Chapter 57

From the beginning, there were only a handful of people bold enough to target Lepina—and pirates had kidnapped her. And the documents Ben handed him finally confirmed it.

 

Blue veins rose on Evan’s hand. He grimaced sharply as he thought of Bastien’s intent.

 

Evan didn’t bother expressing sympathy for Bastien; he simply placed him among the people he disliked. Someone without the capability to earn what he wanted on his own, someone who clung to the Empress, someone who knew of her misdeeds and still chose to look away.

 

What Evan despised even more was that Bastien suffered for it.

 

Showing remorse might be considered better than nothing—but to Evan, choosing not to stop something you could have stopped, staying silent for your own benefit, and then apologizing after the damage is done was nothing more than a performance to lighten your own guilt.

 

“And you dare do the same thing to Lep? Don’t make me laugh.”

 

Evan was convinced Bastien had closed his eyes to matters this time too. After all the years they’d spent together, after everything he had seen, Bastien was not someone who ever let his guard down.

 

A jailer had taken a bribe to release the pirates. To go from the capital all the way to the sea, they had to pass through multiple inspections—yet all of that, bypassed with “bail”?

 

And even more absurd—Bastien, who prided himself on putting the people first, would never have left the management of the most notorious pirates so sloppy. And even if bail had been the reason, the pirates would have had no money in the first place—their belongings had all been confiscated.

 

Evan opened Camille’s door and bowed his head before getting straight to the point.

 

“Mother, Bastien sent a letter to Lep.”

 

Camille laughed softly.

 

“So that’s why you came to my room in person.”

 

“How did it go?”

 

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll create an opportunity for you soon.”

 

What Evan had asked of the duchess was simple: a chance to speak with the Empress.

 

Officially, Evan was still in the middle of his convalescence and therefore did not attend banquets. So he borrowed Camille’s influence—today included—to request a private audience with the Empress.

 

“Everyone knew the Empress saw my daughter-in-law as a thorn in her eye. But no one imagined Rishana would move this fast. It only proves how remarkable my daughter-in-law is—though this time she crossed far, far beyond any acceptable line.”

 

A cold smile touched Camille’s lips.

 

“I prodded her a little, but she pretended ignorance. Still, I embarrassed her properly. Because yes—the Crown Prince did lose track of the pirates, and my daughter-in-law was kidnapped.”

 

Camille chuckled, remembering how Rishana had bitten her lip yet couldn’t talk back. They had spent too much time observing one another to be fooled by masks.

 

She understood exactly what Rishana had intended—killing the future duchess to stain the ducal family’s honor—and she took satisfaction knowing the plot had failed completely.

 

“My husband is furious as well. The nobles aligned with the Empress must be in an uproar. That’s what they get for touching what should’ve been left alone.”

 

Her laughter sounded almost eerie.

 

“So, what will you do when you face the Empress? Lepina is your wife. We don’t need to step in for you, do we?”

 

“Of course not. I’ll make myself clear to her.”

 

Camille smiled faintly. Her son only ever reacted this emotionally because of one person.

 

The moment Lepina came under threat, he stirred like a beast. Rishana had chosen her opponent poorly.

 

“Then let me ask you one more thing. Who do you think is fit to be emperor?”

 

Her tone suggested she genuinely wanted to hear his choice.

 

“Your father and I believe neutrality is ideal. That’s why we’ve remained neutral. The House of Weiss serves not the emperor as a person, but the ruler of the Alterun Empire. So who sits on the throne is irrelevant.”

 

“I know. I’ve heard that since childhood. But… you seem pleased.”

 

“Of course. My daughter-in-law has a talent for moving people—in more ways than one. So, what’s your answer?”

 

“…I’ve told Father as well—it’s simple. Whichever side I choose, I will protect what’s mine. And if someone tries to take it from me, I’ll remove them. Whatever they may be.”

 

As expected—he truly was the duke’s son.

 

“I’ve been crouching for too long.”

 

Evan’s eyes shone cold.

 

The only time he ever pretended to be a gentle herbivore was in front of Lepina.

 

But if his behavior had put her in danger, that pretense would end now.

 

And he had learned that lesson painfully well this time.

 

Winning her interest and affection—his initial goal—had already far exceeded success.

 

But if his greed brought her harm, that was unacceptable.

 

“I’ll go to the imperial palace tomorrow. I have something to tell Bastien directly.”

 

“Very well. May the conversation end as you wish.”

 

 

***

 

 

Bastien washed his face again and again. His eyes were murky, as if weighed down with sediment.

 

The Empress had used pirates to kill Lepina, but the plan had collapsed.

 

Instead, word had spread that the pirates kidnapped Lepina and that the Clies County and the Weiss Duchy cooperated to rescue her. Letters demanding accountability poured in—how negligent must the imperial palace have been for pirates to walk free?

 

“…Truly incredible…”

 

His voice trembled with dread.

 

Though the Empress was the one who orchestrated the scheme, the letters of blame all went to the Emperor. Even if the fault lay with a jailer, the emperor was responsible for palace oversight. Naturally, the voices of the Emperor’s faction shrank.

 

Rishana had chosen a path that would not harm her even if the plan failed.

 

She had scoffed only one thing: how persistent they were.

 

His negligence had hurt many people. Slumped in his chair, hands clasped tightly, Bastien bowed his head for a long time.

 

It was nothing like the dignified man he was known to be.

 

“Your Highness, the Weiss heir has arrived.”

 

At the servant’s voice, Bastien immediately stood. Even showing this much weakness felt like a luxury he wasn’t allowed. He saw the way the servant looked at him—observant, judging, on behalf of the Empress.

 

He must always remain perfect. That was her will.

 

“…Yes. Bring Evan in… leave us.”

 

The previous day, Evan had sent a letter—right after Bastien himself had written one to offer his apology to Lady Clies.

 

When Bastien entered the parlor, Evan was already seated.

 

“Evan, for you to visit me—quite unusual.”

 

“I didn’t think I’d ever come here myself either.”

 

“I heard they created an antidote. You look well.”

 

“You don’t.”

 

At Evan’s retort, Bastien’s hand trembled slightly as he reached for the teacup.

 

“Do I?”

 

He looked at Evan, forcing calm. Evan cherished Lepina. There was no other reason he would come here besides the pirate incident.

 

“Let’s speak alone.”

 

Evan was the first to speak, and Bastien dismissed the attendants.

 

The servant hesitated, but between the Crown Prince and the Weiss heir, he had no choice.

 

The room emptied, leaving only the two of them. Then Bastien bowed his head.

 

“Evan… I’m sorry. It was due to my failure to supervise—”

 

“…”

 

Evan quietly sipped his tea. He said nothing. Bastien lifted his head, only to meet a gaze sharp enough to dissect his very thoughts. Evan’s lips curved faintly.

 

“Bastien. Let’s be honest. You’re not meeting Lep to apologize—you’re doing it to ease your own pitiful guilt, aren’t you?”

 

“That’s not—!”

 

Bastien leapt to his feet.

 

But he looked exactly like a thief startled by his own conscience. The sudden motion made the teacup crash to the floor with a shrill, grating sound.

 

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

 

Evan’s eyes stripped him bare.

 

Evan set down his cup.

 

“It’d be nice if we could remain friends forever. But the world doesn’t allow that—we both know. So… who crossed the line? And who enabled it?”

 

Bastien stopped breathing.

 

Evan’s gaze implied he knew everything.

 

The killing intent radiating from him chilled the room.

 

“You knew—”

 

“Is that what matters right now?”

 

A cold smirk tugged at Evan’s lips.

 

“If she had died, how would you have taken responsibility? Death can only be repaid with death. Were you planning to die by my hand?”

 

“…!”

 

“Was it a lie, what you told me then? That you wouldn’t be swayed by the Empress? That you would grow into an emperor unlike the current one—one who bows to no one and follows his own conviction? That’s what you swore at graduation.”

 

Bastien said nothing. His face flushed in shame.

 

He had said those words to Evan.

 

And he had reached out his hand, asking Evan to stay by his side.

 

‘Evan hadn’t taken that hand—but still…’

 

Evan had known even then that Bastien lacked the courage. And Evan believed so now as well.

 

Because Bastien’s behavior left no room for doubt.