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Chapter 04
‘Honestly, I thought it was ridiculous, but I guess this really is a world from a novel.’
The idea that the supposedly sickly Second Prince had risen to power in the underworld — that was exactly the sort of thing that fit in a romance-fantasy setting.
No one knew how he had managed to hide the silver hair passed down through generations of the imperial bloodline, but given the empire’s treasury, it wasn’t impossible that some artifact with such power existed.
However, since eyes were said to be the “window to the soul” and reflected one’s true nature, it would have been impossible to hide them in a society that prized honesty of gaze.
‘Well, if there were a way to do that, I would’ve known long ago. Raymond always hated the color of my eyes…’
Eyes as bright and blazing as the center of a flame — vivid yellow.
Beautiful when seen alone, perhaps, but when paired with hair so red it almost hurt to look at, the combination was simply too much.
That was Raymond’s explanation — or rather, his criticism.
It was a bitter memory.
Looking back, she pitied her past self, who had placed Raymond above the world’s opinions and the empire’s traditions alike.
If she didn’t want her future self to be just as pitiful, then she had to make this deal with that lunatic of a Second Prince succeed.
Steadying her trembling breath, Yevgenia lifted her chin proudly.
Knox, who had been watching her through narrowed eyes, spoke in a low voice.
“Where could a noble lady like you have heard about the abilities of a lowly man like me?”
“…Are there actually idiots who reveal their sources in places like this? I can’t tell you.”
“Right, right… Places like this do tend to work that way.”
He muttered with an exaggerated nod, then stretched his lips into a long, crooked smile — one that seemed endlessly ominous.
“So, what’s the price you’re thinking of for erasing your Name?”
“…If necessary, even my life. I’d pay that much.”
“Ah, your life, is it?”
His tone carried a faint, mocking laugh.
‘Can’t blame him. A pampered noblewoman suddenly declaring she’s ready to die — it must sound absurd.’
But Yevgenia was dead serious, and she wanted Knox to know that.
Her eyes swept over the table — and caught sight of a luxurious quill pen.
Quick as lightning, she grabbed it, lifted it high, and stabbed the nib straight into the mark of her Name.
“Ugh!”
“Hah…!”
Knox, who had been watching with the expectation that she’d make some dramatic but harmless gesture, was visibly taken aback for the first time.
He pressed his fingers against his temples as if she gave him a headache, then clicked his tongue.
“…You’re completely insane.”
A small smile crept onto Yevgenia’s lips at those words.
‘It’s fine. The mark’s covered by my Name, no one will even notice a scar there. If it earns Knox’s trust, it’s worth it.’
She pressed her hand against her collarbone, where heat and pain were spreading.
“Now, do you believe me? You can see how determined I am, can’t you?”
“…You certainly don’t look much like the ‘Marteur Lady’ people describe.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear. …Do you have a handkerchief?”
He gave her a dumbfounded look at the casual question.
But Yevgenia was not the sort to shrink under such a stare.
“Hah. A true gentleman should always carry a handkerchief for a lady. You’re sorely lacking in manners, you know.”
“…My apologies. I’ve never had a lady in my office who needed one before.”
“As long as you understand. Then hand me whatever you’ve got.”
Still dazed, Knox handed her a napkin.
Yevgenia calmly wiped the ink and small traces of blood from her skin, lifted her chin, and said,
“So. How do you erase a Name? I’d like to do it today, if possible.”
“…Ah.”
“I can wait a day or two if I must, but I’d prefer it done as soon as possible.”
Knox, who had been quietly listening, fixed his gaze on her.
Her hand froze under the weight of his clear green eyes — and then his hand suddenly gripped her chin.
“W-what are you doing?”
She stammered, but he didn’t seem to care.
Still staring into her eyes, Knox asked,
“Be honest with me, Lady. Why do you want your Name erased?”
His cold fingers brushed over her hand; goosebumps spread with each touch.
Pain pulsed up her arm, prickling at her fingertips.
Yevgenia bit the inside of her cheek, then slowly pulled her hand free.
“Do you really need that information to take on the job?”
“Sometimes. I’d rather not get caught up in some mess and end up on a noble’s blacklist.”
“…Oh, so you think I’m going to use it to blackmail someone?”
If she erased only a single letter — and claimed the divine Name vanished because of Raymond’s infidelity — well, it’d sound ridiculous, but people would believe her.
Everyone except Raymond and Stella, that is.
And since Raymond had indeed done something he shouldn’t have, public opinion would explode against them.
But that would drag her family’s name, already in disgrace because of her past scandals, even further into the mud.
That was the “trouble” Knox said he wanted to avoid.
‘…So he really is the Second Prince.’
A commoner who ruled the underworld for seven years wouldn’t back away from profit just to avoid “noble gossip.”
She clicked her tongue inwardly and decided to provoke him.
“Knox, I didn’t think you cared this much about the Empire. You’d throw away a fortune and a noble title just to protect a family’s reputation? What’s next — did you start this whole organization to cleanse your beloved Empire of its corruption?”
Please, just snap — get mad.
“…Maybe. Maybe not. I’m just an ordinary man. When the top gets noisy, the bottom always suffers too, doesn’t it?”
‘Ha… sure. For a royal, that probably is ordinary.’
Given how far his imagination ran from her simple request, telling him she just wanted to break off her engagement because she’d fallen out of love would clearly get her nowhere.
Besides, even her father, her maid, and the nanny who raised her didn’t believe her — why would Knox?
‘Karma. This is karma.’
Pressing her throbbing forehead, Yevgenia waved a hand.
“Don’t worry. It won’t cause any trouble. I can’t explain everything, but I’m the one who wants this handled quietly.”
“Hmm, that so?”
“In return, I’ll add a bonus. A mine? A title? Land and an estate? Name it.”
At her imperious tone, Knox’s smile deepened.
He rose from his seat and took a step — then another — until he was right before her, hands gripping her shoulders.
For a fleeting moment, she remembered those same hands were stained with blood when she’d entered the room.
Goosebumps prickled along her arms beneath her cloak.
Determined not to show fear, she met his eyes head-on.
Cold green light gleamed between the curve of his lashes.
“Lady, is that really all?”
“…”
“If that’s the best the great Lady Marteur can offer, I won’t waste any more time.”
His quiet tone was absolute.
Yevgenia realized that if she didn’t offer something real right now, she’d be thrown out.
She swallowed hard and drew a deep breath.
“What if… I told you I know your true identity?”
A flicker of light crossed Knox’s green eyes.
His lips curved upward, revealing white teeth.
“Ah, now we’re starting to understand each other.”
He released her shoulders, returned to his seat, and looked far more at ease — like a ruler granting audience to a subject.
Yevgenia wet her dry lips and spoke.
“You seem to enjoy this sort of thing, don’t you… Your Highness Yulan Artlux, Second Prince of the Empire.”
“…‘Your Highness,’ huh?”
His tone was amused, as though she’d told a curious joke — but Yevgenia was sure of it.
The chill radiating from behind his calm expression confirmed her guess.
She could feel his gaze trace her neck slowly, as if deciding how best to kill her without making a scene.
Before he could act, she said lightly,
“For the record, if you kill me here, tomorrow’s headlines will be quite something.”
“…Oh?”
“I’ve already ordered my people to send letters containing your secret to every newspaper in the capital if I don’t return by dawn.”
Yevgenia crossed her legs, her tone brazen.
“Don’t worry. They’re loyal. They’ll never read the letters themselves. Your secret’s safe — with me.”
“…”
“For now.”
Her golden eyes gleamed in the candlelight as she faced Knox — no, Yulan.
With her chin high and posture unbending, she radiated the untouchable dignity of a noblewoman.
The dried blood at her collar only made her look more defiant.
Looking down at the prince, Yevgenia reopened the negotiation.
“So then, since we’ve both shown our cards — how about you finally tell me how to erase a Name?”
Her tone hovered between polite and commanding, but one thing was clear: she was staking everything on this moment.
Knox studied her for a while, then gave a small nod.
“All right. If you truly want it gone that badly, I suppose I can oblige.”
“…!”
Finally.
Her heart leapt — the end was within reach.
He ran a hand through his tousled hair and asked,
“One last question. You’re sure you won’t regret this, Lady?”
Yevgenia pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.
It was a vow to accept whatever pain came next.
Knox — or Yulan — looked into her bright yellow eyes and rose from his seat.
She tensed, bracing herself, expecting force —
—but instead of grabbing her shoulders, he lifted her chin.
‘This position is… rather awkward…’
Her anxiety grew as he leaned closer — until their noses almost brushed.
“W-what are you doing…?”
At a distance close enough for their breaths to mingle, he hesitated for only a moment — then tilted his head slightly.
And his warm breath fell against her lips, still stained with glossy lipstick.
