IMNTI CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

She had momentarily envied his boldness—the way he moved through the world without caring what others thought. So seeing it up close now left her with a strange feeling.

“To think someone so free-spirited would fall for the heroine and end up in a power struggle for the throne against a brother he used to be close with… What is love, even…”

Well, come to think of it, it had always been a bit suspicious that the Empress’s son—who pretended to be all kind and indifferent in front of the Emperor—got along that well with his brother. That relationship was bound to fall apart eventually.

“I wish I had a younger sister too. Seeing the two of you makes me a little envious.”

“My sister is lovely, but I must say, she’s quite one of a kind.”

Weird. Why did that sound like, “Bet your family doesn’t have anything like this, huh?”

Louisa’s expression grew more and more sour. What were they even talking about? She was getting increasingly concerned that the little duke was taking the prince’s pointless banter way too seriously.

“Haha, is that so? I suppose it would be difficult for us, indeed. So, if you’ll allow me…”

Despite being labeled a flirt, Seinf was surprisingly well-mannered as he slowly approached Louisa.

Though he was a little shorter than Damian, the men here all seemed to stand at a minimum of six feet tall. So naturally, he stood a full head above Louisa.

With the sun blazing behind him, his figure cast a dark shadow over her, shielding her like a sunshade.

“Might I have the honor of kissing your hand, even just for a moment, beautiful lady?”

What even is this conclusion…

“Ah, whatever. I just want to go home.”

Louisa could feel her focus slipping. No matter who stood before her, if she couldn’t eat anything, she’d rather just go lie down. She extended her hand.

His lips pressed against the white lace of her glove—not a light touch, but a firm press. The soft warmth lingered on her skin, but Louisa’s expression didn’t change.

“How curious.”

With a quiet murmur, he pulled away. A gentle breath spilled over the glove as he withdrew.

“You see, I’m rather sensitive to energy.”

“…”

“So why do I feel holy power coming from you, Lady?”

“…!”

Louisa flinched. She nearly yanked her hand away. Her dazed eyes flickered with a faint glimmer of wariness.

“You can sense that sort of thing? That’s quite impressive.”

But it lasted only a second. As Seinf lifted his head again, Louisa’s face was once again a mask of pleasant surprise.

“It just sort of turned out that way. It’s a talent more useful for my older brother, a holy knight, than for me. Bit of a waste, really.”

Seinf smiled brightly, shrugging with casual ease.

“You can sense auras? That’s an extraordinary ability for a prince to have,” Damian said smoothly, slipping his hand around Louisa’s and gently pulling it back. Seinf looked down at his now-empty hand, then gave a small, amused smirk.

“I think you might be the extraordinary one, Lady Louisa. I only get faint impressions of energy. If it really is holy power, you might want to get it checked out at the temple.”

“Thank you, but I’m guessing it’s extremely faint—wouldn’t want to cause a stir for nothing.”

“Ah, asking me to keep quiet then?”

Louisa only smiled, saying nothing, and Damian stared at her for a moment before miming a zipper across his lips.

“Naturally. After all, you’re to be part of my family someday.”

If Raphael had heard that, he would’ve blown a gasket, but Louisa didn’t drop her smile. Or rather, she tried not to.

Because all of a sudden, a strange heat surged in her chest.

“This feeling…!”

A wave of nausea crashed over her. She could feel something rising up, like it was going to burst from her throat. It was all too similar to the episode she’d had in the bathroom not long ago.

Damian, who had been quietly watching her the whole time, was the first to notice her face turning pale.

His expression hardened as he stepped closer, holding her waist gently.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Though he was directing the question politely, clearly for Seinf’s sake, his voice was tight with concern.

“I-I’m fine. I just had a little wine earlier, and I think it’s catching up to me. I’ll just pop over to the powder room for a bit.”

“All right. I’ll take you.”

“No, please stay here with His Highness. I’ll only be a moment.”

Louisa left before Seinf could say anything. Turning quickly, she strode out of the garden, and the two men watched her receding figure in silence.

As Raphael dismounted, a flicker of irritation passed over his composed face.

If not for Empress Harlin’s recent decline in health, he wouldn’t have bothered showing up to this Dallio family party in person.

“She’s too soft… Should’ve just cut ties cleanly. Why does she keep leaving the door open?”

Knowing that Seinf would be attending, she had asked Raphael to go in her stead and deliver a gift—he couldn’t exactly refuse.

It was clear she was worried that he, who worked mostly with the temple and avoided noble social circles, would be seen as too aloof.

“All of this—every bit of it—is His Majesty’s sin.”

Years ago, the Emperor had turned his gaze toward Harlin, once a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, and in doing so, ruined many lives.

The Empress, devastated by betrayal, began to abuse Raphael, while the former handmaid—guilt-ridden for falling for the Emperor—began secretly caring for him.

As a child, Raphael had hated Harlin.

If not for her, his family would’ve been fine. His once gentle mother wouldn’t have changed so drastically…

But after witnessing the Emperor continue to toy with countless women even after having a second son, Raphael realized the true root of the problem was that stallion of a man he couldn’t even call “father.”

Luckily, there had been no more children after the second prince, but that didn’t stop the scandals.

“You think His Majesty will notice you if you do this halfheartedly?!”

“You’re the only son I have, yet you’re completely useless! I told you to get lost!”

“I wouldn’t be this miserable if you hadn’t been born. Your very existence is a mistake!”

The Empress’s hysteria worsened daily, and doctors eventually diagnosed her with mania.

Under the pretense of “solidifying the Crown Prince’s position,” she sent ten-year-old Raphael to the dangerous north for monster subjugation missions.

Perhaps because of those harsh conditions, his holy power—which had only been potent in purity—blossomed dramatically. When he returned in triumph, what awaited him was the Empress hanging from the ceiling.

“It wasn’t your fault, Your Highness.”

Harlin, in secret, had tried to care for Raphael, but he had rejected her.

However, after the Empress’s suicide, he had no choice but to accept her kindness.

The voice that had covered his eyes and whispered sadly to him still lingered deep in his memory.

“I should’ve cut ties by now…”

Even though he wanted to escape the filthy imperial family, he still occasionally granted Harlin’s requests—proof that he hadn’t fully broken away.

But that didn’t mean he believed she truly cared for him.

When he was seventeen, he had noticed the discomfort on her face whenever she thought he wasn’t looking.

“…In the end, I can only rely on myself.”

A gentle spring breeze carried the faint scent of flowers. Raphael glanced at the blooming geraniums, adjusted the slightly rumpled white knight uniform, and began walking again.

“That person… Is that Lady Blake?”

His pace slowed as he caught sight of a distant figure.

Louisa’s hurried departure from the garden was strangely striking. He had no time to think—his body moved on instinct.

“Mmph─!”

Behind the building, he spotted a slender figure bent over, one hand on the wall. Her back heaved with labored breaths—she was clearly struggling.

“Should I leave her be?”

If she was sick, she probably didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

Plus, Louisa had feelings for him. Following her now might make it seem like he returned those feelings, and he didn’t want to lead her on—he wasn’t like that stallion.