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Chapter 20
Must Not Be Found Out
At Austin’s question, Harold naturally thought of Lily. Although Austin hadn’t specified who, given the word ‘slept,’ Lily was the only possible woman, so it was a natural connection.
Of course, he hadn’t actually been physically intimate with Lily. It was literally just ‘sleeping’ together, and nothing had happened between them.
“Then…… will you become my mistress?”
……So, maybe something had happened?
“D-don’t lie! As if I would make such an offer……!”
Remembering Lily’s contrasting demeanor, which was hard to believe came from the same person, Harold let out a small laugh.
“What’s with that face?”
Austin asked, scoffing as he saw Harold’s expression, which looked undeniably happy.
“Did you really sleep with her? Huh? Were you so satisfied you can’t help but smile because you’re so happy?”
Harold didn’t answer, but taking his silence as affirmation, Austin groaned and pressed his fingers between his brows.
He went on, saying things like how could he do this, and why did it have to be that woman, but Harold didn’t really listen and just drank his coffee. Drinking the bitter coffee, made without any sugar, seemed to clear away his sleepiness and sharpen his slightly hazy mind.
He wasn’t curious about how Austin knew he had spent the night with Lily at the hotel. Without a doubt, Liam Prasys must have told him. Regretting that he had trusted Liam even for a moment, Harold set down his coffee cup.
“Keep it a secret from everyone else.”
Austin snorted and retorted cynically.
“Who knows? I’m not sure it’s something that can be hidden, even if I try to keep it secret.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean? I mean it seems that woman is spreading the rumors herself.”
The idea that Lily was personally spreading rumors about what happened at the hotel that day was nonsense. Harold was certain that anyone else might, but Lily would absolutely never do such a thing.
Yet, he couldn’t completely shake off the ‘what if’ doubt because Austin seemed so sure. Although he often played frivolous pranks, he wasn’t the type to be confident without basis.
But having experienced Lily’s character firsthand, he was sure she wasn’t like that either, which left him confused.
“Have you seen her spreading rumors that she slept with me?”
He wondered if that was why Austin was so sure, but Austin shook his head as if that wasn’t it.
“No. So far, the rumors are only that you and that woman went on a date.”
“A date?”
When did I go on a date with Lilliana Benjamin?
Harold racked his memory, but no matter how much he thought about it, he had never been on a date with her. It was also impossible that Lily would make up lies and start rumors.
Finally sensing something strange, Harold asked Austin.
“Who is this woman you’re talking about?”
“Who else? I’m talking about Kennedy Stacey.”
Sure enough, the woman Austin mentioned wasn’t Lily. The moment he heard Kennedy’s name, all his doubts were resolved, and Harold let out a soft laugh as he took out a cigar and lit it.
Seeing Harold’s calm, almost nonchalant attitude, the Crown Prince grew even more exasperated and launched into a speech.
“For heaven’s sake, there are so many women in the world, especially women who like you—enough to trip over—so why, of all people, does it have to be the Stacey Countdom? You’re not unaware that family supports Darius, are you?”
“I know.”
“You know, and you went on a date with her? Why? Don’t tell me you fell in love with Kennedy Stacey at first sight or something ridiculous like that?”
At the absurd guess, Harold exhaled a puff of white smoke and laughed softly.
“That’s impossible. You know I don’t believe in love or anything like that, don’t you?”
“I know. That’s why it’s strange. No matter how I think about it, there’s no reason for you to date her. Unless you’ve switched to Darius’s side, that is.”
A sharp, chilling glint momentarily flashed in Austin’s eyes. It showed just how much he despised Darius.
Thinking that if he left it like this, Austin’s delusions would grow like a snowball rolling down from the peak of a mountain, Harold began to explain.
“I found out that the late former Benjamin Viscount and Count Stacey were quite close, even inviting each other to family events. Their wives got along well, of course, and their daughters were said to be as close as real sisters.”
Austin, who had been grumbling just moments before, now listened seriously to his explanation.
“But as soon as the late Viscount Benjamin died in the fire, the Stacey Countdom turned their backs. It’s said that on a day of pouring rain, Lilliana Benjamin stood in that rain, desperately begging for help just once, but they didn’t even throw her a single coin.”
His hand clenched momentarily, snapping the cigar. Clicking his tongue, Harold discarded the broken cigar in the ashtray.
“I found it strange that they had been laughing and getting along so well until then, only to suddenly turn their backs after the Viscount’s death. I wondered if the Second Prince had ordered them to do so. I merely approached the Stacey Countdom through Kennedy Stacey to find out. If my guess is correct……”
“…Then Darius must be the one who ordered the fire at Viscount Benjamin’s residence two years ago and the death of the late Viscount Benjamin.”
Having his words taken right out of his mouth, Harold shrugged his shoulders and lit a new cigar.
Austin, stroking his chin as if in thought, remained silent for a moment before finally asking Harold.
“So, did you find out anything from the Stacey Countdom?”
“Not yet. Both the Count and his wife, and even their daughter, are more tight-lipped than I expected. They probably know I’m on the Crown Prince’s side, so they’re being cautious.”
“And yet, she remarkably accepted your request for a date.”
“A date request is all? I heard she even sent a marriage proposal, saying she wants to marry me.”
Hearing this for the first time, Austin’s eyes widened in shock.
“The Stacey Countdom sent you a marriage proposal? Why? No, more than that, isn’t Kennedy Stacey already engaged?”
“I heard she’s already broken off that engagement.”
“She broke off her long-standing engagement to marry you? Hah, that Count Stacey and his daughter are really something else.”
Clicking his tongue as if he couldn’t understand it at all, Austin crossed his arms. Harold tapped the ash from his cigar into the ashtray and asked.
“So, have all your suspicions about me been cleared up now?”
“Huh? Wha?”
As Austin looked at him, startled, the corners of Harold’s lips curved smoothly into an arc.
“You were worried I might have joined forces with the Second Prince, so you rushed over here before the sun was even up, wasn’t that it?”
“Th-that’s… Absolutely not!”
“Hmm. They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation.”
When Harold answered indifferently, as if he didn’t believe him at all, the corners of Austin’s eyes drooped. His shoulders slumped too, and he muttered while glancing at Harold’s expression.
“It’s really not true…”
White smoke filled the space between them.
“It’s just… rumors started spreading that you might marry Kennedy Stacey soon… I was curious about what was going on, so I came to ask. I absolutely didn’t suspect you or anything.”
“…”
“It’s the truth. How could I suspect you? Even though we aren’t related by blood, you’re like a brother and family to me. Even if I suspected everyone in the world, I would never suspect you.”
His voice, which started off hesitant, grew clearer and firmer, and his blue eyes looking at Harold were filled with sincerity.
Harold hadn’t actually thought the Crown Prince suspected him from the beginning. He just wanted to get back at him for bothering him so early in the morning with a joke, but seeing Austin like this made it awkward to say it was just a prank.
“Fine.”
Harold stubbed out the half-smoked cigar in the ashtray and stood up.
“I get your sincerity, so you can head back to the imperial palace now.”
“…You really believe me, right?”
“I said I do.”
As if he was really worried, Austin asked several times, and although Harold found it annoying, since it was the result of his own excessive joking, he patiently humored him until the end.
As the time for her appointment with Fredic approached, Lily called her maids. The maids, who had been visibly showing their annoyance at being asked to help her get ready, immediately changed their attitude when Lily added that she would be going out with Fredic.
One applied scented oil to her hair, while another brought dresses for her to wear. It was a light pink dress, perfect for a spring day with pink petals fluttering in the air.
After putting on the dress and sitting at the vanity, Lily watched her changing reflection in the mirror. It wasn’t the first time she’d been dressed up like this, but it felt strange. She couldn’t quite describe it, but what was certain was that it wasn’t entirely pleasant.
That didn’t mean she felt bad either. It was just subtle and bewildering. A more accurate description might be that she couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.
“Which earrings would you like to wear?”
…This was unusual too.
The maids never asked for Lily’s opinion when dressing her up. They always forced her to wear whatever they brought, for a simple reason: they couldn’t be bothered to fetch something else.
If Lily tried to say it didn’t seem right, they would make all sorts of excuses, like saying she didn’t know what was in fashion or that others had a better eye, and stubbornly insist until the end.
So, being asked for her opinion now was bewildering. They say the servants reflect their master’s attitude; had they changed because Fredic had changed?
For the first time since becoming the Viscountess Benjamin, Lily finished getting ready without any major clashes with the maids. Finally, draping a thin shawl over her shoulders and checking for anything out of place, she heard a knock.
“The Master has arrived, Madam.”
“I’ll be right out.”
After one final check to ensure everything was in order, Lily left the bedroom. Fredic was in the central hall on the first floor, talking with his aide.
Seeing Fredic’s serious expression, it seemed like an important discussion, so Lily approached as quietly as possible to avoid making a sound.
Unaware of Lily’s presence, the two continued their serious conversation.
“…We’ve blocked it for now, but it might be discovered next time.”
“She absolutely must not find out. Stop it by any means necessary.”
