IORAWM 19

Chapter : 19

“Your Highness, Crown Princess of Lutea—have you heard the rumors that His Highness Crown Prince Abel is cheating?”

“……”

At the duke’s blunt words, I swallowed dryly.

Trying my best to keep a calm expression, I first offered a greeting.

“I trust you slept well last night, my lord?”

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, please speak honestly!”

“…Let us at least sit down first.”

I gently brushed away the duke’s hand, walked over to the table where my father sat, and took a seat.

“Daughter.”

“Has it been well with you?”

“Yes…”

My father’s shoulders drooped, and his face was flushed red.

And it was no wonder.

Because I told him not to visit while the Duke of Rickesis was staying in the Crown Princess’s palace…

“Daughter! Is it true that the crown prince took Lady Khalid as his maid? And that this maid is with child—his illegitimate child?!”

Over the past few days, my father had asked me the same thing several times through his comms bracelet.

Burning through a fortune in mana stones in the process.

He must have been going mad with worry—and the Duke of Rickesis basically dumped oil on that fire.

When I glanced at the duke with newly cooled eyes, he twitched and shuffled awkwardly to sit between my father and me.

But only for a moment did he look deflated—soon he widened his eyes and burst out again:

“Your Highness! Have you heard the rumors that His Highness is seeing another woman?”

I closed my eyes slowly and poured tea into my cup.

How much has he actually heard?

With one sip of tea, the situation started to make sense.

I’ve only been separated from him for half a day. And the crown prince personally escorted him from my palace to the Ducal residence. It shouldn’t be possible for something big to have happened in that time.

Surely the crown prince didn’t brag to the duke about his love affair.

Questions swirled—but there was only one thing I needed to do.

“Duke Rickesis.”

“Yes!”

“First, I must apologize.”

“Pardon…?”

He clearly didn’t expect an apology from me—his face went blank.

And seeing his expression, I panicked.

Huh? Wasn’t he angry for getting caught between the crown prince and me?

That’s why I opened with an apology!

“……”

I hesitated for a brief moment.

Lowering my lashes, I explained.

“On my way here, I heard the rumors circulating about you, my lord… and your knights.”

I had planned to win his favor somehow while staying here at the Heim ducal residence.

Because I must make Duke Rickesis my man—no matter what.

I’d worked so hard just to bring him here.

If something had happened overnight that angered him…

I have to smooth it over!

“The fact you stayed in the Crown Princess’s palace for three days spread beyond the palace walls… and for you to hear such filthy rumors yourself… I am terribly sorry.”

This was my Apologize First, Seduce Later operation.

After mentally jotting that down in my strategy notebook, I gave him a sorrowful gaze—

…Huh?

Why does he look even angrier?

“Your Highness—did you just apologize to me?”

His intimidating aura made me flinch.

Is… is this really Cardmael Rickesis?

I’d seen him angry before, but this was a completely different level.

This… was like…

A northern duke.

While I stared speechless at his overwhelming presence, the duke placed his fists on the table and trembled.

Then—after steadying his breath—he looked straight at me and said:

“When I asked if you had heard of His Highness’s alleged affair, you showed no surprise whatsoever. But now you say you heard rumors about me and my knights? That means you already knew about the crown prince’s infidelity.”

“…Yes, my lord.”

I answered as calmly as I could.

But what he said next froze my expression.

“How could you?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Why are you doing nothing!”

“….”

I clenched my skirt under the table.

You think I want to sit still?!

Every night I want to storm into the Crown Prince’s palace and tear the place apart.

But I can’t.

Because I am the Crown Princess.

Perhaps because the duke was being so emotional—

“Are you angry at me, my lord?”

I snapped at him—forgetting I was supposed to be apologizing.

But—

“I am not angry at Your Highness!”

Then why are you yelling?!

“I simply wish to know the truth. Because…”

And what he said next made my eyes widen.

“Because it pains me to see Your Highness endure such a cruel situation all alone.”

…What?

The feeling was like being struck in the head—then the duke shouted:

“So please confide in me! I can no longer stand watching Your Highness force yourself to smile!”

His reason was so earnest, so sincere, that I felt guilty for my ulterior motives.

But now was not the time for sentiment.

He is demanding the truth about the prince’s affair.

But I couldn’t reveal it—not yet.

Can I trust him?

My first goal was Get as close to the duke as possible.

But sadly, my ultimate goal was not to become his friend.

It was to destroy the crown prince—emotionally.

If I confirm the affair to the duke, will he be able to hold himself back from confronting the prince?

If the crown prince found out I believed the rumors, it would ruin everything.

I have to look like someone who trusts him implicitly.

Because…

That’s what I did.

The more he trusts me, the greater his sense of betrayal later.

So the duke absolutely could not storm to the prince right now.

“My lord.”

I glanced around.

Thankfully, he had come without his knights—no eavesdroppers.

Meaning, if I secured his silence, we would be safe.

A crisis—but also an opportunity.

I will share a secret—and bind him even closer to me.

“Ha…”

Strategy complete.

I met his eyes and spoke firmly.

“My lord. What I’m about to say must never leave this greenhouse. Can you promise that?”

“Is… is it that serious a secret?”

He sounded bewildered, but I spoke even more gravely.

“Yes. One that could throw the entire empire into chaos.”

His jaw dropped shut.

Well—technically not a lie…

Even if the subject is the same rumor, if it comes from me, the crown princess, its weight is entirely different.

If my relationship with the prince publicly collapses, nobles will react immediately.

Those who invested in our national projects won’t sleep at night.

The Heim duchy would also suffer.

Recalling the domino-like consequences, I steeled myself.

I won’t let innocent people suffer for my revenge.

Then the duke finally spoke.

“…I will not speak a word.”

In a heavy voice, he vowed again:

“I will take it to my grave!”

There was not a trace of doubt in his determination.

“Then, my lord…”

I smiled faintly and asked:

“How far have you investigated the crown prince and me?”

“…Pardon?”

The duke blinked—and his complexion went pale.

“I-in-investigated…?”