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Chapter 45
“…Three years, I think.”
“Oh, I knew it! You two look like newlyweds!”
The noblewoman clapped her hands excitedly, practically glowing like a schoolgirl listening to her teacher’s first love story.
“I couldn’t see his face very well because of the mask, but your husband is incredibly handsome. Young, good-looking, and kind… I’m so jealous.”
“Y-Yeah… haha…”
There was no good way to respond to that, so I simply laughed awkwardly.
Perhaps the walk was boring for her, because she kept chatting nonstop, telling me gossip about people I’d never even heard of.
By the time I was exhausted from pretending to be interested, we finally arrived in front of a room.
Laughter spilled through the open doorway, loud enough to echo through the corridor. Judging from the noise, there were far more than just a couple of people inside.
“We’re here. Come in.”
The noblewoman opened the door and gestured for me to follow.
Stepping inside cautiously, I found a large tea table in the center of the room, surrounded by elegantly dressed noblewomen.
At a glance, they all looked like ladies from the Empire’s most prestigious families.
And sitting among them was the one person I wanted to avoid most.
Ramona Silrodien.
“Everyone, hello! I hope I’m not too late!”
The overly friendly noblewoman greeted everyone cheerfully, completely oblivious to the despair I was feeling.
The problem was that her loud greeting drew everyone’s attention—including Ramona’s.
Oh, hell…
Afraid our eyes might meet, I immediately turned my back.
“Is something wrong, Baroness?”
Originally, I’d planned to sit for a while before slipping away.
But with Ramona here, everything changed.
Even with a mask covering my face, confronting her head-on felt far too dangerous.
“Haha… It’s my first time in high society, so I guess I’m nervous. I suddenly need to use the restroom. Would it be alright if I stepped out for a moment?”
“Of course. Take your time.”
Without turning back around, I walked out into the corridor.
I pretended to head toward the restroom, but once I confirmed no one was watching, I immediately changed direction and hurried away from the tea room.
The palace was built in a square layout, so if I kept going I’d eventually return to the corridor we’d come from.
He said he’d follow me, so where on earth is Roakin?
I decided to head downstairs and look for him.
Just as I rounded the corner—
…Enoch!
I froze.
Standing there, without a mask and showing his face openly, was Prince Enoch.
I’d been searching all over for him, and now he’d appeared right in front of me.
What incredible luck.
I wanted to rush over and stop him immediately.
But I couldn’t.
Because beside him stood Crown Prince Rirenzo.
The two brothers were in the middle of what looked like a serious argument.
Honestly, that idiot never helps with anything…
Back when I was just a reader, every one of the male lead’s actions had seemed cool and satisfying.
But now, somehow, every path I took ended with him getting in my way and making my life miserable.
Quietly, I stepped backward and hid behind the wall.
“So asking to leave for just a little while is really that impossible?”
Enoch’s raised voice echoed down the hallway, making my ears perk up.
“Lower your voice, Enoch.”
“How am I supposed to stay calm right now?”
Rirenzo sighed deeply.
“Listen carefully, Enoch. You’re currently under house arrest. I’m simply enforcing the judges’ decision. Throwing a tantrum won’t change anything.”
“Are you afraid? Afraid I’ll leave the palace and start a rebellion?”
“That’s enough. Even my patience has limits.”
The warm relationship I’d seen between the brothers before was nowhere to be found.
Apparently, Enoch—currently confined to the palace—had asked permission to leave, and Rirenzo had refused.
“You know better than anyone how suffocating this palace is for me… I’ll only be gone for a little while. I swear I’ll come back. If you’ve ever thought of me as your younger brother, then trust me just this once.”
“I’ve already warned you. If you leave the palace against orders, then no matter who you are—even if you’re my own brother—you’ll face the consequences. There will be no exceptions.”
No matter how earnestly Enoch pleaded, Rirenzo remained completely unmoved.
Where is Enoch trying to go, anyway?
He claimed he only wanted some fresh air, but considering the circumstances, that couldn’t possibly be the whole story.
“I’ve said all there is to say. Don’t make me angry over this again.”
Still hiding behind the wall with only my eyes peeking out, I watched as Rirenzo suddenly turned—
And began walking straight toward me.
W-Wait…?
Why is he coming this way?!
Then I remembered.
I’d just come from the tea room.
And Ramona was in that room.
Rirenzo was obviously heading there.
If I stayed where I was, I’d run right into him.
I quietly backed away, glancing behind me.
Has this hallway always been this long…?
Even if I sprinted at full speed, I wouldn’t make it out before he arrived.
And even if I did run, it’d look like I was desperately trying to escape after secretly eavesdropping. Anyone would find that suspicious.
There was nowhere left to go.
In desperation, I slipped behind the curtain beside the window and hid.
Please… just walk past.
Holding my breath, I stood perfectly still.
Fortunately, Rirenzo walked right past without noticing me.
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
…He should be gone now, right?
I waited for the right moment to come out.
Since I couldn’t hear Enoch’s footsteps following him, he’d probably gone the opposite direction.
I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but if they realized I’d overheard everything, it would only cause misunderstandings.
It seemed safest to wait a little while before leaving and pretend we’d met by chance.
But if I waited too long, I might lose him.
Thirty… twenty-nine… twenty-eight…
…Three… two…
Swish—
Before I could finish counting, the curtain was suddenly pulled aside.
Standing there, glaring at me with piercing eyes, was Enoch.
“…One.”
I weakly finished the count.
“Who are you?”
His voice was icy.
“What are you doing hiding like a rat?”
It happened in the blink of an eye.
A sharp dagger was suddenly pressed just beneath my throat.
“I-I…”
Enoch’s killing intent was so intense that I couldn’t get another word out.
They say when you’re truly terrified, you can’t even scream.
It was true.
I didn’t hear a single footstep… When did he get here? And why is he so fast?
In the original novel, Enoch had been portrayed as an incompetent prince with nothing but ambition.
Despite his royal blood, he was supposedly terrible at swordsmanship and constantly compared unfavorably to the Crown Prince, a Sword Master.
How is this supposed to be the same person?
“C-Could you lower the knife first…?”
That was the more urgent issue.
The blade inches from my throat needed to be dealt with before anything else.
“Take off your mask.”
“Show me your face.”
Enoch remained on high alert.
Trying to talk while he was like this would only make him more suspicious.
Reluctantly, I lowered my mask.
“You’re…”
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“I don’t know if you remember me, but we’ve met before.”
Recognition flashed across his face.
“…Serphine Mirabel.”
“Why are you here?”
“I came because there was something I needed to tell you personally, Your Highness. I know the circumstances look suspicious, but I truly wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.”
Even I had to admit that hiding behind a curtain looked incredibly suspicious.
Would he believe me?
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Please lower the knife.”
Roakin strolled over with his arms crossed as if he’d been there all along.
“…Tower Master?”
Even behind the mask, Enoch recognized him instantly.
His arrogant bearing and the cold, oppressive aura surrounding him were impossible to disguise.
“So the two of you actually made it all the way into the Imperial Palace.”
“I never realized palace security was this lax.”
“Better late than never.”
Seriously?! This is the prince’s home turf! Why are you provoking him now?!
Instead of taking offense, Enoch calmly lowered the dagger from my neck.
“My apologies.”
“I didn’t realize it was you.”
“Haha… It’s alright.”
“So… you came here because you wanted to speak with me?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be willing to spare me a little of your time?”
I was almost certain he would agree.
On the night before my execution, he’d watched us attempt to escape through teleportation.
He could have pursued us.
Instead, he’d silently closed the door and let us go.
The meaning behind that action was obvious.
Prince Enoch had never intended to harm me.
If anything…
He wanted to talk.
