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Chapter 3
The very first place Ellen headed after arriving in the capital was the main branch of the boutique run by her family.
After contacting her family through the boutique, she immediately handed over the finished letter to the person in charge and ordered that selected goods from the store be brought up to her room.
“All of these have been carefully chosen from the finest items in our store. To begin with, this dress—”
“No need for an explanation. I’ll take them all.”
“All of them, my lady?”
“Yes. Pack them all and have them sent to this address.”
Ellen scribbled down the number of her hotel room on a slip of paper and handed it over.
Then, picking out a dress that was hanging in the middle, she went straight into the fitting room and came out wearing it.
Having changed everything—dress, gloves, shoes, truly from head to toe—Ellen dropped the clothes she had just taken off onto the floor without a second glance.
“Burn them all.”
As if even carrying them was repulsive, she stripped herself of everything without hesitation, ordering them to be thrown into the incinerator before leaving the boutique.
I’ve sent a letter to Father, and since this is the Imperial Capital—directly under the Emperor’s rule—Gillian won’t be able to act recklessly here… Good.
Now what should she do next?
Ellen calmly organized her thoughts.
For now, rather than wandering around outside, perhaps it’s better to wait at the hotel until Father’s reply arrives…
Now that she had taken her first step, she felt a little more at ease.
But nothing was certain yet.
Even if the immediate priority is divorce, I’ll still need a plan for after. I have a direction in mind, but if I’m to persuade Father, I’ll need something more concrete…
And then—
“Ah, damn it. I’m going to lose my mind.”
Lost in thought as she walked into the hotel, Ellen suddenly heard a voice—one that was very familiar.
Turning her head toward the sound, she saw a man standing stock-still among the bustling crowd, frantically patting down his pockets.
He groped his body in a panic, paying no mind to the people passing by.
“Damn it, what bastard…!”
Who is that? I know that voice…
Had she ever known anyone who cursed so crudely?
At that moment, perhaps sensing her gaze, the man turned his head toward her.
Their eyes met.
“…Lady Crembel?”
“Surely not—Your Highness, is that you, Prince Cayden?”
Why on earth was the Crown Prince here?
Ellen froze.
He should have been in the palace. What business brought him here?
But the answer wasn’t hard to guess.
After all, this was the very hotel where the Crown Prince had once entertained her and Gillian.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Indeed, this is the first time I’ve seen you since the New Year’s ball.”
Cayden Istagio.
Her husband Gillian Crembel’s cousin, and the Crown Prince of the Empire to which she belonged.
“What brings you here alone, Your Highness?”
“I had some matters to attend to. Meeting you is quite the stroke of luck.”
With a bright smile—so warm it was easy to forget the curses he’d been spewing moments ago—he approached her.
“You seemed troubled about something.”
“Yes. But may I ask, Lady, where is your husband? What brings you to the capital alone?”
Ah. Husband.
That word brought her briefly scattered thoughts back into focus.
With a faintly apologetic look, Ellen replied,
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. But we won’t be husband and wife much longer. I would appreciate it if you would call me by the name Cryant from now on.”
“…Not husband and wife? You mean you’re considering divorce?”
“All that remains is for him to sign the papers.”
Hearing her own voice come out so calm surprised even Ellen a little.
She had never imagined she would speak of divorce so casually.
But the Crown Prince was visibly shaken, stammering as he tried to respond.
“Th-that fellow… He was always rather curt. I cannot begin to imagine the hurt you must have endured… Still, as a woman, perhaps you should take more time, consider carefully before making such a decision—”
He nearly tripped over his words midway through.
Is it really that surprising to him?
Ellen recalled what her marriage had been like around this time.
It wasn’t much different from now.
She had lived her entire life that way, without change, until she died.
A small chuckle slipped from her lips.
True. Even I find myself surprised, so how much more must he?
Divorce.
It was a word she herself had never imagined speaking, even a few days ago.
“Thank you for your concern, but this is a conclusion I reached after much thought.”
“…Forgive me. I was being presumptuous.”
“It’s quite all right, Your Highness.”
Despite her reassurance, Cayden still looked unsettled.
And who could blame him?
Some might say this divorce was a blessing for the Crown Prince, since it meant the third heir apparent was bowing out of the succession race.
But Cayden’s true rival was his younger brother, the second heir. In fact, the ducal house of Crembel had already abandoned any ambition for the throne, choosing instead to stabilize their power by supporting Cayden himself.
And now, before his very eyes, he was watching the downfall of the Crembel family’s most important figure.
Feeling a sudden pang of sympathy, Ellen asked gently,
“More importantly, may I ask what trouble you were in just now?”
“Ah, right. I have no business worrying about you when I’m in a bind myself.”
Cayden laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
“I lost my money. Now I can’t finish my errands, and I can’t even return home. Not like I can squeeze blood from a flea…”
Ah, so that’s why he had been rummaging so desperately.
Ellen understood his strange behavior at once.
First sneaking out without permission, and now this… He really is a handful.
“My, blood from a flea? That’s an expression I’ve never heard before.”
Thankfully, his problem was one she could solve.
She guessed he had probably slipped out of the palace secretly, just as he used to do in the past.
Several thoughts flashed through her mind:
Gillian Crembel’s treason.
Cayden Istagio, Crown Prince.
The capital.
And the opportunity before her today.
She made up her mind.
“When do you plan to return, Your Highness? If you’ll allow me, Ellen Cryant will see you home today.”
With the same graceful demeanor as when she first greeted him, Ellen clapped her hands twice.
At the sound, a hotel servant hurried over.
“Fetch a carriage. You’ll be accompanying us today. Take this to your employer and deliver this to him. And this will be your pay.”
In her hand gleamed finely crafted jewelry—platinum delicately wrought around sparkling gems that seemed to glow with their own light.
The servant, transfixed, cradled them reverently in his palm before dashing off.
Ellen smiled.
“As you see, the wedding gifts belong to me. So today, allow Ellen Cryant, eldest daughter of the Cryant family, to be your escort, Your Highness.”
I may divorce, but I still wish to maintain good relations with you.
Her gesture made Cayden pause, his eyes following the servant who had just run off.
He seemed torn.
But then, softening his expression, he said,
“Thank you. Then I’ll be in your care today, Lady Ellen.”
Good.
Ellen clenched her small fist.
The Crown Prince had agreed to go along with her suggestion.
This was an opportunity.
It might have been coincidence, but without her bold initiative, she would have missed it.
Now, it truly begins.
With a bright, genuine smile, Ellen said,
“It will be my pleasure, Your Highness.”
“Where were you planning to go, originally?”
“I intended to stroll through the old city market. The voice of the people is most often heard there.”
Ellen frowned, as though she had heard something utterly unacceptable.
“Your Highness, I can serve as your purse, but not as your guard.”
“I know. With you here, I wouldn’t dream of anything so reckless.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
At her sharp words, the Crown Prince chuckled wryly, then turned his gaze to the half-open carriage window.
Once they arrived at their destination, Ellen first exchanged currency, then discreetly handed Cayden some spending money.
“Keep this with you, just in case.”
“I’m deeply grateful for your help today.”
“As your subject… it’s my duty.”
“When enough people neglect their duty, it stops being so ‘natural.’”
That was true enough.
At his bitter remark, Ellen silently agreed.
Then, with a rueful smile, Cayden took her hand.
“I didn’t mean to put that expression on your face. Rather, since we’re here, why not enjoy it a little together?”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You weren’t going to take your eyes off me anyway. You may as well just stay by my side.”
What on earth is this Crown Prince saying?
Ellen could only stare at him, words caught in her throat.
He casually pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they moved through the crowd.
“I like that skewer stall over there. How about it?”
“…I’ll pass.”
“Very well. Then wait here.”
He set her by the roadside and went up to the skewer vendor.
“Hey, old man!”
“Well, if it isn’t you. Been a while!”
The old man laughed heartily upon seeing Cayden.
“Now that you’re here, I may as well close shop early today.”
“I’ll try to live up to that. Give me five skewers. And before you retire, you’d better pass me your sauce recipe.”
“Listen to this brat talk!”
The old man clicked his tongue, placing chicken skewers onto the grill.
Unbothered, Cayden chuckled and asked,
“By the way, old man, since when have you been staying open so late that closing early is even an option?”
“Don’t get me started. These days I have to stay until night if I want to sell out.”
Flipping the skewers briskly, he went on,
“You heard about that body they found here a while back, right? Ever since then, once the sun sets, not a soul lingers in these streets.”
At those words, the Crown Prince’s face hardened.
