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Chapter 15
“Ha, I never thought Your Highness—who’s so thoroughly distrustful of people—would trust someone so easily.”
Alber frowned as if he were witnessing something unbelievable.
“Don’t tell me you fell in love with Lady Eleanor at first sight?”
Renatus shot him a look, as though the remark were utterly absurd.
Even if that were true, his grand ambitions were far too important to be swayed by such trivial emotions.
Alber, who knew that better than anyone, quickly shook his head as if to retract his statement.
“Her ladyship’s mother committed suicide because of her husband. The young lady wishes to marry me to take her revenge.”
Renatus elaborated willingly for the ever-suspicious Alber.
“They say the enemy of your enemy is your ally. Where else could I find a more perfect partner than this?”
“You did have other partners in mind, didn’t you?”
“As long as they weren’t on the Empress’s side, it didn’t matter.”
Renatus answered expressionlessly.
“But I never expected anyone to actually eliminate the Empress’s hands and feet for me.”
“Do you think Lady Eleanor is capable of that?”
“Judging by the skill it took her to escape all the way here, she’s more than capable.”
She had clearly been imprisoned. Otherwise, there was no way to explain how much thinner she had become compared to the last time he saw her. That Marquis Kline…
Renatus, who had habitually reached for his cigar, suddenly paused. Alber looked at him curiously as Renatus abruptly stepped out onto the terrace. Though confused, Alber followed.
“We were discussing something important far too carelessly.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’ve cleared everyone from the surroundings.”
Even so, Renatus made no move to go back inside. He lit his cigar, and Alber continued casually.
“Marchioness Pereto is still in the dressing room. But she’ll learn of the young lady’s presence soon enough.”
“Even someone like Madam Pereto wouldn’t dare barge into my bedroom.”
Alber’s expression briefly faltered as he understood the implication.
“…Are you sure that’s alright?”
“What exactly are you implying?”
“Well… your first time, like this…”
Renatus looked at him as if he were worrying about something utterly ridiculous, and Alber stammered.
“I mean, shouldn’t your first time be with someone you actually like…?”
“You should have found me someone like that earlier, Alber.”
“No, you can’t blame me for that! The walls you put up—!”
“Right now, Eleanor is my best option.”
Renatus took a drag of his cigar and exhaled.
“My best option.”
“You’re going to be a wonderful husband. Lady Eleanor is lucky.”
Alber spoke in a tone that made it unclear whether he was sincere or mocking.
“Then what about Lady Eleanor? Is she fine with this?”
“Yes.”
Renatus extinguished his cigar. If he smoked any longer, even outside, the smell might cling.
He went back inside. As he was putting the cigar away, he sensed someone behind him.
The moment Renatus turned—
“…Ah.”
“….”
“I thought you were alone.”
In the Crown Prince’s palace, which lacked a mistress, all the attendants were male. Having no choice, Eleanor had finished bathing by herself and came out wrapped tightly in a large robe.
Her hair wasn’t fully dry. Droplets fell slowly from the ends at intervals, dampening the robe. She looked as pure and delicate as a lily after rain.
The only skin visible was her bare feet and ankles beneath her slippers, yet there was something strangely alluring about her. For a moment, Renatus found it bothersome that he wasn’t alone in this space.
“Leave, Alber.”
He immediately dismissed him. Only after he and Eleanor were alone again did Renatus speak.
“You’ll have to stay like that until Madam Pereto arrives.”
“Will that be alright?” he asked.
Eleanor nodded.
“Um, but…”
She spoke cautiously.
“Are you going to remain like that, Your Highness?”
Renatus looked at her as if asking what she meant. After a brief hesitation, she answered:
“If I’m the only one dressed like this, Madam Pereto might not believe it.”
Ah, I see. Renatus smiled, slightly taken aback.
“So you’re saying I should undress too?”
His blunt wording made Eleanor fluster despite her attempt to phrase it delicately.
“I mean, it would be better if Your Highness also appeared appropriate to the situation.”
“Will you help me?”
Renatus asked calmly. Eleanor looked momentarily confused, and he stepped closer as he continued:
“The attendant I just sent away is Alber. He’s not very obedient to me, so he’d probably get annoyed if I called him back.”
And he couldn’t call another attendant either. As he muttered in mild inconvenience, Eleanor nodded in understanding.
“I’ll help you.”
This time, she approached him first and, with steady hands, removed his jacket and vest one after another.
Only his shirt and trousers remained.
Despite being the one who had suggested they spend the night together, Eleanor now seemed hesitant. Renatus watched her with interest.
“Will this be enough?”
Thinking he was teasing her, Eleanor narrowed her eyes slightly, her face faintly flushed. Renatus chuckled without realizing it.
“Take off the shirt too. This marriage isn’t a joke.”
Even knowing it might put her in an awkward position, he spoke without hesitation.
Perhaps because of what he added, Eleanor’s expression turned unexpectedly resolute as she stood before him.
Something about that look pleased him, and a subtle tension wrapped around Renatus’s body.
Eleanor touched the collar of his shirt and undid the top button fastened at his throat.
Then the next… and the next…
Her hands were far more cautious than before as she undressed him. With each inch of exposed skin, the confusion in her eyes deepened.
Renatus didn’t take his eyes off her as she worked her way down to the last button.
“Ah…”
Now only his belt remained. Eleanor fidgeted slightly, looking troubled.
She looked as though she might burst into tears if this continued. Letting out a low laugh, Renatus leaned close and whispered in her ear:
“Let’s go to the bed.”
It was late at night. Urgent footsteps approached the Crown Prince’s palace.
Empress Julia, followed by her maids, exuded a presence as imposing as a marching army.
“What brings Your Majesty to the Crown Prince’s palace at such a late hour?”
When they arrived, Alber, Renatus’s attendant, asked in confusion.
His feigned ignorance was utterly irritating. Julia tightened her expression and demanded:
“Where is the Crown Prince right now?”
As expected, Alber’s expression faltered. Julia seized the moment.
“Take me to him. I must see him myself.”
“What is the matter?”
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard. Julia turned her fierce gaze toward Renatus, who appeared from behind Alber.
His shirt was unbuttoned.
The way he looked, as though he had hastily thrown on his clothes, made it easy to guess what he had been doing.
But to Julia, even that seemed nothing more than a ruse to hide Eleanor.
“It hardly seems like an appropriate time to visit your stepson’s residence, Your Majesty.”
“How dare you!”
Julia snapped.
“I came because I heard that my future daughter-in-law is here.”
Renatus let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Who told Your Majesty such ridiculous nonsense?”
Do I have someone in my palace that close to the Empress? he muttered lightly, his gaze landing precisely on Madam Pereto.
She flinched instinctively under his sharp stare but quickly composed herself.
“What matters is whether Lady Eleanor is here or not. Please let me confirm it.”
“You seem ready to barge into my bedroom if necessary.”
Renatus replied coldly.
“That would be difficult. As you can see, I was in the middle of something important.”
“I will see it with my own eyes.”
“You may interfere in matters of marriage as a mother, but meddling in my romantic affairs is excessive.”
“What are you waiting for? Bring the Kline young lady!”
Despite Renatus’s warning, Julia did not waver. At her command, her maids surged toward the Crown Prince’s bedroom, while the knights hesitated, glancing at Renatus.
“Do you dare block Her Majesty’s path!”
At the maids’ sharp rebuke, the knights—who were effectively on the Empress’s side—had no choice but to step back.
Renatus let out a hollow laugh.
Soon, a figure completely wrapped in blankets, from head to toe, was dragged out by the maids and thrown down.
“Strip her at once.”
The maids obeyed immediately.
And soon, a shocking sight was revealed.
