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chapter 30
“I cannot obey that order.”
At Rai’s words, the three people nearby each showed different expressions.
Claude only looked at Rai as if he had expected it, Julian frowned with unease, and Eva just stood there, dumbfounded.
Rai had never once disobeyed an order while serving the royal family. Especially when it came to Claude’s words—he had always followed them without question.
The only times he had refused were when Claude showed interest in Julian, and Rai’s possessiveness flared.
But right now, the situation didn’t match at all.
Rai had been putting up a wall between himself and Julian lately, and Claude would never lay a hand on his younger sister.
So why was he refusing now? At this strange timing, Eva only blinked her wide eyes in confusion.
“There is knight training right after the meal. If I escort the Princess, I will be late.”
“The knights won’t reproach you if you’re late.”
The atmosphere between the two men twisted strangely.
“They may not reproach me, but the most important thing to a knight is responsibility.”
“That’s true.”
“And if I can’t even keep the most basic responsibility—punctuality—then I may lose their trust.”
There was clearly nothing between them, so why did sparks seem to fly in the air?
Eva just wanted to get out of there quickly.
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if there’s no other meaning.”
Claude, with eyes as if he could pierce through anything, shifted his gaze slowly toward Eva.
“I’m sorry, but—”
Before his gaze could even reach her, Rai’s voice cut in. As if he couldn’t stand the thought of Claude’s eyes even briefly touching her.
“Time is running late. I should get going. Since the training grounds are closer to the west entrance, I’ll escort Lady Eva there.”
“R–Rai, then what about me?”
Julian tried to grab his arm desperately, afraid he would walk away.
“I permit it.”
But Claude’s voice was faster.
“Then I’ll take my leave first.”
Not wanting Claude to change his mind, Rai immediately moved his long legs toward Eva. He stretched out the arm that Julian had tried to seize.
“Lady Eva, allow me to escort you.”
Eva still hadn’t grasped the situation. She hesitated whether to take his arm, when she suddenly felt a burning glare.
Julian was glaring daggers at her, eyes full of jealousy.
That’s my place beside Rai. Refuse him right now!
Instead, Eva slipped her hand onto Rai’s offered arm.
She had to get out of there quickly anyway—but teasing Julian was too tempting to resist.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Duke.”
“I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”
Rai bowed quickly. Eva, unable to match his quick pace, followed with a belated bow.
“Eva.”
“Yes?”
Claude seized the chance to stop her.
“There will be another occasion for us to meet. Wait for it.”
Though spoken to Eva, his gaze was fixed on Rai. A provocation, flaunting the authority that allowed him to summon Eva whenever he wished.
“We’ll be going now.”
Before Eva could even reply, Rai answered first and led her away.
Left alone, the royal siblings stared at the departing pair, blue eyes burning with a quiet fire.
When even their shadows disappeared, Julian finally spoke.
“Brother. I have something to say.”
“You said you felt dizzy. Let’s talk later.”
“No. I have to say it now.”
Her voice was different from usual—lower, more displeased.
Claude studied her changed expression.
“What is it?”
“What do you think of Lady Eva?”
At the sudden question, Claude interlaced his fingers and covered his mouth.
“What do you mean, what do I think?”
It was his habit when hiding his expression. Julian smiled faintly at the sight.
“Just what I said. What do you think of Lady Eva? You wouldn’t normally go out of your way to prepare a meal like this just because she handled a party well.”
“When you collapsed, she held up the atmosphere of the party. She made a big contribution, so I simply gave her recognition with this meal.”
Claude’s voice was flat, emotions tightly hidden behind his hand.
“Really? Just that? What a pity.”
“A pity?”
“I think she suits you perfectly—and would make an excellent crown princess. So I was thinking of suggesting it to His Majesty.”
Claude’s eyes narrowed.
“His Majesty always listens to me, doesn’t he?”
Julian rested her chin in her hand, narrowing her eyes in the same way Claude did.
“You’ve changed a lot during your recovery, Julian.”
“No. I’ve always been like this. You just remembered me wrong.”
Her eyes sparkled with the delight of holding his weakness.
“So, if I recommend her as crown princess—will you oppose me?”
Claude still covered his mouth as he looked at her, then finally spoke.
“I…”
…
“Duke.”
“Yes.”
“Are you angry?”
If there was one thing Eva could always tell, it was Rai’s anger. She had seen too many of his furious faces in her past life.
Just looking at that expression still made her shrink a little inside.
“If it’s because of me, I’ll return alone.”
She didn’t particularly want his escort anyway. She tried to slip her hand off his arm.
“Don’t let go.”
Rai caught her retreating hand and laced his fingers tightly with hers. Eva’s small hand was swallowed completely in his large, calloused palm.
“Please… don’t let me go.”
He really had been angry. Claude normally avoided using his authority for personal matters. Especially with Rai, he had refrained from giving “orders.”
‘We’re friends before we’re lord and knight, Rai.’
But because of Eva, Claude had spoken the word “order.” He had openly tested Rai—and shown his desire for her.
Just Claude looking at Eva was enough to stir a childish jealousy in him.
Anything involving her made his body and heart bristle with instinctive sensitivity.
Yet the rage that had threatened to explode was, absurdly enough, soothed… by nothing more than her small, fragile hand.
“Haa…”
The pressure in his chest loosened, and he felt like he could finally breathe again.
“Will you go to the countryside with His Highness?”
“What?”
“Will you marry Prince Claude?”
Unable to look at her directly, he asked while staring down at his toes.
He had sworn to himself not to push her, but the words spilled out anyway.
He couldn’t forget the masquerade ball Butler had spoken of, or Claude’s face when he visited her sickroom and mentioned her.
That secret memory between the two of them gnawed at him with envy and anxiety.
“No! I have no intention of marrying Prince Claude.”
Eva flailed and shook her head furiously.
“Why does everyone keep saying that? I swear, it’s driving me mad! I have absolutely no plans to marry him.”
“But His Highness asked you to go to the countryside with him, to lead the youth council…”
“H–how do you know about that?!”
She thought only Chase knew about the embarrassing “youth council” story she had let slip to Claude—but Rai too?!
How far did that man spread it?!
“T–that was a misunderstanding! Back then I thought he was just some idle good-for-nothing. That’s why I said it.”
“Idle… good-for-nothing…?”
“He just looked like the type who would be perfect as youth council president, so I suggested it. Anyway! I’m not marrying Prince Claude.”
She denied it firmly, worried that rumors might spread. Hearing that, Rai finally lifted his anxious face.
With you saying that… how could I doubt you?
“I believe you.”
He gazed straight into her eyes and whispered as if making a vow.
Eva couldn’t read his emotions, leaving her uneasy.
She had planned to take this chance alone with him to reject his feelings. With suspicion about Julian gnawing at her, who knew how the story would twist next?
She had wanted to at least settle things with Rai quickly. But he had gone from angry to gentle so suddenly that she couldn’t bring herself to push him away now.
If she did, his anger might explode again—and she didn’t want it directed at her.
“Um, Duke.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something too?”
“Anything.”
Rai squeezed her hand more firmly, still laced tightly with hers.
“Do you remember when we went on that little date?”
At her words, his breath caught—his heart gripped as if in a vise.
Not only did he remember—it was still where he lived. The image of her that day still invaded his dreams and stirred him awake.
But he couldn’t admit that, so he gave a bitter smile.
“Yes, I remember.”
“Do you think Prince Claude knows about that day too?”
At Claude’s name leaving her lips, unease returned to him.
“…No. I haven’t told him. Unless you want me to.”
“What?! No! Please don’t tell him!”
Eva waved her hands so vehemently that their interlocked fingers broke apart. Rai’s expression darkened as her hand slipped away.
“I don’t want anyone else knowing about something that was just between us.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Our date was only between the two of us. I don’t want others gossiping about it. So please, don’t tell him.”
The real reason was different, of course—Eva feared Claude would use it as leverage, the same way he had already blackmailed her with the “youth council” story into running an entire party.
The thought of what he might force on her if he learned about her date with Rai was unbearable.
Luckily, it seemed Rai hadn’t told him.
“Yes. That too… is something only between us.”
Rai heard nothing but the words our and only between us.
Yes. Claude and Eva weren’t the only ones with secrets. He too had a secret shared only with her.
His sinking heart soared high into the sky.
“I will never tell His Highness about our date. Never.”
“Thank you.”
Though Eva was the one asking the favor, Rai answered as if she had given him gratitude.
It felt odd to her, but she didn’t dwell on it.
Eva stepped back to put some distance between them. Rai stepped closer instead.
