb into their ranks—and he’d do anything for it.
“Then.”
“Safe travels!”
The Crown Prince climbed into his carriage, chin lifted proudly.
As it rattled toward the palace, he organized his thoughts.
Catching Rainier might take time. There was no need to rush—this could be handled slowly.
But as the carriage passed through the square toward the palace—
Crash!
“What the—!”
Both wheels shattered, and the carriage tumbled. With a heavy thud, it slammed to the ground.
“Your Highness! The carriage suddenly—!”
Rumble!
Thunder cracked overhead. Then—
Bang! Bang!
“Argh!”
Lightning struck right beside the Crown Prince.
His eyes went to the source of the sizzling sound—a blackened leather seat to his right.
The smell of burning spread as flames quickly consumed the carriage.
“What the hell!”
He leapt out of the wreck, startled.
“Are you unharmed, Your Highness?”
“What in the world—!”
Rumble! Bang!
Before he could finish, lightning struck the very spot where he’d been sitting.
Whoosh!
The carriage burst fully into flames.
And then—
Shhhhh.
Rain began to pour.
“What… what is this?!”
The sky had been perfectly clear moments ago.
“You said you disliked white hair—was that a lie?”
Rainier had returned to Layla’s room. She had just regained consciousness but was still in too much pain to move a finger.
“Earlier…”
“Ah, don’t speak. Your throat’s badly swollen—it’ll get worse if you talk. Unless you want to lose your voice forever.”
“Ah…”
Layla realized that though he was smiling, his expression carried no warmth. She wondered why he’d come at all.
She had only been trying to protect him, but he seemed more inclined to take his bad mood out on her.
Was it because he thought she was on the Crown Prince’s side? Or was it simply that he couldn’t stand to see her looking close to someone he hated so much?
“Ah…”
Either way, she hated misunderstandings.
And her throat hurt terribly. Her head was spinning.
“Rain.”
“I said, don’t talk.”
“Ah…”
As he placed a warm, damp cloth on her head, she sighed. He wore a fox’s smile, but his eyes were those of a black panther, heavy with suppressed killing intent.
“Liar.”
He was wiping her tears when he said it.
“Rain…”
“Oh, I didn’t think you’d actually respond.”
She didn’t know whether to explain or just keep quiet—but in the end, she spoke.
“I’m glad you came back… I felt… so relieved when you did…”
She feared he’d torment her the whole time he cared for her.
“You really are a bad person, my lady.”
When she rasped those words out, he finally dropped the false smile and returned to a gentler expression.
