MEBD 47

Chapter 47

The Thornbush Witch (2)

“I greet His Highness, the Third Prince.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Wiltiéra.”

Ashad, caught between Berenice’s formal greeting and his mother’s piercing gaze, looked utterly lost, glancing toward the Empress for guidance.

That look alone seemed to irritate her.

The Empress rose from her seat, strode over, and firmly took Ashad by the hand, pulling him down into a seat directly across from Berenice.

It was only natural that the boy’s shoulders shrank even more under his mother’s controlling grip.

“Ashad isn’t very good at receiving guests,” the Empress said sweetly.

“I’m the same way when it comes to unexpected meetings,” Berenice replied with a polite smile.

“Oh my, such a generous heart. Isn’t that right, Ashad?”

“Huh? Ah… yes.”

“This child may seem timid, but in truth, he’s very kind and warm-hearted.”

“Everyone in the Empire knows that His Highness Ashad is a warm person,” Berenice said evenly.

…Hadn’t the Empress just said moments ago that she hoped Berenice would meet someone kind and warm-hearted?

Somehow, all the energy left Berenice’s body.

She couldn’t afford to relax completely, but watching the Empress’s transparent scheming made her think that being too tense would be just as foolish.

“Ashad, why don’t you show Lady Wiltiéra the Glass Garden?”

“What? B-but, Mother, I—”

“Ashad. The young lady is my precious guest.”

“Y-yes, Mother…”

The Empress was the one cornering her son, and yet Berenice felt as though she were the one bullying a child.

If she stayed here any longer, she thought she might witness the poor Third Prince burst into tears from the pressure. So she quickly spoke up to the Empress.

“Your Majesty, in fact, there is something I wished to ask of you.”

She had already guessed the Empress would summon the Third Prince, intending to use him as a way to access the Royal Archives. But now that she understood the Empress’s shallow machinations, she realized she didn’t need such a complicated approach.

“What kind of request? You may ask for anything,” the Empress said eagerly, her eyes gleaming with interest.

That expression confirmed Berenice’s suspicion.

“I’ve heard there are many rare books in the Imperial Archives. May I perhaps visit for a short while to browse through them?”

“Oh my, you enjoy reading as well?”

“Yes, but… I thought that since Your Majesty has been so gracious, this might be my only chance to see them.”

“What do you mean, your only chance? Don’t say such things. I would love to spend more time with you, Lady Wiltiéra.”

How long would this false kindness last?

Right now, the Empress’s interest was clearly in Wiltiéra’s wealth and prestige.

But the moment her father, the Marquis, publicly declared support for the Second Prince, the Empress’s affection would surely turn to hostility.

Remembering that the Empress had once chosen to side with the temple and the saintess before Berenice’s regression, she decided she would leak that piece of information to Lowell at the right time.

“Thank you for your generosity,” Berenice said, bowing politely.

“The Imperial Archives, you say… Well, that’s not difficult. Ashad, take the young lady to the Archives.”

“…Yes, Mother.”

Pretending not to notice the warning glare the Empress sent her son, Berenice stood and followed Ashad out of the Glass Garden.

Although Ashad was leading the way, the Empress’s eyes — in the form of several attendants — followed closely behind them.

If they reached the Archives without exchanging a word, the poor prince would surely be scolded later by his mother.

Berenice had no desire to befriend him, but neither did she enjoy seeing a child tormented. So, she decided to at least keep the conversation going enough to spare him a little grief.

“Your Highness Ashad,” she began.

“Y-yes?”

“May I ask when you plan to tell me the title of the book you were looking for?”

“Ah…!”

He had completely forgotten.

Of course, he had — the Empress had called him out for that very excuse and hadn’t let him speak a word for himself.

So it was just a pretext after all, Berenice thought—until he spoke again.

“Here it is.”

“…Oh?”

He held out a small slip of paper, the corners folded and darkened from constant handling.

She took it carefully, realizing he must have been holding and fidgeting with it the entire time.

For the first time, she saw him smile.

“I asked my mother’s family and Count Blaze’s household to help me find it, but neither could. I thought maybe the Wiltiéra Marquisate could — you have trade posts all over the continent, after all. Ah! But even if you can’t find it, please don’t feel bad. Just let me know you couldn’t — that’s more than enough.”

So he could talk this much after all.

Watching the boy speak animatedly, his eyes bright, Berenice briefly reflected on her own prejudice.

She had judged him entirely based on rumors, not firsthand experience.

Hadn’t she once fought to clear Bledin’s name, railing against unfair assumptions?

‘…I should be more careful,’ she thought, chastising herself.

With a gentle smile, she said, “You must really like books.”

“My eldest brother — I mean, the Crown Prince — said that to become a great person, one must read a lot of books.”

“The Crown Prince, you say?”

“Yes! Of course, reading won’t make me like him, but… if I could even be a little like him, that would be nice.”

Glancing nervously toward the attendant trailing behind them, Ashad leaned closer and whispered,

“And if I become a little more like the Crown Prince, maybe Brother Kaiden will like me more.”

That… was unexpected.

She had heard that only the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince were fond of Kaiden within the Imperial Family.

“Your Highness must be very fond of your brothers,” she said softly.

“Yes!”

Berenice recognized that look in his eyes — she’d worn the same expression once, when someone had asked if she loved Bledin.

So at least that part of what he said — his affection for his brothers — was true.

She bowed her head slightly to him.

She had doubted his sincerity toward his family; the least she could do was apologize here and now.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Wh-why all of a sudden…?”

“It seems I misunderstood you, Your Highness.”

“O-oh… I see…”

He didn’t fully understand what she meant but didn’t dare ask either. His timid reaction made him still look fragile — but now, Berenice could see it was simply the innocence of youth.

‘As long as the Empress exists, I can’t afford pity or sympathy,’ she thought, but still…

If she’d ever had a little brother, she imagined it would have felt something like this.

“Uh, we’ve arrived at the Archives,” Ashad said quickly.

“I see.”

It was time to dismiss him and the attendants, but she hesitated. It felt a little heartless to send the boy away so bluntly.

It would be easier if he were the one to excuse himself first — but knowing his personality, that wasn’t likely.

She needed a plausible excuse, something that would sound reasonable when reported back to the Empress.

‘What kind of pretext should I use?’ she wondered.

As she pondered, looking at Ashad, a sudden voice cut through the air.

“Well, this is an unexpected pair.”

The doors to the Archives swung open, and Kaiden stepped out.

“B-brother,” Ashad stammered.

“I greet Your Highness, Prince Kaiden,” Berenice said, bowing.

At the sudden appearance, the attendants who had been eavesdropping on their conversation all flinched and bowed deeply.

Only Kaiden — and Berenice, who had expected him to be here — remained calm.

“So what’s going on here?” Kaiden asked coolly.

“L-Lady Wiltiéra wished to see the Imperial Archives, so I was showing her the way…” Ashad mumbled.

“Hmm? And what exactly is there to see here?”

“Wh-what about you, Brother…?”

“I’m looking for my aide. He’s holed himself up in here and refuses to come out.”

It was Kaiden who had ordered his aide to stay buried in the Archives, but no one questioned it.

Perhaps it was because of his sheer presence — or maybe because his aide truly did live among books.

Either way, Berenice was quietly impressed by how easily he had derailed any further questions.

“But surely you’re not planning to bring all them inside, are you?” Kaiden said, glancing at the attendants.

“Huh?”

“I can’t stand noise.”

…That irritated expression — whether real or feigned — suited him perfectly.

Watching Kaiden’s subtly annoyed face, Berenice couldn’t help but admire him again, silently this time.