TRFDTV ~ 24

Chapter – 24

Even if he refused, the mere fact that he rejected the crown prince’s request would surely reach the emperor’s ears.

Then wouldn’t people start asking—was he hiding something, or worse, harboring treasonous thoughts? That would be such a bother.

The prince’s unhesitating stride came to a halt at the appearance of Sebastian, whose face was calm as ever.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Oh, Sebastian. Where’s my brother?”

“He has entered the palace.”

“The Emperor made the first move, huh.”

It was a crude thing to say for someone of royal birth, but since everyone knew the crown prince often wandered the streets of the capital out of boredom, no one thought much of it.

‘Your Highness, where do you even hear such things…?’
‘Ah, well, that’s because there’s a very entertaining story behind it.’

Anyone who brought up such topics ended up having to endure his long and bloody tales of “adventure,” so people avoided the subject whenever possible.

Of course, there were some who genuinely enjoyed his stories, which was why rumors about certain young lords and ladies getting into trouble during their nighttime escapades occasionally made the rounds.

And, as if by accident, the street thugs who had targeted those nobles vanished without a trace soon after.

As a result, those who had suffered under those ruffians could finally breathe a little easier—at least for a while.

The crown prince had laughed heartily upon hearing it, nodding in satisfaction.

“It always bothered me, but I’m glad it’s been taken care of!”

Whatever the means or the process, his free-spirited actions had inadvertently eased the hardships of the people. Because of that, those who had always dismissed his behavior as reckless indulgence began to see him in a slightly different light.

But such vermin were like cockroaches—kill one, and another would crawl out to take its place.

Before long, those thugs simply hid themselves deeper underground to avoid offending the nobles again, and the deeper they hid, the crueler their methods became.

“Why… why are you doing this? If you take even this, how am I supposed to feed my family tomorrow?”
“Ah, yes, yes, I know. But what can we do? We’ve got it rough too, you see. Always having to move around to avoid the eyes of the highborn.”

And so, the pain returned in full to those who had briefly tasted freedom.

But that was a story the crown prince and those who admired him—those who had started to acknowledge him—never knew.

The crown prince tapped his chin thoughtfully and then paused.

“Ah! Don’t tell me Lady Bolsheik entered the palace as well?”

He looked around hastily, but Sebastian replied calmly,

“No, Your Highness.”

“She didn’t?”

The crown prince tilted his head, surprised by the answer, but Sebastian remained composed.

“Yes.”

“There’s no way His Majesty wouldn’t summon her.”

The prince frowned slightly, but no one could answer his question.

“Well, that works out for me. Where is she now? Take me to her.”

Sebastian bowed politely—but did not move.

“I’m afraid I cannot, Your Highness. Orders were given that no one is to be admitted.”

“My brother’s orders?”

“Yes. And Lady Bolsheik’s as well.”

At that, the crown prince burst out laughing.

“So he truly means to keep her all to himself, not letting anyone even catch a glimpse of her. Where on earth did someone like Lady Bolsheik fall from?”

His lips were smiling, but his eyes gleamed sharply.

There was a reason he had been so insistent about learning where and how they first met.

Duke Calient—Ludwig—might not feel the same, but to the crown prince, Ludwig was truly his brother.

He was, after all, the only other royal blood relative he had.

“Why make it complicated? A brother is a brother, isn’t he?”
“Your Highness!”

His aide had nearly fainted, and the emperor had held his head in his hands.

But now, his dear brother had found a woman to spend his life with.

It was a joyous, celebratory occasion—but of course, one had to learn more about the woman involved.

They say love makes one blind.

Even his honorable and admirable brother would be no exception.

So the crown prince had no intention of backing down easily.

“Since my brother isn’t here, I’ll just pay her a little secret visit. Ah, don’t misunderstand—I’ll only talk to her, of course. You can stay beside me the whole time.”

Such words might sound crude from the crown prince’s mouth, but the lighthearted tone made it seem like a joke.

However, when the crown prince acted, it was never a matter that could be brushed aside as mere jest.

Ludwig’s command had been simple, and Asilia’s will was firm.

“Let no one in.”
“I don’t want to see anyone.”

The attendants and servants obeyed faithfully, leaving everyone who had waited for hours outside exhausted and defeated.

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“That look on your face tells me you have no intention of letting me through.”

“I’m afraid not, Your Highness.”

If the crown prince had been the kind of man to quietly back down at such words, the emperor’s life would be far less troublesome.

“Fine, then. I’ll find her myself. She does seem quite interesting, after all.”

“Your Highness…”

“Ah, don’t worry, Sebastian. I’ll tell my brother you did your utmost to stop me.”

And truly, Sebastian and the servants were doing their utmost to stop him.

But no matter how loyal they were to the Duke’s household, none dared to lay hands on the crown prince, so there was little they could do to actually restrain him.

All they could manage was to form a human wall or plead desperately for him to stop.

Naturally, neither tactic had any effect.

The crown prince laughed brightly, driving everyone to the edge of despair.

“Ha ha, no need to be so wary! I’m only going to say hello for a moment.”

With a calm expression, he waved his hand casually at the tense Sebastian.

“Surely you don’t think I’d be rude to my brother’s lady?”

“You already are, Your Highness.”

“Ah, I suppose I am! Ha ha ha!”

Patting Sebastian’s shoulder in friendly amusement, the crown prince somehow made his way to the room where Asilia was staying.

“My brother’s precious one—this must be the room.”

He grasped the doorknob, but hesitated for a moment.

Even he, for all his audacity, couldn’t just barge into a lady’s room unannounced, especially if she might be asleep.

So he knocked first.

Knock, knock.

He waited for a reply. None came.

The prince shrugged and knocked again—harder this time.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

Louder, quicker, more insistent. Still, no answer.

He waited, trying to be patient, but eventually turned toward Sebastian, about to speak—

When a clear voice rang out, not from inside the room, but from the far end of the hall.

“What are you all doing gathered here like this?”

Everyone turned at once.

Asilia stood there, her eyes as blue as a clear winter sky. She gestured slightly toward Sebastian, and her red hair—like the petals of a ripe rose—flowed with the movement.

She held several books in her arms.

That in itself wasn’t strange—but one detail stood out.

Ordinarily, a lady would have her servant carry such heavy volumes, but Asilia carried them herself.

The crown prince’s gaze naturally drifted to the books in her arms, but the titles were hidden.

She still hadn’t noticed the prince, concealed as he was behind the line of servants.

“Sebastian? What’s going on?” she asked.

“Well, it’s just that—”

Before he could finish, the crown prince raised his hand high and waved with exaggerated cheer.

As if greeting an old friend, his voice was full of open delight.

“Lady Bolsheik! It’s been a while!”

At the sight of him, Asilia’s expression became perfectly flat—an expression so eerily similar to Ludwig’s that it could have been copied from his face.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Her words were the very picture of minimal courtesy—just enough to be polite, and not a shred more.

Before the crown prince could respond, she brushed past him.

The utter precision of her dismissal left him blinking, momentarily too stunned to react.

It wasn’t until she was already at her door that he finally came to his senses and shouted,

“Wait!”

But of course, his desperation didn’t reach her.

The door opened without a sound, closed without a sound—and that was that.

The crown prince was left staring blankly at the door like a dog that had chased a chicken only to lose it on the roof—though in this case, there was no roof, only a closed door.

The servants, watching him, all turned their heads and covered their mouths in unison, as if by prior agreement.

If they didn’t stifle their laughter, they’d be in serious trouble.

Even Sebastian’s lips trembled faintly—but the crown prince paid them no mind.

His gaze stayed fixed on the crimson trace where Asilia had just passed.

He blinked, and then his eyes gleamed with renewed vigor.

“She’s fascinating,” he murmured.

If he gave up that easily, Ludwig would never have yielded to him so many times in the past.

With a radiant, sun-bright smile, the crown prince strode back toward the door.

Knock, knock—knock, knock, knock, knock, knock!

“Lady Bolsheik!” he called loudly.

But again—no answer came.