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Chapter 19:
The Unbelievable Captain
The one who cut Jeremy off was Dietrich.
“If you bring a woman who assassinated the emperor into your palace, people will certainly talk.”
“Ha!”
Jeremy let out a scoff of disbelief. He glared at Dietrich with wide eyes.
“You think I care about the barking of some dog?”
“……”
Jeremy twisted his lips and lightly tapped Dietrich on the cheek.
“A dog’s role is to protect its master. Not to question their commands.”
Celia wasn’t particularly pleased with the situation—not because the crown prince was treating Dietrich poorly, but because it was laughable to see someone from the bloodline that destroyed her kingdom acting all high and mighty.
Moreover, moving into the crown prince’s palace was dangerous now that the empress was actively trying to harm her.
Even if she managed to kill the crown prince, under the empress’s watchful eye, it would only hasten her own death.
She couldn’t die yet—not before finding out who Dietrich really was, or how he knew about her abilities.
“Your Highness, I’d prefer to stay at Duke Calypso’s estate.”
So she cut in.
Dietrich wasn’t just the only person who knew about her powers, but also the only man she could talk to on equal footing.
Jeremy looked displeased by her response.
“Why would you rather stay in that bastard’s estate than my palace?”
“Because the Duke isn’t wrong about anything. If I stayed in your palace and happened to offend Her Majesty the Empress, I’d just cause trouble for you. How could I possibly stay there?”
“……”
At her answer, Jeremy grinned in satisfaction, as if he hadn’t been upset a moment ago.
“You’re so thoughtful. Fine, let’s do as you say. I’ll be sending you an invitation to my birthday banquet soon, so be sure to attend.”
He even kissed the back of Celia’s hand—unaware that she was already planning to scrub it clean the moment she returned to her room.
As soon as he faced Dietrich again, the smile vanished from Jeremy’s face.
“That’s an order. Don’t even think about laying a finger on her.”
Dietrich said nothing. He didn’t consider the statement worth responding to.
Seeing Dietrich’s blank expression, Jeremy scowled deeply, then turned sharply and walked off toward his palace.
Dietrich began walking away silently as well. Not wanting to lose him, Celia grabbed the hem of his coat.
“Slow down, will you?”
“……”
Dietrich’s eyes dropped from his collar—where her hand had gripped—to the handkerchief wrapped around Celia’s wrist. He stared at it silently for a moment before turning his back and letting his sleeve flutter in the breeze.
Celia stared in disbelief at his retreating figure.
“I said I’m sick.”
At those words, Dietrich stopped.
“Where does it hurt?”
“My head feels all fuzzy and dizzy…”
Celia pressed a hand to her forehead like she really was sick. Dietrich slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“…Grab on.”
He extended an arm. Celia, who wasn’t really in pain, quickly clung to it, thinking, Well, that worked out nicely.
Maybe he’s easier to handle than I thought, she mused with a faint smile.
Realizing belatedly that she had faked it, Dietrich frowned.
“If it’s not just in my head, you seem completely fine.”
Celia responded with a soft smile instead of an answer. Dietrich let out a long sigh and looked down at Celia clinging to his arm with an unreadable expression.
“…Don’t cling too much.”
“You’re the one who offered your arm.”
Celia beamed. Dietrich stared at her blankly.
As she walked holding onto Dietrich’s arm, Celia felt oddly calm.
Why is that?
Was it because her ability didn’t work on him—was that why she felt so at ease?
It’s strange. Just a short while ago, this was the man who tried to kill me… and now here I am, walking beside him.
Though puzzled, Celia didn’t voice her thoughts aloud.
Dietrich wanted something from her. And she wanted something from him.
He probably wanted her ability. She wanted to know how he knew about it—and why it didn’t affect him.
Just like any transaction, this relationship had a price.
It was a strange alliance, one that could shatter at any moment. Yet, Celia found it ridiculous that this fragile arrangement was what was keeping her alive.
Originally, I planned to die after killing the emperor.
Would the man in front of her really give her the information she wanted? Celia was watching for the right moment. If he didn’t tell her, she was determined to dig through his office and find out herself.
“What’s got you so deep in thought?”
Dietrich’s gaze was already on her. Celia smiled brightly at his expressionless face.
“Nothing you need to know.”
As if he hadn’t expected an answer, Dietrich simply kept walking.
The entire way back to the estate, he remained silent, lost in thought. Celia watched him quietly.
A chilly evening breeze rustled through his black hair. She could feel people’s eyes on them, but Dietrich didn’t seem to care.
Before they knew it, they were back.
Dietrich led her through the halls and into a vacant room. Once they were alone, he spoke.
“You used your power, didn’t you?”
“…What?”
“I asked if you used your ability on the crown prince.”
Dietrich locked the door and leaned against the wall, blocking her escape.
“Your power gives off a hyacinth scent, right? Tell me exactly what it does.”
So he didn’t know everything after all. Celia narrowed her eyes.
This was the perfect chance to negotiate. If he wanted something, he had to give something in return.
“What do I get if I tell you?”
“Your life.”
Celia burst into laughter.
“That’s a terrible deal for me, obviously.”
“……”
Dietrich’s gaze darkened.
“You think giving me information in exchange for keeping your life is a bad deal? That’s absurd.”
“You already know I’m not particularly attached to life.”
Celia smiled sweetly. Dietrich opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.
Only after a long pause did he speak.
“Is there something else you want?”
Exactly what she’d been waiting for. But Celia didn’t ask him how he knew about her powers—she knew he wouldn’t answer that.
Instead, she said:
“Tell me your real plan.”
“……”
“Why are you trying to keep me alive? Am I that valuable to you? You must want something from my ability, right?”
Celia stroked his cheek. His eyes were filled with emotions—hatred, killing intent, suspicion—all swirling in his red gaze. She smirked.
“If you want my help, shouldn’t I at least know your plan?”
Dietrich grabbed the hand on his cheek, almost crushing it. The handkerchief the crown prince had wrapped around her wrist fell to the floor.
“…What makes you think you’d understand my plan?”
“I’m asking because I want to know. We’re in the same boat now, aren’t we?”
Celia stepped on the fallen handkerchief and kept talking.
“I can’t row or drop anchor unless I know what the captain’s doing.”
“……”
“How can I trust you when I don’t even know the destination?”
If he wouldn’t talk about her power, she’d ask about something more fundamental. It wasn’t a question so much as a negotiation.
Celia had no intention of letting him use her so easily.
Even though her kingdom was gone, she was still a princess of Shan. Her father had taught her to never show her cards first, even when she kept her claws hidden.
And if she absolutely had to reveal them, those cards would become her weakness.
She had never once forgotten that lesson.
Dietrich leaned closer, still holding her hand. His raw gaze looked like it could devour her whole.
“Know your place.”
He coldly pushed her hand away.
“All you need to do is follow orders.”
With that, he left without looking back.
Celia stared alternately at the handkerchief on the floor and the closed door.
From Dietrich’s sharp reaction, she was now certain:
He hates this empire.
Maybe just as much as she does.
No—maybe even more.
A week passed.
During that time, two royal ministers and over a dozen imperial knights were executed after confessing to plotting the emperor’s assassination.
“They tried to pin everything on that woman! It was all because His Majesty tried to take my niece into his bed!”
The reasoning was plausible, and the evidence convincing.
As a result, the rumors of Celia assassinating the emperor completely died down.
All of this had been orchestrated by Illeon. But only Illeon and the now-dead conspirators knew the truth.
For Celia, it was a strangely quiet and peaceful week—and that made it all the more unsettling.
She sat on the edge of her bed, looking up at the sky where the pre-dawn moon hung.
Since their last encounter, Dietrich hadn’t sought her out. Meals were brought by the maid, Ellie.
Celia had gently probed the blind maid, but Ellie seemed to know nothing of what was happening outside.
That dawn, Celia decided to leave the estate.
Dietrich had been avoiding her and refusing to reveal anything, so she would find the answers on her own.
She changed into a maid’s uniform she had prepared in advance and tied up her distinctive silver hair.
Just as she was about to open the door, a knock sounded.
Knock, knock.
Ellie? she thought.
But Ellie had never come by at this hour.
Puzzled, Celia hesitated—until she heard a familiar low voice from beyond the door.
“It’s me.”
It was Dietrich.
Celia quickly tiptoed back to her bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
Before she could even say “come in,” the door opened.
