Chapter 11
Finally, Jade tore his eyes from Noxia and turned to Karnen. His gaze was no longer calm.
“So you came all this way just to say that? When even looking at me makes you sick?”
His smooth, almost sweet voice only made it clearer that he was holding back his anger.
Anger, regret, sorrow, despair—so many dark and heavy feelings lay beneath it.
“You don’t have to worry, Lady Holby. I promise you. If I were going to cause chaos, I would have done it long ago. Broken everything here… and gone to that girl…”
The softer his tone grew, the more Karnen struggled to breathe. Not metaphorically—literally.
She clutched her throat, choking as if suffocated by Jade’s very presence.
Startled, Jade’s eyes widened. He stopped instantly, his expression flattening again.
“…Forgive me, Lady Holby. I didn’t mean to.”
His voice was once again perfectly polite as he withdrew his oppressive aura. The choking sensation vanished, and Karnen gasped for air, coughing faintly.
“I’m sorry.”
He repeated it. And strangely—it was genuine. He hadn’t intended to torment her. Sometimes it was simply too easy to lose control.
“Hard to believe after what you just did,” Karnen rasped, “but I hope you keep your word, Lord Ranon.”
Jade lowered his gaze.
“In this life, I don’t plan to interfere with her at all. I’ll only watch quietly. This time… this time, it must end peacefully.”
His words sounded more like he was speaking to himself than to her. His eyes turned back to Noxia.
Karnen rubbed her throat, glaring at him. When her breath finally steadied, she lowered her hand.
“Then keep that promise, Lord Ranon.”
She gave him an exaggerated bow dripping with sarcasm, then turned on her heel and walked away.
Jade’s eyes followed Noxia once more, now filled with quiet sorrow.
He watched as the song ended and she left the dance floor, politely declining a gentleman’s attempt to keep her longer.
He watched as she joined a group of young ladies instead, her smile shy but warm.
Jade prayed desperately that things would remain like this—that he could keep his distance, that his will would not falter, and that her life would remain peaceful.
That in this lifetime, she would never be cursed. That she could sleep in peace.
Jade Ranon, who had no one left to pray to, prayed anyway—for her alone.
Part III: The Prince’s Circumstances
At first, Noxia’s first royal ball had been awkward and clumsy. But as the night went on, she grew more comfortable.
With Karnen carefully introducing her to kind gentlemen for dances, and with Noxia making friends with other young ladies, the night ended both exhausting and fulfilling.
The ball broke up at dawn. By the time Noxia and Karnen climbed into the Holby family’s carriage, the sky above the palace was already paling with morning light.
Following Karnen’s suggestion, Noxia didn’t return to her small rented home, but instead stayed overnight at the Holby estate. After all, it was easier to rest there than to return alone and cook, clean, and care for herself.
At the marquis’s mansion, servants handled everything. Noxia slept until noon in a comfortable guest room, bathed in water prepared by others, and ate food she hadn’t lifted a finger to cook.
She couldn’t help thinking: life as a noble’s daughter must be convenient indeed.
Over tea, cake, and pudding, she joked:
“In my next life, I want to be born as a rich girl too. Or better yet, maybe we can be sisters in the same wealthy family.”
Karnen froze for a heartbeat, so quickly that Noxia didn’t notice. Then she smiled gently and joked back:
“Why settle for rich? Why not say you want to be born royal?”
“Now that would be blasphemy. I’m not that greedy.”
Noxia laughed brightly. Karnen’s brows furrowed slightly, but her voice remained light.
“Anyway, it’s just a joke. It’s not like reincarnation is real.”
“True enough.”
Noxia nodded and happily finished her pudding. Karnen fell silent, and the talk of “next lives” ended there.
That evening, Noxia returned to her own small home. She had barely avoided being roped into dinner with Karnen’s parents. One royal ball was more than enough—another grand feast with the Holbys would have been too much.
She politely refused Karnen’s offer of a carriage and walked home instead. Strolling and sightseeing was one of her small joys.
When she opened her front door and looked around the little rented house, her heart swelled warmly.
‘This really is my home now.’
Like returning from a long journey, it already felt familiar.
She washed, changed clothes, and collapsed onto her bed with a sigh of pure happiness.
“Aah… perfect.”
A soft bed, clean clothes, and fresh memories—it was paradise in its own way.
Noxia treasured it. This was her life now.
A week passed since the ball.
Prince Elenon Hermeon lived as usual. He studied at the Academy, attended royal events, met noble boys for card games, joined mixed gatherings with young ladies, read in the royal library, or wandered aimlessly in the palace gardens.
Today, however, he was meeting Academy classmates at an upscale tea house in the city.
Once, taverns and tea shops had been considered vulgar places for commoners. But times had changed. The rising middle class had reshaped society. Even nobles—and royals—met outside their homes for gatherings.
Some tea houses even catered specifically to nobles. Now, even a prince could be seen there without scandal.
Elenon’s carriage stopped in front of a tall, elegant building. Dressed simply but in the finest cloth, he looked refined yet not ostentatious.
That was the new royal policy: no need to flaunt authority outside formal occasions. Maintain dignity, but be approachable. The monarchy had learned from fallen neighbors clinging to absolute power.
Thus, Hermeon’s royals studied alongside nobles and commoners at the Academy, strolled the city, and drank tea with friends.
Elenon embodied this change perfectly—humble, modest, and kind.
He entered with a gentle smile, greeted by bowing staff.
“This way, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
His classmates had already gathered in a private room, waiting for him.
“Prince! You’re here!”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all. Actually, I wanted to come earlier, but chaos broke out at home—our cookmaid—”
“Heidi, save that story for later. Let’s order tea first. Your Highness, would you like to choose first?”
“Good idea. Let’s all pick our drinks, maybe some cakes to share?”
“Perfect.”
“And don’t worry, today’s on me. Order whatever you’d like.”
Elenon’s smile was dazzling. Several young women blushed. A male classmate coughed loudly and spoke up.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Elenon kept smiling, hiding his fatigue. Sometimes he wished for nothing more than piles of homework—it was less draining.
‘Boring.’
He chose his tea and cake mechanically, his expression still flawless.
‘Already bored.’
