Chapter 77
“……”
Theodore only flinched slightly at the shoulders and gave no reply.
But Alicia’s teasing toward her friend continued.
“Since you were young, you always said you liked tall women with golden hair that shines like sunlight and eyes that sparkle like stars.”
“……”
“I thought you just made it up because you were too lazy to think, but turns out such a person actually exists. Seeing her in person, she seems a bit too good for you…”
At that, Theodore let out a dry laugh and raised an eyebrow.
“You didn’t like her before.”
“…Ahem.”
Alicia cleared her throat awkwardly, recalling how she once opposed the match in a letter, calling the young lady of lowly birth unworthy.
“She’s not a bad person, at least. And as your friend, it doesn’t matter to me who you meet.”
The light flowing from her hand gradually faded, and the purification was complete.
The darkened skin regained its healthy color, and the remaining wounds closed up perfectly.
After confirming Theodore’s shoulder was cleanly healed, Alicia withdrew her hand and spoke again.
“But from the standpoint of a vassal serving her lord, it’s different. We can only want a partner who won’t become your weakness. Don’t you agree, Sir Mitchell?”
She turned her head to Jake for support. Startled, Jake glanced at Theodore before nodding slightly.
Theodore, looking displeased, adjusted his clothes and retorted.
“You just don’t understand. Lady Ravello is more than enough help to me.”
“For now, maybe. But it’s best not to take things beyond being lovers. Especially since you’ve lost the Dragon’s Blessing.”
Just knowing that happened while she was away for a short while had nearly raised her blood pressure to the skies.
With such a fatal weakness now exposed, Alicia only wished Theodore would be more cautious.
Even if meeting Claire had stripped away some of her prejudice, she still couldn’t fully shake off her concerns about their relationship.
“You need someone who can compensate for your weakness. For example, someone from the House of Lomb.”
Another ducal house blessed with divine power.
The Lomb family’s power of protection bore similarities to the Dragon’s Blessing—an ability to shield people from physical or magical harm.
But Theodore only laughed in disbelief at her words.
“You know how old their daughter is, right?”
“Who said you had to marry a twelve-year-old? Just being from the Lomb family would be enough.”
“Lennox, enough of your presumptuous advice.”
Theodore cut her off firmly, showing he would tolerate no more meddling.
“Lady Ravello is the one who stayed hidden with me in that cave until morning. Thanks to the potion she gave me, my shoulder healed enough to get back here.”
“……”
“She even cut her own perfectly fine arm just to hide my injury.”
“…She did that?”
Alicia’s eyes wavered at the revelation of Claire’s hidden sacrifice.
Logically, she wasn’t the best choice for the crown prince’s partner. But the more Alicia saw, the more she wavered, finding herself unexpectedly impressed.
“No other lady would so boldly act like that. Only Lady Ravello.”
“She is indeed remarkable,” Jake admitted without thinking, and Theodore’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“I didn’t choose her without reason. So don’t speak nonsense about Lady Ravello again.”
When Alicia, lost in thought, didn’t answer, Theodore pressed the point lightly.
“That’s an order.”
“…Understood.”
In the end, Alicia backed down. Even as a loyal retainer, she couldn’t forcibly overturn her lord’s will.
After their treatments, Theodore and Claire met again in front of the Ravello carriage.
They had seized a moment amidst the bustle of everyone preparing to return.
“Your arm has healed neatly. I’m satisfied.”
“And I’m glad Your Highness’s shoulder has recovered.”
The two sighed in relief after checking each other’s wounds the moment they met eyes.
Franz, standing behind Claire, watched them closely, as if guarding her.
Noticing this, Theodore politely asked him,
“May I have a word with the young lady alone, Father?”
“…As you wish.”
Unable to draw a line when Theodore stepped forward, Franz reluctantly moved aside.
Claire had told him Theodore saved her from the monster’s attack—that weighed heavily.
After all, he was his sister’s savior.
The two slipped into the carriage, sitting face-to-face.
“You’ve done well, my lady.”
“No, Your Highness worked hard too.”
Theodore gazed at Claire’s faint smile, then after a pause, he spoke.
“Could you tell me what your future plans or goals are?”
Now that he had earned her trust, he wished to share the vision she held—not through speculation, but from her directly.
“…I’m going to bring down House Muton.”
Claire declared in a calm but resolute voice.
She had thought the same thing for some time.
Now that they were truly allies, she wanted to reveal her true goal.
“I owe my aunt a great debt. The woman I knew wasn’t someone who deserved such disgrace.”
The truth was, this resolve was born from regret and reflection on her powerless life as Priscilla.
Because in her complacency, she had lost that life forever—it felt like a debt left unpaid.
“So I want to uncover the secret behind her death, pull down House Muton, and put House Ravello in its place.”
Claire ended her words with firm conviction.
Her ultimate goal was revenge. But on the surface, her words made it sound more like ambition for her house’s restoration.
She couldn’t claim vengeance for Priscilla outright, so she had deliberately framed it as ambition.
“To do that, I want to strengthen House Ravello. But… would that be acceptable to Your Highness?”
The stronger the crown prince’s lover became, the heavier the emperor’s scrutiny would fall on them.
Now that Theodore had even lost the Dragon’s Blessing, she couldn’t help but worry.
“It’s fine. I’ll have to rise up eventually anyway. I can’t keep living in weakness forever. And stopping you and your house’s growth just because you’re my lover—that would make no sense.”
Theodore spoke casually, then added,
“Besides, Muton is a core of the Emperor’s faction. They’ve always been an eyesore to me too.”
He smiled at Claire and held out his hand.
“Now that we share a common enemy, I look forward to working with you even more.”
“Me too.”
Claire clasped his large hand, gave it a brief shake, then released it—only for Theodore to suddenly lean closer.
Claire froze when his face came unexpectedly near. Long fingers brushed against her cheek.
“There was a lash stuck there.”
“…Ah, thank you.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Theodore smiled as he bid farewell and stepped out, Franz immediately filling the space he left.
“What did His Highness talk to you about?”
“Just that we should keep working well together.”
Claire gave a brief summary, then suddenly warned him of something important.
“Franz, you know not to speak carelessly about His Highness, right?”
“Do you take me for a child? I wouldn’t. It would harm you too.”
Though he sensed Theodore had run into some kind of trouble, Franz had no intention of prying further.
Soon after, their carriage left the Virche Forest and set out for House Ravello.
Knowing her brother’s tight-lipped nature well, Claire leaned back in her seat and murmured,
“Once we’re back, it’s time to truly begin.”
To set the noose that would strangle Muton’s neck.
