Chapter 134
“How did you…?”
Diane stiffened, her voice trembling with shock. Sophia, seeing her reaction, spoke with a hollow expression.
“So it’s true after all. I wasn’t sure, but now I know. Is anyone out there? Come in!”
“W-what?”
Diane had always thought Sophia a fool and looked down on her, but Sophia was surprisingly quick-witted. Especially when it came to affection directed at herself—sensitive to love, she would obsessively observe those she was fixated on, and she had a sharp eye for emotions reflected in others’ gazes.
That was why, having long held doubts and resentment toward the maid her grandmother constantly protected and doted on, Sophia instinctively sensed the hidden truth in Diane’s slip. The affectionate look that even she, the granddaughter, had never received. The way her grandmother would cling to and take along a mere maid everywhere…
Turning to the servants who entered, Sophia ordered coldly:
“Lock up that girl named Lea. Immediately!”
“You! How dare you—!”
The moment her precious granddaughter placed Lea in danger, Diane lunged toward Sophia. But Sophia easily dodged her. Diane, face flushed red, lost her balance and fell to the ground. Sophia looked down at her grandmother with a cold, detached expression, as if every ounce of affection she once held had vanished.
“Until my brother wakes up, you will not move from here. Do you understand?”
No matter how much one tried to hide, secrets could not stay concealed from the eyes of society forever. Especially not in places like the Parden estate or the Lloyd family, which drew constant attention.
“I heard that Lord Lloyd and Lady Aisha have broken off their engagement.”
“They say Parden sent the annulment letter first.”
“Apparently, the marquis stood outside Parden’s gates every day for a while, but recently he hasn’t been seen…”
Though word of Aisha’s miscarriage or Ian’s poisoning had not yet spread, nearly everyone knew about the broken engagement. People gossiped freely about how it was Parden who had sent the annulment notice first, and about Ian, who had stood in front of the gates for days. The reasons for the annulment were left to endless speculation.
“…People are so reckless with their tongues.”
Among those troubled by such talk was none other than Jared. Thanks to his elder brother William, Jared had learned of the broken engagement quickly. From the moment he heard, he had been plagued by both worry and a strange, guilty anticipation that robbed him of sleep.
“Well… I shouldn’t be one to talk. Whatever the reason, she must be suffering deeply.”
Jared despised himself for feeling a spark of hope after hearing the news. How pathetic, how repulsive. The woman he loved must surely be hurting, and yet here he was, secretly glad at the chance it presented him. How was that any different from the shameless gossips?
‘…I heard she’s unwell, too. Would it be so wrong to send a letter of concern?’
Even while tormented by guilt, he kept looking for excuses to contact Aisha. He cursed himself and yet searched for opportunities all the same. How long had he been lost in thought like that? Only when someone suddenly came close did he finally notice a presence.
“Ah, if it isn’t the young prince.”
“…Crown Prince.”
Seeing who stood before him, Jared’s eyes hardened with wariness. Iskan smirked inwardly, amused that this mere knight hadn’t noticed him until now, and even after realizing it, regarded him with such open suspicion.
‘Completely different from that sly crown prince of theirs. Seems they raised him like a fool since he won’t inherit the throne.’
Iskan mocked Jared inwardly, though outwardly he kept a genial smile.
“It’s freezing out here. What are you doing?”
“Just taking a short walk… You must be returning from a meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“That’s right. But a walk? In this cold? You must have much on your mind.”
“…What I do is none of Your Highness’s concern.”
What began as small talk turned sharp in just a few exchanges. Iskan, usually smooth and easygoing, decided not to bother softening things. He disliked Jared as much as Jared disliked him—after all, they both had their eyes set on the same woman.
“Relax your face a little. We’ll soon be family. No good comes from being so prickly, does it?”
The pointed words were meant to provoke. Jared immediately understood his meaning, and his brow twitched.
“…So it seems your talks with His Highness went well.”
“Well enough. It’s mutually beneficial. True, she won’t be a legitimate princess, but His Majesty gains an imperial bride, and your side conveniently disposes of a troublesome problem.”
At the words “imperial bride,” Jared’s expression twisted with displeasure. But he said nothing more. Seeing his silence, Iskan gave a dismissive shrug and then deliberately brought up another sore subject.
“You seem very worried about Lady Aisha, too.”
“That is none of your business.”
Unlike before, Jared reacted instantly. Iskan smiled, clearly entertained. His voice carried a teasing lilt as he delivered his next words.
“Before I leave this country, I intend to propose to Lady Aisha once more.”
“What…!”
“I find you pitiful, Prince. To be in love with a woman, yet never confess? Truly pathetic.”
His bluntness struck Jared silent, as if the words had slammed into his chest. Iskan patted him lightly on the shoulder a couple of times and then began walking away, tossing back with a smirk:
“Since you’ll likely never manage to confess, at least pray for my success. As I said, we’re soon to be family, are we not?”
“This is imprisonment! Let me out at once!”
The woman’s shrill voice pierced the air, sharp enough to make anyone frown. Yet William, sitting across from her with one leg crossed, wore a calm, leisurely expression. That composure made Helen’s eyes tremble with panic. Overcome with fear, she collapsed back down, clutching at her skirts as she screamed.
“You can’t do this to me! If His Majesty hears of this, do you think he’ll let it go?”
At the mention of the Emperor, William’s eyebrow twitched faintly. He had been gazing idly at a painting on the wall, but now he lowered his eyes. Helen shuddered at the chill that ran down her spine, but clung to her strongest card, invoking her patron once more.
“His Majesty…! L-let me see my father!”
“Your father?”
William gave a short, incredulous laugh and leaned forward from where he had been reclining on the couch. Though he only drew a little closer, Helen immediately fell silent—not out of choice, but because the sheer weight of his presence crushed her voice.
“You still don’t get it. Or are you simply stupid?”
“…”
“Of course, stupidity explains how you’ve managed to run your mouth and bring things this far.”
His tone was deceptively casual, but his words were merciless. Helen’s fingertips turned deathly pale. From a distance, the crown prince had always seemed a man of gentle smiles and elegant composure. But the man before her now was nothing like that. The smile remained, but the elegance and softness were gone without a trace.
“It must’ve been delightful, flaunting yourself as the Emperor’s daughter, wasn’t it? With everyone treating you like royalty, you must’ve felt like you could fly.”
William’s smile deepened, curling cruelly as he looked at her frozen face. Helen gasped when their eyes met.
“Even our emperor, calling for you almost every day… That must’ve been thrilling. But you know what? All those desperate charms you used to throw at my father… They were useless. All of it.”
Clicking his tongue, William turned his gaze to the window. Beyond, he could see the distinctive blue roof of the building where foreign envoys were staying. The sight tugged at memories—memories of his parents’ strife.
I can’t bear this anymore, Father. Why do you treat Mother this way?
…
I heard that Lord Avere of Saint Kingdom is here at the palace as envoy. Don’t tell me…
His younger siblings knew nothing, but William had once witnessed his parents’ quarrels. His father had always been obsessively wary of Lord Avere, the greatest knight of Saint Kingdom—his mother’s homeland, her first love, and a man who had remained unmarried, faithful to her memory his entire life.
Nearly every fight between his parents had stemmed from that man. Celine, Helen’s mother, had managed to take the Empress’s place for a while precisely because, as a lady-in-waiting, she had deliberately exaggerated and twisted the meetings between the Empress and Lord Avere, driving a wedge between husband and wife. William had suspected as much when he needled his father.
…How pathetic. You settled those old misunderstandings long ago, and yet here you are, jealous over nothing again?
Bang!
How dare you, Crown Prince…!
His guess had been correct—his father’s anger erupted, confirming it. But William, already grown, found it more pitiful than frightening. He also knew exactly how to cool his father’s rage and bring him back to his senses.
The imperial physician came to me about Mother.
What? The physician? Is Karna unwell? Hurt? Why has no one told me?
With how cold you’ve been to her, who among the servants would dare say anything? Mother… She’s cried so much her eyes are damaged. The doctor says if this continues, she could lose her sight.
The Emperor, who only moments ago had been fuming at his son, blanched as if turned to stone. He leapt to his feet and rushed to see his wife, only to be turned away without even a glimpse of her. Watching his father return, shoulders sagging like a defeated soldier, William had dared to click his tongue.
I never thought Mother’s condition was that serious… William, was I too harsh?
Father, do you even hear yourself? In front of Mother, you paraded around that woman’s daughter, protecting her openly. When Mother showed her displeasure, you used her cousin in Saint Kingdom as an excuse to threaten her. And on top of that, I hear rumors that you planned to secure a position in the Empire for that illegitimate girl, even pushing for a marriage with Marquis Lloyd. Is that true?
That knight… always finding excuses to visit the palace with this delegation or that. He’s an eyesore. And your mother—she never understands how I feel. I got carried away, that’s all. But I never imagined Karna would be so shaken…
So shaken? If it were only that, she wouldn’t have cried herself half-blind. Do you know what happened while you were busy with your ridiculous jealousy, Father?
