Chapter 28
Cockroaches are inherently terrifying and disgusting. That one was even bright red. It’s only natural to want to scream and run away just from looking at it. But in the end, it’s just a pathetic bug. Filthy and grotesque as it may be, it can’t hurt me. That was what mattered. That cockroach can’t hurt me.
Probably.
Her legs began to move, just slightly. Once they started, her steps quickly regained their pace.
Her feet moved—half the battle was won. Eluana squared her shoulders and marched confidently into the drawing room.
Regis, who had been leisurely sipping tea, sensed her presence and looked up. His eyes swept over Eluana with displeasure.
“You—you’re living the good life now thanks to me, huh?”
With that one line from Regis, all the resolve she had built while walking in vanished into thin air. Her fingertips began to tremble again, and she quickly clenched them into fists.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
It felt like all the blood drained from her face. Dave, who had followed her in, gestured for a maid to prepare a cup of tea for Eluana.
Eluana didn’t sit down. It wasn’t rebellion—it was simply that her legs refused to go any farther.
‘Of course I don’t want to go near a cockroach. That’s perfectly reasonable. So it doesn’t mean I’ve surrendered to it.’
Thankfully, her expression was under control.
Regis, dressed as extravagantly as royalty should be, asked arrogantly, “Haven’t learned proper manners yet, have you?”
“…I heard you came looking for me.”
“That’s right. You’re honored, aren’t you?”
Yeah right—more like cursed. Damn cockroach.
Eluana didn’t answer. She simply lowered her gaze slightly and remained standing. Not having to make eye contact made it much easier to deal with him.
Interest flickered across Regis’s face.
“Do you even realize I’m a prince?”
“I’m standing in front of you because I do.”
Oops—her true thoughts had slipped out. But once she said it, it felt like a lump inside her had finally broken free.
The maid standing in the drawing room went pale. The servants fidgeted nervously while Regis let out a scoff.
“What, are you acting like this because I hit you a little?”
The word “hit” made her senses sharpen. Cold sweat trickled down her spine, but her mind felt clear.
Eluana raised her head.
“You also killed innocent people from the territory.”
Regis’s lips twisted into a sneer.
“I’m a prince. Someone like you has no right to look at me like that. Why? Want me to chop off another head? Slice!”
Regis lifted his right hand and made a slow slicing motion across his neck. But instead of Eluana, he pointed behind her—to a maid, who began trembling violently.
“Or maybe I should cut off your little brother’s head. Think that’d make you more obedient?”
“Did you come all the way to the Spes estate just to threaten my brother’s life?”
It was only after locking eyes with Eluana—eyes filled with absolute loathing—that Regis seemed to recall why he was here, and where exactly “here” was.
This girl had once been someone he could crush with a finger. Sure, killing her would’ve caused some trouble, but all he had to do was endure the Empress’s nagging. That’s all it would’ve taken.
But now, things had changed.
Recalling the Empress’s warnings, Regis faltered.
“Not exactly that…”
“So it’s not just a threat—you’d actually go through with it? Because you don’t like my attitude this time?”
The maids inhaled sharply. Their faces were bloodless.
As expected, Regis’s face darkened. But the murderous aura that had briefly flared quickly receded.
He picked up his teacup in a casual pose and asked,
“They say you’ve got alchemy abilities?”
The servants’ eyes widened again in alarm.
To use alchemy meant she had the blood of the Spes family. It hit them belatedly—Eluana and Rui weren’t just guests.
Ignoring the commotion around her, Eluana calmly replied,
“So I’ve heard.”
“Have they found your father?”
Since she had no way of knowing how far the Duke of Spes had gone with this charade, it was hard to answer. Eluana chose to play ignorant.
“He hasn’t returned from his travels yet. I was told several times that it’s hard to contact him once he leaves.”
She wanted to add, You must not be very bright, but stopped herself. Saying that would probably make a few of the maids faint from holding their breath.
“I see. So you still don’t know. Understandable. Alchemy, huh? Looks like I’m in a bit of a bind.”
Despite saying that, Regis didn’t look the least bit troubled. Eluana, unaware that the crown prince’s inauguration had been postponed, felt uneasy.
“I hope you receive appropriate compensation.”
“You sure don’t back down.”
Never before had Regis encountered a noblewoman who spoke back to him so directly. Usually they bowed their heads in fear or tried to curry favor. This spirited response was new.
‘Maybe that’s why the Duke of Spes likes her?’
For someone who hated hassle, the fact that the Duke had come all the way to the capital to lodge a complaint meant he truly valued the Vieta siblings. Regis had no choice but to admit the Empress had a point. He needed to improve his relationship with Eluana.
He absolutely had to prevent the official postponement of the crown prince’s appointment. If it were delayed even a month or a year, the Fifth Prince would gain that much more power.
Especially since Kazhar was currently missing. If the Fifth Prince gained the support of Count Arcas—Kazhar’s maternal family—and part of the Emperor’s faction, it would become uncontrollable.
‘Mother was right. The timing is bad.’
Resolving himself, Regis generously proposed,
“Alright. I admit I made a mistake. I’ll make it up to you. Tell me what you want.”
Mistake? Eluana struggled to keep her expression from twisting.
What she wanted was for this prince to vanish from her sight forever—but obviously, she couldn’t say that.
“I want nothing.”
“No need to be modest. Jewels, land, a house—just name it. I’ll give it to you with sincerity.”
“I’m fine, thank you. His Grace the Duke isn’t a stingy man. I lack nothing.”
Regis frowned at the repeated refusals.
“I, a prince, just admitted a mistake! And it’s thanks to me you caught the Duke’s attention. You’d have rotted away in some rural backwater otherwise.”
How refreshing—the cockroach was now spouting utter nonsense.
Eluana simply bowed her head and closed her mouth. Just ignore him. He’ll ramble and leave eventually.
But then Regis stood and strode over. Before Eluana could even step back, his hand reached out and gripped her chin. Her defiant green eyes glared up at him.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Oooh, scary.”
Regis pulled his hand away with mock fear. Still, every time he saw her, he was struck by how stunning she was. She looked even better in fine clothes.
Wait a second… if she really does have alchemy abilities from the Spes line, wouldn’t she make a perfect consort?
If he could get the Duke of Spes on his side, Regis wouldn’t need to fight hard for the throne. Just marrying the adopted daughter of the Spes family would be enough to sway people.
Finishing his shallow calculation, Regis said,
“I give you permission to call me by name.”
Eluana blinked. What was he even talking about? It was such a non sequitur she actually became curious about what was going on in his head.
“I’ll pass.”
“Well, I guess you wouldn’t understand the significance of calling me by name. Once you’re formally adopted into the Spes family, I’ll send you a marriage proposal.”
Marriage proposal?
Is he saying he wants to marry me?
Eluana couldn’t believe her ears. She tried to calm her racing heart as Regis continued,
“You’ll become the crown princess. How does that sound?”
Eluana’s face finally twisted in disgust.
The maids, witnessing her expression, began trembling like leaves. Regis, oblivious to their reactions, lifted his chin proudly. A faintly glowing seal was visible on his neck—a mark proving his eligibility to become Emperor.
“I will be Emperor. It will be the greatest honor of your life.”
“Just having a mark doesn’t mean you’ll become Emperor.”
“The Second Prince is dead, the Third ran off to his mother’s side of the family, the Fourth is missing, and the Fifth is still a kid. As for the princesses, just marry them off and they’re out of the way. So who’s going to take the throne instead of me?”
Eluana’s expression faltered. Apparently, Kazhar hadn’t returned to the capital yet. Missing, he’d said. Had something happened?
He said he was going to get treated for his addiction…
Pushing away the growing worry, Eluana replied,
“So your only plan is to eliminate the competition? And now it seems you want to use the Spes family to your advantage too.”
Her words came out more biting than intended. But Regis, intoxicated by his fantasy of becoming Emperor, didn’t even notice.
“No point taking the long way when there’s an easier path. Stop playing hard to get and just accept. This is a once-in-a-lifetime honor.”
What the hell is this lunatic saying?
Still, Eluana realized something from his proposal—she had gained enough influence that even Regis would consider marrying her.
Choosing her words carefully, Eluana said,
“I must decline that honor.”
“Don’t be stubborn. Once your past comes out, no good match will want you anyway.”
“My past?”
Was he talking about growing up in the countryside? Eluana looked confused, and Regis smirked.
“You were locked in a prison for quite a while. I visited you every day. What do you think people will say? You’ll be buried in filthy rumors before you even debut in society.”
He tapped her cheek with his finger. Disgust crept up from her feet, and Eluana clenched her teeth.
She could feel the metal marble in her pocket trembling slightly. She should’ve been thrilled—it meant the marble was finally reacting—but the monstrous cockroach in front of her killed any sense of triumph.
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“If I’d known you’d be like this, I would’ve taken you while you were still in prison. That would’ve been easier. I was too much of a gentleman.”
Eluana thought, Trying to reason with a cockroach was the real mistake.
