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Chapter 5
After leaving the forest, the place Phillips headed to was none other than the palace of the Second Prince.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, how did it go?”
The man spoke in a cold voice.
Golden hair like honey and fresh green eyes.
He was Arsène d’Alexio, the Second Prince of the empire.
At Arsène’s sharp tone, Phillips quickly prostrated himself and replied,
“The mission has been completed.”
“And the evidence?”
“I’ve taken care of it cleanly. Everyone will believe that the First Prince has gone missing.”
“Good work.”
Arsène murmured lazily.
After a brief silence, he spoke again to Phillips.
“I will acknowledge your merit. Go back and wait—you’ll receive a great reward.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Phillips answered loudly and left the palace with light steps.
Arsène stared intently at his retreating figure through the window.
How utterly foolish.
With a faint scoff, he raised his hand and gave a short wave.
Then, as if appearing from nowhere, the chamberlain bowed deeply.
“What shall we do?”
“Dispose of him. Without a trace.”
“Yes, sir.”
The chamberlain replied and silently left the room.
From the beginning, Arsène had never intended to let Phillips live.
People betray eventually.
No matter how loyal they seem in front of you, you never know when they might stab you in the back.
It was best to cut off the seed of suspicion before it could grow.
So Arsène gave the order without the slightest pang of guilt.
If Phillips were to die without a sound, his subordinates would naturally remain silent.
After all, speaking carelessly would mean death.
Phillips would serve as the perfect example.
Everything was going exactly as Arsène wished. Surely, even the heavens were on his side.
Later, upon learning of Rowengrin’s disappearance, a meeting was convened.
At the emergency council, Arsène passionately shouted,
“We must quickly form a search party and find my missing brother!”
The emperor, seated at the head, held his head as if troubled.
There was only a week left until Rowengrin was to be officially announced as Crown Prince, yet he had vanished without a trace.
If he could not be found, Arsène would inevitably take the position.
“Father, I will find my brother. Please trust me and leave it to me.”
“…Arsène.”
The emperor stared deeply into Arsène’s eyes, but Arsène did not avert his gaze.
After groaning in thought, the emperor finally spoke.
“Three months.”
“…!”
Arsène’s face brightened.
“I will give you three months. You must bring him back.”
“Yes, I will not disappoint you.”
As he bowed deeply, a deep smile spread across Arsène’s face.
Rowengrin was already dead.
All he had to do was stall for time, then present a corpse of similar build and claim it was him.
If the face were badly damaged, no one would recognize it.
Had he known Rowengrin was alive, he would have torn the empire apart searching for him—but Arsène had no idea.
After the meeting ended, the nobles who supported Rowengrin looked at Arsène with suspicion and whispered among themselves.
“What on earth is he thinking…?”
“We have suspicions, but no proof. This is troubling.”
“We should organize our own search party.”
They had no intention of leaving everything to Arsène.
Though they appeared to be affectionate brothers on the surface, their relationship was far from that.
Arsène had always felt inferior to Rowengrin.
Despite Rowengrin excelling in every way, Arsène believed he became Crown Prince only because he was the First Prince.
Thus, Arsène spent a long time plotting to eliminate him.
He had gradually bribed the maids in Rowengrin’s palace and planted his own people without raising suspicion.
“Hah… hahaha… hahahaha!”
Back in his palace, Arsène burst into laughter he had been holding back.
Pretending to be grief-stricken had been exhausting.
The nobles’ gazes had irritated him, but once he became Crown Prince, they would all be cast out anyway.
“Brother, please do not resent me too much.”
The deep smile on Arsène’s lips showed no sign of fading.
* * *
The man remained unconscious for quite a long time.
It had already been five days since he had stayed at Joohee’s house, yet he showed no signs of waking.
Today was the day to go down to the village to sell herbs.
But Joohee hesitated, unable to leave easily.
– Joohee, what’s wrong?
“It’s nothing. If anything happens, come find me.”
– Got it! Don’t worry!
Mel puffed out her chest confidently.
Her attitude only made Joohee more uneasy, but she pretended otherwise, knowing Mel would sulk.
Before she knew it, Lu had arrived, his howl echoing.
“Then I’m off, Mel.”
– Okay, have a safe trip!
Mel flew outside and waved enthusiastically.
Joohee thought she should return as quickly as possible.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Mel—she just had a bad feeling.
Joohee climbed onto Lu’s back and headed toward the village, leaving Mel alone in the empty house with the man.
– I wanted to go too…
Mel muttered gloomily.
Being by Joohee’s side made her happy.
Even though Joohee acted indifferent, she always took care of her.
It made Mel feel special.
Of course, lately she felt like she was being slightly pushed aside by Lu—but it was fine.
– Joohee asked me to do this!
Determined, Mel carefully watched over the man.
He continued sleeping.
Thinking it was about time he woke up, Mel began chattering.
– Wake up! How long are you going to sleep? Joohee’s uncomfortable sleeping on the floor! Wake up!
There was no way he could hear her, yet the man frowned and groaned.
– Wake up! Wake up!
Now shouting right beside his ear, Mel repeated herself dozens of times.
At last, his eyelids trembled.
Though she had been yelling for him to wake, Mel jumped back in surprise.
– Huh?! What?! Ahhh!
But perhaps it was nothing—he didn’t open his eyes.
Mel cautiously floated closer again.
– Maybe not…?
Then suddenly—
His eyes snapped open, revealing light green irises.
– Ahhh! He woke up!
Startled, Mel shrieked and flew out through the slightly open window.
She rushed to the village to tell Joohee.
The man stared blankly at the ceiling.
His mind was completely blank.
Something had clearly happened—but he couldn’t remember anything.
Mel sped toward the village.
– Joohee! Where are you? It’s urgent!
She searched frantically until she found her at the herb shop.
“…Mel?”
Joohee’s eyes widened in surprise.
Luckily, she had just finished her business.
– Joohee, he woke up!
“What?”
– The man! His eyes went snap open!
Mel exaggerated, mimicking the motion.
Joohee quickly said goodbye to the old herbalist.
“Grandpa, I’ll come again next time.”
“Alright, be careful.”
She bowed and hurried out.
At the village entrance, Lu was waiting.
“Let’s go, Lu.”
At her whisper, Lu snorted and began running.
Mel chattered excitedly beside her.
– It was so scary! But I held it in because you asked me to!
“You did well.”
– Hehe, you can always count on me!
Mel beamed happily at the praise.
* * *
When they arrived home, it was too quiet.
“Are you sure he woke up?”
– I’m telling the truth!
Mel had never lied before.
Joohee carefully entered the house.
Mel was right.
The man was awake.
He stared blankly ahead.
Joohee knocked gently on the door.
He slowly turned his head.
“Are you conscious?”
“…Yes.”
Joohee examined him as she approached.
Aside from his bloodstained clothes, he seemed fine.
Sitting beside him, she asked—
But the man spoke first.
“Where am I?”
“…Outside Melina Forest.”
He tilted his head, then asked again,
“Why am I here?”
“…What?”
Joohee blinked in surprise.
The man lowered his gaze and said quietly,
“…I don’t remember anything.”
