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Chapter 19
The maid quietly closed the door and came out. Outside, she bowed to Martin, who had been waiting.
“How is the room? You made sure it’s not too hot or too cold?”
“Yes, I prepared the blankets properly as well.”
“Disinfection? There were unhealed wounds on her elbows and knees.”
“Yes, I took care of it thoroughly. She did say it stung and hurt a little though…”
“She was in pain?”
Martin frowned at that. Seeing his expression, the maid hesitated on how to respond before carefully speaking.
“Since the wounds are quite recent, the scabs haven’t formed yet. I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“No, it’s fine. I was the one being too sensitive. Why am I like this… I’m not usually like this.”
Why, indeed.
The maid had many things she wanted to say, but simply answered with a smile. It was also a servant’s duty to wait until their young master realized his own feelings.
Martin dismissed the maid and lingered in front of the door a little longer, just in case. If she felt uncomfortable or if he heard her groan in pain, he needed to go in and help Lindsay immediately.
“…Isn’t this a bit much? Am I being… like a stalker?”
Leaning against the doorway, Martin slowly sank down. His golden hair slipped through his fingers as he grabbed at his head, letting out a low groan.
Somehow, Lindsay had become someone he absolutely couldn’t live without. When he ate something delicious, he thought of her; when he studied, she kept appearing in his mind and distracting him.
“…She must be a magician.”
Sixteen years old. A conclusion fitting for a boy just beginning puberty.
She must be casting some kind of spell. Otherwise, how could he see her at the academy all day, then miss her the moment he turned away and want to see her again?
He wanted to keep her by his side all day.
Those sparkling red eyes looking at him, those soft lips that constantly chattered, the black hair that fell over her shoulders whenever she lowered her head to look at worksheets—he wanted to take in every detail.
“What am I supposed to do…”
How could he see you all day?
Martin buried his face in his knees, his imagination becoming more and more vivid.
He couldn’t hold her. And he couldn’t lock her away either.
‘The biggest obstacle is the Marquis of Rittberg.’
Before returning to his estate, Martin recalled his conversation with the marquis.
After taking in Lindsay’s exhausted, sleeping figure, the marquis quietly closed the door. Then he bowed to Martin, who was waiting outside with Louis.
“Your Highness, the light of Epheia, Prince Matthias Schülman, I greet you.”
“Marquis Rittberg, it’s been a while.”
Despite his youthful appearance, a sharp aura surrounded Martin—different from when he looked at Lindsay. The marquis only bowed deeper.
“How have you been?”
“Since I’m still alive, I suppose that means I’ve been well enough.”
“How can you speak like that, Your Highness?”
“How can I not?”
Martin looked at the marquis with cold eyes.
‘If the Emperor ordered it, he’d plunge a knife into my throat immediately.’
Thinking that, even the act of bowing to him felt like hypocrisy.
Feeling an inexplicable chill, Martin quickly tried to leave.
“Since you’ve seen my face and confirmed I’m alive, I’ll be going.”
“Your Highness.”
As he turned to walk away, the marquis called out to him. Martin looked back.
“Is there more to say?”
“Yes. I have a request.”
“A request?”
What could someone who already had everything possibly request from him, who had nothing?
Martin turned fully to face him. The marquis lowered his head even further and spoke.
“Lindsay… is a child far too unworthy to stand beside Your Highness.”
At those words, Martin clenched his fist tightly.
“…What did you say?”
“She is insignificant. I fear that if she associates with my daughter, Your Highness’s reputation may be damaged.”
Martin bit down on his lip to hide his trembling.
“Hah… afraid, you say?”
That wasn’t what he was truly afraid of.
Martin let out a cold laugh.
“…Is that truly what you’re afraid of?”
Martin was not foolish. On the contrary, he possessed an intellect frighteningly similar to the former Empress.
The Marquis of Rittberg knew that too, which was why he pressed on stubbornly.
Martin suppressed his anger and spoke.
“Don’t interfere with Lindsay and me.”
The marquis said nothing and only bowed his head.
“It will resolve itself. If she’s ever in danger, I’ll handle it myself.”
“Then must I, as her father, simply watch my daughter be put in danger?”
Only then did the marquis reveal his true intent.
Martin laughed in disbelief.
“Marquis Rittberg, do I look that weak to you?”
At his cold voice, the marquis did not dare answer. Martin rubbed his face in frustration.
“I’m not a fool, Marquis. I’m not some idiot who gets caught off guard. I’m not weak enough to fail to protect what’s mine. Right now, I’m just…”
Holding back my claws.
He swallowed the last words. If they reached the Empress, nothing good would come of it.
The marquis only bowed deeper.
“…I misspoke.”
“Don’t involve Lindsay in our affairs. Speak with Duke Ernst about the rest. Get the Luxel family out of my sight immediately.”
“As you wish.”
As Martin turned to leave, he paused as if he still had something to say.
“And Marquis. Send my regards to His Majesty the Emperor. Tell him I’m still alive because I can’t die yet—and that I intend to keep struggling to survive even more fiercely. And don’t forget to pass the same to the noble Empress. Understood?”
The marquis bit his lip in response. Martin left the estate with Louis.
“Let’s go.”
At Louis’s brief command, the driver started the carriage smoothly. Martin looked out at the dark night sky.
Just like that time, darkness filled the window outside. The only difference was the rain—heavier and more depressing than before.
Back in his office, Martin sat at his desk and stared out the window.
“…Do you have something on your mind?”
Louis, who often spoke openly with him, asked carefully.
Martin glanced at the warm tea Louis handed him, then looked back out the window with a blank expression.
“A few days ago, I read a book. About love.”
At his words, Louis seemed to recall the conversation with the Marquis and nodded slightly.
“Was it about the young lady?”
“Of course. Right now, Lindsay is my biggest concern.”
Martin took a sip of the lukewarm tea.
“I don’t understand it. It said that if you cherish someone, you must also learn to let them go. But no matter how I think about it, I don’t understand that.”
“What part don’t you understand?”
Martin looked at Louis.
“If I apply it to my situation, it basically means I should let her go so she won’t get hurt because of the Empress and all this, right?”
Louis pressed his lips together, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Martin didn’t seem to expect an answer anyway.
“But I think the opposite. If I… if I came to care for Lindsay, and she was in danger…”
He tightened his grip on the armrest.
“Isn’t the answer to just become strong enough to prevent that danger?”
Louis flinched. He had never heard him speak like this before.
“Your Highness, do you mean…”
“Contact my uncle. Tell him I’ve changed my mind.”
Louis quickly left the office after asking permission.
Martin stared at the raindrops striking the window.
Rainy days were good like this. The sound of rain outside swallowed every secret whole.
