CHAPTER 28
Louisa glanced briefly at Raphael seated across from her, then dropped her gaze.
As she quietly watched the servants place dishes on the table, her eyes naturally drifted to her left hand resting atop the table.
There it was—the Light of the Abyss—the artifact she had nearly forgotten amid the recent chaos.
She had been lucky to bind it and wear it as a ring. It was so comfortable that it never bothered her in daily life.
“If I happen to run into a monster here, I could just use this to fight back… Wait a minute. Didn’t I promise to show this artifact?”
The memory struck her suddenly.
“Ah, right. The auction!”
She had promised to show it to Raphael the day she bought it, but the black magician’s attack had thrown everything into disarray, and she’d completely forgotten on the way home.
“…Don’t tell me he really came all this way because of the artifact?”
The thought seemed oddly plausible. After all, why would someone of his rank—the commander—come to such a remote area in person?
The northern monsters were dangerous, sure, but the Duke of Blake had always handled it well. There were already enough holy knights for the mission.
“That has to be it. He really came for this thing.”
It was absurd, but she couldn’t exactly blame him for being petty—she had broken the promise, after all.
Still, if that really was the reason, it meant he was more stubborn than she thought—and probably best avoided.
While Louisa was staring at Raphael quietly, he suddenly looked up and locked eyes with her. The surprise made her freeze, too late to look away.
Instinctively, she pointed at her left ring finger with her index finger. Then she lightly touched the small gemstone on the ring, mouthing silently that she’d show him the artifact. Unfortunately, Raphael, caught off guard, didn’t catch what she was saying.
“Why is she pointing at her ring?”
Raphael was confused. Just moments ago, Louisa had looked flustered in his presence, yet now she was acting indifferent.
And now she was showing him a ring?
Oddly enough, the finger where her engagement ring should have been was bare. Of course, he didn’t wear jewelry due to his sword, but Louisa had no such reason.
Her behavior—removing the engagement ring and wearing some other ring instead—was difficult for him to understand.
“Unless… is she trying to propose?”
His expression grew cold as he stared at the ring. Louisa, noticing his gaze, awkwardly fidgeted and then gently curled her hand into a fist.
They were both so wrapped up in their own thoughts, they’d completely forgotten that the Duke and Damian were sitting nearby, quietly observing the scene.
Two completely different assumptions filled their minds:
Raphael, convinced Louisa was doing something strange to grab his attention, wondered if she was expecting a proposal.
Louisa, convinced Raphael was still upset about the artifact, was disgusted by how petty he must be to chase her down like this.
Meanwhile…
A green dress was reflected in the glass walls of a large greenhouse.
The long structure gave the impression of a small maze, and inside it, Empress Harlin strolled leisurely through blooming flowerbeds, a painted smile gracing her face.
“The flowers are blooming beautifully,” she said.
She stopped midway and gently touched the petals of a vibrant red rose. The breeze made the bloom sway before a petal fell soundlessly to the ground.
Still focused on the rose, Harlin’s fingers traced slow circles, brushing off the remaining petals one by one.
“There seems to be an issue with Lady Blake’s health. The Duke’s family doctors have been dispatched to the East.”
“The East? Why there?”
“It’s said Eastern medicine differs from ours. We suspect they’ve gone to consult someone. I’ll report more as soon as I know the details.”
“…It was so lovely, but just one fallen petal makes it seem so… disappointing.”
At the empress’s cryptic remark, her maid could only bow her head deeply in silence. Harlin’s gaze remained on the rose for a long moment, then slowly closed her hand around the red petals.
“It’s useless now. I’ll throw it away.”
Her red lips curled into a deep smile that contradicted her words—as if she found the situation very satisfying.
With elegance, she opened her palm and rubbed her fingers together as if shaking off dust.
“Clean it up,” she ordered softly.
The maid quickly moved. She pulled the rose—now stripped of its petals—up from the roots and removed it entirely from Harlin’s view.
Harlin sat at a nearby table, only to turn her gaze toward the door as someone approached.
“Mother, you were here.”
The door opened, revealing a handsome young man with the same silver hair as Harlin.
Pleased to see him, Harlin rose. As he neared, the resemblance to the emperor in his blue eyes was striking.
“Oh my, what brings His Highness the Crown Prince all the way here?”
“I was passing by and thought of you.”
Seinf smiled like a flower in full bloom as he approached and politely pulled out her chair before placing a kiss on her silver hair and sitting across from her.
“You’re the only one who ever thinks of your poor mother,” Harlin said fondly, dismissing the maid with a wave.
She poured him a cup of tea with care.
“Perfect timing. I just arrived, so it’s still warm.”
“…By the way…”
“Yes, Crown Prince?”
“Is Louisa Blake ill?”
Harlin’s hand froze with the teacup halfway to her lips. The tea rippled slightly but thankfully didn’t spill.
“You heard.”
“Well, you know I have excellent hearing. Besides, I figured you’d tell me sooner or later.”
“I suppose so. I did hear you had a conversation with Lady Blake at the garden party. Now I’m curious, too.”
“Well, it wasn’t much of a conversation—just greetings. Though, there was something a bit strange. I’ll need to speak with her again to confirm.”
Seinf sipped his tea leisurely, then raised the cup in a mock toast.
“So, what do you mean by ‘she’s sick,’ Mother?”
“They haven’t diagnosed it yet. The Duke sent his physicians east, and we’re still investigating.”
A curious smile tugged at Seinf’s lips. His eyes sparkled with intrigue, but Harlin’s expression darkened.
“…Are you interested in her?”
“She is intriguing. I did want to speak with her again, and I admit, I was disappointed to hear she’d gone to the Blake estate.”
A fine line appeared between Harlin’s brows. She opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing, simply raising the teacup to her lips.
Seinf smiled even more, his eyes drifting to the view outside the greenhouse.
“I wonder what spring is like in Blake territory,” he mused.
Harlin watched him uneasily as he stared into the distance.
Later…
“Are you feeling better?”
Louisa turned her gaze from the carriage window to meet Raphael’s eyes, who had apparently been watching her.
“…Who knows. I haven’t been here long, so I suppose we’ll see with time.”
She emphasized “long” just a bit more than necessary, giving a half-hearted smile before turning back toward the window.
If he was going to the temple, why not leave earlier? Why did he insist on coming with me—in the same carriage, no less?
He had suddenly offered to escort her this morning, and though she couldn’t say no to visiting the temple, she found the situation deeply awkward.
Since breakfast on the first day, they’d barely crossed paths. She’d liked it that way.
Wait, no. I need to settle this artifact business first.
She turned to look at him again.
Raphael was sitting with arms crossed, head turned sharply toward the window. She studied his profile.
“Commander.”
He turned instantly, as if startled—though it also looked like he’d been waiting for her to speak.
“…Yes? Do you have something to say?”
“Yes. It’s about the artifact I bought at the auction. I need to tell you something.”
Raphael’s eyes flew open wide. He looked utterly shocked, which puzzled Louisa.
She expected an immediate response, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he pressed a hand over his mouth and frowned as if in serious distress.
Louisa watched him quietly, wondering what was going on.
“…Ah, yes. The artifact,” he finally said.
What’s with this reaction? Don’t tell me he forgot?
She tilted her head.
“Yes. Didn’t you come here because of it? I meant to show it to you earlier, but… well, things got in the way.”
“No.”
“…No?”
“I did not come here for such a petty reason. As I said, I’m here strictly on official duty.”
His brow furrowed as if offended by the implication, leaving Louisa blinking in confusion.
“…Oh. Then you don’t need to see it? I wasn’t sure if I should schedule a time…”
“Well…”
“…?”
“Ahem—since you offered, I believe it would be rude to decline. So, yes, let’s arrange a time.”
