Chapter 73……………………….
The inside of the cave was damp and clammy.
Carefully laying Theodore down on the ground, Claire massaged her stiff shoulders.
Her limbs trembled from suddenly using muscles she wasn’t used to. Her forehead and back were damp with sweat.
Catching her breath, she looked around the dark interior and thought in dismay:
‘Haa… I guess we’ll have to hold out here at least until morning.’
It was an awful environment for an injured man, but she had no choice but to wait until Theodore recovered.
Claire pulled out her handkerchief and wiped his face, then checked his wounds.
Fortunately, the potion seemed to be working—though slowly, the torn flesh from the monster’s tail was knitting back together.
But when she turned her gaze back, she saw his pallid face, drained as if from cold. She touched his cheek and forehead with the back of her hand, frowning.
‘His body temperature’s low.’
In a hurry, she took off her jacket and laid it over him.
But for a man of his broad build, her jacket was pitifully small—it didn’t even cover half his torso.
His lips, already dry, were turning more and more blue.
“…This won’t do. I need to go find something.”
If she left him like this, his wounds might worsen.
She moved him to the safest, flattest spot she could find, then stepped out of the cave.
Theodore opened his eyes when night had already fallen.
In the chilly cave, he felt a faint warmth.
With a pained expression, he slowly looked around. His gaze landed on a small figure crouching in front of him.
“…Lady Ravello?”
At his low, cracked call, Claire—busily working on something—quickly turned her head.
“Your Highness, you’re awake? Are you all right?”
Throwing aside the stick she had been holding, she hurried over to check his condition first.
Though his recovery was slower than she expected, compared to the beginning, it was much better.
Claire let out a small sigh of relief. Theodore, watching her silently, moved his lips.
“Where is this…?”
“Since Your Highness said your injuries mustn’t be discovered, I brought you into this secluded cave.”
Claire reached for a potion bottle, which she had filled with water from a nearby stream.
She carefully let him drink, continuing:
“You drank my father’s healing potion, so by morning your wounds should be much better.”
“…I owe you.”
His voice smoother now after drinking, Theodore looked ashamed as he spoke.
“No, it’s fine. This happened because you saved me. And besides, how many times have you helped me already, Your Highness?”
Claire shook her head firmly. But Theodore still looked uneasy.
“Still… you must’ve had a hard time alone while I was unconscious. What were you doing?”
“Ah, I was trying to make a fire. I failed several times, but I finally managed a little while ago.”
With some pride, she showed him the small campfire.
The flames were still modest, so she was carefully feeding in twigs to keep it growing.
Theodore glanced between the fire and Claire, then tried to sit up with effort.
“Ugh…”
“Your Highness, you shouldn’t push yourself yet.”
Ignoring her protest, he leaned against the wall to sit upright.
His right shoulder was still difficult to move, but the paralysis from the monster’s poison had eased thanks to the potion.
“Your hand.”
“Pardon?”
“Give me your hand.”
“…?”
Though bewildered by the sudden command, she offered her hand.
Theodore took her pale, slender hand and examined her fingers and palm closely.
They were originally flawless, delicate hands.
But after hours of rubbing sticks together to make fire, the skin was rubbed raw and red, covered with blisters.
Theodore’s mood sank as he spoke in a low voice:
“I told you to leave first. Why stay behind like a fool and get yourself hurt?”
“I stayed because I’m not a fool. What kind of person abandons their lover in danger?”
Even if their relationship was only pretend, to the outside world it was real. If she returned alone, people would only speak ill of her.
Of course, more than that, Claire had simply stayed out of worry for Theodore.
Silence fell for a moment.
Only the crackling fire filled the cave, until Theodore finally spoke again, slowly:
“If you have something you want to ask, do it. You must’ve noticed something strange—that’s why you hid me, isn’t it?”
“…Can I really ask anything?”
“Yes.”
Even with his ready permission, Claire hesitated.
If her suspicion was correct, it was a grave matter. And was it even right for her, a fake fiancée, to pry so deeply?
But after much thought, she chose to confirm the truth. They had come too far already to turn back.
“Did you… lose the Dragon’s Blessing?”
“Yes.”
Unlike Claire’s cautious tone, Theodore answered plainly.
Her suspicions confirmed, Claire let out a long sigh.
“Since when? Is it temporary?”
“Since last year. For now, it seems permanent.”
“How could such a thing…”
“The details are hard to explain. Maybe it’s the price of living too indulgently, too carelessly.”
He tried to shrug unconsciously, but pain made him wince.
Gesturing to Claire not to worry, he continued:
“If this truth gets out, my uncle will rush to eliminate me.”
“…Then is it really okay to tell me? This is a secret tied directly to Your Highness’s life.”
“I tell you because it’s you. If it were anyone else, I’d have silenced them first.”
At his words—so full of trust—Claire felt something strange stir inside her.
Would the Crown Prince still treat her the same if he knew her true identity?
What part of “Claire” had earned such deep trust from him?
“You trust me that much?”
“Yes.”
“But why…?”
“There are many reasons. But the biggest one is—you’re the niece of the person who once saved my life.”
Claire froze.
Saved his life.
She knew very well who that phrase referred to, and what moment it meant.
Twelve years ago.
The funeral of the late Emperor and Empress, killed suddenly in an ill-fated carriage accident, lasted an entire week.
At the time, ten-year-old Theodore was devastated, listless and depressed all day long.
Using this as an excuse, the Tobias family forced the Crown Prince out of the palace.
They claimed the grieving boy needed convalescence, when in truth, they wanted him gone so they could seize full power.
Those loyal to the late Emperor and Empress opposed this. Even if he were to rest, the Crown Prince must be sent to a territory strong enough to protect him.
After fierce debate, his place of convalescence was decided: the Duchy of Muton.
The Muton family was neutral and blessed with sacred power—judged well-suited to safeguard the prince.
Thus Theodore left for the duchy, and the Muton family moved there with him.
Back then, Priscilla spoke kindly to her husband:
“We must take good care of His Highness, shouldn’t we?”
“Well… is that really necessary?”
The Duke of Muton reacted halfheartedly, unmoved even though the Crown Prince himself was entrusted to their household.
“I’ll handle it. You stay quiet and don’t meddle. Don’t even speak to him unnecessarily.”
“Oh… all right.”
Though puzzled by his stern warning, Priscilla obeyed.
But when she first laid eyes on Theodore—
‘His expression is so dark…’
It reminded her of herself and Franz after their mother’s death—perhaps even more hollow than that. She knew instinctively:
No matter what her husband said, she couldn’t turn away from this child.
So she cared for him discreetly.
Every afternoon she had rooibos tea prepared, knowing he liked it. Every night she sent warm milk to help him sleep.
She never approached him directly—she mostly arranged things quietly through Lena.
But one day, Lena had to leave briefly on an errand from the Duke.
“My lady, Grace will serve His Highness tea in my place today.”
“All right, I understand.”
Hearing that, Priscilla thought nothing of it.
But during lunch, a thought struck her—
‘Did I tell Lena to change today’s snack from chocolate cake to almond cookies?’
In recent days, she had noticed Theodore consistently leaving only the sweet desserts untouched.
She had meant to adjust, but couldn’t recall if she had told Lena yet.
‘Just in case, I’d better tell Grace myself.’
Since teatime was soon, she went to the kitchen personally.
Walking quietly so as not to disturb the staff, she searched for Grace.
‘Where is she? I’d better ask—’
And then, she witnessed something strange.
A maid standing before a tray with teapot and cups… subtly lifted the lid and slipped something inside.
Beside it lay a plate of almond cookies.
‘What is she doing…?’
