LMTM 20

Chapter – 20

“Her Majesty the Empress… Your Highness, Prince—Your Highness!”

Only after the aide called him several times did Caesar snap back to his senses. Until then, his gaze had been fixed solely on Reina. She had not looked back at him even once.

Caesar clenched his teeth and roughly ran a hand through his hair.

“Speak.”

“Are you actually listening?”

“I am.”

“It doesn’t seem like it… If it’s bothering you, shall we move somewhere else?”

“No.”

Caesar cut him off coldly. There was no chance he would leave this place because of Reina. He let out a quiet sigh.

Why did she keep catching his eye like this, and why was she so irritating?

He had no idea.

“…What is Mother planning to do at the charity banquet?”

“She intends to prepare a bazaar with three young ladies. She’s entrusted the task of writing the invitations to them.”

“…She’s not plotting anything else?”

Hayes and Reina bothered him, but Caesar had matters that required his attention.

This secret meeting wasn’t something that could be arranged at just any time. It had been barely set up while avoiding both the Empress’s watchful eyes and those of the public.

No one knew better than Caesar what lay beneath the Empress’s façade of meekness. Pretending to know nothing, pretending to be deceived by her mask, he had been observing her all along.

He remembered the past all too clearly.

Caesar once had a close friend—a man who worked in the imperial stables.

He was the one who had taught Caesar how to ride a horse. Young Caesar had been so engrossed in playing with the stablehand that he skipped his lessons.

At first, it was fine.

But once, twice, three times, four times…

When it continued, it stopped being fine. One day, the stablehand suddenly disappeared. Rumors said he had been attacked by bandits and lost both his eyes.

Then there was a young maid who once liked Caesar. A maid his age followed him around, and he responded kindly a few times.

When the rumors spread, she disappeared too.

By the time Caesar found her again, she was already dead.

He still remembered exactly what the Empress had said back then.

“Caesar, you are someone destined for great things. You must know how to distinguish between those you should associate with and those you should not.”

The Empress wore the most benevolent smile, yet concealed the sharpest blade within.

“Caesar, do not show mercy to those who do not know their place. That is not the role of a prince.”

After that, Caesar never allowed anyone close to him. That included Reina.

His gaze darkened.

Reina kept entering his line of sight, and he forced himself to look away.

“Shall we continue monitoring them?”

“…It’s strange that Mother personally mentioned the two young ladies of Highboard. Assign guards to protect them.”

His gaze then shifted to Hayes. Hayes had never once behaved suspiciously. Still, the fact that he had crossed paths with Reina at this timing was unsettling. What if Empress Viviana had deliberately placed Hayes by Reina’s side? Perhaps Hayes, too, was merely a piece being used by her.

He couldn’t afford to overlook any possibility.

Caesar added quietly, “Assign people to Lady Regifield and Hayes as well.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

But regardless of Hayes’s or the Empress’s intentions…

Reina was smiling.

With an expression even Caesar had never seen before.

And that troubled him.

＊ ＊ ＊

I went on two dates with Hayes during the week.

Without anyone interfering.

Once Selena learned about my situation, she became my accomplice. She even provided me with an alibi—and went so far as to send fake letters for cover. I swear, I’ll serve her as my best friend for life.

Thanks to that, Rochester was completely fooled. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any rumors about Hayes and me yet. I hope it stays that way. Still, no secret lasts forever.

Because the dates were so satisfying, every day felt pleasant.

“Reina, you seem to be in a good mood these days.”

“Mom and Dad are coming back soon. Of course I’d be happy. Aren’t you?”

“I’m a little hurt. Do you like them more than your brother?”

Even nonsense like that rolled right off me now. Sure, say whatever you want—I’m fine with anything.

Hayes and I planned to have dinner on Monday.

Behind Rochester’s back.

Seriously, how long am I supposed to keep sneaking around like this? Am I a child?

Even if I said that, I’d only get the answer, ‘You’ll always be a child in your brother’s eyes.’ It would be better to get Mother on my side before Rochester found out. Maybe I should use this weekend. It might be easier to talk to her alone outside.

“…Should we go eat something nice with Mom and Dad this weekend? The opera was nice last time.”

“Sounds great, Reina. I’ll make all the reservations. I was feeling a bit lonely since you’ve been going out for dinner without me lately, but just hearing that makes me feel better.”

This persistent guy.

Seriously, how does the youngest daughter in a family with three older brothers ever date? I can’t handle even one of them like this.

I let out a quiet sigh.

I’m exhausted. Really exhausted.

Then I asked Rochester sincerely.

“…Aren’t you dating anyone?”

“Dating?”

Yes. Dating!

“Yeah. You have to get married someday. Don’t you think you should start a family? I’d be an amazing aunt if I had a niece or nephew.”

I meant it.

How grateful would you be if your sister volunteered to babysit? Right? So hurry up, get married, and have kids already. That way, all this suffocating affection won’t be focused on me.

Though I hoped the child wouldn’t be a daughter. My curfew is already 8 p.m.—his daughter’s might be 5. For the sake of this nonexistent niece or nephew, it absolutely had to be a son.

Rochester smiled brightly.

“Are you worried about me? Thank you, Reina, truly—but not yet. Once our Reina finds a good man and gets married first… though that’s still a long way off.”

Is there no cure for this sister complex?

Rochester should know that me finding a good man and getting married might not be that far away.

Smiling awkwardly, I gave him some genuine advice.

“I really think you should start dating soon. If you wait too long, all the good ones will be taken.”

He’s still my brother. I didn’t want him ending up with a terrible spouse. I wanted him to be just as happy—no, happier—than I was.

“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll just live next to you for the rest of my life. You won’t abandon your brother just because you get married, right? You could keep me around.”

…Is he insane?

I had thought about living nearby, just in case Rochester showed signs of becoming a villain and needed to be dealt with. But living in the same mansion with him for the rest of my life? That had never crossed my mind.

My blood ran cold. Without realizing it, I imagined spending my entire life living with Rochester.

—

‘Darling, shall we spend a lovely evening tonight? A fine wine has arrived.’
‘Lovely evening? What lovely evening?! You wolfish bastard, stay away from my sister!’

I could guarantee it—Rochester would absolutely do that. I might never even see my husband’s shadow, let alone enjoy a honeymoon.

I made up my mind.

As soon as our parents returned, I would aggressively push the topic of Rochester’s love life.

From now on, I would devote all my energy and passion to getting my brother married.