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Chapter 27
The distance between Ciel’s quarters and the princess’s palace was quite far.
Even though there was no reason they would happen to meet by chance, and even knowing that Lisia would not leave the palace, his steps still headed toward the direction of the princess’s residence.
“I’m fine, brother.”
“Lisia, I’ll definitely save you. Just wait a little—I’ll grow strong enough to get you out of here.”
She was at an age where it was natural to cry when in pain.
Yet he recalled Lisia smiling, insisting she was fine despite enduring her suffering.
The nobles who saw the princess often praised her for being mature beyond her years.
Ciel could never agree with that assessment. She wasn’t mature—she simply didn’t know how to express her emotions.
She didn’t know how to be angry, nor did she know how to laugh.
The only thing she could do was shed more tears with eyes already swollen from crying.
Once, when he confronted the empress, he had asked the question he could not suppress:
Even if it’s because I am a low-born illegitimate child, why are you so harsh on your own daughter, Lisia?
The answer still echoed clearly in his mind:
“You may not understand, but royalty must always be perfect. It is their duty as members of the royal family.”
He had recognized it as a mere excuse.
Only after hearing it did he understand that it was meant to control him and to use Lisia to make Euclid the crown prince.
She had been trying to grasp a position that didn’t suit her, merely to satisfy the ambitions of those seeking power.
If he gave up the throne… would Lisia be even a little more at ease?
“…What a foolish thought.”
Ciel laughed bitterly at the absurdity that crossed his mind.
He knew better than anyone that the empress was a person of great ambition.
Even if Euclid became crown prince, she would never give up the benefits she could gain through Lisia.
So he had to become crown prince himself and seize greater power.
‘I know… I know…’
“…I’m getting tired.”
He wondered how Princess Elopes would handle this.
She was always confident; such foolish thoughts likely never even occurred to her.
She would have been working, continuing her duties. But because he came out for a walk, his mind was filled with useless thoughts.
‘I should head back.’
It was then that he turned toward his quarters.
“Your Highness?”
Just by hearing the voice, he recognized who it was and blinked, unable to hide his unease.
Had he become so eager to see her that he was imagining things?
“…Princess Elopes?”
He barely managed to speak, his voice breathless.
At the greeting, Tien’s lips curved gently.
“This time, we truly meet by chance, Your Highness.”
I saw Ciel the moment I arrived at the palace.
I thought he would pretend it was a coincidence again, but it seemed he had other intentions—not me.
Following him had been a subconscious act.
I did not expect him to suddenly look back.
I had played a small prank based on what he usually said, not meaning to actually follow him.
Though it was fleeting, I thought he would show a slightly embarrassed reaction—but Ciel was quieter than expected.
‘Maybe I should have just said hello.’
As I awkwardly smiled, regretting my words,
[Master, that person looks like he’s about to cry?]
Demos’s words made me freeze.
When reading the original work, I had focused all my attention on Layla. Not only because she was the protagonist, but also because she reminded me of someone from before.
It had been a long time since I had possessed this body, so my memory was hazy, but she was probably someone from my previous life.
Even before I possessed this body, people would say I empathized too much with fictional characters—but now, in this world, it was even worse.
I didn’t want Layla to cry.
More precisely, I didn’t want anyone close to Tien Elopes to cry.
Layla, being the most fragile, drew the most concern.
In any case, I tried to keep her from being hurt, though it was a futile effort.
I knew better than anyone that her heart was poisoned with regret over her friend’s death.
…Yet here was someone similar to Layla.
Even though something gnawed at him inside, he couldn’t show it, and endured it stubbornly.
‘…It’s grating to look at.’
It was worse that it was Ciel—the one who blushed around me.
My chest ached painfully.
Trying to regain composure in front of him, I closed the gap between us a little.
I knew he wouldn’t answer if I asked what was wrong.
So I pressed my thumb gently to his lips, which were biting back tears.
“You’ll hurt yourself if you do that, Your Highness. Don’t clench your hand either.”
“…!”
Every touch made Ciel’s shoulders shake violently.
[Master, this time I think he’s going to cry for a different reason.]
Seeing Ciel’s face flushed from ears to neck, I realized I had instinctively done what I used to do with Layla.
“Ah, I’m s-sorry—”
“I just remembered something urgent! I must go first!”
Without hearing my apology, he dashed off.
Watching him run as if fleeing, I couldn’t hide my confusion.
“My quarters are here… but where is he going…?”
Originally, I had come to the palace to see Luente, who hadn’t been home for several days due to business, but Ciel’s expression kept weighing on my mind.
While he was away, I quickly entered the 2nd prince’s palace.
Normally, I would have been stopped by the guards, but inside his palace, not even the servants were in sight.
‘As expected.’
The overseer of all servants in the palace was Countess Sorten, an ally of the empress.
She would never assign proper attendants.
“Blatant discrimination.”
Even as a prince, he was treated so poorly?
Anger flared inside me.
I could tell that this was mild compared to how badly he’d actually been treated.
‘…Why am I so angry?’
I stomped down the empty corridor, letting my footsteps echo loudly.
Halfway down, I stopped in front of a door where I could hear faint human presence.
I knocked a few times, then swung the door open before anyone answered.
“Why are you knocking when you never usually do… huh?”
Terdeo Vassen, working on paperwork, looked up at me with wide eyes.
He glanced behind me, as if checking for Ciel.
It seemed he was the one who had let him leave.
“His Highness the prince seemed to be in a hurry.”
“Oh… yes…”
He nodded reluctantly.
When his gaze asked why I came alone, I got straight to the point.
“Did something happen to His Highness?”
“….”
“I mean no offense. It’s just that your expression looked troubled.”
Ciel only allowed Count Vassen near him.
He would know everything about him.
Count Vassen stared at me with a serious face.
‘Ah. Did I ask too directly?’
“…If I’ve been rude, I apologize—”
“Oh, no! That’s not it.”
He hurriedly waved his hand.
“I was just surprised. Simply surprised.”
After a pause, he asked in a very small voice:
“…Princess, how much do you know about Princess Lisia?”
