Chapter 73
After Lenard left, I went up to the room on the second floor.
‘If Cloan is outside, only Jack should be in the room.’
Knock, knock.
“Jack, are you in?”
“Yes, come in.”
When he answered I stepped inside.
“It’s nothing important—”
I froze mid-sentence as I looked up.
Sunlight fell across Jack’s silver hair. His skin, as white as his hair, made him look almost like a fairy, and his purple eyes felt deeper than any embroidered pattern.
“…You’re back to your usual appearance, then?”
“Oh, I just took it off briefly to wash. I normally keep it on, so don’t worry.”
When Jack put the pendant back around his neck, he returned to the Jack I knew.
‘His overall impression is so different I still can’t get used to it.’
His indifferent expression and steady gaze were the same, but the pure white skin and bright silver hair still felt a little unfamiliar.
I made an effort not to show it and moved closer to him.
“Anyway, Jack, how have your lessons been lately?”
Jack sat on the edge of the bed and I pulled a chair over to sit opposite him.
After thinking for a moment, Jack answered in a calm tone.
“They’re good. I can learn things you can’t get from books, and the explanations are detailed so it’s easy to understand. It’s also fun to teach what I’ve learned to the other children.”
As he spoke, Jack closed his lips, lowered his head a little, and continued.
“To be honest, sometimes I still can’t believe I can learn like this. Filling in what I didn’t know bit by bit is such a joy.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
Jack looked genuinely pleased with his lessons, and I smiled naturally at the sight.
I brought up the main topic.
“Actually, I spoke with Mr. Lenard. The Empire is hosting an academic competition.”
“An academic competition?”
Jack’s eyes widened at my words. I nodded.
“Yes. It’s a contest testing academic achievement for kids aged thirteen to sixteen. Since it’s organized by the royal family, it’s a large-scale event that even students from the Royal Academy will participate in. Lenard wants to recommend you for it.”
“My mentor would…”
Jack’s pupils trembled.
Worried he might feel pressured, I hurried to add, “Of course, you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. I’m a bit worried too, since it’s organized by the royal family…”
“No, I’ll participate.”
Contrary to my expectation that he’d refuse, Jack’s answer was affirmative. When I stared in surprise, the earlier wavering expression was gone—Jack looked at me with a resolute face.
“You’ll participate?”
When I asked, Jack nodded.
“I’m curious how much I’ve achieved academically, and more than anything… I want to try.”
I could see the strength in Jack’s grip. I looked at his face again and realized:
‘Jack has already made up his mind.’
He wanted to participate in the competition.
There was nothing more for me to say. I smiled gently.
Jack watched me quietly, probably wondering whether I opposed it and waiting for my response.
“All right, then. Let’s do that.”
“Will that be okay? It might cause trouble for the director because of me.”
“It’s just to test academic achievement—what trouble could I have?”
I put my hand on Jack’s head. He looked up surprised and I beamed.
“I’m simply proud of you.”
Maybe it was my imagination, but Jack’s face seemed a little flushed.
He, who had been staring at me absentmindedly, slowly bowed his head. Finally he replied.
“…Yes.”
I smiled, thinking I’d tell Lenard Jack’s decision at the next lesson.
Two more days passed.
I went to meet Lenard before class to inform him of Jack’s decision, and I was surprised to see an unexpected person with him. My eyes widened.
“Your Highness?”
And—
“Prince Cesar.”
“Oh—Baron Feyrunt!”
As soon as he saw me, the crown prince hurried over. Duke Clayman’s expression toward the prince was cold.
“You’re even more beautiful than before.”
“Ha ha… Are you leaving today?”
I asked awkwardly, smiling at his heavy gaze, and he nodded deeply.
“I can’t be away too long, so I must return. Have you thought about my proposal? I hope you’ll give me the answer I want.”
The crown prince looked at me with trembling eyes. Watching him swallow nervously as if he were tense, I met him with a serious attitude.
I handed back the envelope he had given me. His gaze followed the envelope.
“Sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept it.”
The prince’s eyes went wide, as if he had assumed I would accept.
He blurted in a panic, “Why! Was there something you disliked? If so, please tell me!”
“No, the conditions were very generous. It’s just that I’m not interested in business.”
“But you agreed to run the tea bag business with Duke Clayman—”
“That’s something Your Highness took full responsibility for. I did nothing.”
I glanced at the duke. His expression as he looked at me was strange.
I turned my gaze back to the prince. He still looked incredulous.
I smiled at him.
“Besides, I don’t have the energy to pay attention to other things right now. Thank you, but I’ll return it.”
Saying that, I placed the envelope back in his hand.
Now that I was so firm, the prince couldn’t force me. As expected, he answered with a sulky, abandoned-puppy face.
“If that is Baron’s wish, there’s nothing I can do. If you change your mind, please contact me. I’ll be waiting.”
“I’ll do that.”
“…Let’s go now, Baron.”
The prince slumped his shoulders and turned away.
“I still have something to say to the Baron. Please get in the carriage first.”
“Uh… all right.”
After sending off the prince, the duke looked back at me. I saw Lenard quietly slipping away after having watched the scene.
“Your Highness, what did you want to say?”
When he looked at me without a word, I cocked my head and asked.
At that moment, the duke strode forward, carefully pulled me in, and held me to his chest.
Startled by his sudden action, I froze. In that moment I noticed how careful his touch was, like handling delicate glasswork.
“Your Highness—”
“…I know I shouldn’t be greedy. I know that… but I can’t control myself.”
At his strange words I only rolled my eyes.
‘His heartbeat is loud.’
I could hear a rough pounding against where we touched.
‘The Duke Clayman’s?’
Just being held made it so vividly noticeable.
‘Does he have a heart condition?’
I worried for a moment—his heart was beating very fast.
Or maybe it was mine—perhaps it was my heart making the sound.
I felt his hand on my back and my face warmed for no reason.
“You probably don’t know how terrible this week has been for me.”
“Did something happen?”
“…I was afraid you might leave with the crown prince.”
“…What?”
The duke let go of me. I looked up at him with wide eyes.
Up close he looked more beautiful than ever: hair black as night and golden eyes. His indifferent gaze and straight nose.
Yet for some reason, though more beautiful than ever, he looked fragile.
His lips parted.
“Even though I know you would prosper even more if you left with the crown prince…”
His head dropped heavily. He even seemed very despondent.
It was the first time I’d seen the duke like this, so I couldn’t find the words. In the original story he hadn’t shown behavior like this, and I couldn’t even understand what the duke was trying to say.
“I…”
“You’ve already become someone very precious to me—someone I can’t be without.”
This felt like—
‘A confession, didn’t it?’
