Where was he going?
Milan suddenly changed direction. If he turned a corner, tailing him would become difficult.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d lose him. There was no time to speak casually anymore.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Don’t worry about my companions.”
No, I mean, I’m leaving…
“Is my lunch appointment more important than apologizing to the young lady?”
In the meantime, Milan turned the corner.
No…!
I turned sharply in that direction, eyes wide.
“Do you dislike speaking with me that much?”
Milan completely disappeared from my line of sight—while I was still stuck talking to the second prince.
“Lady Burkell?”
“Ah…!”
I lost him!
I sighed in frustration and glared at the second prince.
“Your Highness… If you wanted to apologize, couldn’t you have arranged another time?”
He was no help at all. Holding me up like this when I was in a hurry—utterly useless.
Did he do it on purpose?
How else could he be this persistent with someone who clearly disliked him?
“There’s no such thing as an apology given just because we happened to cross paths—”
I was so dumbfounded, I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“This really isn’t the right place for apologies.”
It was lunchtime, and plenty of people were out looking for restaurants. I hadn’t noticed until now because I’d been so focused on Milan, but now that he was gone, I could see it clearly.
A lot of nobles were watching us stand at the entrance. People coming and going from the restaurant, and even those sitting at the outdoor tables.
“I told you we should change locations.”
Andreas spoke as if this situation wasn’t his fault. Count Thomson stood a bit farther off, watching us.
I let out a small sigh.
“I’ve heard enough of your apology. Please, enjoy the rest of your time with your companions.”
The second prince didn’t try to stop me anymore. I was finally free from him.
But what did it matter? Milan had already vanished from sight.
Sir Hans approached me hesitantly, reading the frustration on my face.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave you alone…”
“No, it’s fine. You were doing your duty.”
At my words, Sir Hans looked slightly relieved.
I hurried to the corner where Milan had disappeared, but of course, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it… I lost him.”
There was no way to follow him now. I could only hope he had simply gone to meet someone.
I couldn’t bring myself to go back right away. I wandered the street for a while, but eventually gave up.
“Might as well eat while I’m out.”
Otherwise, the whole outing would feel too pointless. Since this area wasn’t too crowded, I figured I could enjoy a quiet meal somewhere.
That’s when I found him.
Milan—the one I had just missed—was inside a café, meeting someone.
So it was just an ordinary meeting?
I’d wondered where he could be going, but never expected to find him in a quiet place like this.
Except…
“Grey hair?”
Milan was meeting a man with grey hair.
A strong build, even from behind.
A chill ran through me. I had a feeling I knew who it was.
Was his meeting partner the First Prince?
To think Milan brought the magic stone and met with the First Prince… Whatever this was, it didn’t feel good. Had they already connected the dots between the stone and the curse?
What is this…?
I silently screamed.
That’s when Milan spotted me standing at the entrance.
“Vanessa?”
He looked shocked. A moment later, Killian turned to look at me.
It really is the First Prince!
Killian tilted his head slightly as if wondering why I was here.
Without thinking, I approached their table.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Vanessa. What brings you here?”
“I was out and stopped in for lunch. I didn’t expect to find you here, Your Highness.”
I answered Milan’s question and then greeted the First Prince. He let out a dry chuckle and spoke.
“How interesting. We were just talking about you.”
“About me?”
So there really is something going on.
Milan didn’t seem pleased with the First Prince’s honesty and looked at him, but Killian didn’t seem to care.
“You were talking about me…”
Had Milan discovered the connection between the magic stone and the curse? Had he told the First Prince?
A dozen thoughts raced through my head in that short moment. Carefully, I asked,
“Then… may I hear what it was about?”
“No. You may not. Go back.”
Milan’s response was firm and immediate.
“But it’s about me, isn’t it?”
“It’s not something you need to hear.”
“Then why talk about me when I’m not around?”
“You’re being unusually stubborn today.”
His tone was formal, befitting the First Prince’s presence, but his eyes were sharp. As I stared back, Killian spoke up.
“Are you curious about what we were discussing?”
I turned to him. His expression was intrigued.
“Count Techel asked to meet me with some questions.”
“If Your Highness needed to answer them… then does it concern you personally?”
“Yes. It’s closely related to me.”
It really is about the magic stone…
A wave of dread washed over me.
But something didn’t add up.
Milan showed him the stone, and yet Killian’s acting this calm around me?
I knew how violent the First Prince could be.
If they discussed the magic stone, he’d be far more hostile.
As I wavered in confusion, the First Prince gestured toward the seat.
“Don’t just stand there. Join us.”
“No need. I’ll see her out.”
Milan interrupted.
“Actually, I should be going as well. Would you excuse me?”
“Of course. We’ve already covered the important points.”
So their talk is over already?
I glanced between them.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
As Milan stood, he gave me a subtle look—follow me.
Judging by the seriousness in his eyes, I knew I wouldn’t be hearing anything pleasant.
Sure enough, as soon as we left the café, he turned on me.
“What do you think you’re doing? Why are you here?”
“I told you. I came to eat.”
“Then you should’ve quietly eaten by yourself. Why did you barge in on us?”
He seemed more annoyed now that he didn’t have to hold back in front of Killian.
“Can’t we talk about this back at the mansion?”
Why scold me in the street? Did stepping into an alley count as privacy?
I pouted and muttered,
“You said you were talking about me. You already took my things without permission—how could I not be curious?”
“So that’s why you stayed behind?”
Milan frowned, then asked a question that made my heart skip.
“Don’t tell me… You followed me because of that?”
“I didn’t.”
“And your outfit—did you rush out in that because of it?”
“Why are you judging my outfit? It’s not the first time I’ve gone out like this!”
He was too sharp to fool. Before the conversation dragged on, I shifted gears.
There was something more important.
“Give it back. My item.”
I held out my hand.
“Why did you take it? You don’t even need it.”
Given how the First Prince behaved, it didn’t seem like Milan had shown him the magic stone. And it didn’t seem like he’d taken it for appraisal either. I couldn’t figure out his reason.
“Don’t tell me you just wanted to mess with me.”
“Are you that upset?”
“Of course I am.”
“Did you think I’d sell it off or something?”
“Yes.”
“You were really that worried…”
What?
He looked at me like someone who had been waiting for exactly this reaction.
Puzzled, I stared at him as Milan finally said,
“I took it on purpose. To make you anxious.”
“…What?”
I didn’t understand.
“You’ve never felt the loss of something precious, have you?”
“…”
“When I saw you looking for the lilac tree, I thought maybe you missed your mother.”
Oh.
Now I understood why he was saying this.
He knew our mother had loved that tree. Seeing me searching for it must’ve made him think I was longing for her, too.
That maybe I was like our father—still grieving her.
“But I was wrong.”
He was right. I had chosen the tree simply as a good place to destroy evidence. I didn’t even know it had sentimental value.
“If you truly missed her, you wouldn’t have lost one of her keepsakes so carelessly.”
“Milan, that’s not…”
“Enough. Do you only feel guilty when I spell it out for you?”
His disappointed gaze pierced through me.
“At least you’re more human now. You used to just lash out whenever I said anything.”
Was he referring to her—the other me?
“Anyway, I’ll return it. I’m not the kind of person who irresponsibly disposes of someone else’s belongings.”
“You’ll return it?”
The situation was far from pleasant, but that was the one thing I was happy to hear.
If he would return it, then I could endure a bit of his scolding—
“Item?”
A new voice interrupted.
I turned to see the First Prince standing at the edge of the alley.
“What is this ‘item’ you’re referring to?”
I clamped my mouth shut and stared at him.
He heard us?
Of course he did. That’s why he asked.
“It must be something very important to Lady Burkell,”
he said, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
So he didn’t know. He had no idea Milan had taken the magic stone from me.
Wait a second.
I looked at Milan in alarm.
He didn’t know the magic stone was connected to the First Prince, did he?
Which meant he could say anything now.
If he says the wrong thing—
I couldn’t show it, but I stared at Milan anxiously.
“It’s just a gemstone,” he replied.
“Vanessa went snooping in my vault without permission, so there was a bit of a fuss. I confiscated something she valued.”
“That so?”
The First Prince turned to me, a smile tugging at his lips.
