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Chapter 27
After a full week of exhausting overtime, we finally managed to open the exhibition safely.
We used only the most trustworthy knights to move the artifacts, making sure that not a single scratch touched any of them.
Although the ticket prices were quite high, Cassian decided that anyone—regardless of rank—should be able to attend.
Because of that bold decision, the newspapers actually wrote positive articles for once.
[Prince Cassian’s Bold Decision! “Anyone can attend the Anden Kingdom Exhibition if they can get a ticket.”]
[Anden Kingdom Exhibition: Important Viewing Guidelines from the Second Prince’s Office!]
How long had it been since we’d seen good press like that?
An article mentioning both Cassian and me—without calling him a “demon prince”? It almost brought tears to my eyes.
I was still staring at the paper in disbelief when Cassian suddenly laughed out loud.
“How disappointing, Rose. I rather liked that special nickname we shared.”
“Please, Your Highness, keep that nickname to yourself.”
Even though I answered firmly, he didn’t look offended at all. He simply reached out and smoothed my hair, fingers brushing lightly near my ear.
The touch was so gentle and his gaze so serious that I froze.
“…Do I have stray hair sticking out again?”
Maybe one rebellious strand had escaped my bun without me noticing?
When I glanced up at him, our eyes met—his only a breath away. Cassian’s hand paused for a moment, then continued slowly.
“Of course not. The maids styled your hair today, didn’t they?”
Why did that sound… vaguely insulting?
So, what—since I didn’t do it, it must be perfect?
I must’ve been pouting without realizing it, because Cassian withdrew his hand then, clearly amused.
He looked satisfied, as if pleased with his work.
“And by the way, Rose,” he added lightly, “I should tell you something you don’t seem to know.”
“Yes?”
“I find those slightly clumsy sides of you… incredibly adorable.”
I just stared at him, mouth half-open.
Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?
“It’s a compliment, Rose,” he said at once—reading my mind like always—then offered his arm.
It was time to head to the exhibition.
***
The Exhibition Begins
Since this was the Anden Kingdom Exhibition held to commemorate the royal marriage, not only Cassian and I attended, but also the Emperor, Empress, and other royals.
“You’ve clearly paid attention to every detail, Cassian,” the Emperor said.
“It was an honor Your Majesty entrusted me with this task. I only did my best,” Cassian replied politely.
The Emperor’s usually stern face softened a little at his son’s rare display of humility.
“The Empress also helped in many ways, I hear.”
Helped? I thought bitterly. The only thing she did was send Duke Jamoti to sabotage us!
Still, the Empress smiled gracefully and answered, “Oh, I hardly did anything. I merely offered guidance where the young prince lacked experience.”
She smiled like a saint, already laying the groundwork for the scheme she had planned today.
“Cassian didn’t trouble you too much, I hope?” the Emperor asked.
“Not at all,” she said sweetly. “He’s always so dignified. I barely needed to worry.”
Even though I knew she must be boiling inside, her voice remained calm and gentle.
No wonder she had kept her position as the Emperor’s chief consort for over twenty years.
(Of course, the fact that she’d never become Empress proper probably said something about the Emperor’s cunning too.)
As they exchanged pleasantries, murmurs of admiration spread among the nobles.
***
“Oh my, Her Majesty seems even more gracious since sending the Third Prince away.”
“She must be heartbroken, yet she still shows such warmth toward the Second Prince.”
“How wonderful. The Imperial Family looks so harmonious—it eases my mind.”
A little too perfect, actually. The Empress’s act was showing through the cracks.
When I glanced at Cassian, he seemed to be thinking the same thing. His lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
“It looks like Her Majesty’s trying to make me the ungrateful son,” he murmured.
“I think so too,” I whispered back.
“Then we’d better live up to her expectations,” he said lightly.
He turned toward the Emperor and Empress, inviting them to join him in officially opening the exhibition.
Before a line of gathered reporters, the Emperor, Empress, Cassian, and Prince Charlie stood side by side to cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Then, following the schedule, they began the guided tour of the displays.
Cassian and I took turns explaining the artifacts.
Halfway through, he began introducing one of the more modern works—about fifty years old—the final piece by a famous Anden sculptor.
The Empress tilted her head and spoke as if musing to herself.
“Hm, it gives me an odd feeling.”
“Does it, Your Majesty?” Cassian asked politely.
“Yes. It’s not just because it’s his last work.”
She narrowed her eyes, studying the sculpture intently, then asked again, “Remind me—where was the stone for this piece quarried? I know you said earlier, but I’d like to hear it again.”
“It’s a rare mineral found only along the border between the Anden Kingdom and our Empire,” Cassian explained evenly. “It’s so scarce that the sculptor himself named it.”
“Yes, rare indeed,” she said slowly, then turned to Duke Jamoti with a pointed smile.
“Brother, didn’t our family once possess some of that mineral?”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty,” the Duke stammered, dabbing sweat from his forehead.
“My late father, the former Duke, enjoyed collecting unusual stones. He adored Your Majesty so much he even let you play with them, so of course you’d remember.”
“Ah, yes, that’s why it looked familiar,” she said with a soft laugh—then her expression hardened.
“But how strange. The color looks… off.”
“Off, Your Majesty?” Cassian asked politely, pretending curiosity.
“Yes. Prince Cassian, do you know why that mineral is called the Marital Stone?”
“Yes, because it only reveals its true radiance when paired with another, even rarer stone,” Cassian replied without hesitation.
“Correct,” the Empress said. “And yet this piece doesn’t seem to shine at all.”
“What do you mean?”
She sighed softly, hand on her chest.
“I mean it looks exactly like the ones I used to play with as a child.”
Cassian furrowed his brows slightly.
“If it looks the same as the ones from Your Majesty’s childhood, then there should be no problem, shouldn’t there?”
“Oh, dear Cassian,” the Empress said, turning to the Emperor with a sorrowful face. “I should’ve guided you more carefully.”
Then, in a voice trembling with fake distress, she declared,
“To think the Anden Kingdom would insult our Empire so blatantly—and you didn’t even notice!”
“What?” Cassian asked, feigning confusion.
Instantly, the nobles began murmuring.
“Are you saying the Anden Kingdom failed to send the matching stone?”
“It seems so! And we even sent them a royal groom from our Imperial family!”
The Empress pressed on, looking virtuous and wronged.
“The kingdom must’ve hesitated, of course. Even if they favor Prince Cassian, the companion stone is sacred—it exists in only a few temples and is treated as a divine relic. They must not have been willing to part with it.”
The Emperor’s face hardened immediately.
“Truly, I’ve failed, Your Majesty,” the Empress said, even dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. “I should’ve warned him earlier and spared the Empire this embarrassment.”
Then she turned sharply to her brother.
“And you, brother! I sent you to prevent such things, and yet you failed to be thorough!”
Duke Jamoti bowed hastily. “N-no, Your Majesty! You ordered me to assist Prince Cassian, and I did so with the utmost care!”
“Then what do you call this?” she demanded.
The Duke looked around, adopting a sorrowful tone.
“The Anden Kingdom would never dare to disrespect us like this, not when they married our Third Prince…”
He trailed off meaningfully.
“It’s fine, brother. If you have suspicions, speak them freely,” the Empress said smoothly, glancing at the Emperor. “Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
The Emperor, barely containing his anger, gave a short nod. His glare was already fixed on Cassian.
Then the Duke spoke boldly, voice echoing through the hall.
“Your Highness Prince Cassian, how could you try to cover something like this! When I first inspected that sculpture—and again the second time—it glowed brilliantly! But now the radiance is gone!”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed.
“You mean to say—”
“Admit it!” the Duke shouted, face red with triumph. “Confess that due to your negligence, the sacred stone has been stolen!”
The nobles gasped. The accusation was shocking—and exactly what the Empress had planned all along.
