Chapter 84

“I can always tell exactly where you are, Lep.”

 

Is that… supposed to be obvious?

 

“Still, I’m glad you took your knights with you this time. I was worried something might have happened to you while you were wandering around alone again.”

 

“Ah… were you worried?”

 

Evan lightly flicked my forehead.

 

“Of course I was.”

 

I was being treated like a child left alone on a street corner. And here I thought my sense of self-preservation had improved quite a bit lately!

 

Just then, I thought I saw a small spark of light flicker past my eyes, but it vanished instantly. Was it just my imagination?

 

“Nothing happened with Prince Fedeshar, right?”

 

“Um…”

 

Should I tell him or not? Evan always seems to show up at the most awkward moments.

 

My conscience pricked me too much to brush it off again. I glanced at him cautiously and leaned in close. Then, I whispered softly into his ear.

 

“Actually, the Prince said he wants us to have a ‘good relationship.’ But it feels incredibly suspicious. He even brought up the Empress subtly.”

 

I finished what I had to say and tried to sit back, but Evan grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let go. He leaned his face back in and whispered into my ear.

 

His voice was sweet, sounding almost like a tickling caress. My body shuddered involuntarily.

 

“A ‘good relationship,’ huh? I should be the only one associated with you through words like that, Lep.”

 

Contrary to his flirtatious tone, his voice held a chilling undertone.

 

The feeling of his breath against my ear was so blatant that I felt my face flush. When Evan finally let go, I rubbed my ear vigorously. It was thumping as if it weren’t even my own. I’ve felt my heart race before, but a thumping ear was a first.

 

Evan let out a short laugh, seemingly amused by my reaction.

 

“The reason he said that is likely because he needs help.”

 

“I-I suppose so. But Evan, could you let go of my hand now…?”

 

I wanted to fix my awkward, half-standing posture, but Evan held firm.

 

“It’s a pity to be apart.”

 

“We’re barely a foot away…”

 

It’s not like the distance between these tables is miles apart; it’s a distance where we can touch just by reaching out.

 

“It’s annoying to think other guys are hovering around you… Come to think of it, you’re quite popular with the princes, Lep. It’s irritating.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I was startled by Evan’s overt display of hostility, but he soon broke into a grin, as if he were just grumbling a little.

 

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

 

And so, I ended up returning to the estate with Evan.

 

 

***

 

 

Today was finally the day to depart for the Delta Territory. It was also the day I would have to face both Bastien and Fedeshar.

 

‘How is it that both of them are people I’d rather not run into?’

 

It was my first time seeing Bastien since that tea party, and my first time seeing Fedeshar since his cryptic remarks.

 

“You’re leaving today, aren’t you? Have you packed everything?”

 

“Father… I’m not a child going on a picnic; I’m going to work. I don’t have much to pack, and I made sure everything was ready yesterday.”

 

“Are these knights enough? Do you need more?”

 

“Dad…”

 

“B-but…”

 

From early morning, my father was in a fuss, worrying about my safety. I was amazed he had held it together this long after I told him the Empress had tasked me with the Delta family’s problem.

 

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand his concern. Ever since the kidnapping incident, my parents had been extremely cautious about me going out. But since the Empress had changed her stance, my life shouldn’t be in danger anymore.

 

“I’ll come back safe and sound, so don’t worry. I’ll send my greetings through the video orb regularly.”

 

I’ll have to see with my own eyes if the seeds I plant grow well, since it takes time for them to sprout. And then there are the contracts to consider…

 

Just then, my mother appeared from behind.

 

“Lepina is going there to work. We’ve sent plenty of knights with her, so stop worrying.”

 

At my mother’s soothing words, my father reluctantly nodded. I stepped out to the front entrance. Knowing I wouldn’t be back at the mansion for a while, the whole family had come out to see me off.

 

“Is Evan running late?”

 

Since he said he’d be coming along, we had agreed to move together.

 

‘I’ll probably run into him on the way.’

 

At that moment, a carriage approached from the distance. I was about to wave, thinking it was Evan, but then I saw the clear crest on the side…

 

“…The Imperial Crest?”

 

The warm atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by a sudden chill.

 

The carriage came to a smooth halt next to mine, and someone stepped out. It was Bastien.

 

“Your Highness?”

 

Seriously, these brothers are a handful, both of them. Do I owe them money in a past life or something?

 

Bastien wore a smile, seemingly aware of the wary atmosphere.

 

“I’m here because there’s something I wish to discuss with you, My Lady. Both you and I have been so busy lately that we haven’t had a chance to exchange a single word, have we?”

 

“Ah…”

 

The mood had shifted so strangely back then that it wasn’t the right time to discuss the Delta family’s affairs, and then Evan had intervened. Since I hadn’t heard from him since, I figured we were both working on our own solutions…

 

“Shouldn’t we discuss what we’re going to do once we arrive at the Delta estate?”

 

Bastien opened the carriage door and suggested we talk while traveling together.

 

I politely declined.

 

“I… I’m terribly sorry. I’ve already agreed to travel with Evan. It would be difficult right now.”

 

I fully expected Bastien to back down. Whenever Evan had intervened before, Bastien was the one to join the conversation or step aside. But this time was different.

 

“It will only take a moment. There’s no rule saying you must travel in the exact same carriage as Evan, is there?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

My eyes widened. I couldn’t exactly argue with that logic, but…

 

He pressured me to sit with a somewhat stubborn look on his face. If I hadn’t known about his feelings, I wouldn’t have minded sharing a space with him, but now it felt awkward.

 

I hesitantly suggested we could talk after we arrived, but Bastien pushed, saying it would only take a short while.

 

I couldn’t help but be flustered. Was he always this type of person? Fedeshar’s words suddenly came back to me.

 

Just as I was hovering in indecision, the sound of another carriage reached us. I looked up in relief. It was the carriage of Duke Weiss.

 

Evan stepped out of the carriage and looked at Bastien and the Imperial carriage with an expression of pure absurdity.

 

“What… is going on here?”

 

My thoughts exactly. And right in front of my front door, no less.

 

A standoff between Evan and Bastien ensued.

 

“Evan, it’s been a while.”

 

“It has. Not that I’m particularly happy to see you. What business do you have with Lep?”

 

Evan, leaning his head slightly with a crooked posture, made his discomfort blatantly clear.

 

“Ah, I have things to discuss regarding the Delta family. My Lady mentioned she was supposed to travel with you, but could you yield her to me for a moment? I’d like to speak with her alone.”

 

I stood between Evan and Bastien, feeling completely helpless. Bastien’s soft-spoken tone sounded like a provocation to Evan, and the smile on Evan’s face grew colder by the second.

 

“Bastien, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My fiancée, Lep, alone with you? In a cramped carriage, at that?”

 

“Isn’t it a bit of an overreaction to say a fiancée can’t be with another man? Especially when it’s a professional relationship. If you’re that suffocating, I doubt Lady Lepina would appreciate it.”

 

“……”

 

What is this, a love triangle? This was a situation I had never intended.

 

It’s true I made a promise to Evan first, but Bastien’s point wasn’t entirely wrong either. It was a matter both he and I were tasked with, and we needed to communicate to find a quick solution. However…

 

I looked at the two of them, the atmosphere between them growing increasingly ominous. It was obvious that if we all rode together, I’d be the one drained of energy, and I’d be a limp mess by the time we reached the Delta Territory.

 

If so, my choice was clear. It wasn’t even something I had to think twice about.

 

‘Of course my choice is Evan!’

 

I linked my arm with Evan’s and once again politely asked Bastien to step back.

 

“Your Highness, I truly appreciate you coming all this way. However, my fiancé, Evan, has accompanied me on this arduous journey out of concern for me. I cannot refuse his kindness, and wouldn’t the conversation you speak of be sufficient to discuss with Count Delta once we arrive?”

 

At my words, Evan grinned broadly and pulled me toward him by my waist. He rested his head on my shoulder, sticking close as if to broadcast our intimate relationship.

 

“She says her fiancé is more important. You’re the one who should step back, Bastien.”

 

A dark shadow fell over Bastien’s eyes as his gaze fixated on Evan’s hand wrapped firmly around my waist.

 

“……I see. I suppose I was being too self-centered. But you’ll at least allow me to travel with you, won’t you?”

 

“I refuse.”

 

“If it’s just that much…”

 

Evan and I gave different answers, but Bastien thanked us and boarded his carriage alone. Evan glared at his retreating figure until the very end.

 

Already drained before we even started, I leaned back heavily into the carriage seat.

 

“Why did you allow him to come along?”

 

“He is the Crown Prince, after all.”

 

“He’s up to something.”

 

“Surely not…”

 

I waved my hand dismissively, but since Bastien’s behavior was indeed strange, I couldn’t shake the lingering unease.

 

Even on the way to the Delta Territory, we bumped into each other periodically. A strange war of nerves played out among the knights escorting each carriage, as they remained wary of one another. Just watching them made me feel suffocated. It wasn’t exactly a cold war, but they were clearly divided into two distinct camps.

 

‘Is this what they mean by a shrimp’s back breaking in a fight between whales*? If this keeps up, it might turn into a full-blown feud between the Duke’s house and the Imperial family.’

 

[*T/N: A Korean proverb meaning times where innocent or weak bystanders are harmed because they are caught in the middle of a conflict between much more powerful forces]

 

The Duke’s knights seemed to be asking why anyone would try to move in on their young master’s fiancée, while the Imperial knights had looks that demanded to know how anyone could be so disrespectful to the Crown Prince.

 

My head throbbed. Since it was a place at the southern tip of the empire, this would go on for several days.

 

Fortunately, contrary to my worried expectations, the tension between the two groups of knights never escalated into a physical confrontation throughout the entire journey to the Delta Territory.