Chapter 88

“Haa.”

I sighed, pulling the blanket laid over the bed and draping it across Esadien’s body. Then, belatedly regaining my composure, I handed a potion to Theodore, who was kneeling beside him, and spoke curtly.

“I’m not that heartless, you know? What do you take me for?”

As if anyone tries harder than me to avoid being a villain.

“When he wakes up, Theo, you’ll take him back to the Imperial Capital.”

“That’s not going to work.”

Despite having finally found the much-worried Esadien and being in a position to fulfill the Emperor’s orders, Theodore’s face was clouded with concern.

“What?”

“What happened today at the Magic Gate Management Office. Why do you think they’re trying to cut off ‘military transport channels’ to other regions?”

Theodore was saying that the moment Austin would make his move was imminent.

“Which is all the more reason to send Esa—no, His Highness back. His Majesty and the Crown Princess care for him; they’ll listen if he convinces them to oust the second prince.”

“The second prince was a diplomat for years. Do you think His Highness can outtalk someone who survived the snake pit that is the diplomatic arena?”

…No, actually.

Esadien was a man of action, not words. Remembering that, we both sighed at the same time.

“And we don’t even have evidence.”

“Which is why we’re laying low right now.”

People are so fickle.

Just last night, I was determined to support Theodore, thinking I hope they find Esadien soon, but now that he’s here, the question became how to handle him.

Whether or not I wanted to see him wasn’t even relevant anymore—not with a bigger issue looming overhead. Actually, I was still too stunned to feel much of anything.

“El is Esadien.”

Even repeating it to myself, it sounded absurd.

“Minuelle.”

Theodore, who had just finished helping Esadien drink the whole potion, called me with a slightly guilty expression.

“W-What is it?”

His tone made my stomach churn. I answered stiffly, and of course, the bombshell dropped.

“Please look after His Highness. We get a lot of visitors at my house.”

Why are bad premonitions never wrong?

And look at that guilty little smile on his face—like he pulled one over on me. I grabbed the back of my neck in frustration.

“Excuse me? You can’t just spring that on me!”

“But think about it. Compared to my place, the Karnian duchy is a fortress. Impenetrable.”

Haaaa. Well, it’s true—only a few of Juela’s loyal aides ever come and go from our estate.

“I’ve supported you two from the beginning, after all.”

That’s what stuck with me.

“Theo, you’re not seriously still rooting for him after he—this person—lied to me, right?”

“Come on, I’d never do that.”

“Then why won’t you look me in the eye?”

Grinding my teeth, I balled my fists. Theodore flinched and blocked Esadien with his body.

“V-Violence is not the answer!”

What is he even saying? In this age of violence?

“Hey, aren’t you literally a knight?”

“Kn-Knights protect people!”

“You need strength to protect! Move aside, will you?”

“Minuelle, were you always pro-war?”

“No, I was not!”

Eventually, we were just yelling without thinking. Right before it turned into a full-blown shouting match, Esadien let out a low groan and furrowed his brow.

“…Ugh…”

It was barely a sound, but Theodore and I stopped bickering immediately, as if on cue.

We waited to see if he would wake up, but his shimmering lashes didn’t lift. Theodore sighed—for who knows how many times now—and asked cautiously.

“Just to cover all bases… I know you’re mad, but you know you can’t torture him, right?”

What kind of person did he think I was? I crossed my arms in disbelief.

“Then… just one slap?”

“No. Harming royalty is a capital offense.”

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue, genuinely disappointed. Then, a hoarse voice finally replied.

“I’m all right.”

Esadien had opened his eyes.

Supported by Theodore, he sat up, his face pale with cold sweat, and gave a bitter smile.

“If it’s you, I’ll take any hit. I mean… I do deserve it.”

“…That won’t be necessary.”

I bit down hard on my lip. As he sat up, the blanket slipped off his shoulders.

How the hell does he still have muscles after lazing around like a beast for so long?

No—wait, that’s not the point.

Even Sir Olce’s build wasn’t this… Wait, why am I comparing?

What is wrong with you, Minuelle Karnian!

Just as I thought I should turn away, he straightened his posture even more—like he knew what I was thinking.

Of course, the blanket slid even lower, and I—

“Ugh.”

Even though I knew better.

My eyes got sucked in like there was a magnet in his serratus anterior.

“Minuelle.”

“Y-Yes?”

While I squeaked like an idiot, Esadien—unbothered by the state of his undress—spoke seriously.

“Both Priest Ramande and the Spirit advised me to tell you sooner. I was the coward who kept delaying it. Please don’t hold it against them.”

“…Whatever I say to them is my business.”

“You’re right.”

Esadien’s eyes, which had been calm, wavered for the first time. The image overlapped perfectly with El, who had once quietly wept, and I couldn’t bear it anymore. I turned away.

“I’ll go prepare a room. Please wait.”

If it were up to me, I’d toss him in the attic—or better yet, the storage closet under the stairs. But even the Karnian family didn’t make our servants live in such conditions.

Let alone someone of royal blood.

Striding down the empty hallway, I suddenly realized I had no idea how I’d explain this to Juela.

Me! Cherishing that beast so much! And he turns out to be my broken engagement partner?!

This was the kind of embarrassment that would haunt me under the covers for the rest of my life.

What will everyone say? What about my parents? Elga?

Sigh… Dad and Juela might even try to assassinate Esadien.

And given their personalities, they’d never draft a plan that could fail. But if the Emperor ever found out…

“Full-blown family extermination ending…”

I couldn’t let that happen. I’d come this far to avoid marrying Theodore so I could enjoy a carefree life!

Now I’m tangled with a prince?

“Oh, my tragic fate… Woe is me…”

I banged my head against the wall, crying.

“What ending?”

Juela’s cool voice brought me back to reality, and I realized I’d wandered to her office without noticing.

“S-Sis.”

“Minuelle, you skipped dinner and now you’re banging your head in front of my office?”

She examined my face from various angles, then suddenly her expression turned icy.

“Did that little brat from House Tregosnan insult you? Want me to overturn all their land deeds tomorrow?”

Utterly absurd—but that kind of threat from her always made me relax a little.

Because I knew Gideon, her husband, absolutely hated when she joked like that.

“You know he’s not the type to pull something like that.”

“Then why is my baby wearing such a miserable face?”

“Well…”

After a long hesitation, I gave in and began explaining. I couldn’t keep looking at her as her face turned colder and colder, so halfway through, I stared only at the floor.

Of course, the household went into an uproar. But unlike when we’d mistaken Esadien for a madman, this time the chaos was all behind the scenes.

Esadien didn’t hide anything. He answered every question Juela asked—why he vanished, how he turned into a beast.

But Juela never once asked why he came to our estate. I found that disappointing, but didn’t dare interrupt.

“For now, it would be best not to return to the Imperial Capital. I believe you already understand why.”

“I do.”

“Then I hope you’ll accept this temporary lodging.”

Despite her frosty tone, Esadien nodded quietly.

“I understand completely.”

Clad in hastily gathered clothes, Esadien sat on the bed in a room that was anything but spacious.

This was the so-called ‘Reflection Room’—a space where disobedient Karnian children were once confined.

It was narrow, but the ceiling was high, reducing the sense of claustrophobia. Since it had been used by direct descendants, it was tastefully decorated.

But the window was placed far above a person’s height, making it impossible to see outside.

And the only entrance was from the Duke’s study.

“This place hasn’t been used since before Mom was born.”

And yet Esadien reopened it.

I let out a quiet sigh so Juela wouldn’t hear.

The bed wasn’t small either, but since it was youth-sized, Esadien’s legs would likely dangle off the edge. Imagining that didn’t make me laugh—it made me oddly bitter.

I raised a hand to cover my mouth, but then I locked eyes with Esadien.

He keeps staring at me.

Whenever I was in view, Esadien’s eyes never strayed. It was an eerie reminder that he and El were the same.

El used to follow only me with his gaze too.

Juela stepped into Esadien’s line of sight and spoke in an even colder tone.

“I’d rather give you the dungeon suite, to be honest.”

When she spoke venomously, her voice carried real weight. Even Theodore flinched—and so did I.

Esadien, however, merely looked somber and stayed silent.

“…I’m sorry.”

That apology, spoken in a low, forlorn voice, carried all the weight of the events that had brought us here.

The air was growing heavier, but then Theodore asked to speak to Esadien privately.

Thanks to that, I could escape his eyes and sit with Juela in our mother’s study to breathe for a moment.

“Minuelle.”

“…Yeah?”

My head was blank. It wasn’t like I was thinking of anything in particular—it was just numb. So my reply came a beat late. Juela gently cupped my cheek.

“Why are you the one making that face?”

“What kind of face?”

I asked, puzzled, but she only sighed—and changed the subject.