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Chapter 33
The Pitiful(?) Berenice (1)
“Y–Your Highness Kaiden?”
The man leaning lazily against the open window frame with his arms crossed was unmistakably Kaiden—the same man who had escorted Berenice back to her mansion at dawn the previous day.
Startled, Berenice quickly hid the glass bottle she was holding inside her arms and stood up from her seat to face him.
“That makes it twice now.”
“…Pardon?”
“The number of times I’ve seen you cry, Berenice.”
“I wasn’t crying.”
“Then perhaps you should wipe the tears off your eyes before saying that?”
“…Why are you here?”
Berenice quickly brushed away the tears lingering in her eyes and spoke as though nothing had happened.
“I told you I’d come by soon.”
“I thought we agreed to exchange letters after taking care of the ‘rat’ in my house?”
“I said you should deal with it before the ball if you wanted my letter. I don’t recall saying I wouldn’t visit.”
Are all royals this shameless?
Speechless at his absurd logic, Berenice could only sigh deeply. There was no point in arguing—he’d twist her words anyway.
“I’m joking. I just came because it looked like something interesting was happening at the Marquis’ estate. But it seems I’m too late.”
“…I must’ve interrupted Your Highness’ entertainment, then.”
“Are you saying my tastes are poor?”
“…”
“Only honest when it suits you, huh? That’s unfair.”
“…I apologize.”
“Well, partly I came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?”
“To return officially, I have to visit my grandmother’s palace first.”
Kaiden, who spent most of the year on the battlefield, was known to visit the Empress Dowager’s palace whenever he returned to the capital—rather than heading straight for the imperial palace.
It was the Empress Dowager who had raised him after the death of the Empress.
Of course, part of it was because the Emperor felt uneasy seeing him, and partly because Kaiden himself preferred to keep his distance from the Crown Prince.
“I didn’t expect you to go out of your way to see me, given how busy you must be.”
“I wanted to see how you handled things. Though it seems I’ve missed the entertaining part.”
“I never planned to drag it out for long.”
“So… this is the end?”
Marienne was currently locked in the basement storeroom—left there intentionally to pressure her psychologically before interrogation.
Did he think she would forgive a traitor?
Or perhaps that she was shaken by the betrayal of someone close?
Seeing a faint trace of “worry” in those crimson eyes fixed on her, Berenice shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what do you plan to do? Would you tell me if I asked?”
“I won’t answer that.”
“A shame.”
He nodded, though there wasn’t a hint of disappointment in his expression, and spoke again.
“Then I’ll ask something else.”
“…Didn’t you say you came to say goodbye?”
“I figured I might as well satisfy my curiosity while I’m here.”
“…Ask, then.”
“You know who’s behind the rat, don’t you?”
Kaiden was smiling, but Berenice noticed how cold his red eyes had become. She nodded.
“Yes.”
Since they had agreed to cooperate for mutual benefit, sharing at least this much information was reasonable.
“Who is it?”
“Count Blaise.”
“Ah, that greedy pig?”
“It’s true Count Blaise is greedy, but he’s not fat.”
Moreover, the Blaise family crest was a red fox.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t there a betrothal between Wiltiéra and the Blaise family?”
“I got engaged to the Count’s only son when I turned fourteen.”
“I heard the Marquis dotes on his daughter. Why would he match you with that useless fool?”
“…Do royals see things ordinary people can’t?”
At this point, the only people aware of Nion’s… shortcomings were those inside the Blaise household.
The Count had gone to great lengths to conceal his son’s deficiencies.
How did Kaiden, who rarely saw him, know that?
Perhaps reading her doubt, Kaiden straightened from the window and replied offhandedly,
“I’m just good at reading people.”
Rising from the window, he strode across the room with long, easy steps, passing right by her before dropping himself onto the sofa like he owned the place.
Berenice sighed loudly, pointedly enough for him to hear.
“Not exactly the most polite guest, are you?”
“I don’t recall inviting you.”
Sitting across from him, Berenice poured water into one of the empty cups that were always prepared on the table and set it before him.
Since he’d come in secret, she couldn’t very well call for a servant to serve him.
‘If Mother finds out I served a royal nothing but water, she might faint.’
As that thought crossed her mind, she sat upright again, watching him as he stared at the cup.
“There’s no poison in it.”
“I see.”
His expression didn’t look particularly reassured as he lifted the glass and wet his lips.
“So what’s your real reason for coming? You don’t strike me as someone who’d sneak into a noble’s mansion just for fun.”
“I was going to give you a warning before leaving… but it seems unnecessary now.”
Berenice immediately understood—he was referring to Marienne.
He probably thought she was just a sheltered noble lady and wanted to caution her about the dangers of leaving a traitor unchecked.
But after a short conversation, he seemed convinced she needed no such warning. His relaxed posture exuded quiet approval.
“By the way, you’re not planning to keep that engagement, are you?”
“Of course not. I’ll break it.”
“How?”
“I have a way.”
“Already?”
“A precious piece of information practically dropped from the sky. But why do you ask?”
“To help you.”
Berenice frowned slightly.
Though their acquaintance was brief, she already knew Kaiden wasn’t the kind of man to offer “help” out of goodwill.
Seeing her skepticism, Kaiden’s smile deepened—gentle-looking, but somehow untrustworthy.
“Breaking an engagement isn’t easy.”
That wasn’t wrong—but him offering help made it sound dangerous.
“…Why would you help me?”
“Because it sounds fun.”
“…”
“I’m joking. We’re partners now, aren’t we?”
“That’s the only reason?”
“A partner’s obstacle is my obstacle too. And I don’t like obstacles.”
The faint scowl on his face suggested he meant it.
Sensing a degree of sincerity, Berenice inclined her head.
“Then… I’ll gladly accept your help.”
After expressing her thanks, she shared the information she had received that morning from the white crow.
“A lover?”
“Yes. They’ve been together for three years.”
“You didn’t know?”
“It was an arranged engagement. I never cared to look deeper.”
Her mistake had been trusting her father’s judgment too much.
And the Marquis’s mistake—never imagining that Nion would dare betray his daughter.
“So what was your original plan?”
“If I spoke up alone, it would just sound like childish whining, so I planned to use Lowell.”
Kaiden fell silent at her explanation, tapping his finger lightly against the sofa’s armrest.
If his aide As would’ve seen him now, he’d probably panic—wondering what kind of wicked plan his master was hatching this time.
Unaware of that, Berenice held her breath, waiting for him to finish thinking.
“Remove your twin from the plan.”
“What? Without Lowell—?”
“I’ll take his place.”
“…Excuse me?”
“When were you planning to move?”
“…In about two days.”
“Make it four. I’ll return a bit sooner.”
“There’s no need to rush. I need time to lay the groundwork anyway.”
“No, four days is right.”
“…Why?”
“Because when something’s entertaining, you want to see it sooner.”
…Well, at least he’s consistent.
Just a moment ago, he’d seemed genuinely concerned about her—
yet now that mischievous smile made her wonder if teaming up with him had been a terrible mistake after all.
