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Chapter 28
Radian, as if pleased to see him, left Avinian speechless. With a fierce momentum, Radian downed his beer in one go, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth, and placed the glass back on the table.
“Your Highness, why did you take an interest in me?”
“…Puh—”
Avinian spat out a little beer in surprise at the sudden question. As he started coughing, Radian flusteredly handed him a napkin.
“Cough, cough… thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I think I asked something unnecessary.”
Avinian waved it off, saying it was fine, but his golden eyes were brimming with tears. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, then rested his elbow on the table and looked straight at Radian.
“You seemed… impressive to me.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“What part of me?”
No matter how he looked at it, she couldn’t see any reason why he would find her impressive. But his eyes didn’t seem to be lying.
“If marriage is a woman’s grave, then divorce is like the depths of hell. Especially in our country, once a woman divorces, it’s hard for her to get a job or remarry. But you… you didn’t hesitate at all.”
“You seem to know quite a lot about women’s circumstances.”
“Because the maids were always my good friends.”
Radian seemed about to continue but showed a slightly regretful expression. It seemed Avinian, who had lived as an unwanted presence in the palace, had found emotional comfort in the maids. Noticing this, Avinian changed the mood.
“Thanks to that, I even came to know places like this and got to meet you. I should be grateful.”
“…I suppose so.”
“The Marchioness was truly beautiful. Honestly, I’d been watching you from the moment you entered.”
“Me?”
“Yes. With that face and that dress—it’s cheating. If that day had been your debutante, the number of men proposing to you would’ve been enormous.”
“And you’d have been one of them, Your Highness.”
“Of course. I would’ve been number one. There were many people who went to the annex just to catch a glimpse of your face, and I never imagined something like that would happen there. After the incident, I kept thinking about it—wondering if you were crying, so I went out… but you were smiling.”
“Did that bother you? Did I seem sinister?”
“Not at all. That’s when I realized you had planned this for a long time. That made me curious about what kind of person you were. Then, meeting you by chance at the pub, I thought it was fate. Of course, it was only my fate. That’s why I approached you.”
Avinian had a talent for neatly blocking any objection before it could be raised. Radian smiled faintly and leaned comfortably against the walnut chair. After drinking and talking through the night, the tension seemed to have eased.
“My life from now on will be a thorny road. It has always been so. That’s why I need someone intelligent by my side—someone who can avoid the thorns with me. Fortunately, God gave me the eye to recognize talent, and my father gave me the ability to act on it, no matter what it takes to obtain that talent.”
The playful expression from earlier had vanished, replaced with a completely serious face. Radian straightened her posture and listened carefully.
“You are beautiful, intelligent, and clever. And I am handsome, smart, and—if I may say—rather devious. If you come to my side, I will ensure that your divorce leaves no stain on you. If there is no one beside you, then allow me to step into that place.”
A proposal after just one day—she had never heard of anything so abrupt. Sweet words echoed in Radian’s ears. She could vaguely guess what he wanted. Wrapped in humor, it was in truth a shadow large enough to cover the imperial palace. It was still only suspicion, but it seemed he was thinking of rebellion. The Emperor and the Duke were on the same side; if she helped him succeed, revenge might end more easily than expected.
Radian said nothing and looked away. At that moment, Michael came into her line of sight. His face was expressionless, but she could now see the worry within it. He had clearly been standing there all this time.
Then a gentle smile formed on Radian’s face. That smile briefly brightened Avinian’s expression; he seemed to think she was reacting positively. But what came out of her mouth was very different from what he expected.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I cannot accept your proposal.”
Avinian’s expression darkened instantly, like storm clouds had rolled in.
“Do you… not like me? But…”
“No. That’s not it.”
Radian cut him off firmly and continued without hesitation.
“I do have a goal I want to achieve. And perhaps it would be easier with Your Highness. But that is my responsibility. It is something I must handle on my own.”
“Why must you do it alone? Do you find help burdensome?”
“No. I simply do not wish to accomplish it while being in a romantic relationship with Your Highness. I cannot return the affection you would give me. Instead…”
She paused briefly, and Avinian looked a little anxious. Seeing that, Radian smiled lightly and extended her hand.
“Shall we be friends instead? As friends, we can both do our best for each other.”
Seeing Avinian’s stunned expression, Radian bit her lip, worried she might get arrested for disrespecting royalty. She continued awkwardly.
“I… I would be… frie—friends with a noble lady…”
“I only hope His Highness will treat a maid and a baron’s daughter without any difference.”
Using Avinian’s earlier words about maids being his friends, Radian’s remark made him rub his face in disbelief. Even so, Radian still did not erase her smile.
“Friends… friends, huh…”
“Yes, friends.”
Radian’s expression was so firm it could rival stubborn stone. Avinian, unable to hide his disappointment, eventually gave in.
“I acted on impulse and proposed, and this is how it turned out. It’s unfortunate… but I’ll accept it. Even as friends. May I call you Radian from now on?”
“Sure. Please do.”
“Then you should call me Vian.”
Calling a prince by his name was already bold, but being asked to use a nickname as well—Radian accepted immediately.
“Alright, Vian.”
“Haha. It’s been a while since I heard a nickname. It feels nice.”
“By the way, the night is long—why were you so impulsive with the proposal? I was about to get dizzy.”
At her joking remark, Avinian laughed, resting his palm on his forehead.
“Don’t lie. That’s not what friends do.”
“Caught me?”
“Yes, it shows. Ah, as a celebration of our friendship, shall I tell you something interesting?”
Avinian leaned in and whispered as if sharing a secret. Radian nodded.
“Royalty… are trained mentally from childhood so they cannot reveal important information, even during war.”
Radian’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation. He looked pleased at having surprised her.
“Radian, you just overcame 200 years of royal mental training. Impressive.”
As he finished speaking, Avinian’s body began to sway. Radian tried to catch him, but the distance between them was too great.
Thud.
Avinian collapsed onto the tavern floor. Alarmed, Radian rushed over and cast a healing spell, but her mana was quickly repelled. It meant he wasn’t injured, so she sighed in relief.
“Phew…”
Strangely enough, Avinian was asleep with a blissful smile. The startled bartender hurried over and helped him up.
“What happened, sir?”
“He just drank too much. Take him to a room.”
“Yes, understood.”
As the bartender called over staff, a few workers lifted him. When Radian tried to stand as well, one of them approached her with gold and silver coins.
“What is this?”
“Your change.”
We didn’t even pay yet—what change? Radian looked puzzled, and the young employee replied brightly:
“The gentleman being carried out said while paying earlier that the change must be given to his wife.”
Radian looked at Avinian, being carried up the stairs, incredulous. Had he expected she might pass out next? The amount suggested he had paid with a platinum coin—far more than necessary. It was enough that even nobles would hesitate to keep it. It seemed he had done it so she wouldn’t run away. Looking at the coins in her palm, Radian let out a small laugh. He was an impossible person to hate.
“Congratulations.”
Michael approached her side.
“Thanks. It’s because of you.”
“It’s not because of me. It’s because you did well.”
“Shall we head in? We still have things to talk about.”
“Yes. Sounds good.”
Radian led Michael to her room. It was much smaller than her own but neat. Sitting down on the white bedding, she undid her braided hair. Her hair unfurled in waves, more curled than usual from being tied up for so long. She took off her shoes and flopped onto the soft bed.
“Ah… I feel alive. I want to sleep like this.”
Even though she had used recovery magic, her fatigue hadn’t completely gone. It was already full morning outside. Michael drew the curtains to block the light.
“Shall I wash you?”
“…What?”
Radian’s sleepy eyes snapped wide open.
“I meant I’ll help you wash, since you must be tired.”
“W-w-wash… me?”
Radian, who wouldn’t even accept Wendy’s help bathing her, panicked. Michael stepped closer with a teasing smile. Radian backed away, but the bed frame blocked her.
Her heart began pounding loudly. Michael closed in and suddenly grabbed her hand.
“Eek!”
