#59. The Ten-Year-Old Crown Prince Is Too Cunning
“Elizabeth-sister. Are you leaving the palace?”
It was Susan.
Her small body trembled lightly, like a fallen butterfly.
“How did you get in here, Susan?”
“They let me in because I brought the medicine for the Crown Prince.”
“It seems the restorative tonic I made with Boritz is finally finished!”
Susan nodded. She was holding a box made of the finest wood.
On the day we swore sisterhood, I had brought Susan to Boritz’s farm.
Boritz, amazed by a genius girl well versed in herbs, couldn’t hide her surprise. She seemed impressed by Susan’s passion—even though Susan was a noble young lady—and by the fact that Susan had been acknowledged for her skill as an imperial court apothecary. From the first meeting, the two had hit it off.
‘Boritz is such an introverted, timid type. She looked like she and Susan were close.’
Maybe because they both liked plants and research? Or perhaps Susan’s earnest desire to help me resonated with Boritz? In any case, Boritz accepted Susan’s suggestion to make a restorative tonic together.
“We worked out the recipe whenever we had time. If it weren’t for Boritz, it wouldn’t have been finished.”
“We should first pay our respects to the Crown Prince. You two are meeting him for the first time, right?”
I looked between Susan and Franz.
As if she had forgotten she was in the Crown Prince’s palace, Susan bowed deeply, her face flushed scarlet.
“I humbly present myself to the little sky of the Empire, His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Raise your head.”
Franz spoke bluntly.
Even though his tone was curt, Susan couldn’t move. I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or intimidation by the lofty rank of the Crown Prince. To ease her, Franz added,
“I’ve heard much about you from Miss Elizabeth and from the Marquis of Nettleton. You needn’t be so nervous.”
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
“The Marquis of Nettleton never stops boasting about his sister. I wondered who she was—so I see her at last.”
“About my brother?”
At the mention of Douglas, Susan hesitated and lowered her skirt.
She glanced up at Franz with a slight lift of her eyes. Gentle features, clear brown eyes, and tidy pink hair combined to make her look as fresh and pure as a peony in bloom.
‘Not because she’s my sister—she’s genuinely adorable. Even a cold beauty like Claudia is fine, but a pure, lovely girl like Susan is so appealing. Our Susan is smart and kind, too.’
“I’ve also often heard of His Highness. They said he’s perceptive and wise and will become a fine emperor…”
Susan answered, cheeks reddening. It was almost a shame that only I got to see this cuteness.
“Ahem! Sit here. How long do you plan to stand?”
Franz cleared his throat unnecessarily and offered a chair. His flustered movements were unfamiliar.
“Thank you, Your Highness. How kind of you.”
Susan smiled shyly, lowering her eyelids. Franz’s face warmed like a ripe apple.
“You are very gra—graceful. The Marquis of Nettleton has every reason to boast.”
Why was he stammering? Why was he so kind to Susan, a girl he was meeting for the first time? He hadn’t been like that with me.
“Franz. Are you ill?”
I reached out and touched Franz’s forehead. There was no fever. Franz gently pushed my hand away and assumed a proper demeanor.
“Miss Elizabeth, I would prefer not to be treated like a child in front of guests.”
“Huh?”
“Enjoy tea with Miss Nettleton. I’m very curious what tonic she’s brought.”
Franz straightened like a small gentleman. Any previous flush had vanished from his face; he looked composed. Asking about Susan’s preferences and ordering tea of a servant, he exuded dignity.
‘Is this really Franz? My kid has changed.’
While Susan looked around with curious eyes, Franz poked my side with his elbow.
“Act naturally. You’re making Miss Nettleton look odd.”
Franz whispered hurriedly, glancing at Susan. My eyebrows lifted without my realizing.
“Could it be you’re interested in Susan?”
“No one can predict what will happen between a man and a woman.”
“A man and a woman? What could a ten-year-old possibly understand?”
Wasn’t today supposed to be our sorrowful farewell scene? One moment he’s calling me his only student to lighten the mood—now this. I felt a tiny sting of betrayal.
‘You like pretty girls just like Nikolai does. No wonder—he’s his father’s son.’
Franz, looking embarrassed, leaned in and whispered to me.
“His Majesty is twenty-eight. Elizabeth is twenty-two.”
“And?”
“Miss Nettleton is sixteen. I’m ten. A six-year difference is a perfect age gap, isn’t it?”
“Did you even do the math? What are you thinking, Franz?”
Franz was no longer a lonely rascal. He was a sly wolf with honey-colored hair and an angelic face—someone who had his sights set on my sister, Susan!
Claudia turned her gaze out the window. The palace moon was a pale silver. She clenched and relaxed a hand hardened by calluses. She hadn’t gripped a sword in a week. She hadn’t stepped outside the room. Even the soldiers who brought her meals and water kept a heavy silence, as if under orders.
‘If the Emperor hadn’t stopped Simon, I would have had to unleash my true power.’
Even now, when she closed her eyes, the bastard sword raised high flashed before her. She had never feared death. But this was the first time she had sensed such an intense smell: strange, like sweet floral perfume and, at the same time, the stench of rotten fruit. Could that have been the smell of death? Why did Simon suddenly display such monstrous strength?
A deep crease formed between Claudia’s brows as she perched on the chair.
—Screech.
The door, which only moved at mealtimes, opened quietly. Claudia’s blue eyes did not waver. They remained steady when the Marquis Brenden entered.
“I wished to see you, Sir Rose-Royce.”
“Visits are forbidden.”
“There is no place my influence doesn’t reach.”
Even having lost his eldest son and with his daughter locked in an ice tower, the Marquis Brenden had not lost his arrogance. He might have rough, bark-like skin and hollowed eyes, and withered lips, but his arrogance remained.
“You don’t show surprise.”
“I heard footsteps not used to training the body.”
“A knight who matched a man like my son, indeed.”
Brenden’s smile was bitter. For a moment, however, his gaze turned murderous as he glared at Claudia.
“If the Tyrant had not interfered, you would have been the one to die!”
“Is that why you came?”
“I want to speak about the Empire’s future.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean we should join forces.”
“Join forces? For what?”
“Revolution.”
Claudia looked at Marquis Brenden with a calm face. Her blue eyes were sharp as a well-honed blade.
“Didn’t you witness the Tyrant brutally slay my innocent son?”
“Do you want to follow your son? Calling vengeance ‘revolution’ is—”
“The Tyrant’s atrocities are only beginning. If we leave it be, who can guarantee the Empire’s future? It may become a colony of enemy states.”
“That may or may not be true.”
“What’s with that lukewarm attitude? Weren’t you the first to raise the banner of revolution?”
Brenden ground his teeth. Claudia crossed her long legs.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you only thinking of living for yourself?”
“Even if I dreamed of revolution, I would never be entangled with you, sir.”
“How arrogant. A revolution without gold cannot succeed.”
“Revolution brings blood. Personal feelings must not interfere.”
“So that villainess Elizabeth turned the Emperor into a murderer.”
“Do you truly believe she forced the Emperor to throw down his dagger?”
Claudia asked coldly. Brenden let out a hollow laugh.
“Of course! Simon attempted to kill you, and she goaded the Emperor. She killed my son to protect her property!”
“That doesn’t add up.”
“What did you say?”
“Sir Simon did attempt to take my life. But by that skill alone he could not have killed me.”
“What are you saying?!”
“Even if fate had conspired to kill me, it would be a disqualification. So why would Elizabeth kill Simon? If she left him be, she would win anyway, right?”
“T-that’s—!”
Brenden stumbled for words. A cold sneer touched Claudia’s lips.
“You see how everyone bites at Elizabeth without even basic verification.”
“Are you taking that villainess’s side?”
“I am on no one’s side.”
“While ignoring the Tyrant’s atrocities?”
“I intend to examine what the truth is.”
“You think you can do anything while confined?”
“I will do what I can.”
“You would have helped me in my grand scheme, and I was the fool! I wanted to reveal truths no one knows—”
Spittle flew from Brenden’s mouth. Claudia drew her head back and frowned. Letting someone talk out loud about a person you could easily eliminate proved more tiring than she expected.
“How can I trust someone who came to seek me out after dueling me and now speaks of revolution?”
“Do you think I would stab you in the back?”
“That won’t happen. I do not entrust my back to just anyone.”
“How insolent!”
Brenden clenched his fists in anger. Seeing his fists, skinny as a child’s wrist, Claudia murmured,
“If you’re going to clench your fist, first build strength. Relax your shoulders.”
“Damn it. I’ll never forget today!”
Brenden stormed off, muttering. As he fled, Claudia said to his retreating back,
“If His Majesty walks the path of tyranny, if Elizabeth truly is that villainess, then even if you try to stop it, the revolution will happen.”
“Don’t be conceited, wench. You know nothing of the Emperor.”
“What do you mean?”
“If this secret comes out, the Emperor will be reduced to a laughingstock. But first, he will be dealt with by my hand!”
My head throbbed. It was all because of Franz.
“Why are you interfering when I said I’d go to the farm with Susan?”
I asked, hands on my hips. Franz shrugged as if my question were obvious.
“Boritz said she made a tonic for me. I must personally praise her.”
“The outside of the palace is dangerous.”
“You’re going to leave the dangerous palace, Elizabeth.”
“Are you the same as me?”
“I’ll be much safer than you.”
Franz curled his lips in a mischievous expression. He was definitely hiding something.
“What nonsense are you talking?”
“I’ll tell you my secret. But there’s a condition.”
