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Chapter 22
I was hiding my body behind a tree at a fair distance, instinctively watching Rakiel’s movements.
He looked around, then reached out his fingertips and felt along the gaps between the bricks beneath the outer wall. It was a spot overgrown with grass—an inconspicuous place.
“Hm, suspicious.”
The Second Prince fiddling with the palace wall. No matter how you looked at it, it was strange.
After a while, he suddenly smiled and grasped a single brick.
And astonishingly, when he pulled it, the surrounding stones also popped out together, revealing a small opening large enough for a person to pass through.
“Hah.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
So that’s what he was doing sneaking around for… It was a secret passage used to slip out of the palace.
“No wonder I kept running into him in town.”
I had heard the second prince had a free-spirited nature, but I didn’t expect this much. It seemed that when he officially left the palace, the knights and attendants trailing him were a nuisance.
After placing the removed stone against the wall, he looked around once more.
“Damn, he’s about to leave.”
The moment Rakiel bent down to enter the passage, I quickly stepped forward.
And just as he was about to slip into the tunnel, I popped my face out.
“Your Highness, what are you doing?”
“……!”
Thud!
Startled, Rakiel hit his head against the stone wall.
“Ugh!”
He clutched the back of his head and collapsed.
I looked down at him, my expression completely flat.
“…Are you alright?”
What kind of comedy was this—watching a prince hit his head because he was crawling through a hole in a wall?
He really did all sorts of things.
He lifted his head, his face twisted like a student caught skipping class. I quickly stepped back, pulling my hood low to hide my face in case it was seen.
“What is this…!”
As I stayed tense with my lips pressed shut, Rakiel finally noticed me and his eyes widened. He seemed to recognize me at once.
Then, realizing I was here in the palace, he looked even more shocked. His eyes widened, then narrowed again, letting out a disbelieving laugh.
Watching him switch reactions so quickly was oddly amusing.
Once he calmed down, he finally spoke.
“It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
“…Even if you sit there trying to look dignified, it doesn’t seem to help much.”
“Ah.”
Rakiel flushed red in an instant, covering his face with one large hand before standing up.
Even so, his clothes were covered in dirt. It was absurd seeing such an unrefined side of him for the first time.
He didn’t even bother brushing himself off, just cleared his throat awkwardly.
Was this really the same person who discussed state affairs with the duke in such a cold, composed manner?
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Are you leaving?”
At my casual question, Rakiel hurriedly leaned his back against the wall.
“No, that’s not—”
“I’ve already seen it.”
“……”
“You seem very familiar with this exit. You looked quite practiced.”
He shut his mouth tightly, like a thief caught red-handed.
……
I narrowed my eyes at him for a moment, then smirked and shrugged.
“I don’t really mind. I’m not going to tell anyone.”
“…Is that so?”
He smiled awkwardly and slowly lowered the hand blocking the passage.
“By the way, what brings you here…?”
As if suddenly remembering something, he raised his eyebrows and changed the subject.
“Come to think of it, did you just say ‘Your Highness’?”
“Ah.”
I let out a small sound.
Right—he still didn’t know that I knew his identity.
“…I never expected to meet you in the palace.”
Rakiel narrowed his eyes and looked at me suspiciously.
His tone had turned slightly colder, and his crimson eyes had deepened.
Even the disguise’s perception suppression didn’t work on suspicion that had already taken root.
Once doubt begins, it only grows uncontrollably.
I hurriedly spoke, trying to sound completely natural.
“I came to see Duke Rosenthal. I had something urgent to report, but I got lost on the way…”
“……”
“I didn’t know the palace was this big. And as for how I recognized Your Highness… it was because the young lady described your appearance to me. So I immediately realized you were the Second Prince I had met.”
“The young lady described my appearance… why would she do that?”
Rakiel stepped forward slowly.
My eyes followed his movements. It looked as if he was blocking my escape route.
His sudden change in demeanor clearly meant I hadn’t earned his trust at all.
Well, I hadn’t expected it anyway.
I spoke slowly.
“Actually, I didn’t come to see the duke. I came to see Your Highness.”
“…Me?”
“The young lady sent me.”
Rakiel’s expression shifted subtly.
Watching him closely, I swallowed nervously.
I was about to use a method that would only work on the Second Prince who didn’t know my identity.
“The young lady changed her mind.”
“What?”
His eyes widened.
“She has decided to accept the engagement with Your Highness.”
This was the only card I could play.
Because I was Eveline.
Well, in truth, I also thought marrying the Second Prince was the best option for now—so it wasn’t exactly a lie.
‘Alright, let’s become a love cupid.’
The problem was that I was the one involved.
“The young lady… accepted the engagement?”
Rakiel muttered in confusion.
He looked so startled that he seemed to have forgotten his suspicion from moments ago.
I nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. I persuaded her.”
“You?”
He scanned me suspiciously.
“A maid of Lady Rosenthal’s personal service? I didn’t know.”
“Well, something like that.”
At this point, I’ll just bluff my way through.
“…I don’t understand. If it’s that lady, she would never accept this so easily.”
“I know what she truly wants.”
“And what is that?”
“Revenge.”
I answered calmly, and his expression grew serious.
“The Crown Prince used her and discarded her. From the beginning, he never intended to stay loyal to House Rosenthal… I assume you’ve heard as much.”
He probably had. Otherwise, the duke wouldn’t be supporting the Second Prince so clearly.
Rakiel nodded.
“…Yes.”
“The young lady realized it completely. That the Crown Prince never truly loved her.”
I took a breath and continued.
“So she told me she wanted to bring him down. And I told her—if that’s the case, she must join forces with Your Highness.”
Rakiel still looked skeptical.
Anyone who knew the real Eveline would never believe this. I wouldn’t either.
But what could I do? I was Eveline now.
“…I can’t believe it. Everyone knows how obsessed—no, how deeply she loved the Crown Prince. And now she changes overnight?”
“People change when they’re betrayed.”
I said firmly.
“She is furious. At the Crown Prince who used her, and at herself for blindly following him.”
“……”
I didn’t know what Rakiel had been thinking since yesterday.
But one thing was clear—he also seemed to regret his choice from that day.
It was obvious in his face.
“…Good.”
If this didn’t work, the plan to make him emperor might have been over.
As I felt relieved, Rakiel tilted his head.
“Even if what you say is true… her behavior yesterday is still incomprehensible.”
“……”
“Even if she was unusually calm, wasn’t it too much? She still seems to care deeply for the Crown Prince.”
“That is…”
“And sending a maid instead of speaking directly is suspicious. How am I supposed to trust someone I’ve never seen in the duke’s house?”
Still sharp.
That same piercing gaze.
I met his eyes without swallowing my tension.
“You don’t trust me?”
“Of course not. I only assumed you were a maid because of that robe. And now you claim to be her personal attendant?”
His eyes didn’t soften.
“I’ve never seen you in the duke’s estate, let alone by her side.”
Feeling my face grow cold, I slowly reached into my clothing. Rakiel watched my movement closely.
And the moment I grasped something inside my robe, I spoke calmly.
“If you don’t believe me… I’ll show you proof.”
