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chapter 16
Leaving Greg pouting as if he felt left out, Celestine silently followed Dvaltin.
What exactly is that guy plotting…?
Of course, she only appeared silent on the outside.
I’m grateful for the help… but I should at least know what he’s scheming.
…Surely he doesn’t actually intend to treat me like a servant, right? Celestine thought to herself as she walked down the vast corridors of the Crown Prince’s palace.
Regardless of what she was thinking, Dvaltin slowly extended his hand with an expressionless face and opened the door to the reception room. Then he sat on the sofa, staring intently at Celestine.
He wants me to sit too, I guess?
Celestine, trying to read his intentions, forced an awkward smile and took a seat across from him.
“I don’t think I told you to sit, Celestine Wincel.”
“Eh?”
“I don’t intend to have a long conversation. I just want to confirm a few things.”
Such a petty little brat.
Celestine awkwardly stood up again.
“It seems you haven’t told anyone that it was I who killed Prince George.”
Dvaltin spoke, staring directly at her.
“Why did you keep it a secret?”
“….”
“Answer me.”
“Well…”
Celestine hesitated, then continued.
“I told you yesterday, didn’t I? I saw nothing and heard nothing.”
“….”
“And even if I were to go around blabbing about it, how would that change anything?”
There was nothing wrong with what Celestine said. Even if she claimed, “It was Crown Prince Dvaltin who killed Prince George, and we have nothing to do with it,” nothing would change. In fact, it might even make things worse. It would be like committing suicide in Hera’s eyes in an instant.
But…
“If you had told Yeriel or her subordinates that you were a witness, you wouldn’t have been caught like this, unfairly. You certainly wouldn’t have been imprisoned alongside your father.”
“….”
“Or you could have joined forces with Yeriel and plotted something bigger. She is a powerful concubine within the palace, and she holds resentment toward me and the Empress. She could have used this incident as an opportunity to ally with the other princes. You know that too, don’t you?”
Dvaltin still didn’t trust Celestine.
If he hadn’t intervened, Celestine and Greg could have been secretly killed in the underground prison. Yeriel had enough power to make that possible.
So there must be another reason she kept the secret. Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to stay silent until the very end.
“I keep my word, even if a sword is at my throat.”
Her answer surprised him more than expected.
“That’s all there is to it. Do you need another reason?”
Celestine asked, eyes wide.
Dvaltin’s reasoning made sense to her, but she wasn’t the type to blab. Besides, she could still clearly remember the expression Dvaltin wore when he returned after killing George.
Violet eyes filled only with emptiness. A face as fragile as a dry leaf. Words that seemed to plead, as if saying he wouldn’t have helped her for no reason.
How could she go around explaining that? And it wasn’t even that he enjoyed killing George. He acted under Hera’s threat.
“So why did Your Highness save me?”
This time, Celestine asked.
“Of course, I’m grateful, but honestly… you could have ignored it, and I expected you would.”
“Before that, I don’t think I ever gave you the right to question me.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The conversation is over. Leave now.”
Really…
It was clear: he was telling her to leave now that he had heard everything he wanted. Celestine felt the urge to slap him, but fortunately, she wasn’t in a state to act on it, so she just clenched her fist inside her sleeve.
“From tomorrow, keep Asha company. She’s fragile, and seeing her like this might shock her.”
…Even hearing that, she had no words to argue. Her hair was a wild mess like a madwoman’s, her ankles already swelling red from the poison, and her dress was stained.
Well, it worked out. Celestine also wanted to return and rest. Plus, she had to make sure Greg didn’t blab unnecessarily while she was gone.
“Yes. Then I’ll head back now.”
She bowed slightly and said,
“I’m not sure what brought about this change of heart, but thank you for your help. I hope to see you again.”
Is the carriage still there? Greg didn’t take off on his own, did he? Celestine sighed and turned around.
Once a week.
Suddenly, Dvaltin’s voice caught her attention.
“From now on, come here once a week and report on what happens with Asha.”
Turning her head, she saw Dvaltin speaking with an expressionless face.
“I need to know everything that’s going on.”
Ugh, what a frustratingly obsessive man.
“I understand. I’ll report everything in detail, without leaving anything out.”
That was it. Celestine, wanting to leave as quickly as possible, answered and exited the reception room without looking back.
“….”
Once Celestine disappeared, the room was filled with a heavy silence.
He still had work to do. The most important thing was monitoring Yeriel’s movements.
Having dragged Celestine and Greg out so recklessly, Yeriel might already suspect something between them. And there was no way to stop Hera from hearing the news, so he needed an excuse to cover himself.
Yet Dvaltin didn’t move from the sofa. He simply rested his chin on his hand, staring into space.
“If you save me and my father, I will never forget that favor for as long as I live. I’ll keep Asha company diligently, and if, as you said, you never want to see me again, I’ll stay out of sight.”
Dvaltin quietly smiled at Celestine’s words, spoken haphazardly in prison.
“If there’s anything you want me to do, I will. Even if you tell me to die… I can even pretend to die in a dramatic way. Or you can treat me like a servant… of course, Your Highness, the failure will be mine, but I’ll try.”
This woman was clearly insane.
Otherwise, how could she say such things?
But what Dvaltin couldn’t understand the most wasn’t her words.
…Why did he save her?
Hmm…
Throughout his life, Dvaltin had never acted so independently. All his actions were carried out solely under Hera’s orders.
So he couldn’t understand his own actions.
“I was only worried about Your Highness.”
“….”
“Remember this: someone may appear at any time who, without expecting anything in return, will show kindness, care, and do everything they can to help you.”
Did that even bother him at all?
“No… that’s not it.”
Dvaltin murmured to himself with a stern expression.
…Yes, there was another reason. That insane woman was the first companion for poor little Asha. So naturally, Asha must have high expectations too.
Dvaltin decided to think that way.
After a while, he slowly stood, called the waiting guard Wisner, and began discussing the tasks that needed attention.
Unaware of what repercussions today’s events might bring.
