Chapter 23

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”

 

At his appearance, Freyer’s lips twitched faintly. The Crown Prince offered Freyer a soft, almost serene smile.

 

‘One corner of his mouth looks… raised.’

 

Strange.

 

“I didn’t expect to see my brother here. But meeting you is a pleasant surprise.”

 

“Yes, brother.”

 

He soon turned his gaze from Freyer to me—wearing a smile different from earlier, almost delighted.

 

‘…Is that just my imagination?’

 

“But Lady Lilithia, how did you end up here? When the conversation ended, I went to find you immediately, but you weren’t there. I searched for quite some time.”

 

“You were looking for me?”

 

He nodded.

 

“I was told you had already left because I would not be returning.”

 

“I believe the message was delivered incorrectly. I was worried we might miss each other. I’m relieved I found you. It’s getting late; you should return home.”

 

“Oh… it is nearly sunset.”

 

He reached out his hand to me where I sat.

 

“Allow me to escort you back to your estate.”

 

At that moment, Freyer’s hand cut between us, blocking the Crown Prince and me. His expression was firm.

 

The sudden tension froze me in place.

 

‘What is happening?’

 

Clenching one hand tightly, Freyer spoke.

 

“Lady Lilithia and I were in the middle of a conversation.”

 

The air grew heavier, uncomfortable. Freyer looked like he was holding back something impossible to articulate.

 

“If it wasn’t important, you should know it’s improper to keep a young lady at this hour. Especially you, Second Prince.”

 

“If you’re worried about that, I shall escort her myself.”

 

“That won’t do. Lady Lilithia is my guest. And attending to guests is my responsibility.”

 

“If she’s your guest, then surely you know it’s discourteous to leave a guest waiting and not show up. A discourtesy you’ve committed.”

 

Freyer didn’t withdraw his hand and stared straight at the Crown Prince. I had no idea what to do.

 

“I don’t know what you were discussing with the Second Prince, but we still have unfinished matters, don’t we?”

 

The Crown Prince forced an awkward smile as he looked at me.

 

“I thought it would be best to finish the discussion in the carriage on the way to your estate, but… since the Second Prince insists, I’m uncertain how to proceed.”

 

My eyes widened.

 

“By finishing the discussion… do you mean the trade goods?”

 

“But of course. We still haven’t concluded the matter of purchasing the merchant guild’s goods.”

 

My whole purpose today had been to introduce our goods and hopefully get a royal contract.

 

‘Ah… what do I do?’

 

I couldn’t afford to lose this chance.

 

“Yes… let’s go.”

 

The Crown Prince took my hand. As I rose from the chair, Freyer grasped my wrist where the Crown Prince was holding me.

 

…

 

Freyer said nothing. His lips were pressed shut.

 

‘It must have been a different reason he came to find me.’

 

If he had come to imprison me for “the crime of assaulting a prince,” he wouldn’t have hesitated like this.

 

I looked at the Crown Prince.

 

“The Second Prince seems to have something he urgently wishes to say to me. May I speak with him briefly?”

 

“I apologize, my lady, but I won’t have personal time available after today.”

 

I looked between the two brothers.

 

The fate of my merchant guild rested on finishing this conversation with the Crown Prince.

 

“If… if you’re pressed for time…”

 

“Let us go. It’s getting dark.”

 

He pulled me firmly. I was practically dragged away. Feeling uneasy, I turned and shouted to Freyer:

 

“Freyer! I mean—Your Highness Freyer! We can talk next time we meet!”

 

 

***

 

 

I climbed into the carriage, guided by the Crown Prince. Inside the quiet cabin, I sank into thought.

 

‘In the original novel, they were close.’

 

Ivailo cherished Freyer deeply as a younger brother. He even despaired upon discovering Freyer was in love with Nazlee.

 

‘But when Freyer learned Nazlee loved Ivailo instead, he gave up his unrequited love.’

 

He chose to support them, believing his brother could give her greater happiness.

 

‘But their interaction in the garden today was nothing like that.’

 

There was clear discomfort between them.

 

‘Is this a part the novel never mentioned? Or… is the story diverging?’

 

I resisted the urge to grab my head.

 

Then—

 

Rattle—!

 

The carriage hit a stone, lifting me off my seat. The Crown Prince immediately reached out and caught my shoulders.

 

“Careful now. That was dangerous.”

 

“Th-thank you.”

 

He didn’t release me, and guided me to sit at his side.

 

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

 

“Thankfully, no.”

 

“It seems you’re someone who truly needs a guiding hand.”

 

He withdrew his hand and spoke.

 

It was true that every time I was in danger, he coincidentally happened to be nearby.

 

‘It’s not that I need someone’s guiding hand…’

 

I gave an awkward laugh.

 

“Let’s finish the discussion we didn’t complete earlier.”

 

“Yes!”

 

At last—

 

The path to the merchant guild’s success had reopened. I clasped my hands tightly.

 

“I would like to purchase enough fabric for the 500 staff handling administrative duties and another 500 for palace laborers—plus the fabric for my own garments. In total, enough to clothe one thousand people.”

 

I immediately began calculating.

 

‘Exactly as expected!’

 

With a bright grin, I announced: “That order would cost around 160 gold coins!”

 

Hardly a small amount.

 

‘’What if he refuses, saying it’s too expensive?’

 

Nervously, I checked his expression.

 

After stroking his chin in thought, he finally spoke.

 

“The price is reasonable. Can you deliver it by next week?”

 

“Of course! If necessary, even sooner!”

 

I nodded vigorously. I wanted to deliver everything by tomorrow if possible.

 

“Haha.”

 

His sudden laughter startled me.

 

He kept trying to hold back a smile, glancing at me repeatedly.

 

‘Is something on my face?’

 

As I touched my cheek, he spoke—freezing me in place.

 

“You truly embody the word ‘lovely.’ It suits you remarkably well, my lady.”

 

The Crown Prince was acting strange.

 

Even if he were the kindest man alive… lovely didn’t fit this moment.

 

And his eyes—

 

They didn’t look gentle or affectionate.

 

They were the eyes of a predator who had finally secured prey.

 

A bright red warning lit up in my head:

 

Run.

 

Then he cleared his throat.

 

“If you can prepare it as soon as possible, I’ll pay 200 gold coins.”

 

‘Two hundred?’

 

The order was 160. He was offering an extra 40 gold coins.

 

“Remarkably, you have brought the exact thing needed.”

 

I instinctively accepted what he handed me—a heavy navy pouch. Confused, I looked between him and the pouch.

 

“A tenth of the payment in advance.”

 

‘A tenth… meaning gold?’

 

A tenth of 200 coins—20 gold coins.

 

A staggering amount had suddenly landed in my hands.

 

‘I… I’ve barely even seen a single gold coin before…’

 

Any discomfort I felt earlier was erased instantly. A radiant glow practically surrounded the Crown Prince.

 

‘That ‘lovely’ comment must have been just kindness. Surely!’

 

“I’ll send a represenative to your merchant guild soon.”

 

“I will prepare the best goods as quickly as possible!”

 

“All right.”

 

I clutched the pouch as if it were a sacred relic.

 

‘Twenty gold coins…!’

 

It didn’t feel real.

 

Just as emotion welled up, the carriage slowed.

 

“We’ve almost arrived. Until next time, Lady Lilithia.”

 

***

 

When the merchant guild was mentioned, Lilithia grew anxious.

 

Freyer could no longer insist that he came first.

 

“Did Brother truly rush to find her after meeting the Empress?”

 

It felt more like the lie he’d used before—claiming Lilithia was waiting in the Crown Prince’s bedroom—another ploy to interfere.

 

“And though he spoke to Lilithia, Brother’s eyes… were on me.”

 

That gaze was painfully familiar.

 

Mockery.

 

A look he had endured all his life in the palace.

 

“Does he mean to keep me in check?”

 

Why?

 

He had never coveted his brother’s throne nor sought power.

 

Clothes, jewels, books, treasure—it didn’t matter if they were taken from him. None of it was truly his.

 

Even the royal blood flowing through half his veins—he’d have gladly thrown it away.

 

His misfortune began with that blood.

 

“I’ve lived surrendering everything.”

 

He had accepted every misery, every nightmare as his fate.

 

“But for the first time… I wanted something.”

 

He had met someone who halted the nightmares.

 

Someone who wished for his happiness.

 

Lady Lilithia Baimery.

 

The small moment he spent with her had outweighed every happiness he’d ever known in the palace.

 

“My life didn’t deserve the word happiness… until her.”

 

So he searched desperately for her.

 

Afraid the hope he finally grasped might slip away.

 

And at last, he found her.

 

“I’ve always surrendered. But this—this I cannot yield.”

 

Once he had tasted happiness, he could no longer cower.

 

“I must protect it.”

 

Freyer clenched his fists.

 

“I will not repeat the same mistake—of failing to protect someone precious.”

 

He tugged the bell cord.

 

His attendant rushed in.

 

“Call Sir Derek.”

 

Derek soon arrived.

 

“You summoned me, Your Highness?”

 

“Contact the Guildmaster.”

 

“At once.”

 

Derek sensed something different about him but asked no questions as he left.

 

Alone in the quiet room, Freyer whispered: “You should be afraid of the royal blood that makes up half of my being.”