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Chapter 75
After finishing his sword training, Jacques drank some cool water.
Even though his body felt tired after training, his mind usually became refreshed — but lately, he hadn’t been able to push away the endless stray thoughts.
Is it because of the Crown Princess selection?
The daughters of all the powerful families had withdrawn, and the new Empress’s younger sister, Merina, had entered the competition.
The Emperor grew furious over this, and the Empress tearfully insisted she hadn’t encouraged Merina.
Eventually, the Emperor questioned Jacques, asking if he was the one who made her enter. Jacques was bewildered; he never once wished for Merina to become Crown Princess.
Once the Emperor confirmed his son’s reaction, he pressed his forehead and declared that the selection must be fair, and that Merina was not to enter the palace unless for official affairs during the selection period.
The Empress didn’t want it, but accepted without argument, and things settled down for now.
The Crown Princess — the next Empress — must be wise, gentle in character, and possess influence that will aid the Crown Prince.
Through a strict selection, an excellent Crown Princess would be chosen.
Talk of this selection had been circulating for years already, so it wasn’t anything new.
Yet why did his heart feel heavy at the thought of marrying a woman he hardly knew?
Didn’t you decide to cherish whoever it is?
Jacques calmed his frustration with another sip of water and picked up the sword beside him.
After swinging the sword for a while, he returned to the Crown Prince’s palace, where his personal knight, Milt Bellang, saluted.
“Oh ho, it’s been a while. You even switched shifts — where did you go, Milt?”
Milt hesitated, unsure whether it was right to bring up Rosia Levian’s name before the Crown Prince.
“Is there a reason you can’t say it easily? Did you get yourself a lover?”
“Nothing like that. I attended a party at the Marquis of Levian’s estate.”
“Levian?”
As expected, his superior’s voice changed subtly.
“Yes, I was invited to a ball hosted by Lady Levian.”
Worried Rosia might get dragged into trouble, Milt braced himself — but fortunately, Jacques simply sat in his chair without another word.
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of a pen across paper filled the office pleasantly, as though it reflected Jacques’s now-lightened mood, so heavy just moments ago.
The time to pick the golden apples was approaching, so I dressed in clothes easy to move in. Of course, I planned to go without Cassie knowing.
“Planning to go out again?”
But this time, I got caught by someone else — my secretary Ted, who’d been nagging more and more lately.
“Why not take the fox with you?”
“Lys? No, I can’t put him in danger.”
Ted’s eyebrow twitched.
“So you treat your own body carelessly, yet treasure the silver fox’s life?”
“Oh, Tee. I don’t need Lys for this one.”
“May I ask where you’re going?”
“To pick golden apples.”
I hesitated only briefly — Ted already knew about the tree, so I told him.
“Should I fetch them for you instead?”
“Actually, I tried sending people before. They always failed, so I go myself.”
“Hmm… So if you go, you can always find the golden apples?”
“That’s why I go, even if it’s dangerous.”
As he organized documents, Ted asked, sounding as if he dreaded the answer.
“Milady… do you also know how to use the ‘Mirror of Truth’?”
“A little.”
“I swore I wouldn’t be surprised anymore, but here I am.”
With a resigned sigh, Ted ran his hand through his messy hair.
“Where are you going to pick them? If you’re too late, I’ll need to go find you.”
“The northern slums. And don’t you dare secretly assign escorts.”
“I swear I won’t. But you must return before sundown.”
After promising, I quietly slipped out of the mansion.
Getting to the tree that bore the golden apples in the slums was easy.
“Of all days, it’s hanging at the highest point today.”
I climbed as high as I could and used a small knife to cut the branch.
Balancing on just my legs, sawing with one hand and catching the falling branch with the other was hard.
My trembling arm barely held on, but I safely secured the golden apple.
Even without taking Vitaline, I was unharmed — perhaps Ted was right all along about the training and Lys’s holy power helping me.
I’d have to give Lys something tasty later.
And for Rexion who suggested the training…
“What should I do?”
I reached the edge of the slums again, troubled.
Should I go straight to the Lishiansheus mansion?
Better to operate within the range I know, rather than risk Rexion acting recklessly and dying while trying to help me.
If I shared only information about the Blue Bird incident, without revealing I’d returned to the same time many times…
“Lady Levian.”
Before I even recognized the familiar voice, my body moved on instinct, stepping several paces back.
“…Do you train in swordsmanship? Your movements were… quite swift.”
Beneath his hood, I saw the Crown Prince’s startled expression. Sir Bellang and another knight beside him looked just as surprised.
Of course you wouldn’t know — if someone threatens your life dozens of times, your body learns to react.
“Glory to the Emp—”
“Not out here. I told you not to greet me that way outside.”
He stopped me from bowing to him.
It wasn’t even supposed to be a day he left the palace — what terrible luck to meet him again. I dipped my head politely.
“You’re without escort today?”
“Unfortunately — or fortunately — yes.”
“Ahem. Ah, are your grandmother and Nidana well? I wanted to visit — would it be alright? Even today, if you permit.”
He sounded unusually gentle and considerate, but his words felt like he was telling me to escort him personally.
But I had no desire to spend extra time with him.
“If you wish to see them, you may visit unannounced. Anyone at the Levian estate will gladly guide Your Highness to them.”
“Does that mean you will not?”
“Is Your Highness commanding that it must be me who guides you?”
The Crown Prince stared blankly as if struck.
“I simply wish to clarify. If I must personally escort you, then I should cancel my plans.”
The implication — must I sacrifice myself for you? — was perfectly polite, yet unmistakable.
Whether it was the Emperor’s orders or Merina losing influence, the Crown Prince treating me like an ordinary noble lady felt uncomfortable — no, offensive.
You who beheaded my father and mother, who drove an arrow into Rexion’s heart — you dare?
“Ah, I see. If I’m only visiting them, then yes, no need to trouble you.”
He murmured as if realizing something, then cleared his throat.
“You held a ball recently, didn’t you? Invite me to the next one.”
“I am honored by Your Highness’s interest, but the Crown Princess selection is under strict scrutiny — I cannot do so.”
“…Huh?”
He looked foolish again.
“If it appears that Your Highness is close with a particular candidate because of a ball I hosted, rumors of unfairness may spread. That would be harmful to both you and your future Crown Princess.”
“…I see. I suppose that is possible.”
His feigned naïveté was nauseating.
“Do you have further orders?”
“No. Ah, were you heading home? Then I shall accompany—”
Had the Emperor enchanted him? Why was he acting so friendly? Did he think I was Merina?
“I am seeing someone, and Your Highness is choosing a future bride — it is best we avoid appearing together.”
Of course, I simply didn’t want to spend another second near him.
The entrance to the slums was unusually quiet today. The Crown Prince stared at me for a long time. So did the knights.
I clasped my hands politely and lowered my gaze.
Only after a long silence did a low voice break the stillness.
“Lady… do you dislike me?”
