Chapter 22
“There’s another place I want to show you.”
“Where to?”
This place is already adorable—there’s more?
Ever since arriving here, Valeri seemed unusually excited. As if opening a treasured jewelry box, he kept guiding me around, proudly showing me one thing after another. It seemed he still had something left to reveal.
Strangely enough, I didn’t dislike that reaction at all. In fact, it felt refreshing. Watching someone act purely on pleasant emotions without weighing everything first wasn’t bad at all. So I followed him without resistance.
The place he led me to was the highest floor of the building—the third floor.
Because the building was triangular and narrowed as it rose, by the time we reached the third floor it was barely half the size of the first floor.
Unlike the lower levels, there were no rooms here. The entire floor was an open space surrounded by windows on all sides, creating a bright, unobstructed view. Decorated like an indoor garden, it felt like a floating garden in the sky.
The curtains were all thin and light-colored. To one side, there was a table set for tea and a massive sofa large enough for several people to relax on.
“…I think I like this place the most.”
“I thought you would.”
Valeri’s expression brightened even more.
“May I sit on the sofa?”
“Of course.”
I sat down on the sofa near the window and gestured for Valeri to join me. He hesitated, his face faintly flushing, before sitting beside me. He was tall even when seated—my head came up to about the level of his shoulder.
“Did Her Majesty the Empress read to you here?”
Valeri looked startled.
“How did you know?”
“Well… the sunlight comes in best here. And the sofa’s as soft as a bed. I imagine you must have lain against Her Majesty’s legs, listening to fairy tales until you fell asleep. Right?”
Valeri’s throat bobbed as he laughed softly, clearly pleased.
“That’s exactly right. And you?”
“Huh?”
I hadn’t expected the question and replied dumbly.
“Blake—what was your childhood like? It feels like I’ve been the only one talking.”
“Oh. Me?”
When I was with others, acting as Blake Ariandel came naturally, so it usually didn’t bother me.
But this man had seen me in the North. Because of that, my real personality kept mixing in, and what little conscience I had left pricked at me just a bit. More and more, the longer we talked.
“I was sickly as a child, so my father worried about me a lot. He was busy trying to fill my mother’s absence as well. Still, he gave me so much love that I never felt lacking.”
The lies flowed smoothly.
Valeri leaned closer, as if trying to hear every word more clearly.
“Every day, my father would give me a different flower. I liked flowers—because they’re so colorful.”
“You like flowers? Even now?”
Valeri asked eagerly. Why was he so happy about that?
“Well… yes. They’re pretty. And fragrant.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head, not understanding.
He pulled the bell cord beside the sofa, and shortly after, his aide arrived with tea. He must have given instructions before we climbed the stairs. With warm tea in hand, my body—usually tense with constant vigilance—began to relax.
“I regretted not properly saying goodbye that day.”
“Mm…”
It sounded like he was talking about the North, but I wasn’t sure why the topic suddenly shifted. Still, I listened quietly.
“When I returned, I couldn’t stop worrying about you. The North has many underdeveloped areas. Bridges collapsed… I made arrangements, but even so, I was concerned. When we met again in the capital, I was relieved.”
I looked at him in silence. His eyes held a strange expectancy, almost like he was waiting to be praised.
So that bridge construction that was finished in the blink of an eye, even though it usually wouldn’t move until spring—it was his doing.
Even with treatment, if it had been delayed any longer, my life could have been in danger. And yet, he’d had the presence of mind to do all that. It was honestly impressive.
I turned my head away under the excuse of drinking tea.
“I told you to forget about it.”
“You said it was okay to remember saving you.”
“Yo—”
“Yes, I admit it. I heard it in the way that suited me best.”
His shameless interruption made me laugh in disbelief.
“You really are strange, Your Highness.”
“Am I?”
After that, we talked for quite a while. The conversation had no clear topic—just trivial chatter—but strangely, time flew by.
Somehow, I felt at ease, and without realizing it, I gently closed my eyes.
“…”
Sensing the air had grown quieter and calmer, I opened my eyes again. My blurred vision cleared, and the sunlight that had once filled the room was now fading—the sun half gone from the window.
And I was leaning against his shoulder.
…Wait. Did I fall asleep? Am I insane? Why would I sleep here?
I quickly straightened up, hiding my panic as best I could.
“Are you awake?”
He asked gently, smiling.
“Ah—um. I was just… thinking for a moment.”
I knew the excuse was ridiculous, but Valeri simply nodded.
“I see.”
Though there was a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Judging by the sun, I must have slept like that for at least an hour or two. No matter how I thought about it, it made no sense.
“I—I should head back now. It’ll be night if I stay any longer.”
Using time as an excuse, I hurriedly stood up.
* * *
After that villa date, my appointment with Mr. Schwalt was delayed by a full two weeks. Whether things got complicated or something went wrong, delays like this were common in the North, so it wasn’t surprising.
And two weeks later, I finally met Mr. Schwalt.
I expected praise the moment I arrived, but instead, he was angry. Not at me—at the coachman and Ian.
He had only ordered them to block the carriage’s path. What came back instead was a carriage overturning.
“…A simple collision?”
“I hired an idiot. Next time, I’ll make sure it’s done properly. Have you been well in the meantime?”
It seemed the coachman had misunderstood the instructions. Ian had only been told to protect me at all costs, so he did. Knowing it wasn’t his fault, he hadn’t bothered to make excuses.
Isn’t he an idiot?
In any case, although the meeting with the First Prince succeeded, Mr. Schwalt did not tolerate the coachman’s mistake. I doubted we’d ever see that man again.
I shrugged.
“I’m fine. I wasn’t badly hurt. Thanks to that, I even ended up inside the Prince’s Palace.”
“You shouldn’t have been hurt at all.”
He truly looked angry. I stared at him for a moment, then picked up my knife again.
“I’ve done worse before. Oh—and I think I’ll be seeing him again. I received a formal invitation.”
“That was faster than I expected.”
“I didn’t do anything. But… won’t it be dangerous? Even if my face isn’t well-known yet…”
“For now, it’s fine.”
“…That’s a relief, then.”
It had been several days since my leg bandages were removed. I’d finished all the medicine the Imperial Palace gave me. Maybe because it made me sleep more than usual, I recovered quickly.
I lifted salted fish roe soaked in lemon juice with my fork.
“About the Prince.”
“Hm? The Second Prince?”
“Yes. Apparently, he nearly died as a child. Shortly after he was born.”
Mr. Schwalt paused his hand briefly, then resumed cutting his meat with practiced ease.
“Really? Why?”
“I don’t know. He said he was gravely ill but never found out why. Anyway, that’s what I heard when we met last time.”
I spoke casually and put the food in my mouth.
“I see. I didn’t know that.”
“There are things even you don’t know, Mr. Schwalt? That’s more surprising.”
“I’m not a god. I can’t know everything. Aren’t you lacking anything?”
Without showing surprise, he replied with words that may or may not have been true, glancing at my half-empty plate. I shook my head.
“It’s not as good as your cooking.”
“Already missing it?”
He seemed quite pleased by that—his lips curling up noticeably.
“How is Mother?”
“She’s the same as always. You’ll see her soon.”
“Things are going well?”
“We’re making good progress with recruitment. We shouldn’t rush.”
Soon, huh. I need to secure Chartreux as my backing as soon as possible. More importantly—why haven’t I heard anything about the stolen key yet?
“If I obtain any information, I’ll let you know.”
“Just doing your part is enough.”
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Mother again.”
“If Rua heard that, she’d be happy.”
“She’d probably scold me for saying useless things.”
“She doesn’t mean it.”
Mr. Schwalt tried to defend her.
Holding back a smile, I asked,
“Ah—Mr. Schwalt?”
