Chapter 9

“Such a mistake.”

Ivailo said, examining the scratch on Freyer’s neck.

“It’s bleeding more than I thought. I’ll be more careful during our next spar. Are we good?”

Ivailo sheathed his sword, grabbed Freyer’s shoulder firmly with one hand, and spoke. No response came from Freyer.

“It would be nice if you’d say something. Your silence makes things awkward.”

Ivailo patted Freyer’s shoulder. Then, with a smirk, he turned his back on him and headed out of the training grounds.

“Be sure to get that treated. Have sweet dreams.”

Freyer just watched Ivailo leisurely walk away, biting only his lip. Derek, who had been anxiously pacing beside them, rushed toward Freyer, shouting.

“Your Highness! You’re bleeding! We need to stop the bleeding immediately…”

He pulled a clean white handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Freyer. Freyer took the handkerchief and pressed it against his neck.

The scratch was deeper than expected, and the white handkerchief quickly turned red. Freyer winced at the slight pain. Seeing him, Derek asked,

“What grudge does His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince hold against you to do this to you!”

Freyer glanced around at Derek’s words.

“Derek, mind your tongue. There are many ears listening.”

“But, Your Highness…!”

“Let’s go inside.”

With that firm command, Freyer turned his body and headed out of the training grounds. Derek, looking distressed, followed Freyer’s retreating figure back to the palace.

Upon reaching the palace, Freyer immediately received treatment and lay down in his bed. Feeling on the verge of collapsing, Freyer extinguished the magic lamp beside him and slowly closed his eyes.

“I hope I don’t have a nightmare tonight.”

In his darkened bedroom, only the pathetic groans that vividly betrayed his tormenting nightmare echoed.

***

A few days later, the Crown Prince’s secretary cautiously entered the office.

Ivailo was leaning back in his chair in a nonchalant posture when the secretary began his report.

“Your Highness. I have learned about the Second Prince’s movements.”

“Oh, really? Tell me.”

“It seems the Second Prince has been searching for someone since he did not return after the recent banquet he attended.”

“So who is it? Get to the point.”

Ivailo looked at the secretary with displeasure.

“We bribed the servants at the banquet hall and, by investigating the events of that night, we suspect the Second Prince was with Lady Lilithia Baimery, and he is currently searching for her.”

The secretary offered Ivailo a piece of paper on which her name and a description of her appearance were written.

Ivailo examined the appearance of the blonde woman drawn on the paper.

‘So this is his type.’

She wasn’t his preferred type of beauty. Ivailo checked the name written below.

Lilithia Baimery.

It was the name of a noble house he had never heard of. The Baimery Barony was noted to run a small trade guild in the busy district.

“I suppose he knows his place, as he’s interested in a lady from a lesser house.”

Ivailo let out a small chuckle. But that was momentary; Ivailo’s face turned frigid, and he violently crumpled the paper.

“But he knows his place and still finds time for women? He’s gotten too comfortable.”

Ivailo placed the crumpled paper on the table and waved his hand, signaling the secretary to leave. However, seeing the secretary still standing there, Ivailo narrowed his eyes.

“I said leave?”

Taking in his gaze, the secretary stuttered out his words.

“Your Highness. But Her Majesty the Empress is urgently looking for you.”

“My Mother?”

“Yes. She instructed me to tell you to come to the drawing room immediately.”

Ivailo became ill-tempered, anticipating his mother’s annoying voice even this early in the morning. He slammed his hand down on the table, which made the secretary flinch.

“Ha… how tiresome.”

But how could he not go? He found his mother, who showed excessive interference and obsession that was beyond mere maternal love, rather peculiar.

He was glad he didn’t have to listen to his mother during the subjugation schedule. Ivailo consciously smoothed out his frown and stood up.

“Let’s go.”

***

The drawing room door, decorated with gold borders, opened with a squeak. A middle-aged woman with black hair and blue eyes, exactly like his own, was seated inside.

The Empress placed her teacup on the table with a cold clatter.

“My Crown Prince. I heard you arrived quite a while ago. I thought you had forgotten your mother.”

“How could I ever forget you, Mother? I was delayed by many things that needed my attention.”

Ivailo lightly dismissed the Empress’s words and slowly entered the drawing room.

Normally, would she have thrown the teacup she held? The surrounding maids flinched as they saw the teacup in her hand. But the Empress merely fiddled with the teacup handle while looking at the Crown Prince.

When Ivailo sat opposite the Empress, a cup of tea was placed in front of him. Ivailo narrowed his eyes at the Empress and said,

“Were you upset?”

“Shouldn’t I be upset? What busy matter could possibly take precedence right after arriving at the Palace?”

“Of course. I apologize. I came to you as soon as I heard your message, so I hope you can let go of your anger.”

The Empress exhaled through her nose and turned her face away, but Ivailo took her hand. Ivailo’s gesture made the anger in the Empress’s face subside, replaced by a smile. However, that was momentary. The Empress quickly suppressed her softened expression and said,

“This mother wouldn’t have bothered sending servants if she didn’t miss the Crown Prince so much. Wouldn’t it have been nice if you had come first?”

“I won’t let it happen next time.”

Ivailo picked up the teacup, took a sip, placed it back on the table, and asked the Empress,

“Do you have a worry? You don’t look well, Mother.”

At Ivailo’s question, the Empress frowned at the bridge of her nose, placed the teacup down abruptly, and said, “I mean to say, the Emperor’s recent movements seem a little different from before.”

“The Emperor?”

“Even the servants we planted don’t know what he’s doing, dragging around that body that’s practically dying.”

At the Empress’s words, Ivailo smirked and looked around at the maids. The maid who was pouring his tea flinched under his gaze. Ivailo picked up his teacup, watching her movement.

“Well… it’s possible they know but aren’t saying anything.”

Ivailo took another sip of tea and placed the cup back on the table.

“It would be best to bring in new people around him. It’s a problem if their ears are closed, but it’s an even bigger problem if they’re deliberately keeping their mouths shut.”

“Hmm… Since the Crown Prince suggests it, I should give it some thought.”

The corner of the Empress’s mouth lifted slightly at Ivailo’s words.

“Mother. On a separate note. Have you heard any news about the Second Prince lately?”

“I don’t have the luxury to care about such things.”

The Empress replied in an annoyed tone at the mention of Freyer. It was the reaction he had anticipated.

Though Freyer was a thorn in her side, the Empress would only get annoyed if he told her that the powerless Second Prince was not meeting a high-ranking noble lady, but desperately searching for an unknown noble lady he’d never heard of.

“Those are words of absolute truth.”

The Empress clapped her hands together and said, “Oh, that reminds me! I plan to hold a grand celebration for the return. What do you think, Crown Prince? A celebration for the Crown Prince, who successfully returned from the Northern subjugation! So that everyone can look up to you?”

“That is an excellent idea, Mother. The Emperor will soon draw his last breath, so it would be good to solidify my position now.”

***

The days after witnessing the Crown Prince’s return procession passed just like normal.

Returning to the manor and feeling like my eyes were about to pop out from reading so many documents, I collapsed onto the armchair in my bedroom.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”

I lightly massaged my stiff shoulders with my hands. I found it amazing how I used to sit at a desk for so long when I was a student in modern society.

With a knock, Winnie entered the bedroom carrying a silver tray.

“Miss, an invitation from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”

I had been practically one with the armchair, but I jumped up at Winnie’s words.

“An invitation?”

The invitation on the silver tray bore an emblem engraved with two phoenixes protecting a gem that rose from a large crown. I was about to open the invitation immediately, but…

The magic lamp placed nearby suddenly started blinking on and off. Flustered by the phenomenon, Winnie began to examine the lamp. Winnie picked up the magic lamp and fiddled with it, but the light continued to flicker.

“I’m sure it was fine when I turned it on during the bedroom cleaning this afternoon…”

“Maybe the magic stone is depleted?”

“I replaced the magic stone a few days ago! It shouldn’t be like this…”

Winnie tilted her head, looking perplexed. I placed the invitation I was holding on the table and said,

“Let me try!”

There was only one thing I was proud of in my professional life in 21st-century modern society.

My ‘Mighty Hand.’ Simply put, it meant I was good at fixing broken photocopiers. And I did it with a bare-handed ‘touch’!

I rolled up my sleeves and took the magic lamp.

‘When fixing machinery, the touch is what matters!’

I started lightly tapping the magic lamp here and there with my hand. But the flickering persisted, so I increased the intensity and slapped the side of the magic lamp hard.

At that moment, the flickering light came on properly, illuminating the room brightly.

“It works!”

“That’s a relief! It’s strange how only the lamp in your room is always acting up.”

I beamed with a proud smile. Then, I took the invitation from the table and checked it. It was addressed to the Baimery Barony, requesting their attendance at the return banquet to celebrate the successful completion of the Northern subjugation.

This was the first episode in the original novel where Nazlee and the Crown Prince officially fell in love.

‘No. Now, it will be the episode where Freyer and Nazlee meet! Because I will make it so!’

If my plan unfolds as designed, a happy future awaits Freyer.

‘Freyer, you can count on me!’

I clenched my fist, looking at the contents.