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Chapter 66.
The crown prince, who had replied that he would visit in two days without delay, arrived a little earlier than the time he had mentioned.
“It’s been a while, Lady Levian.”
“I welcome the visit of such an honored guest.”
“Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Upon hearing the news of his visit, my mother even canceled her social gathering and stayed at home to greet him.
“The Marchioness is here as well. I behaved disgracefully last time.”
The crown prince expressed his apology with a polite bow.
How very courteous. I suppose the emperor sent him here to apologize personally.
There were three days left until the deadline for submitting applications for the Crown Princess selection. He must be getting anxious that our family still hasn’t submitted my name.
“And this…”
The crown prince extended the large bouquet he was holding.
“A gift.”
It was a bouquet of soft pink peonies, each bloom the size of a fist.
He must have taken them from the peony garden once tended by the late empress.
Usually, people think of peonies as referring to shaoyao (herbaceous peony), but the former empress had a peculiar fondness for tree peonies.
Bringing them meant he’d put thought into this visit—but I pretended not to notice.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
It felt strange, receiving something—anything—from the crown prince under the name of a “gift” for the first time.
“Please, follow me.”
I handed the heavy bouquet to a maid and led the way to the main drawing room.
“This isn’t where your chamber used to be.”
“It was a sudden visit last time, and I was unwell, but fortunately, I had time to prepare this time.”
He seemed to catch the underlying meaning—‘Last time, you barged in rudely, and if not for the circumstances, I wouldn’t have let you into my private space.’
The crown prince’s face flushed faintly.
It would’ve been nice if he got angry, but unfortunately, he only took a deep breath.
We sat facing each other across a table.
“The reason I came today is to apologize to you.”
He must’ve wanted to get it over with quickly; he went straight to the point before the tea was even served.
“I… I’ve wronged you many times. I’ve said things too vile to repeat and behaved abominably.”
Even if the emperor had sent him, the prince’s calmness and sincerity were almost excessive.
“I’m truly sorry, Lady Levian.”
He bowed deeply.
I was so taken aback by a behavior I’d never seen from him that I momentarily lost my words. But soon I stood and bowed just as deeply.
“Please, lift your head, Your Highness. You’re making me feel rather burdened.”
At the word burdened, the prince flinched and quickly raised his head—just as a knock sounded at the door.
Two maids entered, serving tea and refreshments, and left the door half-open as they exited.
“I know that words alone may not sound sincere. But I will never again be discourteous to you, and I will live with repentance for what I’ve done.”
“To be honest, when Your Highness suddenly grew angry with me, I always wondered what I’d done wrong. I believed that you wouldn’t scold me unless I had truly erred.”
The prince’s face contorted—not in anger at me, but in self-reproach.
Is it because Merina isn’t nearby anymore?
After Calvin, Sharon, and Lord Gurdon, even the crown prince is acting strangely. I’m half certain now—Merina’s influence over men has greatly weakened.
But why did this have to happen at the last possible moment?
I wanted to dismiss it as coincidence, but I’d been blindsided before. I stayed wary.
“Especially after the day of the hunting tournament, I kept dreaming—not only of assassins chasing me, but of Your Highness’s arrows pursuing me too.”
“I’m truly sorry. If you wish, you may shoot an arrow at me yourself!”
“Returning violence in kind is rarely the right thing to do. I particularly dislike violence.”
The prince’s face turned scarlet.
“Your Highness, if you truly feel remorse, may I ask you for one favor?”
“Anything. Just say the word.”
“You once asked me if the Tower Master had abandoned me.”
The crown prince flinched, as if struck.
“I hold Sir Sila dearly in my heart and wish never to be abandoned by him. Your private visits put me in a difficult position—they’re hard for me to refuse and make me uncomfortable.”
In other words: Since I like the Tower Master, stop doing anything that could spark rumors about us.
The prince’s face darkened.
So the emperor sent him to persuade me to participate in the crown princess selection, after all.
“Since Your Highness promised to grant any request, I trust you will keep your word.”
“Do you dislike me that much? No, of course you do. How could you not, after all that I’ve done…”
Ruffling his well-groomed blond hair, the crown prince bowed his head for a long time.
Then, as if reaching a decision, he looked up.
“Very well. I won’t trouble you again. And if I ever say something unkind to you again—strike me across the face.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll send an official letter granting you permission, so don’t worry.”
Is this man insane?
Sila once swore he’d never met anyone as deranged as I was, but looking at the crown prince, I think he might’ve been wrong.
I won’t tell Sila about this, of course. If he knew, he’d probably never let the prince near me again.
“I’ll take it as a sign of Your Highness’s consideration.”
“I truly am sorry. I mean it.”
“I understand Your Highness’s intentions.”
But I never said I accepted the apology.
You killed my parents before my eyes. You killed Carl, and you killed Lexian.
You even kicked his body afterward.
Even if it was your ‘role’ to play, I will never forgive you.
My throat itched, but I forced it down and drank my tea.
My trembling hand made tiny ripples on the surface of the tea.
After I’d half-emptied my cup, the crown prince spoke again.
“Lady Levian, could I see the people you brought from the slums?”
So much for a change of heart.
He came not just to apologize, but to check whether I was taking proper care of them—under imperial orders, no doubt.
“They’re staying in the annex. If Your Highness allows, I’ll escort you myself.”
“Thank you.”
The old woman and the baby were in a sunlit room in the annex.
“Hello, Grandma. Nidana, have you been well?”
“Oh, my lady, what brings you here today?”
“Do you remember the knight who helped you walk that day? The gentleman who sent him wishes to greet you.”
“Oh, that tall, handsome young man? Thank you, thank you. I got home safely thanks to him.”
“I’m glad he was of help. Have you been comfortable here?”
“Comfortable? Too much so! Everyone’s too kind. I try to mop the floor, and they snatch the rag right out of my hands. I’ve got nothing to do!”
“Haha, I see.”
The crown prince looked flustered to see the old woman and baby doing so well.
What, did he think I dumped them off at some random charity?
“Do you have any acquaintances left where you used to live? Children, perhaps?”
“Oh, no. They’re all gone. Don’t ask me about family, young man. I’ve seen all sorts of things, but that’s one story I don’t tell.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
The crown prince conversed naturally with the commoner woman, as if he’d done it many times before.
After a few more words, he made to leave—but the old woman grabbed his hand.
“I hope I’ll see you again, young man.”
“Pardon?”
“Seeing such a handsome fellow brightens these old eyes, heehee.”
She laughed, showing her few remaining teeth.
“Will you come see this old granny again?”
“Ah…”
The crown prince looked troubled, glancing between me and the old woman.
He had just promised never to visit the Levian estate again.
After a moment of hesitation, he nodded as if making up his mind.
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll come see you again.”
“Take care, Grandma.”
Back at the main building, while waiting for his carriage to arrive, the crown prince turned to me.
“Lady Levian, I’m sorry to break my earlier promise, but it seems I’ll have to visit your estate again.”
“Meaning…?”
“I was taught from a young age that promises must be kept. And I just made one to that grandmother, did I not?”
So the promise to me doesn’t count, you damn prince?
Fury surged up my throat, but I swallowed it.
It wasn’t the first time the crown prince did as he pleased.
Hardly surprising anymore.
“As Your Highness wishes.”
