TPTM 34

Chapter 34

This was an absolutely top-secret matter that neither the Emperor nor the Empress knew. Only Ferdinand kept it tightly hidden.

Who would be pleased in a situation where their critical weakness might be exposed?

Moreover, that Crown Prince—his bad mood seemed to be visible in real time.

At times like this, wouldn’t even the tin can in front of you seem irritating enough to kick?

“Bribe… bribe…”

Suddenly, a handkerchief I had brought came to mind. I hesitated just as I was about to hand it to Ferdinand.

“With his personality, he might just throw it away if he receives this.”

I couldn’t afford a high-end handkerchief yet, so all I had was an ordinary cotton one.

In the unexpected rain, for the Crown Prince whose hearing might be impaired.

For him, who was sharply watching me, fearing that I might discover his weakness.

“Wipe your blood.”

I spoke clearly and deliberately, handing him the handkerchief.

As expected, I felt Ferdinand hesitate just as he was about to toss it away.

I immediately grabbed the edge of my skirt and bowed.

“It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Normally, a noble’s greeting would end there.

But I knew Ferdinand—this male lead had never had a peaceful night—so I added a brief line.

“Have a pleasant evening.”

Even in that short moment of giving him the handkerchief, I could feel the boy’s hands were ice-cold.

“Wipe your blood.”

Ferdinand couldn’t hear Tulia.

Of course.

Because his ears were blocked by the rain.

Because of the damn immense divine power overflowing in his body.

But Tulia demonstrated by showing him how to wipe his mouth while offering the handkerchief.

Ferdinand, like a baby bird copying its mother, slowly wiped his mouth with the handkerchief just as she did.

The red blood that had just begun to dry came off onto the handkerchief.

It was rare for him to be openly slapped by Empress Carmi.

She had maintained her public image as a pure and merciful Empress.

Clever Empress Carmi rarely did anything to scar Ferdinand’s face.

Instead, she killed his nanny, cut out the tongues of caretakers who pitied him, stuck multiple needles into his clothes,

and even added small amounts of poison to his baby food.

‘He must have already guessed that I wouldn’t die from poison anyway.’

As long as the divine power in his body didn’t run dry.

But even if he didn’t die, the poison still tormented the boy’s body.

The high fever and gut-wrenching pain gave young Ferdinand fear.

No matter how much he cried or pleaded for medicine, no one from the Crown Prince’s palace came.

The cold servants of the Crown Prince’s palace, filled with the Empress’s people, repeatedly deceived Ferdinand with, “If you sleep, you’ll be fine.”

Now he had grown enough to be numb to such pain.

Ferdinand looked at the blood-stained handkerchief.

“It’s just a rag.”

It was familiar for him not to hear his own muttering.

He simply recalled the daughter of the Duke of Fressier trembling like a leaf as she handed him the handkerchief.

An ordinary cotton handkerchief.

A noble lady who received perfect love would normally use a high-end one with lace and ribbons.

Though it was the first time seeing her face directly, he already knew that Tulia Fressier of the Duke of Fressier had pink hair and light green eyes.

Seeing a daughter of such a great family use a handkerchief like this gave him a rough idea of her situation.

She might have kind caretakers to dress her in beautiful gowns, but she apparently lacked close family who would pick out something as small as a handkerchief.

He briefly thought she was similar to himself.

At least she had family, making her situation far better than his own.

“It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

That much was a line he had heard countless times from other nobles; he could tell just by her lips.

“Have a pleasant evening.”

What did she add just before leaving?

He replayed Tulia’s lips in his mind but couldn’t tell.

The rain continued to fall.

His swollen cheek had to settle before he could leave.

He placed the soaked, shabby handkerchief on his cheek. It was humble for a royal, but among what he had, it was the most necessary item.

Looking up at the rain-filled sky, Ferdinand slowly closed his eyes.

‘Wow. Seeing him in person, his presence is no joke.’

Now I understood why even in <That Bread Game> you had to meet the young Crown Prince to see his ending.

Even at that young age, his gaze was so intense it could devour someone; as he grew older, it would be impossible to approach him.

‘No wonder he’s set up as a tyrant.’

I hurried along a shortcut, thinking about the wet dress that bothered me.

Even though we went to the Duke’s palace and the royal palace, Adele had specially chosen the most beautiful dress for me.

Now it was soaked in rain. Properly drying and adjusting it would take quite some effort.

I easily made my way out and thought of what to tell the soldiers who were looking for me.

Thunk!

“Huh?”

I tripped over something and fell.

A shadow of an umbrella loomed over me.

I looked up.

A boy was looking down at me.

“They say the White Tower is pure and noble, but there are all sorts of dirty things here.”

And then his arrogant voice continued.

“And what’s this wet little mouse?”

He wore dark-colored silk formal clothes, proving his high status, with a silver insignia on his shoulder.

Above all, his eyes carried that unique haughty arrogance, as if he had never encountered anything frightening.

Even disregarding all that, I recognized him.

‘The second prince?’

He was Dave, the second son of Empress Carmi.

Did this kid just trip me on purpose?

Tsk.

The second prince clicked his tongue arrogantly.

I worried he might have noticed me giving the handkerchief to Crown Prince Ferdinand, but apparently not.

‘Ah. He just tripped me out of boredom.’

And seeing my current state, he probably assumed I was some lower-ranking noble.

He seemed to want to see me beg for mercy.

‘Well, in That Bread Game, he has that kind of character too.’

A royal who can’t tolerate boredom, spoiled.

Ambitious yet relying on his mother, Empress Carmi, to act freely.

I slowly and cautiously tried to get up.

But then—

“…!”

Bang!

I gasped.

Dave kicked me down again as I tried to rise.

I was dumbfounded.

Even that arrogant Tedric had never done something so outrageous.

‘Has this guy gone mad?’

“Outrageous!”

Yet, shamelessly, the one who yelled was the second prince, Dave.

“How dare you touch the second prince without asking for forgiveness!”

Wait, so he kicked me because I tried to get up without first apologizing?

My foot twisted slightly from being pushed by Dave, and I looked up at him in disbelief.

‘Wow…’

Second Prince Dave.

Even in <That Bread Game>, he was depicted as a selfish royal, so it wasn’t surprising.

But he hadn’t been this reckless.

Was it because that was Corico?

Now, as Tulia, was the level of torment this extreme from the very first encounter?

And to this extent?

‘No, in the first place…’

It didn’t seem like Dave knew who I was.

I was just Tulia, the antagonist who always dies.

‘This damned world…’

But I still had to survive.

Swallowing the anger and injustice I couldn’t tell anyone, I pretended to be terrified, trembling.

“W-Was it wrong for me to touch Your Highness?”

Of course, I had no intention of actually apologizing.

“Yes! What if I had been hurt?”

“But… Your Highness.”

My voice still trembled. The more it did, the more the other person thought he had won and became even more smug.

“You are mistaken.”