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Chapter 36
The Pitiful(?) Berenice (4)
On the Askan Continent, in the vast Egonid Empire that covered half its land, black hair was not particularly rare.
However, when that black hair came paired with another distinct feature, it became something entirely extraordinary.
Red eyes.
The mark of Emperor Edach Manus of Egonid — and the symbol of his second son, Prince Kaiden Manus, said to have inherited his father’s infamous cruelty.
The moment Nion recognized the combination of black hair and crimson eyes beneath the hood, his face went deathly pale, realizing instantly who had grabbed his wrist.
“Y-Y-Your Highness Kaiden?”
“Oh? You recognize me.”
Kaiden gave a brief chuckle as Nion nodded stiffly, looking as if he were being strangled.
Just moments ago, Nion had been shouting arrogantly — but the instant he realized whom he was dealing with, he turned meek as a lamb.
Watching him, Kaiden thought dryly that in some ways, the man was refreshingly transparent. After Berenice yanked her hand free, Kaiden finally released Nion’s wrist and casually scanned the surroundings.
The crowd, who had gathered to watch the commotion, were just as stunned by the sudden appearance of a royal prince. They formed a wide circle around the two, gaping in silent awe.
“Your Grace.”
Fortunately for everyone, Berenice was quick-witted enough to raise her voice in greeting — saving the spectators from the crime of failing to pay respects to a member of the imperial family.
“Your Grace,” they echoed, bowing hastily.
Berenice helped Nadia to her feet, and the others followed her lead, cold sweat trickling down their backs.
No one in the empire was ignorant of the prince’s legendary battlefield exploits against the barbarian tribes.
And according to the soldiers who had survived those bloody campaigns, his prowess was almost divine.
The only problem lay in how he treated his enemies.
Kaiden Manus — said to have inherited the emperor’s ruthless disposition.
Rumor claimed he built mountains out of the barbarians’ corpses and rivers out of their blood.
Such tales were terrifyingly vivid — and all too believable.
And who could forget the story of how, at the age of ten, he personally executed an assassin who had attempted to kill the crown prince?
Kaiden had calmly stated, “I merely killed the man who tried to murder my brother.”
But seeing a child slay another human without hesitation or guilt had chilled the empire to the bone.
Perhaps that was why, the more victories he achieved, the more people feared him.
Even the emperor himself began to grow wary of his son — a boy too much like himself.
But Kaiden cared little for how others saw him.
His aide As had advised that, “Now that the crown prince is dead, Your Highness should act more cautiously.”
Still, Kaiden had never felt any reason to change.
“You may all lift your heads.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
As Berenice and the onlookers slowly straightened up, Kaiden, now the focus of every gaze, spoke.
“I thought it was an amusing little spectacle — but I didn’t expect it to turn violent.”
He was clearly referring to Nion grabbing Berenice’s wrist.
The onlookers, who had been enjoying the lovers’ quarrel as entertainment rather than intervening, went pale with guilt.
As for Nion — his face had gone beyond pale, to ashen gray.
“No need to look so grim,” Kaiden said lightly. “I was watching with interest too.”
Berenice sighed inwardly as she saw his bright smile.
How could someone look so genuinely pleased at another’s misfortune? This man truly had a wicked temperament.
But… those eyes don’t match that smile. They look… terrifying.
She brushed off her unease, deciding she was just being jumpy, and glanced around.
Thanks to her “competent ally,” the crowd was only growing thicker.
She spotted two figures watching from a distance — likely Kaiden’s aide and bodyguard.
Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, but she could tell one was watching with fascination while the other seemed on edge, clearly anxious that his master might cause trouble.
Well, he chose his master — or rather, got himself picked up — so it’s his fate to deal with it.
Feeling only mild sympathy, Berenice turned back to Kaiden.
Despite its fancy name, the plan she had set into motion was actually simple.
Spread rumors that Nion had a secret lover — and use that scandal as justification to break off the engagement.
Disguised and mingling among the capital’s citizens for the past four days, Berenice had worked to seed gossip about Nion and his hidden mistress — all in preparation for today.
According to the original plan, Lowell was supposed to be the witness who caught Nion in the act.
But now, the lead actor had changed — to Kaiden himself.
To be honest, the plan had been flimsy from the start.
No engagement could be broken off from a single incident of being seen with another woman.
Even if her father adored her, as a nobleman he had to prioritize the family’s interests.
That was why Nion could act so brazenly, even when caught — he knew a political marriage couldn’t be undone so easily.
Berenice’s intention had been to start here, keep pressing the matter, and finally destroy the Blayze family entirely by exposing their involvement in slave trading.
But with Kaiden stepping in as witness… things had suddenly become much easier.
As she turned away from the dazed Nion, her eyes caught a flash of red hair.
Ah, the real actress has arrived.
It was Lizzie, the stage name of the red-haired actress — and she was being dragged over by Lewis, whose expression was downright murderous.
“I-I didn’t do anything wrong!” she protested.
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“Does a knight have the right to treat a delicate woman like this?”
“You are not the lady I serve.”
“Eek!”
Even while trembling in fear, the woman couldn’t keep her mouth shut. She clearly had a strong personality — which, Berenice supposed, one would need to survive as an actress.
Still, that didn’t change the fact that Berenice frowned.
This woman had shamelessly gone on a date with another woman’s fiancé.
As the crowd made way, Lizzie was dragged before Berenice — and froze upon seeing Kaiden’s face.
“All the parties are here now.”
Even in a low tone, Kaiden’s voice drew every eye to him.
He waved off Lewis’s polite bow and continued.
“The man who cheated despite being engaged, his lover, and the victim. That’s the situation, correct?”
Nion opened his mouth to object — but Berenice spoke first.
“That’s correct.”
“Well, I saw it myself. And a noble who values his honor can’t deny what’s been witnessed.”
Cheating was hardly honorable, after all.
Kaiden murmured loudly enough for all to hear, and nodded.
“So what now? Are you truly planning to break off the engagement?”
“Yes. I have no intention of spending my life with someone who cannot keep faith.”
“And the young Lord Blayze — you disagree?”
“I… I merely sponsor an artist. To break an engagement over that would be absurd.”
Perhaps his mind had finally cleared.
Nion had regained his composure, speaking calmly as if the actress beside him didn’t even exist.
“This matter concerns only House Wiltierra and House Blayze, Your Highness. Please, you should—”
“No.”
“Your Highness should return to the capital… pardon?”
“I’m the witness.”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
Nion’s face twisted as his attempt to flee and seek his father’s help evaporated.
“I personally saw you walking arm-in-arm with this actress, enjoying a cozy date in broad daylight — and when Lady Wiltierra confronted you, you tried to use force. That makes me the witness, does it not?”
“Force?! I did no such thing!”
“Well, that’s not what I saw.”
No one could refute a royal’s words.
And every gossip-loving bystander had heard them clearly.
“The only son of Count Blayze, caught in a secret affair with an actress — and when confronted by his fiancée, he turned violent!”
It was a scandal destined for the evening papers — if not before.
