《Pride and Sanctimony》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


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    [Valentia] ¡°What are you doing here¡­.?¡±


    Valentia muttered in a flustered voice. A man she never thought she¡¯d see ever again had appeared, right before her eyes.


    Or rather it was because she had one-sidedly cut off all ties with him that she was so shocked. Because she left without saying much of a word to him. But she thought that would be the end. She couldn¡¯t understand why he was here.


    Why would he come here when he had no reason to?


    [Lexus] ¡°Is it really so strange that I¡¯m here?¡±


    He answered casually as if it were no big deal, but it was very strange. This was a town far from the capital. A place that had nothing to do with him.


    He would not even have known such a small place existed. He was an Imperial Prince, but something like that was far from odd.


    Just as there were a great number of lords who did not know every little happening in their vast territories, a Prince would not know of such a small town, tucked away in a corner.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s not that strange.¡±


    Still, Valentia remained calm, quickly hiding her bewilderment and looking at him with a straight expression. She was shocked to see him here, but she couldn¡¯t show that on her face.


    [Lexus] ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s weird?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You are someone who has every right to go where you please.¡±


    There was no place that was off limits to him. He was the second son of the Imperial lineage, younger brother to the Crown Prince, and a Prince himself.


    [Lexus] ¡°Ha. You¡¯re confident.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is there any reason why I shouldn¡¯t be?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Considering you left without a word. Where did you happen to dump your respect for other humans?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I left a letter.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, right. That letter. Just four measly lines. Should I remind you what they were? It was so short, I¡¯d never forget it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, you still remember. I seem to have forgotten them myself.¡±


    That was a lie.


    She remembered them, too. She even remembered the tears she shed while she wrote them. Sitting there, trying to come up with the words to say, she thought for so long. But she kept coming up empty.


    Dear Prince, it took me hours to write those four lines.


    So of course she wouldn¡¯t be able to forget them. Even all these years later, she could still remember him with emotions other than sheer anger.


    After Valentia successfully answered in a way that managed to betray the sorrow and pain of that time, Lexus looked at her like he was amazed, asking with a cold expression.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why did you run away?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Run away? I wouldn¡¯t put it like that.¡±


    She denied it, but that was also true. She ran away from him.


    He looked at her with a cold expression, but then his lips curved up. A smile upon his handsome face always bloomed brightly when they were young, but now, his smile was only cold.


    [Lexus] ¡°If you didn¡¯t run away, then why did you leave so quietly? Do you have any idea how long I waited¡­..¡±


    He grinded his teeth, and then his face distorted into a twisted smile.


    Bark¡ª!


    Then, he turned his head to the side at the sound of barking to see Goldie there.


    [Lexus] ¡°But you were able to take the damn dog with you.¡±


    She was taken aback.


    He was clearly referring to Goldie, but he wasn¡¯t the kind of man to talk about him like that.


    It was he who named Goldie, a retriever with soft golden fur. At the time she told him that it was a rather weak and insincere name, but eventually she came around to it, agreeing it was fitting for such a golden puppy.


    Goldie was the only one who followed her more than he did, and Valentia could remember how much Goldie loved him. This came as a bit of a shock. Meanwhile, Goldie kept wagging his tail, regardless of whether or not he was happy to see him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Go away.¡±


    His voice was low and quiet, scratching his mind as it left him. It was so soft that Valentia could not hear those words as they disappeared into the air.


    [Valentia] ¡°I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°A misunderstanding?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t run away. You may not know this since you¡¯ve never been broken up with before, but I don¡¯t need your permission to make that decision for myself.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­..Didn¡¯t you love me?¡±


    The signs were there. All of them served as warnings but Valentia believed otherwise. He wasn¡¯t a bad person, even if everyone and everything said he was.


    But he wasn¡¯t just a bad man. He was a cruel one, too.


    He made her trust in him, made her love him, but there wasn¡¯t an ounce of sincerity behind the way he treated her.


    I loved you, and I was foolish to have done that.


    She loved him, trusted him, and was eventually betrayed by him. But he wouldn¡¯t think of it as a betrayal. For him, he was just¡­..


    [Valentia] ¡°I was just toying with you.¡±


    Just like he was with her.


    He was playing with her. And once she knew that, she couldn¡¯t stand it and didn¡¯t want to see him again. The betrayal shook her to her core, knowing how she had trusted him with so much of her heart.


    [Lexus] ¡°You were toying with me?¡±


    She knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to hurt him with these words, but she wanted to say them anyway.


    [Valentia] ¡°Arrogant Prince. You¡¯re not the only one who can toy with others.¡±


    Valentia smiled brightly.


    She didn¡¯t want him to know how terribly hurt she was. She didn¡¯t want him to know how much she had cried over the wounds he had caused. She didn¡¯t want him to think he had won his game. So she held back the pain from the cracks in her heart and forced a casual smile.


    Now, it was becoming clear why he came here like this. He couldn¡¯t stand the fact that she was the one who broke things off, until eventually, his wounded noble pride led him here to see her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Did you really toy with me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Did I really mean nothing to you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Need you keep asking?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I, I¡­..¡±


    His eyes were trembling. Perhaps because the shock was too great.


    [Valentia] ¡°You must be angry because you were fooled by a woman like me, but are we not guilty of the same? That¡¯s why you¡¯re here. Because you¡¯re embarrassed. But you shouldn¡¯t act so pathetically.¡±


    I hope you get hurt. I want you to be hurt too. If only just a little bit.


    But then he responded with a smile.


    [Lexus] ¡°What if I¡¯m fine with being pathetic?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re acting like this.¡±


    He was a selfish man. He toyed with her first, yet could not bear to know that she had done the same.


    [Lexus] ¡°I can¡¯t live without you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°And as I said before. I don¡¯t work well with people I despise.¡±


    Again, his eyes trembled.


    The irises of his eyes became smaller¡ªthat beautiful golden color shrinking like he was in shock. It was rather stellar acting. She almost believed he was hurt right now.


    He was so good at putting on an act. Now that she was thinking about it, she had no choice but to make the mistake of loving him back then. He was so lovable at the time, so how could she not love him?


    But it was a miserable love because the man in question was not sincere. She was the only one whose feelings were true and she played right into his hands.


    But she didn¡¯t want him to know that. That was why she left him like this¡ªwhy she ran away.


    [Valentia] ¡°Go back to your seat. I can¡¯t say it was nice to see you, so I¡¯ll just wish we never meet each other again.¡±


    Valentia turned around, intent on leaving him behind. But the moment she tried to take off like she was running again, he grabbed her by the wrist.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..Wait.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Let go of me.¡±


    She spoke firmly, but the handle holding her did not loosen. Instead, he held her tighter with a cold expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..ow.¡±


    But when she made a pained sound, he immediately let go. Even so, he wasn¡¯t ready to give up.


    [Lexus] ¡°Too bad. I¡¯ll keep following you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Because I want you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I really hate people like you.¡±


    Valentia didn¡¯t notice the pain in his eyes.


    [Valentia] ¡°We¡¯re not a good fit for each other. Nothing good would come from us seeing one another. So let¡¯s just go back.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Go back? Where?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°To our own lives.¡±


    Valentia was starting to get really nervous.


    She needed him to leave now and there was a reason for it. She was waiting for someone, and it was almost time for him to come home.


    He definitely wouldn¡¯t notice, but even so, she didn¡¯t want him to meet him. He might try and take him away, and she didn¡¯t want to lose him no matter what.


    So before that, this man had to go.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia!¡±


    When he called out her name, her heart sank. She used to like it when he said that. He was the only person who would say her name with such tenderness.


    But when she turned to look at him, what she saw was a small figure standing behind him, and Valentia¡¯s face turned pale. There was only one person who would come at this time.


    And it was someone this man absolutely could not meet.


    [Elijah] ¡°Mom!¡±


    Valentia¡¯s expression stiffened.


    At the sound of the boy¡¯s voice, Goldie brushed off the man¡¯s coldness, gleefully and excitedly running off to say hello to the child he hadn¡¯t seen in a while.


    The gaze that was once pinned onto Valentia followed Goldie, eventually stopping right on the boy. The child shouted Goldie¡¯s name, hugging the large dog before running with him towards Valentia.


    All the while, the man¡¯s eyes followed the boy as he looked down at him.


    [Elijah] ¡°Mom, did you come to pick me up?¡±


    The child had a bright and vivid smile on his face as he asked. Valentia knelt down and hugged him, pulling his face into her chest. As if that would hide him from that man.


    [Elijah] ¡°Mom? Is something wrong?¡±


    Goldie ran around all three of them, wagging his tail excitedly. He couldn¡¯t help but be happy because all the people he loved most were together.


    The man¡¯s gaze moved past Goldie, reaching both her and the child. The moment she realized he saw the boy¡¯s face, she thought her heart was going to explode.


    [Lexus] ¡°Did he just say you were his mom?¡±


    He looked directly at Valentia as he asked. She couldn¡¯t say anything back as her expression turned paler.


    But that was unavoidable.


    For the child she held in her arms was also the child of this man.


    * * *

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


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    [Woman] ¡°Why are you being like this?¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice was filled with sorrow. It was soaked with such desperate emotions that Valentia stopped in her tracks without realizing it.


    [???] ¡°Don¡¯t be so pathetic.¡±


    In contrast, the man¡¯s voice was sweet. She wasn¡¯t sure what he looked like, but his voice was handsome enough.


    Valentia took another step.


    [Woman] ¡°Why do you want to break up? I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    [???] ¡°We were supposed to play around, have some fun, and then part ways¡ªnice and neat. What¡¯s up with you all of the sudden?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I¡¯m in love with you. I mean it.¡±


    [???] ¡°Oh, is that why you told your friends we¡¯re in love?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°That was my mistake.¡±


    [???] ¡°Then why did you forget that we were going to end this?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I remember. But then I fell in love with you.¡±


    The man gave a low sigh.


    [???] ¡°Really? So what is it about me that you love? My face? My status? Or maybe it¡¯s everything below the belt you like?¡±


    ¡­.Such uncouth words spoken in such a loud and proud voice. It was enough to make Valentia stop walking again. What kind of thing were they discussing in the middle of the courtyard?


    They must¡¯ve known they¡¯d be overheard by anyone who happened to be passing by, and yet they didn¡¯t stop their conversation.


    [Woman] ¡°How could you say that!?¡±


    The woman¡¯s anger was justified. It was a terrible thing to say to a woman who just professed her love for you. It was so audacious that a part of Valentia wanted to slap the nerves of the one who said them.


    [???] ¡°What else do you know about me? Besides my face, status, and lower half, what else could possibly make you love me? Don¡¯t say it¡¯s my personality you like.¡±


    Trust me, it can¡¯t be that, the man muttered in a soft voice. It was only after overcoming the sweetness of his voice that Valentia was able to truly grasp how shocking his words were.


    And honestly, she had no choice but to agree, nodding without even trying to. She didn¡¯t know who this man was and had only heard a few words from him, but it was clear he had a really rotten personality.


    But surprisingly, this man at least seemed to be aware of how dirty his character was.


    Right now, Valentia was on her way to her first class of the day, using the shortcut she always used. However, this was her first time running into something like this. It made her curious about the kind of disaster that was unfolding.


    However, despite her curiosity, Valentia took a step forward. She had no intention of eavesdropping on an intimate conversation between lovers. But then another comment made her pause in place.


    [Woman] ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    [???] ¡°Pregnant?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°Yes. Pregnant.¡±


    Even Valentia, who was more often than not coldly indifferent to the problems of other people, had so many questions that were coming up right now because of this conversation. There were few humans who would be able to pull themselves away from such gossip, but even so¡ªValentia took another step.


    But her steps were once again stopped.


    [???] ¡°Whose kid is it?¡±


    The man¡¯s voice was cold.


    Usually, with this kind of atmosphere, if a woman you had been spending intimate time with claimed to be pregnant, you would think the child was your own. And yet, he asked whose it was.


    ¡­..This man must be very cold-hearted, indeed.


    [Woman] ¡°It¡¯s yours, of course.¡±


    [???] ¡°No, it¡¯s not. That¡¯s not possible for me. Anyway, it would be better if you went and visited the actual father.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°Why are you so certain it¡¯s not yours?¡±


    [???] ¡°Well, you would know best, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    How could he say such cruel things to a woman who was carrying his child? Suddenly Valentia was starting to feel very sorry for this girl.


    [???] ¡°Assuming you¡¯re really pregnant, that is.¡±


    Then a sudden realization hit her.


    Come to think of it, it was entirely possible for this pregnancy claim to be a lie. A lie that resulted in the man being overly cold to the woman, but others might have had sincere compassion for her.


    [???] ¡°So which is it?¡±


    This was the moment of truth. Either confess to meeting two men at once and be labeled as a dirty woman carrying the child of another man, or say it was all just a lie.


    The woman said nothing for a moment.


    Now Valentia knew she really needed to leave this place, but no matter how she tried, her feet wouldn¡¯t move an inch.


    [Woman] ¡°You¡¯re right. I was lying.¡±


    [???] ¡°Yeah. What we had was easy enough.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I really didn¡¯t meet any other guys.¡±


    [???] ¡°Really?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I¡¯m telling you. Trust me.¡±


    [???] ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll trust you.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    The woman asked in a blissful voice.


    But Valentia could tell by the tone of the man¡¯s voice. He already had no interest in what kind of things she had to say.


    [???] ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t believe, but truthfully, I¡¯m not interested in that at all. You and I are already done so it doesn¡¯t matter if you meet with other guys or not.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°What do you mean, done?¡±


    [???] ¡°You said you loved me, right?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I do.¡±


    [???] ¡°Then let¡¯s end it like we were supposed to.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°But my feelings are serious.¡±


    [???] ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re the only person out there who loves me?¡±


    She knew this man must play around with women, but still, it seemed too cruel to say that to a woman who loved him.


    [Woman] ¡°You¡¯re so mean. You don¡¯t even know what love is.¡±


    [???] ¡°No way. I know about love, and I know that it¡¯s not with you.¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I hope you suffer.¡±


    [???] ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    Valentia was a complete stranger to this interaction, but his response stunned even her into silence. It was clear just from that alone that he was not interested in what the person in front of him was saying.


    [Woman] ¡°I hope you get abandoned by someone you love.¡±


    [???] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Woman] ¡°I hope you get toyed with by them¡ªplayed by them. And when it¡¯s all done, I hope they reject you and turn you away.¡±


    [???] ¡°Yeah. I wish that would happen, too.¡±


    Following that exchange was the sound of defeated footsteps, and Valentia could tell it was the sound of the woman leaving her place. After that were more footsteps, heavier than the ones before, and it was clear the man had also left.


    But as he left, a handkerchief fell to the floor.


    And unintentionally, she became aware of who the star of this conversation was. Or rather, she had no choice but to become aware. As a citizen of the Empire, it would be impossible for this to escape her notice.


    This handkerchief was engraved with the crest of the Imperial family¡ªa symbol of the direct Imperial lineage. And since there were no women of the Imperial family who were attending the Academy, this handkerchief could only belong to that man.


    There were two immediate heirs to the Imperial family. One was the second sun of the Empire, the Crown Prince, and he did not attend the Academy. So that left only one person.


    He was the most handsome, most foul-tempered man within the Imperial family, most often seen in courts where only beautiful women gathered¡ªthe Imperial Prince, Lexus.


    Valentia thought for a moment, then went to pick up the handkerchief. She didn¡¯t know him very well, but manners dictated that she should probably return this to him. It wasn¡¯t appropriate to leave precious items containing the Imperial crest on them sitting about.


    When one attends the Academy, one was expected to use the Academy regulated items or their own personal effects, so what was he doing, dropping this so carelessly?


    How annoying.


    It was well known that his relationship history with women was messy at best, but apparently it was worse than she would have expected. Valentia stuffed the handkerchief in her pocket, running quickly as she left.


    The conversation was so interesting that time ended up flowing like a fleeting moment. Even so, more time passed than she thought and so she was left to rush off to the building where her next lecture was being held.


    Then there was the sound of the second bell.


    There were ten minutes left until classes commenced, and Valentia turned and hurried her steps.


    She moved quickly, nearly running, but thanks to that, she wasn¡¯t late¡ªthough it was a close one. Valentia was normally five minutes early for every lecture, her textbook prepared and her notes opened. However, today, she would be lucky if she were not later than the professor.


    Once she arrived, there were no people occupying the front row, closest to the middle. Though the lecture would begin soon, that place was completely empty¡ªthe place where she normally sat.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hah.¡±


    Valentia sighed in relief knowing she had arrived in time. As soon as she came in and sat down, the professor strode into the classroom.


    [Professor] ¡°Running a bit late, Miss Valentia?¡±


    The middle-aged professor spoke to Valentia with a smile in his voice.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, my apologies.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. You still arrived a little earlier than the appointed lecture time, Miss Valentia. It¡¯s just that you normally arrive early in a calm fashion, so I was surprised to see you in a hurry. Did you oversleep?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, yes. I was up until late last night finishing up my assignments¡­..¡±


    Actually it was because something terribly interesting happened on her way to the classroom, but Valentia was not foolish enough to repeat that story as an excuse for her tardiness.


    [Professor] ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, alright? I¡¯ll call attendance now.¡±


    The professors really loved Valentia. Unlike the other students, she took her studies very seriously and managed to achieve first place marks every time, so it was difficult for the professors not to love such a diligent student.


    As the professor started roll call, Valentia took out her textbook and opened it up to the correct page. Normally she would have prepared and read the section to be taught in advance, but there was no time. She took out her pencil case, setting it on top of her book.


    After running so hard, she was terribly thirsty, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. The lecture had already started, and now there were beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Valentia carefully reached into the front pocket of her bag, grabbing her handkerchief as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing the professor.


    Then, she lightly dabbed her forehead with it.


    She was so busy trying to prepare for the lecture that she didn¡¯t realize it.


    The handkerchief she had wiped her forehead with was not hers.


    * * *

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


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    Valentia always kept her handkerchief with her, but it had gotten stuck under that man¡¯s handkerchief after she had hastily shoved it in her bag. Forgetting about it, she had inadvertently and habitually reached for her own, only to grab his instead without her knowledge.


    The problem was that the Imperial crest was embroidered onto it, and it was easily recognized by anyone who saw it.


    And that certainly didn¡¯t go unnoticed by a group of ladies, sitting relatively close to where Valentia was. One of which was Celine, the daughter of a count.


    ¡ªDid you see the crest on that handkerchief?


    They confirmed the surprise they saw in each other¡¯s expressions, making sure they didn¡¯t see things wrong. In this unbelievable situation, they did not bother taking down notes about the lecture on their papers, but rather notes to each other.


    [I can¡¯t believe it, it¡¯s the Imperial crest.]


    [Did he give it to her?]


    [No way. Everyone knows that handkerchiefs are a sign of favor. There¡¯s no way Lord Lexus would give her that.]


    Handkerchiefs were often used as an item to show someone their interest in an attempt to entice or seduce them. It was a classic move, one that had been used for a very long time. That was because it was far easier to find the owner of a handkerchief than a jewelry piece when one¡¯s family or personal name was embroidered upon it.


    Decades ago, it was common practice to drop it in the presence of the person one fancied, but nowadays, people simply handed them over to show their interest.


    [Exactly. Has anyone who¡¯s met up with Lord Lexus received a handkerchief from him before? It¡¯s even been embroidered with the Imperial crest.]


    [He definitely didn¡¯t give it to her. But even if he did, how dare she show it off so proudly. She¡¯s definitely the most venomous and steel-hearted woman in the Academy.]


    [I feel so ashamed knowing such a woman was awarded first place in academics.]


    Their conversation was animated and filled with gossip, and only ended after the lecture was over.


    Valentia concentrated carefully on the professor¡¯s words, and once it was done, unaware of the buzz, she quietly gathered up her notebook and grabbed her bag. But behind her was a group of ladies zeroing in.


    [Celine] ¡°You.¡±


    Not knowing they were calling for her, Valentia took a step forward, walking off towards her next lecture. But that was to be expected. Out of everyone in the Academy, there wasn¡¯t a person who would call for her.


    [Celine] ¡°You there¡ªLady Syner.¡±


    The ladies of this group did not want to call Valentia by her first name, so they called her by her surname instead. That was when Valentia realized they were talking to her and she looked back.


    But Valentia always got confused when others called out to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Miss Celine.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°You know my name?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course. And next to you is Miss Hestia and Miss Leah.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°T, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Celine and the other ladies were a little surprised by the fact that she knew their names. Valentia always seemed like someone who didn¡¯t have any interest in other people, so even if she took the same lecture as them, they thought she wouldn¡¯t know their names.


    However, Valentia memorized both the faces and the names of those who were in the same studies as her. She wanted to prove that she didn¡¯t gain her academic success through backdoor bribes or other nefarious means. She didn¡¯t have any friends though, so no one was willing to understand that by themselves.


    Valentia even knew that they called her by her family name because they did not want to call her by her given name, but even so, she didn¡¯t say that.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°Can I borrow your handkerchief?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Handkerchief?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°Yes. A handkerchief.¡±


    Valentia looked at the three women standing in front of her, then took a look around. Based on how Valentia was reacting, they thought she was pretending to be ignorant about what they were talking about.


    As if they shared a brain, the ladies all thought, She¡¯s a foxy little vixen who purposefully took out a handkerchief with the Imperial crest in the middle of a lecture, and now she¡¯s pretending to be innocent.


    But Valentia was really pondering their question.


    [Celine] ¡°I really need a handkerchief.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So, all three of you don¡¯t have a single handkerchief between you?¡±


    Valentia calmly looked back at the three women.


    The Academy did not allow the accompaniment of maids. In that place of study, they were all equal, so naturally some were forced to endure some level of inconvenience. Therefore, students were required to pack their own necessities¡ªhandkerchiefs being no different.


    Commoners who were less cultured were fine with settling with ordinary tissues, using them comfortably, but nobles liked to use soft and expensive handkerchiefs.


    That was why it was certainly strange how all of them did not carry a handkerchief with them. It was only then that the ladies realized their mistake, but it was too late to take it back, so they asked again.


    [Celine] ¡°Yes. It just happened like that.¡±


    Valentia reached into her bag pocket where she remembered her handkerchief being, and there she saw the one with the Imperial crest again. She quickly pushed it aside, taking out her own and handing it over.


    [Valentia] ¡°Naturally, you can give it back tomorrow.¡±


    Handing it over, Valentia took another step to leave. Left behind were Celine and the other ladies, frowning at the poorly made and mass-produced handkerchief, whispering to each other.


    [Celine] ¡°She¡¯s a cunning woman.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°I know, Miss Celine. During the lecture, she so calmly took out the Imperial handkerchief, but the second we ask to borrow one, she gives us this instead.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°I suppose she¡¯s not at the top of the Academy for nothing. It¡¯s no joke to say she knows how to use her brain.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Such a vixen. She¡¯s like a fox.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°What¡¯s her aim?¡±


    [Lady] You mean her purpose?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°Does she really want people to know that she¡¯s already seeing the Prince? Did he really give her the handkerchief?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°What¡¯s so interesting?¡±


    As they were chatting the group suddenly turned to Permat, the daughter of a Marquis, as she approached.


    [Celine] ¡°Oh, Miss Permat.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Hello, Miss Permat.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Why did you stop talking the moment I came here? Don¡¯t tell me you were talking about me.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°How could we ever dare!¡±


    [Permat] ¡°It¡¯s a little suspicious how surprised you are.¡±


    [Celine] ¡°We really weren¡¯t! Please, do not mistake us!¡±


    [Permat] ¡°It¡¯s just a joke. I¡¯m only kidding.¡±


    Permat answered with a coy and playful voice, but no one thought for even a second she was actually joking. Though the Academy liked to make a show of how it did not pay any attention to status, it was impossible for everyone to simply forget who their fellows were.


    The people didn¡¯t care much for those below them, but when a woman with a higher status approached and asked them a question, they couldn¡¯t exactly lie or deflect.


    It was an unavoidable truth that the daughter of a Marquis was of a higher status the moment one stepped into society outside of the Academy.


    [Permat] ¡°So what are you all whispering so quietly about?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°That¡­..¡±


    [Permat] ¡°That?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°We were talking about Lady Syner.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°What family is that?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°The woman who earned the top place at the Academy.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Oh, you mean the Iron Maiden. Was her name Syner?¡±


    Celine and the other ladies flinched at the phrase ¡®the Iron Maiden¡¯. Everyone knew the nickname, but it wasn¡¯t a name given in good faith, so they didn¡¯t talk about it so openly like that.


    [Celine] ¡°She¡¯s the young miss of the Syner family.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°I see. Did the Iron Maiden cause any trouble?¡±


    [Celine] ¡°Well, truthfully¡­¡­¡±


    They whispered, telling her what they¡¯d seen and talked about since the start of the lecture. From the perspective of a group of count family daughters, they told her everything without leaving out a single detail.


    And Permat could not hide her anger at those words.


    [Permat] ¡°Is that true?¡±


    One of the ladies shook her head with a quiet sigh.


    [Lady] ¡°That¡¯s just what we saw.¡±


    The daughter of a viscount, closely tied to the one of the ladies of a count, muttered harshly on behalf of her lady who could not say anything herself to save her reputation.


    [Lady] ¡°Isn¡¯t it absolutely insane?¡±


    [Lady] ¡°That¡¯s a bridge of status that cannot be crossed.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Unforgivable! How dare she not know her place!?¡±


    Meanwhile, Permat was really angry.


    Lexus was a Prince who was loved within the Empire as well as the Academy. Everyone had no choice but to love him on account of his blinding handsomeness and infectious joy. His fatal flaw was that he played with women frequently, but when he was a man like that, even that part of him seemed cool.


    And there was one reason why this particular Marquis¡¯ daughter was intensely angered.


    It was because she too loved Lexus.


    But all the women he spent time with him knew one thing¡ªthey would be the envy of everyone, but would never have him. Although they could feel a momentary pleasure and happiness by being by his side, they could not occupy that seat forever.


    Ever since Permat was young, as the daughter of a Marquis, she had the greatest chance of being put forth for a marriage with the Imperial family. It was something far above a simple, casual relationship that those of lesser qualification needed to have in order to stand next to him.


    So when she approached Lexus herself, she did not propose a dalliance with him. She didn¡¯t want to be another woman he passed by lightly.


    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean Permat¡¯s status was the highest of all women available. She was simply the most sufficient person to stand by him.


    He was a man with a handsome appearance, a rich and historic family, and although he was not the top student at the Academy, his academic performance was impeccable.


    And yet, a woman with a terrible appearance, a noble family that barely escaped total collapse, and had nothing to offer except that she was smart, was aiming for Lexus. She didn¡¯t know her own place.


    Permat even hated the fact that she made such a messy but clever scheme regarding the handkerchief.


    [Permat] ¡°There has to be a mistake.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Exactly. She must have stolen it or something.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°There¡¯s no possible way that Lord Lexus would give a handkerchief to a woman like that.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°That¡¯s right, Miss Permat.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Such a venomous woman. She pretends to be iron-hearted like the only thing she knows about is studying, but now she¡¯s trying to raise her status by capturing Lord Lexus.¡±


    Every time one of the ladies cursed Valentia, they noticed the anger slowly dissipating from Permat¡¯s face, little by little. Eventually they started saying whatever they could, calling Valentia names that didn¡¯t even exist yet.


    In much less than a day, it only took a few hours for the biggest and freshest rumor to start making its way around the Academy grounds¡ªthe Iron Maiden of the Academy who dared to misunderstand her place was aiming for the handsome Prince.


    But somehow, the most ridiculous thing happened. The exact opposite of those rumors became well known instead.


    The next conquest of the handsome Prince was to be the Iron Maiden of the Academy.


    * * *

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    *


    * * *


    *


    The Iron Maiden.


    It was a title given to Valentia by the students of the Academy. It was a truly awful name to give to a woman¡ªa name derived from the tool of torture originally used to persecute people in the old days.


    It was an actual torture device, a coffin with blades embedded in the lining, crafted into the shape of a woman made of iron. If you were to put someone inside and close the door, the blades would mercilessly pierce them.


    The blades inside were meticulously placed, meant to avoid any of the vital points on the victim, forcing them to die from the blood loss instead. Essentially, it was well known for being the cruelest of all torture tools. It granted upon others the shared fear of dying slowly, agonizing in the darkness.


    There was no shortage of reasons why Valentia was given such a terrible name.


    Part of it was due to her lack of social skills and the fact that she, after studying like crazy, dared to win first place at the Academy, beating out so many other high-ranking noble men and women.


    A cold personality, low status, and inability to socialize with others were the perfect recipe to be ignored and shunned by the larger student body. And so she was given that nickname, one meaning that she was detestable in the eyes of others because she studied well.


    But though she was hated enough at the Academy to earn such an awful name for herself, she didn¡¯t mind.


    Valentia headed off towards the Academy dining hall. Today¡¯s lunch was set to be pork, battered and fried, coated with a sweet sauce, and a side of button mushroom soup and bread.


    The dining hall at the Academy was quiet.


    The taste of the food wasn¡¯t bad, but the menu was rather ordinary. Some might even call it boring. As such, the noble students among the population who enjoyed things of the more gourmet variety never partook in the dining hall.


    Instead, they often went to the cafes around the Academy, ones with a good atmosphere. For the most part, the dining hall was only really used by commoner students who entered the Academy through special admissions.


    Commoners accounted for nearly half of the student body, but the dining hall was very large and there was no set meal time. It was always so quiet there.


    It would be no exaggeration to say that Valentia was the only noble who used the dining hall on campus.


    [Staff] ¡°Is that you, Valentia?¡±


    Valentia went to drop off her bag and once she walked up to them with her tray, the staff immediately recognized and greeted her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Hello.¡±


    Valentia nodded as they poured some of the soup into the dedicated place on the tray.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too much.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°You have to eat a lot. You study so hard, so you have to remember to eat well. And be sure to come back before you go. I¡¯ll sneak you some extra bread.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡±


    She whispered so quietly that it could barely be heard.


    [Staff] ¡°Gosh, I don¡¯t know how a student can be so kind and greet properly despite being a noble.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No, I really appreciate it.¡±


    She quietly sat down, soaking the soft bread into the soup and eating it. The fried meat was crispy and not bad, either. At the very least, she was glad she could eat comfortably here.


    Whenever she was at home, she felt like she was going to be sick. Though she had the same last name as a baron house, she wasn¡¯t considered their family.


    Valentia was the daughter of Baron Syner. Her father was alive and her mother was present, but she was not her blood-related mother. Her real mother died when Valentia was very young.


    Their marriage was a rare one¡ªone that came about from love. Apparently the love affair was one that made the Baron very anxious and excited at the time.


    But that feeling was shallow. It did not last long and eventually disappeared completely. Shortly after their marriage, he found himself another woman.


    That was around the time her mother got sick. She was always a frail woman, but looking back on things now, her disease was likely one that plagued her mental state.


    The baron, Valentia¡¯s father and her mother¡¯s husband, had an affair after they were married. The woman in question was the daughter of a minor baron, and they were so brazen with it, that she would regularly come and go from their home with pride.


    After her mother passed away at a young age, her father brought in the woman he had been having an affair with. That was her current stepmother.


    With the dowry that her stepmother brought in, her father became rich and devoted all of his time to her. It was the first time since she was born that she¡¯d seen her father show such a kind side of himself.


    And now her father and stepmother even had children. They were the cornerstone that made up their happy family. Thanks to them, things were always friendly for them, though that hardly included her.


    As soon as Valentia came of age, she entered the Academy. She liked it when she could study there because at least she didn¡¯t have to think about anything else. Her plan was to graduate from the Academy with impeccable standing and then go work for a national institution.


    It was common for noble women to still marry a man from a healthy family even after attending the Academy, but it was questionable whether or not her father and stepmother would attempt to marry her off.


    There was no chance they would provide the money necessary for a dowry, which meant she was more likely going to be put up for marriage to an old nobleman. Because of that, Valentia studied like her life depended on it.


    After finishing her meal, Valentia went to the bathroom and washed her hands. Then, when she reached for a handkerchief to wipe them off, she paused.


    The handkerchief that was in her bag was not hers, so she had no choice but to wipe her hands using the provided paper towels.


    It was occurring to her that she should maybe wash the handkerchief before returning it. Though, looking at it now, it wasn¡¯t too dirty since it just fell in the grass. And moreover, he didn¡¯t lend it to her, she merely picked it up, so she concluded that it would be too weird if she washed it before giving it back.


    This wasn¡¯t a good object to keep for too long. The owner of this handkerchief wasn¡¯t a very good person, so she wanted to give it back as soon as possible and be done with it. Before the end of the day, if she could.


    So, before returning to the barony, she would find the Prince and return this.


    At the same time, while Valentia was far away in the dining hall, a particular set of rumors spread. But there was no one who spoke with Valentia who could tell her this.


    She had no friends who could explain the unfairness of this situation to her. But even if she did, it would not have been of any use because she would not believe them.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [¡ª] ¡°Lord Tex, did you hear the rumor?¡±


    As soon as he was found, Tex replied to the racket in a leisurely manner.


    [Tex] ¡°What kind of rumor are we talking about? The rumor that the young miss of a count family was seen with a swollen face, skipping all her lectures before running home? Are you talking about that?¡±


    Whether they were a man or a woman, anytime a fuss came his way, it always came back around to a single man¡ªLexus, the handsome Prince of the Empire.


    And the reason why they asked him of all people was because Tex and Lexus had been friends since they were children¡­..although, it still remained to be seen whether or not the other person in question truly regarded him as a friend.


    [¡ª] ¡°What, did they break up already? Why?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Why the hell would I know that?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°No, wait. That¡¯s not the problem. Something bigger happened!¡±


    The rumors did not spread only among the female students. It wasn¡¯t long before even the male students started to hear the rumbling.


    Although equality was key at the Academy, cliques and factions started to form among those of the same gender, but the division between men and women was even greater. Even if a really interesting thing happened on one side, it did not immediately sweep through to the other.


    But this rumor was spreading exceedingly fast. It was very contradictory that one of the people who was at the center of the rumor was one who did not attract attention.


    [Tex] ¡°What did you just say? Lexus has already decided on his next conquest?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Yeah. The rumors are stirring up the entire Academy. And more than that¡­¡­¡±


    [Tex] ¡°More?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°They say his target is the Iron Maiden herself.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°That¡¯s why everything¡¯s gotten so crazy. Ah, speak of the devil, the Prince is walking by. Call out to him, Tex. I think I¡¯m gonna go insane, I¡¯m so curious.¡±


    But despite the clear line that was being drawn between the students, Lexus belonged to no single group. He could get along with everyone and everyone wanted to be close to him.


    However, the only person who could actually get along well with him was Tex¡ªthe heir to the Duchy.


    Standing up, Tex lightly jogged towards Lexus, who was walking with a frown on his face. Now he was really curious about this.


    [Tex] ¡°Your Princeliness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you want?¡±


    It was a short answer, but even now, Tex could see that Lexus was in a really foul mood right now.


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude? You seem extra cranky today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s because I feel bad the second I see your face.¡±


    Tex got quiet for a second.


    He was confused about whether or not Lexus was just trying to cut back at him, or if he was messing around by saying he was ugly. But at least he could gather that he was indeed angry right now since he was not the type to call him ugly for no reason, even if he was merely objectively calling him ugly.


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s up with your expression today, Prince? Did something bad happen?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s nothing to know.¡±


    Lexus was in a bad mood.


    He was irritated that everyone kept ending up like this. The last woman he met up with under an agreement ended up falling in love with him and then claimed she was pregnant with his child.


    He didn¡¯t go off telling anyone that she brought up the word pregnancy in order to salvage the woman¡¯s honor, but it was still an unpleasant experience.


    [Tex] ¡°Did you end things with that lady of the county already?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Why, though?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why do you need to know that?¡±


    Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t talk much about the women he spent time with. Other men who behaved in a similar fashion would go off to those social clubs meant only for men in order to flaunt their conquests and show off.


    [Tex] ¡°No, you¡¯re right. I don¡¯t need to know. But I¡¯m curious to know if it¡¯s true.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s true?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I heard you already set your eyes on your next conquest.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about? Speak in a way that¡¯s actually understandable.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Weren¡¯t you planning on taking the Iron Maiden?¡±


    And at the sound of something he¡¯d never heard before, Lexus¡¯ handsome and straight eyebrow crept up slightly.


    * * *

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°The Iron Maiden? Oh, you mean the top student?¡±


    Lexus quickly managed to realize who this woman was when the words Iron Maiden were mentioned.


    However, he couldn¡¯t come up with a face. He just remembered that the student who never missed the top position was a woman labeled the Iron Maiden.


    [Tex] ¡°That¡¯s right. The Iron Maiden who always manages to be at the top.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What about her?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Everyone¡¯s saying that the Iron Maiden is in possession of the Prince¡¯s handkerchief.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How can she have that?¡±


    Lexus¡¯ expression stiffened.


    [Tex] ¡°You didn¡¯t give it to her?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Well, do you have it on you?¡±


    Lexus searched his pockets, and it was only then that he realized he no longer had it. He definitely brought it with him this morning, so it was clear he must have lost it somewhere at some point during the day.


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°During the economics lecture, the Iron Maiden used a handkerchief embroidered with the crest of the Imperial family, like she was showing off. That¡¯s why everyone¡¯s going nuts apparently. They can¡¯t decide if you gave it to her or if she stole it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s no way I gave it to her. I don¡¯t even know what she looks like.¡±


    This woman must be so damn shameless, though. It was unbelievable to think she was using his handkerchief, flaunting it like he¡¯d given it to her.


    Though, he had to admit it was a very bold move. And one could even say she was successful in her attempts to attract his attention, considering it had reached his ears like this.


    But did that even matter if the attention she was getting was negative? He found it far preferable if women just showed their interest from the beginning. He couldn¡¯t be more sick and tired of all these dirty back door schemes.


    [Tex] ¡°What are you planning on doing?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, what do you think?¡±


    Seeing the expression on Lexus¡¯ face, Tex clicked his tongue in disgust.


    That was the crummy smile he would get on his face right before he did something bad.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia was not interested in other people and so she had very little sense for the things happening around her. She couldn¡¯t even notice that the stark dislike other students had for her was getting worse.


    They were quiet in her presence, only to whisper whenever she turned her head, which made it obvious the subject of their gossip was her.


    I wonder what could be happening.


    But there was no one who would tell her, so it was useless to wonder. Valentia shook off that nagging sensation and pulled aside the first student she saw who was getting out of their seat.


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you know where the Prince is?¡±


    [Student] ¡°Dunno.¡±


    No one was ever kind to her, but this interaction felt especially frigid.


    [Valentia] ¡°I heard he had a class here. Did he leave already?¡±


    [Student] ¡°Why are you looking for the Prince?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, I have something I need to tell him.¡±


    [Student] ¡°God. Dunno. Just get out of here.¡±


    The girl made an amazed expression before scoffing and roughly pushing Valentia¡¯s shoulder, shoving past her. To be in the eye of the most beloved man in the Academy, this despised woman was hardly what people would expect.


    This makes things difficult.


    If the students didn¡¯t cooperate, there was no way she would be able to find him in such a vast Academy. And now there was the added chance of someone giving her the wrong location just to play a trick on her.


    Which basically meant the Prince¡¯s possession would continue to remain with her in the hopes she came across him by chance. It wasn¡¯t like she could just throw it away. For a brief moment, Valentia regretted ever picking it up.


    I should just go home.


    Valentia had no idea where this man could be, so there was no point in aimlessly wandering through the Academy.


    The road leading to the main gate was crowded with students, grouping in a chaos. She felt a slight pang of envy seeing close groups of friends, gathering to return home together.


    Carriages were not permitted within the Academy, no matter how one fussed or tried to pull rank with their family names. The rules were stern¡ªno carriage carrying the crest of a family was allowed entry. As a result, just outside the gates were lines of carriages awaiting their students.


    However, the eyes of the students as they left the Academy were all on one person. Following their gazes, the first thing she saw was a flash of golden hair.


    That tall man was the person Valentia was looking for. A group of men who appeared to be his friends were all walking and talking to him.


    Valentia hurried her steps.


    There was no guarantee that she would be able to find him again in order to return this handkerchief once he got inside his carriage.


    But as she rushed, in all the hurry, Valentia could not notice that the attentions of other students were now being drawn towards her and Lexus. And that everyone was in awe and interest at this spectacle.


    Someone gestured to Lexus, and that was when he stopped walking.


    He stood completely still as Valentia approached him. She opened her mouth to speak, but remembering something, she paused.


    She didn¡¯t know what to call him.


    His friends and others that were close to him simply called him Lexus, while those who admired him called him Lord Lexus. It was considered a crime to carelessly call the names of those of the Imperial family, but things were different so long as they were within the Academy.


    Only here was it possible to call him by name. Regardless of their title or status, all were treated with equality at the Academy. That was this place¡¯s most enforced rule.


    But as an exception, his friends would sometimes call out to him like ¡®Princeliness¡¯ as a joke and to show how close they were.


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Truthfully, Lexus did not need to attend the Academy. Or rather, it would be more appropriate to say that members of the Imperial family simply did not attend at all.


    When he first enrolled, there was a rather big stir about what they would call him.


    At the time there were a lot of conflicting opinions. Some said that the Imperial family should be treated the same while others thought they deserved special treatment purely based on the fact that they were royalty.


    But in the end, no one could break the Academy¡¯s cardinal rule of their own accord.


    It was taboo to call a member of the Imperial family by their surname, so that¡¯s when everyone started calling him Lord Lexus. But Valentia didn¡¯t know what to call him, so she ended up vaguely calling out to him instead.


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    She shoved the handkerchief in his face the second he looked back at her.


    She¡¯d heard many times that he was handsome. From a distance, she could tell that he was a good-looking man, jovial, with shiny blond hair that could catch anyone¡¯s eye no matter where he was.


    But seeing him up close, he was someone who boasted an overwhelming level of handsomeness. Even Valentia, who held no specific dislike or like when it came to the appearances of others, was taken aback by it.


    Looking down at her, the man asked in a sharp voice.


    [Lexus] ¡°What is this?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s yours.¡±


    Valentia was just about to explain to him what happened, but before that, the man spoke up first.


    [Lexus] ¡°So this is the Iron Maiden.¡±


    Just then, Valentia¡¯s face stiffened.


    She knew those within the Academy called her that, but she didn¡¯t realize how much contempt for her was held within those words. But right now, this was the first time someone spoke to her face with an expression of sarcasm.


    Valentia held back any kind of response, biting back her anger.


    He was the first to say it to her face, but she already knew everyone secretly said that about her. What was the difference between that and hearing it directly like this? There was no need to be disappointed or hurt.


    Pushing those thoughts aside, Valentia was going to continue explaining until¡ª


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡ª¡°


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So what was your plan? Did you think I¡¯d be attracted to you if you made up this whole rumor? But alas¡ªI¡¯m not interested in a confession from such a shabby woman.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What on earth are you¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This is what a gap in status looks like, if you¡¯re confused. Honestly, aren¡¯t people like you tired of this whole game by now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Hold on, that¡¯s not what this is.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No? Didn¡¯t your father tell you to throw your body in front of the Prince in order to pull yourself from the life of a bottom-feeder?¡±


    Lexus was looking directly at Valentia when he said that.


    He poured out such cruel and abusive language towards her, but the woman in front of him was calm. These were the kinds of words that, if they were thrown at a man instead of a woman, would warrant a challenge for a duel.


    But she was so casual about things that Lexus¡¯ anger subsided just a tad.


    [Valentia] ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Where is this going?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Are you a Prince of the Empire right now? Or are you a student of the Academy?¡±


    This place was undeniably the Academy. Unless it somehow magically turned into the banquet hall of the Imperial Palace, he was more a student than a Prince right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m a student.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then this should be fine.¡±


    Before he could even ask what should be ¡®fine¡¯, Prince Lexus experienced an act of tyranny that he had never experienced before in his life.


    Slap¡ª


    The sound could be heard, clear as day as the woman¡¯s small hand crashed against his cheek, and as proof of what just happened, there was a very noticeable prickly sensation left behind on his face.


    Lexus was speechless, shocked into utter silence. He was the one who just got slapped across the cheek, but the woman¡¯s hand was shaking, trembling like she was so terribly weak.


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re able to speak so freely. You must have broken a tongue.¡±


    But she wasn¡¯t trembling out of fear or weakness, but out of anger. It was the first time he¡¯d ever experienced something like this. He was more surprised by her words than the pain in his cheek.


    There was a clear rise to her chest as the tiny woman breathed in a deep sigh.


    [Valentia] ¡°You are terribly rude.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­.That¡¯s quite the thing to say to someone you¡¯ve just slapped in the face.¡±


    Lexus muttered in amazement, but Valentia responded immediately¡ªunbothered and unfazed by his words.


    [Valentia] ¡°Think of it as the price you must pay for such rudeness. And unfortunately, I did not approach you with the intent of trying to confess to you like the shabby woman I am or throw myself at you with the idea of marrying you. I was trying to give this back.¡±


    Valentia roughly flicked the handkerchief into his face. It came right at him, blocking his vision as her clearly enunciated words echoed and pierced his ears.


    [Valentia] ¡°And since you are a student right now, I have committed no crime against the Imperial family, yes?¡±


    Leaving behind her words, shot coldly in his direction, she turned and walked away. The handkerchief fluttered in the air for a moment, passing by his face before falling loosely to the ground.


    But Lexus couldn¡¯t even think about picking it up. His eyes were in a daze, staring off in the distance towards Valentia¡¯s fading back.


    * * *

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    *


    * * *


    *


    Tex quickly picked up the handkerchief from the ground, which was the main perpetrator of this entire mess. Then he grabbed the Prince, still dazed from the slap on the cheek, and started dragging him along.


    Their entire group, who witnessed this happen, also rushed to get into the carriage together, still dragging the Prince with him like he¡¯d just been pulled from a hypnosis trip. Tex ended up yelling at the coachman to go before they were all even securely inside.


    [Tex] ¡°Go!¡±


    [Coachman] ¡°To the social club?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Of course not. Head for the Imperial Palace! The Palace!¡±


    He shouted at the coachman, even repeating himself for emphasis as the coachman asked for their destination.


    Normally, they were supposed to be going to the all-male social club that was their usual spot once their work at the Academy was finished. But after seeing the Prince, confused after being slapped by one of the ladies at the Academy, taking him there would be bad, considering it was a den for gossip.


    An awkward silence fell over everyone, except for Lexus, still somewhat dazed. They all looked at each other, filled with hesitation. They had no idea what to say right now. The Prince had never been slapped like this before.


    Tex was the first to eventually overcome this silence.


    [Tex] ¡°I think it might be a little swollen.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t very swollen, but there was still a little reddened mark on his face. He wasn¡¯t the one who hit him, but Tex still looked at Lexus with an expression full of anxiety.


    That was a little understandable, though. He was looking upon the Prince with a reddened cheek from a slap, unable to even stop it from happening like he was supposed to.


    [Arthur] ¡°Does it hurt, Lexus?¡±


    Understanding that too, Arthur asked.


    [Lexus] ¡°Um, it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°I think we should probably put some ice on it.¡±


    Ruth also spoke up, suddenly feeling the pressure to say something.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°But you had it coming. You were kind of harsh.¡±


    Lexus¡¯ response to the situation was a little muted, so Tex, being pushed by that, decided to poke some fun at him.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­.I¡¯ll admit that.¡±


    But Lexus simply affirmed it with a quiet voice. It was not lost on him that what he said was very scathing.


    [Tex] ¡°People are going to run with this one. What are you going to do now?¡±


    And this time, it wouldn¡¯t be a simple story of some light gossip. This was a case of assault and contempt against a member of the Imperial family. It didn¡¯t feel great, but things were uncomfortable considering the crime was committed due to how big his mouth was.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll have to deal with it.¡±


    Lexus leaned against the seat of the carriage, crossing his legs.


    [Tex] ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ll have to figure this one out on your own.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Fine, you¡¯re free to leave.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°You¡¯ll let us go?¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°If we¡¯re speaking honestly, we weren¡¯t involved in this.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°I really don¡¯t want to be scolded by the Empress.¡±


    And so Arthur and Ruth made their exit.


    This whole situation was too absurd. It was one that they should have been able to prevent by sacrificing their bodies to protect the Prince like they were supposed to, but they never expected such a devastating thing to happen. Not to mention how fast it happened¡ªthere was zero time to react.


    [Lexus] ¡°What will you do?¡±


    Lexus turned to Tex.


    [Tex] ¡°I¡¯m not super keen on getting scolded by your mother either, so I¡¯ll get going.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯ll get in trouble eventually, regardless, Tex.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°But the aim is to put off my punishment for as long as possible.¡±


    And like that, Tex pulled himself from the carriage, disappearing like he was running away.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Just after their Prince was assaulted, his three ¡®loyal¡¯ friends did not wish to enter the Imperial Palace and ended up getting off the carriage right in the middle¡ªrunning to catch a public carriage home instead.


    Lexus probably would have done the same, but the second someone else was guilty of that kind of act, this was something he was sure to remember. He entered the Palace, the memory of what happened today pressing down on his mind, filing it away so he could get revenge someday.


    And as soon as he entered the drawing room, Lexus immediately frowned at the person he saw.


    [???] ¡°Oh, well look who it is. You don¡¯t look like our proud Prince.¡±


    This place was the drawing room attached to the bedroom, not the reception room meant for taking guests. And yet this person was drinking tea both elegantly and casually; a man with silver hair and blue eyes, emanating a cold aura.


    There were few people who would dare to enter the Prince¡¯s palace and sit within his parlor without permission from the Prince himself.


    One of those people was Lexus¡¯ elder brother; Axion de Beltane Abyssid. Unlike Lexus, who was smooth and bright, his older brother had a cooler energy to him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t speak so sarcastically, Crown Prince.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Sarcastic? My, your situation must have gone terribly sour.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And you¡¯re here to make it even worse?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I gather you probably already know why I¡¯m here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°News travels fast.¡±


    It seemed like his brother was trying to say something, but Lexus was also really irritated right now. He had just been slapped in the face and now that he¡¯d returned to the Imperial Palace, his family heard the news first.


    [Axion] ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. People love to talk about you, Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So you¡¯re here to nag.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I¡¯m not nagging. Just some well-intentioned advice given out of love.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°In other words, nagging. And I don¡¯t need that kind of love.¡±


    Axion clasped his hands together in his lap, holding them as he smiled softly.


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re not as cute as you used to be, little brother.¡±


    Then, Axion clapped his hands, smiling wider this time.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ve never been cute.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°That¡¯s not true. You have no idea how adorable you were just after you were born.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t want to know.¡±


    He always treated him like a child with no end in sight. They didn¡¯t have that big of an age difference, so Lexus was always frustrated by how his brother would put on that kind of attitude like he was so much older.


    [Axion] ¡°Whenever you made eye contact with me, you¡¯d give off this lovely little smile. How did you end up turning into such a black-hearted man?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And why exactly did you come to visit your not-so-cute younger brother?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Mother wished to see you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..I see. Where is she?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°She¡¯s taking a walk in the gardens.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­Why are you following me?¡±


    Noticing Axion getting up to follow after him, Lexus turned to him.


    [Axion] ¡°If mother scolds you, shouldn¡¯t I be there to protect you?¡±


    Axion was a sly speaker.


    He just wanted to watch Lexus get yelled at. Or, if he was really in hot water, then he¡¯d take the chance to crack the whip a second time.


    Outside in the gardens, the Empress was taking a walk with a few noble women by her side¡ªher close confidants. Next to her was Lexus¡¯ younger sister, Elizabeth.


    His little sister just turned fifteen this year, and she was following along with the Empress and the other noblewomen, pretending to be mature. She was a lovely little Princess with blonde hair and blue eyes, having just turned into a young lady.


    [Lexus] ¡°Mother. You called me.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Axion. Lexus. Are you here?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ve returned home, Mother. Hello, Duchess Langbell.¡±


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°As always, His Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Prince are both very handsome today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Just as you are still lovely, Duchess Langbell.¡±


    Duchess Langbell was Tex¡¯s mother.


    And because his mother was the closest aide of the Empress, he ended up running away early for fear that his mother would be at the Imperial Palace, prepared to yell at him for failing to properly protect the Prince.


    Thinking about that, Lexus thought it was a shame he couldn¡¯t bring him here.


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°Such overflowing praise. But did Tex not come with you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He said he wished to return home early today.¡±


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°I thought he¡¯d come here together with you. I suppose his lecture will have to wait until later.¡±


    It was a pity he couldn¡¯t see it happen, but he decided to be satisfied knowing the terrible trouble that was heading Tex¡¯s way once the Duchess returned home.


    But obviously that didn¡¯t undo the bitterness he felt that he ran away in the first place. Duchess Langbell¡¯s incoming punishment was a matter entirely separate from his bruised feelings.


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°I¡¯m so envious. You have two beautiful and good sons, and even a lovely young Princess, Your Majesty.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°But I heard one of them made a mistake today.¡±


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°When one is young, one can afford to make small mistakes here and there.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Right! I heard you were slapped today!¡±


    That was when his cute sister suddenly decided to shout out a word that wasn¡¯t cute at all. And she seemed all too thrilled to do so. The face hidden behind her oversized bonnet looked grumpy and in need of something fun.


    [Lexus] ¡°Looks like my lovely sister is here, too.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Are you trying to say you didn¡¯t notice me before?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought it was my imagination. You¡¯re so tiny, I can barely see you. When are you planning on getting any bigger, little lady?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°What? What did you just say? I dare you to say it again.¡±


    A fire lit up behind Princess Elizabeth¡¯s eyes as she clenched her fist.


    If they had only been in the presence of family, she would not have hesitated to kick her brother in the leg, or maybe even throw a fist if she could. But right now, there were other noblewomen around, so she looked like she was trying to hold it in.


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, the poor little lady is not only so small she cannot be seen well, but she can¡¯t hear well, either.¡±


    Elizabeth trembled, turning her head away but then she quickly changed her mind, diverting attention back to him again.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°So how did you get slapped?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Haha, my sister is too cute.¡±


    Lexus quickly covered Elizabeth¡¯s mouth, giving an awkward smile. The little Princess pushed and punched Lexus with both her fist and elbows, but he held on with an ever constant smile.


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°Well, I must be on my way now.¡±


    No matter how close one was with the Imperial family, it was a private affair for them, so it would be wise to excuse oneself quickly and quietly.


    [Empress] ¡°Thank you. We will talk again tomorrow.¡±


    [Duchess Langbell] ¡°Then tomorrow, Your Majesty.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I will escort you, Mother.¡±


    The noblewomen quickly escaped, and Axion volunteered to escort their mother, the Empress, as they walked.


    Lexus looked down at the little Princess with a very deliberate expression. Although she was fifteen years old, she had a terrible complex about being short, so Lexus very much enjoyed making fun of her.


    [Lexus] ¡°My adorable little sister, would you like to walk with me?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°No! I want to go with Axion.¡±


    Though Lexus was a beloved Prince to others, to his sister, he was nothing more than a petty and mean older brother. Princess Elizabeth reached out and grabbed Axion¡¯s free hand, sticking her tongue out to Lexus.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Anyway, how¡¯d you get slapped?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Can you stop mentioning that, sister?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m just curious who would slap a Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Haha, how would I know.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m really curious about them. Can I go to the Academy to see them?¡±


    Lexus laughed bitterly at his sister, who only ever said mean things.


    For Elizabeth, her second older brother was someone who always acted relaxed and laid back, and lived just to tease and make fun of her. So when she noticed how he couldn¡¯t even answer this question properly, her blue eyes sparkled with elation.


    She was so excited by his awkward and embarrassed laugh that she wanted to tease him more.


    [Axion] ¡°Stop teasing him, Eliza.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°But I¡¯m really curious.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I think Mother has something she wishes to say, so let¡¯s be quiet, Eliza.¡±


    Her first brother was caring, but had a more intense presence in comparison to her other easy-going second brother. It was probably because he was the Crown Prince, and thus carried a dignity that could not be ignored.


    At Axion¡¯s soft tone, Elizabeth pouted out her lips, but eventually calmly replied with a yes.


    She couldn¡¯t make fun of Lexus, but she was looking forward to seeing him get in trouble. That was why she purposefully went out on a walk with her mother and her aides today. And it was definitely worth the effort.


    Unfortunately, there was no longer any sign of the slap left on her brother¡¯s pale cheek, but it was still fun to tease him.


    [Empress] ¡°How is it that every story of the Imperial family always seems to start with you?¡±


    * * *

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Empress] ¡°How is it that every story of the Imperial family always seems to start with you?¡±


    The Empress had a stiff expression on her face, but her eyes were kind. Even her words, partially exasperated and filled with reprimand for his actions, were gentle sounding.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s not a good one, either.¡±


    Lexus was ready to admit that much.


    [Empress] ¡°Why must I keep hearing such bad stories about you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s due to my own inadequacies.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. You mustn¡¯t cause so much trouble.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°My apologies for making you worry.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Tell me what you did wrong.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I spoke harshly.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Have you any excuses to speak of?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°None. This was my own mistake.¡±


    Lexus didn¡¯t have any excuses to make, nor did he want to make any at all.


    Even if he did, any excuse would end up coming out lame anyway because the fact of the matter was that his words and actions were inappropriate.


    [Empress] ¡°Then the Imperial family will not interfere with this matter.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes. That is most obvious.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°We would not be able to intervene, even if we wished to.¡±


    The Imperial family had too much to lose if they were to tell the Academy to handle this. Even asking for a fair punishment to be meted out to the person involved, that would only welcome wary eyes upon them.


    Which meant this was something that Lexus needed to figure out entirely on his own.


    [Lexus] ¡°I can handle it.¡±


    Only then did the Empress smile, reaching out and putting her hand on her second son¡¯s arm. The appearance of the Empress and her son walking together was indeed picturesque.


    [Axion] ¡°Mother, if you move on so quickly¡­..¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Your brother is no longer a child that requires nagging. Stop worrying so much about him.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°No, I¡¯m not worried¡­..¡±


    Axion was about to say something, but eventually he just sighed and turned quiet. After that, the two men escorted their mother and young sister to the Empress¡¯ Palace.


    [Empress] ¡°So I will not speak on this any further. I can do that, yes?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Of course, Mother.¡±


    In the end, this incident seemed to peeter out like this. Hoping to change the atmosphere, Axion turned to the Empress, speaking in a friendly manner.


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve all been together. Shall we have a meal together? And of course Father should come as well.¡±


    But Elizabeth was young and lacked the sense a more mature lady would have, and she wanted to keep giving her second brother a hard time.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Good idea! I¡¯ll go get Father!¡±


    Lexus¡¯ first scolding came from Axion, then he went on to be teased by Elizabeth, and then he was carefully cautioned by their mother.


    Now, she was dying to see her brother face their father¡¯s more strict and far harsher punishment.


    Seeing Lexus¡¯ frowning face, their mother burst into a small smile.


    [Empress] ¡°It seems that my second son has no intention of dining.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s for the whole family.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Then let¡¯s have a meal together next time. When the mood is better. Go on.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Yeah, rest.¡±


    Just before disappearing past the door, Elizabeth turned her head back, sticking her tongue out at him through the gap in the door. Then Axion gave a joking jab to Lexus¡¯ side, causing him to cast a glare towards him as he rubbed his side.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You should live more modestly.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If that were possible, do you really think I¡¯d be living my life like this?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°That¡¯s true. Then at least keep out of trouble, okay?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    But he said that very insincerely. Axion took his hand, ruffling up Lexus¡¯ hair in a teasing manner, causing his neat blond hair to become messy.


    [Lexus] ¡°Am I a kid?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°A kid would understand.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Quit nagging me. I¡¯m going.¡±


    Leaving behind the sound of his brother clicking his tongue loudly, Lexus turned on his heel, heading off towards his palace. He¡¯d spent so long at the main palace that by the time he returned, it was already dark.


    Throwing off his jacket, his butler, Hugo smiled kindly as he received it.


    [Hugo] ¡°You¡¯ve returned, Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hmph.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°I will prepare your shower and then your meal.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t want to eat. I don¡¯t have an appetite.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Then I will have something simple made.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright.¡±


    The servants crowded around him and helped him take off his clothing.


    Truth be told, he felt like this was a troublesome and unnecessary thing, but he had no choice but to let it happen. Something like this was considered an old tradition, burned into the position of a Prince. Once he was fully unclothed, he brought his body under the pouring water.


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯You¡¯re able to speak so freely. You must have broken a tongue.¡¯


    Lexus widened his eyes, roughly looking up, but what met him was his own reflection in the mirror, showing his well-kept blond hair, scattered across his forehead.


    He was more shocked than he thought he was. He wiped his hand across the mirror, clearing away the humidity, and what he saw now was the him that was worth the praise of everyone.


    He swept his fingers along the cheek that received the vicious slap, but there was no sign of it left and it didn¡¯t hurt in the slightest. Pulling back, he threw on a robe and left the bathroom.


    Lexus sat down on the sofa, eating a little bit of the food that Hugo brought. Upon the silver tray was an ornate and gracefully made silver fork, but he was too lazy to even pick it up right now. Instead, he ate like it was finger food, tossing pieces into his mouth.


    [Servant] ¡°I will dry your hair for you.¡±


    It was incredibly irritating to have several people gather just to undress him, but it was fine when he needed people to deal with his hair. Though honestly, even that was irritating today.


    Losing his appetite after eating so little, Lexus threw himself back on to the sofa, but then jumped right back up and sat on the bed.


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯You¡¯re able to speak so freely. You must have broken a tongue.¡¯


    Why can¡¯t I stop thinking about that?


    Those words were so shocking, he could hardly believe it. All he could really do was laugh, but with enough time, he couldn¡¯t even do that anymore.


    And that was because no matter how hard he tried to ignore them, those words would not stop echoing in his ears all night.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The Principal and the professors gathered within the Principal¡¯s office at the Academy.


    They sat at a roundtable, one that lacked a head seat. They touted their equality rules within the Academy, and thus could not have a head seat in a place where there was to be no status among the students.


    And the reason why the Academy board gathered so suddenly when they usually only met twice a year was because something happened that afternoon.


    [Principal] ¡°What should we do about this situation?¡±


    The Principal spoke with a gloomy voice, letting out a isgh.


    Such a sigh was unavoidable. It wasn¡¯t just a few students who saw the Prince being slapped within the Academy. It happened right there in the main entrance, where countless students witnessed the terrible deed.


    [Principal] ¡°What do you all think?¡±


    [Professor] ¡°We must deal with this in accordance with the Academy guidelines.¡±


    The Academy¡¯s rules were a matter of concern for them. When the suggestion of merely following the usual protocol came up, another professor responded sharply.


    [Professor] ¡°According to the guidelines, this would be considered a minor dispute among students, so are you suggesting we should mediate the conflict and simply move on?¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Is there any reason why we shouldn¡¯t? This is something that exists between the students.¡±


    This was a situation that called for delicacy.


    If it weren¡¯t for that, they could simply charge the student responsible with contempt and assault of a member of the Imperial family. However, if it was a simple fight between students, then the excessive punishment could lower the Academy¡¯s reputation.


    There was too much of a grey area.


    If they don¡¯t treat this with the severity fitting of an Imperial royal, then the Imperial family was sure to take notice. But at the same time, if they punished the student too severely, then the Academy would be seen as falling to the whims of the Imperials.


    They had been delicately protecting their precious education system, so if it suddenly became rumored that they were bowing to power, that very system would collapse. The respect they had garnered for being professors who fostered equality would crumble and their roots would die.


    [Professor Morit] ¡°But the person who was struck was the Imperial Prince. We cannot let this pass.¡±


    However, the student that was slighted was one that could not be treated using the Academy guidelines. It was the Imperial Prince of all people, well deserved slap or not.


    [Principal] ¡°Then what do you want me to do? Expel Miss Valentia from the Academy?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Is that not the correct course of action?¡±


    Some at the Academy were proud of their position, viewing this place as an honorable one where they could teach students, but there were also many who were still wary of the Imperial family.


    One of them was Professor Morit. After Valentia slapped the Prince, he wanted to expel her in order to quickly cover up the problem.


    [Professor] ¡°But she is an honest student. She¡¯s more focused and motivated in her studies than anyone else. How could we expel such a student?¡±


    Back and forth their arguments went, and the meeting only went on longer the more they failed to reach a conclusion.


    [Professor] ¡°Has anyone contacted the Imperial family?¡±


    One the professors thought it might be a good idea to look at what the Imperial intends to do, following up the conversation with a question.


    [Principal] ¡°I received a message as soon as it happened.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°From the Imperial family?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°To put it bluntly, they stated they did not care what happened.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°It¡¯s exactly as it sounds. They told the Academy to handle it at our discretion.¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Does that mean they won¡¯t ever care about it? But look at what¡¯s happened!¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Do you intend to insult the Imperial family?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Insult? How could you think that of me?¡±


    Professor Morit had always been wary of the Imperial family, and once he was asked if he was insulting them, he widened his eyes and quickly stepped back.


    [Professor] ¡°Then do not interpret the words of the Imperial family however you wish. Keep your dignity as a professor of this Academy.¡±


    Those words were harsh enough to cast Professor Morit into silence.


    At this rate, if the honor and dignity kept by the professors was damaged, life within the walls of the Academy would quickly become difficult.


    [Principal] ¡°We cannot come to a conclusion like this.¡±


    The Principal muttered in a heavy voice.


    [Professor] ¡°Then what shall we do, Principal?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°I¡¯m saying this is an issue that we cannot conclude easily.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Are you saying we should just leave it as is?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°That won¡¯t be possible.¡±


    Even so, they could not leave this alone, moving on while doing nothing. Other students would notice how quietly this passed by, and it could potentially set a dangerous precedent later on down the road.


    [Principal] ¡°For now, let us call upon the two people involved in this situation tomorrow. Be sure to call them in when neither of them are in lectures to ensure there are no abnormalities within their records.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°What will you do then?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°I will listen to their stories. Perhaps they can simply apologize and move on from this.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Hah, hopefully.¡±


    The meeting was terribly long, but it was dense with nothing.


    They came to no meaningful conclusion, and the rare case of an Imperial family member being slapped ended like that, causing the problem to deepen.


    * * *

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia went to the station to rent a carriage.


    Normally, one¡¯s family would send a carriage to receive them in front of the Academy, but the Baron never did. Valentia always needed to rent one at the station.


    What did I just do?


    But she made a serious mess. One so terrible she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it.


    She knew she should¡¯ve put up with it. She was mad, but she should¡¯ve just endured it. What she should¡¯ve done was calmly hand over the handkerchief, passing it over to the Prince and turned away without reacting in the slightest to his words.


    Just like she always did, calmly tuning out the words of those around her.


    [Valentia] ¡°How has your day been?¡±


    Once she came within view of the station, a small puppy ran up to her. It was a little dog with golden fur, jumping up around her feet. The dog welcomed Valentia with such a vigorous tail wag, it was like it might fall off.


    [Valentia] ¡°You like dog food, don¡¯t you?¡±


    [Dog] ¡°Bark¡ª!¡±


    Understanding aside, the dark barked at Valentia¡¯s words all the same. Even as the dog wagged his tail like crazy, Valentia did not go to pat his head.


    Instead, she smiled a little, patting down her skirt as she knelt down next to him. When she set out some of the food she brough, the dog immediately threw his head down and started digging in.


    [Valentia] ¡°Eat slowly.¡±


    But the dog, unable to understand the language of humans, continued to eat frantically.


    This was a stray puppy that lived near the station. His mother used to be around as well, and she was also a stray who lived in this area. Valentia always paid close attention to the sight of a dog carrying around her small, newly born pup.


    It happened one day.


    As she was renting out a carriage to return home, she heard a sound. A thumping sound.


    The dog¡¯s mother had been run over by one of the carriages as it was departing, and she was left there even after the carriage had gone. The remainder of her life was not long, and she died shortly thereafter. Next to her was her baby, left to cry.


    And from then on, Valentia provided the puppy with food.


    She wanted to take him home with her, but she couldn¡¯t.


    That was why she did not give this dog a name, and though he looked up at her with such dark and tearful eyes, she did not pet him even once.


    [Valentia] ¡°You and I are the same.¡±


    No mother and no place to go.


    [Valentia] ¡°What do I do?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d be expelled at this rate.


    Obviously slapping a male student was not cause for expulsion, but that was only the case when the man in question wasn¡¯t the Prince.


    At the time, she merely passed it off as a conflict between students, but no matter how the Academy liked to act, his existence and status was an avoidable thing, even to Valentia. They had to be cautious of the Imperial family.


    She needed to graduate, but now she¡¯d invited trouble into her life. She didn¡¯t regret hitting him even a little bit, but this was a difficult time for things to get out of hand.


    And it likely wouldn¡¯t end with simple discipline.


    That arrogant, cold, and dirty Prince wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with ending it there. Her head was already spinning thinking of this story somehow reaching the Baron¡¯s ears.


    If this turned into a big deal and the Imperial family got involved, the Baron would just kick her out in order to solve the problem quickly. The Academy might even expel her and what use would her role as the top student be then?


    Having finished his meal, the dog hopped up, struggling to his feet.


    [Valentia] ¡°Are you done?¡±


    [Dog] ¡°Bark, bark¡ª!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then, I will see you tomorrow.¡±


    Though the dog was clearly asking for pats, Valentia stood up from her place, leaving the dog behind. He ran along with her, and she coldly told him not to follow her, quickly entering the carriage.


    The whole ride back to the barony, her heart was incredibly heavy.


    She paid the coachman and then got off once they reached the main gate of the mansion. They were not the family carriage and they could not go past this point, so Valentia had to pass through the garden from here to enter the mansion.


    [Selina] ¡°I really like today¡¯s dress.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Do you like it that much?¡±


    [Selina] ¡°Yes!¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°I should have bought you some shoes and gloves to match, then.¡±


    [Selina] ¡°Let¡¯s go out again tomorrow!¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do that.¡±


    There was an innocent and bright voice, mixing in with cuteness that was filled with joy. Arriving just in time, she ran into the Baron¡¯s wife and her second sibling, who were returning to the mansion by carriage.


    The expressions of the Baroness and her half-sister Selina as they got off the carriage immediately stiffened when they saw her. Anyone seeing them now would think they had an awful day.


    [Valentia] ¡°I have returned. I welcome you home, as well.¡±


    Valentia bowed her head to say hello, but naturally there was no response coming back. She held the name of Syner, but she was not a part of this house. She was never a true member of their family.


    Baron Syner, her father, was not happy when she was born. He clicked his tongue, loudly complaining that she wasn¡¯t a man. Though to be perfectly honest, she wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be happy even if she were.


    In fact, things were probably better for her since she was a woman. Had she been born male, there was a large chance she would have been killed by now to prevent her from threatening her first sibling, Edward¡¯s position.


    [Valentia] ¡°Did you go shopping?¡±


    [Selina] ¡°Why are you talking to me? Gross.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Selina.¡±


    [Selina] ¡°Yes, mother.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°A lady should not speak to herself like this.¡±


    When Selina cut back to her in a voice filled with displeasure, the Baroness quietly pushed her along. But her words were no kinder. It was just that, rather than clear disdain, they were words that wrote off Valentia¡¯s entire existence.


    It would¡¯ve been nice if she could live in the dormitory, but unfortunately, those were meant only for the commoner students. Otherwise, she would not be here right now.


    She wanted to leave this family after graduating from the Academy with high marks, but after what happened today, she might¡¯ve accidentally forced her future to a grinding halt. And if she wasn¡¯t lucky, she might¡¯ve destroyed it entirely.


    With a sigh, Valentia went to her room.


    Everything there was small.


    Unlike the Baroness and her two younger siblings who changed the furniture in their rooms every year, Valentia kept everything exactly the same from what she had when she was young.


    They were all old and broken down, everything making some kind of squeaking noise.


    The bed was no different. As Valentia laid down on the bed without getting changed, she tossed and turned, causing that annoying squeaking sound to touch her ears.


    I have a headache.


    Valentia closed her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t sleep.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Normally she was very happy to go to the Academy.


    She was alone either way, but it was better than being at the barony. The stinging eyes of others was a more comfortable feeling than the cold treatment she received from her family.


    But today, her steps were heavy. As soon as she entered the lecture hall, she could feel the eyes being drawn to her. And before it could even begin, the professor¡¯s assistant informed Valentia that classes had been canceled for the day.


    [Assistant] ¡°Miss Valentia. Please head to the office.¡±


    After organizing her textbook and writing tools, Valentia stood up from her seat. To think it would take slapping someone just to enter the staff office. She wasn¡¯t even allowed entry when she earned her scholarship.


    Again, Valentia sighed.


    Once she got there, she hesitated because she knew she could not enter recklessly, but unfortunately, the victim of this very incident was also waiting there. The Prince.


    That smooth and handsome face was no different from usual. If she had held back or his face had at least a little swelling, things might¡¯ve felt a little less unfair, but his face was just as clear and perfect as it always was.


    When they made eye contact, they awkwardly looked at each other, and then bowed their heads slightly.


    [Lexus] ¡°You were called, too.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    Valentia bit her lip slightly when the Prince was the first to speak.


    She naturally thought he wouldn¡¯t talk to her, so she casually ignored him when she walked in, but when he ended up saying something first, she felt a little lost.


    [Lexus] ¡°Shall we go in?¡±


    She needed to apologize. She didn¡¯t feel sorry at all, but she needed to apologize right this instant if she wanted this to come to a peaceful resolution.


    Only then would she be allowed to graduate from the Academy without this problem getting any bigger.


    But she wasn¡¯t the only one who did something wrong. All she wanted to do was return the handkerchief she picked up by chance but then he started randomly spewing all these horrible words at her.


    And so she didn¡¯t feel sorry and she didn¡¯t regret hitting him.


    Deep inside herself, she really didn¡¯t want to apologize, so in the end, her mouth wouldn¡¯t open.


    While Valentia was hesitating, the Prince turned his head back first. Then he knocked on the door to the office.


    [Principal] ¡°Come in.¡±


    Once someone called out to them from within, the Prince opened the door and inside were the Principal and a few professors, gathered at a round table.


    [Principal] ¡°You¡¯re coming in together. Just in time.¡±


    Two chairs were set in between the professors, outside of the round table¡ªperhaps because they unconsciously understood they couldn¡¯t force the Prince to stand but they certainly could not have a member of the Imperial family seated at the round table.


    [Principal] ¡°Let¡¯s sit down.¡±


    On cue, everyone carefully sat down.


    [Principal] ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have called the both of you so suddenly.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°I trust you understand why you¡¯re here? About yesterday.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°The punishment for violent acts within the Academy¡­..¡±


    The board meeting yesterday was intense.


    Usually in cases like this, one would simply need to acknowledge their wrong doing, reflect on their actions, and apologize to the victim in question. Regardless of whether or not the apology was accepted, the culprit would then be asked to do some volunteer work within the Academy.


    But the victim this time was the Prince.


    This caused such an upset that they couldn¡¯t move on from it so nicely. She was starting to regret her earlier silence. She should have apologized by the door, even if she had to pull the words out of thin air.


    But there was nothing to be done. No matter how she thought about things, she really felt like she didn¡¯t do anything wrong.


    Moreover, the arrogant and rude Prince would never let this go, even if she apologized. Valentia had no choice but to argue her case, fighting against the Prince¡¯s cruel and unreasonable language towards her. If she was going down, then by all means, she¡¯d take him down with her.


    The injustice would be enough to kill her if she were the only one getting expelled from this.


    Valentia squeezed out a desperate voice.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yesterday was just a simple quarrel between students.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°But there was violence involved. Everyone saw you slap the Prince in the face, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But it seems unfair to treat us as if we were not equally involved in what happened.¡±


    The professor that was usually sympathetic to Valentia nodded.


    [Professor Morit] ¡°But who was the one who got hit? Was it not one of the most noble men in the entirety of the Empire?¡±


    Meanwhile, another professor proudly stuck up for Lexus.


    He was the professor who was criticized during their earlier meeting for too plainly trying to take the side of the Imperial family. This was all just a big show, trying to make a clear impression on a royal.


    [Valentia] ¡°On that matter, yesterday, I confirmed that the person involved was also a student. Didn¡¯t I?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Are you trying to force an answer out of the Prince right now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Within the Academy, is he even a Prince¡­.¡±


    It was right when Valentia was about to argue, that the Prince scoffed, only then speaking like he found this whole thing too absurd.


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    * * *

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    *


    * * *


    *


    This Prince was apparently determined to kick her out of this Academy. Valentia bit her lip, quietly and inwardly panicking about how she could get him to stay quiet.


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you mean, violence? That seems a little excessive.¡±


    But what the Prince said instead was unexpected.


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Wha, Prince Lexus? What are you talking about?¡±


    Both the professor and Valentia were confused. Neither of them could exactly pinpoint where he was going with this. Was he trying to manipulate things using this violence incident? They didn¡¯t understand what he was up to.


    [Lexus] ¡°It was just a small little fight, but now you¡¯re trying to make this into some kind of assault case.¡±


    So he was saying that it¡­¡­wasn¡¯t an assault case? Was it okay for her to assume that? It sounded like that was what he was saying.


    But a Prince like him had no reason to argue like that. Even if he thought he was partially responsible for what happened and that Valentia was not in the wrong by herself, slapping an Imperial family member was still a major incident.


    Depending on how the Prince worded things, it was very likely that one of them would be expelled, and it wouldn¡¯t be him.


    He was a man rude and awful enough to spit out such cruel words at her without any provocation. Since he was slapped, it was only natural to think he would try and take her down for this.


    But no matter how many times she went over his words in her head, it really sounded like he was taking her side.


    [Professor Morit] ¡°No, but to slap a Prince, that¡­¡­.¡±


    Hearing Professor Morit use that word again, the Prince frowned for a second. And seeing a royal show him such a clear expression of displeasure, even Professor Morit¡¯s prideful face fell away like dust.


    Perhaps he was speaking too openly about it. While it was true that the Prince was slapped, it was a little unbelievable to use that word in front of him like that. But the professor didn¡¯t understand that meaning just from looking at the Prince, and so his face simply turned pale.


    [Lexus] ¡°And this student is right. Why do you keep mentioning my status as a Prince? When I am here, can I even be called that?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Tell me. Where are we?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°Uh, the Academy?¡±


    The professor answered in a daze.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s right. This is the Academy, where all students are equal. That was the first rule that was dictated by the founder who first formed the Academy. Am I wrong?¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°No, you are correct, but you are still a Prince¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How is it appropriate to wield my status like this? Do you feel the same, Principal?¡±


    Lexus suddenly threw his words at the Principal, looking straight at him.


    The Prince was well known for his handsome and blindingly brilliant face, but as everyone looked at him now, there was nothing but a terrifying and frigid cold over it. It was enough dignity that it could make anyone¡¯s spine shiver.


    [Principal] ¡°No. I believe all students are equal.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you being partial to me due to my position as a Prince?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°But still, it is considered a violent offense to slap another student in the face.¡±


    The professor protested again, but Lexus responded just as quickly.


    [Lexus] ¡°I made a mistake. Getting hit was a small price to pay.¡±


    [Professor Morit] ¡°No, but still, the Prince¡¯s cheek¡­¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯d appreciate it if we could just let this be water under the bridge instead of blowing it out of proportion.¡±


    He was saying that the Academy should not treat this situation according to the Academy rules, forgoing any sort of punishment. Here, he was just a student, and there was no such thing as expulsion for a mere squabble between students.


    But if that¡¯s what he wanted to say, this was an odd way of putting it.


    He was claiming to be just a student, and yet he was forcing them all to move past this. That was not something an ordinary student could say against the entirety of the Academy, but at the same time, no one could say a word against him.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    As soon as they left the office, Valentia said that.


    When she arrived, she was terrified¡ªworried about what kind of punishment she would get. She was praying against all hope that she wouldn¡¯t face expulsion but luckily, things ended so smoothly, it was almost boring.


    [Lexus] ¡°For what?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Things ended quietly. And thanks to your words, I was not punished. Goodbye now.¡±


    But just as Valentia was trying to escape quickly, Lexus called out to her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia? Your name is Valentia, right?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    Honestly, Valentia didn¡¯t wish to exchange any kind of words with such a troublesome Prince.


    But at the same time, she could not deny that he¡¯d helped her, so with great reluctance, she stopped and turned around.


    [Lexus] ¡°Can I talk to you for a second?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Talk?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing, but is it alright?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t alright, but she was also guilty of a mistake, so she couldn¡¯t ignore a seemingly simple request to chat like this.


    Valentia sighed, gesturing towards him.


    [Lexus] ¡°I made a mistake yesterday. Now that I think about it, I was probably way too harsh.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, you were.¡±


    Inwardly, that surprised Lexus a little bit.


    Normally, most people would probably say something like Oh, no or Oh, it¡¯s fine, but instead this woman calmly agreed with him.


    Actually, if it were a normal person he was interacting with, no matter how absolutely infuriated they were, they would never deign to slap the Imperial Prince in the face like that.


    And just now, he remembered what this woman said to him, too.


    She said that he was able to speak so freely because he had a broken tongue, didn¡¯t she? It was his first time hearing something like that and it was definitely not the kind of thing that would come out of the mouth of a noble.


    It was so ridiculous that even as her voice replayed vividly while he lay in bed, he had to laugh about it for a bit. Lexus had never heard anyone say anything remotely cruel to him before, so he felt shocked, even though he was the one who had used cruel language towards her first.


    [Lexus] ¡°But weren¡¯t you rude, too?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, I was.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So why don¡¯t we just forgive each other?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a single cent¡¯s worth of sincerity or heart in her answer, but Lexus still held onto it, responding in a soft voice.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then why don¡¯t we go grab a meal together?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    Again with that.


    She should¡¯ve said something like Yes, why don¡¯t we? but instead he was getting a different answer than he expected. It was vague, too, neither agreeing nor rejecting him. No, actually, it was probably closer to a near rejection.


    And so Lexus was set back again. He was someone who¡¯d never been rejected when he offered to take a woman out.


    [Lexus] ¡°Uh, because it¡¯s around lunchtime? It¡¯ll be my treat.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, it¡¯s because I acted rude.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. And we agreed to let bygones be bygones.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true, but I¡¯m really sorry. So let me do this for you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m rather busy. Goodbye.¡±


    Valentia gave a nod of her head, then walked right past him. Lexus stood there, still a little shocked before turning around and following after her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m curious.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The Academy¡¯s dining hall.¡±


    He¡¯d heard the Academy had a dining hall before, though he¡¯d never been there himself.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why else would someone go to the dining hall? I want to eat.¡±


    Valentia was uncomfortable.


    But she was practical and now that she was thinking about it, this was a case of a student saying they were going to the dining hall to eat a meal, so she couldn¡¯t exactly tell him not to go.


    [Valentia] ¡°Then go.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t know the way there.¡±


    He said that with such confidence, too.


    Without saying anything back, Valentia took a step forward. The sensation of this man¡¯s presence, hovering behind her as he followed her was extremely unpleasant.


    When they arrived at the dining hall, the staff there greeted her as they usually did.


    [Staff] ¡°Is that you, Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, hello.¡±


    When Valentia went to grab a plate and a set of tableware, the Prince followed her and did the same, but he looked so awkward when he did it that she nearly cracked a smile without even realizing it.


    But even right then, it was undeniable that he was a handsome man. It was a little unfair how he could look so cool even when he was just holding a plate.


    [Staff] ¡°You have to eat a lot, Miss Valentia. And aren¡¯t you the Prince?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, I¡¯m Lexus.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Nah, you¡¯re definitely the Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Aren¡¯t you aware that all are equal within the Academy?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Oh, I must¡¯ve made a mistake. Eat a lot too, Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s Lexus.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Ah, right. Lex¡­¡­Right.¡±


    Aside from the professors, all the staff among the Academy were commoners. There were not many times when a noble appeared within the dining hall, and even if they happened to occupy the same space as a commoner, the nobles rarely spared them a greeting.


    So of course it was a little shocking to see a member of the Imperial family within the dining hall.


    They couldn¡¯t call Lexus by his name, but at the same time, they couldn¡¯t help but wonder what this man was doing here of all places.


    [Staff] ¡°Are you and the Prince close, Miss Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No, we¡¯re not close.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°So why is he following you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know. I will eat properly. Thank you.¡±


    As Valentia spoke politely, the staff quietly pulled themselves to their senses, giving her her share of food. Then she headed off to a place that was free of most people and sat down.


    And the Prince followed her and sat directly across from her.


    [Lexus] ¡°This is my first time eating here.¡±


    When he went to tear apart the bread with both hands, the movement was somehow graceful and elegant.


    Now that Valentia was thinking about it, this was her first time eating with someone just across from her like this¡ªface to face. But she didn¡¯t mention that. Instead, Valentia focused down on her meal rather than responding.


    [Lexus] ¡°Did you always eat here?¡±


    But then Lexus picked up what Valentia had put down, carrying on the conversation in a way that made it impossible to ignore.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do I have to tell you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I guess not. But the food here is more edible than I thought it would be.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know if he was being serious when he said that, but it didn¡¯t really matter either way.


    [Valentia] ¡°You.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Call me Lexus.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    Lexus was taken aback by the simple question of ¡®why¡¯, especially since her tone made it sound like she was looking to pick a fight with him.


    [Lexus] ¡°You can¡¯t keep calling me ¡®you¡¯.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°There¡¯s no need to call the name of someone I have no intention of ever meeting again.¡±


    Valentia did not wish to eat while talking to this handsome, troublesome, and ill-tempered Prince ever again.


    [Valentia] ¡°I know you think I did something wrong, so you feel bad since I¡¯m not apologizing, but it¡¯s not as though I¡¯m denying my own rudeness. So I just don¡¯t want to be involved with you anymore.¡±


    When she said this, Valentia spoke very firmly towards Lexus, drawing a very clear line.


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play around with you and I do not wish to get to know you any further. Goodbye.¡±


    After finishing her meal, Valentia stood up from her seat, returned her plate, and casually walked off. All the while leaving Lexus behind once more, staring blankly at her back.


    * * *

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    *


    * * *


    *


    On the way to the dining hall, Lexus was spotted by Tex and a few of his buddies.


    As if wordlessly telling them to pretend not to know him, Lexus brought a single finger to his lips, forcing them quiet. Tex blinked before gesturing to the other two with him to shut up.


    He waved his hands at them, telling them to disappear, but they had already been trained to match Lexus¡¯ rhythm by now, so they casually tailed him.


    And after reaching the dining hall they¡¯d never been to before, they sat at a table distant from where Valentia and Lexus were. The two of them sat together and even ate together. But then Valentia proclaimed that they would never meet again and disappeared.


    Once the coast was clear, they stood up and began to fill in the seats next to and in front of Lexus, essentially surrounding him.


    [Tex] ¡°Come on. What did you guys talk about?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t sit any closer because then it would look too suspicious, but because of that, he didn¡¯t catch even a whisper of their conversation. And that only served to worsen his curiosity.


    Lexus was grinning like a loon the entire time, but the Iron Maiden¡¯s expression was stiff. He felt like he was going crazy wondering what was going on with them.


    But one thing was definitely certain.


    The Prince just got rejected.


    Otherwise, there¡¯d be no reason for the person he was sitting and eating with, face to face, to get up and leave like that. Now he was really interested to know how that happened. Yesterday, Lexus was talking such a big game, so it was curious what kind of thing the Iron Maiden could say to Lexus that would crush him like that.


    [Tex] ¡°You got rejected again, Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Rejected by the same woman twice. It¡¯s almost amazing.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Who got rejected?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Why else would the lady get up and leave first in the middle of her meal?¡±


    The two of them were sitting together and one of them ended up leaving first. With that kind of situation, it was only obvious to think he¡¯d gotten rejected. Any other kind of thought would be weird.


    [Lexus] ¡°We just¡­talked.¡±


    But no one believed that.


    Lexus got up from his seat, dumping the rest of his food into the leftover trash and throwing down his meal tray¡ªtableware and all. The sound of the tableware hitting against the dish repository was loud.


    [Tex] ¡°Where are you heading off to? Today¡¯s lectures have all been canceled.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s there to do at the Palace? Let¡¯s go to a club.¡±


    The club was a place where students from the Academy gathered, and it began only once the lectures were complete. It was a highly exclusive organization meant only for noblemen, and not somewhere that a common or ordinary person could enter.


    If the Academy was an official social place, then the club was an unofficial one.


    [Lexus] ¡°Not interested.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°We could play billiards? Or maybe some cards.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Or we could drink.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m curious to know why you¡¯re so eager to get me to go.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°When the Prince is with us, lots of people end up showing up and it¡¯s always fun.¡±


    Even if Lexus were not a Prince, he was still an incredibly attractive man. He was not only attractive due to his handsome appearance that could make even a man¡¯s heart flutter, but his personality was easy-going and made for good company.


    And of course, his popularity and success with women earned him additional points in the eyes of his fellow men.


    In the end, Lexus couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue against the whims of his three friends, and went with them without fighting any further.


    Once they arrived, Lexus¡¯ presence was immediately known. Everyone there approached him, clamoring to get a word in. He smiled and spoke politely, but once he sat down somewhere, people gave him his space and not one person dared to come close.


    Then Arthur and Ruth excused themselves, saying they¡¯d go get their drinks.


    [Lexus] ¡°Did you get home safely yesterday, Tex?¡±


    As if he was suddenly reminded of it, Lexus turned to Tex.


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, once my mother returned home, I paid dearly for my transgressions, believe me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then why did you run? If we had entered the Imperial Palace together, my mother might¡¯ve been able to dissuade some of Duchess Langbell¡¯s anger.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I would¡¯ve just gotten scolded again once we returned. Better to get it all out in one go, right?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t wrong, so Lexus chuckled.


    Even if the Empress managed to shield him while he was at the Imperial Palace, no doubt the Duchess would¡¯ve beaten him down with her words on their return trip home.


    Just then, Arthur and Ruth were returning, shaking their heads as they carried glasses of alcohol in their hands.


    [Arthur] ¡°Our Prince certainly is something.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s with the unnecessary praise?¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°There¡¯s already rumors going around that you got rejected back in the dining hall.¡±


    The goddamn Academy. Rumors spread stupidly fast there, and sometimes, Lexus felt that the people¡¯s excessive interest in him and his life was irritating.


    [Tex] ¡°Alright, sit down. It¡¯s weird if you keep standing like that.¡±


    Feeling unbelievably peeved right now as the news scratched his nerves, Lexus snatched a glass from Ruth, downing the entire drink in one go. But when that wasn¡¯t enough, he took Ruth¡¯s glass too and downed it again, following shortly after the first.


    The alcohol burned and it set fire to his stomach.


    [Tex] ¡°But the Iron Maiden isn¡¯t ordinary either. Angry or not, slapping a Prince in the face is crazy. She made you say you weren¡¯t a Prince with your own mouth and then slapped you.¡±


    It was a pretty smart move, all things considered. Still, it was a bit strange to carve out an escape route before committing the crime. Didn¡¯t that mean she understood that what she was doing was wrong and yet did it anyway? It wasn¡¯t normal to clearly state her crime before going off and hitting someone.


    But she did that, all so she could slap the Prince in the face.


    [Lexus] ¡°I wonder how she managed to stay quiet this whole time.¡±


    She must¡¯ve always had that kind of personality, but she was hiding it all along. Or maybe she really was the quiet type, and her slapping him was merely a testament of just how angry she was. Angry enough to override her quiet personality.


    But looking at what she said today, she definitely was hiding her true self. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to so freely say everything she wanted to say in front of him.


    [Tex] ¡°That reminds me.¡±


    Tex moved closer, speaking casually but subtly.


    [Tex] ¡°Don¡¯t you want to take the Iron Maiden?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°The Iron Maiden doesn¡¯t deal with men or women, much less have any friends. Wouldn¡¯t it be interesting to conquer her?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°More than a few men got flatly rejected after pursuing her, but you¡¯re not like those guys, now are you, Prince? Or wait, didn¡¯t you also get rejected? Not only that, but you even got slapped.¡±


    He playfully kept trying to scratch Lexus¡¯ nerves, rattling off insult after insult, but Lexus remained quiet and dull.


    [Tex] ¡°So why don¡¯t you try seducing her?¡±


    That was something he¡¯d never thought about doing. But even as Tex tried to bait and provoke him into following this thread, Lexus didn¡¯t seem to find the idea all that appealing.


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Funnily enough, he¡¯d never actually seduced anyone before.


    There was no shortage of women who were interested in him, so he never had to bother with those kinds of tactics. In fact, there were so many women around him that it was enough to exhaust him.


    [Lexus] ¡°What will you give me if I do it?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If this is like a bet, then you need to wager something.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°No, you¡¯re asking too much.¡± (1)


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Why? Not confident?¡±


    He tried provoking him, but it wasn¡¯t so great that it couldn¡¯t be overlooked.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you really think you can goad me that easily?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Damn, I thought that would work. What do you want?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much of a point of getting anything out of you. Like trying to take the liver from a flea.¡±


    He knew he was the one who mentioned it first, but Tex felt a little crummy being treated like a flea.


    But he eventually came around to the idea that it was better being treated like a flea than having to hang such an eye-catching prize before the Prince¡¯s eyes.


    [Tex] ¡°Right? Between you and me, I¡¯ve got nothing of value to wager.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But, without proper motivation, I have no reason to do this. So I¡¯d like to get something in return for my efforts.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, I¡¯m dead serious. Or have you forgotten what happened in the main entrance of the Academy yesterday?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Dammit, I should¡¯ve saved your face somehow. Fine, what do you want to bet?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I heard you recently built a villa by the lake in the Hector area. Bet that.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°If it¡¯s just that, then fine.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And as an added measure, throw in the surrounding area too. Of course that includes the lake.¡±


    Tex threw out the bait in order to scratch the pride of the ever popular Prince, but now that he was being roped into betting a great reward, he immediately frowned. But if he pulled back now, no doubt his cheeky friend would tease him by saying his contribution was about as big as a flea.


    Any time they made wagers, Tex would always come out the loser, so naturally losing was something he was worried about. But this time, he had a serious chance of winning.


    The Iron Maiden was a woman who slapped the Prince and rejected him twice. It was obvious she loathed Lexus, so there was actually a chance he could win this.


    And if Lexus ended up getting rejected by the same woman three times in a row, he would be able to poke fun at him for it for the rest of his life. Thinking about that, the loss of a lakeside villa didn¡¯t really feel like that big of a price.


    The Prince was an expensive man, so if he didn¡¯t put up at least that much, he wouldn¡¯t be able to place his bet on the board. And considering this woman had continually shut down the Prince, coming out victorious two out of two times, so he could put his faith in a third.


    [Tex] ¡°Do you have any idea how much that property costs?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You should be prepared to lose that much if you want me to take the bait.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Then what will you bet?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Anything you want.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Anything?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Just say it.¡±


    Tex thought for a moment, getting lost in the ideas. What was the best thing he could obtain from the Imperial Prince himself?


    Material objects? No, that wasn¡¯t the right thing.


    This handsome Prince was a man lacking in nothing, so he wasn¡¯t sure what he could take from him that could be considered precious. He was an arrogant bastard, but even that arrogance was loved because he was so attractive.


    For him, material objects were not a precious matter. If they were, he wouldn¡¯t be so eager to bet. He would neatly give away money, land, or jewelry if need be. He needed to have him bet something that couldn¡¯t be given up so easily.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why do you look so worried? Do you really have that many things you want? Just tell me all of them.¡±


    Look, even now he was so arrogant.


    And right then, in that moment, a thought flashed through Tex¡¯s mind. A thought that could only be described as the devil¡¯s kindness.


    [Tex] ¡°I want you to say to me, ¡®I lost¡¯.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    Suddenly Lexus felt like the flames of the alcohol were burning again, rising sharply in his stomach.


    [Tex] ¡°¡®I lost¡¯. I just want you to say that one thing.¡±


    Lexus was a little bewildered to hear this kind of condition. Honestly, he¡¯d rather Tex just ask for some of the riches being carried by the Imperial family, but he hardly expected this kind of bet.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is that what you want?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°That¡¯s all I want.¡±


    Now this was a bet Lexus definitely couldn¡¯t lose.


    It was one thing to have to give up material possessions in the event of a loss, but it was another thing entirely to wound his pride.


    Normally he would never have made such a stupid bet, but the circumstances were special this time. Never before had he had the unique experience of being rejected twice by the same woman. And within the span of two days, no less.


    Normally Lexus lacked energy and spunk, but this thought managed to spark the flames of his spirit.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. The bet is on.¡±


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The idiom being used here is lit. ¡°take (the/a) liver from flea(s)¡±, which essentially means someone is trying to get more than is possible. For Tex¡¯s line, I had to reword it since the idiom itself didn¡¯t make much sense in the sentence, but Lexus went on to throw it back in his face like that, so that¡¯s why they keep mentioning fleas.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello.¡±


    Valentia sat in the lecture hall, preparing to attend when someone called out to her with a low but pleasant voice.


    No one ever called out to her like this, so at first she was a little confused. Then she was confused again because the voice was somehow familiar and then a third wave of bewilderment hit her because this person¡¯s voice was also pleasant.


    [Valentia] ¡°What are you doing here? You don¡¯t take this lecture.¡±


    If this were one the Prince was attending, the hall would have been overflowing with students that the walls might¡¯ve burst. But even if it meant facing difficult studies and strict professors, it was all worth it if it meant being in the same room as the Prince.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m going to listen in on this lecture.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why are you suddenly trying to sneak in¡­¡­..Ah, nevermind.¡±


    Valentia suddenly stopped talking.


    She realized she was getting involved with him again, responding back to his words without even realizing it. But it was better for her to not even speak to this attractive troublemaker.


    That was a conclusion Valentia came to awhile ago.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why else would I? I want to take this lecture.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then please stop talking to me. You¡¯re interrupting my studies.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We¡¯re classmates now, and it¡¯s normal to chat with the person sitting next to you. There¡¯s no need to be so heartless.¡±


    Even though Valentia was acting cold, the Prince replied with a jovial voice.


    His attitude allowed him to so easily and gently work around her heartlessness, to the point where she felt embarrassed for having told him not to disturb her.


    Somehow, she was getting the strong sense that this would become a great hindrance to her. Wanting to make sure, Valentia decided to entertain his chattiness for a moment.


    [Valentia] ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said yesterday?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What? ¡®I don¡¯t have time to play around with you and I do not wish to get to know you any further. Goodbye.¡¯ Like that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh good, you remember it exactly.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But did I agree to that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I never said I¡¯d go along with that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me, Prince¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And didn¡¯t you say the other day that I shouldn¡¯t be called a Prince because I¡¯m a student while at the Academy? How can you call me that when you slapped me not too long ago?¡±


    The way he was talking was a strange mix of softness, playfulness, and a large heap of sarcasm. It was almost impressive, the level of skill required to sound like that. But regardless, he wasn¡¯t wrong, causing Valentia to bite her lip.


    Playful attitude or not, Valentia was realizing that this impressive Prince was quite the formidable opponent. With a glowing face, he had no qualms about repeating her words and throwing them back at her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I want to know why you¡¯re doing this. Are you hoping to get an apology from me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s the point in getting an apology from you if it¡¯s just going to be insincere?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°. . .¡±


    Seeing how her mouth was tightly shut, not even uttering the words ¡®sincere apology¡¯ to refute him, Lexus gave a laugh.


    But Lexus was no different. He apologized to her, but he did it so vaguely and insincerely that she didn¡¯t want to accept it. And now he was trying to have a bit of fun by cozying up to someone who so clearly didn¡¯t like him and wanted to be away from him.


    ¡­¡­.This man might be ruder than she originally thought.


    [Lexus] ¡°But what you said to me was very shocking.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What did I say?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡®You¡¯re able to speak so freely. You must have broken a tongue¡¯.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s what you said. I kept thinking about it, I couldn¡¯t even sleep at night.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡­.¡±


    Hearing what she said coming out of the mouth of another person, even she felt like it was a little harsh and untoward.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, but don¡¯t think I¡¯m complaining about it. I¡¯ll admit, I deserved to hear it.¡±


    Such arrogance, and she couldn¡¯t understand why he had to do this to her. But entertaining him was too much of a pain to deal with, and so she didn¡¯t say anything back.


    But unfortunately, thanks to him, the people around her were starting to pay more attention to her than usual, and that was beyond troublesome. And oh, how  Valentia disliked annoying things.


    Just in time, the professor entered the lecture hall, and Valentia kept her eyes trained forward.


    [Professor] ¡°I don¡¯t think you usually attend my lectures, do you?¡±


    The professor immediately noticed Lexus¡¯ presence.


    There were plenty of students enrolled in the Academy, so knowing the faces of every single one was difficult, if not impossible. But even so, there was no way the Prince would escape anyone¡¯s notice. Especially since he was sitting right in the front row like this. That would make even pretending not to see him difficult.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m in the mood to listen. That¡¯s cool, right?¡±


    [Professor] ¡°If a student is eager to learn, I cannot refuse.¡±


    Normally the seat next to Valentia was always empty, and she was realizing now that she had adapted too well to learning in those conditions. Now there was a tall man sitting next to her, so even when she kept looking forward, she could constantly see him in her peripheral vision, and he could not be more in the way.


    And this rogue student wasn¡¯t even listening to the lecture. She could feel his eyes boring into her the entire time.


    That was true of her first lecture, her second, lunchtime, and even her final lecture as well. Starting from the second lecture, she didn¡¯t even bother answering him when he spoke to her, but even so, Lexus was not deterred.


    [Lexus] ¡°Where are you off to now? Your lectures are all done for the day.¡±


    This was when Valentia reached a breaking point. How did he know she didn¡¯t have any more lectures for the rest of the day?


    The Prince¡¯s interest in her was suspicious, uncomfortable, and certainly unwelcome.


    [Valentia] ¡°How did you know that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I was interested, so I found out. So where are you going?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If you¡¯re so interested, then you probably already know.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The library?¡±


    She was annoyed he actually knew, so she glared at him before turning around and heading off to the library. Once there, she went to her usual spot.


    Perhaps it was originally a design error during its construction, but the library had these small spaces inlaid between the bookshelves. Someone must¡¯ve thought it was a shame to waste that space, so they fit a desk and two chairs in the empty spots.


    Valentia really liked it when she accidentally came across it one day. It was a nice little place to quietly study by herself.


    [Lexus] ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was a place like this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re not going to sit down, are you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why? I can¡¯t?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s uncomfortable.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The library is meant for public use, so bear with it.¡±


    With a smile, he calmly took the seat next to her, gesturing with his chin towards the table. Valentia stared at Lexus, eventually sitting down too. She did so with her head held high, for some reason feeling like she would lose if she avoided her seat.


    Valentia took her book out of her bag, turning it to the bookmarked page.


    But it wasn¡¯t just this man¡¯s presence that was bothering her. Soon enough, other troublesome things started rearing their ugly heads.


    This was making things very difficult.


    Not only was this man staring at her from the side, but other people were coming up too, watching the two of them through the gaps between the bookshelves.


    She knew he was popular, but doesn¡¯t this seem like too much?


    [Valentia] ¡°Can you go away?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Go where?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°To a different seat. There are a lot of empty ones.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s too crowded here.¡±


    There¡¯s too many people.


    [Lexus] ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡±


    Valentia understood what he meant by that right away. He meant that to mean he lived under these intense gazes all the time, so it was not worth mentioning. Already Valentia was so tired of this, so she didn¡¯t bother saying anything back.


    He has a greater presence than I thought.


    It was the same as when they were in the lecture hall, and she was becoming overly conscious of another person in the same space as her. And he wasn¡¯t even doing anything. He was just sitting there, staring at her.


    What is he even doing? Valentia just ignored the man sitting near her, focusing her attention on her writing.


    She could still feel his burning stare from the side, but eventually it became easy to ignore and focus on her book. And after focusing for a long time, Valenti rubbed the back of her neck with her hand.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re studying really hard.¡±


    Valentia gasped, surprised for a second as she looked up at the man in front of her.


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve been ignored so intensely.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, I suppose it would be.¡±


    Valentia listened to Lexus¡¯ words, in one ear and out the other as she organized her things and cleaned up her workspace. As she collected her bag and quietly went to leave the library, that man also followed her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Where are you going? Aren¡¯t you going home now?¡±


    She was still surprised at how he had memorized her schedule.


    [Valentia] ¡°How did you know that? Did you get my timetable from the assistants?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I just asked the other students and they told me.¡±


    She thought maybe he¡¯d used the power of the Imperial family to pressure the staff into giving up her schedule, but apparently that wasn¡¯t the case. If it had been, she probably would have gotten very angry.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why don¡¯t you ride a carriage on your way home?¡±


    It was a valid question, but it was one that no one had ever asked her before. It was, after all, the kind of question that would only be asked by those close to you, and Valentia had no one like that.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..I ride a common carriage.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s more comfortable. Goodbye.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Let me take you to the station.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re not honestly telling me to ride in an Imperial carriage to the station, are you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..Guess not. Then let me walk with you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s fine, have a good day.¡±


    There was a carriage marked with the Imperial crest waiting in front of the Academy for Lexus. Once the coachman caught sight of him, he opened the door, but Valentia couldn¡¯t hear the sound of him getting inside.


    Instead, the constant sound of footsteps chasing after her remained. With a sudden stop, Valentia sharply turned around.


    [Valentia] ¡°Stop following me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m not following you. I just so happen to be walking the same road.¡±


    And his excuse was something even an innocent child would not believe.


    [Valentia] ¡°Are you making fun of me right now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Valentia roughly turned away from Lexus, leaving him behind as she walked ahead with slower steps. It was just as she arrived at the station that the puppy who always found her easily came running.


    [Dog] ¡°Bark! Bark¡ª!¡±


    Every time, without fail, he would always do this. Whenever he saw her, he¡¯d run up to her with his short little legs, pushing himself as hard as he could. But he was on the other side of the road, and as he went to cross, it was at the exact same time that a carriage was starting down the street.


    Before she even realized what she was doing, Valentia threw her bag to the side and charged forward.


    * * *

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    *


    * * *


    *


    Without a thought in her head, she reached out and grabbed the dog. She didn¡¯t even think about whether she¡¯d have time to actually save him or if the situation was too dangerous for her to intervene.


    Seeing her rush out and then noticing the oncoming carriage, Lexus grit his teeth and ran. He held out his hand, reaching and pulling Valentia into his arms, throwing them both onto the ground.


    The carriage narrowly zipped past them as they safely rolled to the side. The incident was so sudden and loud that the people gathered at the station started buzzing.


    Shifting on the ground, Lexus looked down at the woman in his arms.


    At least she seemed to be okay. There were no major injuries from what he could tell. But the second he confirmed she was alright, Lexus felt a late sense of anger wash over him.


    What the hell was she thinking, jumping in front of a carriage like that!?


    No one would do something stupid like that unless they had a death wish. He¡¯d never been so shocked in his life before.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you crazy!? What, were you planning on dying for this dog!?¡±


    But the puppy being held by the woman couldn¡¯t shout back. All it could do was bark.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah¡­¡­..Prince?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you seriously out of your mind, jumping in front of a carriage for a dog?¡±


    Valentia looked down at the puppy in her arms. The puppy jumped up, barking and stamping his little feet.


    As soon as she saw the dog running in front of the oncoming carriage, her mind went blank. She didn¡¯t even realize what she had done until she was holding the dog in her arms, her ears being filled with the terrible sound of the carriage wheels getting closer.


    Once the carriage got louder, she just closed her eyes. But that was when she felt something powerful wrapping itself around her and hugging her tightly. Then there was the sensation of her body being rolled a few times, and then she felt like she was floating. But she didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    Though, she didn¡¯t think it would be the Prince who had grabbed her and rolled her to the side.


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re hurting me, Your Highness.¡±


    Valentia muttered in a daze.


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    He had his incredibly strong hands on her shoulders, and he was keeping her tightly in his grasp. At Valentia¡¯s words, Lexus sighed, finally relaxing his hands.


    [Valentia] ¡°You saved me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to see someone get hit by a carriage.¡±


    Valentia looked up at the Prince once more. He had bright and clear blond hair, with a handsome face no different from a painting. He was bright and brilliant, a vision of a nobleman.


    However, the only noble thing about him was his position and the circumstances of his birth. She did not consider his character to be a noble one at all. Even before she met him properly, she thought he was not a good person.


    He held no qualms about hurling verbal abuses at others and didn¡¯t spare a glance at the hearts of those who loved him sincerely. Not for even a moment did she think such a man would throw himself into danger for another person.


    He wasn¡¯t speaking particularly kindly about it, but someone who¡¯d just saved her life like that¡­..she was struggling to imagine someone truly awful doing that.


    [Lexus] ¡°Stand up. Tch.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°A, are you hurt?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, looks like it.¡±


    It was probably the result of the tumble they took across the ground, but the back of his smooth and fine hands were all torn up.


    His hands were slender, casting clear lines where his joints met his fingers, but seeing the blood form across such elegance only spoke to how painful the sting must¡¯ve been. And it was probably even more painful because of the dirt.


    [Valentia] ¡°W, what should we do? Does it hurt a lot?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If something like this were enough to hurt me, wouldn¡¯t that make me super weak?¡±


    He spoke of his injury so casually, so Valentia wasn¡¯t really sure what to say.


    [Lexus] ¡°Were you hurt anywhere, Miss Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No. I¡¯m alright thanks to you¡­¡­but that¡¯s not the problem. Are you hurt anywhere else?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Everything¡¯s good. You threw your stuff, right? I¡¯ll get it.¡±


    Lexus stood up, walking across the street and picking up Valentia¡¯s bag that she had thrown to the side. Seeing him get it and bring it back to her made her feel even heavier.


    She took the bag from him, murmuring out her thanks. As her eyes swept over the wound on his hand, the image burned into her vision.


    [Valentia] ¡°You need to clean your wound. I¡¯ll bring some water.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. We¡¯ll go together.¡±


    They walked to a nearby water tap, pulling up some clear water and pouring it over Lexus¡¯ hands. He rubbed his pale hands over his wounds, sweeping away the blood and dirt.


    It looked rather deep as well, so it must¡¯ve been painful, but he cleaned his hands without changing his expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°It would be for the best if you showed this to the doctor at the Imperial Palace, just in case.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s up with that, I¡¯m not seriously injured. More importantly, is that your dog? Did you raise it?¡±


    Lexus glanced down as he asked. The dog followed them to the water tap, hovering around their feet. Valentia looked down at the puppy, staying perfectly still.


    [Valentia] ¡°No. It¡¯s just a stray.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So why jump in front of a carriage for a dog that isn¡¯t yours?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That dog¡¯s mother died after being hit by a carriage.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah¡­. I see.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I think it would be better to bind that wound with a handkerchief.¡±


    Valentia took her handkerchief out of her bag. She felt him glance down at it, so she quickly spoke an excuse.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s clean. I didn¡¯t use it today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I just remember how you threw my handkerchief in my face.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°And when you say that, you remind me of the awful things you said to me.¡±


    He gave a subtle smile.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. Are you going to bind my wound with your handkerchief now?¡±


    She didn¡¯t like how relaxed he was acting, but this was the least she could do for a man who got injured while trying to save her.


    Valentia unfolded her handkerchief, wrapping it around the back of his hand.


    [Valentia] ¡°So why did you say that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°All I wanted was to return your handkerchief. I didn¡¯t expect to be met with such terrible words.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll answer your question with a question. Why did you use my handkerchief like you wanted other people to see it?¡±


    He was still in disbelief at the fact she so proudly put his handkerchief on display like that.


    [Valentia] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I heard you used my handkerchief during your lecture.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What? I never once used your handkerchief¡­..Ah.¡±


    Only then did Valentia seem to grasp the situation.


    She had shoved his handkerchief on top of her own since she was in a rush at the time, and because of that, when she went to reach for her own, she must¡¯ve used his by mistake.


    [Valentia] ¡°You may not believe me, but that wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I believe you.¡±


    When she said she¡¯d simply picked up something and accidentally used it thinking it was her own, he knew it couldn¡¯t be a lie. If she had done that to appeal to him or to attract him, throwing his handkerchief at him and then slapping him in the face would be a strange escalation.


    She definitely would not have made the mistake of catching the Imperial family¡¯s attention by doing something that could be considered an insult and violence against a royal.


    So what she did was very impressive actually. As a royal, his body was considered very precious and he¡¯d never been beaten by anyone except for his older brother¡¯s playful jabs.


    [Lexus] ¡°But why is this little guy still here?¡±


    Lexus looked down at the dog.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, he must be hungry.¡±


    Valentia took out a small paper bag containing some food, spreading it out.


    Seeing him so excitedly eat with his entire face stuck in the food, she felt a little sorry and a tad bit frustrated. Because of this little one, she nearly died and the Imperial Prince was injured, but he seemed so at peace right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why don¡¯t you give him a little pat? His tail might just fall off at this rate if you don¡¯t.¡±


    And all while he ate this food, his tail kept fluttering back and forth excitedly.


    [Valentia] ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    Valentia clenched her fist.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why not?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If one cannot take responsibility for something, then it¡¯s better not to reach out at all.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to touch him.


    He was so lovely that she wanted to show him all the love she could and pet him to both their hearts¡¯ content. But she couldn¡¯t give him that kind of affection because she knew she could not take responsibility for him.


    [Lexus] ¡°But you¡¯ve already given him love.¡±


    Valentia swallowed harshly. Lexus so casually poked the point she was avoiding. It felt a little cheeky too since she knew he wasn¡¯t wrong.


    In fact, he was exactly right. She had already shown this dog plenty of love by giving him food, but she insisted such was not the case. An animal would not be able to understand the nuances anyway.


    [Valentia] ¡°He won¡¯t see it like that. But once I reach out and touch him, it would become much clearer for him.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He¡¯d be able to feel the love?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Can the Baron not afford to take care of a dog?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The circumstances are complicated. I have to go now.¡±


    As Valentia moved, the puppy followed her. Lexus also took a step after her.


    [Lexus] ¡°He¡¯s following you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡±


    Valentia stopped in her tracks, speaking sternly. As if he could understand her words, the dog stopped, but even now, his tail wouldn¡¯t stop wagging.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you just going to leave him here?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°He¡¯ll go back to where he came from eventually.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hold on.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°W¡­¡­.what are you doing?¡±


    Lexus turned around, grabbing the dog by the soft fur at the scruff of his neck, lifting him up with one hand. It looked so much like he was strangling him that Valentia shouted out in a hurry.


    [Valentia] ¡°You shouldn¡¯t hold him like that!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯ve never even touched him before, so you can¡¯t say that, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But you¡¯re not touching him, you¡¯re hurting him!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°When they¡¯re babies, dogs and cats get grabbed by this part and moved around by their mothers all the time. You never had a pet before?¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t know, she¡¯d never raised an animal before. Her half-siblings did not like animals and so they didn¡¯t have any pets, either.


    That was part of the reason why she couldn¡¯t take the dog with her, despite how sorry she felt for it. She was still living with the Baron right now, and she was afraid of what they might do to the dog if she brought it with her.


    [Valentia] ¡°But why are you doing this?¡±


    If one were to pet him and give him love, how sad would he become once that love went away? That was why she didn¡¯t wish to give him any warmth or affection.


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought I¡¯d take home this fearless little guy.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Since you can¡¯t take him, Miss Valentia, I thought I should be the one to do that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯ll take him?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But let¡¯s just establish where the responsibility lies.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What? Responsibility?¡±


    Lexus smiled brightly.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m just a nice person trying to help out, but his owner is you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Even though I¡¯m holding onto him like this, you¡¯re the only one in his eyes.¡±


    He was right. Though he had a firm grip on the puppy¡¯s scruff, he was still looking at her with a wagging tail.


    And it made her feel like she was going to cry.


    She did nothing for this little dog.


    All she did was recover his mother¡¯s body and bury her for him, and occasionally bring something to eat for this small puppy who had lost his mother.


    Not once did she ever pet him or show him love.


    She didn¡¯t even give him a name and yet reflected in his eyes was an outpouring sense of love for her. Despite her coldness, he was trying to say that he loved her so much.


    This soft, adorable little puppy had been wandering the streets as a stray, yet would soon be honored to receive a humble yet suitable name from the Imperial Prince himself¡ªGoldie.


    * * *

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    *


    * * *


    *


    Sending Valentia off in a carriage, Lexus went on his way back to the Imperial Palace, also in a common carriage.


    Next to him was the puppy he¡¯d suddenly decided to take with him. His tail used to be wagging with such excitement, so it was a little pitiful seeing how dejected he looked now.


    When Valentia was around, his tail looked like it was going to fly away, but now that she was gone, it was like all his energy had been completely sapped. She never once pet him apparently, but with how this dog loved her, you¡¯d never guess it.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why did I take you with me?¡±


    Actually, he didn¡¯t intend to take the dog with him. He didn¡¯t even feel sorry for him.


    Lexus didn¡¯t like animals. Dogs, cats, horses, even humans weren¡¯t his favorite. He far preferred plants by comparison. And yet somehow, here he was, picking up a dog.


    And not just any dog, but a stray, lacking in any good pedigree. It was so crazy, he could hardly believe it.


    But the expression she made when he said he would take the dog came to his mind. It was a very strange face, he wasn¡¯t sure the best way to describe it.


    It was a look he¡¯d never seen from her before. Her expression was always so cold looking, but somehow, looking at her like that, he thought she might start crying.


    No, not exactly. Saying it was a face close to tears wasn¡¯t totally accurate.


    He¡¯d seen more than his fair share of women burst into tears in front of him, but Valentia¡¯s face was a little different. It looked more like she was overwhelmed¡­¡­


    The carriage came to a stop at the Imperial Palace.


    [Guard] ¡°What¡¯s your business at the Imperial Palace?¡±


    [Coachman] ¡°Oh, uh, the Prince is here.¡±


    The coachman, driving an unmarked and common carriage, spoke with a trembling voice. Once Lexus poked his head out of the window, the guard saluted and sent the carriage inside.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you have any idea how lucky you are?¡±


    He glanced down at the puppy, who was lying down looking all too depressed.


    Lexus poked him, causing the puppy to make a whining sound. Normally the only animals that entered the Imperial Palace were precious birds of good lineage, hunting dogs, well-bred cats, or stunning horses meant to be bred. So a stray was certainly unusual.


    Once they arrived in front of the Prince¡¯s Palace, the door to the carriage was opened. Outside, Hugo was waiting.


    [Hugo] ¡°You¡¯ve returned home early today.¡±


    Lexus was about to exit the carriage, but the dog didn¡¯t seem to want to move, so he picked him up from the seat, handing him off to Hugo.


    [Hugo] ¡°A puppy, Your Highness?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, clean him up for me.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Will you be raising him?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Apparently so.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Very well.¡±


    Hugo, a little annoyed by the animal, recklessly took the dog and followed after Lexus. But then he noticed a piece of cloth wrapped around the beloved Prince¡¯s hand.


    [Hugo] ¡°What¡¯s that on your hand, Your Highness?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I got a little hurt.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Hurt? Let me check your hand.¡±


    Lexus spoke lightly, casually sitting on the sofa as he carefully undid the handkerchief wrapped around his hand. He wasn¡¯t seriously injured, but his hands were usually always well maintained, and now it was scratched up pretty badly.


    [Hugo] ¡°How did you get hurt?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I took a tumble.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°What do you mean, a tumble? Where?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Uh, on the ground?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°What are you talking about, Your Highness?¡±


    The Prince was saying he took a tumble on the ground, but it was a little difficult to understand where he was going with this. But his answer was insincere and did nothing to alleviate any of Hugo¡¯s burning questions, so he couldn¡¯t help but continue to ask.


    But Lexus just replied with a smile.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    He thought he¡¯d only be inviting something troublesome into his life if he said he got hurt trying to save a woman from jumping in front of a carriage. Even more so if it was the same woman as the incident from not long ago.


    He hated unnecessary disturbances, especially ones he did not wish upon himself. Moreover, he found the excessive interest of others in his life to be a little irritating.


    Hugo seemed to understand that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so he sighed and swallowed his curiosity. There was no need to bother the Prince if he didn¡¯t wish to say anything.


    It was better to just call a doctor to see if he was injured anywhere else.


    [Hugo] ¡°I will call the Palace doctor.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Just apply some medicine. There¡¯s no point in calling a doctor.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°But what if it scars?¡±


    Lexus¡¯ hands were very well maintained, aside from the current injury. He had long and slender fingers with strong joints and wellkept nails. They were almost inhuman in how perfect they were, as if he were a statue carved from marble with great care.


    Lexus even thought it wasn¡¯t so bad to have a scar since he didn¡¯t like such meticulous perfection. But Hugo was incessant with his worry and the doctor was called regardless.


    [Doctor] ¡°Oh, how could you hurt your precious body like this? First, I must disinfect it. It might sting a little.¡±


    The Palace doctor rushed in, soaking a cotton pad in disinfectant, grabbing it with a pair of tweezers and dabbing it on the wound. He thoroughly cleaned it before applying the medicine.


    It was applied so carefully that he couldn¡¯t even feel it. Thin gauze was used to bind his wound, and that was done with such care, it was like the doctor was performing an important surgery.


    [Doctor] ¡°It¡¯s good you washed it right away. All the dirt is already gone.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Yes. Are your bones alright? Can you move your fingers?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hm.¡±


    Lexus raised his hand, moving his fingers.


    [Doctor] ¡°Luckily there doesn¡¯t seem to be any fractures.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I see. Thanks.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Be careful not to let water touch your hands. It¡¯s not a major injury, but it could still be a big deal, even if it¡¯s just a minor scar.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. You¡¯re excused.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Yes. I will take my leave.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°I will prepare a bath for you.¡±


    Once the doctor was gone, Hugo approached and mentioned the bath. But Lexus wasn¡¯t a fan of baths, so he shook his head.


    [Hugo] ¡°The doctor said you must keep your hand out of water. If you refuse, I will have no choice but tell Her Majesty or His Highness about this.¡±


    But Hugo immediately jumped and threatened to tell on him if he refused so it could not be helped. He submerged himself in the water with scented salts and tilted his head back. Eventually, the hot water made him feel drowsy.


    [Hugo] ¡°Your Highness, what should I do with this handkerchief? Should I throw it away?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Handkerchief?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Yes. The one your wound was wrapped in today.¡±


    There was blood splattered across it and it was in a terrible condition. It was natural for Hugo to ask if he should toss it since it wasn¡¯t handmade and it was clear it was not a handkerchief of high quality.


    In fact, it was such a terrible and shabby looking object that, if it hadn¡¯t been wrapped around Lexus¡¯ hand, he would have quietly thrown it away without asking.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, that¡­¡­..Just leave it for now.¡±


    He was just about to tell him to throw it, but after thinking for a while, he changed his mind.


    [Hugo] ¡°Very well. I will keep it once I¡¯ve washed it.¡±


    It would be nice if he could use that as an excuse to talk to her. Although, didn¡¯t they need to talk about the dog, too? This wasn¡¯t his intention, but now that he¡¯d saved her life, he¡¯d become her benefactor, so it would be hard for her to turn him away. Now it was looking like this bet wouldn¡¯t be that hard to win.


    Somehow, he was looking forward to tomorrow.


    Looking forward to tomorrow¡­..


    This was the first time the Prince had ever felt like that.  At some point, every day just started to feel so dull, so this was different.


    But Lexus didn¡¯t seem to realize that.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Ever since her normal, everyday life had become entangled with the Prince, there was always some kind of commotion. Today seemed to be the most hectic of them all, but it was also the day Lexus got caught up in her own mess.


    But if he hadn¡¯t been following her so intently all day, she might¡¯ve been in some serious trouble.


    And he did take the dog with him.


    As soon as she heard him say he would take him, her heart felt like it was dropping in her chest. He was just taking in a stray dog to help raise it, but somehow it felt like he was saving her.


    Maybe Valentia was projecting herself too strongly onto that lost stray.


    No one saved her nor did any one care for her, so when she fell, she had to catch herself because no one else would. She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to touch a single stray dog even once.


    And so his decision to take the dog felt very strange.


    She didn¡¯t know the Prince was the kind of man to throw himself into harm¡¯s way to save someone. He could¡¯ve been seriously injured but even so, he saved her. It was things like that made her think he might be a good person.


    He was even nice enough to hold back a common carriage for her.


    Entering the mansion with that thought in mind, she ran into the Baron.


    Though he was once a handsome enough man, now he was nothing more than a middle-aged, fat man. This was the man Valentia called her father.


    [Valentia] ¡°Father¡­..I¡¯ve returned.¡±


    It was very unfortunate to run into him like this. He never accepted her greetings nor did he greet her warmly in return, but if she didn¡¯t say anything to him, the only thing she¡¯d get back were curses.


    That was something she realized a long time ago. She passed him by quietly back then, not saying a word since he wouldn¡¯t say anything back anyway.


    [Baron] ¡ª¡¯You ungrateful brat! How dare you ignore me while living in my house!¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯I didn¡¯t mean it like that, I, I just thought you didn¡¯t like it when I spoke¡­¡¯


    [Baron] ¡ª¡¯So you think you can just ignore me!? Oh, did your mother teach you that!?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯Why are you bringing up mother?¡¯


    [Baron] ¡ª¡¯Mouthy right until the very end. Such a disgusting woman.¡¯


    So long as she was technically his daughter, he couldn¡¯t stand being ignored by her. Despite being a man in his second marriage to the woman he was having an affair with, he had to save face and salvage his reputation as a baron.


    He couldn¡¯t stand the imagery of his deceased former wife and her daughter, but was forced to keep her around for the sake of his reputation.


    And so, ever since she was young, Valentia lived with a resounding mantra in her head¡ªBecome an adult. Graduate from the Academy. Take care of myself.


    The baron turned away from her, ignoring her. But then, he spoke in a clear voice, with pronunciation so precise, there was no way she would miss it.


    [Baron] ¡°If she was going to die, she should¡¯ve died sooner.¡±


    Flinch¡ª


    Valentia trembled.


    He wasn¡¯t talking about her. He was speaking in past-tense about someone who had already died. And there was only one person who once lived in this house who was dead.


    Her mother, who didn¡¯t even have a portrait left to remember her by.


    After her mother¡¯s death, her grandparents followed shortly after her, unable to overcome the loss of their precious daughter. Their title was taken by a distant relative and that man took what was left of their property.


    And then, that was when that man officially remarried. To the woman he¡¯d been having an affair with.


    [Baron] ¡°Why did she have to give birth to that?¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to be hurt by those words, but things rarely went her way.


    Never once did Valentia regard him as a father, and it had been a long time since she¡¯d given up the expectation of being loved by him. But still, his words were cutting and they hurt.


    There was no way they wouldn¡¯t. She knew it was useless, but the scars were being left on her heart all the same.


    How can he say that about mother when he once loved her? How can he just forget about her like that? How can he be so cold?


    Valentia could not understand her father.


    * * *

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    *


    * * *


    *


    She could feel someone sitting next to her. When she looked to her side, the same man as always took his usual seat.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello.¡±


    His greeting was refreshing today. His blond hair was well kept and his golden eyes were sparkling. Even Valentia had no choice but to admit the blinding nature of his handsomeness.


    She wondered if he would come again today, but just as she was thinking, he really ended up coming. In the back of her mind was the vaguest, most distant thought that she didn¡¯t actually hate it that much.


    [Valentia] ¡°Will you be listening to this lecture again?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yup. That¡¯s right.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t you take your own lectures?¡±


    He must have his own lectures that he needed to attend, and yet somehow, he always managed to make his way here.


    [Lexus] ¡°Thanks for being so concerned about me.¡±


    Come to think of it, this wasn¡¯t something she needed to think about. She turned her head, just about to bite back by telling him she wasn¡¯t concerned at all, but pulled back, thinking that might be too pathetic.


    [Lexus] ¡°What should we name the dog?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s your dog, Your Highness. That is up to you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Call me Lexus.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, right¡­¡­..Then take care of it, Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you yesterday? I would take care of him, but the dog¡¯s owner is you. He didn¡¯t wag his tail for me at all yesterday.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Please stop talking.¡±


    Valentia cut him off the moment she saw the professor entering the lecture hall.


    Thanks to all the students who came here to follow Lexus, the lecture hall was more crowded than usual. But no matter how many people were in the room, it was difficult to ignore the handsome man sitting directly in the front row.


    The professor spoke naturally.


    [Professor] ¡°Things are lively today because of such a handsome student. Did you come to listen to my lecture today, Mister Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s right, professor. My presence isn¡¯t a hindrance, right?¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Of course not. The hall is brightening up all because you are here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thank you. Your lecture was enlightening yesterday, sir.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°May I ask what you found to be so enlightening? It would make for a good reference for future lectures.¡±


    There was no way he could have remembered anything. This was a lecture he was taking for the first time and he was far too busy staring at the woman right next to him to listen properly. It was doubtful he even knew what this lecture was for.


    Valentia turned to him with an interested expression. She thought maybe this was finally the moment where she could see him be utterly humiliated.


    But Lexus responded very casually, without a hint of panic.


    [Lexus] ¡°It enlightened me on how I couldn¡¯t understand a thing, so that¡¯s why I came back.¡±


    [Professor] ¡°Was my lecture difficult?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No. It¡¯s my own inadequacies.¡±


    [Professors] ¡°Listen carefully today, then.¡±


    A gentle laugh spread across the hall at those words. Even the professor laughed briefly, hearing such humble and witty words coming from such a handsome and powerful man.


    And as he always did, Lexus would spend the entirety of the lecture either staring at the woman sitting next to him or getting lost in his own thoughts¡ªall without paying a bit of attention to the contents of the lecture.


    After the lecture, the professor left but most of the students remained. As Valentia organized her things and stood up, Lexus also stood up, naturally standing next to her as he spoke.


    [Lexus] ¡°Should we continue our conversation from earlier?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What conversation?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The dog¡¯s name.¡±


    He was a very sociable man who wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated.


    If someone acted this coldly towards you, normally you would step down even if your pride was hurt. But maybe it was because this man was one that was loved by all and lacked nothing that he was able to be so strong against criticism.


    [Valentia] ¡°I told you to do it on your own.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I need the owner¡¯s permission.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re the owner¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Guess there¡¯s no reason for me to take care of him.¡±


    Lexus cut off her words before she could finish saying he was the owner.


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be, then I can¡¯t raise him since the only reason I¡¯m taking care of him is because his owner can¡¯t.¡±


    A dog living at the Prince¡¯s palace versus a dog left to wander on the street. It was obvious which sort of life would be more comfortable.


    She didn¡¯t think he¡¯d actually toss the dog out, but she didn¡¯t know what he was capable of. So maybe it would be better to just try to get along with him while accepting his words about giving the dog a name.


    [Valentia] ¡°A name. Do you have anything in mind?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How about Goldie?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah. ¡®Cause his fur is gold.¡±


    He wants to name the dog Goldie¡­.because his fur is gold?


    Actually the dog was more cream colored than gold. That would be a more accurate descriptor of this man¡¯s hair¡ªsomething shiny and brilliant looking.


    [Valentia] ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little insincere?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°When it comes to a name, it¡¯s good to be direct.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Well, it¡¯s not as though I dislike it¡­¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then what do you want to name him?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You haven¡¯t thought of anything?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..Not really.¡±


    It was human nature to want to pet stray dogs when they acted cute. But this woman was one made of iron, who never once pet this dog even as she fed him food, so obviously she never considered a name for him.


    [Lexus] ¡°And you say I¡¯m insincere?¡±


    Lexus asked like he was amazed and Valentia had no choice but to agree.


    She never thought about a name for this dog. In that way the person in front of her, who thought of a name overnight and asked for her opinion about it, seemed to care much more about it than her.


    [Valentia] ¡°I see. My mistake.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Now you¡¯re good at admitting when you¡¯re wrong.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If you keep acting sarcastic, I¡¯m not going to answer.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright, alright. So if you don¡¯t like Goldie, then what do you want to pick?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Just go with Goldie.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I think it suits him.¡±


    And she thought it would probably grant the dog a little more honor to have a name given to him by the Imperial Prince. If she ended giving him a name, the dog might end up being expelled from the palace and ending up back in the streets.


    [Valentia] ¡°Then¡­¡±


    She was about to say she was going to leave now, but his timing was just too good.


    [Lexus] ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Why don¡¯t we go eat together?¡±


    He was far more cunning than she gave him credit for¡ªasking her out like this right when it was difficult to refuse him due to the debt of the heart she owed him.


    [Lexus] ¡°You must be tired of going to the Academy¡¯s dining hall every day. I know a great place that serves good brunch and tea.¡±


    Valentia peered up at Lexus¡¯ face.


    It wasn¡¯t strange for people to stare at him like that. His face was always an object of praise for others and so the stares of others was nothing new.


    But her gaze was strangely cold. It was like she was meticulously looking over him. Or maybe like she was making a cold judgment about him was a better way to describe it? Being looked at like this was an unfamiliar feeling, but it was also somehow humbling.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯ve never been rejected before when you ask people things like this, right?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I suppose not?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then today will be your first time. Goodbye.¡±


    Whenever he asked women out for a meal first, he was always met with an eager yes, but what he got this time was a coldhearted and undeniable no. He¡¯d never had such a strong rival before.


    But Lexus had been loved his entire life and so he had a strong sense of self-esteem. He wouldn¡¯t give up just because of this minor little setback.


    Lexus bowed his head, looked up, saw her back disappearing as she went on her way, and then came to his senses, immediately chasing after her again.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you done with the dog just because he has a name now? You should be more affectionate than that. Since he was a stray, aren¡¯t you worried about whether or not he¡¯s sick?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­.He¡¯s sick?¡±


    She didn¡¯t think about that.


    He was still just a small, little puppy so his immunity might be weak. Not to mention how he was a stray living on the streets, and there were innumerable illnesses he could have picked up.


    She couldn¡¯t even afford to think about it before, but now she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about the pup¡¯s health.


    [Lexus] ¡°If you eat with me, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Why is he going this far?


    It definitely wasn¡¯t because he liked her. From the start, they did not have a relationship that invited any kind of positive feelings for each other. So was it curiosity?


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..Okay.¡±


    Lexus smiled brightly once Valentia agreed. His smile without a single wrinkle burned bright like the sun.


    Habitually, Lexus held out his hand to escort her, but Valentia also habitually paid no mind to that kind of courtesy, causing Lexus to awkwardly pull his hand back in embarrassment.


    Lexus had never been treated like this, so he was filled with a sense of admiration that he could not hide. This level of iron wall she had placed around her was incredible.


    If the Empire had a wall of that strength placed upon their northern border, it would protect them from attackers for over a thousand years.


    The place Lexus took her to was not the most popular in the Academy, but it was a pretty good cafe overall. The more popular places had long lines and were crowded with people, so a decent looking place was a good compromise.


    And as per usual, this cafe was filled with students who came in, following after Lexus.


    As the pair sat together, one of them was normally very popular and sociable, as well as a member of the Imperial family, so he was used to the interest of other people. The other, however, was used to living with the contempt of other people, but she was also very calm.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is there anything that catches your eye?¡±


    Lexus handed her the menu, but Valentia just pushed it back.


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s good here, so just order something small.¡±


    Her attitude was very indifferent. So indifferent that Lexus could easily tell her thoughts, contained in that very attitude of hers.


    She really has no intention of looking at me favorably, huh?


    That was true, it was obvious she didn¡¯t want to deal with him at all. But what he did yesterday at least gave him the opportunity to have a meal together with her, so at least that was a success.


    It didn¡¯t feel completely fair that he risked his life to get something so small in return, but he could take that level of unfairness considering what was at stake for this bet.


    More specifically, his pride was on the line.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright, is there anything you can¡¯t eat?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°None.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then what¡¯s your preferred doneness for steak?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Medium.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thoughts on black tea? Coffee? Milk tea? Which one¡¯s your favorite?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Milk tea.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you like sweet things?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I like them.¡±


    He picked up the menu and skillfully ordered based on her preferences. As soon as that was done, that was when Valentia brought it up.


    [Valentia] ¡°So, is he alright?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Who is?¡±


    Valentia responded with a narrowed expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean? The puppy¡­.no, Goldie.¡±


    A little astonished, Lexus thought¡ªIs this woman only interested in the dog?


    * * *

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    *


    * * *


    *


    Just as the embarrassing thought that this woman was only interested in the dog passed his mind, Lexus couldn¡¯t help but think of something else at the same time.


    Am I less than a dog to this woman?


    But, as confident as Lexus was, he wasn¡¯t confident enough to ask that kind of question. Mainly because he thought it would be way too shocking if she actually ended up agreeing with him.


    Thinking about what she might say back, it all felt like too much.


    ¡ª¡¯Why are you asking something so obvious?¡¯


    ¡ª¡¯Are you confident that anything about you is better than a dog?¡¯


    He was easily able to imagine what her possible responses would be. If he heard something like that back, try as he might not to be, he might actually feel a little hurt.


    [Lexus] ¡°I had a vet visit him. He¡¯s alright. Ah, but they mentioned he¡¯s a mixed breed of golden retriever.¡±


    Valentia was starting to have vaguely positive feelings about Lexus, but he wasn¡¯t a sweet and thoughtful person in the slightest, so naturally he was not the one who brought in a vet just to check on a stray pup. It was Hugo, his chamberlain, who took on that daunting task.


    While he was washing the dog up, he brought in the vet right away, got a diagnosis, and even diligently gave him his prescribed medicines. It was things like that where he showed his level of professionalism to take care of the Imperial Prince¡¯s pet so generously.


    They used the word ¡®mixed¡¯ to describe the dog, but he was closer to a hybrid of different breeds.


    [Lexus] ¡°After the vet visit, they said there were no signs of injury or illness.¡±


    All he was doing was reciting the story Hugo told him verbatim, which was one he¡¯d heard vaguely about this morning at breakfast. But surprisingly it was coming in handy at a time like this.


    [Valentia] ¡°So he¡¯s a hybrid.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, yeah.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But I¡¯m glad he¡¯s healthy.¡±


    [Waiter] ¡°Your meal is ready.¡±


    A handsome looking waiter came in, carrying trays containing their order. That was the reason why Lexus often came to this cafe. Here, all the employees were male.


    Whenever there were female employees, they would just end up making ¡®mistakes¡¯ like spilling water on Lexus. Then there were the fallen plates, a dropped handkerchief or coin purse¡ªwhatever it took to get in front of him.


    [Waiter] ¡°You ordered the special set. You can pour the dressing into the salad. The strawberries and the whipped cream for the souffle are all made fresh this morning. And as you requested, the meat was cooked to medium doneness.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Waiter] ¡°No problem.¡±


    When she spoke to the waiter with a polite voice, the man widened his eyes like he was surprised, but then he responded with a kind smile.


    It was a normal, good-hearted scene, but somehow Lexus felt a little twisted and bitter.


    You¡¯ll slap me into silence, but then you¡¯ll go off and be nice to other men?


    [Waiter] ¡°Which one of you is the milk tea for?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°For the lady.¡±


    Valentia was a little surprised.


    His voice when he said ¡®the lady¡¯ was a little indifferent. Though she could not deny that it was no different from his usual attractive cadence, it felt like saying that was very normal for him. Almost like it was a habit.


    [Waiter] ¡°Very well. Then the coffee must be for the gentleman. If you¡¯d like, I can bring extra syrup. If not, then please, enjoy your meal.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We¡¯re done with the syrup.¡±


    The waiter bowed and turned to leave, leaving Valentia to stare blankly at the table full of food.


    [Lexus] ¡°Enjoy. Eat up.¡±


    But when he said that, Valentia¡¯s expression turned cold for a second. He just told her to eat up, so what¡¯s she making that face for?


    [Lexus] ¡°Is there something you don¡¯t like?¡±


    I guess you really don¡¯t want to eat together, Lexus muttered under his breath. As she listened quietly, Valentia shook her head, then picked up her fork and knife.


    [Valentia] ¡°No, it¡¯s alright, Lexus.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t as though she didn¡¯t want to eat together like Lexus thought.


    It was just that she was realizing it was her first time eating with someone who¡¯d told her to eat her food and to enjoy it. It was different from when the service staff said it.


    Strange. Those were words not even her own family would say to her, and the first person she was hearing them from was a stranger.


    He told her the food here was good, so she was sure it was, but she couldn¡¯t even taste anything right now. All she could feel was her throat warming from the food.


    [Valentia] ¡°He¡¯ll eat well now.¡±


    To shake off that mood, Valentia spoke first.


    [Lexus] ¡°Huh? What are you talking about?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie. I used to give him a little bit of food in the mornings and in the evenings, but I always thought it wouldn¡¯t be enough for him.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Did that bother you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hugo fed him some dog food and gave him the best jerky he could get as a snack. Oh, Hugo is the chamberlain of my Palace.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m glad you took him, Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah. He should probably take him out for some exercise after this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So you took him in, but your chamberlain takes care of him.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I brought him in, so I¡¯m doing my part.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    Valentia responded with a sour expression as she quietly finished up her salad. But before the conversation could continue, the waiter reappeared.


    [Waiter] ¡°Are you finished?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, yes.¡±


    [Waiter] ¡°Then I will prepare your dessert for you. Today¡¯s dessert is a dark chocolate brownie with chocolate chips, topped with vanilla ice cream and crushed almonds and walnuts.¡±


    The waiter smiled kindly as he explained the dish, placing it in front of them.


    Why is he talking so softly? So annoying.


    Lexus felt this wave of dissatisfaction rise up, completely unaware of how it was rising. He harshly swallowed his coffee, setting down his cup.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you going to do now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m going to review my notes for the next lecture.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I guess the top student would be sincere like that. But what are you studying so hard for?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do students need a reason to study hard?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s kinda hard to answer when you put it that way.¡±


    Lexus replied with a smile, but there was a slight distortion to his expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°I suppose.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me what I¡¯ll be doing?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What are you going to do now, Lord Lexus?¡±


    Her tone of voice did not hide how obvious it was that she was only asking out of courtesy.


    [Lexus] ¡°Me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I was going to spend time with you.¡±


    He replied with a bright smile.


    Valentia was midbite, eating her brownie and vanilla ice cream, when she suddenly frowned like she couldn¡¯t control her facial expression.


    Seeing her frowning face, he couldn¡¯t keep smiling. He was trying his damnedest to find a way through her walls, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn¡¯t find a gap any bigger than a needle. She really was like an iron wall.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you hate it that much?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed to say that sort of thing so openly?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s my first time saying something like that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You must think every woman in this world loves you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Rather than thinking it, that¡¯s just the reality I¡¯ve lived so far. I wouldn¡¯t know any different because that¡¯s how it¡¯s always been. People like me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then go have a nice time with them.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But I don¡¯t really like people who like me.¡±


    His words were textbook philanderer, and Valentia felt that assessment twist up for some reason.


    [Lexus] ¡°And you¡¯re someone who¡¯s not interested in me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m not interested, but I don¡¯t fit in with people like you, either.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Those two things are the same. And I can fit in with anyone.¡±


    He was a smooth talker.


    He was a strange man who carried an air of condescension that irritated her, but he also had a soft and natural attitude. Was it because he had such a delicate looking face? One that allowed him to get away with talking like that?


    The sunlight that filtered through the window seemed to linger in his blond hair, glimmering golden. His sweet eyes were like gold, echoing the imagery of the sun, and seemed to radiate the kindness of honey.


    [Valentia] ¡°I dislike rude people.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I guess those words have firmly embedded themselves in your side like a thorn. But aren¡¯t you a bit harsh to the person who saved your life?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°This and that are two separate things. I still appreciate what you did for me.¡±


    Valentia set down her tableware on her plate, signifying the end of her meal. All that was left for her to do was to thank him and leave.


    That kind of ending was one that opened many doors in Lexus¡¯ mind. Doors filled with potential.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±


    See? Just as I thought.


    But then Valentia did something he did not think about. She reached out and slapped a bill onto the table.


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s the price of my meal. And since you only drank coffee, I will buy that too as a thank you.¡±


    This was a ridiculous situation, one that he¡¯d never been through before. Never before had a woman offered to buy him coffee like this.


    What kind of woman was she? Whether they were seeing each other, or even just going out as friends, it was common sense that the man would buy things for the woman.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You asked me to eat with you, but you never said you¡¯d pay. So I¡¯ll buy it myself.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªhe did ask her out to have a meal with him, not once mentioning that he would be the one paying.


    But wasn¡¯t it only natural that the man foot the bill? The common sense used by the people of this nation certainly believed that. No man of decent standing would accept a meal from a lady like this.


    He couldn¡¯t figure out what the hell she was thinking. If it were anyone else, he would¡¯ve grabbed them by the collar and throttled them until they told him what was in their head, but even thinking that made his mind get all messed up from how boorish it was.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do I look like a lady that needs to be treated?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing to experience at least once. Then, I will return first.¡±


    Lexus jumped up from his seat.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s a little insulting¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Buying you coffee is an insult? Why? It isn¡¯t as though I pity you.¡±


    If she were pitying him now, not only would that be an insult to him, but to Valentia herself.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s not like that, but¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is it not appropriate to buy a cup of coffee for the person who helped me? Then if I cannot even buy you coffee, then it¡¯s doubtful I¡¯ll ever see you again, so I will take it with me.¡±


    If he agreed, then this noble lady in front of him would¡¯ve taken that chance with total elation, he was sure.


    [Lexus] ¡°No, I understand what you mean. I drank it well.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then I am relieved.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then next time¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Next time, let me pay.¡±


    His voice made it sound like he was surrendering. He frowned with dissatisfaction, his lips slightly pouting in their shape, but somehow, Valentia actually quite liked that.


    Much better pouting than his skillfully crafted smile.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I will.¡±


    Lexus was a little bummed out a second ago, but hearing her agree, a small shine returned to his eyes.


    ¡­..He was actually more interesting than she thought he would be. Even though she was essentially being forced to be around him, she actually had a little bit of fun talking with him.


    Valentia did not have a single friend or acquaintance she could talk to, let alone a person close to her that she could spend her free time with. All of this was very new to her, so she actually found it to be somewhat fun.


    Though she obviously didn¡¯t express that.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk together.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You wish to take a walk with me?¡±


    It would not have been strange for her to immediately cut back with ¡®why me¡¯. Truthfully, Valentia tried to say that, but this man was quick-witted, beating her to the punch before she could say anything more.


    [Lexus] ¡°Not you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t you miss your dog?¡±


    He offered it like he was trying to coax her into it.


    [Lexus] ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk with Goldie.¡±


    Valentia looked lost in thought for a moment, but at her eventual answer, Lexus smiled brightly.


    * * *

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    *


    * * *


    *


    Tex received a sudden and unexpected order. An order to send someone to the Imperial Palace to retrieve a dog.


    Riding in the Prince¡¯s carriage without his presence was an honor difficult for even a direct family member to obtain, but the dog enjoyed it as he was taken to the Academy.


    After his arrival, Tex opened the door to see a small little puppy sitting in the seat, his fur a vague mix of golden and cream color. His little black eyes, big enough to fill his whole face, seemed to echo dissatisfaction.


    It was almost like he was trying to say, who are you? And why did you bring me here?


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, bark¡ª!¡±


    When Tex went to grab his leash, immediately the pup started barking.


    [Tex] ¡°Don¡¯t bark. I¡¯m taking you to your master.¡±


    He got quiet like he could understand, but he was clearly still in a bad mood.


    He was rather well behaved, too. As they walked, he stayed calm and quiet, but did not spare Tex even a single glance like he was upset.


    Why does it feel like I¡¯m being ignored? Maybe it¡¯s just my imagination?


    [Tex] ¡°Your Princeliness. Your humble servant brought the dog you asked for.¡±


    When the dog saw Lexus, he acknowledged him with a single bark, but still refused to wag his tail or look pleased.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, good. Nice work.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Here you go.¡±


    Tex handed over the leash, making a somewhat confused and uncomfortable face.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright, he looks to be in one piece.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s up with the dog?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He¡¯s my secret weapon.¡±


    That sounded like complete nonsense but Tex was really curious to hear more, so he swallowed his biting remarks.


    [Tex] ¡°Secret weapon?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Or something like that.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°And are you planning on paying me for running this little errand for you?¡±


    He felt it would be too unfair otherwise.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hm, pay you, huh¡­¡±


    Lexus rummaged around in his pocket and then threw something at Tex. Tex reflexively caught it and what he found in his hand was a partially crushed hard candy.


    [Tex] ¡°Wait!¡±


    He was just going to say how insincere it was, but Lexus ignored Tex¡¯s irritated shout¡ªgrabbing the leash and heading off.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia caught sight of a certain man, walking through the Academy yard holding a dog by the leash. She honestly thought it was a rather interesting sight to see¡ªa leisurely walk would be too unrealistic.


    The little puppy saw her and kept turning back at the man to bark, trying to run at her with all his might.


    The dog pulled on the leash as much as he could, reaching Valentia before the man walking her could, struggling around her ankles. He seemed very lively today, his tail turning like a windmill.


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t think you meant we would walk him today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He¡¯s impatient.¡±


    Valentia looked down at that golden fur reflected in her eyes. He looked very different from yesterday.


    So this was his original color?


    Before, his fur was dirty and tangled, full of mange from living life as a stray, but it was clear he had received meticulous care since then, turning him clean and glossy. His once tangled fur even looked as though someone had taken the time to trim it.


    [Valentia] ¡°You seem to be doing well.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You can call him by his name now. It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Lexus was using that word again.


    His name.


    Until now, she was terrified of showing this animal affection, so she refrained from touching him or even giving him a name.


    Valentia smoothed out her skirt, bending her knees as she knelt down.


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    The dog barked like he could understand.


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    Bark, bark¡ª!


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Puppy.¡±


    Can he really understand me? she thought.


    As a test, she called him differently, but unlike before, Goldie did not respond. He just sat there, only wagging his tail.


    [Valentia] ¡°You must really understand.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He must be smart if he understands his name so quickly.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I suppose so.¡±


    Goldie pushed the tip of his wet nose into her bag, sniffing wildly.


    [Valentia] ¡°What is he doing?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Isn¡¯t he looking for food? You took some dog food out of your bag last time.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah.¡±


    Even though she knew he didn¡¯t need it anymore, she habitually took the food out of her bag. Once she spread it out across the ground like she usually did, Goldie stuck his nose right in and started to eat.


    [Lexus] ¡°Anyone seeing this would think he was starving.¡±


    Obviously the Imperial Palace was likely taking good care of him, feeding him enough food that his stomach could burst, but he looked so cute to Valentia¡ªeating like he¡¯d never eaten before.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can pet him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ve given him temporary shelter. And now that there¡¯s someone taking care of him, it¡¯s okay for you to pet him now. Go on, give him a pat on the head.¡±


    Valentia turned away from Lexus, hesitantly and slowly lifting up her hand. Though she seemed to be thinking hard about it, eventually she settled her hand down and stroked the dog¡¯s head with a careful touch.


    His soft fur felt ticklish upon her fingers, and as it did, suddenly it felt like her heart was turning numb.


    The dog was once very distracted by the food, but then he looked up at her with confusion in his eyes as he sat by her feet. He barked, seemingly shouting for more pets and love.


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, bark¡ª!¡±


    Goldie moved along with Valentia¡¯s hand, and her heart was warming at the feeling of the small puppy¡¯s movement along with her hand.


    Lexus stood above them, looking down at the scene below him before eventually crouching down next to them¡ªno matter how undignified it may look for someone like him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    Lexus called Goldie¡¯s name. The wagging of his tail slowed, but he didn¡¯t respond.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hah, unbelievable.¡±


    He looked so perturbed by it that Valentia couldn¡¯t hold back a small smile as the corners of her lips rose and her eyes angled softly.


    And without even realizing it, Lexus zeroed in, focusing quietly as he looked into that very expression. She was a woman who only ever looked upon things with a chill on her face, so it was starkly unfamiliar to actually see her smiling.


    And that was when another unknown and sudden thought entered Lexus¡¯ brain.


    Have other men seen this woman smile before? I don¡¯t want them to see it.


    But the thought came and went so quickly, Lexus didn¡¯t even get the chance to recognize the feeling. All he knew was that some unknown sensation had echoed through his mind.


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie must really not like me.¡±


    Both owner and dog were very alike in that way.


    [Valentia] ¡°Well, that¡¯s because he only met you yesterday. It would be strange if he liked you already.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    Before, he thought that being her lifesaver would be more important than this dog, but apparently that wasn¡¯t the case. Somehow, he was getting the sinking suspicion that he would need to become close with this dog if he wanted to see any kind of success.


    After Goldie finished eating, Valentia took the empty paper bag and packed it away.


    [Lexus] ¡°Now that he¡¯s eaten well, shall we take a walk?¡±


    She felt like she was being pulled along by the whims of his handsome and smooth-talking man, but it couldn¡¯t be helped right now. When she saw Goldie, she became a little weak-hearted.


    [Valentia] ¡°Alright.¡±


    Goldie ran off ahead of them, excitedly bounding around while occasionally checking back to make sure Valentia was still behind him.


    ¨C


    Before even the next morning, rumors were already starting to spread that Lexus was seen walking his dog with Valentia.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Permat] ¡°How could he do this to me!?¡±


    Taking into her grip whatever she had around her, Permat threw things without mercy.


    It was an intricately crafted ceramic doll that smashed against the wall this time. The doll crashed, shattering from the impact, causing a loud booming sound. With their faces and bodies broken, all of them were distorted into terrible shapes.


    [Maid] ¡°Oh, my lady! Please calm down!¡±


    The maid was so shocked and desperately tried to stop her.


    [Permat] ¡°Do I look calm now?¡±


    The ceramic doll wore a dress that was designed to reflect reality, and it was very expensive, but it was not enough to abate her wrath. As soon as she threw it, she picked up the pieces and threw it again.


    Fortunately the shards were not sharp, so it was not dangerous, but the maid was forced to endure her anger without knowing why.


    [Permat] ¡°Why is such a boring woman with the Imperial Prince!?¡±


    At first, Permat was glad that the rumors she had spread were growing.


    But the moment that wicked woman showed herself crazy enough to slap the Prince in the face, her heart fell to her feet. She was shaking in fear, terrified that the rumor that caused that incident would be traced back to her.


    But this? How could she have seen this coming? She couldn¡¯t even comprehend it, much less imagine it happening.


    There were now rumors saying that the two of them looked very close.


    It was not uncommon for the Prince to have a woman by his side, but this was the first time he¡¯d taken one to see a dog he was raising like this. Everyone was wondering why the Prince was spending time with the woman who had slapped him, but no one knew the answer.


    [Maid] ¡°You¡¯ll hurt yourself at this rate, my lady. Please.¡±


    When the maid said that, Permat set down the object she was about to throw.


    What exactly happened these past few days? While Permat was losing herself in anxiety, this woman was twisting the knife. She was a lowly woman, but she was cunning and snake-like, too.


    [Permat] ¡°How could he fall for such a woman?¡±


    Permat was so much prettier than her, and even came from a good family with high status, but he never even spared her a glance.


    She had her eye on Lexus from even before she entered the Academy. When her father¡¯s presence was required at the Imperial court, she followed him, and met Lexus for the first time purely by happenstance.


    There were only a few girls who could enter the Imperial Palace before their debut into society. One of those exceptions were the playmates of the Princess. The Marquis family was considered one of the highest ranking noble families, but Princess Elizabeth already had many friends of high status and Permat did not match her age.


    But that day, somehow she was able to sneak around the Imperial Palace, her spirits high and her heart confident. But then she ended up getting lost. She wandered around the labyrinth-like garden of the vast Imperial Palace, uncertain of what to do.


    There was no sign of any people, and she was too embarrassed to call out for someone, so she ended up wandering around recklessly¡ªafraid she might get into big trouble if she was found. It was right when her legs hurt and she felt like crying that she heard something.


    Someone called out to her.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Who are you?¡¯


    He spoke with a low but soft voice, his hair glistening.


    The boy standing in front of her had a beautiful appearance that was far sweeter, softer, and even more brilliant than his voice. Pale skin, blond hair and dark gold eyes. Even his eyelashes were sparkling like gold.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯A prince¡­¡­.?¡¯


    Permat muttered without even realizing it.


    He was like a prince from a fairy tale. Younger back then than he was now, the Prince was such a sweet young boy, dreamlike in his energy.


    He was always beautiful, the past being no different, but he was shorter than the grown man he would become and had a much smaller physique, so he seemed almost like a fairy.


    At her quiet whispers, he laughed, and her heart immediately skipped a beat.


    * * *

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Not a prince, but something similar.¡¯(1)


    At his words, Permat came to her senses. She was so taken with his otherworldly appearance that made him look like he¡¯d come from a painting that she ended up speaking involuntarily. But she knew this person couldn¡¯t be a fairy tale prince.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Your Highness, Imperial Prince!¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Yes, that¡¯s me. But what are you doing here?¡¯


    The Prince with blond hair and golden eyes was clearly Lexus. She heard that he was a beautiful and intelligent boy, but she didn¡¯t think he would be this dazzling.


    The story of the Imperial family carrying great beauty was widespread, but she always assumed it was an exaggerated rumor. But it was truly, very real.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Th, that, that¡­¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Who are you? I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a maid.¡¯


    He looked her up and down with a smile, taking stock of her clothes.


    She knew she would be coming to the Imperial Palace, so she wore the prettiest dress she had. She really liked how she looked when she left the mansion, but now her cheeks were turning red.


    Meanwhile, the Imperial Prince was so handsome and blindingly brilliant that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of him, even though he was just wearing a simple pair of long black pants and a comfortable shirt.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯I am Permat Radi Hayden.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯You¡¯re the daughter of Marquis Hayden.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Y, yes. That is right.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯So what are you doing here? It¡¯s not restricted, but it¡¯s not some place you can come and go however you please.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯W, where are we?¡¯


    She sounded like a fool, stuttering as she was, but it was impossible to speak properly with such a stunning boy in front of her. It made her voice naturally tremble. The entire time they spoke, the boy had a sweet smile on his face.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Oh, so you¡¯re saying you¡¯re lost. This is my palace.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯The Prince¡¯s Palace? I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t come here on purpose. I¡¯m just lost.¡¯


    Up until a second ago, she was upset and scared at having lost her way, but now it felt like fate. Fated to meet this beautiful Prince.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯You must really be lost.¡¯


    Then he suddenly stopped smiling.


    He was pale and otherworldly looking, like a statue made of marble. And somehow, just as any statue, he felt cold like stone, devoid of warmth.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Huh? Yes, it¡¯s true.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯I saw you from up there.¡¯


    He pointed up.


    Apparently he had seen her wandering from the palace, then he came down to help her after seeing her walking around aimlessly.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯I was thinking you were either lost or pretending to be lost. I guess you really were.¡¯


    She was just a little girl at the time, too distracted by the bloom of her first love to notice what he was talking about. Permat was possessed, and so she did not think too deeply on what his words meant.


    Unfortunately for Permat, she was not the first person to get ¡®lost¡¯ in this garden. It was hardly a complicated maze, but several people a week would somehow find themselves walking circles in it. Sometimes even the same person twice.


    And every time, the person in question would speak extremely sarcastically about how they didn¡¯t understand how they could¡¯ve gotten lost.


    So this time, he assumed this girl was faking being missing, sent here for whatever purpose, so he watched her from above for a long time. He only came down after he saw her retracing her own steps around the same path multiple times.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Alright. I¡¯ll take you back to the main palace where your father is.¡¯


    As he kindly offered to guide her around, Permat reached out her hand. Naturally, she assumed he would escort her.


    But the Prince did not look back at her and walked first. Back then, she clenched her fist and followed after him. She just assumed he must not have seen her hand because he turned around so quickly.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Wait, hold on. Please walk a little slower.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯I¡¯m a little busy. I¡¯ll just call someone else.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡°No, please guide me, Prince. Instead, I think we should just hold hands.¡¯


    She blushed, asking him to escort her.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Sorry. I can¡¯t since I¡¯m not wearing gloves right now.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m wearing gloves.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯¡­¡­..I can¡¯t be rude to a lady like that. I¡¯ll walk slower.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t know he was rejecting her in a roundabout way.


    It was because she could not imagine such a sweet and beautiful prince would do something like that. Instead, she was just happy he was treating her like a lady, which was why she still looked back at those times fondly.


    After finding her father thanks to the Prince¡¯s guidance, she received a thorough scolding for wandering the Imperial Palace as she pleased, and never again was she allowed to accompany him to the palace.


    But even so, the memory of that day was a precious one for Permat.


    It was a memory she kept so tightly close to her chest that she dare not tell even the ones closest to her. And because of that memory, she was so happy to see him at the Academy.


    She stood before the Prince as he looked down at her. He was bigger than he was before, with his childlike beauty becoming a more distinct handsome.


    And he was smiling, just like before.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡®Y, Your Highness. It has been a while.¡¯


    She was no longer a child, but she still stuttered, like she was going back to that day.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯You can¡¯t say that.¡¯


    His voice was sweet and soft.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Sorry?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯This is the Academy. You can¡¯t call me that.¡¯


    Lexus scratched his cheek awkwardly with a smiling face. Just like the one he had on the day they first met.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Uh, but who are you? Have we met before?¡¯


    Permat was so shocked, she couldn¡¯t say anything back. The Prince in her precious memories could not even remember her.


    Her pride was hurt, but despite that, she treated him politely and cordially after that. She wanted to imprint herself upon his memories, if only just a little bit.


    However, they didn¡¯t get very close. He was not interested in acting more friendly than was necessary unless it was with a woman he was seeing, and he was always surrounded by those he called his friends.


    But if Permat wanted to be by his side, she could have done it easily enough. He was not a difficult man to be with, but she didn¡¯t want to be seen as an easy woman.


    Knock, knock¡ª


    There was a knock at the door. The maid, reading the air, carefully went to answer the door.


    [Erhein] ¡°Our precious jewel. Whatever could be the matter?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°¡­Brother.¡±


    The one who entered the drawing room was Erhein Hayden, Permat¡¯s older brother.


    [Erhein] ¡°My jewel. What have you done here?¡¯


    [Permat] ¡°I¡¯m upset.¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°What has made you so upset, sister?¡±


    Permat¡¯s nerves were sharp, but thanks to Erhein¡¯s friendly and soothing voice, the pain like a needle managed to subside. And that¡¯s when the tears set into Permat¡¯s eyes.


    [Erhein] ¡°Oh, no. If you cry, I¡¯ll get sad, too. Who has made our dear treasure so sad?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°The Prince¡­¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Tch. Did the Prince make you angry?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°No! He didn¡¯t.¡±


    Permat shook her head.


    Her Prince was not a bad person. He always met other women and it always upset her, but this time, her Prince just so happened to fall for a wicked woman¡¯s schemes.


    That woman had a keen head on her shoulders, so it would¡¯ve been easy for her to fool her dear Prince. He was an innocent and handsome Prince, caught in the whims of an awful woman.


    A woman so sneaky and shallow that she could not be compared to any of the other women who came before.


    [Permat] ¡°I think he fell for a strange woman.¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Strange woman? Oh, I think I know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°I¡¯m so angry.¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°But you can¡¯t throw dolls just because you¡¯re upset.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Why not!?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°What if your hands get hurt? If you want to rise up to a higher status, then you must be careful. What if it were to scar?¡±


    He said that to mean he would make sure the seat next to Lexus would be hers. Attaining the position of the Crown Prince¡¯s fiancee might be difficult, but if it were the second Prince, she could take that spot with ease.


    [Erhein] ¡°The seat next to the Prince will be yours anyway, so it hardly matters who¡¯s sitting there now.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°But I¡¯m still angry. I thought it would happen, and as expected, that woman caught his eyes and they¡¯re becoming close now.¡±


    She spread that rumor to prevent her from trying to seduce the Prince using the handkerchief as an excuse, but it just ended up becoming an opportunity for her. Maybe she designed this plan to end up like this from the very beginning. She was smart, so it was possible.


    That woman made it difficult for Permat to control the rumors and then seized the opportunity to become closer with the Prince. Now it was obvious she¡¯d brandished the Prince¡¯s handkerchief on purpose in the lecture hall.


    [Permat] ¡°I was used by her. It¡¯s so unfair.¡±


    Erhein was also aware that his sister was related to the spread of the rumors.


    She seemed reluctant to spread rumors about the Imperial family so it didn¡¯t get too out of hand, but if they had tried to find the source of the rumors, she would¡¯ve been in trouble regardless of how small it was.


    [Erhein] ¡°Does she bother you that much?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Of course, she¡¯s annoying! She¡¯s gross and creepy! I wish I didn¡¯t have to see her!¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°I can¡¯t believe you hate her so much. Very well, I will take care of it for you.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Really?¡±


    Permat¡¯s eyes glimmered.


    [Erhein] ¡°Of course. There is nothing I cannot do for the jewel of our family.¡±


    Erhein spoke to her like he was speaking to a pretty box he was trying to sell for the highest price. As if she were expensive jewelry. Having the existence of a noblewoman usually meant one¡¯s life would flow in this direction¡ªfated to marry for the sake of the family.


    But this would be good for her, too. It wasn¡¯t as though they were selling her off to an old man. She was getting a position that she wanted.


    Although, speaking honestly, no one knew if love or happiness was waiting for her at the end of this road.


    But Permat, who accepted the situation on a surface level, smiled happily because she knew her brother would keep his word.


    The seat next to Lexus would be hers. Perhaps not now, but definitely in the future. She wanted to become a precious woman to him. She tried so hard to become that. She wanted it so badly, she thought she might die.


    And so it was unbearable to see such an insignificant woman hovering around him. It enraged her to no end.


    Not that woman, Permat thought.


    She hated all the women who stayed by his side, and every single one of them made her feel terrible. They were all women who preyed on his looks, his wealth, and his power without knowing what sincere love and affection truly was.


    But among those women, she was the worst. That woman was not the right one for the Prince. She was a woman who had no right to even dare approach him.


    Permat bit her lip as it trembled.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The word for ¡®prince¡¯ as in a fairy tale/kingdom prince is different from the word for ¡®prince¡¯ as in an imperial prince. Hence why Lexus said he was not a ¡®prince¡¯ but something similar. English does not have different words to differentiate the terms (a prince is a prince, regardless of origin in English).

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    *


    * * *


    *


    Goldie sat calmly in his seat. This dog was probably the first animal to ride in a carriage marked with the Imperial family¡¯s crest.


    And it wasn¡¯t just any animal, but a hybrid with less than perfect pedigree. But the dog enjoyed that kind of glory without moving an inch, sitting still with an unmoving tail.


    More than that, he was laying down with his face in his front paws, yawning of all things. His attitude couldn¡¯t make it more obvious that he couldn¡¯t be less interested in Lexus.


    When he was with Valentia, he always acted so cutely towards her, so he wasn¡¯t really sure what the best way to describe this dog would be.


    A sensible dog? Or maybe a really arrogant dog?


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s not secretly a person inside of you, is there?¡±


    Maybe Goldie could understand him, he wasn¡¯t sure, but the dog turned his head away from him.


    Lexus scoffed, completely dumbfounded. He was doing so much for this dog, bringing him in and taking care of him¡­¡­


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why don¡¯t you answer me?¡±


    Whether it was because he found him annoying or simply didn¡¯t wish to deal with him, the dog turned his entire body away altogether.


    Both dog and owner were exactly the same. He was the one taking care of him, but to the dog, his existence was not one that matched with the title of ¡®owner¡¯.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m the one taking care of you. Do you have to be like this?¡±


    To be specific, it was actually his chamberlain, Hugo, who took care of him.


    [Lexus] ¡°But still, you did a good job for me today.¡±


    Lexus stroked Goldie¡¯s head, but he shook his body like he didn¡¯t like it. Lexus smiled even as he pulled his hand away.


    Spending time with Valentia was more fun than he thought it would be.


    Everyone was fond of him, so for him, women were easy. He¡¯d never struggled like this before. It was difficult having to deal with a woman that refused to flow in his direction, but that just made him all the more happy whenever she showed an unexpected reaction.


    It was like trying to entice an untamed, wild animal. Even the smallest of reactions made him feel good, and was incredibly rewarding.


    To be happy sharing a meal with someone who hated him¡­He never thought he had that kind of side to him.


    He was actually excited to think that more unexpected things might happen. He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d ever meet someone who¡¯d pay for their own meals like that. Of course, that was on the smaller side of the unexpected things that happened, but it was still really refreshing.


    Once they arrived at the main gate of the Imperial Prince¡¯s palace, Hugo was waiting.


    As Lexus got out of the carriage, Goldie followed him and jumped off, running off to Hugo with his tail slightly wagging. It would appear during the times Lexus was gone, they became quite the pair of friends.


    [Lexus] ¡°Give him something good to eat for dinner.¡±


    Today¡¯s most valuable player was Goldie. If it weren¡¯t for him, Valentia would have been cold to Lexus the entire time. Thanks to his contributions, they were able to spend time taking a walk together.


    And since he did such a good job today, he left Goldie with Hugo under the orders that he give him something delicious. But Hugo had a grimace on his face.


    [Hugo] ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Did something happen while I was away?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°His Highness, the Crown Prince is waiting inside.¡±


    But no one knew what he could¡¯ve come for.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. You can go.¡±


    There was no need to ask where he was. Lexus would know even if no one told him.


    Axion was sitting in the drawing room, leisurely drinking tea while sitting in the exact same position as he was a few days ago. Hearing Lexus entered, his voice perked up.


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You must have a lot of free time. Why do you keep coming here and drinking tea as you please right when I¡¯m gone?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Since this concerns my brother, I have to take the time out of my busy schedule to see you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Me? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°They say you got hurt.¡±


    He gestured down to Lexus¡¯ bandaged hand, and Lexus deftly moved his hand to the side, signaling that nothing was wrong.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a scratch. You know how Hugo fusses over nothing.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as nothing when it comes to an injury on the Imperial Prince¡¯s body. How did you get hurt?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Is that any of your business?¡±


    If he mentioned how he got hurt, something annoying would happen.


    First, he¡¯d be nagged to no end. If things escalated, then he might be forced to drop out of the Academy, or when he left, he might have knights and guards forced on him, following him around without any kind of end. That was something he absolutely did not want.


    He wasn¡¯t so weak that he could not protect himself, and when one lives their life surrounded by others, the time spent alone in freedom was incredibly precious.


    It wasn¡¯t as though he had no escorts to speak of, but they had established a compromise. Like how he¡¯s allowed to attend the Academy on his own terms.


    But if they found that he¡¯d been nearly hit by a carriage, then they¡¯d pin knights on him, forcibly guarding him while stuck to his side like clouds.


    Axion set down his tea cup, resting his elbow on the sofa¡¯s armrest, leaning his chin on his hand. He crossed his legs, staring down his brother with a languid gaze that was somehow very heavy.


    [Axion] ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, then that¡¯s fine. By the way, I heard you¡¯re close with the student who hit you. Is that right?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    This was probably why he came here today. If he knew Lexus was almost hit by a carriage, he never would¡¯ve dropped it so easily.


    [Axion] ¡°If it¡¯s a rumor about you, it all just comes rushing in, even if I don¡¯t do anything. So is it true?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°First of all¡­.¡±


    Instead of calling for Hugo, Lexus lifted up the tea cup in front of Axion, realizing it had already long since gone cold.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask him to bring you any tea?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I don¡¯t want to show others how I nag.¡±


    Axion narrowed his eyes, his blue eyes glimmering brightly.


    [Axion] ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why are you getting close to that student?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it bad that we¡¯re close? Maybe I just want to get along with her because I feel bad about what happened.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If you were such a commendable man, I wouldn¡¯t have to feel so worried. But I know you can¡¯t be close to any woman without holding any kind of intention.¡±


    Considering he hit the nail on the head, Lexus didn¡¯t think about refuting him. And it was true that he was approaching her with the intention of getting close for the sake of that bet.


    But obviously he wasn¡¯t going to mention that. If they heard about the bet, he¡¯d be severely reprimanded and ordered to do some serious self-reflection immediately. And he was getting real tired of all this nagging and interference with his life.


    [Lexus] ¡°Seriously, nagging isn¡¯t allowed. Stop worrying about my business and just go get married.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You know neither of us can get married recklessly.¡±


    Axion relaxed his arms with a sigh. Lexus looked at his older brother, then turned his head away.


    Both of them were in a similar situation. That was why, although he was at an age where it would not be strange for him to have a fianc¨¦e, Axion was still alone.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you still waiting for your fated one, brother?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to wait for destiny than just meeting women for the sake of meeting them like you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Everyone is different.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re a good speaker for someone who doesn¡¯t even believe in love.¡±


    Axion¡¯s voice came out under layers of bitterness and sarcasm.


    [Lexus] ¡°Look at me, brother.¡±


    Lexus spread out his arms lightly, calling out to his brother with a theatrical gesture.


    As his brother¡¯s gaze reached him, he pulled in his open arms and pressed his hands against his chest. His body was nice enough that, even when doing such a showman-like gesture, he still looked cool. Even if others might cause fits of laughter with that kind of behavior.


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you see?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°What am I supposed to be looking at?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re not half bad yourself¡­¡­but I¡¯m too good of a piece. We both have wealth, power, and good looks, but unlike you, I don¡¯t have any kind of lofty title or responsibility.¡±


    Though it sounded like he was bragging excessively, he wasn¡¯t technically wrong. The people who followed him around, showering him in attention, were proof enough of his words.


    The Crown Prince might have greater power than a mere Prince, but he had more restrictions placed upon him. On the other hand, the Imperial Prince was a part of the Imperial family¡¯s direct line, but he was far more free.


    Those who desired power would want the Crown Prince, but no one would disagree that Lexus was also prey that could not be missed.


    [Axion] ¡°And?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m the kind of prey that¡¯s just too delicious. So delicious that it would be impossible to find another like me anywhere else.¡±


    Axion nodded like he was affirming Lexus¡¯ words.


    [Axion] ¡°Your point being?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What makes you think true love is possible when everyone just wants to eat me up for what they see on the outside?¡¯


    [Axion] ¡°Is that all you wanted to say? You should¡¯ve gotten straight to the point.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I know I¡¯m trash, and someone has to be willing to love trash for it to be true love.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Are you being honest right now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I mean every word.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°So if you were someone else, would you love someone like you?¡±


    The question was unexpected, and Lexus was caught off guard. He said nothing at first, but then he gave a vague and empty smile. Axion was expecting an immediate and positive answer, but he wasn¡¯t sure what to do with the total silence he was met with instead.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, there¡¯s always room for improvement, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    After thinking for a while, that was how Lexus answered. Though it was unsure if he understood things well from the start, or if this was a result of self-reflection.


    Axion knew Lexus was an attractive man, except for the emotions and feelings he kept on the inside as well as the few he showed on the outside. However, Lexus was also the kind of man who thought it was inappropriate to share deep and intimate feelings with another.


    He was attractive and charming, but he was also insincere. He couldn¡¯t possibly expect women to be sincere with him when he was never serious about them from the start. He couldn¡¯t even believe in the idea of affection from the beginning.


    After all, it was not possible for him to believe in true love when he could not see a single part of himself worth loving.


    [Axion] ¡°You have to become someone that others can love.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, so the ending of this conversation was nagging anyway.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s how I show affection.¡±


    Axion stood up from the sofa, putting his hand on Lexus¡¯ head and roughly messing up his hair, causing Lexus to grumble.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t touch my hair.¡±


    Lexus muttered in displeasure, batting his brother¡¯s hand away.


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re so cute.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you doing this to your younger brother for? Go bother Elizabeth.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Unlike you, Elizabeth hasn¡¯t done anything nag worthy yet.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So you admit you¡¯re nagging me.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Just listen carefully to my words.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes, brother, I will definitely keep it in mind.¡±


    Axion sighed at the sight of his brother roughly waving away his warnings again.


    [Axion] ¡°If you keep living like this, someday you will get hurt. And it will be painful.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, well, I wish that day would come.¡±


    His younger brother was so prideful and arrogant that he did not even rise from his seat when his elder brother moved to leave. Instead he answered back with a proud and bold voice.


    Axion knew if that day ever came, his brother would struggle to handle it, but he left without saying anything more. No matter how much he nagged, it was all useless in the end. This was the kind of problem that his brother would only understand if he experienced it firsthand.


    But as his older brother, he prayed that such a day would never come.


    * * *

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello, Miss Valentia.¡±


    As always, the man sitting next to her was Lexus. She turned her head forward, giving a vague nod.


    [Lexus] ¡°Isn¡¯t it about time she started saying hello back?¡±


    That was when she noticed something strange. He was talking like he was speaking to himself.


    He spoke casually to her freely and openly up until yesterday, so it was a little confusing why he was suddenly acting like this. Moreover, she¡¯d never once heard him speak formally before now.


    She wanted to ask him why he was doing this, but Valentia quickly shoved that useless interest aside and pretended not to notice.


    [Lexus] ¡°You won¡¯t even answer me anymore?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes?¡±


    She just called his name, but he smiled so brightly. Now she felt like she could understand why people suddenly became absentminded in his presence when he smiled. Obviously if someone smiled with such a handsome face, one would be rendered fascinated.


    But Valentia said what she needed to right to his face.


    [Valentia] ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you stop sneaking into my lectures now just to follow me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m sneaking in just for you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry? That¡¯s¡­..¡±


    Well, she thought that because he would always sit next to her and talk. So the natural progression of thought was to think she was his goal.


    And right then, Valentia¡¯s face turned beet red. She could even feel her cheeks burning up.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry for misunderstanding you. Please, study.¡±


    Her expression was still cold and calm, but Valentia seemed entirely unaware of how her reddened cheeks seemed to please him.


    Seeing them all red like that, Lexus was suddenly filled with this strange urge to poke her cheeks. It was such a strong urge that he almost did it, akin to a thirst in how intense it was.


    But not only would it be horribly impolite to do that, she¡¯d also get very angry with him, no doubt. So rather than deprive himself of the joy entirely, he decided to just point out how red they were.


    [Lexus] ¡°Your cheeks are red.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me that.¡±


    Valentia turned her head and glared at him, but he had this cheeky expression on his face like he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.


    Had Lexus known how badly Valentia wanted to slap him again, he would¡¯ve gladly offered up his cheek. But luckily for his poor face, Valentia did not know that.


    Even though he knew nothing good would come from saying this, his words reflexively popped out.


    [Lexus] ¡°Actually that was a lie. I came here because I wanted to talk to you, Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It feels nice that you answered.¡±


    But even as Valentia was fuming, Lexus only ever answered in a very relaxed manner. It was honestly hard to tell if he was trying to act good-natured, or if he really had a naturally calm personality.


    And with such an amiable personality, it was clear he was a person worthy of being loved by people now, even without that appearance of his¡ªhis face was just one of his many advantages.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you want to have lunch with me today? I want to treat you this time.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I, that¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] And once the lectures are done, we can take a walk with Goldie.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that as a yes. Anyway, I¡¯ve gotta go.¡±


    Taking advantage of how Valentia was struck speechless by him, Lexus gave a firm response and stood up from his seat.


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I told you. I came here to talk to you, but I have my own lecture I need to attend. You¡¯re done after this, right? I¡¯ll pick you up once it¡¯s over.¡±


    She really hated this part of him that just said whatever he wanted, dropping bombs however he pleased, and then just leaving when he was done, but Valentia couldn¡¯t say anything.


    Eventually the professor entered the room, taking his usual position at the front. He took a look around the room, but once Lexus was gone, the students who followed him in had also made their escape.


    [Professor] ¡°Our most amicable student, Mister Lexus, appears to have left today, taking with him much of our classroom population.¡±


    The professor joked out loud, and the remaining students in the lecture gave boisterous laughs. However, Valentia¡¯s reddened cheeks did not fade for a very long time.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Just as he said he would, Lexus came once her lecture was over.


    Things progressed so smoothly, she wasn¡¯t quite sure how all this ended up happening. He was a man skilled at everything and this was no different. It was like she was possessed by something, quietly following along with his whims.


    [Lexus] ¡°I can escort you¡­.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    But she still had enough sense right now to shut down that kind of behavior real fast. As soon as Lexus reached for her, she cut him off, leaving him to casually pull his hand back.


    He shrugged his shoulders, and walked alongside her. He had much longer legs than her, so he relaxed his step as he walked in line with her.


    The cafe Lexus was leading her was a place different from the one yesterday.


    [Valentia] ¡°This isn¡¯t the same place as before.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We¡¯ve been there once, so we have to go somewhere else. There are so many places available. Unless you liked the one from yesterday? Should we go there again?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡±


    The food there was delicious, but not delicious enough to insist.


    [Valentia] ¡°Here is fine, too.¡±


    She pushed the menu back to him, and Lexus asked her a few questions about her preferences and ordered for her, just like before. And just as he said, it was very delicious.


    The taste of the food from the last place was also good, but this place was good not only in taste, but its atmosphere was impeccable, as was the overall appearance of the food.


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie will be back in a bit. It¡¯s a bit hard to bring animals into a restaurant.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Eat up, and we¡¯ll take a walk together.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie must really like you. Whenever he sees you, I keep thinking his tail might fall off. Hugo takes him out for walks sometimes, but he must feel good being able to take a walk with his owner.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    Valentia pretended to be uninterested, but she was listening very carefully to Lexus¡¯ every word.


    He used the word ¡®temporary¡¯ to describe his protection over Goldie, but in the end, he was still Goldie¡¯s guardian. She thought it was very fortunate that he would be able to live a comfortable and happy life.


    He had no reason to bring Goldie all this way just for them to take a walk with him. But even though it must have been a big pain to do it, he did not seem to mind the trouble.


    And Valentia didn¡¯t dislike this time. That¡¯s why a part of her thought she was being selfish for not being able to refuse when she really should have.


    After they finished their meal and left the Academy, Goldie was waiting for them. No, waiting might not be a very good way of putting it.


    As soon as he saw Valentia, Goldie started bounding towards her. The man who was holding onto Goldie¡¯s leash was being dragged along by him before handing the leash over to Lexus, who then handed it to Valentia.


    Then, they started taking their walk with Goldie. As they walked along the streets of the capital, she caught sight of something. A child, only around six or seven years old, walking alone in an alleyway with tears streaming down his face.


    [Child] ¡°Sniff, m, mom¡­¡±


    The child cried out, calling out for his mother, but the people passing by paid him no mind. Occasionally, someone would spare him a glance, but they all ended up passing through without doing anything to help the child.


    Perhaps it was because of his shabby appearance. He was clearly a poor child, and so there was no benefit to helping him.


    With Goldie at her side, Valentia approached the boy, and Goldie did not hesitate to wag his tail happily in front of him. Though he was a dog and not a human, he was still a child too, but he acted like he was trying to comfort the kid.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    [Child] ¡°Ah, I lost my mom.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t cry. See? This little dog doesn¡¯t want to see you cry, either.¡±


    The child looked at Valentia and Goldie, his eyes full of tears. With a hesitant hand, he reached out to Goldie, before stopping in midair. He glanced at Valentia. It seemed like he was unsure if he could touch this dog because he was so well-taken care of.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can touch him.¡±


    Hearing her permission, he gently stroked Goldie¡¯s head, when Goldie suddenly turned his head up and started licking the boy¡¯s hand. It seemed ticklish, since the boy burst into a fit of laughter.


    [Child] ¡°He¡¯s so cute. What is his name?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    [Child] ¡°Goldie¡­¡±


    When the child called out his name, Goldie shook his tail even stronger as he kept licking the child¡¯s hand.


    [Valentia] ¡°If you keep crying, your mom will be sad to know how many tears you¡¯ve shed. So let¡¯s be brave, alright?¡±


    [Child] ¡°Yes, sister.¡±


    The boy nodded, wiping away his tears with his sleeve.


    From behind, Valentia could feel Lexus approaching, and once he was within his sights, the child¡¯s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of such a brilliant looking man.


    But he was also a large man, and the boy was clearly nervous, almost like he was afraid.


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t do that. You¡¯re scaring him. Say something.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Uh¡­¡­Do you like candy? You want any?¡±


    Is this his idea of soothing?


    She was starting to get the feeling that he¡¯d not been around many children before. It was already awkward seeing him try and interact with the boy, but he seemed especially awkward with how he was fumbling with his words.


    He was so skilled at everything, but now he was acting all clumsy. It was enough to make Valentia want to laugh at him.


    Immediately, there was a sense of caution in the boy¡¯s eyes. It was clear he¡¯d been warned by his mother to be wary of people who made offers like that.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that. It makes you look like a very suspicious character.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What¡¯s so confusing? You sound like you¡¯re trying to lure him somewhere. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s not a bad person. I know him.¡±


    [Child] ¡°You know him, sister?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go and look for your mom. Big sister, brother, and the puppy will all accompany you, okay?¡±


    Valentia held Goldie¡¯s leash in one hand and the child¡¯s hand in the other while Lexus followed from behind.


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you remember where you lost your mom?¡±


    [Child] ¡°¡­¡­.In front of the candy store.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, so you were separated from your mother because you were distracted by the candy?¡±


    [Child] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure if the boy¡¯s mother would be wandering the streets looking for her son or if she¡¯d be waiting at the police station for news. But for lack of any better options, heading straight for the station seemed like the better choice in comparison to aimless wandering.


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you have time, Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Huh? Ah, yeah.¡±


    When she suddenly called out to him, Lexus answered reflexively.


    [Valentia] ¡°I will go to the police station, so please go into the candy store and buy something. I will give you money.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why would I¡­¡­.No, I¡¯ll go. I have money.¡±


    Met with Valentia¡¯s unconscious frown, Lexus sighed and nodded in defeat.


    * * *

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia headed off towards the nearby police station. The guards of the capital were responsible for many things, one of which was the protection and registration of missing children.


    With the child¡¯s hand in her grip, Valentia approached the guard.


    [Guard] ¡°What happened?¡±


    The guard¡¯s voice was extremely insincere. He even frowned and glared at Goldie. He didn¡¯t seem to like the presence of a dog, but the animal was well behaved, so he couldn¡¯t exactly say anything.


    [Valentia] ¡°This child lost his mother. Have there been any recent reports of missing children?¡±


    [Guard] ¡°There¡¯s been none.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then is it alright if we wait here for a while? She may come here looking for him.¡±


    No missing children had been reported yet, but she politely asked if they could wait instead. It was entirely possible she was still out there looking for him and might end up here to find him.


    [Guard] ¡°Yes, go sit over there. But make sure the kid doesn¡¯t cry. Make a fuss and I¡¯ll kick you right out.¡±


    Valentia looked down, checking on the child¡¯s condition. Just as she thought, the boy was a little frightened by how taciturn and tactless the guard was being, so she went to the furthest possible corner of the room before sitting down.


    Most of the guards at the station were not friendly towards the general populace. Children were especially scared of their unkind behavior.


    And so Valentia decided to chat with the boy. Just to make him feel a little more relaxed.


    [Valentia] ¡°Come to think of it, I never asked you for your name.¡±


    [Seo] ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Seo!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Really? That¡¯s a wonderful name. Who gave it to you?¡±


    [Seo] ¡°My dad did! What¡¯s your name?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°My name is Valentia. My mom gave me this name.¡±


    [Seo] ¡°Your name is really pretty too, sis.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so? Thank you.¡±


    She also really liked her name. To her, it was like a precious gift her mother left behind for her.


    Just then, the bell hanging above the door of the station rang out as it swung open. In walked Lexus, carrying in his arms a large box with a ribbon tied to it.


    Surprised, Valentia gestured to the box.


    [Valentia] ¡°What did you buy so much of?¡±


    But Lexus skillfully hid any embarrassment.


    [Lexus] ¡°I got candy.¡±


    Lexus held out the beautifully packaged box of candy to the boy, who took it with a clear glimmer of excitement in his eyes. It was so big that the kid could easily hide behind it.


    What is all of this? Did he steal the entire store?


    [Valentia] ¡°Now you say thank you, Seo.¡±


    [Seo] ¡°Thank you, brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, right¡­¡­¡±


    Lexus accepted the boy¡¯s thanks with the most awkward voice she had ever heard before. It was very unexpected.


    He didn¡¯t frown or anything like that, so she didn¡¯t think he hated children. It just felt very awkward. Like the situation was one that was unfamiliar to him, so he didn¡¯t really know what to do.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for doing me this favor.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Watching the scene for a while, the guard from before stood up from his seat and approached them. Seeing him get closer, Valentia felt nervous. He told them to be quiet, but maybe he thought they were being too loud now?


    [Guard] ¡°Excuse me, Prince¡­¡­¡±


    The guard hesitated and opened his mouth when Lexus put a finger against his lips and shushed him.


    That was when the guard realized his suspicions were correct, and wasn¡¯t quite sure what to do. Namely about the fact that he had shown the woman accompanying the Prince abject disrespect. Thinking about it sent goosebumps down his spin.


    Then¡ª


    The door of the station opened up with that same jingling sound. A woman in worn clothing and a tired expression came in, and Seo immediately shouted out to her¡ªcrying, Mom! The woman looked up, running up like she was about to collapse.


    [Mother] ¡°Oh, Seo! Do you know how much I was looking for you? I told you to stay behind me no matter what!¡±


    The woman spanked Seo¡¯s butt with such strength, it made a sound loud enough to tell anyone listening that it probably hurt.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m sure Seo knows he¡¯s done wrong by now.¡±


    [Mother] ¡°Who are you?¡±


    [Guard] ¡°This is the woman who cared for your son and brought him here.¡±


    The guard spoke as kindly as possible.


    Now that he knew he¡¯d made the mistake of slighting one of the Prince¡¯s party members, he had no choice but to do so. He had to be seen in a better light now.


    [Mother] ¡°This woman? Th, thank you. Thank you so much. I was terrified thinking something might¡¯ve happened.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I only did what I was supposed to. He was very shocked, so please comfort him.¡±


    Valentia spoke in a quiet voice, thinking Seo might be scolded again.


    [Mother] ¡°I will do that. Thank you so much. And what is this?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°He was separated from you in front of the candy store since he was craving candy. This is a gift for him.¡±


    [Mother] ¡°No, I¡¯m already in your debt since you found him. We cannot accept this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Please, give it to Seo. I don¡¯t really like sweets, so if he cannot take them, then they¡¯ll only end up being thrown away. Right, Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah. I don¡¯t like sweets, either.¡±


    Lexus replied very awkwardly. He was acting so differently from before, like a broken toy in contrast to his usual self, which was always brimming with confidence.


    But what was even stranger than that was that she didn¡¯t hate his clumsy self. Rather than his showmanship or bravado, acting like he knew everything all the time, she liked this much better.


    [Mother] ¡°But¡­.¡±


    The woman looked between the two of them like she didn¡¯t know what to do.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s really okay. Please, return home safely.¡±


    [Mother] ¡°Thank you. Thank you so very much.¡±


    [Seo] ¡°Bye, sis. Bye, brother. Bye, Goldie.¡±


    Seo waved wildly as he left the guard station, and like he¡¯d been paying attention to things very carefully, Goldie broke his longtime silence and let out a bark.


    [Guard] ¡°Ma¡¯am. May I speak to you for a moment?¡±


    The guard called out Valentia, who just nodded, feeling a sinking suspicion that she knew what he wanted.


    But Lexus felt a strange and unusual air, and blocked her off.


    [Lexus] ¡°You can talk here.¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Ah, well that¡¯s, I¡­..¡±


    The guard stammered.


    [Valentia] ¡°I think he has something he needs to say, so I will speak with him privately. Lexus, you can remain here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright.¡±


    He looked displeased, but when Valentia spoke up, he nodded calmly.


    The guard took Valentia to a small room off to the side of the front desk. Judging from the appearance of the place, it seemed to be an interrogation room.


    [Valentia] ¡°Speak.¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Is that really His Highness, the Imperial Prince?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Then, I, I apologize for being rude. Please speak well of me to the Prince.¡±


    The guard apologized, bowing at the waist.


    The sight was enough to make Valentia feel a tinge of bitterness, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She already knew that this world was not beautiful or fair enough to treat people the same.


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this. There is nothing to tell the Prince.¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Honestly?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. I am not close enough to him to tell him such a thing, nor is he the sort of person who would take such a shameful action against you. Your request is an insult to the Prince.¡±


    This time, the face of the guard turned blue. Now he was realizing he had unintentionally insulted the Prince. And if his intentions were to be misrepresented, then he could easily be charged with the slander against the Imperial family.


    [Guard] ¡°Th, that wasn¡¯t my intention!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I know. Straighten out your back. Though I think it would be good if you could speak a little more kindly the next time a lost child comes. That¡¯s just a personal wish of mine.¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Yes, of course. Do not worry. I will also try to inform the other stationed guards.¡±


    Apparently her words sounded like a threat to this man, so Valentia decided not to say anything further.


    [Valentia] ¡°May I leave now?¡±


    [Guard] ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡±


    Valentia was sent off by the guard, leaving the station alongside Lexus. As they were walking together and the hustle and bustle of the ordeal faded, Valentia suddenly remembered something.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why did you buy so many candies?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I just asked for the biggest set they had. I didn¡¯t think it would be that big either, but it was too late to ask for a smaller one, so¡­¡­.¡±


    Lexus replied with a slight frown on his face. Was it just her imagination, or did it seem like he was frowning just to hide how embarrassed and shy he was?


    [Lexus] ¡°But do you really hate candy?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t hate it. Why do you ask?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I bought a lot, so they ended up giving me a bonus.¡±


    In the palm of Lexus¡¯ hand was some candy, kept in a pretty wrapped bag, and he held it out to Valentia. She looked down at it for a moment, hesitating for a second until she eventually took it from him.


    This man was giving her this without putting much thought behind it, but it was right then that Valentia realized something¡ªgifts like candies and cookies were something best given to a child, and it was something she¡¯d never received before. Not even as a young girl.


    She didn¡¯t want this man to know that fact about her, but as she accepted the candy from him, her hand was trembling.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you. I will enjoy it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°By the way, you were really good at looking after him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Did it look that way?¡±


    Valentia tilted her head.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, you did such a good job comforting him that he stopped crying immediately. Do you like kids?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t mind them. Do you dislike them?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s not that I dislike them. I¡¯m just uninterested.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why is that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Too many women have come to me claiming they were pregnant with my child.¡±


    That was something she could confirm with her own ears, remembering what she heard back then. He seemed like a really bad person at the time, but now that she had spent some time with him, it really felt like she was being completely possessed by something.


    Or to be exact, she was being entranced by this man, but it wasn¡¯t as though she was feeling any kind of emotion. What she was feeling right now, if anything, was probably gratitude. Everything else was just a coincidence.


    [Valentia] ¡°That sort of thing happens because you play around with women.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But it¡¯s still not my kid, so I get angry no matter how many times I have to sit through that kind of thing.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What makes you so certain it isn¡¯t yours?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s a reason for it.¡±


    There was definitely more to the story, but she was not close enough to him to ask him any kind of pressing questions. It would not be polite.


    [Valentia] ¡°I see. Oh, right, the price of the candy¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I ran an errand for you, so I won¡¯t charge you for it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What? That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s how I calculate things.¡±


    The moment that boy went off with his mother and was no longer around, this man immediately went back to his usual smooth-talking ways. But, strangely enough, she didn¡¯t hate that kind of smoothness right now.


    [Valentia] ¡°Very well. I will accept it with gratitude.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thanks.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­Thanks?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°For letting this one go. I thought you¡¯d be more strict about it.¡±


    If she had been, she¡¯d be ignoring Lexus¡¯ consideration. She was grateful towards Lexus right now, and so she didn¡¯t want to be so cold in response to his consideration. And that was exactly what Lexus wanted.


    Right when Valentia was about to respond¡ª


    Thump¡ª


    A carriage zipped past them roughly, splashing up the stagnant water left on the street up into the air.


    Valentia was walking on the side away from the street, so she only got a little bit of water on her. But Lexus received the worst of it, standing on the side along the path of the street, completely covered with muddy water.


    Of course, Goldie was drenched as well. His finely kept cream colored coat was completely filthy again. Hating the feeling, Goldie shook the water off his body.


    And all that muddy water was flung directly at Valentia.


    [Valentia] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°. . .¡±


    The two of them stood there, entirely soaked, looking at each other without saying a word.


    * * *

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°We should probably buy some new clothes, right?¡±


    Soaked in water, Lexus sent Valentia a smile.


    She¡¯d never seen this man look so disheveled before. Even soaked in muddy water, it did nothing to dissuade or damage his brilliant appearance.


    He¡¯s just a little messy¡­¡­..A dirty Prince, heh.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. I think that would be best.¡±


    Valentia nodded, forcing down the corners of her lips, not wanting a smile to slip through even by accident. Though she¡¯d been suffering from his whims all day, she did not hate the idea of spending more time with him.


    [Lexus] ¡°I know of a decent shop. Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s.¡±


    The place they arrived at was a famous boutique in the capital¡ªLa Vie en Rose. With the way the staff immediately welcomed Lexus, ushering them inside, it seemed he was a repeat customer.


    Hearing that the Prince had arrived, the owner of the boutique immediately came out, completely stunned to see the state of the Prince¡¯s appearance.


    [Owner] ¡°Welcome, Lord Prince. What¡¯s happened? How did you end up like this?¡±


    She stopped talking, letting out a sigh. She was clearly holding back the phrase, how on earth did you become such a mess?


    [Lexus] ¡°I had some business to take care of.¡±


    [Owner] ¡°I will bring you a wet towel to wipe off the mud. Bring one for the lady, too. Please, sit here for now.¡±


    Maybe it was because it was a VIP room, but everything down to the chairs seemed more luxurious than was afforded to the Baroness.


    Though they were only a barony, the lowest possible rank, the Syner family was also part of the nobility because of their wealth. In other words, they were completely ordinary people who dressed up and lived luxurious lives because they had the money to do so.


    Even Valentia, who was treated as the black sheep of her family and could not partake, was technically a noblewoman and lived life within sight of nice things.


    But this was the dressing room of a famous boutique in the capital. The kind of place where only nobles of considerable note could get their clothes tailored a few times a year, and only when they made a reservation.


    Being here was like catching a glimpse of an entirely different world.


    [Lexus] ¡°They can take your measurements too, Valentia. They also deal with ladies¡¯ attire.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Once they have your measurements, they can pull clothes of your size so you can change.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t get much on me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No. I can¡¯t turn away from a lady in this circumstance.¡±


    Lexus gave a slight nod. Though the staff didn¡¯t recognize Valentia at first, they quickly recognized that gesture, taking Valentia and naturally ushering her to the next room.


    [Staff] ¡°This way.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Alright¡­..¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Please, wipe the dirt from your face first. Here, a warm towel.¡±


    The staff moved deftly and skillfully, naturally handing over a towel with such practiced motions. Valentia took it from them, wrapping her cheeks with that soft, warm towel. While she did that, the staff started preparing several different types of drinks, handing them over just as easily.


    [Staff] ¡°It will take some time for the Lord Prince to prepare. Would you like to come and look at the samples in the meantime?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, alright.¡±


    Usually, she was not an easy customer, but this time, she fell along with the employee¡¯s rhythm so easily. The staff here were extremely professional, and were good at what they did, which made it feel only natural to follow along with them.


    [Staff] ¡°How do you like this outfit? The owner confirmed that this style will be popular at court in the future.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s pretty.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Isn¡¯t it? And what about this one? The fabric is truly wonderful.¡±


    The employee chattered about various different types of topics as she brandished a tape measure to take Valentia¡¯s measurements.


    She took every minute measurement, down to the length of her wrist to the center of her palm. Even the smallest, strangest details were included, like her ring size, all politely measured.


    [Staff] ¡°Luckily we have some dresses ready that already match your size. Would you like to choose?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m alright with anything.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Then shall I choose for you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I would appreciate that.¡±


    The employee went around, pulling out a few outfits while talking about the latest trends. Valentia occasionally nodded, thinking about how she couldn¡¯t understand a word of it, even though they were speaking the same language.


    [Staff] ¡°May I touch your hair while I¡¯m at it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°If you feel uncomfortable, you may refuse, but since the dress will look so lovely on you, I think it¡¯d be good to do your hair, too. If I can¡¯t give you a hairstyle to match, I might end up losing sleep and missing work tomorrow. So is it alright?¡±


    The employee spoke with such a mournful voice that Valentia eventually relented and nodded. With her permission, the employee quickly united the band that was keeping Valentia¡¯s hair pinned back, and her long hair unfurled around her shoulders.


    Her curly hair was inherited from her mother. It was long, down to her waist, and she would usually roughly tie it back or keep it in a bun to make sure it didn¡¯t get in her way.


    [Staff] ¡°You have naturally curly hair. The curls are so lovely. Now, lie down here.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°I think I¡¯ll need to wash your hair as well. I¡¯ll finish it quickly.¡±


    As the employee urged the already sitting Valentia to lie down, she slowly poured warm water, stopping every so often to make sure the temperature was still good. Now, Valentia was lying down, for the first time experiencing the luxury of someone else washing her hair for her.


    According to their master¡¯s will, the Baron¡¯s servants also ignored her, so naturally she did not have a maid by her side. And her lack of experience with this kind of treatment made the soft and skillful hands running through her hair feel a little awkward.


    [Staff] ¡°Your ends are a little bit damaged. Is it alright if I trim them? Of course, if you don¡¯t feel comfortable, I will leave them as is.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I would appreciate that.¡±


    The employee gave a bright smile, happily and carefully trimming the ends of her hair.


    Valentia would occasionally cut her hair on her own, but she kept it long and kept the curls tied back, so it was never noticeable¡ªmuch less the ends.


    But this employee was so skilled with her work that not only did she wash Valentia¡¯s hair, but she also massaged and washed her face with ease. By the time Valentia came back to her senses, she was already wearing makeup on her face.


    [Staff] ¡°Your hair is very beautiful, so it would be good if you took care of it. Otherwise, it would be too big of a shame. Other ladies have to face the burning curling iron to get their hair like this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Look. See how big of a difference a comb and hair oil makes?¡±


    Her light brown hair was washed and combed through gently. After the oil was applied, her hair was like a flowing waterfall down her back.


    She was wearing a pure white blouse, gently hugging her body with delicate lace cuffed around the wrist and neckline, and pure pearls threaded as buttons.


    Over that was a vest, of which the neckline plunged deeply like a V and cinched around the waist like a corset, defining her figure. The skirt fell down to her knees, tight like a mermaid cut with a short slit down the side.


    The employee carefully gave her a set of pearl earrings, matching the pearl embedded headband. Even the lining of the slit on her skirt was decorated with pearls to accentuate the elegant air of her attire.


    With a neat looking jacket worn atop as a finishing piece, she definitely looked more passable.


    Her faintly narrowed eyes, always carrying a constant shade with them. looked clearer than usual, and her blurry and pale pink eyes seemed more vibrant now. Her skin was bright and her once dry lips were like supple fruits.


    [Staff] ¡°Your Highness, she¡¯s ready. Look! Our masterpiece!¡±


    With how many noble girls passed through this dressing room, ¡®masterpiece¡¯ seemed like an exaggeration. It was obvious she was just trying to be polite to the person the Prince had brought, but she still felt very embarrassed.


    Presumably already finished getting ready, Lexus was sitting on the sofa, leaning back like he was drowsy. In his hand was a long rod, attached to which was a string leading to a piece of fluff¡ªa toy.


    As he moved it around, Goldie would jump in turn, chasing after it.


    Playing with Goldie, Lexus had his eyes slightly closed like he found it somewhat amusing. Then, hearing the sound of the employee¡¯s voice, he turned his head.


    And Lexus¡¯ eyes fell on Valentia. He looked at her without saying anything.


    Why isn¡¯t he saying anything? Do I look that strange? Valentia thought, anxiously.


    Considering all the women he met up with were gorgeous beauties, she might not look so great in his eyes by comparison, even if she was dressed up a little bit.


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, oh¡­¡­Yeah, you¡¯re pretty.¡±


    Lexus muttered, casting his gaze to the ground and avoiding her eyes. Then, he buried his face in his hands, like he couldn¡¯t control his expression, so his only choice was to hide it entirely.


    Goldie came up to him, scratching at Lexus¡¯ new suit pants with his front paw, seemingly disappointed that Lexus had stopped playing with him.


    But it was as she expected.


    It was an insincere compliment that he was speaking just to be polite. But that wasn¡¯t so bad. She was just glad he didn¡¯t insult her to her face.


    [Valentia] ¡°You look handsome as well, Lexus. Though I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard that plenty.¡±


    He was originally a very handsome man, so there wasn¡¯t much left to praise. It was just a case of fishing a jewel from the mud and washing it off.


    After that, the two of them left the dressing room being sent off by the employees.


    The cool wind of the evening set in, blowing past them. Her light brown hair was now flowing free, being carried on the wind and fluttering in front of Lexus. Turning to Lexus, Valentia brushed her hair behind her ear.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you. Because of you, I get to wear such lovely clothing. Though of course, it doesn¡¯t suit me in the slightest.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    ¡­¡­.Was being praised supposed to feel like she was being stabbed in the side? Knowing they were words spoken without heart, it made her feel a little sick.


    [Lexus] ¡°You should dress like this more often.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t have that kind of sense.¡±


    Actually it was because the Baroness did not allocate her a large budget for her clothing. All the money Valentia had, she was spending on her education.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you to have dinner with me, but it¡¯s too late, right?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Perhaps next time. I will buy you a meal to thank you for today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. Next time.¡±


    Habitually, Lexus reached out his hand to escort her, and realizing how he¡¯d done it again, he smiled and lowered his hand. Even though he knew the noble lady before him was one who would not hold his hand, he gave it out freely without even realizing it.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll get a carriage for you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thank you for your help.¡±


    He hailed a passing carriage. Once Valentia was inside, she turned and looked at him, and Lexus smiled and gave a light wave. Valentia nodded lightly, receiving his farewells.


    [Lexus] ¡°Get home safely.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Return home safely.¡±


    Then the carriage door was closed and it started off on its departure.


    After the handsome Prince started his regular interference in her life, so many things were different, both big and small. Today was one of those things, being one of the busiest days she¡¯d had in a while.


    It was strange, but stranger still was that she didn¡¯t hate it.


    If a carriage were to roughly pass you by, splashing muddy water on you as it went along, you would normally feel bad and depressed for the rest of your day.


    But Valentia did not show any mournful or saddened signs when it happened. Rather, being struck with water alongside the Prince, she had to fight back her laughter instead.


    [Valentia] ¡°Pft.¡±


    Valentia smiled without her realizing. And as she imagined Lexus¡¯ ridiculous expression, that small smile grew and grew.


    [Valentia] ¡°Haha!¡±


    All by herself, she burst into a fit of laughter, laughing to herself for a long time. It was a very refreshing laugh.


    * * *

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Butler] ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for your return.¡±


    Once Valentia arrived at the Baron¡¯s mansion, the butler was the only person to greet her. But this was unusual, considering no one, whether it was the lord, the butler, or any servant, waited for her to return home.


    [Valentia] ¡°Me?¡±


    [Butler] ¡°Yes, my lady.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    [Butler] ¡°The Baroness told me to retrieve you upon your return.¡±


    The Baroness sent someone to find her? She never thought the person, who was determined to act as though she did not exist, would suddenly go off looking for her.


    [Valentia] ¡°And you have no idea why?¡±


    [Butler] ¡°I do not. I was not informed.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.Very well. Take me to her.¡±


    Once the door opened, Valentia entered, and a maid quickly closed it behind her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Did you need me for something, Madam?¡±


    Slap¡ª


    And the second she spoke, what welcomed her in return was a fiery pain upon her cheek.


    It was like lightning was flashing in front of her. Unable to overcome the pain or the sudden shock, Valentia collapsed onto the floor. Her cheek stung so much, she couldn¡¯t even touch it.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah¡­..¡±


    There was even a stinging pain when she tried to speak.


    [Baroness] ¡°What on earth is wrong with you!? How dare you say that to me, you shameless wench!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­.What¡­.?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°How long did you think you could hide it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­May I ask what I¡¯ve been hiding?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°You must have decided to mar the honor of the barony and ruin it!¡±


    It was then that Valentia could understand a little bit of what the Baroness was trying to get at.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡­.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°So you remember now? How could you slap the Prince!? Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was at the countess¡¯ party!? And you dare let this pass by without telling me!?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That issue was resolved amicably with the Prince.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Amicably? You dare say that? What will the Imperial family think!?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The Imperial family said they did not have an input on the situation, and the Academy solved it without any issue.¡±


    This bottom feeding wretch spoke well. Apparently there was a reason why she was at the top of the Academy. But even so, she had no intention of listening to Valentia.


    [Baroness] ¡°You¡¯re acting cheeky and talking back. You still aren¡¯t aware of your own faults?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you because everything was resolved.¡±


    However, for all her competent explanations, this woman was not one that would hear them out.


    [Baroness] ¡°Intolerable bitch. Bring it.¡±


    At the ready, the maid presented an expensive looking box, held closed by an ornate looking lock. Once the latch was undone, inside was a luxurious looking short whip.


    This was something that could not have originated in this woman¡¯s room. She wasn¡¯t even in possession of the small daggers some women would keep for self defense. This was something she must¡¯ve prepared in advance.


    Valentia¡¯s face turned white.


    Whip¡ª


    When the Baroness lightly brandished the whip, even such a small movement was enough to make the sound of the air cutting through. It was enough to make Valentia collapse and turn her back to it without realizing it.


    She knew there would be a commotion if that situation became known, but the Baroness was someone who had treated her like air for years, always insisting she was someone who did not exist. She had no way of knowing she would suddenly go this far.


    [Baroness] ¡°Hold her down.¡±


    At the woman¡¯s orders, the maid grabbed her by the hair, shoving her back to the ground and holding her in place so that she could not move.


    [Baroness] ¡°Remove that.¡±


    The other maid went to take off Valentia¡¯s jacket, and Valentia, whose hands and feet were being held in place, could not move.


    Then, there was the sound of the whip cracking through the air, echoing against Valentia¡¯s back.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah!¡±


    Valentia cried out.


    [Baroness] ¡°Such a vulgar scream. Cover her mouth.¡±


    The maid took a bundle of cloth and shoved it into Valentia¡¯s mouth.


    [Baroness] ¡°You must be doing this to ruin our family!¡±


    Crack¡ª


    [Baroness] ¡°You detestable brat!¡±


    Crack¡ª


    [Baroness] ¡°Bitch!¡±


    The sound of the whip hitting against her flesh was terrifying. As the pain became sharper, Valentia curled up, her entire body trembling.


    She couldn¡¯t even scream because her mouth had been covered. All she could do was silently shake as the tears flowed down her cheeks. The first pretty and new clothes she had gotten in a while were being torn to ribbons.


    [Baroness] ¡°Vile bitch! You look just like your mother!¡±


    This girl was unsightly from the very beginning. Why must she be forced to deal with the daughter of her husband¡¯s ex-wife? That woman was already dead and there was nothing left for this girl since the title was passed onto distant relatives.


    But despite how little this child had, the Baroness could not bear to see her with her chin up.


    She approved her enrollment into the Academy because she didn¡¯t like seeing her around the mansion, but it didn¡¯t end there.


    Whenever the ladies gathered, they could never keep their mouths shut, and she was made to deal with their little comments that made her feel so wretched.


    [Lady] ¡ª¡¯I heard the Baron¡¯s first daughter is rather brilliant. Good for you.¡¯


    They were laughing at her. The first daughter she didn¡¯t even give birth to was so brilliant, but what about her biological children? That¡¯s what they were getting at.


    She struggled to keep a smile while trembling under the hidden humiliation of the other ladies¡¯ unspoken words. Her children, who hadn¡¯t had the chance to attend the Academy yet, were being insulted by this disgusting girl.


    [Baroness] ¡ª¡¯I told her to take things slow, but she¡¯s so eager.¡¯


    [Lady] ¡ª¡¯Well, if they are anything like their elder sister, the younger siblings will do just as well.¡¯


    They all knew that woman was the daughter of her husband¡¯s ex-wife, but they still said that. It was enough to make her want to rip off their mouths. If there wasn¡¯t any kind of familial risk, she might¡¯ve slapped her cheek right then and there.


    She couldn¡¯t even send the bitch to an orphanage because others would take notice, so she had no choice but to endure the presence of a parasite in her house. The best she could do was close her eyes and pretend she didn¡¯t exist.


    They were having another gathering, and she knew she would not feel good if she had to hear another word about that damn girl if she went. However, the social world was all about networking. Although the Baroness had wealth and property from her maiden family, she was not of a high enough rank to attend on a regular basis.


    So when she received an out of the blue invitation, she had no choice but to go.


    The Viscountess, who was always the first to bring up the topic of that horrendous creature, said something she couldn¡¯t understand.


    [Viscountess] ¡ª¡¯You must be very worried, Madam Baroness.¡¯


    [Baroness] ¡ª¡¯Whatever could you mean?¡¯


    [Viscountess] ¡ª¡¯Oh! Did you not hear?¡¯


    Her voice was clear, and her expression was like she was reciting a line from a play.


    [Baroness] ¡ª¡¯I do not know what you speak of.¡¯


    [Viscountess] ¡ª¡¯I suppose your first daughter must have hidden it for fear of making a fuss, so I don¡¯t know if I should stir this up.¡¯


    [Baroness] ¡ª¡¯If it concerns my house¡¯s business, then you must tell me. Did she make a mess? I will have to punish her thoroughly if she¡¯s been trying to hide it. Such trouble.¡¯


    [Viscountess] ¡ª¡¯I suppose you are the only one not to hear of the incident where she slapped the Imperial Prince in the face.¡¯


    Her tone made it clear that this was an incredibly well known incident, and that it was strange and appalling for her not to have heard of it until now.


    The Baroness¡¯ expression turned pale.


    The Imperial Prince? It was already a famous story that a Prince was attending the Academy as a student, but then that detestable bitch had to go off and slap him in the face.


    [Baroness] ¡ª¡¯What do you mean?¡¯


    [Viscountess] ¡ª¡®It¡¯s a good thing the Imperial family is unbothered and the Imperial Prince has forgiven the incident. But still, you must feel so heavy.¡¯


    Looking at the atmosphere of the room, everyone seemed to know about this except her. Somehow, she knew she received that invitation, asking her to come specifically because they wanted to bring this up.


    She was not the Baron¡¯s first wife, and she originally came from the rich, commoner class. Because of that, she lacked social connections since she entered society through a remarriage.


    And so this was her first time experiencing such a fatal thing¡ªhearing of a rumor that everyone else already knew.


    Everything was because of this detestable girl.


    By the time the Baroness was exhausted from the whipping, Valentia¡¯s body had gone completely limp. Even if she were to hit her again and again, she did not move. If the person whipping her was exhausted, obviously she would be completely unconscious by now.


    The Baroness gracefully wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, then handed the whip off to the maid next to her.


    [Baroness] ¡°Clean this up.¡±


    The maid nodded, dragging the unconscious Valentia from the room.


    The Baroness¡¯ hand trembled and the maid recognized the movement.


    [Maid] ¡°Are you alright, Madam?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°How could I be?¡±


    [Maid] ¡°You must have been so shocked. Shall I prepare you some tea?¡±


    If someone else had witnessed this scene, a maid asking the Baroness if she was shocked after beating someone unconscious, they would¡¯ve stuck their tongue out at such viciousness.


    [Baroness] ¡°Yes. I must have been shocked.¡±


    [Maid] ¡°You are the precious madam, so the best remedy for shock is having something nice to eat.¡±


    The maid perfectly matched the Baroness¡¯ rhythm.


    [Baroness] ¡°You know how I feel.¡±


    [Maid] ¡°I will have some tea prepared. It¡¯d be best to add a touch of sugar.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Very well.¡±


    But the reason why the Baroness¡¯ hand trembled was not because she was shocked nor because she was exhausted. It was because she was recognizing within her a desire she never knew she had.


    That felt good.


    She had fun beating Valentia.


    Even though it was a lightweight whip, it was still difficult to wield. Ladies of the time never held anything heavier than a tea cup, a fan, or a parasol, so she could only swing it for minutes at a time.


    But she¡¯d been holding back for too long.


    She¡¯d been enduring the sight of that former wife¡¯s filthy offshoot, disgusted by her presence, but unable to do anything about it. Seeing such an awful girl before her did nothing but fuel her anger.


    But seeing her curled up on the ground like a bug, shaking every time the whip fell upon her, brought her an unexpected joy. It felt so good to see her crying without making a single sound.


    [Maid] ¡°Madam, I brought your tea.¡±


    The Baroness drank the tea brought to her by her maid.


    Drinking such warm and sweet tea, she could feel herself rejuvenating the energy she had lost. If she had something to drink while she was whipping Valentia, she could¡¯ve hit her more. Suddenly, she thought about what a loss that was.


    It¡¯s alright. This is something I can do now.


    Next time, she should recharge her strength so she can hit her more.


    [Baroness] ¡°I should discipline her more from now on.¡±


    [Maid] ¡°¡­¡­With your discipline, she will become a better lady.¡±


    The maid quickly understood the Baroness¡¯ words to mean she would continue beating Valentia in the future. The Baroness nodded.


    Yes, I must discipline her.


    [Baroness] ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to pay much attention to her since I¡¯ve been so busy, but I cannot let this go unpunished. Such lax behavior will no longer be tolerated.¡±


    She¡¯s the daughter of my husband¡¯s ex-wife, so I ignored her, and this was how she grew up. I should have disciplined her more.


    Even in the midst of difficulties from such a harsh beating, the thought was enough to make the Baroness tremble with joy.


    * * *

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    *


    * * *


    *


    The weekend was long.


    The day they were splashed with all that water was on the last day of the week, so he had to wait two more days before he could return to the Academy. Time was moving so slowly, Lexus agonized whether or not it was even possible for time to be this slow.


    I want to go to the Academy, Lexus thought.


    But he shocked himself by thinking something like that.


    Am I going crazy? Or am I crazy already?


    Members of the Imperial family usually didn¡¯t attend the Academy. His decision to go was a choice he made out of pure boredom. And yet, even after enrolling, nothing brought him any sense of joy.


    Do I actually have fun when I¡¯m with her?


    Rather than fun, it was more dumbfounding to be with Valentia. Yeah, she was always shocking him.


    She rejected him time and time again, and he even ended up taking in a stray dog because of her. Even the experience of being slapped in the face was a unique one.


    When he was with her, he felt like he was going through so many new things all at once. It was also the first time he¡¯d helped a lost child find his mother, or even bought things for someone like that. Though it was a little surprising it was candy of all things.


    The candy store owner filled a box to the brim, almost to the point of it bursting, packing it tightly with a strong ribbon. All the while, they did not stop staring at his face.


    When he told them they were putting in too much, the owner just laughed and said it was a bonus since he was buying so much. Then, after finishing the packaging, he put extra candy into a small bag and gave him that, too.


    It was a little refreshing since it was his first time experiencing that. When he wanted things in the past, the merchants would always come to him and display their wares, just like that.


    And he never had to buy anything like sweets, either. Since he was young, the Imperial Palace¡¯s patisserie made things whenever he needed them, so what point was there buying anything?


    Come to think of it, it was my first time buying clothes for a woman, too.


    But that couldn¡¯t be helped. He didn¡¯t like seeing her have to wear such muddy clothing, and he certainly wasn¡¯t enough of a piece of trash to let a woman leave while looking like she¡¯s just been through the wringer.


    He washed up and got changed himself, but even after he left the dressing room, Valentia hadn¡¯t come back yet. Even after he spent some time drinking tea, she still did not return.


    He was starting to get bored, so he played with Goldie for a little bit with a cat toy brought to him by an employee. He connected a thread to the end of the rod and killed some time by watching the dog try and catch the bundle of fluff at the end of it.


    Then he lifted his head up once he heard Valentia was finished getting ready.


    And when he saw her, he was struck with the strangest sensation. The feeling of his heart falling.


    Has she always looked like that?


    Her hair was a light brown color. He used to think it was very dull looking since she always kept it neatly tied back, but now it looked like a galaxy cascading down her back. Even her once vacant and blurry pink eyes, lacking in presence, were exceedingly lovely.


    And right then he had to physically restrain himself from slapping himself at that thought.


    The clothes that were wrapped around her figure suited her too well. Even though her new attire wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary, it was different from her usual, loose fitting look.


    Right then, he felt embarrassed, like he was seeing something he wasn¡¯t supposed to, so he instinctively looked away and covered his eyes.


    He¡¯d seen women wearing dresses with necklines that dipped down to their hearts, and some who wore dresses with their entire backs exposed. Hell, he was once invited by the primadonna of the Tuwallet opera house to watch her bathe.


    And yet, suddenly he was getting all embarrassed seeing a woman who was completely covered from neck to wrist, wearing a mermaid cut skirt. It was completely unbelievable.


    It was fortunate her legs underneath her skirt were being covered by stockings.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Ah, oh¡­¡­Yeah, you¡¯re pretty.¡¯


    He stuttered like a fool, struggling just to tell her she was pretty.


    He could admit that she looked much prettier than usual, but it wasn¡¯t also though she was some great beauty originally.


    So why am I getting so weird about this? Lexus couldn¡¯t understand himself.


    When they left the boutique, a gust of wind blew past them. In that breeze, her free flowing hair unexpectedly tickled the back of Lexus¡¯ hand, and the sensation sent chills down his spine. The wind blew through her rich, long, and beautiful hair, messing it up, and it was hard for him to resist the urge to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.


    But after enduring the long and boring weekend, when he went to the Academy, he couldn¡¯t find Valentia.


    She ran like clockwork, so she was always right in her seat at the exact same time every day. At first, he wondered what could be causing her to run late like this, but at the time, he still felt calm.


    However, Valentia did not show up even after the lecture started. He asked around for her, talking to the students who took the same studies as her, and apparently she was absent today.


    That was how the first day went.


    He thought for sure she¡¯d be here by the second, but again, Valentia was absent.


    [Tex] ¡°Your Princeliness.¡±


    He also learned that she¡¯d never been absent before, but no one could tell him the reason for why she suddenly wasn¡¯t showing up. By now, the lecture was over, but since Lexus was still around, other students lingered as well.


    Someone called out to him as he entered the lecture hall, and it was obvious who it was. Tex was the only person who could call him with that kind of cheeky tone.


    [Lexus] ¡°What is it, young Duke?¡± (1)


    Tex took the seat next to him, whispering quietly.


    [Tex] ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been busy working on that bet these days.¡±


    Oh, right the bet. Yeah, we made a bet.


    Things were so crazy and hectic these days that he¡¯d forgotten about it for a minute.


    [Tex] ¡°Have you heard? The Academy¡¯s going nuts, talking about whether or not you fell in love with the Iron Maiden.¡±


    Hearing the term ¡®Iron Maiden¡¯, he frowned slightly, but he didn¡¯t say anything. Well, there was nothing anyone could do about what people called others at the Academy.


    Instead, he was more concerned about the content of this particular rumor¡ªone that said he was in love with her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°It¡¯s because you seem like you¡¯re putting a lot of effort into this.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She¡¯s a difficult woman.¡±


    She was an iron wall, stronger than any mere shield. No matter how he attacked it, he would be repelled with ease. If they stationed her to defend the Empire¡¯s borders, no one would dare invade their lands. That¡¯s the kind of strength she had.


    But she did have some unexpected weak spots. Like how she appeared to be weak towards children and dogs.


    [Tex] ¡°I thought so. Do you think you have a chance?¡±


    He wanted to believe he was whittling his way down to heart just a little bit. But then again, that could just as easily be chalked up to his imagination.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know. She¡¯s been gone for the past two days.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What? She wasn¡¯t here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah. You don¡¯t think something happened, do you?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s the point in worrying about that?¡±


    He was technically right. Why would something like that matter? Lexus felt a subtle displeasure wash over him, but he shoved it aside, muttering his agreement.


    [Tex] ¡°Anyway, if you¡¯re not going to be with the Iron Maiden today, then let¡¯s hang out. We couldn¡¯t go to the social club at all since you were so busy with her.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°A club¡­..¡±


    Lexus looked lost in thought. Tex thought he¡¯d immediately say yes, but he started feeling impatient, seeing how Lexus just kept thinking.


    [Tex] ¡°I¡¯ve been so bored since you weren¡¯t around.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well¡­..¡±


    [Tex] ¡°C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Lexus glanced at Tex whining next to him, then he shook his head.


    [Tex] ¡°Why not?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I have to walk my dog.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Your dog?¡±


    Tex repeated his words, almost like he was asking for confirmation because he was certain he misheard him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Why would you do that? Just get a servant to do it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡­I have to¡­..¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s a stray I picked up, so I just think it¡¯s my responsibility to take good care of it.¡±


    He¡­picked it up? It wasn¡¯t a dog he rented or even a dog of a good breed that he got? He just picked it up somewhere? Was Tex hearing him right?


    [Tex] ¡°Is that the same dog you¡¯ve been walking with the Iron Maiden these days?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Is it a hybrid?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Mixed breed golden retriever.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°So basically a hybrid. Are you trying to tell me I¡¯m less important to you than a dog? Or that I¡¯m not as cool?¡±


    Tex groaned and complained. Again, Lexus stayed quiet, not bothering to answer immediately. He just thought for a little bit instead.


    His current behavior felt exaggerated unlike before, to the point where Tex had a feeling Lexus was just pulling his leg. But even though he knew this was a case of intentional provocation, he still felt a little peeved.


    [Tex] ¡°Lexus!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, there¡¯s always room for improvement. I¡¯m not so sure myself, so if you manage to write up a list of a hundred things that are better than hanging out with my dog, I¡¯ll go to the social club with you.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What? Hey, you bastard Prince! Just say you don¡¯t want to go!¡±


    Lexus left Tex at the Academy. Somehow, today felt very boring and meh.


    Lexus went to the carriage that was waiting for him and left for the Imperial Palace. Once they entered within the sights of the Prince¡¯s palace, Hugo was waiting for him.


    [Hugo] ¡°You¡¯ve returned. This is the second day in a row you¡¯ve come home early.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, well, I don¡¯t have any plans. How¡¯s Goldie?¡¯


    [Hugo] ¡°He hasn¡¯t been moving. He seems a little weak.¡±


    It was probably because he couldn¡¯t go for a walk for the last two days. He had no energy because he couldn¡¯t see his precious owner.


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    Goldie was lying weakly, but at the sound of Lexus¡¯ voice, he turned his head up and ran to him. He never thought there would come the day when this dog would actually be happy to welcome him home. He was even willing to spare him a tail wag.


    This whole time, Goldie had been treating him like rotten soup that had gone bad, so this little change of welcoming him back made him a little better.


    Goldie hovered around Lexus¡¯ feet, like he was wondering why they weren¡¯t going for a walk.


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t think we can take a walk today either.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Instead, I can play with you.¡±


    Lexus took Goldie outside, throwing a dog toy far off into the distance for him to fetch.


    Goldie immediately bounded off towards the toy with excitement, taking it in his jaws and returning quickly. Lexus was sure to give him a small piece of jerky as a reward.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark¡ª!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, well, you should. Do you know what kind of honor it is to have the Imperial Prince play with you like this?¡±


    Goldie grumbled.


    Stuff like that really made it feel like he could understand them at times. Lexus pet Goldie¡¯s head, rubbing his forehead with his finger.


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes, big sis didn¡¯t come today, either.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you miss her, too?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark¡ª!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to bring you to your favorite sister next time. Or wait, wouldn¡¯t she technically be your mom?¡±


    Lexus was amazed at his own nonsense, conversing with a dog like this. On a day like today where nothing of note happened, he started to feel a little tired.


    Sitting in the garden, Lexus laid down on his back. Goldie hesitated for a second, but then he knelt down and curled up next to him in a small ball, and Lexus could feel that soft and comfortable warmth by his side.


    And then he closed his eyes.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) Heirs to a Duchy/Dukedom are often referred to as the young, small, or little Duke.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia was grabbed by a maid with one hand and dragged across the floor, loosely thrown into the next room.


    No one took care of her. Valentia suffered alone in that darkness, a place where no one came.


    It hurts.


    Falling in and out of consciousness, Valentia murmured to herself.


    It hurts, mom.


    Her back hurt, filled with a searing pain like fire.


    And in her weakened state, the first person she thought of was her deceased mother. Would things have been different if she had a mother? If she just had at least one person who loved her?


    Not realizing how hurt she was, she wrapped herself in a blanket, trying to relieve herself of the pain. That was when she passed out from the pain and the fever. She did that repeatedly, waking up and losing consciousness, over and over.


    It was only after four days that she was barely able to get up.


    I¡¯m thirsty.


    She couldn¡¯t eat these past four days, and she was extremely dehydrated. She reached for the water by her bedside and drank it. It was stagnant water that wasn¡¯t very fresh, but after these past few days, even water like that was a sweet comfort.


    How long was I unconscious?


    Valentia struggled to sit up, taking off her clothing, torn from the whipping.


    Her clothing felt wet, and she thought it was because of the blood and sweat, so she assumed her clothing would be a mess. But when she took them off, there was not a hint of blood.


    Strangle, though she was sweating from the massive amount of pain and her clothing was completely torn, there was no trace of her whipping on her flesh. There wasn¡¯t even a little bit of blood and when she looked at her back in the mirror, there were no wounds or bruises.


    Such a thing exists in this world.


    Valentia smiled helplessly.


    Apparently she used a whip that left no traces because she didn¡¯t want to be caught abusing her. She didn¡¯t realize something like that existed, so a part of her was somewhat amazed, even though she was the one who had gotten beaten.


    Her reflection in the mirror was a mess. She was haggard, her makeup was smeared and dirty, and her face was wet with sweat she didn¡¯t get to wash off properly.


    And seeing that made her want to cry.


    Valentia grit her teeth tightly, holding back her tears.


    Fortunately, the initial blow to her cheek had cooled down now. It was still very painful, but there were no visible wounds. It was so painful, she was having difficulty moving her body.


    It really was a whip meant specifically for abuse.


    She wasn¡¯t feeling very well still, but she couldn¡¯t afford to miss anymore class, so she forced her exhausted body up and went to the Academy. She didn¡¯t want to stay in the mansion, so she left much earlier in the morning, and ended up arriving before anyone else. There weren¡¯t many people around.


    Valentia sat in the lecture hall, looking out the window. The sky was pitch black.


    It¡¯s not time yet.


    She reassured herself, reminding herself that it was still dawn.


    Morning just hasn¡¯t come yet.


    She thought that over and over again, reminding herself that a time as brilliant as the rising sun would come. That was the only comfort she had to help her endure right now.


    As time passed, more people gathered in the lecture hall, one by one.


    [Jays] ¡°Hello, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, yes. Hello Mister Jays. Is everything alright?¡±


    [Jays] ¡°You know my name?¡±


    The man who said hello to her could not hide his embarrassment.


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course. You take the same lecture as I.¡±


    There was only one lecture that covered this topic of study, so there were many students there, probably nearly a hundred. And yet, she remembered his name, so Jays was a little surprised.


    [Jays] ¡°Since you already know who I am, it¡¯s nice I don¡¯t need to introduce myself.¡±


    She remembered him being a commoner rather than a noble. From what she knew, he usually took lectures in relation to business administration since his father owned a venture.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so? In anycase, is something wrong?¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Is it alright if we speak for a moment?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Why don¡¯t find someplace more private?¡±


    She wondered what was going on with this student she wasn¡¯t very familiar with, but she readily nodded and followed along with him. She still had a lot of time until the lecture began.


    As she stood up from her seat, she winced, feeling a shooting pain in her back. Then, they walked out together to the back courtyard¡ªa rather isolated place, where not many people passed through.


    [Valentia] ¡°Then, what is it?¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know the best way to put this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Speak comfortably.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°These days, you¡¯ve been spending a lot of time with Lord Lexus.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, yes.¡±


    It was clear now that he wanted to talk about Lexus, but she couldn¡¯t fathom the reason as to why.


    [Jays] ¡°And I trust you know his history with women.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is there anyone at this Academy who doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Oh, that¡¯s true.¡±


    Jays smiled briefly at Valentia¡¯s calmly given answer. He thought for a moment about whether or not she would be offended that he was insulting the Prince, but then he felt like a fool for even entertaining the thought. Valentia was a rational woman.


    [Jays] ¡°Of course, I know he¡¯s a pleasant and nice person to be around, but I just thought it was strange for him to approach you, Miss Valentia. I thought he might have some ill intent in mind, and that I should warn you to be careful.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for worrying about me.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a very pleasant story, but what he was saying technically wasn¡¯t wrong.


    [Valentia] ¡°But when I look at him, I see a good person.¡±


    It was not until those words inadvertently left Valentia that she realized something.


    She thought he was a good person.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..He¡¯s a good man.¡±


    Good enough for her to repeat that sentiment again.


    [Jays] ¡°I know he¡¯s nice, but when it comes to women, he can¡¯t be trusted.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You shouldn¡¯t judge someone based on one thing.¡±


    Jays only knew what Lexus looked like when he was at the Academy. He appeared like the worst of the worst¡ªan awful man who played with the hearts of women.


    But he was also someone who would throw himself in front of an oncoming carriage to save someone who was running into danger.


    He was someone who took in a stray dog, rather than prying into the circumstances that prevented her from doing so. Someone who naturally suggested they take that dog on a walk together. Who was very sweet to her.


    He gave her a kindness that no one else had given her. A kindness that radiated warmth.


    And then Valentia realized something else.


    Yes. That¡¯s right. He¡¯s¡­


    [Valentia] ¡°He¡¯s a warm person.¡±


    Valentia murmured her realization to herself, a vacant look on her face like it was only now dawning on her. Then, she shook herself back to her senses.


    [Valentia] ¡°Besides, it is not possible for him to be attracted to me as a woman, so you can set that worry aside.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°No, that¡­¡­¡±


    Truthfully, Jays was very interested in Valentia himself. Actually, he was very fond of Valentia.


    He thought she was a sincere and good person. To him, she was a wonderful woman who went about her way, regardless of how the people around her looked at her.


    However, the gaze she earned from others was intense and a little burdensome, so he dare not get any closer to her. She was the Iron Maiden, an outsider at the Academy. If he were to get close, he would earn that ire alongside her and would be pushed outside of the main flow of the social circles, rejected by those around him.


    But the more he watched her, the more he started to like her.


    When the Prince verbally abused her, he felt angry, but then he quickly became anxious seeing the Prince approach her so suddenly.


    And that anxiety deepened when Valentia started to actually get close to him. He felt uneasy so he felt the need to warn her.


    But now Valentia was speaking to him coldly.


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t know him truly.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°I¡­guess that¡¯s true.¡±


    He never had an in depth conversation with the Prince. He was just repeating the stories he¡¯d heard circulating around him, so he couldn¡¯t exactly deny her words.


    [Jays] ¡°But whenever I hear about the women who meet up with him¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So because you heard that, that¡¯s definitely how he is? Then I suppose that means I am most certainly a tough and cold-hearted person like the rest of the student body makes me out to be. An unlucky and detestable woman who ignores others, right?¡±


    She knew exactly how others spoke of her at the Academy.


    They did not hide their contempt for her and spoke openly in front of Valentia. With loud voices she couldn¡¯t miss, they would insult her in front of her, as if they were speaking of something else entirely.


    Valentia once confronted someone who spoke of her like this, asking them why they were talking about her, but they brushed her off. They shared a laugh with their friends, saying, Why do you assume it¡¯s about you when I was talking about something else?


    [Jays] ¡°That¡¯s definitely not it¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t really know me either. How can you be so sure?¡±


    He closed his mouth. In the end, there was nary a difference between himself and those who cursed her. He was also giving her advice spoken out of ignorance, telling her to be wary without knowing much else about the Prince.


    He felt ashamed enough for his entire face to turn red.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯ve spoken with Lord Lexus and that is my assessment. I thank you for your advice, but it¡¯s truly not necessary.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°¡­¡­¡­I think I spoke out of turn without knowing much.¡±


    Then Jays turned silent as he stared blankly at Valentia, who was now smiling brightly.


    They called her the Iron Maiden because she was always making such a cold expression, like a creature made of the purest iron.


    So it was a bit strange and awe striking to see her smile like that in front of him. When did she start smiling like that? He¡¯d been watching her from a distance for so long, but this was his first time seeing her make that sort of face.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m glad you are the sort of person who can freely admit that.¡±


    She meant that to mean it was fortunate he was someone who could acknowledge his own mistake, and that he was not an obstinate fool, set in his ways.


    [Valentia] ¡°We should get going now. The lecture will begin soon.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°¡­Yes. Thank you for your time.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then have a good day.¡±


    He wanted to make an excuse, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. And so, after all that, Jays had no choice but to send off Valentia like that.


    I¡¯m such an idiot.


    He felt helplessly guilty and was full of regret. He wasn¡¯t speaking carelessly, nor was he approaching her thoughtlessly with the idea of gossiping with her. But that was the image he portrayed of himself in the end.


    And more than that, it hurt to know that if Valentia ever thought of him, she would imagine a small minded person who spoke ill of others.


    * * *

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    *


    * * *


    *


    She has to be here today.


    As soon as Lexus arrived at the Academy, he headed off towards the building where Valentia¡¯s first lecture was. For some reason, he was feeling extremely impatient, walking much faster than he normally did.


    If someone told him a week ago that he¡¯d be following a woman around like a lost dog, he would¡¯ve scoffed in their face. But it did not occur to Lexus that his behavior was so similar to an animal¡¯s right now.


    Because unlike dogs, noblemen should have an elegant and leisurely gait. There was once an old story about a nobleman whose entire mansion was set ablaze, taking him down with it, but even as he was being burned to death, he did not lose his elegance. And some people were crazy enough to praise that sort of thing.


    Even when you¡¯re about to die, something like that could be forgotten. Lexus kept his head forward, walking with a cold expression on his face.


    But as he was walking gracefully and quickly, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of something¡ªtwo people coming out of the building. One of whom was the very person he missed so much.


    And walking next to Valentia was an unknown man.


    Seeing this guy following after Valentia, Lexus frowned involuntarily. The guy¡¯s face wasn¡¯t half bad. Some might even call him pretty decent looking.


    Where did this bastard come from?


    Out of nowhere, a sharp curse popped into his head. He noticed the two of them heading off to the deserted courtyard, like they were trying to have some sort of secret meeting.


    How is she not freaking out, going to some isolated place alone with a man?


    Apparently no one ever taught her to be wary of strange men.


    I thought I was the only one who knew her well, but apparently there¡¯s some other guy, too¡­¡­Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s secretly popular.


    Come to think of it, when they went to that first cafe, she was way too friendly with that male employee. She seemed to like the place, but the reason why Lexus took her somewhere else after that was because he hated seeing that employee cozying up to Valentia.


    The man with Valentia now was visibly nervous. There was a clear uncertainty there, like he didn¡¯t know what to do. Now Lexus was starting to get worried this guy was about to confess to Valentia.


    If he confessed, it went well, and they end up seeing each other, he¡¯ll lose the bet. Was he supposed to give up after that?


    But contrary to Lexus¡¯ worries, what the man spoke of was not a confession, but rather something about him. To be precise, he was speaking about one of the biggest truths about Lexus¡ªhis colorful history with women.


    And when Valentia was confronted about it, asked if she had any idea about his interesting exploits with women, she responded very simply.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is there anyone at this Academy who doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    The man¡¯s words did nothing to affect him, but Valentia¡¯s answer was enough to knock the wind out of him like he¡¯d been punched. Somehow he felt ashamed.


    That bastard. What¡¯s he talking nonsense for?


    This guy was trying to lay the groundwork of being a pleasant and good person, but he was doing that by insulting Lexus. The guy didn¡¯t know a thing about him, but he couldn¡¯t even say anything since, funnily enough, he was hitting the nail right on the head.


    It was true that he was treating her well because he had an ulterior motive.


    But she shouldn¡¯t have to listen to that, Lexus thought impatiently. I still haven¡¯t built up a good image yet.


    [Valentia] ¡°But when I look at him, I see a good person.¡±


    That was when an unexpected word entered his restless ears.


    Lexus blinked. What did she just say? A good person? Did I mishear that?


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..He¡¯s a good man.¡±


    He doubted his own ears, but that same word once again was cast into the air, confirming that he had indeed not misheard. And this time, she sounded more certain.


    Had he ever heard that word before? Even searching his deepest memories, he could not recall such an instance.


    [Valentia] ¡°He¡¯s a warm person.¡±


    I¡¯m not a good person. I¡¯m not a warm one, either.


    Lexus denied her internally. He wanted to say it right away.


    You don¡¯t know me. You don¡¯t know me one bit.


    I¡¯m doing all of this not because I¡¯m good or because I¡¯m warm. He¡¯s completely right. This is part of a bet, one that I¡¯ll win if I manage to seduce you. Everything I¡¯m doing is just for that.


    So don¡¯t say that I¡¯m warm.


    All of those words flooded Lexus¡¯ mind without him even realizing it.


    [Jays] ¡°But whenever I hear about the women who meet up with him¡­..¡±


    Like the man could hear Lexus¡¯ mind, he once again expressed his opinion.


    [Valentia] ¡°So because you heard that, that¡¯s definitely how he is? Then I suppose that means I am most certainly a tough and cold-hearted person like the rest of the student body makes me out to be. An unlucky and detestable woman who ignores others, right?¡±


    Who says that to you? What kind of person would say that? Bring them here. Do you want me to take care of them?


    But Lexus already knew that she¡¯d been subject to that kind of ridicule from everyone. It was just that, at the time, he simply was not interested and did not care.


    [Jays] ¡°¡­¡­¡­I think I spoke out of turn without knowing much.¡±


    Though everything he was saying was completely correct, the man admitted defeat without saying so much of a word about his feelings to the woman he so clearly liked.


    And he got rejected by her after cursing Lexus out. It wasn¡¯t a bad look, but Lexus couldn¡¯t even find it in him to laugh.


    Because before she left him, Valentia gave the man a smile¡ªone that was dazzling and brilliant.


    She doesn¡¯t normally smile. She¡¯s not interested in him, is she? Don¡¯t smile at him. Smile only at me. Just me.


    His heart was beating so fast and it felt like his ears were on fire. Lexus couldn¡¯t even move an inch, staying entirely still until Valentia disappeared from that place.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello, Valentia.¡±


    The same handsome man as usual greeted her. But what was unusual about his appearance was that his expression didn¡¯t seem as relaxed. Somehow, he looked like he was grimacing.


    But it was odd how natural it felt for this man to be greeting her in the mornings now.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hello, Lexus.¡±


    Valentia didn¡¯t look at him directly, somehow feeling like she couldn¡¯t, looking straight ahead instead.


    Maybe it was because she had just reached the conclusion that he was a good person after being confronted not long ago, but she felt a little shy, so her response sounded a little more firm.


    Even though there was no way he would know she said that, she still couldn¡¯t look at him directly.


    She felt Lexus shift next to her, pulling out a chair and sitting down. As he moved, she felt an odd sense of warmth coming from him. And it was strange she didn¡¯t realize that until now.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why were you absent?¡±


    Having someone ask her that question made Valentia feel a little complicated.


    How did you know I was absent? Did you come to see me yesterday, and the day before as well? But Valentia bit back that last question she couldn¡¯t ask, leaving behind only one.


    [Valentia] ¡°How did you know I was absent?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I came to see you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t know. Because I missed you?¡±


    Lexus said that like a joke, but it made her heart flutter. It was an unfamiliar feeling, the sensation of her heart falling to the floor like that. The heat rushed to her face and she blinked in embarrassment.


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t joke like that.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°More importantly, why didn¡¯t you come?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I was just a little sick.¡±


    And that wasn¡¯t necessarily a lie. She was just sick and in pain from the harsh and unfair beating. Lexus looked at her, asking in a soft voice.


    [Lexus] ¡°How were you hurt?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It was just the flu.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Did it hurt a lot?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Not especially.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I was worried something happened to you.¡±


    Badum. Badum.


    This time, her heart was beating really hard. Before, it was just a tremble, but now it was loud enough to hear, like it was showing its constant presence.


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I was worried since you didn¡¯t come to the Academy.¡±


    He was worried. While I was sick and in pain, there was someone who was worried about me.


    Valentia looked up at Lexus¡¯ face.


    She knew he was a handsome man. Even excessive praise would not be enough to describe him. But that was merely a perception of the exterior¡ªthe appearance of a handsome man, and such was not enough to impress Valentia.


    The way she looked at Lexus was no different from how one might admire a statue. He was a man who would carry on with his life, living the way he lived, regardless of who she was and what she did.


    But despite how irrelevant they were in regards to each other¡¯s lives, suddenly he was worried about her.


    It was only then that Valentia realized how truly beautiful this man was. And with that realization came another. The thought that this man took up more of her heart than she thought. His presence was being magnified inside of her, until something inside of her chest started to swell.


    I can¡¯t.


    Not this.


    Not for him.


    She knew it even if no one told her. She could not feel this for that kind of man. For a man like him, this innocent feeling of ¡®like¡¯ was something he was far above.


    He was a good man, but he wasn¡¯t good like that. She heard and saw it for herself. This emotion would only lead to pain and it would never bear fruit. But even so¡­


    Yes.


    I like him.


    I love him.


    I love this man.


    Something deep inside of her whispering, calling out.


    But this man was completely unaware of the war that was raging inside of Valentia, merely chattering on with a smile on his face. As those feelings like a torrent that turned her world upside down tore her apart, she looked at him with a dazed expression.


    [Lexus] ¡°But I couldn¡¯t even contact you since I thought you wouldn¡¯t like me sending you a letter under my name.¡±


    She didn¡¯t expect that kind of consideration from him. Who knows what could¡¯ve happened if a letter with the Imperial crest on it bearing the name of the Imperial Prince had come to the mansion.


    [Lexus] ¡°And I kind of thought you might¡¯ve dropped out since you didn¡¯t like me.¡±


    Valentia let out a soft smile at those words.


    He was fun, warm, and pleasant to be around. She could understand why so many people liked him. If one knew him, how could they ever hate him? How could they not love him?


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t hate you that much.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    I love you.


    I love you a lot.


    Like a heavy rain, her feelings poured down on her dry heart. Valentia was not immune to affection. She could not deny this feeling and was completely beaten by it, until it entirely drenched her.


    Her heart was barren like an empty desert, but within that desert, feelings she could never put a name to were starting to bloom.


    * * *

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Valentia] ¡°I need to pay attention to the lecture now, so please be quiet.¡±


    With an unthinkably cold voice, Valentia turned away from him, feeling strange after suddenly realizing the softer emotions she held for the man beside her.


    But thanks to that, Lexus had no idea what she was thinking, instead just calmly turning quiet. Valentia didn¡¯t spare the one she realized she liked a single glance until the lecture was over, staying focused as best she could.


    And once the lecture was done and the professor was clear and gone, Lexus turned to Valentia.


    [Lexus] ¡°You don¡¯t have another lecture after this, do you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You would know that better than I do.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then do you want to go on a walk with Goldie?¡±


    She spoke to him like she always did¡ªusing an unintentionally cold tone, to the point of shocking herself. But this man didn¡¯t seem to notice that, simply making his gentle offer.


    [Valentia] ¡°Now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie was depressed since he couldn¡¯t see you for the past two days. I told him I¡¯d bring him to see you early today.¡±


    She held back the words, wondering if he was also bored without her or if he missed her. Those were things she was free to think as much as she wanted, but saying them with her own mouth was a completely different story.


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, but obviously I spent time with him. I played with him and stuff¡­..¡±


    This man was entirely in the dark about the complicated change that was happening within her, and so he quickly added in another word, afraid she would think he was neglecting the dog in her absence.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯d love to go on a walk.¡±


    He smiled brightly, ignorant of the feelings hidden behind that casually given agreement. Seeing such a smile, Valentia¡¯s heart sank. She¡¯d seen him smile so many times by now, and not once did any kind of thought come to her when she saw it.


    But now that she was realizing how she felt, afraid to put a name to this feeling, she thought it was blindingly brilliant.


    Later, Goldie was brought to them by a servant. The dog was overly excited, barking as he ran to Valentia with a wildly waving tail. As he barked and barked, hopping around like crazy after not having seen her for several days, Valentia spoke a light excuse.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was a little busy.¡±


    Valentia crouched down, stroking his fur freely. It was very different from how she treated him as a stray. He rolled on his back, showing off his belly like he was ordering her to give him a few quick pats.


    Once he was satisfied with all his pets, Goldie took the lead, standing up and wagging his tail as he started off. Seeing his confident back, Valentia also took a step.


    [Lexus] ¡°I have a question, Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ask away.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why are you studying so hard?¡±


    Why did he ask her so many questions? Still, unlike before, she did not hate his curiosity.


    [Lexus] ¡°I just thought, since you¡¯re a noble, you¡¯re going to get married anyway so there might not be much point.¡±


    When he asked her this before, she moved on quickly, simply explaining that she required no particular reason to fulfill her obligations as a student. She just felt like she did not owe him any kind explanation about her life goals.


    But maybe she could say it now.


    [Valentia] ¡°I have something I want to do.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I want to become the chief administrator of the Imperial Palace.¡±


    It was a little embarrassing to mention the Imperial family in front of him, but she answered honestly.


    If she were to become the chief administrator, she would receive the honorary title of a baron that could not be inherited. The yearly wages were good and the treatment was acceptable as well. It was the kind of job that could set her up for the rest of her life, even if she lived alone.


    However, it was not the kind of position that would be carried by the nobility.


    It was more common for nobles to marry and live happily with a good family. If she were lucky, she would get married to someone she liked, but the chances were greater of being married off for political reasons.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why would you want that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Does one need a reason for their dream?¡±


    Valentia blinked, asking as if she thought his question was strange.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, I guess you¡¯re right.¡±


    Lexus replied awkwardly, a little embarrassed by Valentia¡¯s matter-of-fact tone. In the end, this was merely a matter of perspective.


    [Valentia] ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°How do you wish to live, Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡±


    And he was also briefly stunned by a question he¡¯d only ever heard just now.


    [Valentia] ¡°If it¡¯s difficult, then it¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to answer.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never really thought that deeply about it, so I¡¯m not really sure what to say.¡±


    The woman before him was studying with all her might to achieve a very clear and concise goal. So, lacking a clear answer himself, he felt somewhat awkward and ashamed.


    [Valentia] ¡°How have you lived thus far?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, you know. I just want to have fun and be happy.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then that¡¯s enough. Everyone lives with the ultimate goal of being happy. So good for you. You¡¯ve already achieved your dream.¡±


    At the sound of her indifferent but calm voice, Lexus immediately felt goosebumps forming on his skin. Out of all who deigned to evaluate his life, there were none who came to that conclusion. And so he wasn¡¯t quite sure how to describe this feeling.


    Lexus was aware of it, too.


    The people admired him and loved him, but they were secretly pointing fingers at him and laughing. They said he shouldn¡¯t live like this, and that sacrifices should be made for the sake of his title as a Prince. Exist with dignity and discipline, they would say.


    But Valentia was different.


    She told him it was okay. She validated him.


    It was okay. He was okay as he was. So long as he was happy.


    What the hell kind of woman is she? Lexus clenched his fist, silently enduring feelings he did not understand.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­¡­Your dream will come true, Valentia. Your hard work will mean something in the end.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s nice to hear.¡±


    Valentia smiled.


    It was a soft and bright smile¡ªthe kind he¡¯d never seen from her before. Lexus felt his heart drop once more, and he could almost hear the sound of it thudding in his ear.


    And another wave of goosebumps ran across his whole body.


    But unfortunately, his words could not come true, though Lexus didn¡¯t know this.


    Because Valentia would never be able to achieve her dream.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Their walk was peaceful. Goldie wandered around for a bit, taking in the smells as he did. Occasionally he would look back at them and bark.


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t go too far, Goldie.¡±


    Recognizing his name, Goldie ran back, wandering around her as he weaved around Valentia¡¯s legs, causing his leash to get tangled.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, Goldie. Stay still¡­..¡±


    But as she tried to calm him, he only moved faster, tightening the leash around her legs. And as Valentia attempted to struggle free, her foot got caught, and she lost her balance. Before she could stop herself, her whole body was leaning forward.


    [Valentia] ¡°Kya!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Careful!¡±


    Instinctively, Lexus went out to catch Valentia with both hands, causing his palm to brush up against her back. Immediately, Valentia recoiled from his touch, flinching and swallowing a wince from the pain.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to touch you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I was just a little surprised.¡±


    She flinched because her back still hurt from before, and she didn¡¯t want him to misunderstand.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I¡¯m glad.¡±


    Her body was still a little bit unstable, so he held onto her to support her. And in doing so, she could feel the heat of his body permeating hers, and his natural scent came closer to her.


    And then, Lexus pulled himself away from Valentia. She felt strangely relieved, but there was also an even stranger sense of emptiness that came along with it. Strange enough to surprise even herself.


    [Lexus] ¡°Stay still. I¡¯ll get the leash loosened.¡±


    Lexus bent down, undoing the tangled leash that was tied around her slender legs.


    Somehow it felt like Goldie knew he was the one at fault, his little black eyes tearing up from the guilt. Glancing at him, Lexus scolded Goldie by lightly pressing his finger against his small head.


    [Lexus] ¡°You little troublemaker.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She almost fell because of you.¡±


    Whining, Goldie hid behind Valentia.


    [Lexus] ¡°Geez, we have to scold him, Valentia. He did something wrong.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    Lexus pulled himself to his feet, gesturing at both owner and dog, with an expression that made clear his astonishment at the situation.


    [Lexus] ¡°Aren¡¯t you a little too biased towards dogs?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°He¡¯s just a baby. He doesn¡¯t know any better.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If he doesn¡¯t know, then shouldn¡¯t someone teach him? Maybe we should train him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Train?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s a trainer at the Imperial Palace who trains the royal hounds. He¡¯ll simmer down a bit once he gets through the regime.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Won¡¯t it be too difficult for him?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Besides, untrained dogs tend to cause accidents. Come to think of it, he caused a pretty big one already. Like when he dangerously ran out in front of a carriage.¡±


    Valentia nodded.


    Now that he was mentioning it, Goldie really could use some training. It would be bad if he were to cause another accident, or if he were to bite someone.


    [Valentia] ¡°That would be for the best.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. Now that we¡¯ve got your owner¡¯s permission, you get to work hard starting from tomorrow.¡±


    Goldie¡¯s life was peaceful; running around, playing, eating, and sleeping in total leisure however he pleased. But like the bright little puppy he was, he seemed to know his life was over as he jumped around, physically complaining.


    Leaving the courtyard, again they earned the gazes of the other students. They were an odd pair, made of the most popular man and the most detested woman at the Academy. They were bound to attract people¡¯s attention like this.


    [Lexus] ¡°You don¡¯t seem to care about people staring at you.¡±


    As he looked down at Valentia, Lexus was suddenly amazed at how calm and composed she was.


    When she was with the Prince, the woman standing by his side would always earn attention in some way. Most of the women he spent time with enjoyed those gazes, feeling special like that.


    But this woman didn¡¯t care at all. That alone was very fascinating and somewhat amazing. When someone was ordinary, when given the chance to be extraordinary, they would want to brag about their existences like brandishing their expensive jewels.


    [Valentia] ¡°They don¡¯t have any effect on me anyway.¡±


    Meanwhile she didn¡¯t seem to care who was standing next to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been curious about for a while.¡±


    Valentia still had questions for him? That was surprising, too. And compared to their earlier days when she was so cold to him, it was almost terrifying, now he was getting the feeling she was curious about him.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you so curious about?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why do you speak formally to me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, that.¡±


    Lexus let out a low huff of air, like a puff of laughter at Valentia¡¯s question.


    One day, out of the blue, Lexus decided to start using more formal language around her. A small corner of her was curious about the reason, but she swallowed those thoughts. She was afraid asking him might be misunderstood as her taking an interest in him.


    But now, it felt like it didn¡¯t really matter if she asked.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯ve been curious about that this entire time? I thought you weren¡¯t interested in me at all.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ask back then.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, it¡¯s good either way. As for the reason why I speak formally, it¡¯s because you said I was rude, Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so? So you decided to speak formally in order to mask your inherent rudeness?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So you find me rude either way, huh?¡±


    Pft, Valentia laughed.


    He truly was an arrogant and rude man, but for some reason, he seemed so lovely to her right now. She really enjoyed and cherished the time she got to spend with him.


    And like the return of a spring long gone, she was starting to feel excited again.


    * * *

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°If you become a chief administrator, do you think you¡¯d want to get married at all?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m not sure. If I find someone I am fond of, perhaps.¡±


    But that probably wouldn¡¯t happen for the rest of her life. She didn¡¯t think it was possible for her to feel like this twice in her lifetime.


    And this man would end up marrying a noble and beautiful woman. One so very different from herself.


    [Lexus] ¡°Would you marry me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No thank you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You refused without even a second thought. You hate it that much?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I just get the sense you must say that a lot.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I never say this as a joke.¡±


    Lexus was so desirable that the women he spent the night with would often suggest holding their wedding the very next day, joke or not. Knowing how unpleasant that was, he never once said anything even remotely broaching the topic as a joke.


    So why did he ask that of this woman?


    He didn¡¯t even know himself.


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re terrible at proposing.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Would you accept?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No thank you.¡±


    She answered again without taking even a second to think.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why must you reject me again?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t like me, Lexus.¡±


    Valentia tried to say it casually, but the words made a short sting burn inside her chest.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What makes you think I don¡¯t like you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you like me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­I like you.¡±


    The man spoke in a low, subdued voice. It was foul play to say something like that with a voice that seemed to resonate with something deep within her.


    That was the worst thing about this man. Even though he was clearly joking, she had no choice but to feel a little disappointed. Perhaps it was because her feelings towards him had changed. She felt excited, but that excitement could make her both happy and sad at the same time.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I really like you.¡±


    Saying he liked her once again, he sounded like he was trying to defend himself from being falsely accused.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, yes. I see.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why don¡¯t you believe me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You like me as a friend, you mean.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, yeah.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But marriage should be done with someone you love.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Most Princes get engaged through a political arrangement anyway, so it¡¯s fine.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then marry another woman. And I will marry another man.¡±


    They were talking about an unlikely future.


    Though she said it, she could not imagine herself getting married and having a relationship with another man. But in contrast, she could very easily see this man marrying another woman. The image came to her quite well.


    But even if she thought about him marrying another woman, that fact didn¡¯t make her sad. This feeling she held for him would be only for her to know, and she knew it carried no hope with it the moment she first realized it.


    [Lexus] ¡°Wow, you¡¯re cold.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If you feel lonely, then go find someone to be your latest lover.¡±


    Valentia already knew it well herself.


    This man was lovely and kind, but he was cold and cruel to the women who loved him. It was probably because she acted so cold towards him that he first became interested in her.


    And so she could not be caught liking him as she did.


    Her mind had become so sensitive after she understood her own feelings. If this was a feeling that could never be fully realized, then at the very least, she wanted to be able to see him for a little while longer.


    She could not say that she hated him because that was not true. But at the same time, she couldn¡¯t say that she loved him because she was desperate to keep things as they were.


    [Lexus] ¡°What about you, Valentia? What if I asked you?¡±


    He whispered so sweetly, and the emotion she realized today bent so easily underneath his words. He was a terrible man for her heart¡ªher feelings shaking so intensely, they were painful.


    This is bad.


    She knew it was just a joke. It only sounded so sweet because she held him in her heart now, which made her want to believe that he meant it. But she let her calm judgment take over, responding coldly.


    [Valentia] ¡°I would refuse.¡±


    If he had a fianc¨¦e, then maybe this feeling would be easier to clear away.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why aren¡¯t you engaged yet? Both you and His Highness, the Crown Prince.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We¡¯re waiting for destiny. For our fated ones.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Your methods are very different from one another.¡±


    Her comment sent Lexus into a loud bout of laughter.


    [Lexus] ¡°Right. We¡¯re taking different paths.¡±


    Axion never met with women like he was a man of faith dedicated to piety. Meanwhile, Lexus never stopped meeting with women for even a second.


    And yet, despite their stark differences, both of them were waiting for fate to bring them their person.


    Valentia smiled bitterly at the words of the same man who said that he liked her and wanted her to become his lover just a second ago. This was truly cruel, for she knew she could never be his destiny.


    [Lexus] ¡°That reminds me, the outdoor circuit will begin soon.¡±


    Once a year, the Academy would organize an outdoor circuit for the students.


    It wasn¡¯t much. Basically, it was meant as time for the students to spend camping with their teams so they could develop a sense of independence as a person, learning what they could about reacting to crisis situations.


    It was just a bit of leisure time, forming groups and going into the forest to gather things.


    But it wasn¡¯t difficult. They were even allowed to bring servants with them.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already that time.¡±


    The outdoor circuit was scheduled as the weather transitioned from summer to fall, and had continued as a tradition since the foundation of the Academy. There were students who enjoyed the outdoor circuit, and so it managed to survive the test of time.


    After the circuit was done, a banquet would then be held, allowing both students and their families alike to attend. As a result, it was one of the largest of all the Academy events.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. I think it¡¯ll be fun.¡±


    Valentia never enjoyed the outdoor circuit. She was always alone, and this particular event was no different. They were forcibly split into groups, and her teammates always left her behind. They would even relegate her to a corner of the tent while they slept.


    While the other ladies stayed up, chatting into the night, Valentia would just go outside and watch the stars by herself.


    However, just like he said, she was feeling a little excited this time, too. All because he would be there, too.


    Valentia nodded to agree.


    [Lexus] ¡°We can¡¯t be in the same group, but do you want to spend your free time with me?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡°I would like that.¡±


    Lexus¡¯ eyes narrowed in a pleasant arc as he smiled at her answer. But that handsome smile quickly disappeared when a sturdy looking man suddenly approached, calling out to him.


    [???] ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You must really be clueless if you¡¯re calling out to me like this. What do you want?¡±


    A different kind of smile was on his face now, but his voice was strangely low when he responded.


    [???] ¡°I received a message from the Imperial Palace. You were called to return early today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..Then it can¡¯t be helped. I¡¯m sorry this happened.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°See you tomorrow, Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Tomorrow, Lexus.¡±


    For the first time, she felt a feeling of anticipation, excitedly waiting for tomorrow.


    *


    * * *


    *


    When she returned to the mansion, the butler was waiting for her, and Valentia felt something foreboding at the sight of his presence.


    [Butler] ¡°The Madam is waiting for you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    [Butler] ¡°I was not told.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m a little tired, so I will see her tomorrow.¡±


    [Butler] ¡°I was informed to bring you, even if you were to say that.¡±


    Valentia had no choice but to follow the butler¡¯s departing footsteps.


    Standing in front of the Baroness¡¯ room, her entire body turned stiff. Remembering what happened in this room before, Valentia tensed as she felt that same searing pain cross her back once more.


    And the sound of the butler knocking on the door made a cold sweat permeate the skin on the back of her neck.


    [Butler] ¡°Madam. The lady has returned.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Come in.¡±


    The door opened from the inside. The same maid that had mercilessly grabbed Valentia¡¯s hair twisted her lips as she glared at her. Inside the parlor was the Baroness, sitting on the sofa.


    The sofa was luxurious, with both a backrest and armrests., but she was sitting completely upright. It was the kind of propriety that was more often than not seen displayed by nobles at a party.


    Valentia knew the Baroness was aware of her lack of noble blood, so she was trying to fill the gap like this. (1)


    [Baroness] ¡°You¡¯ve been coming home late.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s no different a time than usual.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Wrong answer.¡±


    Valentia was startled by the Baroness¡¯ sharp tone. The Baroness was once a woman who treated her like she was invisible, so she never felt tense or nervous in her presence before.


    But her body instinctively reacted to the excessive violence she had shown her a few days ago.


    [Baroness] ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about things lately.  I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve been paying enough attention to you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s already enough.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Look at you now. Such an attitude in the presence of one of your betters. It would seem you have not been fully educated on manners. That¡¯s why you dared to touch the Prince¡¯s body as you did.¡±


    Although Valentia¡¯s last name was Syner, she was no different from an orphan, so these were not words that could hurt her. Rather, the ominous feelings being brought about by the Baroness¡¯ sudden desire to bring her here and say these things were far more terrifying.


    [Baroness] ¡°An orphan whose mother died when she was young, but what did she teach you before she died?¡±


    But though she could endure what the Baroness had to say about her, it was difficult ignoring words of clear insult towards her mother.


    Valentia¡¯s mother was a frail and soft-hearted woman who was hurt by the husband she loved so much. She did not have many memories of her mother, but that was something that always stuck with her.


    Valentia¡¯s mind was a sharp one, and so once a memory became vivid, it could never be forgotten.


    Her mother was a warm and kind person. Her hands were fragile but they were elegant, and she would always stroke Valentia¡¯s head with affection. Her lips were cracked, but she would kiss Valentia on the cheek, telling her how lovely she was.


    And after young Valentia exhausted herself from running and playing around, she would cover her with a blanket as she fell asleep.


    [Valentia] ¡°You can say whatever you¡¯d like about me, but please stop insulting my mother.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°You insolent child!¡±


    Slap¡ª!


    Angered by the mention of her husband¡¯s former wife, the Baroness jumped up from her seat and slapped Valentia. Her hair loosened from being pinned back, flowing over her shoulders from such a harsh touch.


    [Baroness] ¡°How dare you speak of her in front of me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You brought her up first, Madam.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Ah, look at you. Still so arrogant. I must educate you properly from now on.¡±


    It was clear what she was saying. Valentia took an instinctive step back.


    [Baroness] ¡°Bring it.¡±


    A maid came when she was called, carrying the same box from a few days ago. As she left, the maid cast a sneer towards Valentia. It was fun seeing the noble lady of the house being treated worse than a maid.


    They clamored towards her, grabbing Valentia¡¯s arms and legs, binding them while pushing her down onto her knees. They roughly grabbed her hair, shoving cloth down her throat to block out the screams.


    And echoing out was the awful sound of the air being cut and the whip slashing against her back.


    It was only then that Valentia realized that her harsh beating and abuse did not end that day. That was merely the beginning of what would become known as the Baroness¡¯ ¡®education¡¯.


    She did it every day from that day onwards.


    And Valentia was afraid of going home.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The Baroness was once described as coming from a ¡®minor baron¡¯ family. What this means is that her family was rich, so they were able to purchase the title (though it cannot be inherited), hence why she lacks noble blood.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    *


    * * *


    *


    Lexus was in a bad mood because of this knight¡¯s sudden appearance.


    Although he was wearing ordinary clothing like a citizen, based on his robust body type and disciplined movements, it was clear he was most likely a knight.


    [Lexus] ¡°Who sent you? Was it Father? Mother? Or maybe it was my brother.¡±


    [Knight] ¡°My apologies, but I cannot say.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll find out later, so there¡¯s no point in hiding it.¡±


    [Knight] ¡°But I still cannot answer you. I am truly sorry.¡±


    He would find out eventually, but seeing that the knight was dead set on remaining silent on this, it was clear he would pursue him silently until the moment his orders were fulfilled.


    Lexus didn¡¯t feel so good because his date got interrupted in the middle, but it could¡¯ve been worse. (1)


    Today, they talked and took a walk together. Valentia even said she would see him again tomorrow. The ending got a little messed up, but he felt like the day was coming to a fine conclusion.


    But there was something that caught him off guard.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡®I don¡¯t know. Because I missed you?¡¯


    That was how he answered her when she asked him why he was looking for her. The words tumbled out before Lexus could even think about how he would answer, and it shocked even him.


    And when she told him not to joke around like that, he realized that he wasn¡¯t kidding at all. He really did miss her. That was why he felt so bored and empty over the weekend and the two days she had been gone from the Academy.


    I must have more fun hanging out with her than I thought.


    That woman was so cold to him for a long time, so it was fun seeing her warm up to him little by little. And since she hated him so much at the beginning, that only made her change more obvious.


    Once Lexus returned home, he handed off Goldie¡¯s leash to Hugo.


    [Hugo] ¡°Welcome back, Your Highness. Goldie seems especially energetic today. Perhaps it¡¯s because he went out for a walk.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Send him to the training center.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Training?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He¡¯s going to need some training if we don¡¯t want him to cause any trouble¡­¡­..But don¡¯t be too hard on him.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Very well, Your Highness. In other news, the main palace informed me of your dinner tonight.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡±


    Heading inside, he quickly changed his clothing, dressing up into a different kind of attire and headed off towards the main palace.


    But he was far later than the others, with his other family members already having gathered by the time he arrived.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°You¡¯re late, brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Unlike you, I¡¯m actually very busy.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Brother Axion spends all his time helping Father, but he still managed to make it on time. What kind of business could possibly be keeping you busy?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You shouldn¡¯t ask me such intimate questions, my cheeky little sis.¡±


    As Elizabeth went to argue some more, Lexus passed by her, messing up her hair with his hand for no reason. Behind him, he could hear Elizabeth naturally making a fuss, angrily telling him not to mess up her hair like that.


    After Lexus joined them at the table, their meal was served.


    [Emperor] ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve all been together like this.¡±


    He was a stern looking but gentle man¡ªthe Emperor of their nation, the rock of their family, and both a husband and a father.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is everything going well?¡±


    Like usual, Lexus asked him how he was doing.


    Although they all lived within the same Imperial Palace and were family, the difference between a Prince and the Emperor was vast. Family or not, they could not meet each other easily.


    They didn¡¯t need to apply for an audience in advance like other nobles, but they didn¡¯t see each other every day, only coming together under special circumstances.


    [Emperor] ¡°All is well. Aside from the fact that one of my sons never meets with any women while the other meets too many.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But don¡¯t you think too many is better than none at all? I think it makes me more diligent.¡±


    Lexus skillfully accepted the comment, and a soft laugh reverberated across the table at his sly attitude.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that at home!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Little Princess. You should fix your habit of talking to your brother like that. Whatever will you do once you enter society with an attitude like that?¡±


    Of course, the matter of succession was important for any Imperial family, but there was a reason things were more sensitive for them in comparison to most.


    [Emperor] ¡°I don¡¯t care what sort of people you spend your time with, but you have no questionable motive for meeting with that young lady in particular, do you?¡±


    Right then, it felt like he had something lodged in his throat. Lexus swallowed hard, responding calmly as he took a sip of his wine.


    [Lexus] ¡°We didn¡¯t get along well at the beginning because of a misunderstanding, but everything¡¯s fine now.¡±


    [Emperor] ¡°Hm, I see. Hah, I spoke of something far too heavy during dinner. Let us move on.¡±


    After that, their meal was quiet.


    They asked each other how they¡¯ve been doing, what they¡¯ve been up to¡ªexchanging light jokes and casual quips as they did. Before they knew it, dinner was over. They chatted for a little bit longer before going their separate ways as the night came to a close.


    Once Lexus moved to leave, Axion tapped him on the shoulder.


    [Axion] ¡°Can I talk to you for a second?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t make it a habit of talking to men alone.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°That shouldn¡¯t apply to your brother.¡±


    While his younger brother tried to escape, Axion threw a verbal net that he could not escape from.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then, as a good little brother, I will relent just this once.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I wanna talk too! Let¡¯s all play together!¡±


    Elizabeth jumped up, grabbing onto Axion¡¯s arm.


    She didn¡¯t like how her older brothers would always talk to each other without including her in their conversations. They were constantly acting like there was some common thread tying them together. They must be purposefully excluding her because she¡¯s younger.


    [Axion] ¡°You should go to bed early, little one.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m all grown up!¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Your brothers have something we need to discuss, so you should head off to bed now, Princess.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°But¡­..¡±


    [Axion] ¡°We can all play together during the day.¡±


    Axion cut her off firmly but affectionately, so Elizabeth couldn¡¯t say no. Instead, she walked away with a grumpy face full of displeasure.


    The pair of brothers headed off to Axion¡¯s palace, which was closer to the main palace than Lexus¡¯ was. In comparison, his palace was on the furthest edge.


    [Axion] ¡°Drink?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood for wine.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I know. I prepared something nice instead.¡±


    Axion handed Lexus a bottle, and once he saw the label, he gasped. It was an expensive brand of whiskey, said to be strong enough to burn one¡¯s throat on the way down.


    [Lexus] ¡°This isn¡¯t alcohol. It¡¯s closer to poison at this point.¡±


    Still, Lexus poured the whiskey over a glass with a single ice cube, to the point where it looked like it would overflow. He handed a glass over to Axion, who smiled as he received it from him.


    [Axion] ¡°I thought you¡¯d be more interested in poison than a drink.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You planning on getting rid of your brother like this?¡¯


    [Axion] ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be wise in an Imperial family where heirs are precious. I may be the Crown Prince right now, but that could very easily be you in the future.¡±


    So long as you have an heir.


    He didn¡¯t say those words out loud, but they both knew it.


    [Lexus] ¡°Forget it. You¡¯re more likely to have an heir than me. You¡¯re a good man.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re a good man, too.¡±


    The alcohol burned his throat quickly. Lexus leaned back in his seat on the sofa, blinking in a daze.


    Come to think of it, he heard those same words earlier today. Unconsciously, he smirked and let out a chuckle. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d hear them again so soon.


    Although, maybe it was because it was coming from his brother of all people, but it didn¡¯t sound nearly as impressive as before. Looking back on it, he felt more touched when he heard her say that.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m a bad guy.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If you¡¯re aware of it, then change.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And then what? I don¡¯t want to be in love.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why not?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t want to threaten your position. The last thing either of us need is another predecessor. Once you have an heir, maybe I¡¯ll think about it then.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You won¡¯t turn out the same as him. That¡¯s why I keep calling you a nice younger brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m getting goosebumps, Your Highness.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re twisted.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°By the way, was it you who put that ¡®eye¡¯ on me?¡±


    Those who escorted royalty without their knowledge were called ¡®eyes¡¯. Rather than monitoring, they were given the title because they were there simply to watch over instead.


    [Axion] ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It was Father.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Really? Could¡¯ve sworn it was you.¡±


    Looking suspicious, Axion swallowed the whiskey, shaking out his head.


    [Axion] ¡°Yes, he¡¯s curious why you got slapped.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Uh-huh. Then you should talk to ¡®Father¡¯ and tell him to get that eye off my back.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Well, would that even be possible¡­..? You make so much trouble that he¡¯s worried enough to put an eye on you. He might even send another one since the first was lonely.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Honestly, you suck. Don¡¯t do that.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Alright, alright. I know it doesn¡¯t feel good having an eye tailing you, so I¡¯ll say something.¡±


    Axion gave a cheeky smirk at Lexus¡¯ irritated response, speaking mercifully.


    When he was young, Axion was given the nickname Argus, derived from the name of a mythical creature with many seeing eyes, and that was not an unearned name. (2)


    [Lexus] ¡°Thanks.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I wish you could speak more sincerely to me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thank you oh so very much, dear brother.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I¡¯ll ignore the sarcasm and just be grateful for the modicum of grace.¡±


    When he said that, Lexus rolled his eyes so harshly, it looked like they were going to fall out.


    Lexus clicked his tongue, mumbling under his breath about how his brother should show his kindness to a woman rather than his younger siblings like this. Unlike him, his elder brother was an objectively good person.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m a good man?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why are you asking me that?¡±


    Axion knew his brother was not the kind of man to earnestly ponder that kind of question. He immediately caught wind of this strange atmosphere.


    [Lexus] ¡°Someone¡­¡­.said I was a good man.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Man or a woman?¡±


    It felt a bit strange to hear him immediately inquire on whether or not the person was a man or a woman rather than who they were.


    [Lexus] ¡°Does that matter?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Of course it does. If they¡¯re a man, they¡¯re only trying to suck up to you, and if they¡¯re a woman, they¡¯re trying to flirt with you. So which is?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It was a woman.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Then it¡¯s the latter.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You just said you thought I was a good man a second ago.¡±


    His brother¡¯s judgement was cold, causing Lexus to grumble in dissatisfaction.


    [Axion] ¡°That¡¯s because we¡¯re family.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But this wasn¡¯t a woman that would flirt with anybody.¡±


    She was never a woman who would do that. If that were possible, she wouldn¡¯t have earned the nickname ¡®The Iron Maiden¡¯ at the Academy. Instead, she¡¯d get along famously with everyone since she was so smart.


    They¡¯d been attending the Academy for years and never once spoke to each other until now. There was no way she would suddenly talk about how good of a man he was in order to flatter him like this.


    And she never would have slapped him, either.


    Lexus swept a hand against his cheek, once again recalling that unique experience of being struck.


    [Axion] ¡°Then there¡¯s only one reason why she would say that.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Love.¡±


    Lexus immediately laughed out loud at that word.


    [Lexus] ¡°She isn¡¯t that kind of woman. Her feelings are probably just a little bit above dislike by now.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°People¡¯s hearts don¡¯t necessarily flow in one direction.¡±


    Suddenly, it felt like the energy of the alcohol was wrapping itself around him, carrying his languid and listless body away.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) Yes, Lexus used the word ¡°???¡± which is lit. ¡°date¡±. This guy¡­


    (2) Argus refers to ¡°Argus Panoptes¡±, a creature from Greek mythos said to have many seeing eyes. To be watched by an ¡®eye¡¯ of Argus means to have one¡¯s actions held under deep scrutiny to an overbearing degree.


    The sibling relationships are one of my favorite parts of this novel, they¡¯re all so cute, hehe.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    *


    * * *


    *


    During the outdoor circuit, family carriages were not permitted. Instead, everyone needed to use rental carriages to make moving as a group more efficient. Outdoor event or not, it was still Academy funded, so no carriages representing status of class could be allowed in order to preserve the sanctity of ¡®equality¡¯.


    Which essentially meant that the noble folk were forced to bear the inconvenience of traveling to the Academy in a personal carriage and then heading back out in a common carriage upon their arrival. Many argued that it was pointless and a waste of time, but there was no getting around it. They were traveling with commoners now.


    This year¡¯s outdoor circuit was taking place in a forest alongside one of the capital¡¯s borders.


    They were given a simple itinerary, slating the time they would be spending accomplishing simple tasks¡ªsuch as setting up tents, lighting fires, and preparing their meals.


    The weather was nice, at least. The breeze was cool and the sunlight felt warm. It was fine weather for the outdoor circuit.


    It was strange, though. The crowd was full of so many different people, and yet that man still managed to stand out. He was very tall with brilliant blond hair, making him the most eye-catching man in the crowd, even from where she was standing.


    In all these years, it was amazing that she never once acknowledged his existence until now. But now that his presence was undeniable, his image was so easily burned into her vision.


    Suddenly, he turned his head in her direction and made eye contact with her.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Hey.¡¯


    Moving just his lips, he mouthed a word in her direction.


    Looking at him, Valentia nodded in return, and Lexus gave a gentle smile. With his eyes angled in an arc as he smiled, he looked so endearing to her. It was nice to be able to see him like this¡ªnice enough to make a smile naturally tug at the corners of her lips, like she couldn¡¯t even feel the searing pain in her back.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯I¡¯ll see you later.¡¯


    After she nodded for a second time, Lexus sent her a slight wave of his hand, then turned to speak to a friend that looked to be calling out to him. Was his friend¡¯s name Tex, again?


    [Professor] ¡°Isn¡¯t it a nice time for the outdoor circuit?¡±


    One of the professors gave a rousing cry, but he got nothing but the various booing of several students, each of them adding in their own flavor of complaint. Some said they¡¯d rather be in a lecture than here, while others groaned that they wanted to go home. Meanwhile, someone in the crowd just shouted ¡®no¡¯ very loudly.


    [Professor] ¡°Which of you said you¡¯d rather been in a lecture?¡±


    The professor called them out, and silence swept across those very students.


    [Professor] ¡°Look, I don¡¯t like being here either, but it can¡¯t be helped¡ªit¡¯s tradition. Let¡¯s just get through this without any kind of incident, alright? Everyone, board your designated carriage with your group members.¡±


    After that, everyone started clamoring towards their carriages, assigned by group. Valentia quietly went along, eventually being the first to board the carriage assigned to her. Not long after that, a few more students filtered in.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hello.¡±


    Valentia said hello first.


    They all entered with widened eyes, like they were surprised to see her there, but then they sat without saying anything back, instead just chatting amongst themselves. Leaning back in her seat, Valentia leaned her head against the window.


    And then the carriage jolted to a start.


    [Lady] ¡°These carriages are so uncomfortable.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°I know. My back¡¯s going to hurt once we arrive.¡±


    After letting out a quiet and rather tame complaint, they continued on with their pleasant chatting.


    [Lady] ¡°By the way, your outfit is so pretty today, Miss Aigis.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Isn¡¯t it? I bought a new one just for today. You look lovely as well, Miss Lily.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°You both look very beautiful.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°As do you, Miss Red.¡±


    Their words alone made clear their ranks as nobility. Looking out the window, Valentia closed her eyes, and as she felt the ebb of the carriage beneath her, her consciousness slipped away, and their voices faded to nothing.


    Yesterday marked the start of the Baroness¡¯ thinly veiled abuse, labeled as her version of ¡®education¡¯. The pain was so bad, she couldn¡¯t even sleep. Although her eyes were only closed for a moment, she fell asleep for the entire ride.


    When she finally came to, the carriage was deathly silent and empty, as if they¡¯d arrived at their destination a long time ago. The other ladies left without bothering to wake her up.


    Some things never change.


    Valentia rolled out her stiff neck, frowning at the sharp pain that shot out from her back. Getting out of the carriage, the area around was completely empty like everyone had already departed. But at least it was the same location as the previous year, so it wasn¡¯t hard to find her way.


    With a leisurely gait, she walked alone.


    After all this time, she was used to other people¡¯s harsh contempt and hateful words towards her, but that did make feel any nicer. And so, it was actually more comfortable with no people around.


    Standing in a wide field, a gust of wind blew through, running past the blades of grass like a wave as they shook under the might of the air. In the distant blue sky, large clouds were gathering on the horizon.


    It was a quiet and peaceful sight. Just her, the sound of the wind, and her footsteps.


    She liked that time, but it never lasted long. Eventually, the party of Academy students entered her view, setting up their tents.


    Each tent had a number assigned to it to match the group, so it wasn¡¯t hard for her to locate her teammates. By the time she arrived, the tent was nearly complete, quickly being built by the servants they had brought along.


    [Valentia] ¡°My apologies for being late.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°I¡¯m jealous. You¡¯re arriving right when all the work is done.¡±


    So they said, even though she knew their servants likely did the bulk of the work. Actually, servants were usually considered the hands and feet of the nobles they served, so it wasn¡¯t an inaccurate thing to say or assume.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I fell asleep in the carriage. I must¡¯ve been more tired than I thought.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Are you blaming us for not waking you up? That¡¯s your responsibility.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s not what I was trying to say. Let me handle whatever work is left.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°I think staying put would help us better.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Very well.¡±


    And so Valentia returned to her seat, their eyes following her until she was completely gone.


    [Lady] ¡°I don¡¯t know why they force us to do this every year.¡±


    Then they went back to their conversation, talking about why the outdoor circuit was an ever constant part of the curriculum.


    And to be honest, Valentia didn¡¯t understand it either. It was considered even more of a pain when they were being forced to participate.


    The original purpose of the circuit was to have the students take care of everything. But the nobles made enough of a fuss that even that purpose became defunct since they could just bring their servants to do all the hard work for them.


    The servants cleared the field, unpacked the supplies, took out the cooking ingredients supplied by the Academy, and prepared the meals as well. Meanwhile, the students were sitting in chairs, casually drinking tea, and chatting with one another.


    Valentia sat a ways away from the crowd, staring up at the sky.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hey.¡±


    Hearing the sudden voice approaching them, Valentia¡¯s team members shouted out, clearly more shouting in delight than surprise.


    [Lady] ¡°Lord Lexus!¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Ah, what brings you here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I had something I needed to do. I know you¡¯re all busy preparing for your meals, but is it alright if I borrow someone for a moment?¡±


    The eyes of her teammates turned until they reached Valentia. After all the hustle and bustle of the Academy, there wasn¡¯t a soul who wouldn¡¯t know who he was referring to.


    [Lady] ¡°It can¡¯t be helped if there¡¯s something you need to do.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Go ahead, Miss Valentia.¡±


    She didn¡¯t think he would come out to her like this. If anything, she was certain he¡¯d send someone to get her at most, so she was a little flustered right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°Thank you for your understanding. I¡¯ll bring her back soon.¡±


    Valentia bowed to her group mates and followed after Lexus.


    Passing through the field, she could feel the eyes of those preparing their tents and supplies being drawn to her. They barely managed to find a place where there were no people¡ªwithin that vast field was a tree with arching green leaves that swayed in the breeze.


    [Lexus] ¡°Good thing the weather is so nice.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. I had a nice walk coming here since it was so quiet and peaceful.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Quiet? But when we walked here, everyone couldn¡¯t have been more loud.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah¡­.¡±


    Obviously, with so many students walking in tandem to the designated field, the crowd would naturally be loud with all their footsteps and clamoring voices. Realizing her slip of the tongue, Valentia awkwardly bit her lip.


    [Lexus] ¡°What happened?¡±


    When he asked that question like that, it actually sounded like was worried, but that was clearly a mistake on her part.


    [Valentia] ¡°Nothing happened.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Tell me what happened.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just fell asleep in the carriage and ended up coming in late.¡±


    Lexus frowned, slight wrinkles forming between his brows. Even if she wasn¡¯t speaking in detail, he must¡¯ve noticed that her teammates got up and left her without waking her first.


    Valentia had endured a lot up until this point. Whether it was being rejected by her peers at the Academy or her abuse at home, not once did she ever feel ashamed of herself. She was able to hold onto those small pieces of dignity because she was confident that she did nothing wrong.


    But for some reason, she felt ashamed having him know this.


    [Lexus] ¡°No wonder I didn¡¯t see you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t mind. I liked that I was able to be alone in silence for a long time. In any case, you look more handsome than usual today.¡±


    Valentia quickly praised his clothing to change the subject, but it wasn¡¯t as though she was lying.


    Lexus wasn¡¯t wearing his typical sharp-looking suit that he normally wore. Instead, what he had on was a light shirt with a sweater woven with fur to keep warm. Somehow, it made him look livelier than usual.


    To top it all off was a pair of tight fit pants meant for activity, sensible boots, and a coat that made it all look like a military uniform.


    [Lexus] ¡°You mean that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve ever complimented my appearance.¡±


    Suddenly, Lexus¡¯ face brightened up.


    A handsome man dressed comfortably with such peaceful scenery behind him¡ªit was all very picturesque. The swaying grass, the simple but lovely fall flowers, and the light being cast through the shade of the tree branches above them¡ªscattering the sun like fractals.


    Everything was truly lovely.


    She complimented him just to avoid the awkward atmosphere from before, but it was all so lovely, she thought she would be able to remember this forever.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I didn¡¯t mean your appearance. I was complimenting your clothing.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought you said I was handsome.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course, you are handsome as well.¡±


    No ordinary person could deny that. One would have to be blind to even begin to deny such an outstanding appearance.


    And though she didn¡¯t know much about clothing, even she knew that this style and cut of jacket wouldn¡¯t accommodate just anyone. It required one to have broad shoulders and a tall height. He was a man whose figure was good along with his appearance.


    [Lexus] ¡°What about the clothes you wore before, Valentia?¡±


    She knew what clothes he was talking about, but they were no longer in a state that made them a fitting wear.


    [Valentia] ¡°Those¡­..A maid made a mistake while she was washing them, so unfortunately, they ended up getting ruined. I¡¯m very sorry.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I see. They looked very good on you, but I suppose it can¡¯t be helped if it was an accident. Ah, it¡¯s already time to go. We should head back now. But let¡¯s hang out again later. I¡¯ll send someone your way.¡±


    Like many others, Lexus brought an attendant along with him, so he meant that to say she could be expecting that same person to come and retrieve her later.


    [Valentia] ¡°I would like that.¡±


    As the two of them finished their walkabout, they started closing in on the field where the campsites were held. Just before entering,  they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.


    * * *

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    *


    * * *


    *


    Returning to the campsite, the servants were cleaning up after finishing the meal prep. Even if she had been around, she likely would not have been any help anyway, but she apologized out of regret anyway.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°More importantly, Miss Valentia, the food¡¯s ready.¡±


    Against her expectations, they even prepared Valentia¡¯s portion of the meal, keeping it atop the simple table along with the rest¡ªconsisting of a warm soup, tender meat, soft bread, and a few vegetables for garnish. It was a rather ordinary meal, but still luxurious for an outdoor camping trip.


    This was also part of the reason why the commoner students loved the outdoor circuit. They were able to take a trip far out and enjoy delicious food made from high quality ingredients.


    But unlike the nobles, the common students did not have servants who could take care of the meal prep for them, so that left it up to them. But it was still enjoyable nonetheless because those very ingredients were provided free and they had the rare opportunity to go outside and have a little fun.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..Thank you, Miss Aigis.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°You know my name?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You are a fellow student.¡±


    Aigis didn¡¯t expect her to know her name, letting out a sigh with a somewhat embarrassed expression on her face.


    There were some rumors going around about how Valentia looked down on others and ignored anyone that wasn¡¯t herself, but she seemed a little different from that. Now that Aigis was thinking about it, Valentia was the first to say hello when they all got on the carriage, but they were the ones who ignored her.


    [Aigis] ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Enjoy your meal.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thank you for thinking of me. And thank you both, Miss Lily and Miss Red, too¡ªfor understanding the situation.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°W, we¡¯re all students, so we thought you might be doing some extra work, is all.¡±


    Aigis was the daughter of a well known Count family, so it wasn¡¯t all that strange for even the most indifferent of people to know her name. But Lily and Red were the daughters of Barons.


    As Valentia sat down in an empty seat, the other ladies glanced at each other. A few seconds later, they called out to her.


    [Aigis] ¡°Miss Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Are you close with Lord Lexus?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know if ¡®close¡¯ is the best way to describe it. We¡¯re fine talking with one another, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°But you looked close.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If he did not come to speak with me, then we wouldn¡¯t speak at all. Those who are close would not be like that.¡±


    They all thought Valentia would be arrogant enough to boldly say she and Lexus were close, but instead she said something like that. But she wasn¡¯t wrong. It was just surprising to them that she seemed to be wholly aware of her position in comparison to other women who occupied that space.


    And once they realized that, the overbearingly negative air that hung across the group seemed to fade a little.


    [Aigis] ¡°You¡¯re not in a relationship with him, are you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course not.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Some people saw you two taking a walk together. Are you sure you aren¡¯t close?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I am well acquainted with the dog that Lord Lexus takes care of.¡±


    It was a little weird to say that she was ¡®acquainted¡¯ with the dog as if he were a person, but she kept that feeling back. If she were to be more specific, then it would be more appropriate to say that Lexus was taking care of her dog for her.


    But if they were to ask why Prince Lexus was taking care of her dog, then she¡¯d be in a bit of a bind, so she had no choice but to phrase things like this.


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh, the dog that you¡¯ve been walking with?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why we walk together in the first place.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°What do you think of Lord Lexus, Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I think he¡¯s a good person.¡±


    Her feelings had no bearing on their relationship, so this was all she could say.


    Their relationship was established as being solely reliant on the Prince¡¯s whims. If not for that, it would not exist. Whether they liked her answer or not, the attitudes of her teammates softened a bit.


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh, we should have some fruit, too.¡±


    She gestured to one of the servants, who started peeling one of the suggested fruits.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°He came all the way here, so what did you both talk about?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°He just wanted to tell me that he wished to see me once the mealtime was over.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    With perfect timing, a man dressed in the attire of someone from the Imperial Palace came to their tent. His words were brief, asking to speak with Valentia.


    [???] ¡°Miss Valentia. Do you have a moment to spare?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Be safe.¡±


    Considering everything, along with who this man was, it was obvious who had told him to come here to retrieve Valentia. Her teammates couldn¡¯t hide the gloom in their expressions, but they let her go with well wishes.


    [Valentia] ¡°I will return soon.¡±


    But as they made their exit, there was someone watching Valentia closely as she followed after that man. It was Permat with a sly smirk on her face.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Aigis] ¡°I suppose they¡¯re not that close.¡±


    Once Valentia was gone, Aigis took a sip of her tea.


    The whole time this was happening, she couldn¡¯t hide her curiosity. No one knew, but everyone wanted to know why the Prince was spending so much time with her.


    Were they seeing each other? Or were they just friends? Even the Prince¡¯s closest friends were keeping their mouths shut on the situation, saying even they weren¡¯t exactly sure what was happening. This was an unusual circumstance, since normally the women the Prince went out with would waste no time in spreading the story around the Academy.


    But this time, the woman in question was someone known for being a lone wolf, without a friend or close acquaintance to her name. Without anyone close to her, she didn¡¯t have anyone to brag to even if she wanted to.


    And so those who were the first to acquire the latest rumors were the ones who warranted the most attention.


    Though honestly, when they first asked her about it, they didn¡¯t think she would answer them so clearly. Her unexpectedly soft confession to how things were was enough to shock them.


    [Lily] ¡°It was expected. She¡¯s very different from the women Lord Lexus normally sees.¡±


    Lily nodded, saying something similar.


    With dark brown hair that sometimes looked grey in hue and an expression that was always stiff and gloomy, she rarely spoke and was always quiet. She wasn¡¯t social at all and her family was only a barony.


    The only thing honorable about her was that she was the top student at the Academy.


    [Lily] ¡°But someone like that¡­¡­I don¡¯t think is bad. She knows where she stands.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    When Aigis quietly agreed, Lily responded again.


    [Lily] ¡°I like how she doesn¡¯t misunderstand his kindness.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I agree.¡±


    [Red] ¡°Definitely. Many other women would easily become mistaken just because the Prince uses kind words.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°But he really is handsome, you know.¡±


    [Red] ¡°Yes. When he suddenly appeared behind us, I thought my heart would fall to my feet.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°Same. It was my first time seeing him so close.¡±


    After seeing Lexus up close like that for the first time in their lives, the ladies¡¯ mused enthusiastically. Though he was someone who was comfortable to be around for everyone, they were still feeling very energized since they got to see him face to face.


    [Lily] ¡°But I suppose Miss Valentia truly is an Iron Maiden. I don¡¯t know how she manages to keep her expression unchanging when he talks to her.¡±


    [Red] ¡°I guess she doesn¡¯t have any sense of aesthetics.¡±


    Red glanced at Aigis. Aigis¡¯ attitude was somehow both kind and somewhat rigid, so she was a little confused on how she should be speaking.


    [Aigis] ¡°That¡¯s too much to say, Miss Red.¡±


    [Red] ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t mean it in a bad way.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°But that might be the case. Perhaps that¡¯s how she manages to be so calm.¡±


    At first, Red thought she might¡¯ve spoken out of turn, but then Aigis agreed with her, making Red feel a little relieved.


    After their meal was finished, the clouds that were once teetering on the edge of the horizon were creeping over the field where their camps were held. The once clear sky was filled with darkened clouds, the plumes increasing with every passing minute.


    What¡¯s going on with the weather, everyone collectively thought. But as that question came up, rain started to fall.


    [Aigis] ¡°Ah, it¡¯s raining.¡±


    Rounded water droplets left circles atop their table, as well as on the fabric of their dresses.


    [Lily] ¡°All of the sudden? We should head inside.¡±


    [Red] ¡°This is why I dislike the Academy, making the circuit happen on a day like this.¡±


    The ladies cleared their space, standing from their seats and settling inside the spacious and luxurious tent. It was large enough to hold several cots, as well as a table and a set of chairs.


    Sitting back down, they continued their chat.


    [Lily] ¡°Still, the rain isn¡¯t all bad.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Yes. The sound of rain falling on the tent is very lovely.¡±


    [Red] ¡°I hope this is the extent of it.¡±


    Drinking warm tea with the sound of rain against the outside of their tent made for a lovely atmosphere, and so they kept up their casual chat about the rain. But as they were conversing, that was when someone¡¯s shadow was growing just behind the entrance.


    [???] ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Who is it?¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°I am Dottir, a servant of Lord Lexus.¡±


    Red stood up and went to the entrance, slowly opening it up to see who was outside. It was a different person from before.


    [Red] ¡°You shouldn¡¯t stand out in the rain like that. Come in for a moment.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°I cannot enter a space meant for ladies.¡±


    [Red] ¡°But it¡¯s raining. We¡¯ll leave the entrance open, so please. Come inside.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°Then I will thank you for your consideration. And this is for you. It is a gift from Lord Lexus as thanks for allowing him to borrow your teammate for a while.¡±


    The man entered the tent and presented them all with a luxurious looking box, lined with golden leaves. They were not particularly close with Lexus, so it was obvious why he was presenting them with this. Still, they could not deny the good feelings that came with getting a gift from the Prince.


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh, it was nothing.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°You are all such fine ladies, so I assume you will not bring the Prince shame by rejecting this.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Then we will accept it with grace.¡±


    Inside the expensive looking box was an assortment of snacks meant to be taken with tea. It was a sensible gift, considering they were partaking in tea now, but it was not a lasting gift.


    If it were a more permanent object, there was always the chance they would use it for bragging rights. And no doubt it was difficult for the Prince to suddenly prepare a gift for the three of them on such short notice. He must¡¯ve realized they would be logically drinking tea after their meal.


    [Dottir] ¡°Where is Miss Valentia? Lord Lexus wished to spend some time with her.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Miss Valentia?¡±


    The three ladies glanced at each other.


    [Aigis] ¡°If you¡¯re looking for her, someone already came to get her.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°I¡¯m sorry? What do you mean?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°A servant from Lord Lexus came by earlier.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°Someone else did?¡±


    The man¡¯s face stiffened.


    All of them suddenly had the dawning realization that the person from before was a little suspicious. And that perhaps something was terribly wrong.


    [Aigis] ¡°Then the person from before¡­¡­¡±


    Then there was a flash of light, and before long, in came the rumble of thunder and lightning, cracking across the entire vast field.


    * * *

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Debbie] ¡°You look pleased, Miss Permat.¡±


    One of Permat¡¯s close confidants, as well as one of her group mates, Debbie glanced at her, assessing her mood. Though she carefully omitted the word ¡®today¡¯ from her comment.


    Permat had been in a foul mood these days, and the reason for that was anybody¡¯s guess. She was so sensitive that it was far too easy to set her off, yet difficult to please her.


    But today, there was a small smile on her face.


    [Permat] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I feel well.¡±


    That was all the more proof that her mood was exceptionally good.


    Any other time, if someone made any comment on how she looked good, she would¡¯ve cut back saying Does that mean I look bad other times? But instead, she answered smoothly, even smiling brightly as she did.


    [Debbie] ¡°Then I am glad you are feeling good, Miss Permat.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Did something nice happen?¡±


    Another one of the ladies asked.


    [Permat] ¡°I think something good will happen soon.¡±


    Nothing happened yet, but Permat knew it was only a matter of time.


    When she complained about the woman who was clinging to the Prince¡¯s side, Erhein spoke as though he would take care of her right away. But even as time went on, everything remained exactly the same.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯When are you going to take care of that woman? She¡¯s still walking around with Lord Lexus! Or did you lie to me when you said you would take care of it?¡¯


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯These things take time. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made all the necessary preparations.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Preparations?¡¯


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯Patience, sister.¡¯


    She was comforted by his words.


    All things considered, that woman hadn¡¯t been spending much time with Lexus, but even this short time was insufferable because Permat hated it so much. She wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.


    And so she started to grow resentful of her older brother who seemed relaxed in contrast to her suffering.


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯Today¡¯s the day, Permat.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Today?¡¯


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯Today, I will take care of that which makes you suffer.¡¯


    Erhein told her with affection in his voice.


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Really?¡¯


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯Of course. That¡¯s why I am telling you.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯How will you do it?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯Killing would be too much trouble. If a student were to be murdered, they would open an investigation to understand the reason.¡¯


    [Permat] ¡ª¡¯Then?¡¯


    [Erhein] ¡ª¡¯An ¡®accident¡¯ would be more appropriate. A terrible, most unfortunate accident.¡¯


    With that, Erhein gave her a tender smile. The fact that she wouldn¡¯t have to see that woman by Lexus¡¯ side any longer filled Permat with unabated elation.


    And now, she even saw one of her brother¡¯s servants going out with that woman following behind him. She saw it with her own two eyes.


    [Lady] ¡°Well, I hope whatever good thing it is, it¡¯s good for you, Miss Permat.¡±


    For the outdoor circuit, many different people were gathered, even servants. And because there were so many people around, no one bat an eye seeing a strange person they did not recognize among the group. And this place was usually no more dangerous than the Academy or the capital itself, so no one was on alert.


    Tap¡ª


    A raindrop fell from the sky.


    [Lady] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s raining. Shall we head back inside, Miss Permat?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Yes. Let us go.¡±


    A sudden flush of rain would be enough to turn anyone¡¯s mood sour, but even that made her feel good tonight.


    She was too busy feeling her heart, beating with excitement as she thought of the unfortunate ¡®accident¡¯ that would befall the wretched woman who failed to know her place.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The man didn¡¯t say a single word as they walked, but after following him for a while, it felt like they¡¯d come too far now.


    The dark clouds above had become pervasive, and the sunlight faded while the darkness set in. But even then, the man in front of her remained completely silent as they passed through the field and into the forest.


    [Valentia] ¡°How far are we going?¡±


    [???] ¡°I was told to bring you out this way since it would be better to meet somewhere out of sight of others.¡±


    Once she noticed how dark it was getting, she felt something wet touch her cheek. Not long after that was the echoing sound of rain hitting against the treetops above.


    She tried to believe that the man guiding her was simply doing what he was ordered to do in total silence, but she couldn¡¯t shake this bad feeling.


    [Valentia] ¡°Where is he?¡±


    [???] ¡°He¡¯s waiting. Not much farther in.¡±


    Valentia stopped in her tracks.


    [Valentia] ¡°I asked you where he is.¡±


    [???] ¡°Be quiet and follow me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do I know who you are?¡±


    [???] ¡°Dammit, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s much of your concern.¡±


    A random curse left the man¡¯s mouth. He stopped walking too, looking back at her as he shook out his wet hair.


    [Valentia] ¡°Your face¡­..¡±


    Valentia let out an inadvertent gasp. The man¡¯s face looking back at her was melting. Like it was losing its hold, slowly sloughing off his skull.


    [???] ¡°My face? Ah.¡±


    The man touched his fingers against his face, pulling at what looked to be rubber. Then he pinched it, grabbing at it as he ripped it off.


    Or at least it appeared like he was tearing his face off. But that was a mere mask, below which was his true face. One far different from who he was supposed to be.


    [???] ¡°Shit, why did it have to rain? Water got inside my mask and I seriously thought I was gonna suffocate.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Who are you? Who sent you?¡±


    [???] ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to tell you that. You just need to think about who holds a grudge against you.¡±


    When it came to Valentia, she had countless people who disliked her, even hated her. Many of which were people she did not know on a personal level. Yes, she had nary a single person who liked her, yet many who despised her.


    But she didn¡¯t know they hated her enough to want to hurt her.


    [???] ¡°There¡¯s no use running away.¡±


    Valentia instinctively stepped back. But even as she did, the man remained calm and relaxed. Against him, she was nothing but a fragile and weak woman¡ªalone in a forest shrouded by the rain. He had no reason to be in a hurry.


    [???] ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay calm? I¡¯m not going to kill you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill me?¡±


    [???] ¡°Yup. Those weren¡¯t in my orders. Actually, I might get into some serious trouble if I killed you.¡±


    He had an easygoing way of speaking, like this dark topic was absolutely nothing to him, but Valentia had no doubt that he would kill her easily if need be. And he definitely looked like the type to have killed in the past before.


    There wasn¡¯t an ounce of nervousness or uncertainty in the air around this man.  That could only mean he was used to these sorts of things.


    [Valentia] ¡°So what were you ordered to do?¡±


    [???] ¡°Do you really need to know that?¡±


    Killing her wasn¡¯t a part of his orders, but there was no way on earth he would take things this far only to allow her to walk away unscathed. If she managed to get out of this, he would know she¡¯d report this incident without hesitation.


    He¡¯s not going to kill her, but still did such a bold thing. So obviously he had some other plan in mind.


    [???] ¡°The Academy definitely wouldn¡¯t let the murder of a student go without an investigation. But that¡¯s only if a definite murder occurred.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So you¡¯re going to disguise this as an accident.¡±


    The man looked a little surprised.


    [???] ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be. Even in a situation like this, your brain is still firing on all cylinders.¡±


    When one¡¯s life is under threat, men and women alike would normally beg for help, saying they wouldn¡¯t report their assailant if they could just escape with their life. But this woman didn¡¯t cry or panic, even though there was obvious fear in her expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°Well, all this means is that you can¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    If there was any kind of suspicious wound on her body, anyone who found her would immediately think she died of unnatural causes.


    [???] ¡°Are you one of those people who can¡¯t read the room? Your situation right now is far from good.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So where does this leave us?¡±


    [???] ¡°First of all, you need to go where I tell you and stay quiet. If you do, you might get to live just that much longer.¡±


    Even if she tried to run, this man could easily catch her, tie her up, and drag her off wherever he pleased. That would only make things uncomfortable for her, so instead, walking with her own two feet would be better. She¡¯d probably be able to survive better that way, too.


    [Valentia] ¡°Very well.¡±


    [???] ¡°Such an obedient child.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯d rather not get tied up.¡±


    [???] ¡°It¡¯s a damn shame this needs to happen to a lady like you. Just how did you manage to earn such hate from someone?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯d like to know that, too.¡±


    [???] ¡°Well then, ladies first.¡±


    Valentia walked in front of him, taking the lead as the man urged her forward from behind. She was completely under his thumb now, and she did not attempt to struggle as he forced her further into the forest.


    [???] ¡°Well, that¡¯s my part done. I should be on my way now.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°If you so wish.¡±


    [???] ¡°It¡¯s so nice that you don¡¯t get angry and spit curses at me. Are all nobles like this? The ones I¡¯ve met definitely weren¡¯t.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t exactly any point in crying or making a fuss. She could struggle and fight with all her might, but it was all pointless considering her body was losing strength from the exhaustion¡ªrapidly turning cold from the rain.


    [Valentia] ¡°I know it wouldn¡¯t change anything.¡±


    [???] ¡°Hm. Well, in your next life, try not to piss off anyone else, yeah?¡±


    She honestly thought she was dead right there and then the second this man tore his mask off and revealed his true face. But honestly, this didn¡¯t feel any better.


    Saying his snarky goodbye, the man slipped away into the deep dark forest. He was only moving slowly because of her, but now that her dead weight had been lifted, he was gone in a second.


    The immediate threat of a physically fit man was solved at least, but now she was left alone and abandoned in the middle of the forest. It was completely pitch black, and thanks to the rain, she was soaked and chilled to the bone.


    Lightning struck, casting shadows across the forest from the brief flash of light, and she jumped back in surprise. They were only just now entering the fall, but her wet clothes made her tremble from the cold.


    She¡¯d disappeared, but who would notice that? There was a chance Lexus might notice she was gone but¡­.


    But there was no certainty he would realize she was missing and then go out to find her. Shaking her head, Valentia started walking, her steps frantic as she tried to find her way out.


    Grrrr¡ª


    A strange sound came from somewhere.


    The heavy rain drowned it out for a moment, but it wasn¡¯t long before the source made itself obvious.


    It was a dog.


    A wild dog.


    But not just any wild dog. It was emaciated, growling to reveal its fangs¡ªclearly starved. And it wasn¡¯t just one but three, presumably traveling in a pack.


    So this was his plan.


    He was told not to kill her because it was much better to pose this as an unfortunate accident. One where a student accidentally wandered into the forest only to be killed and torn to bits by a pack of hungry dogs.


    That was her guess at least. Her guess as to why he quietly left her here without saying much else.


    Valentia slowly took a step back, but the dogs took a step closer in response. What could she do now? Her whole body was aching, but if she didn¡¯t run, she would die right here from a dog bite.


    I¡¯m scared. Someone please. Help me.


    She prayed and prayed, but she knew there was no one who would help her. If she wanted to live, her only option was to run.


    Valentia ran faster than she¡¯d ever run before. Her feet clashed against the mud, splashing up pools of muddy rain water and piles of wet leaves. Rushing against the branches and brambles, her whole body was being covered with wounds, but the pain didn¡¯t touch her.


    All that hurt was covered by the intense fear, beating in her ears along with the sound of rain and vicious dog barks.


    And in all that hurry, Valentia¡¯s foot caught on the root of a tree and she tumbled across the ground.


    The starving and wild dogs slowed their steps, like they knew their prey was cornered and filled with fear. They cut the air as they rushed in and Valentia instinctively closed her eyes.


    Lexus.


    For some reason, in that moment of fear and panic, the only person she could think of was that man.


    * * *

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    *


    * * *


    *


    Of course, it¡¯s raining, Lexus thought as he waited for Valentia, clicking his tongue.


    After he heard how things were from Valentia, he was worried she might not be getting along with her teammates very well, so he sent Dottir off with a gift for them. He just hoped they were smart enough to understand what he meant by giving them that.


    He wondered, what was going on in her head when she woke up alone in the carriage? What kind of emotions did she feel when she stood outside, seeing an endless row of empty carriages with no one but herself?


    Just thinking about it made him feel like he was eating something bitter.


    Then, Dottir returned from his errand, huffing and puffing from sprinting through the rain, entering the tent.


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s Valentia?¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°Miss Valentia has disappeared.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°I went off to take the gift and pick up Miss Valentia, but apparently someone already came by and took her away.¡±


    Immediately he knew something was wrong.


    There was no way anyone would take Valentia away with good intentions in mind. Without another second¡¯s thought, Lexus stood up from his seat, shouting out to Dottir.


    [Lexus] ¡°Let the Academy faculty know! Tell them Valentia was kidnapped!¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°Yes, I will inform them. Please wait here, Your Highness¡­¡­..Uh, Your Highness!¡±


    Dottir jumped back in surprise as the Imperial Prince shoved past him and into the rain.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m heading to the forest! Send people in behind me! Tell them to spread the search parties out and check other places, too!¡±


    Lexus had his reasons for suspecting the forest. There was nothing but a long stretch of forests around this field, and if someone was trying to hide her or worse yet, take ¡®care¡¯ of her, then there was nowhere else they¡¯d go.


    [Dottir] ¡°No! Prince, I will go to the forest.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t have time to argue with you right now.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°I have more experience with this kind of work. Things will go much faster if you inform and mobilize the Academy staff yourself.¡±


    Unlike Lexus, Dottir¡¯s main purpose for coming here from the Imperial Palace was to protect the Prince from any possible threats or accidents. He was an outsider to this whole event, so things would go faster if Lexus were to retrieve help instead.


    [Lexus] ¡°Fine, yeah that would be better¡­..Shit.¡±


    His reason kept telling him that, but his body couldn¡¯t sit still.


    [Lexus] ¡°Go let the Academy staff know and then follow after me.¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°But Prince, you must protect yourself¡­¡­.!¡±


    But it was too late. Lexus had already swiftly pulled the blade tied to Dottir¡¯s waist and ran off to where the carriages were stationed.


    Time was of the essence when it came to kidnapping. If they didn¡¯t take her away with the intent of ransoming her off, then he could only assume their aim was to kill her.


    Arriving with great speed, Lexus quickly cut the band that was keeping the horse tethered to the carriage. Horses couldn¡¯t travel well in the forest, but he needed a way to cut across the field quickly since there was no way he could do it fast enough on foot.


    But still, what reason did they have to take Valentia away like this?


    What if I¡¯m too late? What if I don¡¯t get there in time? Lexus shook his head, desperately trying to shake off those invasive and disturbing thoughts that cut into his mind.


    Near the entrance to the forest, Lexus discovered a set of footprints that had been crushed into the mud. They were large and deep¡ªfar different from something that could¡¯ve been caused by a woman.


    It was pouring rain, so if these footprints were still plainly visible, then that meant not much time had passed. But the farther in he went, the harder it became to see them until they eventually disappeared entirely.


    Maybe bringing a hunting dog would¡¯ve been smart. But even something like that would¡¯ve been useless. The smell of rain completely washed away any trace that a hound could have picked up.


    The hell is that?


    That¡¯s when he could hear a dog barking. Why would he hear dogs in the forest at a time like this, right after the Academy had supposedly cleared the area?


    Lexus took off running in the direction of the sound¡ªlike the sound of a creature living within the forest, whining and barking after discovering its prey.


    But what kind of prey would be available for wild dogs when it was raining so hard? It would have to be prey that had no choice but to wander outside in this kind of situation. Prey so slow and fragile, they could not even run away from a dog¡­¡­


    ¡­¡­.His thoughts were such a mess, he couldn¡¯t tell if they were right or wrong. All he could do was run as fast as he could, holding onto a strand of hope amidst a sea of anxiety and panic.


    And within moments of running within that darkened forest, the figure of a young woman lying among the brambles with a dog before her came into his view. Rushing forward with quickened steps, he gripped the hilt of the blade at his side, jutting it forward as he plunged it straight into the neck of the beast about to jump at Valentia.


    He took a deep breath. Then, with a relaxed yet heavy voice, he called out the name of the one he was looking for¡ª


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    Hearing someone call her name made Valentia open her eyes.


    Directly in front of her was the sight of a man¡¯s broad back, torrent from the rain. He put his foot on the body of the dead dog on the ground, ripping out the blade that had been stuck in its neck.


    Valentia couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. He was really in front of her. Like he heard her call.


    He didn¡¯t turn back to look at her. There were still two wild animals left to deal with.


    As if the recently killed dog was the leader of the pack, the remaining two faltered, ceasing their earlier desire to rush right in. They growled low, but they realized their own folly, turning to run with their tails between their legs.


    Lexus shook off all the blood on his sword with a single swing, stowing it away back in its sheath.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hah¡­¡±


    He sighed, and Valentia shivered. Ignoring the mud, he turned around, looking back at Valentia as he knelt down in front of her.


    [Lexus] ¡°You look like a mess.¡±


    He was no different, though. His clothes were soaked through and his shining blond hair was wet and tangled from the rain. But though his appearance was far from his normal look, he was still stunningly bright. Enough to completely blind her.


    Lexus reached out his hand, slowly wiping away the mud on Valentia¡¯s face. She could feel the cold touch of his hand against her skin, but it still didn¡¯t feel real.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re gonna ask what I¡¯m doing here?¡±


    Lexus smiled, his face stained with the rain as he quipped. But Valentia could barely breathe. She couldn¡¯t stay calm, nor could she act like everything was perfectly fine or like nothing had happened.


    She didn¡¯t know how to describe this feeling. It was too overwhelming to just be relief.


    He¡¯s here.


    [Valentia] ¡°How can you be here¡­..¡±


    He¡¯s here, like a miracle¡­


    There was never anyone beside her. The only thing people gave her was rejection and hatred.


    [Lexus] ¡°I came here to get you.¡±


    But his voice was ever teasing and playful.


    He came here to get me.


    To save me.


    Just me.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you have any idea how much I had to look for you? Didn¡¯t anyone teach you not to follow strangers?¡±


    No one ever taught her that. This was the first time someone had ever told her.


    And not just that, but all these warm, playful conversations, walking side by side in stride, eating together¡ªeverything was unfamiliar, and she felt so awkward trying to navigate a world that was brand new to her.


    But she didn¡¯t hate it.


    It was only after she finally had someone to talk to that she realized the seat next to her was always empty. Only after having someone to walk with did she know how crushing that fact was. That she was lonely¡­¡­so terribly lonely.


    Even now, she didn¡¯t think anyone would come to save her. He was the first person to come to her mind out of the blue, but she didn¡¯t think he would actually come. She thought she would need to figure this out on her own, like she did everything else.


    But as the moment of crisis befell her, she discovered that she held no answers. She was entirely and utterly helpless.


    And yet, before her helpless and useless self, this man appeared, standing in front of her.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..No one.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No one¡­..ever taught me.¡±


    Valentia spoke like a child, her voice quiet and pained. She was so scared, but she didn¡¯t even realize it. She was so happy that he came, but Valentia didn¡¯t know how to say that.


    [Lexus] ¡°You didn¡¯t know not to follow strange people?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I didn¡¯t know¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°They say you¡¯re the top student, but I guess there¡¯s still some things you don¡¯t know, huh?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t know a thing.


    She didn¡¯t know how to get close to other people or how to share her heart with others. She didn¡¯t know what steps she needed to take in order to be loved by someone else.


    But before she could even start to learn, she was already alone.


    That was why she lived like this. Living without loving or being loved in return.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t follow people you don¡¯t know from now on. Okay?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Okay.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯ve got a good heart, you know.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°A good¡­.heart?¡±


    Valentia blinked in a daze at the unfamiliar phrase. It tickled her ear, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that such words did not suit such a gloomy person like her.


    [Lexus] ¡°You do.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No one¡¯s ever said that to me before.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But it¡¯s true. You¡¯ve got a real good one. You fed a stray dog even though you didn¡¯t have to, and you comforted that kid from before.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that all it takes to have a good heart?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°According to my book.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just make me a little pretentious?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Did someone tell you that?¡±


    She was always told that showing such minor generosity was pretentious, meant only to stroke one¡¯s ego. Those words, calling her a cold and preformative person embedded themselves within Valentia¡¯s unconscious.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t worry about things like that. It¡¯s all nonsense anyway. More importantly, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe. Though you look a little worse for the wear.¡±


    He threw those words out so casually again.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, I¡¯m a little¡­..¡±


    Only then did Valentia realize how filthy she had become. She fell and rolled across the muddy forest floor, and she felt nothing but deep shame appearing like this in front of him.


    [Lexus] ¡°I was really worried, you know.¡±


    Such warm words, spoken with an even kinder voice. Valentia swallowed hard.


    What are you doing, worrying about me?


    Why did he worry about her when she was sick and why did he come all this way just to find her because she was missing?


    But more than those questions was the knowledge that she liked it when he worried about her.


    Though her body was chilled to the bone, soaked in the cold rain as it trembled, a warmth burned in her heart, spreading throughout the rest of her body.


    Lexus went to stand up and Valentia reflexively grabbed the hem of his coat. Suddenly stopping, Lexus leaned back down and looked right at her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Can you not stand?¡±


    Valentia couldn¡¯t say that she couldn¡¯t.


    She was just afraid of him standing up to leave. Obviously, now that he¡¯d found her, the next logical thing to do was to get up and leave this place, but she didn¡¯t want him to get even an inch away from her.


    I want to be close.


    Closer than we are now.


    Just a little bit more.


    Or, maybe a lot, if she was allowed to be honest just this once.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    Valentia reached out to him, and Lexus, for reasons unknown even to him, held out his arms. Like she was taking a great leap, Valentia threw herself into his embrace, burying her face in his chest. She wrapped herself around him, tightly hugging him like her life depended on it.


    The rain was harsh enough to hurt her as it fell, but she couldn¡¯t feel a thing.


    All she could feel was this man¡¯s presence all around her.


    The woman that was holding onto him felt so desperate and weak that a deep sense of sadness washed over Lexus. But tempering that sadness was a vexing sense of worry and care that he couldn¡¯t make out¡ªyet strong enough that all he wanted to do was take hold of her small body and hold her back.


    * * *

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    At the sound of Lexus calling out her name, Valentia tightened the grip she had on him, burying herself deeper into his arms. She was certain he was going to tell her to let go.


    But, she didn¡¯t want to and she didn¡¯t hate sitting here in the ice cold rain. It was wet and chilling, but she felt so warm. She liked being able to hold onto a man so big, she couldn¡¯t even touch her own fingers when she reached her arms widely around him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    With her face against his chest, Valentia stubbornly shook her head like a child. She felt him take his large hand and pat her small back as if he were trying to soothe her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t so bad for me, but it¡¯s raining a lot¡­¡­.You¡¯ll catch a cold at this rate.¡±


    Finding his words unfair or amusing, Valentia¡¯s body flinched at his cheeky little comment. And because of how tightly she was holding onto him, Lexus could feel every little movement.


    Valentia hesitated for a moment before slowly loosening her grip and pulling away.


    [Lexus] ¡°Can you show me your face?¡±


    After Lexus said that, Valentia immediately bowed her head deeply. She did not make eye contact with him, insteading looking straight down at the ground.


    She couldn¡¯t even look up at him because she was so shy, and he even thought she looked all the lovelier for it, but this timing was so awkward that he couldn¡¯t even notice the presence of such a calming feeling.


    [Lexus] ¡°Wear this.¡±


    He took off his jacket and loosely draped it over Valentia¡¯s head.


    [Valentia] ¡°No! You need to wear this.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What for, it¡¯s already soaked through. But it¡¯ll help protect you from the rain like this.¡±


    His jacket was originally meant to be waterproof, but when the entire thing was completely drenched, that function was pretty useless. Still, it was useful in keeping the rain from hitting her face and body.


    [Valentia] ¡°But¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I know you think you¡¯re inconveniencing me, but at times like these, it¡¯s good for me to at least pretend to be a gentleman. Now, let¡¯s find a place to take cover.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    It was the middle of the rainy season, so the rain seemed to show no sign of letting up. The smartest and safest choice for them right now would be to find a place to take shelter from the rain rather than try and navigate their way out now.


    And they were in the middle of the forest, so it stood to reason to believe a ranger or a hunter kept a cabin out here somewhere.


    Eventually, they found a path. It was a forest, so it wasn¡¯t exactly easy to see, but there were natural places where the grass was pressed down or there was more space between the trees, indicating that people passed through frequently.


    But it wasn¡¯t easy to move. Her body was soaked through, stiff from the cold, and she had no energy left because she¡¯d been running off adrenaline since before.


    Lexus was still going strong, but Valentia didn¡¯t have much in the way of physical strength, and she was awfully thin. But regardless of her suffering, she kept walking, trying her best not to fall behind. She was already putting him through so much since he came to save her, and she didn¡¯t wish to make it worse.


    [Lexus] ¡°Careful.¡±


    The leaves were slick with rain water and mud, and she kept narrowly slipping. Again and again, he would turn back to catch her faltering.


    But soon enough, she reached her limit. Valentia sank down as her legs buckled.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t be¡­..Is it difficult for you to walk? Please be honest with me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Just a little.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This might sound a little improper, but do you want to ride on my back? I was actually thinking about this for a while, but you hurt your leg when you fell, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re already having a difficult time, Your Highness. And I¡¯m heavy.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If I were so weak that I couldn¡¯t even carry you on my back, Valentia, you may as well bury me tomorrow. You can¡¯t move very well, so let me carry you.¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Lexus bent down in front of her, showing her his back. She hesitated for a few seconds, but she eventually relented.


    And like she truly weighed nothing at all to him, he easily stood up. The sudden increase in height made her dizzy. She leaned her head against his back, and that¡¯s when she caught the scent of something.


    It was very odd. Any cologne he might¡¯ve been wearing before certainly should have worn off from the rain, so what was this scent?


    Valentia realized that it was just his body. That¡¯s the sense she was getting. He smelled very warm.


    Luckily, for all their misfortune, they managed to find a small cabin without needing to wander much further into the forest.


    It looked to be in disrepair, like it hadn¡¯t been kept up for a long time, but it was all they needed to avoid the rain. It was stuck in the middle of a rainy forest, so everything seemed like it was corroding, and lined with dust.


    Even the furniture inside was a little sparse. The bed collapsed in on itself, and dust puffed up if you so much as bumped into anything.


    But all they needed was shelter from the strong winds and rain, so it would do.


    And despite how this place lacked much else, there was at least a fireplace.


    [Lexus] ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s anywhere to sit. Hold on, sit on the floor for a second. There¡¯s a lot of dust, so sit on my coat.¡±


    Looking around, he mumbled to himself about getting a fire going.


    [Valentia] ¡°But are you sure you can do that? I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll be possible.¡±


    It was raining like crazy outside. Any kindling they could¡¯ve used to make a fire would be completely soaked, and definitely wouldn¡¯t invite any embers.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯m a member of the Imperial family.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I know this is going to sound rude, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to help you in this situation.¡±


    There were no servants to help them right now. Here, there was only a handsome Prince that was soaked to the bone, and a frail low-ranking noblewoman who was about to pass out from exhaustion.


    The whole point of the outdoor circuit was to prepare them for situations just like this one, but as the long centuries passed, the meaning slowly changed. At this point, it was nothing more than a glorified picnic.


    What they should have been doing during this trip was making a fire and cooking their meals themselves, but now, everything was just left to the servants. Valentia didn¡¯t have any servants herself, but her teammates always did, so even she didn¡¯t have a chance to do the work on her own.


    But while Valentia was speaking directly and coldly, Lexus just randomly burst out laughing.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re exactly right. The title of the Imperial Prince is pretty useless.¡±


    Those words felt a little weird coming from someone with Imperial blood flowing through his veins.


    [Lexus] ¡°But as a member of the Imperial family, you¡¯d be surprised to know there¡¯s a lot of people who want to kill me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Kill you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How do I put this? I have to be prepared. Just in case there¡¯s a rebellion or something.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus! What are you saying right now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s just in case. If ever there¡¯s a rebellion, I have to either fight or run. If I manage to live, then I can do whatever I want later on, you know?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So you say¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But how can I possibly survive if I¡¯ve got nothing but servants and maids circling around me, babying me until I become a fool, incapable of doing anything for myself? Using a blade, hunting, making a fire¡ªI have to be able to do all of those things. And those skills come in handy at times like these.¡±


    He spoke like he was telling a joke. Then, when he noticed Valentia looking at him with suspicion, he made a face like he thought it was unfair.


    Turning to a nearby table, he knocked it over so cleanly that not a single speck of dust went flying. With a motion just as clean, he drew his blade and started to dismantle it into fine pieces.


    Axes were meant to cut wood, not the blade of a sword, and yet he did it so well. Valentia watched him work with curiosity.


    [Valentia] ¡°So that¡¯s why you were able to wield a blade so easily. Honestly, I was surprised.¡±


    By the time she opened her eyes, the wild dog that was attacking her was already dead. She thought it was just a coincidence, but looking at things now, it definitely wasn¡¯t.


    Lexus tore the pieces of wood apart, tossing them into a pile in the fireplace. Then, with a flint, he quickly started a fire.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why do you have that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I made a fire earlier today.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You made a fire by yourself? How?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You know, it¡¯s really great being the Imperial Prince.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°People think I¡¯m amazing for the simplest things¡ªeven something as minor as lighting a fire using a flint.¡±


    His words were so funny that Valentia completely forgot where she was, bursting into a short chuckle for just a moment.


    Lexus managed to skillfully build a fire from the smallest pieces of kindling and the weakest embers. He did it so naturally that it actually shocked her. After finishing up with the fire, he approached Valentia and sat down next to her.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But it¡¯s still warm.¡±


    When she reached out to the fire, she could feel the warmth spreading throughout her stiff fingertips.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this, but is it alright if I take off my clothes?¡±


    With his clothes completely soaked through, it would be dangerous if he kept wearing them.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, yes. Of course.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I know this isn¡¯t something I should be doing in front of a lady, but I¡¯m actually a little cold, too. Even with a fire, wearing wet clothes is a little risky.¡±


    [Valentiaa] ¡°No, it¡¯s only natural.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You should take yours off too, Valentia. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t look. I¡¯ll turn around so you can get undressed.¡±


    He turned his back to her, reaching and grabbing the bottom of his outer sweater as he tore it off, throwing the soaked piece of fabric to the side.


    Now remaining was the undershirt still wrapped around his body, and clearly visible was the sight of his rippling muscles underneath it. Somehow, the sight was more embarrassing to see than seeing him stripped of his clothing entirely.


    And once his shirt was removed, with his back still turned to her, what was revealed was a beautiful and detailed body. He was also sure to strip off his pants that winded down his long legs.


    Then, he sat back down, leaving on the one article of clothing he couldn¡¯t take off.


    [Lexus] ¡°You should take yours off, too.¡±


    His body was beautiful, like a white marble statue that would be kept within the Imperial art museum. The kind of work of art that would be difficult to take your eyes off of.


    Lexus spoke to Valentia without looking at her, keeping his back turned towards her. Valentia looked down in surprise at what he said.


    [Lexus] ¡°I know it¡¯s weird, but please don¡¯t misunderstand. I know you probably don¡¯t have any faith in me, but I promise I won¡¯t do anything to you. On my honor as a member of the Imperial family.¡±


    Valentia nodded, turning away.


    And then, slowly she started to take off her clothes, one thing at a time.


    The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the crackling fireplace, accompanied by the sound of her wet clothing dropping to the floor. Though the terrifying sound of the heavy rain outside was louder than anything, for some reason, it didn¡¯t reach her ears at all.


    * * *

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    *


    * * *


    *


    She couldn¡¯t take off her underdress, so she kept it on, even though it was wet.


    They spread out all their wet garments with the hope that they¡¯d be dry by morning. And now that things were a little calmer, Valentia¡¯s heart was finally stable enough to say what she wanted to say.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°For what?¡±


    They were talking to each other, but their position was a bit strange with their backs turned to one another. Maybe it was because she was nervous, but she could clearly hear his voice, even over the sound of the heavy rain. Like it was permeating her skin.


    [Valentia] ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I might¡¯ve died.¡±


    No, she definitely would¡¯ve died. And it would¡¯ve been a miserable death, too, dying by a dog bite.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t say something so scary.¡±


    ¡ª¡¯If she was going to die, she should¡¯ve died sooner. Why did she have to give birth to that?¡¯


    Suddenly, she remembered what her father said. Cruel words, telling her mother she should¡¯ve died before giving birth to her. So, it was just a little bit comforting, hearing someone worry about her death.


    [Lexus] ¡°But do you remember the face of the person who kidnapped you, Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. He was wearing a very realistic mask of someone else¡¯s face, but then he ripped it off.¡±


    She didn¡¯t think much of it at the time, but looking back on it, it was very bizarre and creepy.


    [Lexus] ¡°He tore off his mask¡­¡­So you must¡¯ve seen what he looked like.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I guess he really was trying to hurt you. People like that don¡¯t usually show their faces otherwise.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..Maybe. But he said he had his orders. That there was someone else who wanted me to die.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Who the hell would want that¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    It can¡¯t have been the Baron. If he wanted her dead, there were thousands of ways he could¡¯ve killed her, all of them happening when she was young. He wouldn¡¯t wait until now to do it. So who could¡¯ve done this?


    [Valentia] ¡°I think he was the one who released the dogs, too.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why¡­.¡±


    Lexus was trying to ask a question, but then he quickly quieted. He probably realized the answer himself.


    Knowing it was no coincidence that those dogs attacked Valentia, he would¡¯ve realized that the next step would be a cruel and unusual plot to have her killed by them, leaving her body to be devoured.


    [Lexus] ¡°You remember his face, so we should have a composite drawn and look for him. We¡¯ll put him on the wanted list.¡±


    Valentia had her back turned to him, so she didn¡¯t know this, but Lexus was pushing back anger so intense, he was clenching his fists hard enough to cut his own palm with his nails.


    But though he was pissed beyond belief, his voice was entirely calm.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I made the order to have the forest searched, but they might not be able to find us tonight.¡±


    It was already pitch black outside and the search would probably be delayed since it was raining so hard. They might be here all night. Thinking that, Lexus tossed a few more pieces of wood into the fireplace.


    [Lexus] ¡°Let¡¯s rest. You must be hungry, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to get us anything tonight. But we¡¯ll be rescued in the morning, so hang in there, okay?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. I¡¯m alright.¡±


    She was used to starving.


    [Valentia] ¡°What about you, Lexus? Are you alright?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I know I was raised preciously, but I¡¯m not gonna go crying just because I skip a few meals.¡±


    He knew just what to say to lighten the mood. He was able to get Valentia to laugh, despite the situation.


    [Lexus] ¡°If you¡¯re tired, lie down and sleep.¡±


    Reaching her limit, Valentia slowly laid down on the floor. She turned around and looked at Lexus, who was still sitting up with his back towards her. She could see his bare and broad back, with finely formed muscles visible just beneath the surface.


    That was the same back that carried her here, today. And being held by a being so wide and strong, she felt safe.


    Unknowingly, Valentia reached out her hand, placing her palm on his back, and she could feel his muscles beneath her hand twitch.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    He whispered with a low voice, like it was sinking.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have dared¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, no, I don¡¯t mean it like that. Really, I don¡¯t.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Normally, it¡¯d be fine. You can touch me as much as you want. Or if I make a mistake, you can even hit me. But right now¡­¡­¡­I¡¯m in a bit of trouble.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Trouble? Why?¡±


    If she could do it under ¡®normal¡¯ circumstances, then why couldn¡¯t she do it now? Was it because he wasn¡¯t wearing anything? Although, in retrospect, her actions were very bold¡ªtouching the back of a man who was almost entirely naked.


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to put this, but it¡¯s out of my control.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, I¡­.or guys in general really, have a part of the body that we can¡¯t really control, you know? So it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t provoke me.¡±


    Valentia was a little lost for a second, but she caught on quickly, considering she had already completed her biological studies into human anatomy. She could understand where he was coming from.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, that. I, I see.¡±


    Valentia bowed her head, not really knowing what to do, but embarrassed by her rash behavior.


    She really liked it when he held her, though. It felt nice, letting go of all her worries while being held with such broad strength.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hey, Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Can you hold me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­.Hasn¡¯t anyone told you you shouldn¡¯t say misleading things like that?¡±


    Though, she really did want him to hold her, so it wasn¡¯t all that misleading.


    Lexus let out a low sigh.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m not any warmer than you are right now. I might even be colder, in fact.¡±


    Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter if his body was warm or cold. She just wanted to hold onto him. She wanted to be held by those big arms¡ªto be comforted by them.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s alright. If we hold on to each other, we may get warmer faster.¡±


    Lexus clicked his tongue, leaning back and laying down next to Valentia. Then, he turned his head back to her, muttering.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re cold because you¡¯re wearing that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then, should I take it off?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That would be better.¡±


    With that, Valentia took off even her underdress. Lexus didn¡¯t look directly at her, instead just lightly putting his arms around her.


    She could feel his soft skin against her and his big hands wrapped around her body. She was embracing a man nearly completely naked, but she didn¡¯t feel anything but unabashed relief and safety.


    And like he said, there were parts of his body that he couldn¡¯t control. They still hadn¡¯t warmed up entirely, but then she felt the sensation of something much hotter pressing against her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry. As I thought, you should probably let go.¡±


    Lexus¡¯ voice was hoarse as he apologized, but she didn¡¯t want to let go or loosen her hold on him. And she didn¡¯t want to lose the feeling of his arms around her.


    [Valentia] ¡°What you said before.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You swore on your honor as a member of the Imperial family¡­.but you don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡­.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t want you to hold back.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hah.¡±


    Lexus let out a harsh breath like he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing.


    But she didn¡¯t want to think about anything else. She just wanted to let everything go, and be close to him. She wanted to feel nothing but his warmth against her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you understand what you¡¯re saying right now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m not the top student for nothing.¡±


    He clenched his teeth, and as he tensed up, it made more apparent the muscles that lined his jaw. His handsome and detailed face was stiff beyond belief, but the look in his eyes was piercing.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­Don¡¯t regret this.¡±


    In this moment, it did not occur to her that if she slept with the Prince, things would become difficult and uncomfortable for her should she choose to become the chief admin of the Imperial Palace.


    She did not even begin to think that her life¡¯s goal would be upset by this.


    Because right now, none of those things mattered to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    One day, this man would become another woman¡¯s husband. For someone like her, this would be her only chance to be by the side of a man she dare not approach otherwise.


    My heart will never love another anyway, and now my body will only ever know you. Forever and always.


    With her whole being, Valentia held onto the man she carried so strongly in her heart as though she¡¯d never let him go. And it was a warm and kind feeling.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The sunlight poked against her closed eyes, and she frowned. Then, the light dimmed like it noticed her consciousness, as if something were blocking it from touching her.


    It was odd, since the morning sun was never something that greeted her in her dreary room.


    And for some reason, her entire body was in pain and it felt heavy. Anytime she tried to move, she¡¯d feel a tinge of pain and everything felt like it weighed a ton.


    Valentia was barely able to open her heavy eyes.


    [Lexus] ¡°Did you sleep well, Valentia?¡±


    Backlit by the sun, a blindingly handsome man was smiling at her. Her first reaction was to be shocked, but then she quickly gathered her bearings, realizing what was going on.


    More specifically, she remembered what had happened last night, and why she was still in his arms now. She even remembered the reason why her body was in so much pain, and that her fatigue went beyond the tiredness that came with wandering through the forest in the rain.


    And now because of him, her face was getting all red, since even now, his perfect and beautiful body was still exposed.


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, you¡¯re very shy. And you were so bold last night, too.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Q, quiet.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s a good morning, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    This was her first time getting a morning greeting from anyone. And the fact that it was coming from someone she loved made it all the more precious.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, yes. Good morning.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Won¡¯t you ask if I slept well?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes, I did. Though, you should probably get dressed now. My body tends not to listen to me in the morning either, so I¡¯m in a bit of a bind.¡±


    At that comment, Valentia¡¯s face turned red like a cooked octopus after her eyes drifted down, and she quickly turned away, covering herself with her arms.


    Lexus also slowly got up, lifting up his hard and stone-like body. She glanced back, catching a glimpse of his arm that was completely red. Now it was clear she had been sleeping in his embrace all night.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is your arm alright?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s a bit stiff, but I¡¯ll live.¡±


    Their clothes weren¡¯t completely dry yet, but they were serviceable enough. Besides, they couldn¡¯t exactly walk around naked, so it wasn¡¯t as though they had a choice, even if they were still a little damp.


    Lexus grumbled about what a pain muddy water was, picking up his clothes and shaking them off¡ªnow covered in dust and completely wrinkled.


    [Lexus] ¡°But the rain stopped.¡±


    It truly was a bright and shining morning. He was laughing, and he never looked more disheveled in front of her than he did now, but for some reason, he never looked so bright before either. He was so brilliant, it was almost embarrassing to look at him. He made her feel shy.


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought we could go and find our way out once we woke up, but I guess we both ended up sleeping in.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I think people are here.¡±


    And just as he said that, there was a heavy thud as the old and rusty door was knocked nearly off of its hinges, with several people clamoring in.


    * * *

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


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    * * *


    *


    Naturally, the Academy was a mess.


    It was one thing for a student to go missing, but it was another for two students to simultaneously disappear, with one of them being the Imperial Prince himself. And considering the circumstances were kidnapping, the buzz was all the louder for it.


    Occasionally there would be a minor incident, like a student getting lost, the odd fire getting out of hand, or maybe an injury at most. But never something this big.


    To say the Academy might have to shut down for good if they couldn¡¯t find the missing Prince by the end of the day would be no exaggeration. And since this was an incident involving the Prince, they were ready and willing to search all night if need be.


    But the rain was intense, and wouldn¡¯t stop until early dawn, so the search commenced at that time.


    And to their luck, the Prince was found without injury. They were panicking about the rain all night, but the Prince was found resting calmly in an abandoned cabin in the middle of the forest.


    That small cabin was filled to the brim with professors, the search and rescue team, even Dottir who came along. The members of the search team bowed and showed their respect.


    [Professors] ¡°Prince, you¡¯re alright!¡±


    [Dottir] ¡°Your Highness¡­¡­¡±


    The professors got a word out before Dottir. Dottir had been losing his mind the entire night, on the verge of collapsing entirely out of worry for the Prince he failed to protect. Their nerves were all so frayed that the professors made the mistake of calling out his title rather than his name.


    Their reaction was so much that the search party had no choice but to remain kneeling as well.


    Lexus gave a slight frown, then vaguely gestured his hand. The search party had keen eyes, and immediately took that as a sign to stand up, quietly moving to their feet.


    [Professor] ¡°We were all so nervous. We had a feeling something terrible happened to you, so we really¡ª¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be worrying over the student who actually went missing instead of me?¡±


    [Professors] ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡±


    Slowly, the panicked professors turned to Valentia, who was quietly standing next to Lexus.


    [Professors] ¡°Then, are you alright, Miss Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thanks to Mister Lexus, no harm came to me.¡±


    For reasons unknown to the others, Lexus awkwardly covered his mouth with his hand.


    He just felt a little weird for a second. Hearing Valentia refer to him as ¡°Mister Lexus¡± was just a little strange. Though, obviously she couldn¡¯t call him anything else right now since the professors were present.


    [Professors] ¡°It is good that you¡¯re unharmed. Can you tell us what happened? Who kidnapped you? Do you have any idea who may have done this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Enough.¡±


    As the questions started pouring out, Lexus cut them off.


    [Lexus] ¡°Save your questions for later. She needs to rest.¡±


    [Professors] ¡°Ah¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Besides, we¡¯ve got no energy left since we¡¯ve been suffering in the cold all night and we haven¡¯t eaten a thing. And I¡¯d rather not stay in this stuffy old cabin any longer, so we should just get moving, right?¡±


    His voice was soft like he was just giving a suggestion, but there was no doubt about it¡ªthis was an order.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The rest of the students already went home. The storm was getting out of hand and since such a terrible incident occurred, it was only right they were sent off on their way. As it became more well known, the noble families sent carriages to take their heirs home before they even reached the capital.


    Under the armed escort of the knights sent to assist the search, Valentia returned to the capital in a luxurious carriage, the likes of which she¡¯d never experienced before. The carriage was a comfortable ride, but her mind felt very heavy.


    [Valentia] ¡°This might end up being a little troublesome.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Definitely. But don¡¯t worry about it. They won¡¯t bother you.¡±


    The way he said that made it sound like he was going to make sure that nothing bothered her after this.


    The situation was so unusual that even after Valentia arrived at the capital, she wasn¡¯t allowed to return home immediately and the Academy was temporarily closed pending an investigation into the incident.


    Honestly, right now, Valentia was more desperate for a bath than a meal, and luckily, they were considerate enough to allow her that. After being given the chance to soak in the warm water and wash her body, the fatigue she¡¯d built up overnight seemed to go away just a bit.


    After her bath, she was finally ready to eat. She felt a little hungry, and the light soup she had was easy on the stomach. Valentia slowly ate all that was prepared, including a dessert. She needed to stay well in preparation for the incoming investigational procedures.


    Once that was done, someone came to pick her up. Not only was the Principal and a few key professors present, but also a couple of investigators from the Imperial Palace¡ªlikely there because this incident involved the Imperial Prince.


    [Investigator] ¡°Clearly you cannot even manage your own Academy.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°Just what exactly do you mean by that?¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°If you could, you would¡¯ve realized sooner than a student had been kidnapped. Guaranteeing the safety of the students should be your first and foremost priority.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Furthermore, the Imperial Prince was the one who rescued the student in question. In what world does that make a lick of sense? If anything were to happen to His Highness, we would have the most unfortunate task of explaining this to His Majesty.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°But within the Academy, the Prince is also a student, and he¡­¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°So no matter what befalls the Prince, you wish to treat him as any old student? Is that what you are trying to say?¡±


    The investigators wanted to hold the Academy accountable for what happened, clashing fiercely against those who disagreed. Watching this whole squabble unfold, Lexus spoke out.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why are we talking about me right now?¡±


    Somehow, they felt a little guilty when he indifferently jabbed at them like that.


    [Principal] ¡°Ah.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Tch.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How come none of you are mentioning the victim who was actually in danger?¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°But punishment should be meted out to those who failed to maintain your safety.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It was my own fault for moving in first without informing anyone of the situation.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°Your Highness¡­..¡±


    Members of the Academy board seemed a little touched by Lexus somehow managing to turn the situation around.


    [Lexus] ¡°I acted impulsively and without any information because I thought a fellow student I was close to was in danger. You shouldn¡¯t be wasting time talking about me. Rather, just think of me as someone who doesn¡¯t exist.¡±


    It was only then that they actually turned to the victim of the kidnapping. With eyes on her, Valentia swallowed back a bitter smile.


    [Investigator] ¡°We are glad you are alright, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, thank you. I apologize for making everyone worry.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°You did not intend for this to happen, Miss Valentia. Do not worry.¡±


    They asked her questions similar to what they asked Lexus.


    Things like if the person who attacked her held any grudge against her or if she knew the perpetrator. But as the questions started to grow in both length and intensity, Lexus did not hesitate to shut them down.


    [Investigator] ¡°But I have to ask¡ªwhy you, Miss Valentia?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°You have a bit of a reputation when it comes to your behavior. I heard you don¡¯t get along very well with your fellow students.¡±


    Valentia¡¯s expression stiffened.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why are you asking that kind of question? Are you trying to place blame on the victim? What, so if someone has bad behavior, suddenly it¡¯s okay for someone else to put out a hit on them? That it¡¯s okay for them to die? Or are you insinuating she¡¯s done something worthy of death? What kind of question is that?¡±


    With a displeased expression, Lexus immediately pushed back. The investigator averted his eyes, quickly quieting.


    [Investigator] ¡°I misspoke.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Be more careful in the future.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Do you remember the perpetrator¡¯s face?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, I remember.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°That is good to hear. Can you help us with a composite drawing?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Once the sketch has been completed, we will inform the National Policing Agency and put out a warrant for their arrest.¡±


    But just as things were about to quietly come to a close, Lexus stepped up again.


    [Lexus] ¡°A student almost got kidnapped, and you¡¯re just going to end it there?¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°I¡¯m sorry? What do you mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Out of all students, one in particular was targeted. If you leave things as they are, won¡¯t something like this just happen again?¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°I, I suppose so.¡±


    But there was no clear answer to be had.


    [Investigator] ¡°But it would be against school guidelines to give any student preferential treatment.¡±


    [Principal] ¡°And we must also take into consideration the balance of equality within the student body.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So you¡¯re trying to tell me she needs to take care of herself and find a way to secure her safety on her own, is that it?¡±


    No one could answer that either, but eventually they were starting to understand his words. The Prince was taking personal responsibility for failing to ensure his own safety at the time of the event, but that meant that the Academy needed to solve the issue of the remaining student¡¯s well being. themselves.


    [Principal] ¡°There were mistakes made on the part of the Academy, so we will take responsibility for Miss Valentia¡¯s safety. We will leave a reliable bodyguard with you until the perpetrator has been caught.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How fortunate. The Academy is willing to give you a bodyguard. That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    They were being forced into it, but she was grateful all the same. There was no chance the Baron would afford someone to keep her safe.


    It was also good that Lexus was the one who pushed the Academy for it, considering Valentia thought an armed force protecting her would¡¯ve made her stand out too much, and certainly would not have asked for help herself.


    [Principal] ¡°Now the question remains about whether or not we¡¯ll continue the outdoor circuit in the future.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°The natural course would be to dismiss it entirely, no?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°I would like to know what you think, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What I think?¡±


    [Principal] ¡°I¡¯d like to hear things from a student¡¯s point of view.¡±


    Valentia thought for a moment.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s a tradition, but we cannot rule out the possibility that too many people are involved in it, and it¡¯s far too easy for unknown individuals to blend in with the crowd.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Exactly. So¡­.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So I think it would be better to do it properly rather than get rid of it entirely.¡±


    [Investigator] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°We should ban the use of servants and outsiders in the event, only utilizing those who have had their identities verified previously. And in accordance with the original intention of the event, the students should be the ones to handle everything. Rather than keep it in name only, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a terrible idea.¡±


    That was the conclusion she came to after thinking about it.


    It would be good to learn some useful skills. No one could predict the future and anything could happen, so she thought it would be helpful if she knew how to do things on her own, like making a fire.


    It was something she learned because of Lexus. Without him, even if she somehow managed to survive and make it to the cabin on her own, she would never have been able to keep herself warm. She would have helplessly trembled in the cold, leaving only a blue corpse behind.


    [Principal] ¡°Then let us take Miss Valentia¡¯s opinion into deep consideration. Our meeting has concluded.¡±


    And that was how this horrible incident was wrapped up.


    And it was on that very day, a fire occurred in a house near the outer edge of the capital. The incident was covered in the smaller news publications, but overall, few were interested in the story of the house¡¯s owner since there were no casualties.


    * * *

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    *


    * * *


    *


    Valentia and Lexus left the meeting room together. As soon as she was clear of that space, Valentia let out a long sigh. Too many major things were happening to her these days¡ªit was exhausting her.


    [Lexus] ¡°You did a good job.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°As did you, Lexus.¡±


    This was something he shouldn¡¯t have to go through, but hearing him tell her she did a good job made her feel both sorry and grateful.


    [Valentia] ¡°You had a difficult time because of me.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m just glad everything worked out. I¡¯ll do some digging on who could¡¯ve done this myself.¡±


    The authorities would definitely have trouble finding the culprit on their own, considering they were most certainly sent by someone else, committing the crime on their behalf.


    [Lexus] ¡°Here.¡±


    In the palm of Lexus¡¯ hand was a ring. It was a unique design, with a sapphire looking jewel embedded in the center. The first thought she had when she saw it was about what something like this might mean.


    [Valentia] ¡°I can¡¯t accept something like this.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What? Oh, haha. No, I¡¯m not giving it to you.¡±


    With that, Valentia¡¯s face flushed crimson again.


    She already knew he wasn¡¯t the sort of man to afford a woman this kind of gift just because he slept with her once, so she surprised even herself by making that kind of assumption.


    [Valentia] ¡°But¡­.¡±


    A ring was too symbolic of an item. Considering the kinds of meaning it could hold, it wasn¡¯t the kind of thing that was easy to receive in any capacity.


    [Lexus] ¡°When we meet up, you can give it back. Can you do that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh¡­¡­Yes.¡±


    It was a safety measure, intended to prevent something dangerous from happening again.


    It was just a token. And when she saw him again, she would need to give it back. Such a basic and normal exchange and yet, somehow, the experience of receiving a ring from the one she loved was very special.


    Even if it was ultimately meaningless.


    And though she knew his behavior held no deep meaning, she still looked forward to it, her heart pounding with excitement. Excitement that would also lead into disappointment. Valentia didn¡¯t know it was possible to feel such conflict.


    Valentia looked down at the ring with a complicated expression, calling out to Lexus.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to say, too.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Something you want to say?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    Valentia¡¯s face looked so determined, telling him she had something she wanted to say, that unbeknownst to Lexus, a feeling of nervousness washed over him. And yet, somehow he also felt a little excited?


    Is there something she wants to confess?


    The subtle change in Valentia wasn¡¯t lost on Lexus. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that this woman¡¯s attitude towards him in recent days had become so soft, the air around them was like pudding.


    And besides, didn¡¯t they just spend the night together? It was probably safe to say she liked him at least a little bit by now.


    So apparently, even a woman like this ended up falling in love with him.


    He should be disappointed and annoyed like he usually was, but for some reason, his entire body stiffened and his back stood up straight. And, even his thoughts turned strange.


    I don¡¯t look weird right now, do I?


    Obviously, he just washed up and got dressed earlier, but he wasn¡¯t in the greatest condition to receive a confession right now.


    His hair was all messy and he didn¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep, so he probably looked pretty awful. Not to mention he was dressed all haphazardly and the location wasn¡¯t optimal either.


    Why does it have to be in front of a meeting room of all places? She really doesn¡¯t get the idea of atmosphere at all. But that¡¯s so like her, he thought. Even something like that felt very much in line for such a straight-laced woman.


    Valentia had a hesitant expression on her face, like what she wanted to talk about was difficult to bring up. And there was one particular thing that was difficult for all women to talk about¡ªthis was definitely a confession.


    He didn¡¯t even realize that the bet he made was the furthest thing from his mind right now. Instead, he was actually looking forward to hearing this woman¡¯s confession.


    [Lexus] ¡°What did you want to say?¡±


    He listened very carefully to Valentia, feeling like all the hairs on his body were standing on edge for no reason at all.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡­¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What is it? You can tell me. Anything at all.¡±


    Then, Lexus started to quickly push her forward, even though he hadn¡¯t even decided what sort of answer he would give her.


    Silent and still, Valentia looked up at Lexus like she¡¯d made up her mind. This woman was sharp and quick, even when it came to her confession. Lexus met Valentia¡¯s eyes with a look of satisfaction in his own.


    [Valentia] ¡°It will be the examination period soon.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..What?¡±


    Did I mishear her?


    [Valentia] ¡°Exams.¡±


    Exams? Like, exams, exams? Why is she talking about that now?


    [Lexus] ¡°Y, yes. That¡¯s coming up.¡±


    He didn¡¯t expect her to bring that up right now of all times. To talk about examinations? With this kind of atmosphere?


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t get much of a chance to study this time around.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, I suppose so. Your point being?¡±


    Is she not going to confess?


    [Valentia] ¡°So let¡¯s not see each other until the examination period is over.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t want to see me?


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­Did you just say you didn¡¯t want to see me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Which means we can¡¯t take walks together.¡±


    Hold up, did I just misunderstand everything? Remembering the incredible delusions of grandeur he was just having, Lexus¡¯ face immediately turned red.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Huh, yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Your face is red.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean, nothing? You must¡¯ve caught a fever from the rain. You should see a doctor.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, no, I¡¯m really fine. So, you were saying you didn¡¯t want to see me until the examinations were over?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    At such a definite answer, Lexus sighed.


    Rather than confessing, she was trying to get away from him. She said it was just a short period of time so that she could focus on the exams until they were over, but Lexus felt kinda nervous.


    This woman seemed like the type to forget about him the second he left her direct line of sight.


    And it was such a weird thing to say to a man the morning after spending the night with him. What could she possibly be thinking right now? Valentia¡¯s behavior was so unpredictable that Lexus had no idea how to interpret it.


    All he knew right now was that he didn¡¯t want to be apart from this woman. He did not want her to forget about him.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Hearing his sigh, Valentia apologized. Though it felt kind of like she was apologizing because she had no intention of asking for his opinion or compromising.


    [Lexus] ¡°Can¡¯t you spare half an hour for a walk?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t concentrate when I¡¯m with you, Lexus.¡±


    Those words forced Lexus into submission.


    She was the kind of woman who would remain stone-faced, working diligently to complete her work without paying any attention to whatever else was in front of her. So if she was confidently saying she wouldn¡¯t be able to concentrate if he was around, what could he do to argue with her?


    Besides, no matter how much he tried to persuade her, he was getting the sense she wouldn¡¯t change her mind.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No. I know how important studying is for you, Valentia.¡±


    He was very fortunate that the woman in front of him couldn¡¯t read his mind. Even now, his face was still very warm from the embarrassment of his wild imagination earlier.


    [Valentia] ¡°Your fever doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s going down. You should really see a doctor.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, yes. I will.¡±


    She seemed so sincerely concerned about him that a cold sweat started to run down his back¡­¡­..And he felt very embarrassed and ashamed right now.


    [Valentia] ¡°Then I¡¯ll go¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes?¡±


    As Valentia was about to turn away from him without any regret, Lexus quickly called out to her. He didn¡¯t like the sight of her turning around, so he ended up calling out to her impulsively¡­¡­only to realize he didn¡¯t have anything to say.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    Valentia tilted her head to the side, probably confused why he called out to her and then fell into total silence.


    Dammit.


    He¡¯d never been in such a stupid situation before.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you have a partner for the Fall Banquet?¡±


    The onset of his embarrassment was so sudden that he started panicking and didn¡¯t really know what to do, but finally, Lexus managed to find a plausible excuse. And to his luck, Valentia didn¡¯t notice his panic¡ªconsidering he was someone who had exceptional control over his expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..I do not.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then, why not be mine?¡±


    The second those words came out of his mouth, he wanted to bite down on his own tongue. Honestly, he must be stupid for asking her to be his partner like this.


    The atmosphere was awkward and strange, and now he was going off and begging her to be his partner not mere moments after she told him she didn¡¯t want to see him for a while.


    If he were her, he¡¯d reject something like this in a heartbeat. There were no beautiful words nor was he waxing poetry as a part of his request¡ªhe just outright asked her like a total creep. Knowing he had the gall to try and fill the seat next to her in such a sleazy and stupid way filled him with the sudden urge to slap himself in the face.


    Even Valentia was looking at him strangely with a stiff expression, like she also didn¡¯t like how he asked her to be his partner in such a way.


    It¡¯s funny since he used to laugh like crazy at all those guys who were terrible with women, but now he was getting the sense that he might be no different. He was even feeling an odd sense of guilt and shame that he¡¯d never felt before.


    [Valentia] ¡°Would you really be okay with someone like me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You must have many other options, Your Highness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I never considered anyone but you.¡±


    And that was the truth. It was the first time he¡¯d ever asked anyone about this.


    He never had to ask for a partner for the banquet in the past because the women around him always asked him first. And that habit of theirs caused a funny little joke to go around saying that the position of the Imperial Prince¡¯s partner was on a first-come, first-serve basis.


    Naturally that led to some fierce competition, but in the end, it wasn¡¯t something that the first person to come along could take. Obviously the final choice was at Lexus¡¯ discretion, much to their chagrin.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you dislike the idea?¡±


    He was pretending to be all casual about it, but he actually felt very nervous.


    What do I do if she says no?


    He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling, imagining what she might look like as she flatly turned him down. For the first time in his life, he could actually sympathize with the feelings of those who confronted him with this very question.


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t dislike it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡±


    Technically she wasn¡¯t saying no, so he quickly responded to her vague answer, even though she also technically wasn¡¯t saying yes.


    And luckily, she seemed to be okay with that. With an ambiguous looking expression, Valentia nodded her head.


    Even though this was his first time asking anyone this kind of question, he didn¡¯t quite expect to be met with such a lukewarm response.


    But Lexus was too busy feeling relieved that she agreed despite such a lackluster atmosphere, so he didn¡¯t take the chance to look at her face.


    He was just too glad she said yes.


    Those feelings were so involuntarily and he was being pulled every which way by them, but he didn¡¯t seem to realize that right now. After all, this was the first time he¡¯d ever swam in the deep end of his own emotions like this.


    And so, he was not emotionally mature enough to recognize his own feelings.


    [Valentia] ¡°Very well. I will see you once the exams are over.¡±


    The ever hardworking top student, seemingly devoting her whole soul to her studies, said goodbye to him, turning on her heel and leaving.


    * * *

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Do you have a partner for the Fall Banquet?¡¯


    When he called out to Valentia, he said something very unexpected and she was certain she heard him wrong. Why on earth would he ask her of all people to be his partner?


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯¡­¡­.I do not.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Then, why not be mine?¡¯


    Valentia didn¡¯t know what to say. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine him asking her this.


    Having someone ask her to accompany them to the Fall Banquet was a pleasure she¡¯d never known in the past. At a gathering where people often kept to their small social groups, she was ever the wallflower.


    No, actually, she was worse than a wallflower. She was closer to an unsold painting¡ªone that people would casually walk past, evaluating with their eyes only to eventually frown and move on entirely.


    But to be his partner for the Fall Banquet?


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯Would you really be okay with someone like me?¡¯


    She ended up saying that without even realizing it.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Sorry?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯You must have many other options, Your Highness.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯I never considered anyone but you.¡¯


    Her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. She knew he said it without much thought, but he had no idea how much it meant for her to hear that.


    He truly was a cruel person. How was he able to whisper such sweet and kind words without meaning them even a little bit?


    Although, they probably weren¡¯t all that sweet at all. They only sounded so nice because of the feelings she held for him. Those emotions were causing her to desperately search for meaning in every word he said. She would constantly find herself racking her brain, wondering if any little thing contained even the smallest bit of feeling.


    But the levelheaded and rational part of her mind won out, recognizing that his words meant nothing.


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯Is that so?¡¯


    And so she answered like that.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Do you dislike the idea?¡¯


    Of course she didn¡¯t. That was something he would only ever ask because he was ignorant of her true feelings.


    [Lexus] ¡ª¡¯Then I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡¯


    He casually confirmed her as his partner. And then a lot of other thoughts came to her mind.


    If she were to arrive at the Fall Banquet with him, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of rumors she¡¯d be inviting by doing that. The already sharp gazes like blades would only sharpen, intensifying as they pushed against her.


    And yet, she still didn¡¯t want to give this up. She already knew she would have to give him up some day, and because she knew that, she didn¡¯t want to miss any opportunity.


    [Valentia] ¡ª¡¯Very well. I will see you once the exams are over.¡¯


    And so she turned and left, almost like she was running away, because she was terrified he would change his mind.


    *


    * * *


    *


    A neatly dressed but average looking girl sighed as she set down her teacup.


    [Girl] ¡°I wonder what this test will be like.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°As do I. I feel like they¡¯re getting more difficult these days. The last one was far too intense.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Did you happen to study a lot?¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Of course not. My mind is far too occupied for that.¡±


    That¡¯s what she said, but truthfully she only managed to get less than five hours of sleep since she studied all night. But she spoke coyly as she claimed not to have studied at all, ignoring the trembling in her hand from the lack of sleep.


    [Girl] ¡°I am the same.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°I¡¯m worried my results may not be satisfactory this time around.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Nonsense, you¡¯re always in the top ranks.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°But I know your results are always incredible as well, Miss Jasmine.¡±


    They were friends, but when it came to their scores, they were ever the rivals. But they soon realized that there was little point in talking about their academics right now, and eventually changed the subject.


    The Academy sent out a subtle request to the students not to talk about what happened during the outdoor circuit, but the rumor mill was not as easily stopped. People naturally wanted to gab about it.


    Commoner students were required to maintain a certain grade level and pass the national examinations in order to remain enrolled, and so many of them were busy desperately studying to keep their place. However, even they couldn¡¯t help but be curious about the rumblings going on.


    After finishing up with their business admin studies at the Academy, the girls gathered at a nearby cafe in order to talk.


    [Girl] ¡°But it¡¯s amazing. I didn¡¯t know the Prince had that sort of side to himself.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Indeed. Honestly, he may be popular already, but the rumors must still be a pain to deal with.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°I agree.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Miss Syner¡¯s terrible luck is quite the shame, but she¡¯s very lucky that the Prince went in to save her himself.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°I heard about that.¡±


    A small part of them wondered what would¡¯ve happened if Miss Syner¡¯s terrible luck befell them instead. Of course, the only reason why the Prince went after the kidnapped student was because he and Miss Syner were rumored to be close, but it was inevitable that other people would feel jealous of her.


    As the rumors of her slapping the Prince went around, people were convinced that her days at the Academy were numbered. But instead, she actually ended up becoming his friend.


    Valentia was a noblewoman who evoked the feeling of a commoner, making her feel like she was no different from them. But when such luck ended up being sent Valentia¡¯s way, they despised her like they would any noblewoman who stole something from them.


    [???] ¡°Mind if I interfere with your conversation?¡±


    Suddenly, a man dressed in finery appeared out of nowhere, interrupting their chat, causing the girls to jolt in surprise.


    [Girl] ¡°Who might you be?¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Oh, my apologies. I was rude to the ladies. I¡¯m a reporter working for the Sasha Times.¡±


    For these girls who were commoners, being referred to as a lady was an unusual experience. No matter how much the Academy tried to push equality, the status hierarchy was a difficult wall to overcome.


    Though, truth be told, these girls had never heard of a newspaper called the Sasha Times. They were just intrigued by the presence of a reporter.


    [Girl] ¡°Is everything alright, Mister Reporter?¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°I was just interested in your conversation.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Hm. We were just discussing our examination results.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°You must be students at the Academy. That¡¯s incredible, haha. Isn¡¯t that the place where the Empire¡¯s elite geniuses go?¡±


    [Girl] ¡°¡®Genius¡¯ is a bit much. You just need to try.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Haha, you¡¯re very humble. Definitely an admirable student of the Academy. Oh, I was so forward, I forgot to treat you ladies.¡±


    He held up his hand, beckoning forward one of the staff members to bring a menu.


    [Reporter] ¡°You can order anything you¡¯d like. My treat.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°There¡¯s no reason for us to be in your debt, Mister Reporter.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯m treating you simply because I want to get to know some students from the Academy and talk about this and that.¡±


    The reporter was a very skilled speaker.


    [Reporter] ¡°So don¡¯t worry. Pick whatever you¡¯d like.¡±


    This place was one of the more affordable cafes, so they pretended he won them over and picked the most expensive things they could.


    [Reporter] ¡°But, would you mind telling me more about what you were talking about?¡±


    [Girl] ¡°It was nothing significant.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Well, I¡¯m a reporter, so even the most insignificant things are interesting to me. Wouldn¡¯t it be good for the people to know about it if the Imperial Prince did something good?¡±


    [Girl] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Honestly, the people are actually quite interested in the Imperial family, so don¡¯t you think it¡¯s quite sad that they¡¯re hardly given the slightest bit of news about them? And besides, it¡¯s not a bad story, right? If it¡¯s good, why shouldn¡¯t the people know about it?¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Yes. You¡¯re not wrong.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°And it¡¯s not just for the sake of the news publication, but it¡¯s also in the best interest of the people. And naturally, I will not reveal your identities as my informants.¡±


    The girls looked at each other, throwing sneaky glances.


    [Girl] ¡°Well, the truth is¡­¡­.¡±


    The reporter who listened to their story could not hide his excitement.


    These days, there were no good subjects to write articles about. And no one cared about the stories of which families were sharing or distributing territories, or whatever.


    People wanted drama. They wanted stories about an affair or some other kind of terrible misfortune. Things like that.


    After being kicked out by his editor, the reporter muttered to himself, wondering when a good story would come his way, or if something interesting would come along if he just sat and waited for it. If things didn¡¯t happen, then obviously he couldn¡¯t write about it. And what would he do if nothing interesting happened in the coming days?


    A gentle breeze softly blew past him, and the warm sun was making him drowsy. He couldn¡¯t afford to sleep on such a boring afternoon, so he went to a nearby cafe to pick up a cup of coffee and the latest publication.


    Truthfully, it was hard for reporters to publish an article on the Imperial family. Reporters were free to report on the news as they heard it, but the Imperial family was good at reading the atmosphere of the nation around them.


    The only member who made himself clearly and loudly known to the outside world was Prince Lexus, but it was all just gossip. And gossip coupled with unfounded speculations did not make for a good article.


    But the story of the Imperial Prince throwing himself into danger to save a fellow student from the Academy? Now that was guaranteed to sell more than its fair share of copies.


    [Reporter] ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, but here¡¯s a token of my gratitude.¡±


    [Girl] ¡°Oh, we can¡¯t accept this.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°Of course, I understand how you ladies must feel, but I¡¯m doing this because I wish to thank you. I would appreciate it if you could accept it.¡±


    The girls coyly nodded as they accepted the money he gave them.


    [Reporter] ¡°Thank you for such a good story. Look forward to the article.¡±


    He did not forget to express his utmost gratitude before getting up to leave, leaving that cafe and returning to his place of work.


    [Editor] ¡°I told you to go get some info for an article, what are you doing crawling back so soon? What, did you think I was kidding?¡±


    And the moment he got inside, he got an earful from his editor.


    [Reporter] ¡°Believe me, if you knew what I got, you wouldn¡¯t be angry.¡±


    [Editor] ¡°What you ¡®got¡¯? What happened? And what¡¯s up with your face? Is it good news?¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°I¡¯ll have the article finished soon. Please look at it once it¡¯s done. I need to write it as fast as possible and have it published as soon as it¡¯s finished.¡±


    [Editor] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°You¡¯ll be anticipating it so much, you¡¯ll want to give me a bonus by the end.¡±


    The reporter immediately got to work getting the article written. However, his editor who confirmed the story, didn¡¯t look too impressed.


    [Reporter] ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    [Editor] ¡°No. It¡¯s a very good story.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°So what¡¯s the problem?¡±


    [Editor] ¡°Only saying nice things¡­hmm¡­.I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be enough to grab people¡¯s attention. We need to get this story out of the third-rate gutter.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°And by that, you mean¡­?¡±


    [Editor] ¡°Let¡¯s spice it up just a little bit.¡±


    [Reporter] ¡°What? Spice it up¡­¡­?¡±


    It was ironic, considering the editor wished to get his publication out of the third-rate gutter and into the mainstream media while doing something incredibly third-rate.


    [Editor] ¡°The woman who was rescued and the Prince have a rosy relationship. Write that down.¡±


    An unfortunate incident occurred during the Academy¡¯s outdoor circuit, and the article made note of how Prince Lexus noticed something strange was afoot and risked his life to save a student. But then, they tagged on an extra and strange note saying that the two of them had spent the night together to shelter from the rain.


    Truth be told, it wasn¡¯t exactly untrue, but the early draft of the article aroused many people¡¯s wild imaginations, and was published the very next day¡ªsweeping throughout the capital and the rest of the Empire.


    * * *

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    *


    * * *


    *


    Knock, knock¡ª


    A careful knock sounded out.


    [Permat] ¡°I told you to leave me alone! Do you not understand me! Or should I rip off those useless ears of yours?¡±


    The knock evoked a nervous scream from Permat. On account of her supposed illness, she hadn¡¯t attended the Academy in days.


    Filled with anxiety, she chewed on her nails, turning them into a complete mess. Not only were they torn in places, but she was even drawing blood in others.


    She knew it wasn¡¯t very ladylike of her to do, but she couldn¡¯t help it. She couldn¡¯t hardly sit still right now. Even her brother hadn¡¯t come home the past few days, always stating he was too busy. The entire time, Permat felt like her blood was drying up. And she couldn¡¯t even throw things to alleviate her suffering.


    No one knew where Erhein was, but all they could do was simply wait for him to return. Meanwhile, her maid was holding her breath in nervousness.


    [Maid] ¡°My lady, your friends have come to visit you.¡±


    Friends? They weren¡¯t her friends. They were nothing more than her entourage¡ªlike pieces of scrap whose sole existence was for the purpose of praising her.


    But even scrap was useful. Provided there were no major problems in the future, it would be a good idea to keep them by her side.


    Permat got up and washed her face, ordering the other ladies to be guided into the drawing room.


    The maid felt very relieved at the sight of Permat showing off some normal behavior that she hadn¡¯t seen in a very long time, but she didn¡¯t dare let out a sigh. That was why this particular maid was able to endure Permat for so long¡ªshe knew very well that she could not go against the heart of such a sensitive and fierce noble miss.


    Permat waited for her scraps in the drawing room, looking all too fragile and haggard. Soon, the maid entered the drawing room, followed by a few noble ladies.


    [Lady] ¡°Are you feeling well, Miss Permat?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Not especially, but well enough to see my friends who came to visit me.¡±


    Permat gave a feeble smile, but her words were kind enough to move the ladies.


    [Lady] ¡°Of course we came to visit. We were worried we might be bothering you, but thank you for thinking that way.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Thank you for caring for me like that.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°It breaks my heart to see how pale you¡¯ve become.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Do you think I look terrible?¡±


    [Lady] ¡°How could I ever? It is not possible for your beauty to be dissuaded, Miss Permat. In the brilliant light of the summer sun, your beauty only becomes faint but never disappears.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°You are too kind.¡±


    Permat accepted their compliments easily, her fraying nerves easing just a little.


    [Lady] ¡°Oh, that reminds me. Did you read that newspaper article?¡±


    [Permat] ¡°What article?¡±


    [Lady] ¡°You¡¯ve been so sick, I suppose you must not have seen it. The incident that occurred during the Academy circuit was published in a newspaper article.¡±


    The incident was being published in a newspaper? Permat¡¯s heart immediately dropped in her chest. Did they know who did it? Is that what they were writing about?


    [Lady] ¡°It made the headlines this morning, and was printed again this afternoon. And it¡¯s so hard to get things published these days.¡±


    Seeing how they were reacting, clearly nothing had been linked back to her. Permat looked at them, trying to hold back her anxiety.


    [Permat] ¡°I see, that¡¯s something.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Would you like to see, Miss Permat?¡±


    The young lady went into her hand bag, pulling out a neatly folded newspaper. The first thing Permat saw when she unfolded it was a certain man¡¯s blindingly handsome smile, still brilliant despite the low quality of the black and white print.


    And now it was clear the newspaper was selling like crazy because of the handsome man printed on the front page rather than the content itself.


    But Permat¡¯s hand trembled the second she started reading the article.


    What!?


    That awful woman wasn¡¯t dead. And knowing that it was Lexus himself who saved her, she felt like she was about to go crazy. But the worst part of it all was how the whole nation would understand the story after reading this article.


    The article had the gall to insinuate that the two of them had a ¡®rosy¡¯ relationship with each other, and were forced to spend the night together because of the heavy rain.


    Permat was overcome with the desire to rip the newspaper to shreds, but she managed to return it with a smile.


    [Permat] ¡°I didn¡¯t realize a newspaper like this was being published.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°I was so shocked when I first read it, but now that I¡¯m thinking about it, it sounds like they did more than just pass the night by quietly together.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°I see. Ah, I feel as though my headache is returning.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Oh, I suppose we¡¯ve been here for too long. We do hope you get better soon, Miss Permat.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±


    Newspapers almost never wrote about the Imperial family, so she couldn¡¯t understand why an article like this was suddenly being published. The article only spoke of praise for the Prince, but this wasn¡¯t anything close to good news for Permat.


    If the woman had died, the article would¡¯ve focused solely on that. But instead, the victim was still alive and now there was a key eyewitness.


    And to have a deep relationship with the Prince like that? Absolutely unacceptable.


    [Permat] ¡°Emily!¡±


    [Maid] ¡°Yes, my lady.¡±


    Emily responded quickly to Permat¡¯s call.


    [Permat] ¡°Where is my brother? Can you still not reach him?¡±


    [Maid] ¡°I was planning on telling you soon. He is on his way home now.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Really?¡±


    [Maid] ¡°Yes, my lady.¡±


    Jumping to her feet, Permat ran off to Erhein¡¯s office, hearing the news that he was finally returning. Once there, she was greeted by the knight standing watch over the door.


    [Permat] ¡°He¡¯s here, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    [Knight] ¡°Just a moment, my lady. I will tell the young master¡­¡­¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Get out of my way. I want to see my brother. I don¡¯t need your permission for that.¡±


    [Knight] ¡°H, however¡­¡­¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Just get out of the way. Or should I have you gotten rid of entirely?¡±


    With no uncertain terms, she meant that to mean she would have him terminated, and as the Marquis¡¯ most precious jewel, she had the power to do that. With no authority to stop her, the knight moved aside as Permat pushed past him.


    And since the future Marquis, Erhein cared for his younger sister quite deeply, the knight calculated that this was something that could be forgiven.


    [Erhein] ¡°Permat. It¡¯s not very ladylike to enter a room without permission.¡±


    The Marquis¡¯ office was completely soundproof. And since it was so perfectly constructed like that, then that allowed them to speak of this story without even the slightest detail leaking to the outside.


    But unfortunately for the knight outside, Erhein was thinking it would be best to get rid of a knight who couldn¡¯t even play the role of a gatekeeper properly.


    [Permat] ¡°Why are you coming back now?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Permat, calm down.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Calm down!? How can I calm down!¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Stay calm and sit down. Close the door behind you, as well.¡±


    Only then did the knight close the door to the office. That was when Erhein decided he wouldn¡¯t be writing a letter of recommendation for this oblivious knight.


    Having returned to the estate after a few days¡¯ absence, Erhein was visibly exhausted, but Permat was too distraught to notice.


    [Permat] ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come back sooner? I couldn¡¯t get in touch with you at all. Were you trying to avoid me?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Of course not. As you probably know by now, things went a little bit wrong, and I was busy fixing them.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Fixing them? How can you fix this!? What are you going to do! How can you possibly fix things when they¡¯ve gone like this!? Brother!¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Permat.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the article? They wrote it out like some kind of novel! How could they think the Prince would have an intimate relationship with such a lowly woman!?¡±


    Erhein rubbed his temple with his thumb. This work was becoming far more troublesome than he thought it would be, and now that something had gone wrong, his younger sister¡¯s mind was becoming more complicated.


    Erhein swallowed a sigh.


    It was fine that she was immature, but sometimes it was hard dealing with how stupid she was.


    His foolish little sister really didn¡¯t realize what was truly important.


    And that part of her made her very easy to control and manipulate, but sometimes it was annoying. Pushing away his rising irritation, Erhein gave a tender smile.


    [Permat] ¡°You have to get back at that publication! Destroy them for writing something like that!¡±


    Being intelligent enough to get good grades and actually being able to see the pieces on the board were two different things. Though his sister was within the top ranks at the Academy, she was blind¡ªunable to see the situation properly because of the affection she held for the Imperial Prince.


    And so to her, the biggest problem was that the woman survived, and the Prince was the one who saved her.


    The Imperial family would obviously be interested in this incident, especially after this article was sweeping the headlines. If the newspaper publication that popularized it were to suddenly be destroyed, obviously people would take notice.


    [Erhein] ¡°Yes. Perhaps we should.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°Really? You¡¯ll do it?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°Of course. Let your big brother take care of it.¡±


    It was impossible for him to do something like that right now, but he had no choice but to make a false promise in order to placate his sister. Especially since she would oftentimes become unpredictable when things didn¡¯t go her way.


    He hired that particular man after hearing stories of his infallible nature, and so he didn¡¯t expect him to mess things up to this extent.


    But the reason why Erhein said he would deal with such a troublesome thing himself was not because of any affection for his sister. It was because he knew his sister would run around, causing even more trouble if he didn¡¯t. And so it was far easier to do things himself.


    In fact, he¡¯d already dealt with the hired perpetrator to tie up loose ends in advance.


    [Erhein] ¡°Your brother¡¯s sorry. I made a mistake, but you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    [Permat] ¡°How can I not worry!?¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°He¡¯s already dead. You don¡¯t have to worry about this getting out any more.¡±


    He spoke like a snake, cleverly using the word ¡®you¡¯ instead of ¡®we¡¯, indicating his plan to use her as a scapegoat should this sordid affair ever be found out.


    Obviously that was his intent, but true to her nature, Permat didn¡¯t notice.


    * * *

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    *


    * * *


    *


    Bark¡ª!


    Even the sound of the dog¡¯s disgruntled bark sounded bleak and dull. Laying down on the sofa, Lexus glanced down at the whining Goldie without even getting up.


    [Lexus] ¡°Sit.¡±


    On his command, Goldie pulled his front paws together and sat. This little guy wasn¡¯t even a little bit interested in Lexus before, but now his tail would lovingly wag whenever he gestured his hand.


    [Lexus] ¡°Roll over.¡±


    Goldie rolled over in place.


    [Lexus] ¡°Right foot.¡±


    When Lexus reached out his hand and asked for his right foot, Goldie held out his right paw and put it in the palm of his hand. Asking for the left produced the same effect, with Goldie readily holding out his opposite paw.


    The difference was like heaven and earth. He was so well trained now that it was like he could understand human speech.


    But no, didn¡¯t he seem like he could understand words before? He was just listening and pretending not to know.


    [Lexus] ¡°You cheeky bastard.¡±


    And like he could understand him perfectly, Goldie briefly growled at the words he took to be an insult. But once Lexus threw out the toy ball, Goldie was completely distracted, rushing out to catch it in his jaw.


    But it got old fast. After a few times, even if Lexus threw it for him, Goldie didn¡¯t bother to get it. Like he wasn¡¯t having fun anymore.


    Surprisingly, this dog was well loved within the Imperial Palace. There was no shortage of people who wished to play with him. And yet, in spite of that, he did not wish to leave Lexus¡¯ side, and Lexus didn¡¯t bother chasing him away.


    He reached out, stroking the dog¡¯s golden fur.


    Lexus didn¡¯t like dogs. Actually, whether they were humans or other animals, he wasn¡¯t a fan, but he thought this puppy was cute.


    And when he thought of this dog, he naturally thought of another person as well.


    [Lexus] ¡°Your mom says she can¡¯t see you because she¡¯s studying.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, bark¡ª!¡±


    Maybe it was his imagination, but his pathetic barking made it sound like he really wanted to see his mom.


    [Lexus] ¡°Your mom¡¯s a bit cold, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof, woof!¡±


    Now he sounded like he was trying to say that wasn¡¯t true. And like he was trying to argue with the dog, Lexus spat out some words he didn¡¯t mean.


    [Lexus] ¡°She¡¯s very cold hearted.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof, woof!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, bark!¡±


    It really felt like he could understand.


    [Lexus] ¡°But she¡¯s ignoring you and me.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, woof!¡±


    Again, Goldie barked in response, his gentle black eyes shining like he was trying to convey there were unavoidable circumstances happening right now.


    And then Lexus laughed at himself for talking to a dog.


    [Lexus] ¡°What am I doing?¡±


    According to Hugo, this dog didn¡¯t like being at the training center at all, so as soon as he got there, he was smart enough to realize he¡¯d get out faster if he did as he was told. He listened to the trainer¡¯s every word, and excelled faster than the hounds who had been there longer.


    And he was able to leave almost as soon as he arrived because there was nothing left to teach.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you miss your mom?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, yeah. I do, too¡­..¡±


    Then, without a single knock asking for permission, the door swung open. Unmoving on the sofa, still lying in place, Lexus turned his head and stared at the intruder.


    Only immediate family members could enter the Prince¡¯s sanctum without prior permission. And even after seeing it was his elder brother who had come to see him, he didn¡¯t bother getting up.


    [Axion] ¡°Rude little brat.¡±


    Axion walked up, holding back the urge to pinch his little brother on the cheek, who didn¡¯t even bother showing the proper decorum after his elder brother came to visit him.


    But Axion¡¯s attitude was very playful, so it wasn¡¯t like he was actually mad right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°Have you come to punish me?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°What¡¯s the point in that? Normally, you¡¯d just be sequestered to your palace and told to reflect on your actions, but you¡¯re already doing that on your own.¡±


    Axion sounded sarcastic, gesturing down at him, messing around while playing with his dog.


    [Lexus] ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, would it be better if I went out and caused some trouble?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Almost. You¡¯re acting so quietly, it¡¯s actually making me nervous. What are you doing, staying in your room like this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I mean, lately you¡¯ve just been calmly going back and forth between here and the Academy. Before, gossip would always follow you around no matter what you did, going to those social clubs or whatever it is you do.¡±


    Now that he mentioned it, that was how Lexus usually acted.


    Ordinarily, he would not be stuck in his palace, playing with his dog for days at a time. But strangely, he had no desire to go to his usual social club, and smoke and drink with his friends.


    Rather than that, it was better to talk to a clever dog like this.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, I just don¡¯t feel like it.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And it¡¯s exam season but you don¡¯t even study.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Study this, study that. What¡¯s the point in that for someone like me?¡±


    He already knew everything he needed to know.


    Even before entering the Academy, he was already considered someone far more intelligent than his peers. Attending the Academy was just for the sake of the Imperial family¡¯s image.


    He didn¡¯t want his academic performance to make him stand out, so he always aimed for some place close to the top, but never breaching a noticeable level. His existence alone was enough to bring in people¡¯s attention, and he didn¡¯t want to make that worse by earning too high of marks. Nothing good could be gained from doing too well.


    [Axion] ¡°You¡¯re so relaxed. Meanwhile there¡¯s a mess going on outside.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Axion threw a newspaper at Lexus, hitting the side of his body and rolling onto the floor. Lexus sat up, picking up the newspaper before Goldie could tear it apart.


    And there was no need to open it. Not with his face plastered on the front page.


    ¡ª¡¯The most charming lover in the entire Empire, Lexus! A night with a mysterious woman in the forest!?¡¯


    The title was quite fantastical. So wild in nature that Lexus ended up bursting into a laugh without even trying.


    The article itself described the relationship between the two as having first become friends while at the Academy, then they wrote about how they suddenly disappeared during the outdoor circuit. It was raining heavily that night, so it was difficult for the search party to move efficiently. It was only until the next morning that they found them in an abandoned cabin.


    Then, the whole story culminated in the light explanation that an unknown person tricked a young woman in order to kidnap her, and that the Prince risked his life to save her.


    Such a basic sounding ending was understandable. Even a third-rate gossip newspaper wouldn¡¯t want to be sued by the Imperial family.


    [Lexus] ¡°They wrote enough in this article, they¡¯re giving people the clues to draw their own conclusions. But they wouldn¡¯t think like that if they saw how shabby that cabin was.¡±


    Lexus held out the newspaper, speaking both calmly and sarcastically.


    It was true that something did happen, but he so easily chose words that could mean nothing happened at all.


    [Axion] ¡°Are you sure? Everything¡¯s alright?¡±


    Axion narrowed his eyes, looking his brother up and down as if searching for his hidden intentions.


    [Lexus] ¡°What kind of answer are you looking for, Your Highness? Since when have you been so interested in gossip?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If it weren¡¯t about you, I wouldn¡¯t be paying any attention at all.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m tired of the overprotection.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If you didn¡¯t cause so much trouble, I wouldn¡¯t feel the need to be overprotective.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ve been quiet these days.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And that just makes me more anxious.¡±


    Again, the Imperial family did not publish any kind of response to this article. Even so, public opinion flowed in their favor.


    [Axion] ¡°The funniest thing is that, after this article was published, support for the Imperial family has soared.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And the problem is¡­?¡±


    If this were any other circumstance, Axion would¡¯ve scolded him like crazy, but Lexus was just quietly staying in his palace after saving someone. Instead, Axion came here under the order of their mother to go and see what on earth he was doing.


    But he¡¯s just hanging around in his room¡­playing with his dog.


    [Axion] ¡°I¡¯m worried about you, brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You mean mother was worried and so she sent you.¡±


    And this was another annoying part of his little brother, asking while knowing perfectly well.


    [Lexus] ¡°So are you done now?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Apparently so, unfortunately.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then I would appreciate it if you left now.¡±


    Playing with Goldie near his feet, Lexus vaguely gestured his hand, issuing a very apathetic order for his brother to make his exit.


    [Axion] ¡°Without a cup of tea?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Uninvited guests don¡¯t get tea.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Uninvited?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s what we call people who come to see you when you didn¡¯t ask them to nor did you want them to.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°So I¡¯ve been an uninvited guest this entire time?¡±


    With a dramatic voice, Axion responded like he¡¯d just had the shock of a lifetime, acting overly surprised.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t know that. That¡¯s why you show up however you please.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s a new feeling, being treated like this.¡±


    Second only to the Emperor and Empress, the Imperial Crown Prince was undoubtedly one of the most powerful men in the entire Empire.


    Since he was someone who would eventually rise to a position of great power, if ever there was the opportunity, most would want to talk to him for a long time. So being kicked out like this was  certainly a first.


    Because to his dear younger brother, he was nothing more than a meddling and bothersome older brother.


    [Axion] ¡°Why are you so eager to kick me out?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I have work I need to do.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Work? What work could you possibly have to do?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m going to study for exams.¡±


    Axion shook his head, clearly stunned by his words. That was near the top of the list of things he didn¡¯t expect to hear from Lexus.


    [Axion] ¡°Did I hear you wrong? You¡¯re studying?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yup. So can you leave and stop bothering me?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I¡¯m just amazed to hear you do that.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Like you said, it¡¯s exam season. Fulfilling my duties as a student comes before anything else.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Since when have you been a diligent student?¡±


    And hearing Lexus say something so admirable and commendable was beyond suspicious. Axion frowned, narrowing his eyes at his brother.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m thinking about starting now.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Think of it as a whim.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And such a sudden one?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯re called whims. So will you go now, Your Highness?¡±


    With that kind of posture, he would have been more sincere in ridding his room of a bug than of the Crown Prince.


    He had plenty of ways to kill his boredom. He had the status and ability to enjoy every pleasure that existed in this world. But this was the first time he proclaimed he would kill time in such a healthy and productive manner.


    It was a very peculiar feeling, anticipating the day of their examinations, but he didn¡¯t hate killing his time in this way.


    Right now, he had one specific motive that was moving him now. After exams were over, he could go and see Valentia.


    * * *

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    *


    * * *


    *


    There were crowds gathering in the Iris Pavilion, the largest building at the Academy.


    Today was the day when the results of the examinations would be announced. The Academy made a big deal of posting the top thirty students to rank highly.


    Normally, this affair was rather boring. Not many would come since the same person every time would come out on top. Since the day she entered the Academy, not once did she ever miss that coveted first place spot.


    ¡ª1. Syner


    ¡ª2. Abyssid


    ¡ª3. Altenor


    But this time around, so many people were crowding around to see the scores. It was well known to them all that Valentia had a rather distracting semester this time around.


    And considering that something very unpleasant happened to her during the outdoor circuit right before exams, everyone expected that her usual success on the bulletin board would¡¯ve fallen flat.


    But unfortunately for those who sought to see her fail, the name Syner was written right on the top row, same as it always was.


    [Student] ¡°She¡¯s really the top student again? She¡¯s really tough, I guess.¡±


    [Student] ¡°It¡¯s actually kind of gross at this point.¡±


    [Student] ¡°Shh, she¡¯s coming!¡±


    Valentia also went to check the board, and after casting a casual glance at it, she ignored the stinging feeling of people¡¯s gazes and turned around without showing much emotion.


    Some people whispered that it was only natural, while some had eyes burning with fervent jealousy. Meanwhile there were others who just spoke sarcastically bitter words.


    But it was true that she really struggled with the exams this time.


    However, it wasn¡¯t the tumultuous experience she had during the outdoor circuit that caused the problem as other people expected. The bigger issue was the presence of the man she had become very close to during this brief period of time.


    Before she even realized what was happening, she felt strange not having him by her side, and her eyes started looking for him unconsciously when he wasn¡¯t near. It was destroying her concentration.


    She even thought it might¡¯ve been better if she asked if they could study together.


    So she clenched her teeth and studied even harder by herself. This was a relationship that could not be maintained anyway. It would not last forever. His status was far too high above hers, and she was a woman who did not suit someone like him.


    This relationship only existed because he said it could. She had no idea when his interest in her would fade, so it was best if she got used to his absence now while there was still time.


    She could not allow him to disturb the flow of her life anymore than this.


    Valentia was stuck in her mind, trying to find a way to let go of love right after she learned about it, and so she was very preoccupied. So preoccupied that she could no longer hear the buzzing of the students around her.


    Once the interest in Valentia went away, the attention of the students started to move onto something else¡ªan unfamiliar name occupying the position of number two. It was a name they¡¯d never seen within the top thirty students before.


    What family was Abyssid?


    They were all so confused that they entirely forgot that the name Abyssid was the name of the Imperial line.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The atmosphere around the Academy was a little tense following the incident, but things seemed to have eased up a little after the results were released.


    [Lily] ¡°You did well again, Miss Aigis.¡±


    And oftentimes, students would share their results with those they were close to.


    Aigis felt her cheeks turn a touch red. This time, she did surprisingly well and was put upon the board of the top thirty students, so people were finding out her scores without her needing to tell them.


    [Aigis] ¡°It¡¯s not much. I came in last on the board.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°But it¡¯s still amazing.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I suppose. I never before dreamed of making it at all. Speaking of which, I heard the top student was again the Iron Maid, ah¡­¡­.Miss Syner.¡±


    Unconsciously, Aigis caught herself after saying the words ¡®Iron Maiden¡¯.


    Now that she was thinking about things, the Academy¡¯s hostility towards her seemed very strange. It was the kind of energy that the Academy had been fostering for a long time now.


    And the oddest thing was that it was a shared energy between both noble and commoner students alike.


    But the Valentia she spoke to in person seemed different from that. No, in fact, she was actually very polite. It was true that she gave off a somewhat unwelcoming atmosphere, but talking to her was surprisingly nice.


    Lily nodded.


    [Lily] ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sure many people thought her marks would surely fall this time.¡±


    Nearly everyone would¡¯ve been pulled around by such an ordeal, so no one could deny Valentia¡¯s almost scarily impressive mental strength for keeping up with academics in spite of it.


    Funnily enough, just as they were talking about her, they ran into Valentia passing by. Speak of the devil, but what should they say now? The three ladies quieted for a moment.


    Having a similar thought, Valentia spoke first.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Miss Aigis. Miss Lily. Miss Red.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Hello, Miss Valentia¡­¡­..Would you like to have a cup of tea with us?¡±


    Normally, this was an invitation Valentia never would have received, just as she would normally never have responded to it either.


    Wherever she went, it was clear people were snubbing her, and when they were confronted about it, they would just as quickly deny it and pretend they hadn¡¯t been saying anything, so it didn¡¯t really matter where she went.


    But this invitation didn¡¯t feel like that.


    Valentia nodded, hiding her obvious nervousness.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for inviting me.¡±


    There were only three seats, so they asked one of the service staff to bring them another. After ordering more tea and a few different snacks, an awkward air flowed across the group.


    [Valentia] ¡°You did well on your examinations, Miss Aigis.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°It¡¯s a little embarrassing hearing that from the top student. But I¡¯m glad to see you are doing alright. After you left, we received a message from Lord Lexus, and that¡¯s when we realized something was wrong.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, the three of you helped.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°What do you mean by that? We didn¡¯t do anything special. All we did was notice something was amiss and let someone know.¡±


    They were words spoken out of humility, but after what Valentia said next, the three of them were stunned into silence.


    [Valentia] ¡°But thanks to you, I was able to be safe.¡±


    Valentia didn¡¯t say anything beyond that, but they all quickly understood what she meant by that.


    If the three of them hadn¡¯t felt a little bit soothed after their conversation with Valentia in the tent before she disappeared, they could have easily lied and said that she just stepped out for a moment.


    Out of jealousy for the woman who was spending time with the most popular, no, the most desired man in the Empire, they could have lied just to cause trouble for her.


    And if they had, Valentia might not be alive, sitting right in front of them at this moment. The thought was enough to send chills down their spine.


    They were very fortunate that a moment¡¯s jealousy and envy did not result in someone losing their life.


    [Valentia] ¡°As a token of my gratitude, I will treat you all to this tea.¡±


    And Valentia knew that if she had not been speaking with these three ladies, no one would ever have known that she¡¯d followed a stranger. And no one would know that she¡¯d been torn to bits by a wild dog.


    If they had ignored her existence like everyone else did, then they never would have told anyone that she¡¯s been spirited away by a suspicious person, and then things could have been very dangerous for her.


    [Aigis] ¡°I was the one who invited you, Miss Valentia, and it would be inappropriate to ask that of a guest. For us, it is enough to know you are safe.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..Then I will receive your favor with grace.¡±


    Valentia stepped back. She felt like trying to insist any more would only be perceived as a slight against their sincerity.


    [Valentia] ¡°But I think it would be nice if I could have the opportunity to pay for you next time. If you do not dislike the idea, that is.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh, of course. I would never dislike it. Perhaps I¡¯ll take the chance to learn all your studying secrets, as well.¡±


    Her words were so playful and friendly that Valentia widened her eyes. That little reaction held so many different feelings inside of it.


    Truthfully, Valentia had no idea how she should act right now. This was the first time someone had ever referred to her in such a friendly manner. At that dawning realization, Valentia hesitated for a moment.


    [Valentia] ¡°Actually, I feel a bit strange since no one has ever asked me about that before. Of course, I don¡¯t mean that to say it¡¯s bad or anything. I¡¯m just a little amazed.¡±


    With her eyes geared towards the ground and an embarrassed look upon her face, the three ladies felt a mixture of many feelings, but the biggest ones were both sympathy and pity.


    The gap between the rumors of the cold and steely Iron Maiden and how she truly acted was simply too great.


    They said she was an arrogant and cold woman of low status that looked down on others, not even bothering to interact with anyone because they were inferior to her. But those images started to flake away until they disappeared entirely¡ªleaving behind only the figure of an innocent and shy woman.


    [Aigis] ¡°Then I¡¯m glad.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Please tell us how you study so well.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Well, I just work hard.¡±


    Are you trying to insinuate that other people don¡¯t work hard? With what Valentia said, it was entirely too easy to misinterpret her meaning and hear something rather rude and cold. But Aigis could tell that she wasn¡¯t doing it on purpose.


    She was just a little awkward when it came to speaking since she didn¡¯t have much experience conversing with others.


    [Aigis] ¡°You don¡¯t meet up with Lord Lexus much these days. Did something happen?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Nothing in particular.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I wanted to focus on exams.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I see. So that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    Valentia had asked him to keep his distance so she could study properly, and after all this, it turned out to be the right choice.


    Because they were avoiding each other so cleanly, no one believed that sly story that was added onto the article, leaving behind only the heroic tale of the Prince who saved a fellow student.


    Although something did happen, she would never tell a single soul. For her, it was a night she would take with her for the rest of her life, but for him, no doubt it meant absolutely nothing.


    And that was fine, for Valentia held no expectations in her heart for this foolish love.


    * * *

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    *


    * * *


    *


    The Baroness threw the newspaper on the table, the contents of which were riddled with vulgar gossip.


    Normally she would¡¯ve thrown the newspaper directly at Valentia¡¯s face, but the horrid content that was written forced the Baroness to stay her hand. Mostly because after one ignored all the vulgar things, the only news that remained was information about the ¡®Prince¡¯ and how he rescued ¡®Valentia¡¯.


    [Baroness] ¡¯You inconvenienced the Prince again. What on earth did you do with him?¡¯


    The Prince risked his life to save her, so perhaps they truly were in that kind of relationship. It wasn¡¯t likely, but if she were involved with the Prince, that would only cause trouble.


    [Valentia] ¡¯It¡¯s true that I am close with the Prince.¡¯


    [Baroness] ¡¯How close?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯He¡¯s just a classmate that I¡¯ve become friends with. Nothing else happened.¡¯


    [Baroness] ¡¯Who in their right mind would believe that?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯If something like that really happened, wouldn¡¯t it be more beneficial for me to go and spread the story myself? There would be no reason to hide it. If they¡¯re just going to talk about it in an article, I may as well put myself in control of it.¡¯


    Maybe she was a little bit convinced, but the Baroness only gave a slight frown and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    [Valentia] ¡¯It¡¯s the exam period, so I¡¯d like to go now.¡¯


    The fact that Valentia was the top student at the Academy wasn¡¯t exactly a bad thing for the Baroness.


    In truth, the Baroness¡¯ image wasn¡¯t very good.


    That was only natural, considering she was the Baron¡¯s mistress from before the former Baroness Syner died. Not to mention she got married and took over the position before the body even went cold.


    And though she was only her stepmother, the former wife¡¯s daughter was doing such a good job that the children of other noble families could not even begin to compare, and she quite enjoyed seeing them squirm because of it.


    [Baroness] ¡°Your results?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I took the top spot.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Is that so? Then return to your room.¡±


    The Baroness looked satisfied for only a moment, nodding and speaking words of debatable mercy. And so Valentia briefly wondered what would¡¯ve happened if she didn¡¯t take the top, the thought passing through her mind.


    [Baroness] ¡°Did I not tell you to go?¡±


    Normally Valentia would¡¯ve stepped down immediately, but she stood still, causing the Baroness to issue yet another leaving order towards her.


    [Valentia] ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to tell you.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°What do you need to say?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The Academy will be hosting its Fall Banquet soon.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°The annual Fall Banquet? Your point being?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I will need a dress if I wish to attend.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°I know you don¡¯t need a dress. So what are you asking for right now? You don¡¯t expect me to buy you one, do you? Why on earth would I do that?¡±


    This was a predictable response from her. That was why Valentia never before asked her for a dress in the past.


    But she couldn¡¯t afford to be quiet this time. She was supposed to be Lexus¡¯ partner. Even if she couldn¡¯t match her clothing with his, then at the very least, she needed to look presentable.


    [Baroness] ¡°It¡¯s your business with the Academy. I don¡¯t see how it concerns me.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The Prince asked me to attend.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°You can¡¯t honestly expect me to believe that.¡±


    The Baroness¡¯ expression twisted the second she mentioned the Prince.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    Normally she would have avoided attending the banquet with everything she had, but since he invited her as his partner, she thought it might be nice to go at least once. She would be graduating at the end of the year, so once this opportunity was gone, it would be gone for good.


    [Valentia] ¡°So I don¡¯t have any choice but to go.¡±


    The Baroness was clearly irritated, but if the Prince truly invited her, then it could not be helped.


    After all, the one by the Prince¡¯s side would garner the most attention. If she were to go wearing shabby or unrefined clothing, it would reflect poorly on the barony, most especially the Baroness, who was meant to be her guardian.


    [Baroness] ¡°¡­¡­¡­I will reach out to a seamstress. She will get your measurements and get you fitted.¡±


    Within every noble family, they always had a dedicated seamstress they would visit.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡±


    Though, to be honest, Valentia hadn¡¯t heard from Lexus in a while.


    She was the one who said they should avoid seeing each other while the exams were happening, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little anxious since he didn¡¯t show up to see her even after they were over.


    She went to the Baroness to ask for a dress since she didn¡¯t hear any news of him rescinding his offer, but she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he ended up taking it back.


    He was never a man to see a woman for a long period of time, and he and Valentia were not even technically seeing each other like that, and one would be hard pressed to call them friends. She couldn¡¯t even understand why he was paying attention to her in the first place, much less why he was being so kind.


    Their first meeting went awfully. It began with a misunderstanding, which resulted in him saying terrible things to her, which then led to her slapping him in the face.


    She didn¡¯t even know why she loved him. She definitely thought he was a horrible man at the start.


    But then suddenly his smile seemed so bright in her eyes. His whole existence seemed to burn brilliantly, and before long, everything about him appeared so wonderful to her. Even now, she was terrified and worried about when he might get tired of her.


    I wish I didn¡¯t love him. I don¡¯t want to love him.


    She knew from the moment she realized these feelings. Something like that was not possible with that man.


    But it was too late. She already held him so dear, to the point where she couldn¡¯t stop herself even if she tried. His presence shook Valentia to her core. She was already so scared of the day when she would need to get used to that empty void next to her.


    She already missed him terribly.


    But before long, the day of the Fall Banquet came.


    He did not contact her before this day. Just as she already knew, this relationship was very one-sided. Whether he got into contact with her or cut things off entirely, Valentia could not do anything on her own.


    Aside from the bitterness she felt, Valentia was nervous.


    [Baroness] ¡°Is it true that you were invited to attend by the Prince?¡±


    The dress had already been fitted and paid for, so the Baroness¡¯ expression wasn¡¯t very good.


    Valentia was wearing a new dress. It wasn¡¯t anything flashy or trending, but it was just nice enough that she wouldn¡¯t embarrass the barony going out.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. It¡¯s true.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°If you lied just to get a dress, you know what will happen.¡±


    She tried to look casual, but she felt a sudden pain in her back, like an echo from the Baroness¡¯ earlier ¡®lessons¡¯.


    The day she went to get the dress fitted was just as unpleasant as today was.


    Ordinarily she would have gone in a public carriage, but since she was going to the seamstress under the name of her family, she was forced to use a carriage engraved with the Baron¡¯s coat of arms. It was an incomparably comfortable experience next to the times she spent riding a public carriage.


    When the carriage came to a stop and she went outside, the employees were visibly panicked. The carriage was marked with the symbol of the Syner family, but the person inside was different from who they expected.


    [Owner] ¡¯Welcome, Lady Syner.¡¯


    The owner quickly concealed her shock, giving her a polite greeting.


    She got a message from the barony saying someone would be coming to get a dress fitted, and she knew that if someone exited a carriage marked with the barony¡¯s symbols, she should always give the appropriate greeting since they would be a member of the family¡¯s direct line.


    But still, the owner was shocked. Although Valentia was a member of the barony¡¯s lineage, this was her first time visiting.


    [Staff] ¡¯Come inside. We received word already. You¡¯re here to get ready for the Fall Banquet.¡¯


    The staff spoke naturally, guiding her into the shop.


    [Valentia] ¡¯Yes.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Please sit here. What kind of tea would you like while you wait?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯Just water is fine.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Did you have a specific vision in mind? Or perhaps a color?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯No.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Is there any color you prefer?¡¯


    Valentia shook her head. Although they were speaking in a roundabout way, she could understand what they were getting at.


    The question about what color in particular she would want was in reference to her partner, and whether or not she would be coordinating with him. When attending a banquet, it was common to match with one¡¯s partner in accordance with the theme.


    But Valentia did not know what to say because Lexus did not make any mention of this. He hadn¡¯t even contacted her since asking her to go.


    [Valentia] ¡¯I don¡¯t know.¡¯


    And now that she was thinking about it, she didn¡¯t really know what her own tastes were.


    Just living day to day was difficult for her. Though she was a noblewoman by any official standard, she was not afforded the luxury of having preferences.


    [Staff] ¡¯In that case, please look at this booklet and let us know what sort of color and design catches your eye, and we will help you. Please read it comfortably. If you see anything you like, please ring this bell.¡±


    They set down the refreshments, handing her a thick booklet, and then left the room. Even if Valentia was a minor customer in comparison to what they usually dealt with, this treatment was still far too insincere.


    Unless the customer made the specific request to be left alone while they made the decision, it was customary for the service staff to remain while making suggestions and recommendations as they browsed.


    But Valentia didn¡¯t know that. She did not have anyone close that could tell her this treatment was unfair, and she¡¯d never been here before.


    Valentia sighed as she looked at the booklet, flipping through the designs. She wasn¡¯t sure what to choose.


    Design books were organized by fit, and were oftentimes difficult to understand. To know what style suited you best, it was important to try on many different dresses, and experience the fit and fabric for yourself.


    But Valentia did not get that experience.


    Though she had such a massive design book in her lap, she didn¡¯t know what to choose. When she went to La Vie en Rose with Lexus, she didn¡¯t have any kind of difficulty choosing what worked well with her body since she had someone to help her.


    [Staff] ¡¯I¡¯ve never seen anyone come alone like this. Don¡¯t people usually come with a chaperone or their mother?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯If not the Baroness, shouldn¡¯t there be at least a guard?¡¯


    They were whispering as they pleased in the next room, but against all odds, the door was slightly ajar. Valentia could hear every word they said.


    [Staff] ¡¯She¡¯s of the direct line, though.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Did she have another daughter? Wasn¡¯t Lady Selina the only one who ever came?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Have you forgotten? The former wife¡¯s daughter¡­¡­..¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Oh, that¡¯s right. I remember now.¡¯


    If it were anyone else, they might¡¯ve overturned the dressing room in anger over what they heard. It was bad enough to be gossiping about a customer, but it was considered especially gauche when that customer was a noblewoman.


    Any other noble would¡¯ve ordered those employees to be immediately fired, and with anger left to spare, they would¡¯ve had the owner dragged out and had them beg on their knees.


    [Staff] ¡ª¡¯Ah, I see. So that¡¯s the former wife¡¯s daughter.¡¯


    Isn¡¯t that how it always is? There is no funnier story in the world than someone else¡¯s business.


    And among that, no business was more entertaining than the tragedy of another. Even if that person in question was a noble daughter that outranked them by leaps and bounds.


    [Staff] ¡¯I¡¯ve never seen her have a dress fitted until today.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Oh, poor thing. I guess not all nobles are equal.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Well, you know. There are times when a well off merchant is doing better than a low ranking noble.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯At least you wouldn¡¯t be looked down on.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡®But if she¡¯s a part of the direct line, then is that her? The top of the Academy? I think I heard once that the barony had a daughter that was good at studying.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡®Maybe so.¡¯


    They were enjoying the fact that they were in a position to pity Valentia. She sighed, pretending not to hear it, but eventually that got difficult, and she picked up the bell that was left behind, giving it a ring.


    [Staff] ¡¯She¡¯s calling¡­¡­.¡¯


    Clink¡ª


    And that was when the employee realized that the door was open, her whole face stiffening.


    * * *

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    *


    * * *


    *


    But the employee¡¯s face immediately turned casual after seeing Valentia¡¯s peaceful expression, looking as though she hadn¡¯t heard their conversation.


    Thinking she didn¡¯t hear a thing, she assumed it was a rather kind smile, and she completely overlooked the fact that her expression stiffened for even the briefest moments after she entered the room.


    [Staff] ¡¯Did you choose a dress?¡¯


    Should Valentia get angry? If she did, then they definitely would apologize immediately. It wouldn¡¯t look good for them if they were caught speaking badly about a customer behind their back.


    But after carefully calculating the outcomes in her head, Valentia decided not to. Even if she got mad, though she¡¯d obtain momentary satisfaction, it would not end in a good way for her.


    If she got angry, her outburst would reach the ears of the Baroness, and considering her current volatile nature, she was extremely unpredictable with her reactions.


    And the shop would not be punished for slighting her or ignoring her despite being a member of the family¡¯s direct line. Instead, she would be more likely to earn the anger and punishment of the barony for causing an unnecessary disturbance.


    Getting revenge and getting angry were privileges meant only for those with the capabilities to obtain them. And it was clear that if Valentia lost her head now, things would quickly turn against her.


    Whether it was the Baroness or the owner of this shop, it didn¡¯t matter which of them had more power. The Baroness wouldn¡¯t want to cut off the longstanding relationship she had with this shop.


    Seeing the outcome clearly in her head, Valentia took her hand and selected a random dress from the page. She didn¡¯t have any kind of motivation to pick any dress in particular.


    [Staff] ¡¯Did you like that one? Then I will measure you and make some alterations to the dress.¡¯


    When she went to La Vie en Rose with Lexus, the staff there treated her very well.


    They were meticulous and thoughtful in everything they did, down to the number of measurements they took. And perhaps it was because she had that experience under her belt that she realized how many corners this shop was cutting with her.


    They did the bare minimum of measuring the length from her shoulder to her elbow down to her wrist, but the circumference of her wrist was ignored entirely.


    [Staff] ¡¯We will prepare it and send the dress to the mansion.¡¯


    Ordinarily, she would have thought this was normal and never noticed that they were conveniently passing over the fitting stage.


    However, she remembered the process from when she was at La Vie en Rose, and the employees there told her that even premade clothing looks best if it¡¯s fitted beforehand. They even lamented that they did not have the time to do so.


    But though she came here in a carriage from the barony, it was obvious they were passing her off as an unimportant guest because the Baroness did not come here with her.


    She already calculated this. Nothing good could possibly come from stirring up trouble here. It wasn¡¯t worth it.


    But she didn¡¯t want to put up with it.


    [Valentia] ¡¯This was a very unique experience.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Excuse me? What are you talking about?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯I didn¡¯t realize the people here gossiped about their customers¡¯ personal histories like that. I suppose this must be that kind of establishment. Tell me, you must speak about other nobles as well. I¡¯m quite curious, won¡¯t you tell me about them?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯¡­¡­You heard that?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯Didn¡¯t you want me to?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯Dear customer, it¡¯s not like that¡­..¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Not like that?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯No, I just made a mistake.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯A mistake?¡¯


    Their shameless attitude was almost impressive. So, they think they can just pass this off as a mere blunder and move on quickly?


    [Valentia] ¡¯A mistake, how?¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯T, that¡­¡¯


    The employee was hiding her expression so skillfully that Valentia was actually quite shocked seeing how quickly her face twisted. Apparently, she was even more surprised because she didn¡¯t expect to be caught like this.


    [Valentia] ¡¯This place is one that opens its doors so that it may freely badger and taunt its customers based on purely personal affairs. What an entertaining experience, I must say.¡¯


    [Owner] ¡®Please, my lady.¡¯


    When even the owner appeared to answer to this, the employee immediately fell to her knees, and that made Valentia immediately frown. She didn¡¯t want to see this person, but now that she was here, the employee fell to the ground right away.


    [Staff] ¡¯I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so sorry! Please forgive me.¡±


    [Owner] ¡¯Forgive? Did you do something wrong?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯I think it¡¯s very interesting that this establishment doesn¡¯t even have a fitting process. I¡¯ll need to tell others about this unique place.¡¯


    Though, obviously Valentia didn¡¯t have others she could tell this to.


    [Owner] ¡¯Dear customer, would you mind telling me what happened?¡¯


    And so Valentia conveyed exactly what she heard the employees saying.


    Thanks to her mind like a steel trap, she remembered every bitter detail, conveying things nearly verbatim. And her story was all the more convincing as she spoke with a calm and steady voice, without even a hint of anger mixed in.


    The owner felt her annoyance building up inside her. She knew her employees enjoyed their gossip, so she told them to take it down a notch, but then they went off and caused such a mess.


    But on the bright side, at least the customer they insulted was not influential enough to cause any real damage to their establishment¡¯s reputation. If it had been the young lady of a different noble family, things could have gotten far worse.


    So though she was irritated, the owner apologized with the sorriest looking expression she could muster.


    [Owner] ¡¯My apologies, dear customer. I will apologize on her behalf.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯Yes.¡¯


    [Owner] ¡¯So please, keep this a secret from the Baroness¡­.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯I shouldn¡¯t have to say this, but you should do a better job keeping the mouths of your employees in line.¡¯


    If it were any other employee, the owner would have fired her quickly, but this employee in particular was the most talented seamstress this boutique had to offer. Actually, she was even more talented than the owner was at designing and tailoring clothing.


    So she couldn¡¯t fire her. Instead, the owner apologized, saying she would make amends by paying special attention to the dress with the promise of correcting this kind of behavior in the future.


    Valentia could also easily tell just how annoyed the owner was with this, but she didn¡¯t press any further.


    Everything happened so haphazardly that she couldn¡¯t even remember what she picked. Valentia wasn¡¯t even certain if the dress she was wearing looked good on her.


    Her hair was roughly done by one of the house maids, who quickly trimmed her ends. It was true that it looked nicer than when Valentia normally had it tightly tied back, but it was barely good enough to escape embarrassment.


    [Valentia] ¡°I wouldn¡¯t lie for a dress.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Well, who knows what a woman is capable of if it means obtaining a nice dress and some jewelry.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡­¡­¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°I bought you a dress because you said you would be attending the banquet with the Prince, and yet you haven¡¯t heard a whisper from him since.¡±


    Valentia bit her lip at those words¡ªa clear representation of her frayed nerves.


    Maybe she heard him wrong. Maybe he forgot he asked her to be his partner. His act of not contacting her once since asking her might be a clear sign of his rejection, so maybe she just wasn¡¯t understanding it correctly.


    Is that what this meant? He was incessant with how he bothered her with his visits before, but now everything had gone quiet. Did that mean she was no longer appealing to him? He could have already lost interest in her, and she was the only one foolishly holding on.


    Those thoughts wouldn¡¯t leave her, no matter how she tried to ignore them.


    I suppose I¡¯ll find out for certain once I see him at the banquet.


    If he didn¡¯t speak to her, then she would let go. She would not keep any vain hope in her heart.


    [Baroness] ¡°If you lied, then be prepared for what comes next once you return.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    The sound of light and quick footsteps could be heard just outside in the hallway when suddenly, the door to the Baroness¡¯ parlor room opened up.


    [Selina] ¡°M, mom!¡±


    It was Selina, the daughter of the Baroness. It was then that Valentia noticed that Selina¡¯s casual dress looked more expensive than the one she was wearing for the Banquet, which was meant to be worn once for an annual event.


    [Baroness] ¡°That¡¯s not very ladylike, Selina.¡±


    The Baroness¡¯ voice was soft and kind, even as she pretended to scold her daughter. Even if a total stranger were to hear this in passing, they would¡¯ve been able to feel the warmth in her words.


    It wasn¡¯t as though she wanted the Baroness to speak to her like that, but it was hard to ignore the slight pang of envy. Valentia¡¯s existence was not one that ever earned such affection, nor did her name evoke a desire in anyone to call it with love.


    Perhaps my mother spoke to me like that.


    Though the Baroness was a terrible and unkind stepmother to Valentia, she was a sweet and kind mother to her daughter, and that gap just made everything hurt all the more.


    [Selina] ¡°That¡¯s not the problem right now. A carriage has arrived!¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°A carriage?¡±


    [Selina] ¡°An Imperial carriage arrived in front of the mansion!¡±


    With those words, the Baroness glanced at Valentia.


    Did the Imperial Prince come in person? It could¡¯ve just been one of his runners, but he came in a carriage bearing the Imperial crest, so they couldn¡¯t exactly tell him to come inside just in case it wasn¡¯t him.


    But if the Prince was here, this would be the perfect opportunity to show off her daughter to him.


    The Baroness stood up from her seat.


    [Baroness] ¡°Then it would be polite of us to go out and greet our visitor.¡±


    Unfortunately for her, it wasn¡¯t Lexus, but rather an unknown man who was waiting in the courtyard in front of the main mansion.


    Though he was a handsome looking man, the Prince¡¯s appearance was so well known that everyone could recognize him easily from a distance. Even just from the lack of the Prince¡¯s iconic and brilliant blond hair, the Baroness knew it wasn¡¯t him.


    [???] ¡°Hello, Madam Baroness.¡±


    The man greeted her politely.


    His respectable stance, his speech, his clothing¡ªeverything indicated that he was no mere servant. He must be someone rather close to the Prince as an aide, if not a nobleman himself.


    [Baroness] ¡°Hello. It is an honor for the Imperial family to stop by our humble mansion. May I ask what is going on?¡±


    [???] ¡°I was sent here to inform you that your precious daughter¡¯s presence has been requested as a partner for a little while tonight.¡±


    The Baroness had to bite back the thought of how unfair it was that it wasn¡¯t her own daughter that was chosen rather than that useless woman¡¯s daughter. Still, she nodded, skillfully managing to hide what a shame she thought it was.


    [Baroness] ¡°I trust you will escort her well.¡±


    [???] ¡°Of course. Oh, and this is a gift for you. My master sent it with a sorry heart that he must take your precious daughter without contacting you beforehand.¡±


    There was, in fact, not one but two carriages waiting outside the mansion; one of which was filled to the brim with a myriad of gifts, sitting behind the first.


    [Baroness] ¡°Oh my, this was unnecessary.¡±


    [???] ¡°Please think of it as an apology for our rudeness and accept it with ease.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Then it cannot be helped. We accept.¡±


    She gestured towards the head butler, who started the process of moving the gifts inside.


    [???] ¡°Now then, Lady Syner.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    [???] ¡°My master ordered me to bring you to him.¡±


    And that was when the man produced a ring from his pocket. The very same ring that Lexus had showed her before, saying anyone he sent for her would have this ring with them.


    With a hesitant hand, Valentia took the ring from him. She could not bear to put it on, but she held it preciously in her hand.


    She did not forget her place or who she was. But still, her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding, and that once crushing gloom disappeared at the mere thought of seeing him for just a little bit longer.


    * * *

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    *


    * * *


    *


    When they first started off, Valentia struggled to focus on her surroundings, but as time went on, she soon realized that the path they were taking was not the one she recognized as leading to the Academy.


    The Fall Banquet was always held at the Academy Banquet hall, so naturally that was where they needed to go, but instead, the carriage seemed to be heading in an odd direction.


    But the man had the ring, so obviously Lexus sent him.


    [Valentia] ¡°Where are we going? I don¡¯t think this is the way to the Academy.¡±


    [???] ¡°Oh, my apologies. I failed to tell you this before. We¡¯re on our way to La Vie en Rose.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°There?¡±


    [???] ¡°I was ordered to take you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But why?¡±


    [???] ¡°Well, obviously you are beautiful now, but His Highness would be forever grateful if you could accept his sincerity.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh¡­..I see.¡±


    Her partner was Lexus. He was a member of the Imperial family and when it came to social customs and manners, there was no one more experienced than he was.


    It would be strange if he showed up with a partner that did not match up with the dress requirements.


    [???] ¡°Yes. He is sincerely sorry he could not contact you.¡±


    That was a little understandable. The incident from the circuit was only being published in a third-rate gossip newspaper, but it still caused quite the stir, and considering they were the parties involved, it was only right they be cautious.


    If he were to contact her and match their outfits, that would be no different from publicly announcing that she was the other victim involved. If Valentia had thought rationally about this for even a second, she would have realized that, but she didn¡¯t seem to be quite herself when it came to him.


    It¡¯s not over. I can still see him.


    And even now, she couldn¡¯t move away from the thought that she could still be with him for a little while longer, the idea making her heart flutter.


    [Valentia] ¡°But you are¡­..?¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve been rude once more. My name is Yusef Resin. I¡¯ve been aiding His Highness these days, although he¡¯s been acting rather quietly, so I haven¡¯t had much work to do. But it¡¯s a comfortable job.¡±


    Soon, they arrived at La Vie en Rose. She thought she might be able to see him there, but only the staff came out to greet her, including the one woman that helped her the last time she was there.


    [Staff] ¡°Welcome, Lady Syner.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Hello.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t see Lexus here, but maybe it was only natural he wasn¡¯t waiting outside. He was more the type to make others desperately wait for him, so maybe he was inside instead?


    [Staff] ¡°Let us go inside. Everything has already been prepared.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, but the place seems empty?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°How did you know that? A VIP rented the entire boutique today.¡±


    It was clear who this VIP was, considering they unbelievably managed to rent out the entirety of the largest boutique in the entire Empire.


    [Valentia] ¡°All of this?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Yes. No guests will be entering this building for the rest of the night except for you, Lady Syner.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Right this way. It¡¯s the best room in all of La Vie en Rose.¡±


    As soon as the door was opened, directly in the center of the room was a mannequin fitted with a dress. There were lights shining down from above it, as if they were emphasizing the existence of this very special dress.


    It was very beautiful. Even if one had no eyes, the beauty of it could be felt easily.


    She chuckled seeing Valentia¡¯s dazed expression as she simply stared at it without saying a single word.


    [Staff] ¡°Pretty, isn¡¯t it? While we were making it, we ended up getting excited and put all of our effort into it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is the VIP here?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Ah, we would be honored if we could serve him as well, but you are our only guest today, Lady Syner. Since we first opened La Vie en Rose, this is the first time the VIP asked us to take such good care of a lady like he asked for you.¡±


    All she heard was that Lexus wasn¡¯t here, and that fact disappointed Valentia greatly.


    Although Valentia¡¯s heart was swelling with excitement just a moment ago, it quickly cooled down again. Was he just acting politely towards the person he asked as a partner? Was that why he didn¡¯t come?


    [Staff] ¡°I will help you try it on.¡±


    High end dresses were often designed with the intent the lady have assistance in putting them on and taking them off. It took considerable care to straighten out the hem of the dress since it was so long, and one would certainly need help if they didn¡¯t wish to wrinkle it.


    And that was why such garments were often seen as a sign of wealth and nobility.


    More comfortable clothing could be made and worn easily, but they enjoyed showing off their authority and power by requiring such an extensive process. After all, in the olden days, this very process was used as proof of one¡¯s position¡ªsignified by the number of people they required for help.


    As Valentia disrobed, her shoulders and collarbone were exposed, and her slender neck, normally hidden behind her uniform, stood out to an even greater extent. The thin, lace slip, hanging  from one shoulder and wrapped around her slender body made Valentia all the more lovely.


    It was honestly surprising that her previous dress managed to fit her as well as it did even though the seamstress did not allow for a personal fitting, but it paled in comparison to the one before her now.


    Her new dress, lined with lace that vibrantly hugged her upper body, flowing down her legs from her cinched waist was far lovelier. The fabric was a light peach color, reaching down just before her ankles, making her look so beautiful, it was as though it was made just for her.


    [Staff] ¡°It really does suit you. His Highness has a good eye.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°I was worried the dress might not suit you since you couldn¡¯t come see us in person, but it was a useless thought. It¡¯s hard to keep up with how keen His Highness¡¯ eye is sometimes. At this rate, we might have to close our doors.¡±


    Of course, she was probably exaggerating, but it was true the dress Valentia was wearing looked absolutely stunning on her.


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean¡­¡­?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t know? His Highness was the one who chose this dress.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­¡­.I see.¡±


    Looking at Valentia, the employee leaned in and whispered into her ear.


    [Staff] ¡°You know, His Highness¡¯ partners often came here to get fitted for their dresses, but this was the first time the Prince selected the dress himself.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t really sure how to feel right now.


    [Staff] ¡°Ah, but the topic of His Highness¡¯ former partners is a little hush-hush. You¡¯ll keep this a secret, right? Or else, I¡¯ll get fired.¡±


    Her way of speaking was so cute and personable that Valentia smiled and nodded along. After her hair and makeup was done, Valentia looked like a completely different person.


    Knock, knock¡ª


    [Yusef] ¡°It¡¯s almost time for us to be off.¡±


    It was the voice of the man who came to pick her up, coming through the door.


    [Staff] ¡°Ah, like clockwork, he is. It¡¯s a shame I must send off my masterpiece like this, but I hope you will have a good time at the banquet. If you get the chance, be sure to tell everyone you got your dress done by those of us at La Vie en Rose.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course.¡±


    Once the door was opened, the expression of the man with a rather pretentious smile stiffened for a moment, and for a second she felt a little nervous.


    [Staff] ¡°Isn¡¯t she stunning?¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°Hm. Let us be off, Lady Syner.¡±


    The young employee was quick on her feet, bursting into a chuckle as the man failed to answer, instead pretending to be in a hurry. After that, she was helped back into the carriage, sitting in the same place as before while the man escorting her sat across from her.


    But in his eyes, the woman sitting before him now seemed like an entirely different person.


    When he went to retrieve her at the Baron¡¯s mansion, she seemed a little average looking, but she wasn¡¯t bad. Naturally she would be overshadowed standing next to the handsome Prince, but she wasn¡¯t so shameful that she would be pointed out as the unsightly one in a crowd of students.


    However, in deep contrast, the woman he saw now looked very different, and he wondered if this was how she looked on most days.


    [Yusef] ¡°This may sound like a mere pleasantry to you, but I feel as though I should tell you this.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°You are very beautiful.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh¡­¡­.Thank you.¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°I just pray my master won¡¯t be angry with me now that I¡¯ve seen this before him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re very funny.¡±


    Taking it as a joke, Valentia let out a soft and airy laugh. She thought the man in front of her was making a lighthearted joke, but she didn¡¯t say that out loud.


    Not long after, the carriage stopped in front of the hall where the Banquet was being held.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for today, Sir Resin.¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°It was no trouble. It was an honor to serve you. Please have a good time.¡±


    Having emerged from a carriage marked with the Imperial crest, she naturally drew attention to herself. Eyes were turning towards her amidst the crowds of people that had already gathered at the hall.


    It was the first time she ever earned such stares when attending the banquet. She even felt the sting of people¡¯s gazes on her exposed neck and shoulders.


    And instinctively, she headed off towards the familiar wall where she would usually plant herself.


    The gazes that turned her way softened a bit, but she could not help but be acutely aware of them. They were eyes full of envy and unpleasant interest, all of them evaluating her appearance.


    [???] ¡°Hello, Miss Valentia.¡±


    Like a breath of fresh air, a thin but elegant voice called out to Valentia. She looked up, immediately feeling relieved the second she saw who it was.


    This was also a very strange occurrence. There was not a single person who called out to her during this particular celebration, so it was hard to believe that someone was actually saying hello to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, Miss Aigis. Miss Lily. Miss Red. It is very nice to see you all.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°What are you doing, tucked away in a corner like this?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I just find it more comfortable.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°That¡¯s understandable. From the moment you made your entrance, people have been staring at you. Your dress is very lovely, by the way.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s beautiful. Where did you get it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°La Vie en Rose.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°There? But I heard it¡¯s difficult to get a reservation since it¡¯s fully booked for the next year. How did you manage to get in?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, that¡­.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°Did Lord Lexus prepare this for you?¡±


    Lily asked very quickly without a lick of sense.


    This wasn¡¯t the best topic of conversation. It was normal for a man to send a dress to the woman he was meant to take to the Banquet, but if the man they were talking about was Lexus, then no doubt someone would have something to say about that.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­..Yes, I am his partner, but I really didn¡¯t think he would prepare this.¡±


    But even so, Valentia didn¡¯t wish to lie since the fact she was his partner would become known sooner or later anyway.


    [Aigis] ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel uncomfortable about it. Everyone likes him and admires him, but to us, he is no different from a Prince within a fairy tale.¡±


    He actually was a ¡®Prince¡¯, but in terms of his existence, he was very distant. Like a star in the sky far above, even for those of high noble birth, he was so very out of reach.


    * * *

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


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    * * *


    *


    [Aigis] ¡°We wouldn¡¯t get jealous or angry just because Lord Lexus is kind to another. Wouldn¡¯t that just make us hateful people?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Thank you for understanding.¡±


    So what she was trying to say was that she had nothing to feel sorry about.


    [Aigis] ¡°By the way, your dress is truly lovely and the lace looks very delicate. I knew the owner there had great abilities, but I didn¡¯t realize she was capable of designs even like this.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s elegant, but the design is unique from what¡¯s trending these days. It suits you incredibly well, like it was made for you, Miss Valentia.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s because it was made just for her. And the designer was in fact, not the owner of La Vie en Rose, but Lexus himself.


    [Aigis] ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it since you only wear dark colors, but something bright and soft looks really nice on you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it, either.¡±


    Bright colors stood out and so she assumed such a thing would not look good on her. But this dress was a lovely peach color, and if she was picking a dress for herself, she would never have thought to pick something like this.


    Wearing the clothes he picked for her himself made her feel a little strange. It was somehow both warm and sad.


    [Aigis] ¡°Oh my.¡±


    Aigis let out a soft exclamation, lightly elbowing Red¡¯s arm. Understanding the gesture, Red quieted, covering her mouth with her hand.


    The three ladies noticed a certain man approaching Valentia from behind. They quickly hushed each other, forcing themselves to keep back their eager smiles. But alas, their anticipation was too strong, so they quickly covered their faces with their faces.


    And it was all because the man was giving them a playful smile, holding a finger up to his lips as if to shush them.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hey.¡±


    It was a voice she missed more than anything. And then Valentia realized that right now, she could even see his face if she wanted to. It made her far happier than she thought was possible.


    Ignoring the palpitations in her heart, with a bright smile on her face that she could not control, Valentia looked back.


    *


    * * *


    *


    He wanted to see her as soon as the exams were done, and that was something he had every right to do, considering she only asked him to stay away for that time.


    But then, before the results were even announced, a scandal broke out at the worst possible time, so he had to be careful with what he did and who he met with. Obviously if he bee-lined straight for Valentia the second he got a chance, things might not turn out so great for her.


    The article labeled her as ¡®Student A¡¯, but if he were to expose her identity to the general public by going to her, she¡¯d be swarmed by reporters that weren¡¯t afraid of a lawsuit.


    And since he couldn¡¯t see Valentia, even Goldie ended up getting depressed, as if he were physically weak.


    Lexus made all of these plans to go with her to get her dress done, but it all ended up going down the drain. It was really too bad. He wanted to ask her what her favorite color was so they could match, and the more he thought about the article, the angrier and more disappointed he got that he couldn¡¯t.


    Sure, it was true that the article massively improved his public image, but he didn¡¯t feel grateful at all. If he could, he¡¯d grab the reporter that wrote the damn thing and throttle him, but he had to think about how the Imperial family might suffer.


    If he ended up beating the hell out of a small-time reporter, not only would the Emperor and Empress yell at him to no end for it, but such a setup would give the public perfect cause to criticize the Imperial family, too.


    Tch, my position can be so damn troublesome.


    So, while he was forced to be by himself, he designed Valentia¡¯s dress on his own by choosing the color and other elements he thought would suit her the best.


    Though they couldn¡¯t meet up, he thought about all the various pieces that would go into making a beautiful dress, so it wasn¡¯t difficult to come up with the final product. Though obviously, the thought process was mostly Lexus¡¯ rambling while the owner quietly sketched down his ideas.


    Coughing up money when necessary was easy, but giving up time was much more difficult. Never before had he dedicated this much time and brain power into a woman he was seeing.


    Before, the most he would do was make sure La Vie en Rose had a spot open for the woman he was taking to the Banquet, but this was the first time he had become so deeply involved in the process of making a dress.


    But all the while, it never occurred to him to think deeply on why he was putting in so much effort.


    It was common courtesy for the man to personally escort the lady by arriving at her home to pick her up, but Lexus was aware that their situation wasn¡¯t one that allowed for that right now. So, without any other choice, he sent Yusef in his place.


    [Lady] ¡°Lord Lexus.¡±


    He entered the banquet hall as quietly as he could, but he could not avoid people¡¯s eyes. He was far taller than the average person, so even when being crowded with people, his head was still clearly visible.


    [Lady] ¡°Did you attend without a partner tonight?¡±


    He always walked into the hall with his partner at his side, so with no woman on his arm, this was a natural question to be asked.


    [Lady] ¡°How about me? Shall I be your partner?¡±


    Now that he was in the center of the hall, the crowds were making it very difficult for him to take even the smallest step forward. He also had to be sure to refuse everyone who kept coming to ask to be his partner or to spend time with them.


    He just wanted to find Valentia as soon as possible so he could escape all these pesky requests.


    And once he found her, she was tucked away in a corner of the hall. She had her back to him, but he could easily recognize who she was from that peach colored lace dress.


    Finally, he and Valentia were in the same room.


    An instinctive and goofy grin stretched across Lexus¡¯ face as he walked up to Valentia.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hey.¡±


    It was a casual greeting, but crazily enough, he couldn¡¯t understand why it got caught in his throat for a second. He was normally the kind of man who had no issue speaking loudly and proudly, but for some reason, he ended up only saying a very distant, ¡®hey¡¯.


    But obviously Lexus¡¯ words got stuck in his throat after saying such a pitiful greeting, making it hard to breathe. It was because when she looked back at him, Valentia had a smile on her face.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Long time, no see.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    But now Valentia¡¯s expression was as straight as an arrow. It was so blunt and cold that for a second, he thought he saw wrong earlier.


    Though, in the past, he likely would¡¯ve openly scoffed that a woman capable of making such a cold expression even existed, but now, he was thrilled and elated to be met with that face of hers, chilly gaze and all.


    [Aigis] ¡°Hello, Lord Lexus.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°Hello, Lord Lexus.¡±


    [Red] ¡°Hello.¡±


    The three ladies bowed and greeted him in unison.


    [Lexus] ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t interrupt your conversation with your friends.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. They¡¯re not my friends¡­¡­¡±


    Valentia quickly shook her head in embarrassment.


    What she said sounded very rude, but she felt like she needed to say it quickly. She was afraid these three would not appreciate being associated with her like that, tied together by the reckless use of the word ¡®friends¡¯.


    [Aigis] ¡°That¡¯s a little disappointing.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    Aigis narrowed her eyes as she faced Valentia. Never before did someone¡¯s look make Valentia want to shy away, but with the way Aigis was looking at her, she felt a little ashamed right now.


    For Valentia, who¡¯d never had a lady friend of the same age before, Aigis was the first person to try and open up her heart to her. She was afraid she might¡¯ve hurt her feelings, but this was the first time Valentia ever considered how her words might accidentally hurt someone, so she could not even recognize that thought properly.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know if I was rude or not.¡±


    And so Valentia apologized out of embarrassment, despite not even understanding the blunder she had made.


    [Aigis] ¡°Were we the only ones who thought we were your friends?¡±


    Now Valentia¡¯s eyes were widening.


    [Valentia] ¡°N, no¡­..it¡¯s not like that¡­..¡±


    The embarrassment, the shame, and the touch of warmth hitting her heart were all so unfamiliar and new to Valentia. She stood still with a confused expression, as if her brain didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Valentia was like a talented child. Smart and learned through the books she read, but she did not know what other ladies her age ought to know. She was like a young girl, with no family or friends at her side, not knowing what to say in a moment like this.


    All because she never learned it.


    That¡¯s what Aigis saw¡ªa woman who was smart and was thought to be arrogant because of it, but was truthfully an awkward stranger to anything that strayed away from studying.


    And it was especially difficult, considering nobles were rarely straightforward, dealing in a language that required one to be astute in conversations, and good at reading the atmosphere.


    And that¡¯s what Aigis was good at, so she handled this situation with grace and elegance.


    [Aigis] ¡°You promised, did you not? I trust you haven¡¯t forgotten.¡±


    Valentia quickly understood what that promise was¡ªthe promise she made to teach her how to study well.


    Back then, it was merely a casual comment made to push the conversation forward between women that were not very close to one another. But now, this was a promise that must be kept.


    [Lily] ¡°Oh, may we join as well?¡±


    [Red] ¡°I would not wish to miss this either. This is a chance to learn from the top student herself.¡±


    The air softened as Lily and Red joined in. Valentia gave a vague smile and slowly nodded.


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course. Any time.¡±


    Deciding to slowly clear away the awkward air, Aigis spoke again.


    [Aigis] ¡°Lord Lexus. The cookies you sent us before were very delicious. I wished I could have thanked you earlier, but there was never a good chance for it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m glad you enjoyed it. The three of you were a huge help. I will not forget that.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Now, we will allow you to take your lady.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thank you for watching over my partner while I was away.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°No thanks are needed. We did it because we like her. We will speak again soon, Miss Valentia.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. See you again soon.¡±


    As their conversation came to a quiet and kind close, a commotion started to stir near the entrance of the banquet hall.


    [???] ¡°Why not!? Is there a rule that only students can enter or something!?¡±


    It was a very sudden and shrill voice.


    [???] ¡°I already looked it up in the rules. There¡¯s nothing written that only students of the Academy can enter.¡±


    That was true. It was not written down in the guidelines, but this was a banquet where only the students came and not even a single professor was in sight. It was an unspoken rule that everyone kept up with, even if it was not explicitly stated.


    [¡ª] ¡°That¡¯s true, but if you act like this, it¡¯s just a little difficult.¡±


    That was how someone responded, but it sounded like they were a little stunned.


    Though they were certainly complaining like one, it can¡¯t have been a child who was whining and making a fuss. If it had been, they¡¯d get a more stern reprimand.


    [Valentia] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Ah, well¡­..¡±


    And then Lexus immediately went to hold his forehead with an exhausted hand¡­..


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus?¡±


    ¡­..for the source of the young and chipper voice was someone Lexus knew very well¡ªhis one and only cheeky baby sister.


    * * *

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    *


    * * *


    *


    The only Princess in the entire Empire, Elizabeth was bored.


    This lady¡­.no, this child was still very young, and was not yet old enough to debut in society.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t as though she lacked friends her own age. Numerous noble ladies worked closely with her mother, the Empress, and wished to introduce their daughters to her. However, because she was a Princess, it was hard for those girls to get along with her freely. They always acted extremely polite for fear of making a mistake.


    [Girl] ¡°Are you bored, Princess?¡±


    Just like this one.


    She was the daughter of a count, but it was hard for her to become a true friend to the Princess.


    Whether she liked it or not, Elizabeth was the most powerful young girl in the entire Empire, and even the young daughter of a count lived her life knowing that she could not go against the whims of such a fierce young miss.


    It was hard to call someone a friend when they felt they could not ask if she was sleepy after she yawned because they did not wish to offend her.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°No, I¡¯m just a little tired. I¡¯ll go in first and rest.¡±


    [Lady] ¡°Oh, then I will see you again tomorrow, Princess.¡±


    If she wanted to indulge in the life of a noble, then she could do so as she wished, but sometimes it was terribly boring. And though she was a Princess beloved by many, even that lacked any kind of excitement.


    [Maid] ¡°I will take you back to the palace.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I want to go see my mother.¡±


    But because Elizabeth was a Princess, obviously her mother was the Empress. She was a busy woman, and unfortunately, was not within the Empress¡¯ palace.


    [Maid] ¡°What should we do, Your Highness? Her Majesty is away.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯ll just sleep then.¡±


    [Maid] ¡°Oh, are you tired? Well then, you should take a nap.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep in my mother¡¯s room.¡±


    Elizabeth took the handle on her own, twisting it open in a way that was very unladylike. She was often told that she was not allowed to open doors like this without having a maid or another servant open it for her, but Elizabeth couldn¡¯t be bothered.


    She snuck into the Empress¡¯ bed and soon after closed her eyes.


    And what woke her was her older brother¡¯s loud voice, speaking very informally. For a second Elizabeth was confused on what her brother was doing in her room, but then she¡¯d realized she¡¯d fallen asleep in her mother¡¯s bed.


    [Axion] ¡°Mom¡­¡­¡±


    [Empress] ¡°How is Lexus doing these days?¡±


    Elizabeth immediately closed her mouth. She was taught that eavesdropping on other people¡¯s conversations was very rude, but at the same time, this felt very unfair.


    She wasn¡¯t a lady yet, so she couldn¡¯t debut in society right now, but it felt so unfair to exclude her from conversations just because of that.


    [Axion] ¡°He¡¯s fine. He goes to the Academy, comes back, and plays with his dog. He doesn¡¯t go out or anything. He¡¯s acting strangely quietly.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°Yes, I agree. He¡¯s being far too quiet. Has something happened? He¡¯s not sick, is he?¡±


    Truth be told, Elizabeth liked Lexus a lot. Her second older brother was very mischievous and teasing, but his attitude was pleasant, and the way he treated her made her feel like a normal girl, not a Princess.


    Axion laughed at the Empress¡¯ comment.


    [Axion] ¡°He¡¯s so quiet right now, it¡¯s actually a bit troubling.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°He must be trying to stay unseen now that the article about the outdoor circuit has come out.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Yes. I think so, too.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°That reminds me, what happened to her? The woman who slapped him in the face. Did they say her name was Syner? She was the one involved with the incident at the circuit, was she not?¡±


    Is that true? Elizabeth¡¯s eyes widened.


    Everyone knew about it, but they were hiding it from her. She was certain her father knew too, but no one was telling her the important stuff.


    Obviously, it wasn¡¯t a very good story for the young Princess to hear, which was why they didn¡¯t tell her, but Elizabeth was not mature enough to understand that fact.


    [Axion] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Empress] ¡°I also heard he commissioned a dress from La Vie en Rose. Is he taking her as his partner for the Fall Banquet? Normally we would¡¯ve heard some rumors about who he was taking by now, but it¡¯s just been too quiet around him lately.¡±


    Considering the Empress was speaking with such certainty about it, it was clear this was no mere speculation on her part. Even the young Elizabeth was able to realize that the probability was highly likely, given the circumstances.


    [Axion] ¡°Let me talk to him about it.¡±


    Then that settled it. If she went to the banquet, she¡¯d be able to meet this mysterious woman who lay dead center of all these rumors.


    She must be really cool, considering she slapped her brother in the face like that. No one had ever done that before, not even a member of the Imperial family. Even Elizabeth¡¯s grandfather, who was a very strict Emperor, never once raised a hand against his sons.


    Elizabeth liked to think of herself as a mature young lady, but she was still a very brazen child. And so, she decided to do something only the most brazen of young girls would do.


    She would break into the Academy and attend the Fall Banquet.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Looks like it¡¯s my sister making a fuss at the entrance. I think I need to go take care of this.¡±


    With no other choice, Lexus made his way back to the entrance. He had to deal with this situation, one way or another, whether it was sending her back to the palace or dragging her back home himself.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I thought everyone was supposed to be equal here! What kind of equality is this!?¡±


    She was a cheeky speaker, it was almost impressive, and Lexus ended up unconsciously nodding.


    [¡ª] ¡°But, we cannot ascertain your identity¡­¡­.¡± (1)


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m¡ª!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The Princess of the Empire, Eliza.¡±


    Realizing the stink eye she was getting, Elizabeth grinned at Lexus, who called her by her nickname.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Brother!¡±


    She looked at him with a wistful expression. Stuck in an unfamiliar place with people she didn¡¯t know, she must think that her family, or in this case, her brother was her only connection. It was awfully cute of her.


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I came here to see you, brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°So you came here from the palace to play around, is that it? Did you get Mother¡¯s permission?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Did I need Mother¡¯s permission to be here?¡±


    She widened her eyes like she was completely baffled and had absolutely no idea. Apparently, what she had done was far worse than she expected it to be.


    [¡ª] ¡°Is that the Princess?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s right. Sorry about all this.¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Oh, no it¡¯s alright. My apologies, Princess.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Eliza, you should go now.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°But she¡¯s come such a long way. Now that she¡¯s here, why not have her stay as a special guest?¡±


    That was when the group consisting of Valentia and Aigis arrived near the entrance to the banquet hall. Lexus had run off in such a hurry to catch the Princess that they were left to quietly trail behind him and witness the aftermath.


    It was clear she probably escaped from the palace and snuck here without permission, but no one there could find it in them to scold her. To save her reputation, they formally welcomed her and spoke politely.


    Valentia was the one who greeted the Princess first.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hello. I am Valentia Syner. Dear Princess, Star of the Empire, it is an honor to meet you.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I am Aigis Ayli.¡±


    Lily and Red introduced themselves next. Elizabeth¡¯s cheeks immediately flushed red. This was her first time receiving such a proper greeting from a group of well adjusted ladies.


    And so, using what she learned, Elizabeth responded in kind.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I am Elizabeth de Beltane Abyssid.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°It is an endless honor to see you shine before us.¡±


    Considering she just crashed the party, relief washed over Elizabeth¡¯s expression at their kind and friendly greetings. Apparently, she must have been really worried someone would get mad at her.


    [Aigis] ¡°I did not expect you would be attending, Princess. This banquet is a humble one meant for students, so everyone would be especially honored to have you with us.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Really? You don¡¯t think I¡¯m a nuisance because I¡¯m an uninvited guest?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Of course not. How could such a lovely guest be a nuisance?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Ah, but that reminds me. Miss Syner. Have we met somewhere before?¡±


    Elizabeth turned and poked at Valentia. Valentia was a little bit shocked, but she quickly responded as naturally as she could.


    [Valentia] ¡°My apologies. I have not yet had the honor of entering the Imperial Palace, so I am certain this must be our first meeting. It is an honor to meet you, Princess.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°That¡¯s strange. I don¡¯t recognize your face, but why do I feel like I¡¯ve heard your name somewhere¡­..?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Eliza.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°How is my brother doing at the Academy?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course, Lord Lexus is the envy of many students.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know everything. My brother is definitely not a good student like that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh. I cannot best your wisdom, Princess.¡±


    Elizabeth spoke with confidence, crossing her arms as she did, and she looked so cute that small smiles formed on the faces of everyone who heard her voice, chirping along.


    However, with Elizabeth¡¯s next words, everyone¡¯s smiles quickly disappeared.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Oh, I remember now!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What is it?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Syner! You¡¯re the one who slapped my brother in the face!¡±


    Lexus heaved a sigh and held his forehead in his hand again, hearing his sister shout such an uncouth thing. Valentia¡¯s eyes also looked a little bewildered with how wide they were¡ªclearly taken aback and unsure.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°No! I¡¯m sure he had it coming, it was definitely all his fault! But you actually slapped him in the face! I love that! I haven¡¯t even had the chance to do it yet!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Elizabeth.¡±


    Reaching out to her, Lexus sternly said his sister¡¯s name, but she completely ignored him. His feeble attempts at trying to get her to shut up could not stop her. Instead, her eyes were absolutely sparkling right now.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Amazing. Tell me how it happened. He must¡¯ve done something wrong, yes?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Eliza¡­..Do you really want to slap me in the face?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Obviously, you¡¯re so annoying! Actually, I came here because I really wanted to meet you, Miss Syner. I was very curious to know what kind of person you were.¡±


    With reddened cheeks and eyes brimming with admiration, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of malice or anger in her expression.


    [Aigis] ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is the time or place for that sort of story.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°This regards your honor as a lady as well. And this is not the sort of question a lady would ask.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m not technically a lady though, since I haven¡¯t debuted yet.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°You became a lady the moment you stepped into this place.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Really?¡±


    This banquet was technically a gathering for the Academy. And because she was now one of the many attendees, this was a rather elegant way of saying that the Princess was now a young lady.


    [Aigis] ¡°Yes. You are a Princess who will be a beautiful point of reference for all other ladies to look up to and respect. Does that not make you want to be the best you can be?¡±


    Aigis had a younger sister, so handling the young Princess was an easy task for her. She spoke so gently that Elizabeth got a coy look on her face.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°In that case, might you show me off a little bit, Miss Aigis?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Of course.¡±


    Aigis turned her head back, sending a soft wink Lexus¡¯ way. And he was a much more quick-witted Prince than others might assume, given his usual behavior.


    [Lexus] ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    He tilted his head down, whispering softly and sweetly into Valentia¡¯s ear.


    [Lexus] ¡°I want to escape from here before my cute little sister gets the chance to chase us down.¡±


    * * *


    T/N: (1) Elizabeth hasn¡¯t debuted in society yet, which may explain why lower ranking nobles/commoner folk don¡¯t know exactly what she looks like and may not recognize her.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    *


    * * *


    *


    They left the banquet hall together, stepping outside.


    The fall wind was blowing through, and the atmosphere felt more comfortable here than in such a loud and stuffy banquet hall. Just off in the distance was the red sun, dipping below the horizon as the white and shining moon began its ascent into the sky.


    Lexus slipped off his jacket, setting it down on the bench and guiding Valentia to sit on it.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d come all the way here just to bother you about that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright. The Princess is very cute, so it was more charming than bothersome.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, she¡¯s not cute at all. She¡¯s the worst.¡±


    With what he said, it made it seem like he was sick and tired of her antics, but his voice was filled with obvious affection. She could not help but feel the slightest tinge of envy in her heart.


    [Lexus] ¡°I was hoping we could enjoy the banquet together. What should I do now?¡±


    He was fussing, but it was useless worry.


    There was no way he could know this, but for Valentia, merely being in his presence was the happiest thing in the world. Whether it was a spectacular banquet hall or the shabbiest corner alley¡ªit was all the same to her so long as she could be with him.


    The banquet was never an enjoyable affair for her. It was supposed to be fun, but the most she would do was stand quietly in a corner, trying to ignore the contempt filled eyes of others, just waiting until it was time to leave.


    But today, she spoke to Aigis, Lily, and Red. And she even got to meet the lovely little Princess.


    She liked how busy things felt and how many new things she experienced that surprised her. However, now there were only the two of them here, alone in a place where there was no one else. It was like reality was hitting her all at once.


    He was really here with her, and she couldn¡¯t shake that warm feeling that came from seeing a face she hadn¡¯t seen in so long.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    As long as he was here, everything was alright.


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, we haven¡¯t seen each other in so long, so it¡¯s nice being able to be with you in a more relaxed setting.¡±


    It was like he could read her mind. She was elated and thrilled by the idea, but expressing that would be nigh impossible because she knew such a gesture was meaningless in the end.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I see you¡¯re still as cold as ever, though.¡±


    She didn¡¯t really know what to say to that, so she reflexively tried to apologize for being a cold person.


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But since I¡¯m so nice, I¡¯ll give you a present.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°A present?¡±


    He was holding a small, rectangular box in his hand, flat in its dimension.


    It was lined with velvet and it was a very distinctive mint color, making it obvious what brand it came from. It was an up and coming luxury brand, favored by the highest ranking nobles when choosing gifts for ladies they fancied.


    [Lexus] ¡°I wanted to give you this earlier, but I guess I¡¯m doing it now. I chose it to match your dress. I know we couldn¡¯t choose the dress together, but at the very least, I wanted to give you this in person.¡±


    With a honeyed voice, he was far too good at speaking so sweetly. What choice did a woman have but to fall in love with him when he spoke to her like that?


    And so, though she knew such kindness and sweetness was nothing special for him, she felt so much joy that she thought she might start crying. Valentia couldn¡¯t even open the box he was giving her. She only stared at it with an empty look in her eyes.


    [Lexus] ¡°Open it.¡±


    As if his words were like magic, she followed the softly given command.


    Within the box was a simple necklace, like a delicately and gently woven chain of small diamonds, meant to be worn tightly to the neck like a choker. Hanging from it was a single jewel, shaped like a water droplet, shining splendidly in the soft light of sundown.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Valentia looked down at the necklace in total silence. Like he was feeling the energy between them, Lexus asked very carefully.


    [Lexus] ¡°Or maybe you were expecting something fancier?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s very lovely. Truly, it is. I just didn¡¯t think¡­¡­.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought something too crazy might clash with your dress.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Thank you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I couldn¡¯t act as your escort tonight, so I¡¯d like it if you could let me put this on you.¡±


    How could she ever reject such a wonderful request?


    Valentia collected all of her voluminous hair, bringing to one side of her shoulders, revealing her pale and smooth neck. When he reached around her to put the necklace on, she could feel the slight chill of the diamonds on her chest, along with the sensation of his gloved hands brushing against her skin.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is it too tight?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t even touching her skin directly, but she felt herself heating up. It was such a silly thing to get nervous about, and yet she still felt very on edge, which only served to confuse her.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s a bit hard to see. I think I need to get a little closer.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t easy to connect the clasp at a distance since the necklace was shorter in length. Valentia lowered her head, quietly saying he could.


    The mood of this situation was very curious. He was whispering towards her, so his voice was soft, and yet it was rough at the same time, like it was scratching his throat. Then came his breath upon her neck as he drew closer.


    It took him less than a minute, but it felt so much longer.


    They¡¯d been closer than this before. Back when he saved both her and Goldie, he held her entirely in his arms, and then, even more than that, he embraced her tightly as their bodies became one.


    But despite that, something like this of all things was making her tremble.


    All of the small hairs on her body stood up, intensifying her nerves. But she didn¡¯t hate it. Actually, somewhere within her, she wanted it to continue on a little longer¡­¡­Or a lot longer, if she could wish for more.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    The disappointment was strong as she felt both his hands and his breath pull back. Feeling him so distantly when he was once so close was a very unfortunate thing.


    It was far too strange for such a small gesture like this to feel so unfamiliar and awkward to her in comparison to everything else. Valentia thought for a moment, reaching back and touching her fingers against the clasp of the necklace.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why didn¡¯t you contact me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, that.¡±


    His expression stiffened. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have asked this kind of question. As the words floated in the air, her heart shook.


    [Lexus] ¡°Considering that third-rate waste of an article, I didn¡¯t think it would be a good idea to encourage any rumors. I thought it would be for the best if I kept my distance until things quieted down.¡±


    She thought that might be the case, but she still felt better hearing him say it himself. And above all, she felt very grateful, knowing that he acted with her best interests at heart.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Nodding, Lexus looked down at Valentia, taking in the image of her in the dress he made for her.


    He was a part of its creation and already got the chance to see the finished product. He¡¯d also imagined many times what it would look like once Valentia actually wore it.


    But he sorely underestimated just how beautiful she would look in it.


    [Lexus] ¡°The dress looks nice on you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would prepare something like this, so I don¡¯t have anything to give to you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Just you accepting it makes me feel like you¡¯ve given me a gift.¡±


    She had to wonder, was this man aware of how those sorts of words would make the women around him feel?


    [Lexus] ¡°Actually, I wanted to get you something that you would like, but you didn¡¯t seem to have much of an opinion when it came to picking dresses, so I sort of went with whatever for the accessory. Do you like it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so? I actually like it very much.¡±


    Truthfully, he had half the mind to get her enough diamonds to cover her entire upper body with, but somehow he just knew if he offered her something too extravagant, she would most definitely turn it away. With that in mind, he went with something that was a bit more simplistic, but suited her very well all the same.


    And luckily, she did not find that to be bothersome, so she gladly accepted it.


    But much like her, he was also very confused with himself right now. He was just putting on a necklace for a lady, so why did he feel so nervous?


    He had to be careful. He couldn¡¯t let this woman know how much his hands were shaking.


    However, without even realizing it, after finishing the clasp on the necklace, his eyes started to wander to look at what lay beyond his hands.


    Her shoulders and neckline were not usually exposed like this. He knew he needed to look away, but his eyes just kept zeroing in like that was all he could see.


    Why does this woman have to be so beautiful?


    It was such a crazy thought. Yes, it was objectively true that she was more beautiful than usual tonight, but was it possible to be this lovely?


    There were many women out there who were arguably more beautiful than she was. If measured empirically, you could likely say they were certainly more beautiful. Even before he first acknowledged this woman¡¯s existence, he couldn¡¯t quite remember what she looked like. All that came to mind was a blurry figure.


    So why does this woman look so lovely to me right now?


    Lexus thought that maybe his eyes were going bad. Or maybe his head wasn¡¯t screwed on right anymore.


    But it was too late to stop this impulse.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    He called out to her in a low voice. Valentia blinked in a daze as she looked up at him. He was backlit by the red sunset, burning against his brilliant blond hair.


    Maybe it was because of the mood, but his beautiful golden eyes appeared almost orange right now. Was it just her imagination, or could she feel warmth radiating from those eyes?


    No, not warmth.


    What she was feeling was heat.


    [Lexus] ¡°I want to ask you something.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes? What is it?¡±


    Lexus spoke up first, but then fell into silence.


    It was very unlike him to be so hesitant. He had once so easily spat out such verbally abusive language towards her, and yet now he was slightly biting his lip, like he was nervous.


    Maybe.


    Just maybe.


    Somehow, in all this haze, Valentia was getting a sense within her. Though she was dense and ignorant when it came to other people, this was a difficult one to miss. That sense of maybe, just maybe, these sweet feelings weren¡¯t entirely one-sided.


    Emotions started to flood her heart, but she could not tell if it was excitement, a mere palpitation, or maybe even a heart attack. All she knew was that she couldn¡¯t breathe because this very feeling was filling up a hole in her heart she didn¡¯t know was empty.


    [Lexus] ¡°About me¡­¡­Do you still¡­..?¡±


    His words were slow, like he was trying to be careful while waiting for every word to land properly before continuing. Somehow, he was filled with a sense of expectation.


    He¡¯d never been this nervous before, nor had he ever felt this anxious in the presence of another. He stood with his back entirely straight, with his shoulders squared in a perfectly straight line.


    And she seemed to quickly understand what he meant by the question. Valentia¡¯s expression stiffened.


    He could vividly remember all the horrible things he said to her back then, and he kept wondering if she still hated him for it. And if he could remember, then obviously she would remember it too.


    And any woman would clearly hate a man who could say those sorts of things to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s so unfair.¡±


    Within her tone was a sense of disappointment, but Lexus had good intuition. He could tell from her answer straight away that she did not dislike him.


    But that wasn¡¯t enough. He needed more certainty.


    [Lexus] ¡°So what¡¯s your answer?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re insufferable.¡±


    She was probably the only woman on earth who could tell him he was insufferable with a face he found uncontrollably lovely. He knew that kind of thinking made him sound like a complete loser, but his mind kept spinning.


    He knew it all, but he still asked¡ª


    [Lexus] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Because I think you¡¯ll like my answer.¡±


    And that¡¯s when Lexus gave a bright smile.


    * * *

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    *


    * * *


    *


    Both of them knew what that meant.


    But there was no fanfare behind it. They did not kiss nor did they hug, but for them, a moment like this was enough. It was their first time doing this, after all.


    [Lexus] ¡°So can we start seeing each other, starting today?¡±


    She was surprised right now at the face he was making, asking like he was unsure and awkward. She didn¡¯t think he was capable of making such an expression¡ªlike a foolish little boy who didn¡¯t know what to do with all his feelings.


    [Valentia] ¡°I will think about it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I said I¡¯d think about it.¡±


    Lexus looked a little caught off guard.


    [Lexus] ¡°But I thought you just said yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything for certain.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That, well, I, but¡­¡­..Are you really saying this right now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you think I¡¯m the sort to joke about this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­¡­.I guess not.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But, I will think favorably about this.¡±


    He stared blankly at her, and she returned his gaze.


    Even in such darkness, his lovely hair glistened in the breeze, and his barely visible but wonderful golden eyes were sparkling as he blinked.


    Then, his eyes curved into an arch, like he was holding back a grin. It was such an overwhelming look that she felt her heart drop to the ground.


    But Valentia didn¡¯t break eye contact either as she stared into his eyes. It was no use trying to convince her using that handsome and arrogant face of his. He was truly a very attractive man, but it was not enough to shake her right now.


    Pouting his lips, Lexus eventually smiled.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s good. You aren¡¯t rejecting me, so this isn¡¯t so bad, either.¡±


    Her impressively fierce answers were a force to be reckoned with. She was truly a strong woman, and he¡¯d never met anyone as difficult as she was.


    But still, this woman used to look at him as if he were a bug unexpectedly crawling up her arm, so seeing her smile like that at him was a huge development.


    And he could not deny how stupidly good it made him feel.


    [Lexus] ¡°I guess the rest depends on my efforts.¡±


    Lexus took a clean step back, widening the distance between us. Seeing the space, Valentia even felt a little sorry about it.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I know you¡¯re not that easy.¡±


    Was he trying to say he didn¡¯t like her because she wasn¡¯t easy? But looking at Lexus¡¯ face right now, with such a bright grin plastered on his expression, there didn¡¯t seem to be any hint of ill will there.


    [Lexus] ¡°But I like it. It makes things fun.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Fun?¡±


    Hearing that, she didn¡¯t quite understand, so the question naturally slipped out.


    Maybe he meant that it was fun dealing with difficult things. She herself never missed the top ranking at the Academy, and that was certainly never easy. Some luck may have played a part, but she knew she always worked hard to earn that spot, and that brought some satisfaction to her so maybe this was something similar to that?


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes. It¡¯s surprisingly fun to know there are some things in this world that won¡¯t go my way.¡±


    It was such an arrogant and prideful thing to say that Valentia unconsciously let out a laugh. He was brimming with such blatant confidence, filled with the belief that everything in this world would be as he wished.


    But that was to be expected, considering he was a Prince.


    He was one of the most noble men in the entire Empire, so it should come at no surprise that there were few things in this world that didn¡¯t flow as he wanted them to.


    And that fact would not have changed even if he were short and unsightly. But considering his reliable stature and handsome appearance that could blind anyone, it was only natural to think everything must have come very easily to him.


    For someone like Valentia, whose life was hardship upon hardship, such a remark should have inspired envy or bitterness within her.


    But it didn¡¯t.


    Instead, she thought it was nice. It felt good to hear that this man was living a happy life.


    She hoped that strife and difficulty would be concepts forever unknown to him, and that such would always remain true in the future.


    That was how Valentia loved Lexus. Those were her true feelings.


    I wonder, would he have spent so much time with me if I had been an easy woman?


    The thought suddenly came to her. Though she knew it would not be a good idea to dwell on such an idea, she could not help but entertain the thought once it entered her mind.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s getting a bit cold. Should we head inside?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I would like that.¡±


    As he stood up, Lexus naturally reached out his arm to her¡ªthe sign of a man ready to escort a lady.


    Before, she never once placed her hand upon his arm. They did not have the kind of relationship with one another, and so she never thought to take his hand even when he offered it.


    But this time, Valentia actually reached back.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you planning on doing with your weekend?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I will study.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­You study on weekends?¡±


    She kept her head straight and answered without much thought. She took the question to mean he was literally asking her what her plans were, and so she responded to the question just as literally.


    And she didn¡¯t even notice the slowing of his voice.


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course.¡±


    When she said that, she said it like it was only obvious. For a moment, Lexus was actually pretty stunned.


    [Lexus] ¡°For two whole days?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Naturally. Final examinations will be soon.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But you¡¯re going to start studying now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That should be expected.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It must be hard being the top student.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s because of those efforts that I¡¯ve earned my place.¡±


    From his previous experiences with Valentia, somehow Lexus was getting a strong sense of deja vu.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m a bit sad, since I think I know what you¡¯re about to say.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Let¡¯s not meet before the exams.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­..Alright. But you need to spare some free time this weekend, okay?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I have to study.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hah, you have to be acting dense on purpose.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Widening her eyes, Valentia looked up at Lexus with a face filled with bewilderment.


    He was smiling at her, but there was a tinge of unhappiness on his face¡ªbut even something like that was very cute about him, like he was a little kid almost. She wondered, he must know very well what sort of face he had right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re not making excuses, saying that you need to study because you don¡¯t want to spend time with me, are you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean? Why would I do that?¡±


    Valentia stopped in place, and Lexus naturally stood next to her.


    As he stood there, staring down at her, his words lingered in her ears. His stiff expression was so incredible, as if he were trying to express just how beyond unfair this was.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then why do you toy around with people like this?¡±


    What Valentia didn¡¯t notice, however, was his tone of voice. She could not hear how soft it was, joking around as though he was trying to pick a fight.


    It was things like this that truly proved how dense she could be when it came to these matters.


    [Valentia] ¡°When did I say I was toying with you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Pardon? What do you mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m trying to ask you out right now.¡±


    After saying that, his stiff expression became significantly more gentle. And it was only after she saw it that Valentia realized she was acting carelessly.


    *


    * * *


    *


    It was unbelievable to think he was actually trying to ask her out.


    But how was she supposed to know that? They¡¯d never met on the weekends before, and never once had he asked her what she was planning on doing during that time.


    But then again, in a situation where a man slyly asks a woman what she was going to be doing during her spare time, what else could he be doing if not trying to take that time for himself?


    And now her face was flushing red because that fact went completely over her head, and she just told him they shouldn¡¯t meet before examinations again.


    Valentia stared down at her feet, somehow caught up in all her embarrassment.


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you get it now?¡±


    His annoying and insufferable part was back. She was suddenly overcome with the urge to pinch his cheeks, but she managed to fight it back, glaring at him instead.


    [Lexus] ¡°I asked, do you understand now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.I¡¯ll make some time.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You weren¡¯t pretending to be dense just to avoid seeing me, right?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡­¡­!¡±


    Valentia shouted out in anger. For someone as quiet as her, such a loud voice was a shocking thing to hear, so she pulled back, quieting down as her words went along.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..That¡¯s not true.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Really?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I was really worried you wouldn¡¯t be able to understand.¡±


    He was definitely teasing her, but Valentia didn¡¯t get that either.


    Lexus knew he shouldn¡¯t do this, but the fact that she couldn¡¯t tell how much he was messing with her was so cute that he had to bite in the inside of his mouth to stop from smiling.


    She was mumbling like an oblivious little squirrel, but if he smiled now, she would definitely notice how much he was enjoying her reactions.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll send Yusef to you. It¡¯d be nice if I could go pick you up myself, but I think I¡¯d only end up causing a fuss if I went in person.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re aware.¡±


    Valentia gave a quiet laugh. If the Prince himself arrived at the Baron¡¯s mansion, she could already see the kind of commotion that would cause in her mind. His envoy alone already caused such a disturbance.


    [Lexus] ¡°And, um, this is a little strange to say considering the atmosphere, but I managed to find someone I think might have been responsible for what happened.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You did? Were they detained?¡±


    No one ever contacted her to inform her of how the investigation was progressing, so this was the first piece of information she was getting. She pretended everything was fine, but this concern was one that constantly lived in the back of her mind.


    Lexus shook his head.


    [Lexus] ¡°They already disappeared. A fire broke out where the perpetrator supposedly lived, but there was no land owner.¡±


    That means whoever sent him must¡¯ve tied up loose ends by destroying what evidence remained because Valentia managed to survive. They couldn¡¯t even ascertain if the man was dead or alive.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    His voice was calm, but she could tell that he was genuinely sorry.


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you have to be sorry about?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I wanted to be able to take care of this properly, but I guess I was too late.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°This isn¡¯t something you need to be sorry about, so don¡¯t look like that. Instead, I should be thanking you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No. This involves you, so that makes it my responsibility. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    He was very firm with this. Being given no choice, Valentia stopped in her tracks once more.


    She heard him perfectly clearly; her hearing wasn¡¯t the problem. But she couldn¡¯t understand his words when he said them all at once.


    Like he said, this involved her, so why was it his responsibility to handle? And why was he sorry that he couldn¡¯t deal with it?


    These were phrases and concepts Valentia was not familiar with.


    [Valentia] ¡°Wh¡­..why? How is this your responsibility? And why are you sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    Valentia¡¯s face was one of true confusion. She was not speaking in jest, nor was she trying to tease him. She was asking out of pure wonder.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do I have to answer?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, it should be obvious. It¡¯s because you¡¯re precious to me.¡±


    He looked down, somehow looking a little embarrassed.


    [Lexus] ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, would it be fine if I attached some people to you? It could get more dangerous in the future, and I¡¯m really worried.¡±


    Tap¨C


    Looking at her face, Lexus widened his eyes in apparent shock, but such surprise was completely unavoidable.


    Because the second he spoke that phrase, large pools of tears formed at the edges of her eyes, falling and flowing down her cheeks with no end.


    * * *

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    *


    * * *


    *


    Not a soul ever said that to her before.


    No one was ever worried about her.


    And because no one had ever expressed concern for her, she didn¡¯t know how warm those words could feel. Nor did she know just how much they could break her.


    Her heart was stuck in a frigid winter, and as those warm words melted the snow, the tears pooled up.


    Why did it have to be you? Why did you have to be the one to say those words to me for the first time?


    Why did he insist on leaving behind such wonderful memories? When he said things like that, he made it sound like he wanted to protect her. No, truthfully he¡¯d already saved her life before.


    Twice, actually. Back when she was almost hit by that carriage, or when he risked himself to save her from wild dogs in the forest. Why did he keep going that far?


    [Lexus] ¡°Wh, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?¡±


    Her sudden tears, pouring out without any prior warning, shocked Lexus.


    It was obviously a little bit concerning for him that the person in front of him suddenly started crying. Valentia shook her head, her tears falling from her cheeks to the ground.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then why are you crying?¡±


    Because you¡¯re so warm. Because you¡¯re so very kind to me.


    [Valentia] ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    More than an appropriate number of women had shed their tears in front of Lexus.


    They cried because they hated him.


    Because they resented him.


    Because they loved him.


    They cried for so many different reasons, and not once did he feel a desire to help them.


    But for the first time in his life, Lexus was bewildered and unsettled by a woman¡¯s tears, and so even her tears were considered special and unique.


    Lexus took a shaky hand and held her cheek in his palm, touching her tears with his thumb. Only a few drops managed to touch him.


    But despite that, the feeling of her tears wetting his gloves and seeping through to his hand was painful. As if he were touching acid against his skin.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Okay.¡±


    She answered obediently, but her tears wouldn¡¯t stop flowing.


    There was no woman in this world whose tears could move his heart, he thought. But he could not turn away from her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Tell me why you¡¯re crying.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know how to describe such a complex emotion to him. And with no words to describe this, she said nothing, just shaking her head a little bit.


    [Lexus] ¡°I think I must be an idiot.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    With a gentle but clumsy movement, he started wiping away her tears with his thumb.


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t know what I can do to make you stop crying. And I can¡¯t even figure out what¡¯s making you cry in the first place. That must mean I¡¯m an idiot.¡±


    He always seemed like he had everything in the world under control, so seeing him perturbed and confused by her tears made her feel a little special.


    This massive man, made so uncertain by her crying, was so lovely in her eyes. The warmth that filled her chest swelled as more tears poured out.


    [Lexus] ¡°You have to stop crying. If you keep going, you¡¯ll make me want to do something bad.¡±


    He whispered, his fingers fumbling as he traced the line of her tears.


    [Valentia] ¡°Something bad?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°How so?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Something like this.¡±


    She was so caught up in her crying that she didn¡¯t even realize how the formality of his speech had entirely disappeared. Lexus held Valentia¡¯s face with his hands, and carefully got closer.


    Before she could even register in her mind how this giant man was now filling her vision, she felt his warm breath against her skin as he pressed his lips against her wet cheek.


    Valentia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden feeling, and the tears that were once clinging to the edges of her eyes fell. But then, kiss¡ª kiss¡ª He moved his lips along her cheek, as if he were taking them all.


    It was so strange. Her tears felt so painful on his finger, burning like salt on a wound, but against his lips and his tongue, they tasted so sweet.


    Then he kissed the corners of her eyes and up near her brow, and Valentia closed them as if his touch were only natural. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell exactly where he was as his warm breath moved across her skin.


    And when she tasted his lips softly against hers, she did not open her eyes.


    *


    * * *


    *


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you all done crying now?¡±


    With the remnants of her tears still left on her face, Valentia glanced at the man who asked if she had shed all that she needed to.


    She was so embarrassed, she wanted to pretend she didn¡¯t know him. Valentia just nodded her head without saying anything back.


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re a bigger crybaby than I expected.¡±


    She glared at him coldly as she silently cursed the tears that wouldn¡¯t stop even as he kissed her but even now, she remained completely silent.


    Still, she was grateful that he allowed this to pass by quietly, not continuing to question what had made her so suddenly cry. Even Valentia didn¡¯t really know how to explain this.


    These feelings were already difficult to organize in her mind, and would be even more difficult to articulate to another person.


    She¡¯d never cried like this before, so she ended up going a little overboard. She couldn¡¯t remember crying like this growing up¡­.No, she probably hadn¡¯t cried like this since she was a baby.


    [Valentia] ¡°You should have left. Why did you stay next to me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°How can I leave a crying woman behind?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It sounds like something you would do.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°As much as I would love to deny that, it¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t.¡±


    He was such a terrible person. But all the same, she really loved this awful man sitting next to her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why did you stay?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad situation for me.¡±


    He shrugged his shoulders all theatrically, but it wasn¡¯t a bad thing to see.


    [Valentia] ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I got to kiss you since you were crying.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re shameless.¡±


    His words were unexpected, and she was nearly stunned into silence. Those warm and cozy feelings that were once so strong just a moment ago disappeared within a second.


    Hearing her reply with obvious disgust, he let out a low laugh. His comment definitely made the atmosphere feel a little lighter.


    [Lexus] ¡°But I think it would be a little difficult for us to return to the banquet.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Your makeup¡¯s all smudged.¡±


    It took her a second to realize what his words meant as she pondered a response, but the moment she did, her face turned beet red. It didn¡¯t even occur to her to think about her makeup since she hardly ever wore any, nor did she ever really cry.


    Valentia buried her face in her hands.


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But you¡¯re still lovely.¡±


    No, she definitely looked ugly and he was just trying to say that to follow along with a gentleman¡¯s courtesy. But despite knowing that, the tips of her ears turned red.


    [Valentia] ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that!¡±


    As Valentia kept covering her face with her hands, she felt his big hand covering hers. And based on the warmth she now felt acutely beside her, she knew he was very close.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m being serious.¡±


    He spoke with a friendly and soft voice.


    Valentia¡¯s hand flinched as she felt him shift beside her, kissing the back of her hand. Even through the lace of her gloves, it still felt so warm.


    [Lexus] ¡°Move your hands.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll take them all.¡± (1)


    Take? What was that supposed to mean? Valentia sunk down deeper, keeping her head down, but he only came closer, pressing her into his arms.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hurry.¡±


    His voice whispered out like he was in a rush.


    [Lexus] ¡°I want to see more.¡±


    See more of what?


    [Lexus] ¡°I want to see more of your face.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I look terrible.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. So hurry.¡±


    Valentia slowly lifted her head up, pulling her hands away. With his gloved hands, he held her face in his palm, rubbing his thumb against her cheeks and the corner of her eyes.


    And he kissed her very softly.


    He kissed her repeatedly, quietly whispering over and over again how beautiful she was, letting the words settle into her skin.


    Then¨C


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Hey!¡±


    Elizabeth appeared out of nowhere, calling out to Lexus in a loud and unafraid voice. He could even feel Valentia tense out of surprise because of it.


    Lexus let out a long sigh.


    Luckily, she appeared from behind, and so she didn¡¯t catch sight of what he was doing. If she had, she would not have called out to him with a simple hey.


    With a regretful hand, Lexus pulled away from Valentia, turning back behind him.


    [Lexus] ¡°I think you¡¯re old enough that you don¡¯t need me to look after you.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Why are you going off somewhere without me? What were you doing here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing anything, you little troublemaking Princess.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Liar! Miss Syner¡¯s face is all wet! Did he make you cry?¡±


    Elizabeth quickly ran up to Valentia, anxiously grabbing her hands as she looked up at her.


    Her hands were small, and she was holding Valentia¡¯s with such care and warmth that she almost started crying again.


    [Valentia] ¡°O, of course not, Princess.¡±


    But her voice was still trembling. Anyone who heard her would know that she was definitely crying a moment ago.


    Elizabeth turned her head back, and glared harshly at Lexus. But as fierce as she tried to look, he didn¡¯t feel intimidated in the slightest by his lovely sister and her adorable face.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°You made her cry, didn¡¯t you? What did you do to her? Agh, you should¡¯ve smacked him right in the face again!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s really not like that.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°You don¡¯t need to lie for him. I know he must¡¯ve done something awful.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This is truly unfair, but it can¡¯t be helped at this point. I wanted to take you home, but it looks like I¡¯m going to have to take this troublesome Princess back instead. I will ask Yusef to make sure you return home safely.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright. Thank you for today.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll see you again soon.¡±


    Valentia understood that he was talking about the weekend.


    Though, he had no choice but to speak vaguely. If his troublemaking little sister were to hear him say anything specific, no doubt she would say, What were you planning on doing together over the weekend?


    Lexus took Valentia back out to the carriages, making sure she was safely inside and in Yusef¡¯s care. Once he confirmed that her carriage had left, he then set about his task of taking his troublesome sister back to the Imperial Palace.


    [Lexus] ¡°What were you doing, coming here like that?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I was curious about your partner¡­¡­¡­¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯ve never been curious before. You need to understand your position better than that.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No doubt a servant or two is going to get in trouble since you came here without permission. It¡¯s good nothing happened, but what would you have done if something went wrong?¡±


    Lexus was normally the kind of brother to laugh and say something like I¡¯m usually the one who makes all the trouble and gets scolded for it.


    But instead, he was talking with a very serious voice, looking down at his sister with a rare frown.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Th, that¡­..¡±


    It was a small act on her part and her way of having a little bit of fun, but the people below her who were meant to look after her would undoubtedly be severely punished for failing to watch her properly.


    [Lexus] ¡°Even if you just wanted to make trouble for me, your actions were wrong.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°¡­¡­.Okay. I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Have you reflected on your wrongdoings?¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Yes.¡±


    Then, Lexus¡¯ expression softened and he smiled.


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll graciously ignore how my tactless younger sister came out swinging, interrupting things by asking if her brother was the one who made someone cry.¡±


    [Elizabeth] ¡°What?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You know what you did.¡±


    Lexus held his chin, his smile turning bitter.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°Ah, oh, that.¡±


    Elizabeth realized her mistake just a little bit too late, and was at a bit of a loss.


    She got all scared and worried after she realized her brother had run away and ditched her, and so she completely forgot what it might mean for him and the lady to be left alone.


    But that was to be expected. She was still just a little girl who had not yet become a lady yet.


    [Elizabeth] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s already over.¡±


    He smirked.


    This whole thing was a mess from start to finish. Nothing turned out the way he wanted it to. He couldn¡¯t help Valentia pick a dress, and he couldn¡¯t partake in a single dance with her despite attending the Fall Banquet as partners.


    He couldn¡¯t escort her properly, he couldn¡¯t figure out why she started crying, and to make matters worse, he couldn¡¯t even take her home because of his younger sister¡¯s unexpected appearance.


    It was the first time everything had turned out so messed up.


    And yet, it was a night far warmer and kinder than any one before it.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) He¡¯s talking about her tears. The raws use a term meaning ¡°to drink¡± or ¡°to lick¡± depending on contextual understanding.


    For context, Lexus is later stated to be around 6-7 years older than Elizabeth. Elizabeth is currently 15 years old, making Lexus 21/22 years old at present. I have a soft spot for MLs who have positive sibling relationships, huhu.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    *


    * * *


    *


    The morning of the weekend quickly approached, but the sky was awfully clouded. And then, as if the clouds were not enough, it started to rain.


    Ever since the previous night, the clouds set in and obscured the moon. Along with those heavy clouds, a few drops of rain began to fall, but it didn¡¯t take long for it to grow in intensity. By the time sunrise came, heavy rain was falling steadily.


    It was so intense that she wondered if their promised time would be canceled, but before those thoughts could become too overbearing, an elegant white carriage pushed through the rain, stopping in front of the mansion.


    With that sight, that certainly meant that nothing had been put off. Valentia puffed her cheeks, not even realizing just and antsy she was becoming.


    [Yusef] ¡°I¡¯ve come to escort you, Lady Syner.¡±


    She recognized Yusef from when he retrieved her at the Fall Banquet, and he dipped into a bow as he greeted.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hello, Sir Resin.¡±


    Once she was inside the carriage, the once unbearably loud sound of rain became notably more subdued. The rain was so furious, but considering how quiet it had become, the walls of this carriage must have been designed to be partially soundproof.


    [Yusef] ¡°I apologize for calling you out in such weather.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No. Thank you for coming all this way.¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°You are very kind, my lady. But please, be sure to get angry with His Highness when you see him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    [Yusef] ¡°It¡¯s bad manners to ask a lady to venture out in such weather.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I will do my best.¡±


    That¡¯s what Valentia said, but she wasn¡¯t angry in the slightest.


    The streets were quiet and empty as a result of the heavy rain, and everything seen just beyond her window was completely wet. Even the glass of the window was completely hazed from the rain, but even so¡ªValentia¡¯s heart was beating with trepid anticipation.


    It was odder than anything.


    Valentia never missed anyone in her life before, not even her late mother. Though she could remember a few details about her, none of her memories were concrete enough to truly miss someone who was so distant.


    This was an abstract emotion that could only be experienced in practice. That amazing feeling of suddenly going out to meet someone, and finding even the journey to them to be an enjoyable one. Such was truly a mysterious feeling.


    As the carriage came to a halt, the place where they stopped was a simple looking building, only one story in height. However, what made it interesting was the view of what appeared to be a glass roof just behind it.


    When Valentia went to leave the carriage, someone tilted an umbrella over her head. That was even stranger¡ªthe concept of someone trying to shield her from the rain.


    But doing that, this person¡¯s shoulder would certainly get wet, yes? Realizing that, Valentia¡¯s heart sank, instinctively frowning as she felt her eyes burn.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think the weather would turn out like this¡­¡­¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    He seemed genuinely sorry that he asked her out on such a rainy day but, little did he know, it did not matter to her what the weather was like.


    Valentia didn¡¯t like the rain, and rainy weekends never failed to fill her with a sense of melancholy. But today wasn¡¯t like that.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, though¡­¡­..¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I told you. It¡¯s truly alright.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If you say so. Here.¡±


    He reached out and opened the glass door.


    She figured as much, seeing the glass roof from the window, but it was a greenhouse, the walls of which were made of glass. It was a man-made garden with a low stone wall lining a path towards the innermost sanctum of the garden.


    And once there, there was a table set up so lovely that it could easily be called a table for fairies.


    The space was designed as though a large tree had been hollowed out, creating a natural gazebo like effect. The wood was carved intricately, and there were vines intertwined together, making their way up the side.


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so pretty.¡±


    It was a truly lovely place, one that would be enjoyed by young women and girls alike.


    The only thing that wasn¡¯t made to look natural were a number of exotic looking lanterns, hung between the branches. They were shining brilliantly, but they brought with them a sense of difference in comparison to their surroundings.


    This place would have been a truly lovely sight with the dazzling light from the sun, dotting the greenery like crystals. But as the heavy rain set in, the natural light retreated, and these lanterns were clearly brought in at the last minute to fill the gap.


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful when the sun is out, but then it rained¡­¡­¡±


    Lexus sighed quietly.


    [Lexus] ¡°I want to be able to do well in front of you, but I keep making strange mistakes¡­¡­.¡±


    Something tickled in her heart seeing Lexus mutter quietly to himself, his voice sounding very depressed as he lamented his own shortcomings. But, what was funny was that such a man looked terribly lovely in her eyes.


    It was hard holding back the urge to hold his face in her hands and force him to look at her.


    In comparison to this beautiful and picturesque place, this man was far lovelier.


    [Valentia] ¡°I love it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Look up. You can see the rain falling.¡±


    He followed Valentia¡¯s lead and looked up at the ceiling. Just as she said, the rain was clearly visible, falling and cascading down the glass ceiling high above their heads.


    She really loved that sound of the distant rain. And now that today and this moment was a memory she would keep with her, perhaps future rainy days wouldn¡¯t feel as bad anymore.


    [Valentia] ¡°It makes me love this even more.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­..I see.¡±


    It was only then that he managed to smile.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then, shall we sit down?¡±


    The chairs were crafted in a similarly mythical way the other pieces were¡ªmade with an intricate mix of carved wood and intertwined vines. It was clearly manmade, and yet it melded so easily as if it were brought from nature itself.


    One would think it would make for an uncomfortable chair since it was made from wood, but it was actually very nice.


    The tableware was no exception when it came to the overall aesthetic, made from special wood. That was when Valentia realized the significant lack of one specific type of cutlery¡ªan iron knife.


    And because of that, every dish prepared were ones that could be eaten easily without the use of steel of any kind. They were not particularly luxurious, but they were still very lovely.


    [Lexus] ¡°I had this prepared to fit the mood. But, I wonder if it might not be to your liking.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No. I really love it.¡±


    Valentia truly loved everything so much that even her fingertips were trembling.


    It was like she had entered into the fairy tale she once read as a child. Everything about it was like tasting a food she¡¯d never had before, but discovering how much she loved it.


    She picked up one of the toasted pieces of bread, spreading some of the butter and jam on it with a wooden knife.


    [Lexus] ¡°That reminds me, I was thinking what a shame it was that I couldn¡¯t dance with you at the Fall Banquet.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not a very good dancer anyway. I would feel too uncomfortable dancing in front of other people.¡±


    Dancing was something that one learned with the help of a partner, and obviously, Valentia had no one to dance with.


    Lexus quieted, thinking about something for a moment before making an offer that required very little thinking at all.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then, would you like to dance here?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There¡¯s no music, but there¡¯s also no people watching.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Lady Syner. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?¡±


    Lexus stood up from his seat, side stepping the table and standing in front of Valentia. He gave a polite bow, asking in a voice that was far too sweet and kind.


    She was certain this was a dream.


    It had to be. For this place, this man, and these feelings she held so deeply to be called real¡­..That was much too fantastical. It filled her with a sense similar to being drunk and Valentia held out her hand to him without even thinking.


    Lexus smiled, grabbing Valentia¡¯s hand and pulling her close. The sound of her beating heart intensified, and being held so tightly by him, she could even hear the sound of his mixing with hers.


    [Lexus] ¡°The sound of rain shall be our music.¡±


    With that, he started the steps, and Valentia helplessly followed along.


    [Lexus] ¡°First, a waltz.¡±


    Naturally, Valentia¡¯s steps were clumsy and messy. She took lessons when she was young, but though her mind could remember the steps, her body was untrained. Still, Lexus was a very good teacher.


    Valentia was awkward, but whenever she hesitated, he would take the lead and urge her along. And by the time the waltz was over, she realized she made it through without stepping on his foot. Valentia nodded, stepping back as she prepared to slip her hand away from his when¡ª


    [Lexus] ¡°Just a little longer.¡±


    He dipped his head down. His voice was a subtle and quiet whisper, spoken like a temptation. And it was something Valentia did not have the power to resist, no longer trying to pull her hand away from his. Instead, she kept still, hoping that would suffice as an answer.


    And maybe it was her imagination, but it felt like he was holding her hand a little tighter now.


    The menuet was a slow and elegant noble dance. The waltz was basic knowledge, so she was able to avoid stepping on his foot, but with this sort of dance, she was certain she would make a mistake.


    [Valentia] ¡°A menuet would be too difficult.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can step on my foot.¡±


    Though he said that, she wanted to do her best not to hurt him.


    The dance continued without pause. Valentia was stiff at first, but as more time went on, her movements became more smooth. And as the dance became more enjoyable, Valentia couldn¡¯t stop herself from smiling.


    Until eventually, their dance lost all elegance and grace.


    It became more playful, akin to children dancing together. Both her and Lexus held hands, moving like boy and girl, dancing as if they were fairies. And this was something that could only be done because no one was watching. The ballroom at the Fall Banquet would never have allowed for such freedom.


    Then, Valentia¡¯s smile turned into laughter without any hesitation as they moved their bodies in line with music that wasn¡¯t playing. She was forced to grow up so quickly, and this was never the kind of dance that could be afforded to someone who was always expected to be an adult.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you having fun?¡±


    Lexus asked her with a low voice, but Valentia couldn¡¯t answer over the sound of her own laughter. Nor could she hear the quiet sound of him speaking again, whispering the phrase, I¡¯m having fun, too.


    And as their dance came to a slow, both of them were filled with a wonderful sense of exhaustion. Bringing Valentia back to her seat, he let her rest for a moment, leaving and returning with a drink for her; a drink made from fresh strawberries.


    Valentia felt so tired, but strangely, it was in a good way. Her eyelids were heavy, but it felt different from the exhaustion that came from not getting enough sleep because she was trying to push herself too hard.


    Even her listless blinking felt good and sweet.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia?¡±


    Though he was calling her name, she felt so unbearably sleepy, and his calm and gentle voice, speaking her name, lulled her to sleep no different from a lullaby.


    * * *


    T/NT/N: (1) A ¡°menuet¡± (also spelled like ¡®minuet¡¯ in English) is a ballroom dance that originated in France, done in a 3/4 count as a pair. Also known as ¡®minuetto¡¯ in Italian.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    *


    * * *


    *


    Some things don¡¯t give you a warning. They just happen out of the blue like a bolt of lighting. Or rather, in this particular case, it was something she never really knew she needed to expect.


    Valentia stood in front of the building. She could not commit to either going inside or leaving, so she ended up just standing there. Though she knew she needed to go in, she couldn¡¯t do that so easily, but she also couldn¡¯t just leave.


    Someone threw her an awkward look as they left the building, but considering how strange she looked just standing around, that was understandable.


    But this wasn¡¯t something she could avoid forever. She needed to know for certain so she could think about what came next. She purposefully covered her face and went to a place far from both the Academy and the Baron¡¯s mansion.


    Steeling her heart, Valentia went inside.


    With a scarf pulled up over her face, Valentia sat in front of the doctor. The doctor glanced up at her, then looked back down on his chart as he wondered if it was common for patients to enter his office intent on covering themselves.


    [Doctor] ¡°Have you been experiencing any discomfort as of late?¡±


    He asked without a smile or sincerity. He had many patients, and a lot of them were ones who could not afford to pay, and so he couldn¡¯t spare the energy or the time on being kind.


    [Valentia] ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to eat properly these days. And just smelling certain foods is enough to make me dizzy and nauseous.¡±


    Sitting with the doctor, Valentia carefully spoke what she could of her symptoms. The doctor nodded, taking down the occasional note and asking a few questions. Before long, he was able to diagnose her and tell her exactly what disease had befallen her.


    Or rather, it wasn¡¯t a disease.


    It was a word that meant despair.


    [Doctor] ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    She wanted so desperately for him to say no, but he said the dreaded truth easily. The thought lingered in the back of her mind, but she came here hoping to confirm her fears to be false. But reality had a way of turning its cruel head.


    He spoke robotically, giving his mechanical congratulations to Valentia, but they were no different from a curse. Now that she was hearing such a definite answer, she started seeing double, and Valentia clenched her fist to steady herself.


    Pregnant.


    Never once in her entire life did she ever imagine getting this news.


    [Valentia] ¡°It could just be an irregular menstrual cycle¡­¡­¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°No, I¡¯m certain. Not much time has passed, but it¡¯s easy enough to determine at this stage.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Am I really pregnant?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Yes. You¡¯re about six weeks along.¡±


    Like he¡¯d had this conversation a million times, the doctor calculated the approximate date of conception. And seeing the date, it was just when the incident during the outdoor circuit occurred.


    Valentia had to force back a gasp, instead swallowing harshly.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Valentia nodded, quickly saying her thanks, but just when she tried to stand up¡ª


    [Doctor] ¡°If you want to get rid of it, it would be best to decide as soon as possible.¡±


    She stiffened, looking back up to see the doctor¡¯s face. He was still looking down at the chart with a rather languid expression.


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Up until three months, there¡¯s medication that will take care of it for you. It¡¯s a very clean procedure.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t hard to understand what the doctor was talking about.


    When it came to pregnant women who were not immediately overjoyed to hear the news, their situation was obvious, even without listening to the details. So for this unkind doctor, this was the best sort of kindness he could show¡ªa quick and easy solution.


    She pretended to be calm, but her hands wouldn¡¯t stop shaking.


    Any problem, no matter how difficult, had a solution. Eventually, she would find that solution and the problem would be conquered and overcome.


    But she could not for the life of her figure out how to solve this one. No one had ever taught her what she should do and she¡¯d never read a book on this before, either.


    Valentia walked out of the clinic in a daze, her hand going to press her palm against her belly.


    There was a baby here. Lexus¡¯ child was in her stomach.


    She didn¡¯t think a single night would end up like this. She vaguely considered the possibility after the fact, but how was she supposed to know that it would become a reality? And now, she really didn¡¯t know what she should do next.


    The first sign that something was wrong was food.


    The moment she entered the Academy¡¯s dining hall, she immediately felt off. Then, it got worse, like a slowly encroaching sense of sickness¡ªa stomach ache coming on gradually. She felt very dizzy from the second she went to get her food until the moment she sat down.


    At the time, she thought she felt a little ill since she hadn¡¯t eaten anything yet.


    Tap¡ª


    But once she actually tried to eat, Valentia¡¯s hand flew to cover her mouth. The smell was so disgusting to her that she could not bear to even smell it, much less eat it.


    Valentia stood up from her seat and ran off towards the bathroom as the sense of illness started to swell. She tried to throw up again and again, but nothing ever came up, which was to be expected since she never ate anything to begin with.


    But she was sweating so much and it felt like the strength was being sapped from her body. Feeling herself get faint, Valentia closed her eyes, leaning herself against the bathroom wall.


    It took her some time, but eventually she managed to calm her stomach and return to the dining hall, but the second she saw food, she felt sick all over again. In the end, she had no choice but to give up on eating entirely, tossing out her completely untouched meal that she couldn¡¯t stomach even a bite of.


    [Staff] ¡¯You left all your food.¡¯


    One of the faculty members that was cleaning up noticed Valentia¡¯s untouched plate. It was a little surprising to see, since Valentia was more the ¡®waste not, want not¡¯ type.


    But Valentia couldn¡¯t even force herself to eat anything. Her chest burned and she still felt so sick. All she wanted was to just get out of there quickly.


    [Valentia] ¡¯I¡¯m sorry. I think I¡¯m just not feeling very well.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯No, it happens to the best of us. But are you sure it¡¯s not worse? Perhaps you should see the Academy doctor as soon as you can. Honestly, you¡¯re looking a little pale.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡¯Yes. Thank you for worrying about me.¡¯


    [Staff] ¡¯I¡¯ll clean this up. Best you be on your way now.¡¯


    She felt gratitude towards the faculty who gracefully accepted her untouched plate. It was probably because she looked too terrible to be asking any questions. Normally they would have insisted she eat at least a little, but they couldn¡¯t do that right now.


    Valentia left the dining hall as quickly as she could.


    She thought about going to the Academy¡¯s health department as soon as she left, but once she finally got out of the dining hall, she felt a little bit better.


    She felt so dizzy and ill that it seemed like the sky was spinning and she couldn¡¯t pull herself together easily. But that had completely disappeared, and so her mind to go to the doctor disappeared with it.


    At the time, she didn¡¯t take her sudden bout of nausea as anything serious.


    But then her symptoms continued. She would smell food that would trigger her nausea and she¡¯d feel sick for days. And as that cycle continued, Valentia finally decided she would visit a doctor to get to the bottom of this irregularity.


    But that was when she realized a different but significantly important fact.


    I¡¯m late.


    She didn¡¯t menstruate.


    Much like so many other things about her, Valentia¡¯s cycle was very precise, and she thought she might have a good guess as to why it suddenly wasn¡¯t. She knew what condition was similar to her current symptoms. After all, sexual education was a part of the Academy¡¯s common curriculum.


    But¡­it could just be her imagination? Maybe it was just a little bit of indigestion. And feeling drowsy all the time was normal considering how sick she was.


    She kept denying it, over and over again, keeping that vain little hope inside of her heart, but that hope was so quickly dashed across the stones by a single word from that doctor.


    Honestly, there were other signs, too. One of her symptoms was that she was sleeping significantly more. During her regular study period, she found herself taking impromptu naps in the middle of it.


    She thought it was because she was starting to slack off more these days, but pregnancy?


    Just to make sure, she went to another doctor, but even so, the results didn¡¯t change.


    It would already be a massive scandal if an unmarried commoner woman suddenly had a child, but this was worse for Valentia, considering she was technically a noblewoman. Moreover, the man involved was a member of the Imperial family¡¯s direct lineage.


    I need to do something.


    But there was no room for thought here. Valentia already knew the answer.


    I have to get rid of it.


    This wouldn¡¯t be good for his future or hers. Valentia¡¯s rational thought told her that it would be for the best if she took care of this quickly and quietly. Even the doctor had recommended such a solution to her, albeit indifferently.


    Within the Empire, this kind of situation posed a greater threat to the women involved rather than the men. The best thing to do would be to keep the circle small, and only have herself and the doctor in the know.


    However, somehow, something was bothering her.


    Maybe I should tell Lexus.


    But would it be good to say it directly? No matter how she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t see this ending well.


    A member of the direct Imperial lineage and the daughter of a Baron.


    It was already an unreasonable difference in status, even for just a short dalliance. Their brief little love affair was one that was only established because he was a man who was not picky about the women he saw. That along with the Academy¡¯s unique views on equality.


    Valentia was never the little girl who dreamt of marrying a Prince. She held no hopes or expectations for this relationship from the beginning.


    She knew there was no future. Even this pregnancy was just the result of an impulse. An accident.


    It didn¡¯t happen because they loved each other or because they wished to share in their affection for one another. Such sweet words couldn¡¯t be used to mask the reality of it all, and so naturally, the ending couldn¡¯t be sweet like a fairy tale, either.


    And she was scared of what might happen. If she wanted to think about her future, then it would be right not to say anything.


    Already, they were in the midst of exam season. She told Lexus to stay away in the meantime while she studied¡­¡­but if she wanted to say something, then this couldn¡¯t be put off any longer.


    In the end, her foolish love paralyzed her reason and clouded her better judgment.


    She was actually looking forward to talking about it. She agonized constantly between the shouts of her reason and the whispers of her feelings. Her reason told her to take care of it quietly, but her emotions filled her with expectation.


    He might not be happy to know that a single night¡¯s mistake resulted in this, but she wanted to have hope. She wanted to believe that the kindness and heart that he showed her was real.


    After what happened in that old cabin, Valentia realized that he probably thought everything would work out as it always did for him, and that a circumstance like this was likely one that did not occur to him beforehand.


    It was already obvious that Lexus did not think of that night with as much severity as she did.


    And so if she were to tell him, too many different responses were scattered and disorganized inside her head.


    But even as her rationality desperately tried to give her all the reasons as to why she shouldn¡¯t tell him, Valentia didn¡¯t even realize how her arm was already affectionately wrapped around her stomach that lacked a bump.


    * * *

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    *


    * * *


    *


    She thought about it all night, but eventually, she decided she would tell him.


    She concluded that, regardless of how he reacted to it, this wasn¡¯t something she should be dealing with by herself.


    Ringing in her ears were those awful words Lexus had said to that unknown noblewoman from before, but she tried her best to ignore them.


    Though, it was just now occurring to her that she did not know how to find him. She didn¡¯t even know what his lecture schedule was like, and she didn¡¯t know where he normally spent his time or what he did. She was too indifferent towards him for so long to know those kinds of things.


    It was always him that followed her around¡ªwho occupied that empty seat next to her.


    At the time, she found him to be insufferable, rendered entirely speechless by how much he was bothering her. But to tell one the truth, she really enjoyed those times. They were happy memories.


    He was always right next to her before she ever needed to look for him.


    She had no way to know where he spent his days or even to find out where his closest friends were.


    And so Valentia went to the faculty department. Due to the exam period, the normal influx of students had drastically dropped, so there were only a few people here.


    [Student] ¡°No, I really don¡¯t understand. How could I possibly drop ten places all at once?¡±


    The period that allowed for corrections or potential changes in one¡¯s result had certainly passed, and yet there was a male student very clearly shouting at one of the faculty members.


    All they could do was quietly listen to him, responding with a tired expression.


    [Staff] ¡°The time for grade disputes has already passed and the professor you spoke with was adamant about their decision. You must accept it now that things cannot be changed.¡±


    [Student] ¡°But it doesn¡¯t make any sense, no matter how much I think about it. How could my results possibly fall like this?¡±


    Although all students were given the opportunity to dispute their results, it was near pointless to even try. In order to have a grade rescinded or changed, you would need to persuade the professor by arguing your case for your answer.


    Of course, if that were even possible, the professor probably would¡¯ve given you a good grade from the beginning.


    This lanky looking young man was always one of the top students. Never once could she remember him being below the top ten, but from the sounds of it, his performance dropped significantly this time around. His name was Shaun, if she was remembering correctly.


    [Staff] ¡°There is nothing I can do for you, young man. Why not speak with the professor again?¡±


    [Student] ¡°What¡¯s suspicious is that the students near the middle and upper ranks managed to jump so suddenly. What¡¯s going on with that?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°They must have worked hard.¡±


    [Student] ¡°And among the nobles, there was even the Imperial Prince¡­..Hah. Anyway, my results are far too suspicious.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the results. And there is nothing more I can do for you.¡±


    This student was trying to say that his results were unfair and suspicious, but from what Valentia was understanding, it also sounded like he was trying to insinuate that the whole institution of the Academy was corrupt.


    He quickly bit his tongue and took his words back, but if he hadn¡¯t been careful, things could have gone a lot worse.


    It wasn¡¯t as though he was approaching the judiciary committee or the Imperial family with adequate evidence suggesting fraudulent behavior. He was just blatantly insulting the entire Empire with baseless accusations because he was upset with his results.


    [Staff] ¡°If that¡¯s everything, could you please leave now? I have much work that needs to be done.¡±


    The male student clicked his tongue with a frown. She couldn¡¯t hear it exactly, but it was obvious he was uttering a curse under his breath.


    [Valentia] ¡°Hello.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s not much, but I would like to know the rough schedule of Mister Lexus, if at all possible.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°My apologies, but we cannot give out specific student¡¯s timetables.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, is that so?¡±


    [Staff] ¡°In any case, Mister Lexus is rather sensitive when it comes to information about himself. Protection was requested, so if any students come inquiring about him, we are to shut them down flatly.¡±


    Thinking about that, it was only natural. It was doubtful Valentia was the first person to come here and make that sort of request.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    [Staff] ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. Is that everything?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Please continue working hard.¡±


    Leaving the faculty department with nothing to show for it, the student who was arguing about the results was standing just outside the door. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t left yet.


    With his arms crossed and his body stretched out, it was obvious he was dissatisfied with how things went down. Deciding it was none of her business, Valentia passed him by without paying him any mind.


    [Student] ¡°Guess it can¡¯t be helped since you¡¯re a woman.¡±


    Was he talking to her? But she¡¯s heard and ignored comments far worse than that in the past.


    Even if she were to turn around and confront him, he¡¯ll just deny he was talking about her, so there was no point in entertaining his mindless grumbling. Valentia pretended not to hear it, keeping up her steps.


    [Student] ¡°So if you don¡¯t like it, you just pretend not to hear anything, huh? How did a woman who can¡¯t even understand other people become the top student?¡±


    He was almost shouting at her now, so pretending to be ignorant was a pointless endeavor now.


    [Valentia] ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±


    [Student] ¡°So you can hear me now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I asked, are you talking to me?¡±


    [Student] ¡°I see, you were just pretending not to understand.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you even want to say to me? Last I heard, it was considered polite to call out the name of someone if you have business you wish to discuss. If you cannot know that, then I can only assume you were too exhausted to stay awake during your etiquette courses.¡±


    Considering his less than stellar exam performance, her quip accusing him of sleeping during his studies was rather sarcastic. He clicked his tongue again¡ªlikely muttering another curse.


    [Student] ¡°You¡¯re nothing special. You may be the top student, but you¡¯re also a woman, so seeing you get all cozy with the Prince, I have no choice but to think something suspicious is happening.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You seem awfully interested in other people¡¯s private lives. Wouldn¡¯t your time be better used trying to convince the professors and the staff, rather than making odd noises and nosing into other people¡¯s privacy? Ah, come to think of it, I heard your results slipped significantly this time. Are you sure you¡¯re alright? Why don¡¯t you spend your spare time studying rather than having fun by yourself?¡±


    His face turned red.


    [Student] ¡°You crazy¡ªwhat did you just say¡­¡­.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You don¡¯t understand? Well, that¡¯s how your results turned out like this. It would probably be a more productive use of your time to speak with the professors rather than me.¡±


    [Student] ¡°Crazy bitch!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t hold back his anger, suddenly throwing up his hands. She didn¡¯t expect him to try and take a swing at her, so Valentia¡¯s whole body stiffened in a single second.


    And right then, a certain someone passed through Valentia¡¯s mind.


    Lexus.


    [???] ¡°What are you doing!?¡±


    A man appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the student¡¯s wrist and turning his arm back. He pinned it behind him, pressing him down and easily overpowering him as he forced him to the ground. It was just before Valentia thought she was hit that she realized the blow never made it to her.


    His head was turned away and she couldn¡¯t see his face, but his voice was familiar to her.


    [???] ¡°Are you trying to use violence against another student?¡±


    [Student] ¡°Ah, no! It¡¯s not like that. I just got angry because she was speaking so carelessly.¡±


    [???] ¡°What kind of excuse is that? What were you even planning on doing? Do I need to report you to the board for use of violence on Academy grounds?¡±


    The man lifted up his face as he asked, and Valentia was able to recognize the one who had come to her aide¡ªJays.


    But why did Lexus appear in her mind at such a dangerous time. Of course he wouldn¡¯t magically appear to rescue her like fate or a storybook.


    I¡¯m already relying on him too much, Valentia thought, bitterly smiling at her own foolishness.


    [Student] ¡°N, no, I didn¡¯t even hit her. You¡¯re the one using violence against me.¡±


    Since they were making such a fuss right in front of the faculty office, he started getting all quiet and pathetic. He was probably afraid things would get more out of hand, especially now that a report was being potentially levied against him.


    [Student] ¡°I won¡¯t do anything, so just let me go.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°If I ever see you try this again, I won¡¯t hesitate to report this. Be on your best behavior.¡±


    Jays warned him with an incredibly cold voice. It was so frigid and terrifying, that it nearly scared Valentia and it definitely surprised her.


    After Jays roughly threw aside the man¡¯s arm, he slumped back onto the ground. He muttered a few curses to himself before quickly getting up, disappearing with his tail in between his legs. Jays stared in that direction before he was entirely gone, then turned back to Valentia, speaking in his usual polite tone.


    [Jays] ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you for helping me.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I only did what I had to. That was a close one.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I would have been in serious trouble had you not arrived.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°So how did this happen?¡±


    He gave a shy smile, quickly changing the subject.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, I had something I needed to say to Lord Lexus, so I came to ask for his lecture schedule. Unfortunately, though, they told me it wasn¡¯t something they could speak so easily.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true, but I can tell you. Lord Lexus should still be in lecture hall five, right in this building.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    [Jays] ¡°We take one of the same lectures¡ªbusiness admin. It just finished up, but he was still in the hall when I left, talking to his friends, it looked like.¡±


    He smiled softly again, carefully explaining to her how to get there. She was at a total loss on how she¡¯d find him, but now she was finding herself in Jays¡¯ debt once more.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you so much. I¡¯m in a little bit of a hurry right now¡­¡­.But I will not forget this kindness.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°It¡¯s nothing, you don¡¯t owe me anything. Off you go, now. If you hurry, you might be able to catch him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°See you again later.¡±


    Without even saying a proper goodbye, Valentia rushed off towards the lecture hall.


    *


    * * *


    *


    The door to lecture hall five was slightly ajar, and several voices could be heard flowing through the gap. There wasn¡¯t a single other person around, so it was far too easy to make out what they were saying.


    And among that myriad of voices was Lexus. She was worried about what she would do if he was gone already, but luckily he was still speaking with his friends in the lecture hall.


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, so you finally made your move?¡±


    Move? What was that supposed to mean? Were they playing some sort of game?


    But either way, eavesdropping on other people¡¯s conversations was extremely rude, so she had to either pretend she was never here and come back later, or make herself known by interrupting them while she had the chance.


    Normally, avoiding confrontation would¡¯ve been the most comfortable thing for her to do, but she couldn¡¯t do that now. This was something very important.


    Her hands were trembling with how much tension she felt. How would she say it? What would she say right after she opened the door?


    Every thought she could fathom disappeared the moment they tried to come to fruition in her mind.


    Just as Valentia reached out to the door to knock, she heard words that stiffened her entire body¡ªall of her choices rendered entirely null.


    [Tex] ¡°It¡¯s amazing that you actually managed to net the Iron Maiden.¡±


    The Iron Maiden.


    Those words made Valentia shake.


    * * *

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    *


    * * *


    *


    The Iron Maiden.


    She knew they were talking about her, but it had been a while since she¡¯d heard the name spoken so freely. It was so sudden and unexpected that she felt her heart drop in her chest just hearing it.


    She recognized the voice, too. It was his closest friend, Tex¡ªHeir to Duke Langbell.


    [Tex] ¡°Are you really seeing her now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She said okay, as far as I know.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°So, why aren¡¯t you guys spending time with each other?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She asked me to give her space while she studied for exams.¡±


    Somehow, his voice sounded a little uneven.


    [Tex] ¡°Wow, she¡¯s kind of amazing. To think she¡¯s kicking the Prince to the side just so she can study.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We went to the Fall Banquet together.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Right, you did. Did you do anything besides that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Nothing.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Nothing? That doesn¡¯t sound like the Prince I know. I¡¯ll ask again¡ªdid you do anything besides that?¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°So, did you sleep with her?¡±


    Another friend of his, Ruth said. He asked such a low bar question, but it came out far too easily.


    Her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding. She was afraid to know what kind of answer he would give, and she was so shocked and surprised by what she was hearing that even her breath was coming out all ragged.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m under no obligation to answer that question.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say anything concrete in response, but even his vague answer was extremely telling. It was the kind phrasing that could easily be understood by anyone, even if he wasn¡¯t affirming their suspicions.


    Valentia¡¯s cheeks flushed red.


    [Ruth] ¡°I guess that means you won the bet. I really didn¡¯t think it would work. What was the wager, again?¡±


    A bet? This was¡­a bet?


    What on earth were they talking about? What was this!?


    Valentia yelled at herself in her mind. Her head already understood it very clearly, but she wanted so desperately for it to not be true. That maybe¡­.maybe it was all just a strange misunderstanding.


    Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t understand, Valentia, the voice inside of her said. You already knew. You knew right from the very beginning.


    Connecting the dots based on their words made things easy.


    Lexus made a bet to see if he could successfully sleep with her. On whether or not he could conquer her. And no further listening was needed to understand when this bet was likely made.


    It was probably right after she slapped him. Prior to that, they¡¯d never once bumped into one another.


    For the person considered to be the most desirable man in the entire Empire, a bet like this would be a simple thing. All so he could see if he could ensnare the woman who despised him enough to slap him despite the consequences.


    He must have decided that a bet like this was worth that kind of effort.


    Oh, how much fun he must¡¯ve had, seeing her get all confused and bewildered by his calculated kindness. What fun to see her get pulled around like that!


    And then she ended up getting serious while he was just toying with her. Even now, though she knew the truth with utmost certainty, she so foolishly wanted to believe it was a lie.


    [Tex] ¡°No, this can¡¯t be real. She¡¯s the Iron Maiden. No matter what kind of man you are, there¡¯s zero chance a woman made of iron can fall in love with a man.¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°But he¡¯s the Prince. Even a Prince¡¯s charm can work on the Iron Maiden.¡±


    At Arthur¡¯s snide comment, Tex grabbed both sides of his head as he stood up from his seat, shouting into the air.


    [Tex] ¡°No, my land! My lake! My villa¡ª!¡±


    The first time she spoke to him, the interaction was horrid. He misunderstood things, poured out all those terrible insults, and Valentia even slapped him in the face as a form of rebellion. That was how they first met.


    Now, the reason for why he approached her in spite of that was clear.


    Why did he keep pushing her? Why did he keep talking to her, following her around and taking the empty seat next to her? Why was he so kind? Why did he treat her well?


    Everything that didn¡¯t make sense was suddenly filled with clarity.


    That¡¯s how it was.


    It was always like that.


    Valentia flinched, taking a sudden step back. She couldn¡¯t even breathe properly.


    Though she heard every vivid truth with her own ears, even though she knew it was ridiculous, she couldn¡¯t believe it was all a lie. That nothing, absolutely no part of how he treated her was real.


    And she was not courageous enough to shove open the door and demand answers.


    All she could hear was the sound of something shattering. What is her heart that was making that sound? Or maybe her misplaced faith?


    She didn¡¯t know.


    Perhaps it was her ill begotten love.


    And she didn¡¯t know what to do with the shattered pieces left in her hands. There was nothing left but devastation. Valentia was suffocated by the knowledge that those things she held so dear meant absolutely nothing.


    Who exactly was it that she had given her love to?


    She saw him sitting in the room, completely silent with a languid but crooked expression on his face.


    It was very strange to look at him now, though she was so certain that she loved him. But though his face was no different, she couldn¡¯t recognize him any more.


    Valentia could no longer see the person she once felt affection for.


    Though his friends mocked her, calling her the Iron Maiden, he never stopped them or tried to refute them. He could¡¯ve denied it at least once, telling them not to call her that, but instead he stayed completely quiet.


    And then, unable to listen any longer, Valentia left that place.


    What she was running from, she could not say. Was she running from him? Or because she could not bear the pain in her chest from this wound he had caused?


    Bearing the weight of this terrifying sense of betrayal, Valentia stepped back, not knowing she would never be able to return to how things once were.


    But one must wonder¡ªHad she not run away, had she walked in, gotten angry and made him explain¡­..would things have turned out differently?


    But in the end, such was a useless question to ask.


    Filled with a sense of betrayal that could not be abated, Valentia left. All she could do was get away.


    *


    * * *


    *


    His daily life was boring. After his lectures were complete, he was planning on just heading back home to the palace when he was suddenly accosted by Tex, Arthur, and Ruth.


    [Tex] ¡°Want to go hang out?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Not interested.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? You¡¯ve been acting a little modestly these days.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Modest?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°It¡¯s true. You aren¡¯t seeing any women like you normally do and you don¡¯t even go out lately.¡±


    Tex stuck out his tongue as he grumbled.


    The Prince was spending all of his free time diligently studying these days, quietly passing away his daily life before returning back to the palace.


    Honestly, the Prince was an entertaining person to watch. Any time he caused a commotion, it was sure to be a fun scene. But now, thanks to the Prince keeping to himself and never seeing any women, Tex¡¯s fun was being shattered.


    [Lexus] ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s about time you grew up, too.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What are you, my mother?¡±


    Tex had a look of disgust on his face, especially peeved since he¡¯d just heard the same from the Duchess not long ago.


    [Lexus] ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t feel a little uncertain if they had a son like you?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Is that really how you¡¯ve been looking at me this whole time, Lexus?¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°Come on, don¡¯t fight. Ah, but that reminds me, what happened with that whole thing with the Iron Maiden? Are you working hard?¡±


    Arthur quickly brought up another topic of conversation, hoping to lighten up the mood, but it made Lexus flinch.


    This was an unwelcome topic to talk about.


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. How¡¯s that going? I was going to ask if you¡¯ve made any progress.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..I was planning on going out with her first.¡±


    He felt very uncomfortable right now, almost like his stomach was turning while he was talking.


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, so you finally made your move?¡±


    Move?


    An unconscious frown grew on Lexus¡¯ face. Somehow, he didn¡¯t like the sound of that word. It felt wrong and bad.


    [Tex] ¡°It¡¯s amazing that you actually managed to net the Iron Maiden.¡±


    The Iron Maiden.


    Though they called her that, she actually wasn¡¯t like that at all. Honestly, from what he¡¯d seen of her, she was a much more weak-hearted person than her hardened title made her out to be.


    She couldn¡¯t even reach out and pet a stray dog because she was afraid of getting attached, even though she spent so much time painstakingly taking care of him. And when the dog was in trouble, she instinctively went out to save it.


    And she was even the kind of woman who reached out and took care of a young kid who was crying after losing his mother.


    He really didn¡¯t like where this conversation was going.


    They were finally starting to talk about this goddamn bet. It wasn¡¯t as though he was pursuing her, wanting to keep seeing her just because of that.


    No. That¡¯s not quite right. The bet was how this whole thing got started, but as time went along, he gradually forgot about it until it was out of his mind completely.


    He wasn¡¯t even reminded of it until right this moment, when he realized that he¡¯d technically won.


    But while his head was spinning, their conversation went sideways.


    It was only just now that he felt extremely ashamed over his own actions. Valentia didn¡¯t even know the whole story, but that subtle guilt was enough of a thorn to make him uncomfortable.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡­¡­..¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What?¡±


    Lexus clenched his teeth.


    Just say it. I lost.


    In the middle of Tex¡¯s griping, yelling about his precious land, lake, and villa, he tried to say something, but the words wouldn¡¯t come out.


    If he were to say those dreaded words of ¡®I lost¡¯, no doubt Tex would immediately jump on the chance to mock him.


    Lexus had never once bent to the will of another, nor had he ever declared himself the loser. Those words were no different from biting on his own tongue just to give another the chance to cut it out¡ªwords he believed he¡¯d sooner die than say.


    This goddamn pride of mine.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t call her that.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What? Don¡¯t call who what?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t call her the Iron Maiden. You know she has a name, right?¡±


    And so, instead of the phrase ¡®I lost¡¯, that¡¯s all he said in its place. Hearing Lexus¡¯ words, the others threw awkward glances at each other.


    [Tex] ¡°Wh, what¡¯s her name?¡±


    It was extremely unpleasant that they didn¡¯t even know what her proper name was.


    But it was hypocritical of him to get mad at them for that. He had no right to act all self righteous about it, like he was so much better than them when he was no different not long ago.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why it was so unpleasant for him to have to listen to them. Their actions were like mirrors, reflecting his own awful behavior right back at him.


    [Tex] ¡°Uh, well, um, right¡­..Was it Valentia?¡±


    But honestly, he didn¡¯t really like hearing them call her Valentia, either.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t even call her by her name.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What the hell, Your Highness?¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°Then, what do we call her?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Call her by her last name. Her last name.¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°¡­¡­Last name¡­¡­What was it, again?¡±


    For these three, Valentia was just the top student at the Academy and the source of their now failed bet¡ªthe Iron Maiden. There was no need for them to understand anything about her beyond that, much less her name; both first and last.


    Lexus was certainly the same as them at one point, but now it all just felt so disgusting.


    He normally would¡¯ve enjoyed these sorts of conversations in the past, but their words just kept making him feel worse, like he was getting sick. What the hell was up with this feeling? Why did he feel so empty, like something was missing?


    He just wanted to move on from this already. He wanted to leave.


    What he wanted to do was go see that woman.


    Her face was always so stiff, but sometimes she¡¯d get these little grins without even realizing it, and her normally rigid voice would turn light and free. He wanted to take a walk with her, their steps following after that golden puppy who¡¯s tail never failed to wag when she was around.


    And now he knew the reason for his listlessness. The reason for why his daily life had become so dull¡ªIt was because Valentia wasn¡¯t here.


    He missed her dearly, and the time left until he could see her again felt endless.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) ¡®Seeing¡¯ as in dating. To be fair, the word used could also feasibly be translated into dating since it¡¯s just a term meaning to be in a romantic relationship, but ¡®dating¡¯ felt very off kilter for what should be a historical setting.


    Oh my goodness, this chapter though! My favorite to translate so far. Valentia¡¯s feelings were so intense to read, and so I hoped I did her whole internal monologue justice. It was very heart wrenching to read, and I actually cried. Didn¡¯t help that I was listening to my sad music playlist¡­.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    *


    * * *


    *


    The farther she got from the lecture hall, the faster her steps became.


    In retrospect, people stopped calling her that mocking nickname, ¡®The Iron Maiden¡¯ shortly after she started becoming close with Lexus. Perhaps he planned that, calculating it all in accordance with his little game.


    But at least that meant Valentia had nothing left to worry about. There was no need to carry any lingering feelings for the child now inside of her.


    This child was conceived because a man was playing with her, so ridding herself of it was a sound decision. Talking to such a man would serve no purpose, and if it was for the sake of her future, this child needed to go.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m such an idiot.¡±


    Like a fool, she was.


    She blindly took every kindness as being real. For her, who had no experience, that man was her first for everything, and she had no way of knowing what was sincere and what wasn¡¯t.


    But how could she not feel love? When he spoke to her with that voice and looked at her with those eyes, how could she not feel something in return?


    If he managed to ensnare all the women he¡¯d been with like that, then he truly was the worst man alive.


    How could they not love him?


    How could they not feel anything for such a lovely man?


    But though her heart was torn asunder by this betrayal, her mind was still cold and focused. Valentia knew now what she needed to do, returning to the same clinic from before.


    She did not have the same fickle nerves as when she first arrived, unable to overcome her fear and confusion. This time, she passed through the entrance without pause.


    It wasn¡¯t late, but the doctor still looked very tired.


    [Doctor] ¡°Have you made your decision?¡±


    The doctor glanced up at Valentia¡¯s face, his voice not showing any sign of true care towards her circumstances.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°And? What will you do?¡±


    Her mind thought to tell him she would get rid of it, but her mouth couldn¡¯t keep up as she fell into silence for a moment. Without realizing it, she once more touched her completely flat stomach. She was told there was a baby here, but the reality was still far from her grasp.


    Aside from feeling a little sick during her meal, she hadn¡¯t thrown up yet. And from what she learned, at this stage, her ¡®baby¡¯ couldn¡¯t really be called a baby right now. It was only a bundle of cells, the size of her finger without a human form.


    And yet, she felt a little strange about this. Gnawing at her was this weird feeling that she shouldn¡¯t do this, and that if she did, she might end up regretting things.


    [Valentia] ¡°What do I need to do to stop this?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Before three months, take the prescribed medicine, and it will be solved safely and cleanly. It¡¯s just like when you menstruate, and before you know it, it¡¯ll all be over.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°And if I wait longer than that?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°You¡¯ll start to show, and the burden on your body will be great. The longer you wait past this grace period, the harder it will be.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take the medicine.¡±


    Badum¡ª


    Why did it feel like she said something she shouldn¡¯t have?


    [Doctor] ¡°The medicine is a bit dangerous, so I don¡¯t have any in store at the moment. You¡¯ll need to take it in front of me, and you¡¯ll be checked into the clinic so we can monitor your condition.¡±


    The drug he was talking about was one that was meant to forcibly stop a pregnancy. If it were to get into the wrong hands, it could easily be used for nefarious purposes, so it was necessary to keep it under careful lock and key.


    [Valentia] ¡°When can I get it?¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Two weeks should be enough to get some made. You can come back then.¡±


    Hearing that made her feel a bit better. That would be right after the exams, and once they were finished, so too would her time at the Academy.


    She didn¡¯t think much of what the future held, nor did she carry any particular expectations for it, but she didn¡¯t think their time spent together would end like this in all ways.


    Right now, the time to officially part ways with that man was fast approaching.


    *


    * * *


    *


    Before she knew it, two weeks had passed.


    The final examinations were completely over.


    Her condition had never been worse, and she couldn¡¯t study even a little bit, so she had no idea how her results would go this time. But even if she were to go back in time, it was doubtful she could get any more prep done than she already did.


    [Lexus] ¡°Valentia.¡±


    No person in her life called her name with such kindness and tenderness. It was hard to believe even this was being faked. If she hadn¡¯t heard the truth with her own ears and someone tried to tell her that he was fooling her, she would¡¯ve ignored them, passing their claims off as idle gossip.


    Valentia did her best to calm the beating of her heart, but to no avail.


    [Lexus] ¡°Long time no see.¡±


    Those gently arched eyes of his were no different. She searched and searched for the lies in his expression, but she could not find any.


    Whether it was before she knew the truth, or even after, there was no difference in his behavior. But now that she knew, everything felt like a lie. She couldn¡¯t trust anything about him.


    Valentia clenched her fist, her small hand trembling. it was taking everything she had not to hit him again.


    And it wasn¡¯t because she found him still lovable. It was to avoid letting him know she knew about his little game. She didn¡¯t want him to know how hurt she was by his lies.


    She wondered, how happy would he be knowing how he¡¯d hurt her? How much fun would he think this whole game was?


    [Valentia] ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in over two weeks.¡±


    And that time was nothing but pain and suffering for her. But for him¡­.was he disappointed in the same way a child would be when having their toys taken? Or did he await that time in pleasure for when he may next poke at her?


    [Lexus] ¡°Did you do well on your exams?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I did.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then you must¡¯ve worked hard. I guess it was worth dealing with how much I missed you.¡±


    Every word he said was now laced with suspicion. Was that the truth? A lie? Though honestly, she didn¡¯t have to put that much thought into it to know which it was.


    She was so tired of herself¡ªtired of the self who kept hoping and expecting for crumbs, despite knowing that nothing he said was true. Love and all the feelings that came with it had turned her into a fool.


    [Lexus] ¡°There was somewhere I wanted to go with you when we reunited. Will you come with me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Where?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s a little far, but I¡¯ll be able to get you home by the end of the day.¡±


    Why did his lies have to be so soft and sweet? How could this level of warmth be faked so easily? What kind of painful betrayal was he intent on putting her through?


    And would he be shocked to know she already knew about it?


    She knew she needed to say no. She didn¡¯t want to play like this anymore. She wanted him to stay away from her and to keep her distance from him.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    But despite her rationality, the words that ended up leaving her mouth were the complete opposite. Even Valentia couldn¡¯t understand what compelled her to say yes, but she didn¡¯t want to take those words back.


    Why do I do this to myself?


    She could not explain this contradiction. She hated him and resented him, but she could not say no. Even now, she wished she could slap that face of his while he pretended to be ignorant with an audacious smile on his face, so why couldn¡¯t she say no?


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Shall we set off?¡±


    Lexus reached out his hand, and Valentia put her hand on top of it. She just convinced herself she needed to act like this; all so she wouldn¡¯t be caught knowing about his farce.


    The carriage he had prepared left the capital at a slow pace. With her nerves crawling up her throat, Valentia felt it burn, her fingertips tingling as she swallowed harshly.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you thirsty? Do you want something to drink?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Do you have anything?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I prepared a little something.¡±


    He turned and raised up one of the armrests, revealing beneath the frame what looked to be a hidden space, filled with ice and premade bottles of water.


    [Valentia] ¡°Is something like this common in carriages these days?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Whenever people invent new things, oftentimes they show it to the Imperial family first and foremost in an attempt to gain investments.¡±


    Valentia took the water, feeling the cooling sensation pass through her.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I didn¡¯t think something like this was possible.¡±


    Something fierce stung in her chest. Was it because she drank the cold water too quickly? Or perhaps the kindness he was showing her now was just a painful thing.


    Valentia looked out the window, pressing down on her stomach like she could feel that bitter water threatening to come back up.


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry? What makes you ask that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You don¡¯t look too happy.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.Do I look troubled?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes. Is something wrong?¡±


    The fact that he was able to recognize her mood just by looking at her expression troubled Valentia. His efforts to seem caring and attentive only served to show her how meticulous he was, intent on deceiving her right until the very end.


    Though she knew it to be a lie, it still felt very sincere.


    But that was just because of her own feelings. A foolish emotion that compelled her to hope beyond all hope that these lies of his were how he truly felt.


    [Valentia] ¡°No. Nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    She really wanted to ask. Was it all truly a lie? But she knew she could not ask because she would never be able to hear the answer she wanted.


    It was a pointless and meaningless question to ask in the first place.


    And so, rather than the truth, Valentia gave an easy to accept answer.


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t think I did very well on the exams.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s not possible for you. You¡¯ve got nothing to worry about.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s nowhere dangerous, so don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a place where someone who wants to see you is waiting.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°There¡¯s no one like that.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°There is.¡±


    He gave a mischievous and knowing laugh, but she couldn¡¯t understand what he was trying to say.


    The place they eventually arrived at was a beautiful looking mansion. Once the carriage passed through the threshold of the large gated entrance, a wide and open garden came into view.


    And Valentia still couldn¡¯t understand what Lexus was talking about until she took a step out of the carriage.


    Lined with trees of yellow and red fall leaves, near the back of the beautiful garden, there was a small creature of golden fur. That was all Valentia needed to see to know exactly who it was.


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark¡ª!¡±


    Goldie gave a loud bark. It had been so long since he¡¯d seen her, so Goldie was beyond elated, bounding towards her with his soft, and cream colored fur waving in the air.


    Ah, I see. So you were here.


    It¡¯d been too long since they¡¯d last seen each other, and yet his tail didn¡¯t stop wagging, excitedly showing her that not even for a moment did he forget about her.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you have any idea how depressed Goldie was while you were gone? He had no energy and ate pretty much nothing the entire time.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Valentia pet Goldie¡¯s head, feeling the texture of his fur in her hand.


    She¡¯d forgotten all about him during all of this, but Goldie faithfully remembered and waited for her. Her heart was in so much pain, splintering under all the pressure to the point of numbness, but it didn¡¯t seem to hurt so bad anymore.


    His well managed and soft fur slipped from her fingertips. Valentia smiled down as she watched the puppy, wagging his tail like it was going to fall off.


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie.¡±


    When Valentia called his name, he barked like was answering her. He was a little bigger than he was before, so his bark was more intimidating and had more presence.


    [Lexus] ¡°I think he understands what people say to him.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Sorry?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I asked him if he wanted to see you today, and he was a mess all the way until this morning.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    Valentia held Goldie¡¯s face with both of her hands, giving him little scritches under his chin. He was such a warm and cuddly boy. What made him love her so much? She never gave him any proper affection until now.


    [Valentia] ¡°But why bring him all the way out here?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°When we go out for a walk, too many people stare at us. I thought some place quieter might be better.¡±


    Valentia looked up at Lexus with brand new eyes.


    As she stared at him, he gave her a confused but soft smile, like he was trying to ask what she was looking at so deeply.


    This man was so lovable, it was heartbreaking. At his smile, she felt like her heart was going to collapse in on itself. He was so wonderful, she could scarcely believe it.


    All of this¡­was a lie?


    * * *

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    * * *


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be conscious of that.¡±


    Casting her eyes down, Valentia¡¯s voice was quiet. She knew people stared at them, but she did her best to ignore them.


    But even so, it didn¡¯t mean those situations were comfortable or nice to be in. She just knew that nothing could be done about it, so it¡¯d be best not to dwell on something that couldn¡¯t be changed. So the least she could do was pretend she was alright with it.


    She never wanted to show anyone her weak sides.


    [Lexus] ¡°Actually, I feel pretty uncomfortable when people stare, too.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You do?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Of course. But I got used to it.¡±


    Lexus was already a person for whom his relationships would attract attention. Their fanciful relationship, unafraid of the rumors, was rather famous at the Academy by now.


    Which meant this was an arrangement he made purely for Valentia¡¯s sake.


    She liked being able to walk with him and Goldie, but the gazes, stares, and glares of others were hard to ignore sometimes. And knowing that about her, Lexus prepared a place where they could walk their dog in a nice mansion like this¡­.?


    He was such a skilled manipulator, he could trick anyone into loving him like this.


    Why is he doing this? Does he want to win that badly?


    If that¡¯s the case, then by any definition, he¡¯d already won. When on earth was he planning on coming clean?


    [Lexus] ¡°Are you hungry? Would you like to eat?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­..Alright.¡±


    She took a step forward, reaching out to take his hand. That was when Valentia realized something strange¡ªhe was not leading her towards the mansion, but rather, away from it.


    [Valentia] ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The mansion¡¯s nice and all, but it wouldn¡¯t be very fun to take our meal there, would it?¡±


    Just behind them was the quickly growing golden retriever, following in their footsteps.


    Where they ended up was a gazebo made of white marble, set up on one side of the garden. Draping down the sides of it like a canopy was a thin, translucent white cloth like a dragonfly¡¯s wings, and it fluttered just as delicately in the wind.


    It was a sight brilliant enough to shake anyone¡¯s heart. With the red and yellow autumnal leaves scattered on the ground around the white marble, contrasting against the pure color of the gazebo, it was such a beautiful view. Very peaceful, too.


    On the table inside the gazebo was a white lace tablecloth with a lovely pot of even lovelier flowers adorning the center.


    With a blank stare, Valentia stood still as she took it all in.


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Valentia looked up at Lexus again.


    His blond hair glittered under the sun and trembled beneath the wind, his equally golden eyelashes fluttering like waves. He was such a beautiful man, befitting of this setting so wonderful, she was hard pressed to believe it was real.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Valentia replied automatically, as if this very scene were compelling her forward. But whether it was him or the view before that was moving her, she could not tell.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it.¡±


    Urging Valentia to sit first, Lexus sat just across from her. The sight of the falling leaves, beautifully colored like the season commanded¡ªeverything was simply lovely.


    This man¡¯s entire existence filled her heart and it hurt.


    Then came the sound of footsteps, and a well dressed older gentleman arrived pushing forward a tin tray out on a cart. He greeted her with a friendly and soft smile.


    [Hugo] ¡°I am honored to make your acquaintance. I am Hugo.¡±


    She remembered hearing that name.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the chamberlain, are you not?¡±


    Hugo widened his eyes, then quickly straightened out his expression.


    [Hugo] ¡°How did you know? That is correct; I am in charge of maintaining the second Prince¡¯s palace.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus spoke of you once.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°I hesitate to ask what he might have said.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I was told you take care of Goldie. Thank you.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°It was no trouble, but it is nice to hear your thanks all the same. Today¡¯s meal was prepared under my supervision. I would be honored to know you enjoyed it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course, I am certain I will.¡±


    Hugo¡¯s smile was filled with warmth, but it didn¡¯t take long for his expression to return to its normal state.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why don¡¯t you start preparing the meal if you¡¯re done talking, Hugo?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°You have not changed one bit since you were young. Were you not reminded time and time again that it is polite to be patient for one¡¯s meal?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What was that?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Wait just a moment.¡±


    Hugo took the plates from the tray, setting them out on the table one by one. His movements were polite, but excessively elegant, but it made the atmosphere a little lighter, like he was putting on a show.


    At the same time, the air turned quiet and peaceful.


    That was when Valentia noticed something else. Near the bottom of the cart was a large dish, covered by a large silver lid, shaped like a dome. It was so comically large that she thought there would be no room on the table for it.


    But then again, if someone had meticulously set this whole thing up, would they not have prepared room for something like that if they were anticipating such a large dish?


    When Valentia tilted her head, Hugo took up the plate, removing the silver lid like he knew what she was asking.


    The one for whom this dish was meant for was right underneath the table.


    [Hugo] ¡°You will eat too, Goldie.¡±


    Hugo set down the plate in front of Goldie, filled with meat that had been carefully boiled and diced into bite sized pieces. As he did, Goldie was sitting politely while he waited, very different from the unruly little boy he used to be. Hugo¡¯s comment made Valentia let out a small chuckle.


    This was the same puppy that would once stuff his face into Valentia¡¯s bag searching for food, so it was cute and funny seeing him wait so patiently. This whole scene was so sweet and gentle, though it made her heart ache.


    [Hugo] ¡°Please, enjoy your meal.¡±


    Once Hugo stepped away, only Valentia, Lexus, and Goldie remained. Everything in this moment was absolutely perfect¡ªit was like a dream.


    As she looked at her surroundings with a daze in her eyes, Lexus looked around, following her eyes before laughing.


    [Lexus] ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? What¡¯s got your attention all of a sudden?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­I just like this.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s a relief. To tell you the truth, I actually had a bit of a hard time sorting out all the decorations.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°The ambience here is really nice, but there¡¯s so much wind that kicks up all the dust and leaves. I thought about it for a while, and I had the idea of weighing down the canopy with a heavy cloth to protect the inside of the gazebo, but then it didn¡¯t look right¡­.And then getting all the flowers and the decorations turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be, and the hanging flowers refused to sit right¡­¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Your chamberlain must have had his work cut out for him.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hush. Even if you know, pretend you don¡¯t, won¡¯t you?¡±


    None of this seemed real right now, and so Valentia laughed without thinking about it much. She took one of the small buns and ripped it in half.


    Seeing Goldie sitting in front of his plate, completely unmoving, Lexus nodded his head, giving the boy the signal he needed to start digging in.


    This moment was good, and the food tasted delicious to match, especially in comparison to before. She could still remember the first time she took a meal with him, feeling uncomfortable and unsettled the entire time.


    She looked up, suspicion in her eyes as she watched the man in front of her, pretending to be kind. Though she knew his goodhearted and gentle nature towards her was a complete fabrication, this moment still hurt her, and she felt pathetic because of it.


    [Valentia] ¡°I have a question.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s tickling your curiosity?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°The day I slapped you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh. That painful memory.¡±


    He clearly didn¡¯t expect her to bring this up, and he ended up smiling awkwardly.


    She knew this question wasn¡¯t an appropriate one to ask now, but she thought if she waited for any other time, it would be even harder to ask. She didn¡¯t have the luxury of being tactful about this.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I heard a conversation between you and another woman in the courtyard that morning before it happened.¡±


    Somehow, his expression seemed sheepish.


    He was truly a skilled actor, being able to make that kind of face on cue like that. If she didn¡¯t already know he was toying with her, she definitely would have been fooled.


    [Valentia] ¡°I didn¡¯t listen on purpose. You just so happened to be on the path I always take.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes, I understand that. But what about it?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You seemed so certain. You said it couldn¡¯t happen for you. Is there any reason for that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a very pleasant question to ask.¡±


    For once, he responded very firmly, but she couldn¡¯t back down now that she¡¯d already brought it up.


    [Valentia] ¡°I know that.¡±


    A myriad of emotions passed through Lexus¡¯ expression like silent agony. But Valentia stayed quiet, patiently waiting for an answer.


    Before long, Lexus sighed.


    [Lexus] ¡°I have no choice but to be certain.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Why?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°This is actually a secret that should never be told but, how do I put this¡­¡­¡­..It¡¯s¡­.hard for me to have children.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°You¡¯re infertile?¡± (1)


    As a knee-jerk reaction, Valentia reflexively spoke about his probable condition. Lexus smiled bitterly, wincing like the word physically hurt him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Kind of hurts when you say it like that.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, it just makes it sadder. And to be exact, it¡¯s a little different, but it might as well be the same.¡±


    His voice was casual and almost playful, like he was trying to clear away the heavy air that this topic brought along with it.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Are you absolutely certain?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a fact of life for me.¡±


    His answer was unexpected.


    Did the Imperial family¡¯s doctor confirm it for him? He said it was similar but different, but he didn¡¯t say any more than that. And from the beginning, it was apparently a secret that should not be spoken about in the first place.


    I understand now.


    That¡¯s why he was so confident. This child was definitely his, but he would not believe her. And she knew exactly what he would say to her if she ever said this out loud.


    He would ask her who the father was¡­and if she was even pregnant to begin with.


    Valentia smiled, but it was empty and vague. She was not confident she could not endure those words being said to her. She was already so upset hearing them said to a stranger, but to her?


    Just thinking about it made her sick.


    And the most upsetting and infuriating part about all of this was that she was not confident she could trust anything he said, and yet, at the same time, she knew she could not stop loving him. Even through the lies and the pain, this feeling remained strong.


    She could not resist how precious this moment was to her, even though she knew he didn¡¯t mean a single part of it.


    I¡¯m such an idiot.


    ¡ª Love is a poison that restrains and blinds reason.


    In cases like this, rational judgment is an impossible feat.


    When one¡¯s heart becomes enraptured with affection, led by the whims of their heart, they end up ignoring what should be their best choice ¡ª


    Valentia read a poem like that once. She could not understand those words at the time, but right now, she could hear them resounding in her very soul. The poison Valentia swallowed was one with no antidote. Her only choice was to tremble in pain from the poison she drank.


    And Valentia understood the cause of all her contradictory feelings.


    It was love.


    Unavoidable, inevitable, and true love.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) Here, Valentia actually uses a very specific medical term. Had to do a lot of KR and EN research since I don¡¯t know medical terms in either language, but through my search, I found that she was talking about ¡°azoospermia¡± which is a medical condition in which a man¡¯s semen lacks any sperm whatsoever. I simplified it to ¡°infertile¡± to make it easier to read, but just know that Valentia is very smart, out here using medical terms, haha


    t/c: Oh Valentia, my sweet sunshine child. How I wish I could wrap you up in happiness and never let you go ;_;

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    * * *


    [Lexus] ¡°Shall we take a walk?¡±


    Once they were done with their meal, Valentia nodded at Lexus¡¯ suggestion. They walked together, Valentia taking step after step while being led by Lexus, holding onto his arm as he escorted her very naturally.


    Flowing through the cool breeze was the sound of the dry leaves, cracking under their feet. As they walked side by side, Goldie walked ahead of them, his golden tail waving wildly.


    And the best part for him was that they were on private property today, so he could run freely back and forth with no leash keeping him tethered.


    [Lexus] ¡°Let go for a second.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, very well.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t look too sad, we can hold hands again soon.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    When she responded coldly, Lexus burst into laughter.


    He took a handkerchief out of his pocket, rolling it and clumping it together in his hands before giving a wide throw and casting it into the air.


    Immediately, Goldie ran out with excitement in his step, taking the handkerchief in his mouth and bringing it back. Lexus pet Goldie¡¯s head before repeating the same steps.


    Maybe it was just her imagination, but the scene somehow felt very familiar.


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark, bark¡ª!¡±


    Goldie¡¯s barking was very loud and deep. He seemed very mature earlier, but his barking and bigger size were the only thing that made him seem like an adult. Truthfully, he was still very much a playful puppy.


    She never thought a dog could express his feelings with his face like that, but even the indifferent Valentia could tell that Goldie was very happy right now.


    But she was glad. If it were her, she never would¡¯ve been able to take care of Goldie like this.


    He said she was Goldie¡¯s owner, but she truthfully never felt like that. She never really gave him much love, only ever occasionally sparing him some food when she could. Why did he even love her as much as he did?


    Ironically, Goldie was the only one who loved her more than anyone else. Even the man she¡¯d fallen in love with approached her with the intent of lying and betraying her.


    [Lexus] ¡°Goldie?¡±


    Lexus called out Goldie¡¯s name with a question in his tone.


    Goldie brought him the handkerchief, but then walked straight past him with no intent of waiting for him to throw it again. With determined steps, he trudged up to Valentia, his head tilting like he thought something was strange.


    Then, he closed the distance as he rested his snout on her stomach, looking up at her with loving eyes.


    Does¡­.Goldie know something? That can¡¯t be possible.


    Valentia stroked Goldie¡¯s head, shaking away that useless thought. And like his earlier intuition was a farce, he returned to the baby he was, lying on the ground and showing off his belly.


    [Valentia] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What would you do if someone told you they were pregnant with your child right now?¡±


    Valentia kept her eyes completely fixed on Goldie, unable to look up and face Lexus¡¯ expression. She wasn¡¯t confident enough to look at what kind of face he was making.


    He didn¡¯t say anything back immediately, and that short moment of silence felt agonizingly short. When he let out a short exhale, Valentia flinched.


    [Lexus] ¡°Today is a very strange day.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why are you bringing this up? I¡¯d rather not hear you talk about that.¡±


    Did he hate it because it was coming from her, or was it the very idea that he hated?


    [Valentia] ¡°Why is that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t even want to imagine someone else being pregnant with my kid.¡±


    Thud¡ª


    Her heart sank. Even his voice carried with it a strong sense of irritation. Whenever she was with Lexus before, this was an emotion she never felt from him, so now that it was here, she couldn¡¯t avoid noticing it.


    But she couldn¡¯t tell if his affectionate act was so perfect that she didn¡¯t notice it until now, or that this problem was so troublesome to him that it was enough to completely shatter the smoke screen he had created.


    All Valentia knew was that this was the last tightrope she had left to walk on, and it snapped before she could even take a step.


    Valentia¡¯s hand trembled as she pet Goldie¡¯s fur, but this dog was the only one who noticed it. Goldie sat up and rubbed his face on her cheek, and Valentia quietly bit her lip, swallowing back her emotions.


    [Lexus] ¡°Should we go back now?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Get up, Goldie. We¡¯re going.¡±


    Like he understood, Goldie stood up and shook the fallen leaves from his body, sending them into the air. Goldie walked alongside Valentia like he was escorting her, but every so often, he¡¯d tilt his head back, right near her stomach.


    You know, don¡¯t you?


    Somehow, Valentia knew Goldie had already become aware of the small life in her stomach. She didn¡¯t know how he could be so perceptive, but that just made this feel all the more strange.


    The doctor threw out the casual comment that a quick decision would be for the best, and Valentia herself decided that getting rid of it sooner rather than later would be better. But Goldie had noticed this new presence within her, and was both happy and worried for her.


    Worried for this child who was unwanted, and whose existence was not celebrated by anyone before they were even born.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is it because he hasn¡¯t seen you for a while? He seems awfully clingy with you today.¡±


    In this place, this man was the only one who did not know of this existence in her womb, and he would never know.


    Goldie looked up at her. His eyes were shaking, like he was trying to talk¡ªI will protect this baby. Just as you have protected me, he seemed to say.


    I¡¯m so sorry, Goldie.


    Valentia pet Goldie¡¯s head.


    I don¡¯t know if I can do it.


    She couldn¡¯t even take care of herself, and she couldn¡¯t save herself from her own situation. Her place in life was so dubious that she couldn¡¯t even take responsibility for a puppy who¡¯d lost his mother.


    And life wanted to add a baby into that? She would have to give up so much just to give birth.


    All those plans for the future would disappear.


    They would be born as a child whose father would never admit his parentage. They would earn gazes of suspicion, judgment, and contempt wherever they went, just as she had.


    It would be for everyone¡¯s sake just to deal with it and pretend it never happened without anyone ever knowing about it.


    But Valentia was still uncertain.


    And what she didn¡¯t realize was that those who continually question what they want, as if trying to convince themselves otherwise or find reasons to the contrary, will never be able to surrender to what they believe to be the best choice.


    * * *


    Lexus looked down at Valentia as she silently walked next to him.


    Her expression gave away none of her thoughts. And maybe it was just his imagination, but she seemed weirdly uneasy right now, though outwardly she didn¡¯t seem any different from usual. On the other hand, Goldie, who was walking by her side, seemed very excited.


    Lexus didn¡¯t mean to tell her about his secret. Honestly, why the hell did he say that? It was something he was supposed to never say out loud to another.


    To be perfectly exact, it wasn¡¯t infertility, but it was true that he couldn¡¯t get just anyone pregnant.


    The Imperial family had this unique little quirk. Some might call it an ability, but honestly, it was pretty useless for their ancestry. It was a bizarre trait, making it so that children were impossible for anyone of their blood who lacked a heart.


    In that sense, Lexus was kind of infertile.


    [Valentia] ¡¯What would you do if someone told you they were pregnant with your child right now?¡¯


    And so it was the worst every time some woman would come up to him, claiming they were pregnant with his child. Even if Valentia was the one bringing it up, he didn¡¯t really want to think about it.


    She would definitely leave him without turning back if something like that happened again.


    Though, obviously the reality of his life was that no one would ever bear his children, but even the idea of it felt offensive. This damned curse was one that did not allow anyone of their blood who was incapable of feeling ¡®love¡¯ to have children.


    And while it was true that Lexus was fond of Valentia, he never really gave it any thought as to whether or not that feeling was strong enough to have a child.


    But now that he was thinking about it¡ª


    If I had managed to get her pregnant, would I be able to chain this woman to me?


    The second the thought entered his head, Lexus was physically taken aback.


    I am the worst man alive.


    These were thoughts that he was only discovering because of Valentia¡¯s question, but he was also discovering just how incredibly insane they were.


    He already knew he was a downright rotten person. Actually, in the eyes of women, he was probably closer to the worst villain alive, but this was the first time he was being made to confront just how low he could stoop.


    But if children were possible¡­


    He really didn¡¯t like kids and he really didn¡¯t like the idea of other women carrying his, but if it was this woman, imagining her pregnant with his child; somehow that felt pretty okay.


    Just like she did with Goldie, she¡¯d probably pretend to be all strict with the kid while secretly loving them with everything she had. It felt a bit strange to imagine, but it wasn¡¯t a bad look. Actually, he quite liked thinking about that.


    This train of thought is ridiculous.


    Lexus forced away his messy thoughts, turning to Valentia.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is something troubling you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What makes you think that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Uh, well, I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s just a feeling?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I feel fine.¡±


    Goldie whined, weirdly tilting his snout towards Valentia¡¯s stomach.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is it difficult for you to talk about it with me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯ve just been thinking about my future.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Your future?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Like how I want to live going forward. Things like that.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t the kind of conversation topic a noblewoman would bring up. Did this have something to do with her earlier topic of a child? But as the conversation continued, the rising image that came to his mind of both Valentia and a child was completely erased.


    [Lexus] ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to become the chief admin of the Imperial Palace?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. You remember.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Is there any problem with that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to work out.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s a little unexpected to hear. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d worry about that sort of thing.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I worry plenty.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But who could possibly do it if not the top student at the Academy? I know you can do it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for saying that.¡±


    To Lexus, Valentia seemed like someone who had everything under control, who faced no difficulties when it came to things that needed to get done.


    But she still managed to surprise him, worrying about things like this.


    [Lexus] ¡°Besides, you have an all-access key on your side.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°All-access key?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten who I am.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh. Ha¡­haha!¡±


    She immediately understood his meaning¡ªinsinuating he would not hesitate to wield his power for her if she couldn¡¯t make it on her own, and that was when Valentia gave a rare and loud laugh.


    Lexus watched that face as if he were a man possessed. In truth, he meant that mostly as a joke, but if it meant seeing more of that face, he would bring down the hammer on whoever he had to.


    And something like that was completely out of character for her, so of course he¡¯d be a little stunned.


    But she was laughing. Valentia was laughing, just like that.


    If it¡¯s for you, how could I not?


    One time during a lecture, Lexus heard the story of a tyrant king in distant land who once tore apart an expensive and extremely valuable bolt of cloth, just to see a smile upon the face of the woman he cherished.


    At the time, Lexus openly ridiculed him. He taunted him, calling him a fool and an idiot for being swayed by a woman and the mere sight of her smile.


    But right now, he could no longer mock him.


    * * *

 Chapter 56 - Handsome Stranger

    Chapter 56 | Handsome Stranger


    * * *


    Valentia was standing still in front of the clinic.


    This was the day she¡¯d made her appointment, but unlike when she first made her decision, she hesitated¡ªunable to take another step further.


    All she had to do was go inside, take the medicine, and within a few days, everything would go back to normal. For both herself and for Lexus, she knew that was the right answer. That was a decision she¡¯d made up after calculating everything.


    So why couldn¡¯t she walk in?


    Why did she keep thinking of Goldie¡¯s expectant and big black eyes? Why couldn¡¯t she stop thinking about him, burying his face into her belly?


    [???] ¡°Hello? Mind if I ask for a little bit of help with directions?¡±


    As a voice called out to her, Valentia¡¯s mind went blank the moment she turned to look at them.


    Was it possible for a human to look like this? She was met with a beautiful face of pure and flawless skin¡ªsomeone so fantastically beautiful that it was difficult to tell if they were a man or a woman at first glance.


    But she quickly shook herself back to her senses.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, I have time. Where are you headed?¡±


    This time, it was the person in front of her who was a little dazed.


    [Man] ¡°Is there something on my face?¡±


    This person before her was so immaculately beautiful in comparison to one such as her, so she narrowly thought he might¡¯ve made a mistake calling out to her like this, or that she perhaps misheard him when she was asking her for help.


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s not it. But you said you needed directions?¡±


    [Man] ¡°I think I might be lost. I¡¯m trying to get to Haydin Boulevard. It should be straight ahead and then take a right at the first alley, then a left, and then another carriage ride before I¡¯m there, right?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. That¡¯s the way.¡±


    He told her he was lost, but he seemed to know his way perfectly well.


    That boulevard was famous for being rather wealthy. Now that she was looking at him a bit closely, this man¡¯s clothing wasn¡¯t really in line with what was considered trendy these days, and she assumed he must¡¯ve had them custom made.


    [Man] ¡°I thought so, but I can¡¯t find the place I¡¯m looking for. Well, this is the right place, but it¡¯s just not how I remember it being.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Has it been a while since you¡¯ve last been here?¡±


    [Man] ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it that way. But it¡¯s strange¡­..hm¡­..Do you have anything troubling you?¡±


    When such a man smiled so brightly, it was difficult acting coldly towards him.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­No.¡±


    [Man] ¡°But you¡¯re standing in front of the clinic. Are you hurt? If you¡¯re sick, then you have to go inside quickly. It might get even more scary and painful if you try and hold it in.¡±


    Valentia couldn¡¯t help but smile. Listening to how this man spoke, he sounded almost like a little kid.


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±


    [Man] ¡°Then as expected, you have something on your mind, don¡¯t you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Man] ¡°This must be fate. Would you like me to help shoulder your burdens for you?¡±


    Not a coincidence, but fate, he insisted.


    His sweet and beautiful face coupled with his friendly and personable attitude overshadowed all else, but somehow, he gave off the atmosphere of a man who¡¯d probably made his fair share of women cry.


    [Valentia] ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±


    [Man] ¡°Why don¡¯t we call it repaying the favor for pointing me in the right direction?¡±


    But Valentia didn¡¯t even give him any directions. When he asked her about the path, the one he recounted was completely accurate, with Valentia merely confirming it for him.


    She was going to tell him to never mind that fact and just be on his way, but Valentia couldn¡¯t bring herself to say that out loud.


    This was something that she couldn¡¯t confide in anyone about, but at the same time, it was also something that was far too heavy for Valentia to carry by herself.


    And so she wondered, for someone who held no investment into her circumstances, how would he answer her questions?


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know you and you don¡¯t know me, so is it alright if I speak freely?¡±


    [Man] ¡°As a token of my thanks, I will treat you to a cup of tea.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That would be nice. I¡¯d rather not talk about this in the middle of the street.¡±


    Walking a short ways off, she followed the man into a small but private looking cafe. The man ordered himself a coffee, and Valentia, who was about to do the same, sighed before changing her mind and ordering warm milk instead.


    Their drinks came out quickly. The man took a single sip of his coffee, then proceeded to frown as if he disliked it. Setting down his cup, he looked at Valentia.


    [Man] ¡°What troubles you so, my lady?¡±


    Holding her glass of milk in her hands, Valentia awkwardly tapped her fingers against it.


    [Valentia] ¡°I have a friend who is very dear to me.¡±


    [Man] ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°She just found out that she¡¯s pregnant. She¡¯s not really in a situation where she¡¯d be able to raise them comfortably, so she¡¯s not sure whether it would be a good idea to give birth or¡­¡­..¡±


    [Man] ¡°She must be thinking whether it would be for the best to stop things now while she can.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. She knows what choice is the right one, but for some reason, she keeps getting the feeling that she¡¯ll end up regretting things if she makes this decision.¡±


    The man took another sip of his coffee, tilting his head with a smile on his face.


    [Man] ¡°No matter what choice your friend makes, her child will say it¡¯s alright.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What makes you so certain?¡±


    [Man] ¡°For a child, their mother¡¯s happiness comes before all else.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh.¡±


    [Man] ¡°And I know that because it was the same for me as well.¡±


    She knew what he was trying to tell her, but she wasn¡¯t really sure she could understand it all that well.


    Valentia was never really given the chance to live her life in the shoes of a child. Clearly, she was loved by her mother at some point, but that was so many years ago that she could hardly remember it anymore, and so those memories faded within the current version of Valentia.


    But this man¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem like a lie.


    [Valentia] ¡°You as well?¡±


    [Man] ¡°My mother raised me all by herself.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.Was it hard for her?¡±


    [Man] ¡°Obviously it wasn¡¯t easy, but not once did she ever show her difficulties to me. She only ever told me that she loved me, and though we didn¡¯t have much, I was very happy because we had each other. We had our family.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Family¡­.¡±


    Valentia murmured the word. Somehow, they seemed to dig deeply into her heart.


    She never really considered this before, but Valentia did not have a family, and the people within the barony could never be considered such. That was why she kept her mind so focused on her future, determined to be happy by herself.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.Truthfully, my friend is very scared. Her mother died when she was very young, so she doesn¡¯t even know what a good mother looks like.¡±


    But to be honest, that was probably the scariest part.


    What if she can¡¯t make her baby happy once they¡¯re born? What if she ends up resenting them because of all she had to give up just to provide for them? All that frustration¡ªbrewing because she regretted the decision of giving birth to them at all.


    [Man] ¡°I think her child will be happy if she chooses to become a mother. Just like I was.


    [Valentia] ¡°How can you be so certain?¡±


    [Man] ¡°Because bad mothers don¡¯t worry about becoming good.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡­.Thank you. I feel better now.¡±


    Such a strange man.


    At any other time, she would not have accepted this kind of request¡ªgoing off and getting a drink with a man she¡¯d never met before, sharing all of her worries and troubles with him. But talking to this man was a very comfortable experience.


    [Valentia] ¡°Where were you heading off to?¡±


    [Man] ¡°Oh, I was actually just on my way to see my mother.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry, I took up so much of your time.¡±


    [Man] ¡°No, this was a good conversation. But I do need to go see my mother now. I have some good news I¡¯d like to share with her.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Good news?¡±


    [Man] ¡°My lady is pregnant.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Oh, congratulations.¡±


    [Man] ¡°And congratulations to you, too.¡±


    The man gave a casual wink, and Valentia widened her eyes.


    Obviously, she had a feeling he would notice that most of her ¡®friend¡¯s¡¯ worries were actually just her own. Instead of being shocked that he realized she was talking about herself, she was more caught off guard by something else.


    She was surprised to hear the word ¡®congratulations¡¯.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Man] ¡°You are very welcome. May you always be happy.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°And you as well.¡±


    Then, the man leaned closer, and Valentia¡¯s eyes widened against he gave her a light kiss on her forehead, smiling softly as he did. Valentia¡¯s hand went to touch where he had kissed her, looking up at him with open eyes.


    To kiss a woman he¡¯d met for the first time on the forehead like this, it was an incredibly rude thing that should never be done.


    But strangely, she didn¡¯t feel too bad about it.


    [Man] ¡°It was nice to meet you. Farewell.¡±


    * * *


    Unlike before, when she paced around the entrance, her mind was more settled and she was able to go inside with more ease.


    Her heart was so much calmer than it was before that when she saw the doctor¡¯s ever exhausted looking expression, she was even able to smile slightly at it, thinking that some things just never change.


    [Doctor] ¡°I¡¯ve had some of the medicine prepared. Have you finished organizing your thoughts?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I know you worked hard to make it, but I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t want to take it.¡±


    The doctor pushed his face off from leaning on his hands, his eyes finally leaving the chart in front of him as he looked straight at Valentia.


    [Doctor] ¡°You do understand what you¡¯re saying, yes?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I understand.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°And you¡¯ve truly made this decision?¡±


    Though he always looked so listless and bored, a look of anxiety and nervousness flashed across the doctor¡¯s expression.


    The more relaxed Valentia¡¯s heart became, the more the attitude of this doctor appeared different in her eyes. Though she thought he was somewhat cynical and apathetic considering his position, now that she was thinking about it, if he had been truly as uncaring as she thought, he would have accepted her choice without asking any questions.


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. I will still pay for the trouble you went through to make this medicine, though.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°That¡¯s not why I¡¯m asking. Right now, it¡¯s only a bundle of cells that weighs less than ten grams. Do you truly wish to bet your life on this?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°It¡¯s not easy raising a child alone in this country.¡±


    She thought about that, too. There were so many things she would have to give up if she wanted to have this baby. The life she had spent her entire existence dreaming of, working hard for this entire time, would disappear in a flash.


    But even so, she wanted to give birth to this child. They wouldn¡¯t have two parents like most others, but regardless, this was her baby and so she would raise them.


    [Valentia] ¡°This baby is my only family.¡±


    When she said that, the doctor couldn¡¯t say anything more.


    Never before did she have anyone she could call her family, but this child¡ªthey would be the only family she would choose for herself.


    [Doctor] ¡°The latest this medicine can be used is in two weeks, After around a month and a half, other things can be done, but unlike this, they aren¡¯t minor inconveniences.¡±


    The doctor¡¯s meaning was clear. If she ever changed her mind, she was welcome to come back.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Doctor] ¡°Next patient, come in.¡±


    And like it never left, his tired expression returned as he looked back down at his chart, calling in the next patient waiting. With a light heart, Valentia stood up from her seat and left.


    Walking out of the hospital, she also felt very calm and serene. No, dare she say she even felt a little happy?


    She already knew that even if she were not pregnant, she would never be able to refer to that man as being a part of her family.


    But she always thought, a long way down the line, even if he were to get married to another woman, she would be okay as long as she could occasionally see him from a distance. But now that she was making this decision, she would never see him again.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m okay with being alone.


    It was fine. She was always alone anyway, so this was just a mere continuation of how things always were. Or no¨Cshe was always alone at the start, but she would not be alone ever again in the future.


    [Valentia] ¡°But being together would be better.¡±


    Isn¡¯t that right, my baby?


    She felt like her stomach was getting warmer.


    At two months, like the doctor said, her baby was only a bundle of cells, weighing not even ten grams. Obviously it could not understand her, but somehow, she felt like they were listening.


    * * *

 Chapter 57 - What I Can’t Say in Person

    Chapter 57 | What I Can¡¯t Say in Person


    * * *


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Welcome!¡±


    When Valentia entered the store, the lady at the counter greeted her with a friendly smile.


    This place smelled different from other businesses, the air thick with the scent of paper. But it was not heavy or nauseating, it was just subtle yet distinct, bringing with it a feeling that calmed her heart.


    But that was only natural. This was no mere paper shop, but rather a business that dealt with paper used by the nobility to send letters.


    [Staff] ¡°What is your family name?¡±


    The noble families would oftentimes like to use the same paper every time, so shops like this would usually keep their wares stored and categorized by family¡ªmanaging product for specific houses separately from others.


    However, Valentia¡¯s outfit was rather plain and she came alone, so the shopkeep mistook her for coming here for the first time to input her family name.


    [Valentia] ¡°I came here for some personal shopping.¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Is there any product in particular you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°No. What would you recommend?¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Depends on the use.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I wish to send a letter.¡±


    Did the type of paper make a difference? Valentia never had anyone to send a letter to before, much less a reason to send on in the first place, so she wasn¡¯t really sure.


    That was a very rare occurrence for a noble lady, since many of them were bound to send letters to their friends and family at one point or another. But Valentia had no such people and so she had no reason to put pen to parchment for another¡¯s sake, even at the Academy.


    [Shopkeep] ¡°The paper one might use for a friend or for their parents are very different, usually elegant and neat in their making. Sometimes people will even pick something the person in question might like. There are sometimes even small images of flowers and animals imprinted on the parchment.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see.¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Perhaps this letter is meant for your lover?¡±


    Usually a customer would take the sign and indicate whomever it was that they wished to write a letter to, but this particular customer did not speak of it, and so the shopkeep decided to ask outright.


    The only times when people were hesitant to bring up the recipient of their letter was when it was meant for their lover or someone they hoped would become their lover.


    But Valentia didn¡¯t know how to answer her question.


    Were they lovers? What sort of relationship did they have, and how would one even begin to describe it? After learning such a cold and cruel truth, so much of Valentia¡¯s former conviction was failing her.


    All she knew for certain was that she sincerely fell in love with such an awful man, and that she hated him for it.


    But also that she didn¡¯t.


    [Shopkeep] ¡°How about this one? This one is very popular for when ladies write love letters. It has a lovely scent to it as well. Would you like to see it?¡±


    Valentia took the paper from the shopkeep and brought it closer to her face.


    Just as she said, there was a subtle flower scent to it. It was a finely colored paper, peach-like in its hue, and it felt nice to touch.


    [Valentia] ¡°I like it. Is it a rose scent?¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°That¡¯s right, you got it right away. In the past, they used to dry flowers and send them with the letter, or sometimes spray perfume on the paper before they sent them off. Eventually that led to a product like scented paper coming out. Of course, it¡¯s far more romantic and meaningful for one to dry flowers themselves, but thanks to such a custom, something like this was born into creation.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I see. That¡¯s very interesting.¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Would you like to see something else?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Can you guess this scent?¡±


    This paper was a light purple in color with a spindle like design on it. When she took it to her nose and took a sniff, she smelled flowers again.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Lavender.¡±


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Right again! You¡¯re incredible.¡±


    The shopkeep was very excited as she showed her different types of paper, with Valentia eventually settling on the second parchment that was shown to her.


    [Shopkeep] ¡°If it¡¯s a love letter you wish to write, wouldn¡¯t the first one be better? It has such a sweet scent, even men like it.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s true that the one I am sending it to is a nobleman.¡±


    But she wasn¡¯t sure if this letter could be considered a love letter of all things. So this particular parchment, one made of a cold light purple hue rather than the sweet and pink one that beamed affection, was much more appropriate.


    [Shopkeep] ¡°Thank you for your patronage, dear customer. I¡¯m glad I was able to help you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡±


    The shopkeep packed the paper between thin wooden separators, meant to keep the paper neat and tidy, and to prevent it from getting crushed in transport. This shop was a rather special place, considering this was the type of service they offered.


    Yes, the price of this paper was expensive to say the least, but Valentia didn¡¯t want to send this message on just any old parchment.


    This was a letter she was going to write to Lexus. It was almost laughable, to think the first love letter she would ever be writing would contain a farewell.


    And the reason why Valentia decided to write this in a letter was because she knew she did not have the courage to finish this in person.


    [Lexus] ¡®Congratulations.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Excuse me?¡¯


    She realized that fact on the day he gave her a sudden congratulations.


    [Lexus] ¡®What, you haven¡¯t checked the bulletin board yet? Even after everything, you still got the top spot.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Oh, I see.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®You mentioned you were worried before the results came out, but you don¡¯t seem all that interested.¡¯


    It was hard to believe the rankings were already announced. She remembered the day she went to go check, but her mind wasn¡¯t all that busy before like it was now.


    [Lexus] ¡®Did you know you¡¯re the first student in all of the Academy¡¯s history to rank first all the way from year one until graduation? It¡¯s impressive.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Oh, thank you.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®You never change, Valentia. Most people would want to brag about it to whoever they could.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I have no one to brag to.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®You have me.¡¯


    Valentia looked up at him with a look of surprise in her eyes, but she eventually smiled.


    [Valentia] ¡®Is it alright if I brag?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Of course. You can brag as much as you want.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Should I?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡°Yup. Go on. Give it a try.¡¯


    Valentia stood up straight, stretching out her body and puffing out her chest a bit, but the moment she tried to open her mouth, she couldn¡¯t find the words to say.


    She¡¯d never bragged or even really talked in depth about her achievements to others, so she didn¡¯t know what the right way to go about this would be.


    [Valentia] ¡®¡­¡­How do I brag?¡¯


    Though she was filled with groundless confidence before, her shoulders sank, and her awkwardly asked question made Lexus laugh at her.


    [Lexus] ¡®Alright, just follow my lead. Repeat after me¡ª¡¯I am going to graduate as the top student of the Academy. Amazing, right?¡¯ Now you try.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I am going to graduate as the top student of the Academy. Amazing, right?¡¯


    But she couldn¡¯t say what he did without it coming off as robotic and awkward.


    [Lexus] ¡®Yeah, it¡¯s really amazing. Seriously, congratulations.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Thank you.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Why don¡¯t I treat you to a meal to celebrate?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Very well.¡¯


    She knew it was just an excuse to have a meal together, but she didn¡¯t mind. Valentia didn¡¯t have the kind of social skills that he had, so she was glad that he asked her first.


    They went about their travels by way of a horse drawn carriage, and they arrived at a mansion that was different from the one before, but even so, Goldie was still there to meet them.


    [Goldie] ¡®Bark, bark!¡¯


    Before Lexus even had the chance to get out and take Valentia¡¯s hand, Goldie ran up, shaking his little butt with doglike pride, waving his tail wildly.


    And while Valentia made her way down, stepping onto the ground, Goldie calmly waited for her as Lexus guided her along. Even as they walked, Goldie remained proud and brave, walking just ahead of her like he was escorting her.


    This mansion wasn¡¯t too opulent or grand, but was rather the perfect size, filled with pink flowers and decorations. The blue sky mixing with the pastel hue filled her vision as she took in the sight.


    [Hugo] ¡®It is an honor to meet you again, my lady.¡¯


    While Goldie was excitable and rambunctious, Hugo¡¯s voice was slow and calm. Valentia bowed slightly at his polite greeting, her body shifting into the perfect angle.


    [Valentia] ¡®I am glad to meet you again as well, Hugo.¡¯


    Nestled among the pink lilies was a gazebo draped over with a translucent white canopy cloth. It was a temporary set up, so it lacked the lovely vines and nature from before, but the white cloth protected them from the harsh sunlight, and each of the four pillars was decorated with pink flowers.


    The imagery of the light cloth flowing in the wind was a lovely sight, as was the meal that was prepared below it.


    [Hugo] ¡®Today¡¯s main dish will be shrimp and crab.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®I had seafood prepared today because I thought you might like it.¡¯


    Seafood was a difficult delicacy to eat since it was time consuming to prepare, not to mention costly to obtain. And because of those two reasons, it was not something she¡¯d ever eaten a lot of¡ªcertainly not enough to say that she liked it.


    But strangely enough, she felt too pleasant right now to remember that. But as the meal went on, Valentia remembered something very suddenly.


    [Valentia] ¡®But did you rent this mansion? And the one from before, too?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®What? Rent?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®If not, then who¡¯s the owner?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®I¡¯m the owner.¡¯


    Lexus spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and Valentia realized it was probably a foolish question to ask, once again being reminded that the man in front of her was a Prince.


    [Lexus] ¡®If it¡¯s alright, could I be your escort during the graduation ceremony?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Why me?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®¡­¡­Oh, do you dislike the idea?¡¯


    Her answer was very cold, and Lexus spoke back with a look of embarrassment on his face.


    [Valentia] ¡®Oh, no, I¡¯m sorry. I just assumed you would have another partner in mind. I don¡¯t hate it.¡¯


    And once she realized her mistake, Valentia said the first excuse that came to mind. His request was unexpected and so she ended up responding rather flippantly. Since the day she entered the Academy, she did so with the assumption she would be walking through the graduation ceremony alone.


    [Lexus] ¡®I never thought to escort anyone but you.¡¯


    She assumed she would be alone, but if he was going to act as her escort, then maybe it would be okay to take that last memory with her. It would certainly be a fitting end to everything, having her final day with him be of the graduation ceremony itself.


    [Yusef] ¡®Lord Lexus.¡¯


    Suddenly, Yusef appeared and called out to him.


    [Lexus] ¡®What¡¯s going on? I thought I told you not to disturb us.¡¯


    [Yusef] ¡®That¡¯s¡­.¡¯


    Yusef leaned down and whispered into Lexus¡¯ ear with a hushed voice. As he listened to the report, Lexus¡¯ expression slowly turned a little grim.


    [Lexus] ¡®I¡¯m sorry, but I need to step away for a moment. It¡¯s really important.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®That¡¯s alright. Take your time with your work.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®I can¡¯t do that when I¡¯m supposed to be having a meal with you. I¡¯ll be right back.¡¯


    It was the strangest thing in the world.


    Everything she thought was so beautiful as she walked in suddenly lost all meaning the moment he walked away, turning dreary and fleeting in an instant. It was definitely lovely before, but now it was like she couldn¡¯t see color at all. All the stunning and soft pastel pink flowers turned dull and gray, and even the once gentle breeze felt biting and cold.


    And Valentia realized it was all because he wasn¡¯t here any more.


    What am I supposed to do? It¡¯s already turning out like this. Will it be possible for me to exist in a world without you?


    Woof. That was when Valentia looked down, greeting the source of the sound just below her feet.


    * * *

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58 | Yet


    * * *


    Once Lexus was gone, Goldie walked away from his food, leaning his head on Valentia¡¯s leg. Even then, his eyes were pinned on her stomach.


    Again, Valentia wrapped her arms around her belly, and somehow, she felt that same warmth from before.


    [Valentia] ¡®Thank you. You are the only one who loves this child and worries for them.¡¯


    Even she herself could not find it in her to fully celebrate in this new life. With a sudden thought, Valentia stroked Goldie¡¯s head as she looked down at him.


    His big, black eyes were filled with so much love and belief. It was a gaze that looked upon her as though she were perfection, a look no one else had ever given her.


    [Valentia] ¡®Goldie.¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Woof!¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I¡¯m going to be leaving soon.¡¯


    Goldie slumped his head, as though he were asking where she would be leaving for. A small smile curved at the edges of her mouth, but it was only for a little bit.


    [Valentia] ¡®You¡¯ll be fine without me.¡¯


    Like he wanted to show her how much that wasn¡¯t true, Goldie shook his entire body.


    [Valentia] ¡®No?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Woof, woof!¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I wonder what will happen to you once I¡¯m gone.¡¯


    With full knowledge of the truth, the reality was that Lexus took in Goldie as a means of reeling in Valentia. All for the sake of breaking down the Iron Maiden herself, getting her to reveal her truest depths that no one had ever seen, and use it to make a mockery of her.


    All so he could win some bet.


    And now that he¡¯d achieved that goal, he wouldn¡¯t have any use for this dog any more. She couldn¡¯t say for certainty that he wouldn¡¯t be abandoned like she had.


    No, actually, he wouldn¡¯t be abandoned. He¡¯d be forgotten, left all by his lonesome in some dark corner of the Prince¡¯s palace.


    If that¡¯s how it was going to be, then¡­.


    [Valentia] ¡®Would you like to come with me?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Bark!¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Your life will become more difficult than it is now.¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Woof!¡¯


    Was it selfish of her to take that to mean he was okay with that? Maybe this was just her way of trying to find an excuse to take this dog with her because she was too afraid of leaving by herself.


    Valentia¡¯s hand slowed, and the hesitation in her movements didn¡¯t escape Goldie¡¯s notice and he started wildly rubbing his head on her hand. His fur was so soft, and Valentia decided to trust in the kindness she felt on her palm.


    [Valentia] ¡®Let¡¯s go together.¡¯


    She was never able to take full responsibility for him or even love him properly. But this time? She would take care of him this time.


    [Goldie] ¡®Bark, bark!¡¯


    Goldie barked with joy at her offer. And it was as she was smiling at him that Valentia suddenly realized something.


    It wouldn¡¯t be just the two of them.


    [Valentia] ¡®Actually, it will be the three of us, won¡¯t it?¡¯


    This was a very curious thing.


    This baby had brought nothing but pain to her, and she would have to leave behind so many of the things she¡¯d worked hard for because of them. And yet, at the same time, thanks to them, she would never be alone again.


    And something like that made her very sad to think.


    * * *


    It took Lexus a while to come back, and that same odd feeling crossed her chest¡ªthe strangeness of the world returning to color and beauty simply because he had returned. Her surroundings, once soaked in a sepia tone, had come back to vibrancy.


    [Lexus] ¡®Sorry for leaving so suddenly in the middle of our meal.¡¯


    He apologized the moment he sat down.


    [Valentia] ¡®It¡¯s alright. I finished eating.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Then, should I have them bring out dessert?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®The weather hasn¡¯t turned cold yet, so I had some ice cream prepared.¡¯


    Their dessert was a simple one following their meal; made of cold ice cream and some light and airy cookies. A few bonus pieces of dried jerky were given to Goldie as a treat.


    [Valentia] ¡®Was your business important?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Just a little bit.¡¯


    He smiled, but he didn¡¯t give her any further answers. Maybe it was her imagination coupled with her busy mind, but she was getting the strong feeling that she shouldn¡¯t ask any more questions. Or maybe blaming it on her own mind wouldn¡¯t be a good way of putting it.


    [Valentia] ¡®Lexus. Is it alright if I keep Goldie with me for a while?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Bark!¡¯


    Goldie barked like he was responding to his name.


    Lexus looked down at Goldie, who had already completely eaten his dried jerky, then turned back to Valentia.


    [Lexus] ¡®Goldie?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Why the sudden need?¡¯


    Naturally, he was curious since she had never once in the past expressed a desire to even seek out Goldie herself and take him out for a walk, much less take him with her.


    [Valentia] ¡®As you said, Lexus, I¡¯m his owner, but I think I¡¯ve been acting too indifferently up until now. Would it be possible?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Well, you¡¯re his owner so of course it¡¯s possible, but¡­..¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®But?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®I¡¯m afraid you might have your hands full dealing with this troublemaker.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®He¡¯s a good boy.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Only in front of you, Valentia. He usually never listens. He scratched up all the furniture and I swear, he has a feral appetite. He¡¯ll be a lot to take care of.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Is that so? But when you tell him to wait before he eats, he waits. He¡¯s a good little puppy.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®What do you mean, little puppy? He¡¯s a proper dog now. Look at the size of him. He¡¯s all grown up, but he still barks however he wants. A noisy dog is a bad dog, you know?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Noisy?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Bark, bark!¡¯


    As if he were getting irritated with how much gossip Lexus was spilling about him, Goldie let out several indignant barks.


    [Lexus] ¡®Would you look at that¡ªNow he¡¯s getting all mad at me for talking bad about him.¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Ruff.¡¯


    Getting frustrated, Goldie buried his face in Valentia¡¯s lap, and she held him with her arms, gently giving his head little pats, one right after the other.


    [Valentia] ¡®Goldie is a good boy.¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Ruff.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®You¡¯ll listen to me well, won¡¯t you, Goldie?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Ruff.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®¡­..If that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be, then it can¡¯t be helped. How long are you looking to keep him?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®At least until graduation.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Fine, then. But you can¡¯t go out on walks with just the two of you and leave me out, alright?¡¯


    Again with those inexplicably lovely words. Such a sweet and easily understood sentiment, one saying he didn¡¯t like the idea of the two of them going off and having fun on their own.


    Sometimes it was still so hard to believe that underneath all this loveliness and kindness was a swamp of lies and manipulation.


    Valentia stared at him with brand new eyes as a light breeze blew through, moving past the bright sunshine that surrounded them.


    A white canopy to protect them from the sunlight, a garden filled with pink lilies, and the handsome man sitting in front of her with a brilliant smile on his face made her feel such conflicting emotions. She felt so much hatred and rage, but at the same time, she still felt so much love.


    And that¡¯s when an impulse took Valentia.


    [Valentia] ¡®Lexus¡­¡­¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Yes?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Should we just stop this now?¡¯


    The cold ice cream she¡¯d been eating melted in her mouth, flowing down her throat and into her stomach, feeling scorchingly hot. Right then, another breeze blew past them, but then all quieted, and it felt like the world had come to a complete still.


    [Lexus] ¡®What? Stop what?¡¯


    Stewing in that silence, Lexus asked in a soft voice.


    [Lexus] ¡®Are you tired? Should we go now?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®No, I don¡¯t mean it like that. It¡¯s going to be graduation soon. For how long did you plan on us continuing to see each other?¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Was I supposed to set a deadline? Are you trying to tell me we should call it quits when we graduate? What gave you that idea?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®By then, we¡¯ll both have things we need to do¡­..¡¯


    Besides, wasn¡¯t it all just a joke anyway? Valentia wanted to say that, but she chose not to. Just a silly little bet that he made with his friends. Was he arguing right now because he was planning on maintaining it until after graduation, too?


    [Lexus] ¡®Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Did I make a mistake?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®It¡¯s not like that.¡¯


    The conditions he¡¯d set with his friends were already over.


    Maybe they found this whole thing to be so funny, stringing her along while thinking she knew nothing, that they concocted a second bet, perhaps?


    It was painful remembering how she¡¯d felt reassured and elated by the kindness he¡¯d shown her, and that now she was being given no choice but to accept it all as a lie and doubt everything else. It was agonizing, feeling both love and hatred for a single person like this.


    [Lexus] ¡®If I made a mistake, then just tell me. Or maybe you don¡¯t like me anymore?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®That¡¯s not it.¡¯


    [Lexus] ¡®Well, I don¡¯t want to stop yet.¡¯


    Yet.


    The key word in his phrasing being, yet.


    Should she be happy or saddened by the remark that he didn¡¯t wish to end things straight away? After all, the word ¡®yet¡¯ promised that even if the end did not come today, it would come eventually.


    But Valentia could not tell if his unwillingness to end things was because he held even the slightest bit of a heart for her, or because his game had not yet come to an end.


    She would hope it was the former, but in her deepest depths, she knew it was the latter.


    If Valentia had already decided to give up this baby, perhaps she might¡¯ve waited until then to find out, but she didn¡¯t have that kind of time. She needed to finish things now, even though she wished she didn¡¯t have to either.


    This method of ending things was both decisive and gentle, and it did not require his permission.


    [Goldie] ¡°Ruff.¡±


    Returning home from the paper shop, she entered the room, and Goldie let out a soft little woof¡ªpulling her from her thoughts of the past.


    [Valentia] ¡°Have you been staying quiet, Goldie?¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a good boy.¡±


    Goldie stood up and ran around as best he could. Though he was stuck in such a small room for the time being, he stayed calm and only ever acted cheerful.


    When she brought Goldie back to the barony, they tried to kick him out, but the Baroness quickly understood things when she said it was the Prince¡¯s dog, so she endured it.


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m going to write this letter now, Goldie. Please, be quiet.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Ruff.¡±


    Valentia pulled out the chair in front of her desk, and once she was seated, Goldie sat at her feet and put his head on her lap. She pet his head as she pulled out the parchment she had bought just for this occasion. She set it down across the desk, weighing it down with a paper weight and added ink to her pen tip.


    But her hand didn¡¯t move.


    She knew what she needed to write, but she did not know how to write it.


    So much time was passing, but she couldn¡¯t write a single word, and it didn¡¯t take her long to realize that she was struggling so much because she didn¡¯t want to write this letter at all.


    If I do this, all I need to do is deliver it and it will all be over.


    I have to do this.


    Valentia took her pen to the parchment, forcing her hand to move.


    ¡ªLexus.


    And the second she wrote out his name, her vision started to get blurry. She couldn¡¯t even see that the ink was starting to spread from the droplets because of the tears that started to well up in her eyes in an instant.


    One blink, and all her tears started to flow down her cheeks.


    No. They weren¡¯t close enough to call each other like that anymore.


    All she could write was his name because her mind couldn¡¯t find anything else. And she could not understand why her heart felt like it was collapsing in on itself when all she had done was write a few letters down. She really thought she¡¯d be okay doing this, too.


    But she was lucky she bought several sheets of paper just in case. Valentia crumpled up the ruined and wet parchment and tossed it to the side, starting on a new letter.


    ¡ªYour Highness, Imperial Prince.


    That was his official title.


    She never had a difficult time writing in the past, but now, every letter felt so hard. No matter how impersonal she made it, everything contained too many feelings.


    She was filled with so much love and so much hate, but she didn¡¯t want him to think that she truly loved him. She wanted to make it look like she was playing with him too, just like he¡¯d been toying with her.


    Valentia wrote letter after letter, tossing aside every failed attempt.


    But in the end, the last one she was left with contained only four lines.


    If she added any more, she would have no choice but to pour out her true feelings to him.


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­Lexus.¡±


    Her voice trembled as she called out his name.


    Saying the name of the man she loved so dearly made the pain and sadness swell up inside of her. She didn¡¯t have much time left, and the chances she would have to call this name again were growing dim.


    [Goldie] ¡°Woof.¡±


    Goldie wanted to comfort her, so he reached out his head, carefully licking her tearstained cheek.


    [Valentia] ¡°Are you trying to make me feel better?¡±


    Valentia tried to force a smile, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop.


    She knew it would end someday, but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it crumbling to pieces like this. Her happy memories, ones she thought she¡¯d be able to take with her, were only stained with lies now, and she didn¡¯t know what to do when she never expected it.


    And yet, she could not stop loving him.


    Holding tightly onto the only things she had left, Valentia let out her breath and cried.


    * * *


    astralmech t/c: *chanting* Pain, pain, pain, pain! Also I¡¯m going to be putting chapter song recommendations at the end of these now because I¡¯m a sappy lady and I love this novel. Expect a lot of lyrically relevant songs, mostly EN and JP, hehe.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Grace Note¡± by aimer ¡¹

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59 | Always By My Side


    * * *


    [Hayley] ¡°Is this satisfactory?¡±


    Hayley, the owner and lead designer at La Vie en Rose, bit back her anxious nerves, asking this question of the VIP sitting in front of her.


    The man now existing right before her eyes seemed like the perfect replica of a fairy tale prince, but in reality they lived in, he was the Imperial Prince himself and a member of the Imperial family¡¯s direct line.


    He had always been a VIP of La Vie en Rose, but he was surprisingly humble when it came to his clothing. Aside from coming in for the occasional alternation and measurement, he utilized their services for precious little else.


    And in line with that, he was always an easy customer. He wore things as they were originally designed without ever making a fuss when he came in for new attire.


    Besides, he looked very good in anything he wore, so nothing needed to be said about the designs of the clothing they gave him. He spent his money freely whenever he made purchases, and as such, was a very valuable customer because of it.


    When it came to the nobility, there were many who felt the need to flaunt their power and authority, and would do so in the strangest of ways.


    There were more noblemen than was fair that only felt satisfied after causing a fight over nothing and then having the employees grovel at their feet for forgiveness at the end of it.


    Some of them would change their designs for no reason at all, even if it was not the cause of the disagreement, and would sometimes even make the order the original design be restored later. Flipping and flopping, back and forth they did, but the Prince never acted that way.


    Even as a VIP among VIPs, never once had he shown such uncouth and rude behavior.


    He was a gentle Prince during the day who had a good personality and was always smiling even when he laughed or poked fun.


    But right now, that very same unfussy and easygoing Prince was causing a bit of a commotion, not over the attire he was wearing now, but rather over a woman¡¯s dress of all things.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hm. That looks nice.¡±


    He was sitting on the sofa, leaning back in a very relaxed looking position, staring at the dress shown to him by Hayley with a glint in his golden eyes. When he finally answered in a somewhat favorable manner, Hayley finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    To think I¡¯d live to see the day, she thought.


    In her mind, the Prince¡¯s body was like a hanger¡ªgood for showing off nice clothing. She assumed that he held little opinions or ideas about the clothes that went on it because he never said a word about them.


    But contrary to her suspicions, his sense of aesthetic was actually rather high.


    No, high was an understatement. It was formidable, and difficult to please. Because of his scrutinizing eye, she felt like she¡¯d gone back to being a design student, desperately trying to please the judgment of her professors.


    But she couldn¡¯t show off her nervousness. She was a professional now, which meant she needed to always look calm and collected in front of a customer.


    [Hayley] ¡°Then, shall we proceed with this design?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Alright.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°You mentioned this would be for the graduation ceremony, correct?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That I did.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°You are very kind to consider even a graduation dress for the lady.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°If I didn¡¯t, then she¡¯ll likely just end up throwing on whatever.¡±


    That seemed very likely for an indifferent woman such as she.


    The graduation ceremony would be their final official day at the Academy. He knew he would never be able to grasp exactly how she lived her everyday Academy life over the years, but at the very least, he wanted her to be able to end on a high note in a beautiful dress.


    And so he decided to go ahead and stick his nose into the business of Valentia¡¯s dress without her knowledge, even though he was a little unclear about whether she¡¯d accept it or not.


    [Hayley] ¡°This must be the lady that wore the beautiful dress from before.¡±


    Lexus laughed at Hayley¡¯s comment.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m not sure which of us you¡¯re actually praising.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°Obviously you, Your Highness.¡±


    His phrasing was a little twisted, digging to see if Hayley was actually complimenting herself but she caught his words with skill and threw them right back at him.


    Lexus was the one who altered the design from the basic framework, while Hayley would add in a little advice here and there wherever she thought was necessary.


    It was exceedingly common for men to buy dresses for their lovers. Some would even put in a little extra legwork and purchase numerous other things like jewelry and accessories if they had the financial capabilities.


    But this was her first time helping a man design a dress for his lover.


    [Hayley] ¡°I would not have expected you to be so sensitive. Your lady must be quite happy.¡±


    Lexus gave a very twisted smile at those words. It was such a bittersweet look that Hayley felt like her heart was sinking in her chest.


    Hayley, dedicated to her work as she was, came to think of Lexus, the best man in the Empire, as the best kind of hanger to display her clothing, but even she could not help but admit it at this moment.


    The Prince truly was unfairly handsome.


    But though his expression was wistful and bittersweet, his mood was in truth really bad right now.


    [Lexus] ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll like it.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°That can¡¯t be! Who could ever hate it when you¡¯re putting your heart out on the line like this, Your Highness?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°As I live and breathe, I found her. Such a woman really exists.¡±


    And so he felt anxious, wondering what he could do for such a person who wanted nothing from him.


    [Hayley] ¡°Oh. You¡¯ve given your heart to an indifferent woman, then?¡±


    It was just as she said. But the funniest part about all of it was that he had been told by many women that he was the cruelly indifferent one.


    When people saw his kind and gentle appearance, noticing how well mannered he was, all who met him would assume he was a sweet man at first.


    However, the truth was that his appearance was something he was born with and his manners were something that he learned. Deep down, he was actually a very cynical and bitter man.


    But every time that aloof woman smiled at him, he felt good.


    Lexus was born into this world wanting for nothing, and appeared to have everything he desired in short order. He did not know what it was like to be left lacking in something.


    Affairs concerning the human heart were very similar in that way for him. All the women he showed minor interest in ended up loving him, so he was never left empty handed when it came to the love of others, either.


    But living like that, never knowing what it was like to miss something, he could not know satisfaction either. For one to understand fulfillment, one must first understand what it felt like to be empty.


    And because he could not recognize what it felt like to be missing something, he couldn¡¯t recognize what it meant to feel content, and so he could not adequately describe the feeling of fullness he felt within his heart whenever Valentia smiled. (1)


    Was this the karma he was paying for living his life as he did? But would he even be able to recognize this kind of karma?


    Lexus gestured to the dress design.


    [Lexus] ¡°Proceed with this look.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°Thank you for your approval. Ah, but that reminds me. I received a bolt of lace from Sal¡¯s, but I don¡¯t have much, just enough for one dress. Would you be interested?¡±


    Gathering together all of her design sketches, a sudden thought hit Hayley, and so she decided to ask him.


    Sal¡¯s was the name of a shop belonging to a threadmaster and clothier, famous for his lace. Many shops relied on machines to weave their lace, but Sal¡¯s was a place that still staunchly adhered to the old ways of dealing with their bolts.


    Laces threaded by a machine could be finished faster, but the pattern wasn¡¯t anything special, fixing to a single look that matches with the machine¡¯s capabilities, but Sal¡¯s lace was completely unique.


    It took the shop a very long time to work, and their product was so expensive that it was unrealistic to use it to complete one entire dress. With this kind of hand threaded lace that told a magnificent story with its design, it would be cheaper to inlay one¡¯s dress with gold instead.


    [Lexus] ¡°Is that so? You must have more talent for procurement than I thought.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡­¡­put in a lot of money for it.¡±


    Lexus smirked.


    This was something that was so expensive and rare that only a limited number of people could ever purchase it, but still, wasn¡¯t it the virtue of any customer to make sure a business sold it well?


    [Lexus] ¡°Then use that.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°My, most generous.¡±


    Both the price and the rarity of this dress was quickly rising, all to be given to a person who would have no idea.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯ll leave this in your hands now.¡±


    [Hayley] ¡°Very well. Rest, Your Highness.¡±


    * * *


    Right now, Lexus¡¯ situation was complicated in more ways than one.


    The other day, the news that Yusef had brought him was so important that he had to leave his seat in the middle of his date with Valentia, and then after hearing the report itself, he had a difficult time controlling his expression for a moment.


    When Yusef told him he¡¯d found a trace, he immediately knew what that meant.


    [Yusef] ¡®As you ordered, I ceased my tracking and started investigating instead, but I think pushing any further might result in my being caught.¡¯


    This particular prey was the type to stop moving completely if they thought the hunter was chasing it. Rats were cautious creatures, and so they rarely made a move, even after being assured that the hunter had left.


    So he had no choice but to pull back for now.


    [Lexus] ¡®For now, we¡¯ll just watch things.¡¯


    [Yusef] ¡®Do you really think he¡¯s still alive?¡¯


    The body they found that day definitely seemed to belong to that man, but it was so horribly mangled and burned that it would be impossible to tell for certain. And given all the suspicious circumstances, he couldn¡¯t help but think of this possibility.


    The possibility he might still be alive.


    [Lexus] ¡®We can¡¯t know that for certain right now, but it¡¯s highly likely at this point.¡¯


    [Yusef] ¡®Understood. I will keep a watch in the meantime.¡¯


    He thought this problem was far behind him, but if there was a chance he could catch him and finish this entirely, he couldn¡¯t let go of this.


    But funnily enough, when he returned after hearing such shocking information, Valentia¡¯s words somehow managed to shock him even more than Yusef¡¯s report did.


    [Valentia] ¡®Should we just stop this now?¡¯


    Just thinking about it made his mood take a downward spiral. Hearing those words as soon as he got back made his already soured mood turn worse.


    Just stop, she says.


    Lexus wasn¡¯t that dimwitted. He immediately understood what she was saying, but he purposely played the fool, pretending not to get what she was so clearly hinting at, leaving that idea to fizzle out into the air.


    Perhaps she assumed they would end their relationship once they graduated, but he didn¡¯t want to do that yet. He couldn¡¯t see it happening anytime in the future, much less on that day.


    And it was only now that Lexus realized that he hadn¡¯t considered when their relationship would end until right this very moment.


    Lexus pulled out a nearby drawer, producing a small box from within. It was light blue in color, made of velvet and small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. When he popped open the lid, inside and embedded in the velvet interior was a small ring, within which was a delicate looking diamond.


    Thinking of giving something like this to a woman who wanted to leave him, he could scarcely believe it himself. He had no choice but to think himself a fool for it, but even so, he had no intention of taking it back.


    After all, it was obvious that he carried feelings for Valentia, but since this was Lexus, he couldn¡¯t speak on what those feelings were very well.


    And so, if one were to ask him what this emotion was, he wouldn¡¯t be able to answer because he himself did not know. He didn¡¯t know when or how it was going to end, but within him was the desire to treat this relationship with seriousness.


    So don¡¯t ever say that again, okay?


    He was a very foolish man¡ªa man who wished to give her this ring all while not knowing the name of the feeling that gripped his heart.


    Habitually, Lexus¡¯ hand fell to his side, searching around for the soft and warm fur that was normally always by his side. Without Goldie here, his absence was very noticeable.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­Never thought I could feel lonely just because a dog isn¡¯t here.¡±


    Goldie would always spend his time lying down next to him, and Lexus didn¡¯t even realize how used to it he had become since it was a part of his everyday life.


    He let out a sigh.


    He took in that dog for a purpose, but over time, he grew fond of him. Dare he say he even loved him? When Valentia told him she wanted to hold onto him for a little bit, he nearly caught himself saying no.


    ¡­.But, I hope you¡¯ll always be by my side.


    And right then, he caught such an inadvertent thought entering his mind.


    But one cannot say for certain if he was thinking of the dog or of Valentia.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The idea being conveyed here is that you can only know fulfillment if you have a need that wasn¡¯t being met previously that¡¯s now being met. Because Lexus has never understood what meant to feel empty, he can¡¯t recognize the ¡®fullness¡¯ that Valentia gives him. Kind of like the saying ¡°You can¡¯t know happiness until you know sadness¡±. I hope that comes across well ;-;


    astralmech¡¯s t/c: I kind of love Lexus¡¯ character development. I love that there¡¯s clearly a nugget of a good person inside of him, he just doesn¡¯t believe he¡¯s someone who has the capability of being good, so he leans into this scumbag rhetoric.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Would You Be So Kind¡± by dodie ¡¹

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60 | Two Brothers


    * * *


    Feeling a little tired, Lexus laid down on the sofa with his hand falling over the side. His fingers instinctually sought out that familiar warmth, a movement that had become almost like a habit to him.


    But no matter how he searched, he could not feel that small breath and soft fur that was usually always there.


    Whenever he beckoned Goldie like this, the dog would push his head under his arm and fall asleep with him, and he¡¯d end up drifting off with his hand still petting the soft fur of his head.


    But with no one there, all he ended up petting was empty air.


    Feeling something blocking the light as a shadow loomed over him, Lexus suddenly opened his eyes.


    [Axion] ¡°Hello, brother.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello, brother.¡±


    He just knew it would be Axion. His mother was the type to contact him before visiting, and Elizabeth, who was still very childish and had yet to learn any manners, would¡¯ve just barged in.


    Axion was the only one who could cleanly move past all the servants and enter the door with such silence.


    Looking down at the state of Lexus, Axion smirked.


    [Axion] ¡°At this rate, your body is going to start growing mold. Why don¡¯t you get up from the sofa?¡±


    Axion walked up to the sofa where Lexus was lying down, leaning against the armrest.


    [Lexus] ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just lazy. Do I have to get up?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Let¡¯s go ride our horses.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I have no intention of doing that.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Get up.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°This is an order.¡±


    Even if he ignored him now, it was clear his brother had something he wanted to say. With a heavy sigh, Lexus sat up, but even then, he didn¡¯t even try to stand.


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you want?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°What happened to that dog you always had next to you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°His name is Goldie. Isn¡¯t it about time you memorized his name?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Well, I¡¯m doing my best.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Your best, huh? And how many months has it been since you started ¡®doing your best¡¯?¡±


    Lexus had this keen ability where he didn¡¯t take in or get rid of any piece of information in his mind, useless or otherwise, and he was showing it off without any kind of hesitation right now.


    [Axion] ¡°Did you sell that dog? Is that why I haven¡¯t seen it around here for a while? I didn¡¯t realize you were in need of extra money, living in a palace like this.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why do I get the feeling you just majorly insulted my character?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°So where did it go? Don¡¯t tell me you really sold it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°His owner took him.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°His owner? That wasn¡¯t you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Nope. I was just taking care of him temporarily.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Is it the person who¡¯s been holding onto that ring for you?¡± (1)


    [Lexus] ¡°If you had any decent self-awareness, you wouldn¡¯t be asking that kind of question.¡±


    Lexus cut back with a quip, one sharply asking why his brother would ask that if he already knew the answer.


    [Axion] ¡°I have good enough self-awareness, but I also like to make sure of things.¡±


    And hearing a cheeky answer meaning he wanted to hear a definite answer in response to his suspicions, Lexus heaved a heavy sigh.


    [Lexus] ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go outside.¡±


    * * *


    Following Axion outside, their horses had already been prepped, ready and waiting. They walked with a casual gait, their servants lingering far behind them.


    Just before, Lexus had been lying listless by himself, but now that he was outside riding his horse, the cool breeze alone started to make him feel a little better.


    [Axion] ¡°What did you do all day?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why ask when you already know?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°They tell me you¡¯ve just been lying around for days on end and haven¡¯t moved a muscle. Your life sounds very leisurely.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I can¡¯t help the blood I was born with.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°So explain to me how I was born with the same blood and yet I¡¯m so busy?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You aren¡¯t a second born son.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°We all have our duties to fulfill, yourself included.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What sort of responsibilities does a second son even have by comparison?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why not get married, for starters?¡±


    Axion threw out the idea so casually, like something like that would be so easy. Before he realized the indifferent nature of the question, Lexus nearly answered, Maybe I have plans for that and you just don¡¯t know about it.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    With a frown on his face, Lexus glanced at his brother.


    [Axion] ¡°Count Reston has made his search for a marriage agreement quite clear.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If you don¡¯t plan on loving anyone, then I don¡¯t think a political marriage would be such a bad idea.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°He must have paid a pretty penny for you to bring this up. What was Count Reston famous for again? Did he promise to hand over the major farmland he owns and the ruby mine along with his precious daughter?¡±


    Lexus was being sarcastic.


    There were five major granaries within the Empire and within those, there were ten farmlands. Count Reston owned one of them. And if that were not enough, he even owned a major ruby mine that was rather famous. That was the reason why Prince Lexus even remembered Count Reston¡ªbecause of the large assets he owned.


    And so to think the Count would give up both the farm and the mine just for a marriage would be crazy. That would be tantamount to relinquishing eighty percent of the county¡¯s income.


    [Axion] ¡°How did you know?¡±


    The corners of the Axion¡¯s lips twitched upward like he¡¯d been caught red handed.


    [Lexus] ¡°Wow, that makes me feel so much better. Is this how stud horses feel? Should I be grateful I¡¯m such an expensive person to buy?¡±


    He laughed, speaking with a pleasant sounding voice, but Axion wasn¡¯t foolish enough not to understand the clear disdain and sarcasm behind his words.


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s a political marriage without love. It would be for the best to take advantage of it.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then why don¡¯t you do it?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°They saw that picture of you, unfortunately.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And if it were you they saw instead, would you do it?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I have no reason not to.¡±


    Lexus could understand the rationale behind this being the right choice, but somehow, he didn¡¯t like this at all.


    [Lexus] ¡°Even if you don¡¯t have a problem with the idea, just thinking about it is giving me a headache. If you¡¯re planning on spewing nothing but nonsense, then just leave me alone.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°What are your thoughts on this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What kind of question is that? Obviously I hate the idea.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I just thought you wouldn¡¯t mind the idea of a profitable political marriage for yourself.¡±


    Lexus thought the same, once upon a time. If he had no choice but to get married at one point or another, then clearly, he would make the most beneficial choice.


    [Axion] ¡°Anyway, there was something I was more curious to talk about. I¡¯ve been hearing a lot about you exhibiting some suspicious behaviors.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why did you commission a ring? Who was the recipient of that dress you bought? I can hardly contain my curiosity.¡±


    If Axion were to be honest, this was the intent of their conversation from the very beginning.


    However, he knew if he came at Lexus too directly with these questions, he would likely get angry immediately, so he decided to soften the blow by throwing a massive bomb at him first. In essence, his true motive was this second topic of conversation, though he wouldn¡¯t complain if Lexus were to accept his first offer.


    [Axion] ¡°Are you actually planning on getting married?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What the hell are you going on about?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Well, if it¡¯s not that, then why the ring?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I just wanted to let her know that I¡¯m serious about her.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Serious, you say? And what about her?¡±


    With those kinds of words in the air, Axion could not help but wonder if the woman in question was the type to truly love Lexus, but something told him asking that kind of question too directly wouldn¡¯t end well for him.


    Besides, was this even the type of thing one could be rational about? It would only be natural not to think about whether or not she even liked him back because Lexus was the type to move forward without that kind of consideration.


    However, in truth, this was something that made Lexus a little bit worried, so he responded with a sigh.


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Falling into a brief silence, it took Lexus a second before he could answer.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..She said she wanted to stop.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Did you ever start something?¡±


    Those words were like a spear, and Lexus couldn¡¯t deny that he and Valentia had not seen enough of each other to say that something had even truly started.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­¡­.I thought we did.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And what about this woman?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She said she¡¯d think about it.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Then, doesn¡¯t this mean you¡¯ve already been abandoned?¡±


    His brother didn¡¯t hesitate to take a jab at the very thing that was making him so anxious, and Lexus¡¯ handsome face twisted into a frown.


    Normally, he would¡¯ve asked what made him think that, but the remark was so sudden that all he could do was get quiet. Now, he was being given no choice but to let this one slide because he thought if he said anything more, it would be like acknowledging his own fears.


    As far as he knew, everything was fine at the Fall Banquet. Back then, it really felt like she held some kind of heart for him. He had no idea what was making her suddenly say she wanted to stop, and that just drove him even more crazy.


    He thought maybe it was his slowness in properly defining their relationship that caused this incident, so he had the ring prepared, but with things going as they were, he wasn¡¯t sure if she would accept it from him.


    [Axion] ¡°This is a surprise. You¡¯re putting your heart into something you¡¯re so unsure of.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m surprised, too.¡±


    And he also didn¡¯t understand himself, unable to put an end to things when the woman he was concerned with was making him so confused.


    But even if he were to go back in time, he couldn¡¯t see himself agreeing with what Valentia wanted. He¡¯d probably just end up saying something foolish, once again unable to do what he couldn¡¯t the first time around.


    [Axion] ¡°Why did you have a ring made when there¡¯s a chance the woman may refuse?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s important to show my sincerity.¡±


    If he were the type of man who didn¡¯t bother to prepare a ring because he was afraid he might be rejected, then it would only be right if she kicked him to the side.


    [Axion] ¡°I see. Sincerity. I understand. Then I¡¯ll reject the offer for now.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What do you mean, for now?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to keep the possibility open.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re talking about the daughter of Count Reston, aren¡¯t you? Doesn¡¯t she go to the Academy?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°So I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Then what kind of marriage would this even be, considering I can¡¯t even remember what she looks like?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Such is the nature of a political marriage. In any case, I have a lot of work I need to do, so you may return on your own.¡±


    Like he was actually very busy, Axion quickly turned and disappeared.


    But then he smiled to himself.


    Lexus didn¡¯t notice this, but this whole conversation was just Axion¡¯s way of extending a little love advice to him. In all his years, he¡¯d never imagined he would have this kind of talk with his brother of all people.


    Though, he had to admit choosing himself as the one to give love advice was a little redundant, so it was doubtful Lexus gained anything from their conversation. Elizabeth read a lot of romance novels, so perhaps she would have been more useful in times like this rather than someone like Axion.


    Axion was an extremely analytical and overly rational man, with neither his heart nor his body ever being moved by a person, and so he thought he and Lexus were the same.


    Although he didn¡¯t meet with women in that way, he still spent a lot of time with many different ladies, but gave his heart to none. His brother was a little extreme in his ways, but in the end, they were no different from each other.


    They were men who could not truly love.


    With their deficiencies being as they were, if another child were to be born in the Imperial family, it would probably be only after the youngest among them, Elizabeth, grew up and got married. For this pair of brothers, such a possibility did not exist for them.


    [Axion] ¡°But this is unexpected. It¡¯s a bit surprising to know he might have a child first.¡±


    He clearly still didn¡¯t understand his own feelings yet, but if he had fallen in love and was feeling affection for someone beyond a mere familial bond, then that was something worth celebrating.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) He¡¯s talking about the ring Lexus is using as a sign to indicate a person was sent by him, not the ring he had commissioned.


    astralmech t/c: Aspec Axion? ????


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Brother¡± by Kodaline ¡¹

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61 | Graduation


    * * *


    [Erhein] ¡°So they refused.¡±


    Within Erhein¡¯s hands was an official message from the Imperial family, written immediately at the start of which was the name of Count Reston.


    [Count] ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wish I could¡¯ve been more helpful.¡±


    Erhein checked the message from the Imperial family penned for the Count as if he were the intended recipient, and then roughly tossed it back down. The Count bowed his head, continually apologizing.


    In comparison to the Count, who was well beyond his middle age, Erhein was a young nobleman in his mid-twenties, and yet the Count spoke incredibly formally towards him.


    Though that was to be expected. The Count was on the side of the Marquis, and as the Marquis only son, it was a reasonable course of thought to understand that Erhein would become the next Marquis himself one day.


    The reason why Count Reston agreed to give up property equaling eighty percent of his income as a dowry was because Marquis Hayden agreed to compensate for damages. This was all done with the intent to understand the Prince¡¯s whims when it came to the idea of marriage.


    Count Reston agreed because he would lose nothing as a part of this deal, but at the same time, his opinion was never considered during this process.


    [Count] ¡°Truly, I am most deeply sorry.¡±


    Erhein didn¡¯t really have many expectations to begin with. This whole plot was done purely to use the Count to gauge Imperial response.


    Naturally his young sister, Permat, was enraged. Again, she became inconsolably hysterical, asking why he would present the daughter of a count before the Imperial Prince rather than herself.


    The reason why Erhein didn¡¯t use the name of the Marquis for this little plan was because rejection was most certainly assured, and he didn¡¯t wish for the name of Marquis Hayden to be humiliated for no reason like that.


    It would bring unbearable shame to the noble name of the Marquis, who lived and died with honor, to have a marriage proposal rejected, only to present a second request later on down the line.


    And although this plan went just about as perfect as he thought it would, he still felt unsatisfied. If the Imperial family were to actually accept this marriage, this all would¡¯ve been much easier to deal with, since they would all be tied through an engagement.


    [Erhein] ¡°You may return now.¡±


    [Count] ¡°Yes. If you need anything else, please call me again.¡±


    [Erhein] ¡°If the time comes.¡±


    Though the marriage proposal went nowhere, Count Reston didn¡¯t feel disappointed on account of Erhein¡¯s handsome payment.


    Once the Count was gone, Erhein ordered one of his subordinates to bring in a certain man.


    [Erhein] ¡°Feed him to the dogs.¡±


    If he wished to bury things, confusion was better than silence.


    The very next day, a newspaper that specialized in third-rate gossip devoted their entire front page to a published article. How did that article start, you ask?


    ¡ª¡¯Who is the Imperial Prince¡¯s woman?¡¯


    * * *


    Staring back at him was the reflection of a man with bright blond hair and piercing golden eyes.


    Though it was a face that others looked upon with awe and elation, he had lived with it his entire life, but unless he looked in the mirror, he rarely had the chance to peer into the eyes of a god himself.


    He always dressed neatly, but today, he was paying extra special care to his appearance, but something didn¡¯t sit right with him.


    [¡ª] ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    Considering how much the Prince was looking at his own face with an expression of dissatisfaction, naturally the person that was helping him prepare his hair and clothing had no choice but to ask if everything was alright.


    [Lexus] ¡°Don¡¯t I look a bit tired today?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°N, no, of course not! You¡¯re as handsome as ever.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°In other words, I look the same as ever.¡±


    The idea of looking the same as he always did right on the day he was trying to meet up with a woman he considered himself serious about was a terrifying thought.


    [¡ª] ¡°No, that¡¯s not it! You look even more handsome today.¡±


    The attendant spoke with assurance, but for the first time ever, Lexus was starting to lose confidence in this reliable face of his.


    But right now, he had no choice but to not. It was too late to change his clothes, and he¡¯d already done all he could with his hair, skin, and pretty much everything else about him that he could feasibly improve on.


    [Lexus] ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±


    Yusef was busy taking care of other work, so Lexus sent another servant out with the ring to ensure he wasn¡¯t late.


    Once the graduation ceremony was over, a celebratory banquet would be held. He was planning on persuading her to leave it early with him, and take her to a place he had prepared.


    Then, he would make his serious intentions known.


    If he failed in that, well, shit. He didn¡¯t even want to think about that possibility, but if it did end up happening, he didn¡¯t plan on just giving up and leaving it at that.


    [Tex] ¡°Ack.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    Arriving at the Academy, Lexus immediately responded with abject harshness at Tex¡¯s response.


    [Tex] ¡°You look too bright today, Your Highness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Those were words he normally pretended not to hear whenever they passed through the air, but this time, the corners of Lexus¡¯ mouth curved slightly upward.


    [Ruth] ¡°Wow, we see your face all the time, but I think my heart was pounding for a second.¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°Who was your fitter? Mind introducing them to us?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Do you really think you could pull something like this off just because I introduce you to the same person?¡±


    Lexus¡¯ figure was undeniably perfect. He had broad shoulders, a handsome face, a strong and muscular upper body, and long legs. It stood to reason that many experts in design wished for the chance to work with such a specimen.


    [Tex] ¡°Anyway, how have you been? Even when I asked about you, you didn¡¯t move an inch at the palace. What, were you hiding from something?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Not really.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Want to chat with us for a while?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that. I¡¯ll see you some other time.¡±


    It was clear that if he entertained them for even a second, those three would just want to head off to a club or some other untoward place.


    [Tex] ¡°You¡¯ve been so cold these days, Lexus.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°Even when we ask you to hang out, you just ignore us.¡±


    Hearing their grumbles and complaints, Lexus glared at them with a tinge of contempt in his eyes, and they immediately shut up.


    [Tex] ¡°Why are you looking at us like that?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Like what?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it wasn¡¯t good.¡±


    They were quick to catch on.


    [Lexus] ¡°Today¡¯s the graduation ceremony. You should live more honorable existences from now on.¡±


    After that, he quickly left them behind, heading off towards the lounge to take a breather before the ceremony began.


    Lexus was the first to enter, and seeing how empty and messy the place was, he nearly left immediately before something on the ground caught his eye, and a disdainful frown grew on his face.


    Since this was the Academy, the general areas that allowed for public access required courtesy from everyone to keep clean, but with how many people that passed through, it was bound to get messy time and time again.


    Thanks to the article about the Imperial family that was going around, there were so many of these damned newspapers floating around that he could burn all he could and still not get rid of them all, so obviously, the remnants that had not yet disappeared were still scattered around.


    That¡¯s what caught Lexus¡¯ eye.


    [Lexus] ¡°That shitty newspaper still hasn¡¯t had enough.¡±


    ¡ª¡¯Prince Lexus, a free spirited man who could be tamed by no one, has secretly commissioned a diamond ring worth upwards of five karats.¡¯


    ¡ª¡¯Who is the lucky lady meant to receive this ring? This reporter has an insider scoop that the daughter of Count Reston is the most likely candidate. Though he was once the lover of all, will Prince Lexus finally belong to just one woman?¡¯


    It was such a trash article. They even made up the story that he and this woman were attending the same Academy and were in frequent contact with one another.


    And of course, the Imperial family did not bother fighting against this by publishing a counter article. Responding to the gossip was the quickest way to add to the fire, and would undermine the Imperial family¡¯s honor.


    Rumors were bound to die down if they had nothing to feed off of, so the intent was to just ride this out and wait for it to disappear.


    The article listed the jeweler¡¯s dealings with the Imperial family as one of its sources, but they didn¡¯t seem to know about the dress he¡¯d commissioned. But since the ring was discovered, the story naturally began to spiral using that as a central point.


    Whether it was the jeweler or one of their employees that couldn¡¯t keep their mouth shut didn¡¯t matter. The fact that information about an object commissioned by a VIP was leaked was a fatal thing for their business.


    This publication was utter nonsense, but if the damn thing was spreading like wildfire, then the validity of its content hardly mattered. Lexus crumpled up the newspaper in his hand and roughly threw it into a nearby trash can.


    If it were possible, he¡¯d find a way to collect every single newspaper, burn them to ashes, and then set fire to the publishing house that even bothered with writing this kind of garbage. With a bitter frown on his face, Lexus turned and left the lounge.


    The time was fast approaching anyway, so he headed off towards the building where the ceremony was supposed to be held, and already, there were crowds of students gathered. There, among the sea of people, Lexus recognized faces that were somewhat familiar to him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hello, Miss Aigis.¡±


    Aigis and the others turned and looked at Lexus with a look of shock, which was understandable. He was not someone who would normally call out to them, and yet not only did he do that, but he also greeted them and even approached them.


    Hiding her embarrassment, Aigis greeted him first.


    [Aigis] ¡°Hello, Lord Lexus.¡±


    [Lily] ¡°This is the last time we¡¯ll be able to call you like this.¡±


    Aigis and Lily both spoke with a voice of regret.


    Lexus was a Prince, and so they would need to call him by his appropriate title if they ever came across him in society. To call him by his name like this was a luxury they were only afforded while attending the Academy.


    And for those who could not build a friendship with him while they were at the Academy, then it would be incredibly hard for them to act personal with him afterwards.


    [Lexus] ¡°That won¡¯t do. Please, continue to speak to me comfortably.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°¡­.That¡¯s quite the honor, but is that possible?¡±


    Their families weren¡¯t that big and they were women, so they were very far from the type of people who would normally become friends with Lexus.


    So hearing that kind of offer from him, it was only natural that Aigis felt a little confused and flustered, but it was also natural that she felt a small sense of joy at the fact.


    [Lexus] ¡°Any friend of Valentia is a friend of mine.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Good friends, indeed.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°But I don¡¯t see Valentia anywhere. I was hoping I could see her before the ceremony, but I guess not. It¡¯s too bad.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I understand that feeling. The ceremony is being hosted by the preparatory committee, so as the top student, perhaps she¡¯s just a tad bit busy at the moment.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Yes. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if she were on the committee. I think the ceremony will start soon, so we should take our seats.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I will see you later at the banquet, Lord Lexus.¡±


    Entering the hall, each of them went their separate ways, heading off to their assigned seats.


    Considering Valentia was graduating as the top student of the Academy, she would be scheduled to receive a myriad of scholarships and awards, so it was a little strange that no one had seen her face around yet.


    During his entire time at the Academy, not once did Lexus wield his power to get what he wanted or attempt to get preferential treatment. If he tried to visit Valentia as someone that was not on the preparatory committee, it would be no different from using his power like that.


    And besides, even if he wanted to, his chance had already come and gone.


    [¡ª] ¡°Calling all graduates. Please be seated.¡±


    * * *


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Never Coming Back¡± by Violet Evergarden OST ¡¹

 Chapter 62 - Chapter 62 | No Show

    Chapter 62 | No Show


    * * *


    [¡ª] ¡°Where is Miss Valentia?¡±


    Despite the cold weather of the season, the man to whom this question was asked felt a cold sweat run down his back.


    [¡ª] ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s arrived yet.¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°What do you mean she isn¡¯t here yet?¡±


    The voice who asked sounded shocked.


    [¡ª] ¡°I don¡¯t know. She sent in confirmation that she would certainly attend, and she should¡¯ve been here two hours ago, but I haven¡¯t heard a word from her yet.¡±


    The fact that she had not been in contact yet either was a very telling detail. It proved that she had not shown even a little bit of her face yet.


    [¡ª] ¡°If she takes too long, we¡¯ll need to visit her home. How could you fail to follow through with such a simple thing!¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°N, no, I was just busy and I was so certain she¡¯d come on time, so I didn¡¯t even think twice about it¡­¡­¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°You call that an excuse?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Your apologies are of no use here. What are we supposed to do now?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. Is there anyone around who can accept the accolades on behalf of a senior student?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°We¡¯ll just have to ask whoever took the number two spot.¡±


    And so in a panic, they rushed out, attempting to locate the student who had placed just below Valentia.


    [Second] ¡°So you want me to accept the award on her behalf?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Yes. You took second place, so you are indeed qualified enough to do so¡­..¡±


    [Second] ¡°Not interested.¡±


    And obviously he refused.


    For this student, it felt unfair that no matter how hard he tried, he could never take that top seat in all his time at the Academy, and so the idea of having to accept this award on her behalf felt like an insult since it was not his award to take.


    Everyone already knew who the top student was, and they wanted him to go up and accept the award for her? What a joke.


    That was when their panic continued, rushing to find number three. The man who was running around in delirium was certain he¡¯d be rejected again and was ready to pass out and die right about now. But when he explained the situation, the third place student gladly accepted, to his surprise.


    [¡ª] ¡°A, are you sure?¡±


    [Third] ¡°Yes, of course. It would be an honor.¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°I¡¯d really appreciate it if you thought so. You may continue to sit here, you¡¯re in the front row anyway.¡±


    [Third] ¡°But is the first place seat empty?¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Sorry? Oh, yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    [Third] ¡°Then I¡¯ll just sit there. It would be strange to keep it empty.¡±


    [¡ª] ¡°Oh, then do that. Once you¡¯re called, you can come up and accept the award. If you¡¯d like to speak a few words, you may.¡±


    [Third] ¡°Very well.¡±


    But after hearing that the third place student would be accepting the awards as a proxy, the second place student chased after him.


    [Second] ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±


    [Third] ¡°Why are you suddenly cursing me out?¡±


    [Second] ¡°I heard you¡¯re going to be accepting that award on behalf of the number one student. Why on earth would you do that!?¡±


    [Third] ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    [Second] ¡°Everyone already knows who the number one student is, and yet you¡¯ll still accept it like this? Have you no pride?¡±


    [Third] ¡°You see, you seem real smart but other than that, I don¡¯t think your brain is very good at all. But I suppose this is why academic intelligence and social intelligence are two different things.¡±


    [Second] ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    This person really did have a good head on his shoulders. Although he never managed to take the top seat, the second seat was one that always fell into his hands with ease.


    However, for all his intelligence, most who tried to compliment him about it would end up saying, ¡®You have a very brilliant mind, but¡­.¡¯ and he was not adept enough to understand the hidden meaning behind their phrasing and tone.


    [Third] ¡°Think very carefully about it. Do you think anyone in this crowd is going to know who sits in the third place seat?¡±


    Likely not, and so if he were to go up to the podium and accept the accolades himself on behalf of the number one student, there would be plenty who would misunderstand and remember him as being in that coveted first place spot.


    This was a very fortunate opportunity for him, considering in times like these, it was usually the second place student who would be meant to accept the award instead.


    [Second] ¡°¡­¡­..!¡±


    And upon that realization, the second place student¡¯s face turned pale.


    * * *


    The graduation ceremony was a quiet and professional affair.


    After the Empire¡¯s anthem was sung, everyone took their seats, following which was a speech regaling the audience with the story of the Academy¡¯s founding and base ideology. After that came a very basic and boring speech from the dean.


    And by the time the excitement for the graduation ceremony started to fade into boredom, next came the most important part.


    [Dean] ¡°Next up is to present a certificate of accolade to the student who consistently achieved high marks.¡±


    So she¡¯s here, Lexus thought with relief.


    [Dean] ¡°Though it¡¯s unfortunate, the student in question could not come due to various circumstances, so another will be receiving the award on her behalf.¡±


    Just then, Lexus nearly threw himself from his seat without a second thought. He kept his hand on his leg, digging his fingers into his flesh just to keep himself from jumping up and running out there.


    The student who accepted the award as a proxy spoke a few words before standing down from the podium, and then they mentioned something about sending the scholarship and award to the proper recipient at a later date.


    [Dean] ¡°¡­..Congratulations to all graduates. May your future be ever shining.¡±


    With that, the dean concluded his speech, starting off a round of applause. One by one, students began to join in before eventually, raucous cheers began to spread. Some students, exhausted by the hard work they¡¯d put in as they attended the Academy, wiped away their tears.


    [Dean] ¡°Now that everyone has settled their emotions, let us move on to the prepared closing banquet.¡±


    As the voices amidst the crowd died down, the dean ushered people onward. The people quickly gathered and pulled themselves together, moving on with his words.


    And now that the ceremony was over, Lexus stood up from his seat. The world around him was moving as the students began to make their way outside, but he couldn¡¯t move an inch¡ªall because he wasn¡¯t really sure where to go right now.


    Where should I go? The Baron¡¯s mansion?


    But he couldn¡¯t do that.


    He didn¡¯t technically have any formal relationship with her family, and more than that, he was a very noticeable person. He couldn¡¯t suddenly visit a lady¡¯s home, which was why he¡¯d been relying on sending Yusef or other people in his place.


    It took no deep thought to know what sort of rumors would spread if he went there however he pleased. The funniest thing was that, in the past, he never wanted to be misunderstood as being in a serious relationship with the women he saw, so he never bothered trying to get close.


    But now, he couldn¡¯t move an inch because he was afraid of Valentia getting hurt because of him.


    By now the room had almost entirely cleared out, leaving behind only a few students.


    [Aigis] ¡°Lord Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Miss Aigis.¡±


    Across the faces of these three ladies were expressions of deep concern.


    [Aigis] ¡°It¡¯s too strange to think she wouldn¡¯t come to the graduation ceremony. You didn¡¯t happen to hear anything from her, did you, Lord Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No. I sent someone to go get her, but I haven¡¯t heard anything from him either.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°Perhaps we should head to the banquet hall first. Maybe she¡¯s just running late.¡±


    If they left now, there was the chance they would run into her on the way there. Being given no choice, Lexus headed off towards the hall where the closing ceremonial banquet was being held.


    Right when he was thinking about what might be wrong, he noticed someone approaching him¡ªa group consisting of Tex, Arthur, and Ruth.


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t our most coldhearted friend, the Imperial Prince himself. I saw another student accept the accolades and scholarship on behalf of the top student. Where is the number one, Miss Valentia today?¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°That¡¯s right. Valen¡ªugh.¡± (1)


    Looking at Tex, Aigis curiously tilted her head. Realizing things much faster than one might think, Tex jabbed Ruth in the side with his elbow, causing him to quickly cease his grumbles and look around at the people around him with an awkward expression.


    With confusion and curiosity still in Aigis¡¯ eyes, Tex wiped the smirk off his face, and asked with just one look what was going on. All Aigis could do was shake her head, for she too had many questions.


    And in response to all the tension that had built up in the air, Tex awkwardly changed the subject.


    [Tex] ¡°Anyway, why not introduce me to the lady next to you?¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I am Aigis, second born of House Ayli.¡±


    Lily and Red also took the opportunity to introduce themselves.


    [Tex] ¡°Ah, my apologies. It would have been more appropriate if I were to introduce myself first, but I ended up making such a simple mistake. I am called Tex, first born and heir to Duke Langbell.¡±


    [Aigis] ¡°I am aware of who you are.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Oh, so you already know¡­¡­I would hope you¡¯ve only heard good things about me.¡±


    Their smiles were awkward as they exchanged their hellos. Their conversation was brief and quiet, but Lexus didn¡¯t bother intervening. He couldn¡¯t be sure Valentia wouldn¡¯t show up just as the banquet started to reach its peak.


    But he couldn¡¯t understand what was happening. Why wasn¡¯t his messenger coming back?


    That was when he remembered what she told him before¡ªabout wanting to stop. Was she trying to end things this way because she didn¡¯t even want to look at his face?


    But even if she wanted to stop, this wasn¡¯t the right way to go about it. It would be better if she came up to him so they could talk about things properly, face to face.


    [Messenger] ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    Just as his thoughts started to spiral, that was when he finally heard the voice of that very same messenger calling out to him as he entered the banquet hall. Naturally, Lexus¡¯ eyes turned to look at him, but the sight before him was a difficult one to trust.


    For starters, this messenger seemed far too relaxed for someone who failed to do his job.


    After confirming Valentia was nowhere to be seen, he glanced at the messenger, speaking to him in hushed whispers about what he¡¯d been doing all this time while simultaneously not doing the one thing he was supposed to do.


    [Lexus] ¡°I thought I told you to bring me someone. Why did you come alone?¡±


    [Messenger] ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡­? D, did she not attend the ceremony?¡±


    That didn¡¯t sound right.


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Then, Lexus¡¯ already stiff expression turned even colder.


    [Messenger] ¡°It¡¯s as I said. When I arrived at the Baron¡¯s mansion, I was told she wasn¡¯t home.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°She wasn¡¯t home? Explain.¡±


    [Messenger] ¡°She was already gone by the time I arrived. The stable workers told me she¡¯d gone out for a walk with her dog, so I decided to wait for a little bit. But she didn¡¯t return, even after the time for the ceremony came and went. That was when I asked again where she went.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°And what did they say?¡±


    [Messenger] ¡°They said she must¡¯ve gone straight to the graduation ceremony herself. We didn¡¯t contact her ahead of time to let her know I was coming, so I thought that might be a possibility. Then I went to La Vie en Rose to pick up the dress meant for her to wear, as well as a couple of staff members to help her change.¡±


    There was no flaw with the way the messenger spoke. Even Lexus had to admit that he¡¯d done all he could in this situation, and it was commendable for him to have even gone the extra mile to bring in some staff to help with the dress.


    But the problem was that Valentia was still nowhere to be found. Where could she have gone if not the hall for the graduation ceremony?


    By this point, he knew Valentia wasn¡¯t going to be coming, but he still couldn¡¯t move a muscle. He  and Valentia weren¡¯t even technically in any kind of relationship with each other, and so he didn¡¯t know where he could go to look for her.


    And that was how the banquet ended.


    The person he was waiting for never came.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) Normally, it would be appropriate to address a lady one is not close to with the honorific of [?], which is just a common way of saying ¡°Miss¡±. Ruth was about to refer to Valentia without this honorific, hence why Tex jabbed him in the side.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°These Days¡± by Rudimental ¡¹

 Chapter 63 - The Letter

    Chapter 63 | The Letter


    * * *


    It was standard fare for students to gather with their closest friends and have a final get together after the banquet¡¯s end.


    One¡¯s coming of age ceremony was held much earlier in life, but aside from that, one¡¯s existence would only be acknowledged as a true member of society upon their graduation from the Academy.


    And so, everyone wished to hold a small party, expressing their joy and elation of finally crossing that final threshold into true independence.


    Naturally Tex, Arthur, and Ruth prepared an after party for Lexus and themselves.


    But after the banquet ended, all they saw was Lexus, his entire body stiff and unmoving, standing entirely still until everyone had completely left. They couldn¡¯t even find the words to say to him¡ªall they could do was stand next to him.


    [Tex] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    Like he was taking the lead, Tex was finally the one to break through the silence.


    Lexus¡¯ movements were robotic and slow as he turned to Tex. Looking at him, Tex just gave an awkward smile, casually shrugging his shoulders.


    [Tex] ¡°I know you¡¯re feeling a little wistful now that everything¡¯s over, but I think it¡¯s best if we returned now. Even those ladies left, so we¡¯re the only ones still here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, right. Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡±


    That was when Lexus¡¯ hardened expression finally started to loosen up.


    [Lexus] ¡°Thanks for the past few years.¡± (1)


    [Tex] ¡°Yeah, I agree. Thanks for the memories ¡®till now. All that¡¯s left is to do what we can once we meet outside in society, right?¡±


    Attending the graduation ceremony was not something you had to do. Even if you didn¡¯t go, you were still considered an alumnus, and were given all the qualifications of any Academy graduate.


    However, from the most sincere students to the ones who just barely scraped by, everyone held the belief that the ceremony was the most appropriate send off for the time they¡¯d spent here, and so many chose to attend regardless.


    But on the other hand, apparently there were also those who would just decide not to show up, even if they¡¯d made promises to be someone¡¯s partner on that day.


    [Arthur] ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s do our best.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°First, let¡¯s get you back to the palace, Lexus.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking. What are we going to do?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°We can¡¯t wile our time away like we did before, but we¡¯re still friends, and we¡¯re not so scummy that we¡¯d just ditch a friend like that, right?¡±


    [Arthur] ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Do you want us to stay with you?¡±


    At that subtly asked question, Lexus¡¯ expression twisted into a frown. Then, not long after, a voice filled with bitterness came out.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Is there anything we can do to help?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I can take care of this.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Alright, but if you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to contact me. I¡¯ll help you with anything if you need it.¡±


    [Ruth] ¡°Us, too. Though I¡¯m not certain how much help we¡¯ll be.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thanks for saying that. I¡¯ll see you some other time.¡±


    Lexus had already sent off his messenger with an order that he needed him to take care of.


    [Lexus] ¡®Check to see if she went home.¡¯


    [Messenger] ¡®Shall I just check?¡¯


    He was asking about what he should do should he find that she hadn¡¯t returned to the Baron¡¯s mansion, and if he should open an investigation in that case.


    [Lexus] ¡®If she¡¯s not at home, then find her.¡¯


    She¡¯d already had her life threatened once, and so anything could¡¯ve happened to her. That¡¯s the excuse Lexus gave, convincing himself that he was well within his rights to tear the world apart looking for her.


    He¡¯d rather that than confronting the reality that she didn¡¯t come to the graduation ceremony because she didn¡¯t want to see his face.


    * * *


    Through the night, Lexus couldn¡¯t sleep a wink.


    Once the morning came, the news he received indicated that she hadn¡¯t returned home, along with another message saying that his subordinates would begin the search for her, chasing after any clue they could as to where she was.


    Where the hell did you go, not even coming home for a second?


    All he knew for certain was that she definitely took Goldie with her. There were a few witnesses who claimed they saw a young woman with brown hair and lightly colored eyes walking with a golden dog on a leash.


    And hearing that news, Lexus made a face.


    Valentia¡¯s hair was actually closer to taupe than a pure brown, and he could say with certainty that her eyes were a light pink color.


    However, these were things Lexus only knew because he¡¯d been watching her so closely.


    One cannot not deny that in the eyes of others, perhaps her grayish brown hair would appear more plainly than that. If she hadn¡¯t taken Goldie with her, perhaps no one would have remembered her passing through at all.


    With his nerves completely shot, Lexus could neither eat nor sleep, causing his anxiety to reach Hugo.


    [Hugo] ¡°Your Highness, you must rest. You didn¡¯t sleep for even a minute last night, and you¡¯ll only fall ill at this rate.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m not tired. And besides, I can stay up all night and feel fine.¡±


    Everything felt so tense and anxious that when he tried to lie down, it felt like he was pinching his nerves. In that case, he¡¯d much rather just sit up.


    [Lexus] ¡°I¡¯m fine, so just go back to work.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I just want to be alone.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Then I will leave some tea for you here.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Fine.¡±


    And if by some stroke of luck, just before the evening fell completely, Hugo discovered something very interesting¡ªa letter from Valentia, the most one-sided method of communication.


    Unsurprisingly, there were countless letters being sent to the Prince, among which were many love letters. In fact, those probably outweighed any other type of correspondence he received on a daily basis.


    Through all that mess, it was only a few days ago that a letter postmarked from ¡®Valentia Syner¡¯ actually managed to arrive. It was on the exact day of the graduation ceremony.


    It ended up getting stuck in the system, being mistaken as a common letter, so it got neglected and classified separately without ever being passed onto Lexus.


    But like a message from the heavens and with a touch of luck, just as he was doing his nightly cleanup, sending the junk mail to the incinerator, Hugo accidentally came across Valentia¡¯s letter.


    [Hugo] ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What¡¯s happening? What are you running and yelling for at your age, Hugo?¡±


    He¡¯d known Hugo ever since he was a kid, but this was his first time seeing him so flustered and panicked that he raised his voice towards the Prince he served.


    [Hugo] ¡°I found a letter from Miss Syner.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°A letter?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°It arrived a few days ago apparently. I discovered a few of the workers trying to throw it away.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°A few days ago? Wait, no, that¡¯s not important. Bring me a letter opener.¡±


    It took everything in him not to immediately tear the envelope open with his bare hands, instead reaching out for a letter opener.


    [Hugo] ¡°Oh, I will bring it now.¡±


    And Hugo was so shocked and surprised by what he held in his hands that he totally forgot to bring something as simple as a letter opener with him.


    [Lexus] ¡°Actually, you know what, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just open it.¡±


    The letter was sealed with glue instead of wax, and when he opened it, the first thing he noticed was the soft and subtle lavender scent.


    Inside was a single sheet of parchment. With shaking hands, Lexus took it out and carefully unfolded it, but what he was met with was mostly empty space¡ªthe words catching his eye almost immediately.


    His eyes were trembling, shaking as he read every single world with great intensity¡ªsuch clear and obvious shock in his golden eyes.


    ¡ª  Your Highness, Imperial Prince.


    ¡ª I think it¡¯s time we properly organized our relationship.


    ¡ª It was pleasant.


    ¡ª Farewell.


    He heard the meaning behind this letter loud and clear.


    He was not foolish enough to misunderstand what the woman who wrote this meant, and what she meant by sending these words to him through someone else. She was trying to say that she wanted to end their connection like this.


    Without even looking at his face.


    With just a single piece of paper.


    As if what they had was not worth anything more than that.


    Unconsciously his hands started to tense, and beneath his strength, the thin and fragile paper started to crumple with a low crushing sound. As if the sound knocked some sense back into him, he looked at the wrinkled paper in his hands.


    With another unconscious movement, he took in a sudden breath of air and carefully unfolded the letter, straightening out the parts he had ruined and crushed, but in doing so, the words once again caught his eye.


    Four lines.


    There were only four lines.


    One of which was referring to him with one of his many titles.


    There was no real rhyme or reason behind the letter, no pleasantries nor any flowery language. It was a mere notice, one letting him know that it was all over.


    And looking down at this letter in his hands, one that didn¡¯t even refer to him by name, a bitter and vain smile grew on his face, but with enough time, that strange look twisted into anger.


    For Valentia, the time they¡¯d spent together was easily summarized in four measly lines.


    It was ridiculous. He was stunned into silence, feeling angry, bitter, and even betrayed. But despite those intense emotions swirling around inside of him, he could not destroy this letter.


    If someone else were to do something like this to him, he would have laughed, tearing apart the letter and tossing it aside without sparing it a second glance.


    No, he wouldn¡¯t even have done that. That would take too much effort. He¡¯d just toss it on the floor, where it would either be cleaned up by someone else or forgotten entirely.


    And to be honest, there were many women who had sent him letters in the past as a bid to try and sway him to stay with them, and each time, those letters met that exact fate.


    So why couldn¡¯t he throw away this small four line letter?


    ¡­¡­¡­.Only then could he realize.


    This was the only thing he had left of her.


    Running away, she even took the dog they used to take care of together with her. He should¡¯ve thought it was strange¡ªStrange how Valentia, who never sought out Goldie first, would suddenly want to take him.


    She must¡¯ve been thinking about doing this back when she asked if she could borrow him.


    [Hugo] ¡°A few items came with the letter.¡±


    They were classified as ¡®precious metals¡¯ when they came in with the many other gifts and goods, stored in a warehouse.


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­Items?¡±


    There was a slight pause in his voice as he spoke.


    [Hugo] ¡°Would you like to see them?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°¡­..Okay.¡±


    And the moment he saw that small box, about the size of two palms, Lexus felt something sink inside of him like a crushing and foreboding feeling.


    Even before the box was opened, he knew exactly what it was.


    [Lexus] ¡°Open it.¡±


    With a grim expression, Hugo opened the jewelry box.


    And just like he thought, inside was the necklace he had given her during the Fall Banquet. By returning this, that meant that when Valentia wrote this letter, she was being very serious.


    It¡¯s really over.


    Lexus¡¯ vision blurred, and in a moment, a cold drop of water fell onto the back of his hand.


    It could not rain indoors, so as far as he knew, this was the first tear he had ever shed in his life.


    What the hell, why do I feel like I¡¯ve lost something?


    It did not take Lexus long to realize the source of this overwhelming feeling of loss.


    Ah, I get it now. I was abandoned. I really was worth less than a dog to you.


    He smirked as a thin and empty laugh left him.


    Did I ever mean anything to you at all?


    But there was no one around who could answer that question.


    The only one who held that truth was gone. She had thrown him away and disappeared, taking a part of him with her as she did.


    [Lexus] ¡°Hah¡­¡­.¡±


    A low hiss escaped from between his lips. He clenched his teeth, but he couldn¡¯t swallow what pain managed to slip through the cracks.


    To be abandoned by the one who held his heart was a pain he never knew could be so devastating. It hurt so much, like a wounded beast, injured and near death, trying to hide its pain.


    An agony so encompassing that the only thing he could do was cry.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The phrasing used here is a common one used to celebrate everyone¡¯s hard work up until now. The literal translation makes it sound like a final parting, but it¡¯s much more casual than that.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Ðꤸ¤ã¤Ê¤¤¡± by Soushi Sakiyama ¡¹

 Chapter 64 - | Did You Ever Love Her?

    Chapter 64 | Did You Ever Love Her?


    The Baroness was so angry, her anger was exploding from the top of her head.


    Despite all the news that was coming out, she managed to endure because each time, the Prince was also being mentioned, but then it all just turned out to be a lie. How dare she pretend to be close to the Prince like that when nothing special was going on at all?


    [Lady] ¡®Oh dear, Madam Baroness, you must be so disappointed.¡¯


    Attending the meeting, she felt an ominous feeling crawl down her spine as one of the ladies mused out loud with a fan covering her mouth.


    But beyond that fan, she just knew that noblewoman was smirking, speaking with a voice like she was pitying her. It was obvious with her eyes slanted in an arch.


    [Baroness] ¡®Whatever do you mean?¡¯


    [Lady] ¡®You haven¡¯t read the news?¡¯


    In truth, the Baroness did not know how to read very well. Her family was poor when she was a child, and so she couldn¡¯t study well as a result.


    But even so, it was easy enough to have a servant read things for her or write letters on her behalf, but the newspaper was not a fun thing to listen to, and so she never asked the butler to read the articles for her if she had no reason to.


    [Lady] ¡®I hear they don¡¯t meet often these days.¡¯


    [Baroness] ¡®Relationship or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. In the end, the best marriage would be one with a historic family.¡¯


    [Lady] ¡®Like Count Reston? I heard he presented a rather large dowry.¡¯


    A farmland massive in size in comparison to a granary, and a ruby mine. Even if the barony were to sell all their assets, including the mansion, they would never be able to scrape together even a fraction of what Count Reston offered as a dowry.


    She heard the Prince and that former wife¡¯s daughter were close, but she was just pretending while flirting with him, and now there was this sudden change in attitude¡ªit was disgusting and vile.


    [Baroness] ¡°I heard there were marriage talks happening between the Imperial family and Count Reston. You tricked me this entire time with your lies!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°What do you mean, marriage talks?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb!¡±


    Slap¡ª


    Echoing out into the air was a ringing sound of her hand slapping against Valentia¡¯s cheek. Rubbing her hand against her aching cheek, she looked up at the Baroness.


    Though it may sound strange to hear, in the ten years she¡¯d spent living in the same mansion as the Baroness, only recently did she start personally laying a hand against her. Even when she started those ¡®lessons¡¯, she was the type of woman who preferred to elegantly brandish a whip than her hand.


    [Baroness] ¡°I can¡¯t let this pass. Bring it.¡±


    Valentia flinched.


    Obviously she knew what those words meant.


    Then¡ª


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark!¡±


    With a loud and ferocious bark, Goldie rushed towards the Baroness.


    [Baroness] ¡°Oh!¡±


    The Baroness fell backwards, pushed over by the power of Goldie, who by now was closer to the size of any adult dog.


    [Valentia] ¡°No, Goldie!¡±


    When Valentia called out to him, he didn¡¯t bite the Baroness, but he still stood with his paws on her, barking fiercely. It was such a scary sounding bark, so different from the noises he would make when he jumped playfully on Valentia with a look of pure joy on his face.


    [Maid] ¡°Oh, Madam!¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°What are you doing! Hurry and get rid of that little brat!¡±


    But none of the servants or maids tried to approach Goldie, nor could they try even if they wanted to. He turned his head towards him, growling and snarling as he did.


    [Baron] ¡°What¡¯s all this fuss about?¡±


    It was right then that the Baron was returning to the mansion. He looked at both Valentia and the Baroness as he asked.


    [Baroness] ¡°Oh, honey.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Goldie, come here!¡±


    Valentia ushered Goldie to her side, quickly pushing his body behind her. As the Baron walked into the drawing room, some of the servants clamored to help the Baroness to her feet.


    [Baroness] ¡°Oh, honey, I¡¯m so upset. I can¡¯t live like this.¡±


    [Baron] ¡°What on earth happened?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°You have no idea just how unruly that child has been, talking about how she¡¯s such good friends with the Prince, but they were all just lies. They¡¯re not close at all, and he even has a fianc¨¦e. She¡¯s so terrifying, lying and tricking other people so easily like that.¡±


    The Baroness lowered her head with tears in her eyes.


    [Baroness] ¡°I tried to scold her, but then she ordered her dog to attack me.¡±


    Even if Valentia wanted to argue and say that wasn¡¯t true, there was no time for that, nor would anyone have listened to her even if she managed to get a word in. The Baron, who heard this story with blinking eyes, raised up the cane he was holding high up into the air.


    [Baron] ¡°You crazy woman! How dare you pick up some mutt off the street and order it to attack my wife!¡±


    He was going to hit Goldie with his cane.


    And that sight made a confusing rush of emotions fill her. Was she relieved that the cane wasn¡¯t about to descend upon her? Or perhaps stronger than that relief was anger that such vitriol was being directed towards her dog.


    Before she could even decide, Valentia wrapped her arms around Goldie as a loud cracking noise smashed down against her shoulders and back. Her mind was stunned, dazed by the dizzying pain, and noticing that Goldie growled again, trying to rush out.


    [Baron] ¡°Oh, you vile little shit! It can¡¯t even recognize humans!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Stop it!¡±


    Valentia turned to Goldie, patting his back and whispering her comforts into his ear. It¡¯s okay, Goldie. It¡¯s okay, she murmured, over and over.


    [Baron] ¡°Hah, I see that both owner and dog are no different from one another. They both fail to show any kind of respect towards their betters.¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°She¡¯s always been like that, you¡¯ve just never known. You never knew how much she¡¯s been trying to go against me. I tried to welcome her because she¡¯s your daughter and discipline her well, but now she¡¯s¡­..¡±


    The Baroness leaned against Valentia¡¯s father¡¯s arms, crying even harder. Though in truth, she was not crying at all and her face was entirely dry, but the act was good enough.


    And calling what she did ¡®discipline¡¯ was a cruel understatement. It was nothing but neglect turned to cruelty and humiliation, whipping her in a way that never once left a mark.


    [Baron] ¡°Is that true?¡±


    [Baroness] ¡°I would never lie to you. Ask the servants!¡±


    The Baron looked around at the servants, but regardless of the truth, there was only one acceptable way to respond.


    When choosing a side, their decision was obvious, especially when it came to the daughter of the former madam who had been abandoned by her father, and the Baroness, one of the most influential figures in this family.


    [Servant] ¡°That¡¯s right. The Madam has been crying every night about how cruel she¡¯s been to her.¡±


    [Servant] ¡°I could scarcely watch it with my own eyes. The Madam has been suffering terribly.¡±


    [Baron] ¡°Oh, goodness! I¡¯ve been too indifferent and ended up putting a heavy burden on you. What can we do if her wretched personality is so similar to that of her dead mother?¡±


    Hearing him curse her deceased mother like that, Valentia¡¯s face unconsciously twisted into a bitter smile.


    [Baron] ¡°Not only can you not be bothered to reflect on your own actions, but now you¡¯re smiling? You truly are a twisted and vile child. I¡¯ve done enough to raise you, so just leave. You¡¯ve already graduated from the Academy, so you can live on your own now.¡±


    That was when Valentia saw it. As she leaned helplessly against the Baron, the Baroness¡¯ lips curved into a cunning smile.


    Oh, so this is how she planned on ousting me.


    Although she was not a noblewoman from the very beginning, seeing Valentia get shoved out like this was a good enough result for her, knowing that she had not lived as the Baroness for the last ten years in vain.


    But that was fine. Valentia did not intend to continue living in the Baron¡¯s mansion anyway. That simply became all the more true now that she was pregnant.


    However, before she left, there was one thing she was curious about.


    [Valentia] ¡°Baron.¡±


    [Baron] ¡°Baron? Who dares to call their father that?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t recall you ever being my father.¡±


    He was only ever a man who would easily take the side of his new wife over his biological daughter, the moment he shunts her from his home being no different.


    [Valentia] ¡°I will go. I never intended to live in this house after I graduated anyway. But before that, there is something I want to ask you.¡±


    [Baron] ¡°You wronged me beyond belief, so you needn¡¯t brazenly ask. Of course there¡¯s no inheritance for you!¡±


    And after all this, all he wanted to talk about was an inheritance.


    [Valentia] ¡°Did you ever love my mother?¡±


    They got married because they were in love, once upon a time. They said it was a marriage fueled by that innocent feeling of love, a rarity among noble families.


    Even if that love were to cool or be forgotten over time, was it possible for it to turn this cruel?


    The Baroness felt the man holding her flinch and tense at the question. She lifted up her bowed head fast enough it could rival lightning, her eyes shining brighter than ever.


    [Baron] ¡°W, what sort of question is that!¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°So that¡¯s your answer.¡±


    [Baron] ¡°Can¡¯t you just disappear already?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Please give me some time to get my things together.¡±


    * * *


    With her hand on Goldie¡¯s head, Valentia turned and left for her room. Even now, Goldie was looking at her stomach, and just like she thought, he was the only one who kept showing so much love and concern for this baby.


    Valentia held a hand to her belly.


    Meanwhile, she was in such a hurry to save Goldie that she ended up shielding him with her body without realizing it.


    She took out a small carrier bag and started packing away her things, one by one. In all honesty, she didn¡¯t have much to take in the first place.


    Anything her mother might¡¯ve left behind was all disposed of while Valentia was too young to save them, so not even things like that remained, and all her money was being held by the bank. All she needed to do was bring the few clothes she had.


    This was a place she had lived her entire life, but looking at how little she had to take with her, it was almost pitiful.


    As Valentia slowly got together her things, she glanced to the side, unable to take her eyes off of what earned her stare.


    She would be traveling for a long time, and the journey would be difficult. This was something that carried no utilitarian value and it would only get in the way. If she packed it with the rest of her things, she wouldn¡¯t be able to take anything else with her.


    So it would be right if she left it behind.


    ¡­¡­.She knew that.


    But Valentia sighed, quietly taking it and carefully placing it in her bag. When she left the mansion, holding Goldie¡¯s leash in one hand, no one saw her off. (1)


    The graduation ceremony would be in a few days, and it was on that occasion that she agreed to be his partner once more. If it were possible, she would¡¯ve wanted to stay in the capital and see him one last time. If she left like this, this farewell would be everlasting.


    Valentia shook her head.


    This was just the lingering effects of her emotion. Indulging them would only fill her with regret and slow her down.


    If Valentia was capable of persuading herself to take a break or to rest, giving in to her weaker sides like that, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to take the top seat at the Academy for so long. That was a feat that was only possible because Valentia knew how to be hard on herself.


    And being cruel to herself was what Valentia did best.


    Before she left, she stopped by the post office. She still had some things she needed to send off.


    [Post] ¡°State your business.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯d like to send off a package and a letter.¡±


    [Post] ¡°Parcels and letters must be sent separately.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Very well.¡±


    She would¡¯ve liked it if she could hand these to him directly, but that wasn¡¯t possible. Sending them off in the mail would be faster. Once they were gone, everything would be neatly cleaned up, completely out of her hands, and there would be nothing left for her to do.


    She didn¡¯t know where she would go, but she couldn¡¯t stay here.


    [Valentia] ¡°Let¡¯s go, Goldie.¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark!¡±


    With a tail wagging with excitement, Goldie took the lead, and as she gripped his leash in her hand, Valentia suddenly looked back.


    Really, this was the last time. This was really going to be her last time looking back. So it would be okay if she looked for just a little bit longer.


    The memories she held with him were too brief, and yet they burned so brightly. The warmth melted her heart too quickly, and ended up shattering it, but even the broken pieces she held in her hands were so lovely.


    And though she knew that holding onto the shards of her memory was hurting her, she couldn¡¯t let go.


    Even if she got cut and bloodied by them, these memories were so precious, they were the only good thing that she had left.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) The raws are being purposefully ambiguous. You¡¯re not supposed to know what she took.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Best Days¡± by Alessia Cara ft. PTX ¡¹

 Chapter 65 - I Lost

    Chapter 65 | I Lost


    [Servant] ¡°Young master, the Duchess is here.¡±


    As Tex gestured towards him, the servant that was fitting his clothing stepped back.


    [Tex] ¡°Come in, Mother.¡±


    Glancing at the servant who had stepped away, the Duchess turned to Tex, who¡¯s cravat hadn¡¯t been completely tied correctly yet. Looking at her son, Duchess Langbell spoke with a very elegant voice.


    [Duchess] ¡°Tex.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Is everything alright, Mother?¡±


    [Duchess] ¡°Are you heading out soon?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Just for a little bit.¡±


    [Duchess] ¡°Then, since you¡¯re already leaving, why not stop by the Prince¡¯s palace?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°A most fortunate coincidence, Mother. As it turns out, I was already planning on going there. I haven¡¯t heard from him for a while and he¡¯s not responding to any of my messages, so I was just going to go check in on him.¡±


    [Duchess] ¡°Her Majesty has been very worried these days, so she asked if you could stop by. That¡¯s a relief you¡¯re already going.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Honestly, I was planning on going in recklessly and tearing open his door if I had to, but it¡¯s nice to know I won¡¯t be arrested now. I was pretty determined to do that if need be.¡±


    [Duchess] ¡°I am glad.¡±


    The Duchess smiled slightly at her son¡¯s reasonable answer.


    [Duchess] ¡°But what would you have done if you really had gotten arrested?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I¡¯d just have to place my faith in my mother.¡±


    [Duchess] ¡°I see. Have a safe trip, then.¡±


    Even if he was close to Lexus during their Academy days, now that they were past that, it wouldn¡¯t be interpreted as good news if the heir to Duke Langbell was seen coming and going from the Prince¡¯s palace as personal company. As such, it had been a while since he actually paid him a visit.


    But after they graduated, Lexus never once showed his face. Tex tried contacting him several times, but not once did he get an answer back, so now he had no choice but to storm the palace himself.


    And of course that was only something he could do because they were friends, regardless of status.


    Once he arrived at the palace, Hugo was standing just outside the door, but unlike his usual composure, he looked nervous.


    [Tex] ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Hugo.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°Ah, Welcome, Grand Prince.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°How¡¯s Lexus?¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°He never comes out of his room, and he doesn¡¯t even eat properly. Heaven knows if he¡¯s getting enough sleep these days. He doesn¡¯t allow anyone to disturb him at night¡­¡­¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I know it¡¯s been hard, but thanks for looking out for him. I¡¯ll go in for now.¡±


    [Hugo] ¡°I thank you for your help.¡±


    And just like he said he would, with a brash and brazen gait, Tex dared to walk straight into the Prince¡¯s bedroom, tearing open the door without even knocking.


    [Lexus] ¡°I told you not to let anyone in.¡±


    His voice was low and guttural, like thorns scratching his throat, and he muttered with clear irritation in his tone. This wasn¡¯t like Lexus at all¡ªespecially since he was always being praised by even young children for having a deep and pleasing voice.


    Though it was the middle of the day, the curtains were drawn, plunging the bedroom into darkness. And since not a soul had been coming and going from this room, even the air felt stagnant and heavy.


    [Tex] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡±


    Lexus was splayed out on the sofa.


    [Tex] ¡°What are you doing sitting in the dark like this? At least open the curtains.¡±


    Before Lexus could say anything, Tex walked up to the terrace, throwing open the curtains and opening the glass door leading to the balcony. Immediately, crisp and cool air flooded the bedroom, clearing away the heaviness.


    Lexus was always the kind of person who would cut back if a friend did something like that, telling Tex not to joke around, but instead he just stayed quiet¡ªlying on the sofa with his arms covering his face. But Tex was at least glad he didn¡¯t order him to leave.


    [Tex] ¡°Your friend came all the way here to visit you, but you¡¯re staying perfectly comfortable, I see.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I didn¡¯t invite you, so I don¡¯t see a point in welcoming you.¡±


    That sounded more like him, but his voice was still heavy and scratchy.


    [Tex] ¡°Alright, alright. But you should wake up. Let¡¯s get some food and fresh air in you, hm?¡±


    Tex moved and started grabbing at Lexus, pulling him from the sofa. But once he got his arms away from his face, the sight he was greeted with was shocking to say the least.


    [Tex] ¡°What the¡­? You look like hell. What happened? Why do you look all haggard?¡±


    His face was still just as handsome, in no way damaged or marred, but his expression was grim and there were clear dark bags underneath his eyes.


    [Tex] ¡°What the hell happened to you?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Is it bad?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I thought for a second someone replaced you with a body double. If it weren¡¯t for your face, I¡¯d have never recognized you.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s cold.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then get up and eat something. You¡¯re not a kid so you shouldn¡¯t be making other people worry about your stomach. Hey, someone! Hurry and bring something for the Prince!¡±


    Hugo pushed in a tray as soon as he heard Tex¡¯s words like he was waiting just outside. Since it had been a while since Lexus started skipping his meals, the food this time was a carefully prepared soup that would be easy to eat and keep down.


    Hugo was grateful that Lexus didn¡¯t immediately tell him to go because Tex was here, but he still felt troubled since he made no move to even look at the food, much less touch it.


    [Tex] ¡°Have you forgotten how to use a spoon or something? Don¡¯t tell me you want me to feed you.¡±


    Eventually, Lexus gave a vague smirk, loosely holding the spoon in his hand. Then, he scooped the tiniest amount of the soup up and basically forced it into his mouth.


    [Tex] ¡°Really, a hunger strike at your age? Strange things are happening all around, it would seem. I heard even Miss Valentia disappeared from the social circles.¡±


    Clang¡ª


    Lexus roughly set down the spoon, completely ignoring the very strict social rule that said one must never make a sound when setting down their tableware.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°What? What do you mean?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Our most admirable top student. She¡¯s gone.¡±


    Within that sarcastic tone of voice was a pain Tex couldn¡¯t even begin to describe. He took a glance around the darkened and stuffy room, and that¡¯s when he realized something deep down.


    This was all because of Valentia.


    [Tex] ¡°No way.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Were you serious?¡±


    That was when a low sigh escaped Lexus.


    [Lexus] ¡°That¡¯s right. I got all sincere about it.¡±


    In retrospect, it did feel like Lexus was putting a lot of effort into this relationship. However, Lexus was typically in the position of merely accepting the affections of women who approached him, and this time, it was the opposite.


    Because the woman in question was the steely Iron Maiden, Tex didn¡¯t really think all that much about his friend¡¯s efforts. He just thought he was going the extra mile because she was a difficult woman to handle.


    And so, even after he heard Lexus had succeeded in seducing the Iron Maiden, though this meant Tex had lost the bet, he didn¡¯t really feel all that bad since he somewhat saw it coming.


    But what he didn¡¯t see coming was how the one who got all serious about the whole thing was his friend of all people.


    [Lexus] ¡°I guess this is my karma, right? Haha, ¡®cause I¡¯ve made so many women cry before.¡±


    Both the dress he had made for her and the ring he wanted to give her had been stuck in a corner, never to find the one they were meant for, and Lexus was no different¡ªabandoned like trash shoved in a corner.


    [Tex] ¡°Are you okay, Lexus?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be? Oh, right, we made a bet didn¡¯t we? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give all your stuff back.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about¡­..¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What else did I promise? Oh yeah, I have to say something.¡±


    Slowly, the muscles around Lexus¡¯ lips started to twitch and drawing across his face was a smooth smile. Even as worn and weak as he was, he still looked extraordinarily radiant.


    And that was when Tex understood the emotion in his friend¡¯s face that he couldn¡¯t recognize before.


    It was despair. Unbearable despair. His friend, once so unafraid of the world and brimming with confidence that he could undoubtedly prove every time, was filled with indescribable anguish.


    [Lexus] ¡°I lost¡­¡­¡­.I lost.¡±


    And his smile crumbled.


    He admitted his defeat. The words he could never say and had never once said before were suddenly pouring from him with such ease.


    And he wasn¡¯t even angry when he said it nor was his pride wounded. All he felt was a crushing and endless emptiness.


    He felt lonely and destitute, a corner of his heart left barren and hollow. It didn¡¯t take him long to recognize what it was. It could only be one thing, the empty spot she left behind when she disappeared.


    I lost.


    When he said that, over and over like a broken record, Lexus looked so very tired that Tex couldn¡¯t find the words to say.


    Those were the words he never thought he¡¯d hear from Lexus for the rest of their lives, and even though he was hearing them now, he wasn¡¯t happy. He couldn¡¯t smile or laugh like he thought he would if he ever got to hear them.


    He didn¡¯t want this to happen. And he didn¡¯t see this coming at all.


    It was just a stupid bet, like the ones they always made together when they were kids. Yeah, just a stupid bet.


    This was an understanding that was coming to Lexus too late: You shouldn¡¯t play with people like that. And this was not something he was just saying, or a meaningless admission to excuse away his guilt.


    He didn¡¯t know that when you toy with people, freely playing around without a single care for others, you must always be prepared to get hurt, too. And now, he was finally paying the price for learning that lesson too late.


    A price he was paying in its most painful form.


    * * *


    After Lexus finally ate something and fell asleep, Tex decided to give him some space and was just on his way out.


    Lexus was still having difficulties sleeping on his own, so they ended up having to mix in some sleeping meds with his water. This was something they only had the chance to do now since Lexus wouldn¡¯t even drink water before.


    Once he got some food in him and drank his water with the medicine, Lexus finally managed to fall asleep. Though to be fair, he was frowning the whole time and tried to stay awake, but he was beyond exhausted at this point, and eventually just passed out.


    Tex left his room with a heavy heart.


    It was just a stupid joke. He didn¡¯t think something so small would make that arrogant and confident Prince turn into that. It was enough to make Tex take in a deep sigh.


    [Axion] ¡°Tex. It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    At the sound of someone calling his name, Tex nearly shouted in surprise. The person approaching him was Axion, the Crown Prince, with a smile on his face.


    [Tex] ¡°Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I greet the young Sun of the Empire.¡±


    Tex bent at the knee and greeted the first Imperial Star. It was a very professional and formal greeting, one that was more befitting of an official meeting. (1)


    [Axion] ¡°You show a fine example. You may stand.¡±


    With Axion¡¯s softly given command, Tex got to his feet, and even still, Axion was smiling. The Imperial family was known for their blindly brilliant appearances, and Axion was no different. His face was overwhelmingly handsome.


    [Tex] ¡°Are you on your way to see Lexus? He just fell asleep, but¡­..¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I already heard as such from Hugo. Thank you.¡±


    But very different from Lexus who was easy to get along with for most people, Axion had a very oppressive atmosphere even when he was smiling.


    [Tex] ¡°I didn¡¯t do much.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°That¡¯s not true. As Lexus¡¯ friend, this was something only you could do. You needn¡¯t be modest about this.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I thank you for thinking that way.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Though it¡¯s a coincidence I¡¯ve run into you like this, why don¡¯t we talk for a little while?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Y, yes¡­..Your Highness.¡±


    It sounded like an offer, but there was no way Tex could refuse, and that fact wouldn¡¯t change no matter how Axion was asking him¡ªwhether as the Crown Prince or as the elder brother of his friend.


    I got caught. Caught. Definitely caught.


    And Tex could tell they definitely didn¡¯t run into each other by chance. It was obvious Axion already knew he¡¯d entered Lexus¡¯ palace and was waiting for him to leave.


    But he couldn¡¯t run, so with clumsy steps filled with disappointment in himself, he quietly followed Axion.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) ¡°Star¡± is used because of Imperial symbolism. The Emperor is the Sun, the Empress is the Moon, and any Princes and Princess are the Stars, hence why Tex called Axion the ¡°Young Sun¡± in reference to his position as the Crown Prince.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Twinkling Lights¡± by Annalise Emerick ¡¹

 Chapter 66

    [Axion] ¡°Please, sit comfortably.¡±


    Axion sat down first, gesturing to the seat in front of him.


    His voice was gentle and conveyed a pleasantry one would only show someone they knew privately, but Tex didn¡¯t have the courage to sit without permission.


    And so, with Axion¡¯s express approval, Tex took a seat, but his back was as stiff as a board. He knew Axion meant it when he told him to sit ¡®comfortably¡¯, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel incredibly nervous in his presence.


    Moreover, the man sitting across from him was the Crown Prince, who was sitting gracefully and elegantly with an upright back. Perhaps if he were his brother, Lexus, he might¡¯ve lied down on the sofa and gotten truly comfortable, but Tex dare not do that.


    [Axion] ¡°Tex.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Y, yes, Your Highness.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I called you here today not as the Crown Prince of the Empire, but as my younger brother¡¯s concerned older brother. So please, speak freely with me.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Yes, Axion.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve heard my name, so it sounds nice. What kind of tea do you like?¡±


    Axion gave a bright smile. It was very kind and gentle looking, but for some reason, looking at it scared the wits out of Tex, to the point where he felt like he was shivering.


    [Tex] ¡°Calendula.¡± (1)


    [Axion] ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s been so long, I nearly forgot.¡±


    But Tex could tell from Axion¡¯s smile that he hadn¡¯t actually forgotten at all.


    Axion was a very strange man.


    He couldn¡¯t remember the tastes of Lexus¡¯ friend ¡°Tex¡± at all, but he could clearly remember the tastes of ¡°Tex¡±, the eldest son of Duke Langbell.


    So for example, Axion could remember that, though the Grand Prince of Langbell liked horses, he didn¡¯t like horseback riding all that much. However, what he couldn¡¯t remember is that he disliked riding horses because he fell while riding when he was a child.


    But that was an aspect of Axion that no one else could notice.


    He was a man whose public and private minds were completely different. He could not have been more perfect as a Crown Prince, but if one were to ask Tex if he thought Axion was a good man on a personal level, he wouldn¡¯t be sure how to answer that question.


    [Axion] ¡°What sort of sweets do you enjoy with your tea?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m alright.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I thought you used to like pavlova? Perhaps your tastes have changed since we last met?¡±


    Pavlova was a dessert that was made from meringue, baked in a large dome shape, and often eaten with various types of cream, jam, and even fruits.


    Tex looked at Axion with a face of perplexion.


    There couldn¡¯t have been any rumors of the Grand Prince of Langbell enjoying pavlova, so did that mean he really could remember information about Tex as a friend of Lexus? Such a difficult older brother, he was.


    [Axion] ¡°I had some prepared. Whatever will I do with it?¡±


    [Tex] ¡°No, if you have made it for me, then I will enjoy it.¡±


    After he agreed, the tea and the dessert was brought in, and the drawing room fell into another wave of silence.


    A private meeting with the Crown Prince was a desirable thing by anyone¡¯s standards, but Tex felt extremely uncomfortable, and though he was sitting on a soft sofa, it felt like his back was aching. If he could, he¡¯d jump to his feet and run straight out without looking back.


    [Axion] ¡°Eat.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Yes, brother.¡± (2)


    Cutting the meringue with a knife, the crispy exterior cracked, revealing the jam and fruit that was inside. When he put some in his mouth, it was sweet and sour at the same time, and once it entirely melted on his tongue, it tasted delicious.


    Once Axion confirmed that Tex had nearly finished his dessert, he finally spoke.


    [Axion] ¡°I said this before, but let me thank you again for your help.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°No, I just did what any friend should.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Well, in times like these, if his older brother were to go and check in on him, I¡¯d be liable to get my head chewed off, so I ended up leaving him alone. However, he¡¯s been like this for too long, so I think it¡¯s about time he pulled himself together. You came at a good time.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I see.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And as a token of my gratitude, I will allow you to ask me anything.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°I didn¡¯t help looking for a favor.¡±


    Tex responded with a tinge of surprise in his voice.


    [Axion] ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m offering.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°No, really. It¡¯s fine.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Then I will remain in your debt.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°How could I have you in my debt¡­¡­¡±


    To have the Crown Prince tell you he was in your debt and that he would grant you any favor you wish would be an amazing honor and a great opportunity.


    However, for Tex, something like that was more burdensome than if he was being held down by the weight of a thousand roots.


    [Axion] ¡°I can do that for the friend of my younger brother.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°B, but¡­..¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I won¡¯t hear you say anything more.¡±


    [Tex] ¡°Y, yes.¡±


    Though he told him he called him here as his younger brother¡¯s concerned older brother, this meeting still felt very much like one with the Crown Prince.


    [Axion] ¡°In any case¡­¡±


    Finally, the point of this meeting.


    Tex had been preparing himself this entire time to hear this, since he knew everything up until now was just pretense, merely leading up to this exact moment.


    [Axion] ¡°Clearly something went wrong, but whenever I try to ask him, he only gets quiet on me. What happened to my brother?¡±


    This was why Tex didn¡¯t want to talk about a debt. As Lexus¡¯ friend, it would only be right to keep his mouth shut on this and say nothing. He knew that was the best he could do as a friend.


    He knew that, but¡­..


    Sorry, Lexus. Your brother¡¯s way too scary.


    Lexus seemed to be under the impression his brother was easy going and friendly, but he couldn¡¯t be more wrong about that one. He only acted that way towards his family.


    [Tex] ¡°Well, the truth is¡­¡­¡±


    Like a scared mouse in front of a cat, Tex crumbled easily.


    * * *


    What he saw was her back, prim and proper. It was straight and neat, but even so, she was so small and soft.


    Everyone mockingly called her the Iron Maiden, judging her for her appearance alone, but he¡¯d held her in his arms before, so he knew exactly just how small and fragile she truly was¡ªsoft enough to make his heart pound.


    Facing away from him, that small back took a step forward, leaving him behind.


    Don¡¯t go.


    Don¡¯t leave me behind.


    Lexus shouted at her as she turned from him. No, he thought he shouted, but nothing would come out. He wanted to call out to her, crying until his throat burst, but not even the tiniest of sounds could leave him.


    He tried to reach out and hold onto her, but his feet wouldn¡¯t move, like they were being tied in place. The image of her cold back continued to move away, becoming smaller and smaller until eventually, she disappeared completely¡ªall without looking back once.


    Where did you go? Why did you disappear?


    But with no answer, he was left alone in that place, dark and empty, held by that awful and consuming feeling.


    [Lexus] ¡°Ugh!¡±


    Lexus jumped up and his body was soaked in a cold sweat, his heart pounding as though he¡¯d been running.


    It¡¯s that same fucking dream again.


    A helpless nightmare where all he can do is absolutely nothing at all, and he was starting to get real sick and tired of it. But if he thought about it, his reality was no different from the nightmare. Thinking about it, a dim smile grew on his face.


    [Axion] ¡°That¡¯s an explosive way to wake up, Lexus.¡±


    A sudden voice rang out, and it was familiar.


    Lexus turned his head to the source of the voice, and immediately saw the sight of Axion, casually sitting in a chair near the window. Past the glass was the red hue of the setting sun, falling below the horizon.


    [Lexus] ¡°I had a nightmare.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°A nightmare? Since when have you been having nightmares?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Who knows.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Is that why you haven¡¯t been sleeping?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You could say that.¡±


    Whenever he tried to sleep, he would see Valentia in his dreams, turning away from him while saying, I think it¡¯s time we properly ended our relationship.


    Though that part was a little bit different from what was actually written in the letter, it may as well have been the same. He couldn¡¯t even sleep because every time he tried, that same painful nightmare would come to him, and when it did, it felt like he was being thrown away, over and over.


    [Lexus] ¡°How did you get in here? I don¡¯t remember giving you permission.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I think family is an exception when it comes to needing permission.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Family or not, I¡¯d like it if you could respect my privacy.¡±


    The sight of him suffering from nightmares wasn¡¯t a look he wanted to show to other people, family or not.


    [Lexus] ¡°So what are you doing here?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I think a better question would be how long I¡¯ve been here.¡±


    He wanted to ask that, too.


    [Lexus] ¡°Okay, how long have you been here?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°About five hours now.¡±


    The Crown Prince scheduled his affairs down to every minute and second, so what was he doing spending all his time here without working on that busy schedule of his during the busiest day and evening hours?


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you doing, watching people sleep?¡±


    Lexus was still a bit of a mess, but he felt a little bit better, probably because he finally got some much needed sleep through the power of medicine. Even before then, he managed to eat something too, and thanks to that, he¡¯d recovered a little bit of energy.


    [Axion] ¡°I was thinking.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°Thinking?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You managed to wake up very quickly, even though you took some medicine.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What are you changing the subject for¡ªAh¡­¡­Did you give me meds?¡±


    Lexus looked at Axion as he scoffed, like he couldn¡¯t believe it.


    [Axion] ¡°Hugo¡¯s been upset these days since you haven¡¯t been sleeping, so I told them to slip you some sleeping medicine.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°You¡¯re absolutely, unbelievably scary, brother.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°I used a very precise amount under the direction of a doctor, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It¡¯s scary you thought to even do that at all. Tch.¡±


    Roughly turning away, Lexus clicked his tongue.


    [Axion] ¡°Lexus.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°You did something wrong.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°. . .¡±


    Though he was being vague, Lexus fell into silence because he knew exactly what wrong thing Axion was referring to.


    Tex, you big mouthed bastard. You told him everything? You acted all worried about me like you had no idea what to do, and then you went off and opened your goddamn mouth?


    [Lexus] ¡°I know.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Why did you do it?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°It was just a joke¡­¡­¡­.at first.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And now?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°. . .¡±


    [Axion] ¡°Well, in that case, this can¡¯t be helped. You¡¯re only paying the price for your actions.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I know that, too.¡±


    [Axion] ¡°And so was all of this just a form of self punishment? I suppose that can be more constructive than bothering others with this.¡±


    Axion was just being sarcastic, but Lexus couldn¡¯t exactly say no.


    [Lexus] ¡°Yeah, well, I feel sorry, too.¡±


    But he didn¡¯t know what the hell he should feel regret over the most. But at the end of the day, perhaps the only thing that mattered was that nothing but pain and regret filled the crevices of his heart now.


    [Axion] ¡°So are you just going to give up like this?¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°What?¡±


    [Axion] ¡°If you¡¯re going to give up, then it would be enough to just quit this pity party and move on. If you have no desire to linger on this, then why continue to sit around and mope? Just give up.¡±


    His words were much crueler and colder than his usual tone, but his words were undeniable. If Lexus wanted to let go of it all, then that would be simple. All he had to do was give up.


    Those words seemed to spark something inside Lexus.


    [Lexus] ¡°And I don¡¯t want to give up?¡±


    Reflected in Lexus¡¯ golden eyes was the sunset, making them appear as though they were burning like flames. And seeing that spark alight, Axion smiled brightly.


    [Axion] ¡°Then you just need to wake up. Stall any longer, and you may not be able to find that which you seek.¡±


    [Lexus] ¡°I see. Alright, yeah.¡±


    Nothing was set in stone. If he didn¡¯t want things to end like this, then all he needed to do was start things over, and in order to do that, he needed to find Valentia¡ªwherever she disappeared to.


    But what Lexus and Axion failed to think about was just how long it would take to do just that.


    And that¡¯s how time went by.


    * * *


    T/N: (1) ¡®Calendula¡¯ is a type of tea made from marigold flowers. It¡¯s bitter in taste, but harks medicinal health benefits.


    (2) It¡¯s not uncommon to refer to the older brother of one¡¯s close friend as ¡°brother¡± or ¡°?¡±, though given the fact that Axion is the Crown Prince, doing so would normally be considered improper.


    astralmech¡¯s t/n: Nothing like a big brother who will help kick your bum back in gear! ^^


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Birds¡± by Thomas Sanders

 Chapter 67

    [???] ¡°Valencia, it¡¯s time to wrap up and head home.¡±


    A voice filled with cheer called out to Valentia, causing her to set down the document she was looking at, her head peering up.


    Looking at the clock, the time displayed showed she had ten more minutes left. She had gotten so distracted by all the papers on her desk, and it would take at least ten minutes to organize all of them.


    But now she was noticing some of the accounting documents still remaining as well.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s already so late.¡±


    [???] ¡°I knew you¡¯d get distracted, so I came to let you know.¡±


    The woman puffed out her shoulders, and seeing how proud she looked made Valentia smile.


    [???] ¡°But goodness. Did you manage to do all of this today?¡±


    But then her confident shoulders drooped again. She looked down at the documents piled up, despondently sticking out her tongue.


    [???] ¡°Truly, it was a stroke of fortune that the Lord brought you in, Valencia. Ever since you started working, our guild has grown in leaps and bounds. Not to mention how quickly you work.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That¡¯s because everyone is working hard.¡±


    [???] ¡°That¡¯s untrue. After you came here, we¡¯ve tripled our work output. In the past, whenever I spoke the name of our guild, no one knew what on earth that was, but now everyone says they¡¯re jealous of those who can work with the Richsi Commerce Guild. I wonder, just where did the Lord recruit you?¡±


    When Valentia first came here and entered this commerce guild, it was rather insignificant, slightly smaller in size than most comparable guilds of the middle class.


    Starting out, all Valentia did was verify documents and pass them along, slowly learning what she could of the work, but over time, she was put in charge of doing a myriad of miscellaneous jobs.


    And as she did more and more work, she got promoted, so as of now, she was actually sitting in a fairly high position. She couldn¡¯t do the job she¡¯d been aiming for her entire life, but it was fun being able to see the guild grow.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you for saying that.¡±


    [???] ¡°I¡¯m not just saying it. I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t saying that just to be nice, and Valentia could tell that, so it made her feel even more grateful for her kind words.


    There were many people who were made uncomfortable by this woman¡¯s honesty, and greatly disliked how free she was with it, but Valentia liked that part of her. When the person in front of you is being completely honest, then there¡¯s no need to waste time trying to understand or doubt their intentions.


    When it came to her work with the merchants, most of it boiled down to negotiation, and so she ended up meeting a lot of different people, coming face to face with many of their facets, including their lies and deception. She could not help but appreciate honesty where she found it.


    [Lena] ¡°But more importantly, you should take more breaks than that. Oh, your hair.¡±


    She swept a lock of Valentia¡¯s hair behind her ear.


    It was an act not so different from a skilled man trying to seduce a woman, but Lena herself was a woman. Her hands were rough, but they were clean and smelled like soap.


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you.¡±


    [Lena] ¡°But you should head out now. Elijah will be waiting for you. You know, I¡¯ve never seen a child as lovely as he is. His father must¡¯ve been very handsome.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°¡­¡­.He was.¡±


    Brilliant blond hair, intense golden eyes, and a captivating smile. Even after so many years, his face could still come to mind so easily. Though they were tainted with resentment, how did those memories still manage to be so beautiful?


    [Lena] ¡°If you¡¯re saying he was handsome, then it must be true. How did you manage to net someone like that?¡±


    Being a single mother was a story that was bound to garner some bad attention, so she ended up stretching the truth a little, telling others she was merely a grieving widow.


    Other people were conscious of that fact, and so they didn¡¯t talk to Valentia much about this topic, but Lena was a little tactless about it, but even so, it was still charming in its way, so Valentia could never dislike it.


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    If she were to be blunt, it was because that handsome man approached her first¡­.to win a bet he made with his friends. But obviously that kind of explanation was difficult to describe, so her answer trailed off into the air.


    [Lena] ¡°Who fell in love first?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I don¡¯t know that either. But what I do know is that he was the one who approached me first.¡±


    [Lena] ¡°Just as I thought, I knew it! You have a strange charm about you, Valencia. You seem all stiff and cold, but the more people watch you, they¡¯d have no choice but to fall for you.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°That sounds like a confession.¡±


    [Lena] ¡°Oh, you know me, that¡¯s just how I am. My husband would always scold me about this, too. He¡¯d say, Don¡¯t go off seducing people like that! It bugged me so much before, but now I just miss his nagging. Oh, how did we end up talking about this? Ah, Elijah! You have to go pick him up!¡±


    Lena¡¯s husband was also said to have passed away early.


    Their marriage was one filled with love, but within a few years of being married, she ended up losing him in an accident. Some people thought she was too easy going for that, but honestly, Valentia believed that to just be how her personality was.


    [Valentia] ¡°Let me finish this up first.¡±


    [Lena] ¡°It¡¯s not urgent. Do it tomorrow. Tomorrow, you hear me?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°But¡­..¡±


    She felt uncomfortable leaving unfinished work behind. If she just had another half hour, she¡¯d be able to finish it.


    [Lena] ¡°What do you mean, but? You have to leave work on time on a regular basis. If the manager, Valencia, doesn¡¯t leave work on time, what does that mean for us poor employees? The Lord would be the first to notice.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°You¡¯re right about that, Lena.


    With a smile in his voice, Jays called out.


    Jays was the owner and the Lord of the commerce guild where Valentia worked. He was also one of her fellow students when she attended the Academy, though back then, they¡¯d only exchanged a few words with one another.


    [Jays] ¡°You aren¡¯t aiming to take my spot, are you?¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡­.It¡¯s just become a habit of mine.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°I know you. You¡¯re a very diligent worker, but for today, you should get ready and go home.¡±


    To be perfectly honest, there wasn¡¯t much work left to do, but Valentia stood up from her seat, setting aside the scattered papers.


    [Jays] ¡°I can manage that, but it¡¯s time for you to get off work. Get home safely and I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Of course. I will see you tomorrow.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°Would you like me to arrange a carriage to take you to the child care center?¡±


    That was something that was suggested frequently by Jays.


    Valentia had to work during the day, so with no one around to watch him, she had no choice but to leave her young Elijah at the center. Riding a carriage was a convenient way of getting there, but she had a few places she needed to stop by first.


    [Valentia] ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m going to do some shopping at the market today.¡±


    It seemed a little redundant to take a carriage since the market was right next to the center.


    [Jays] ¡°Are you sure? Your things might be heavy.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°I¡¯m sure. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±


    [Jays] ¡°¡­..Yes. Tomorrow, then.¡±


    Jays seemed a little disappointed by her answer, but Valentia was in such a rush now to leave work that she didn¡¯t notice.


    It was because of Jays that she came to work for his merchant guild, but it was one giant coincidence that caused her to run into him that fateful day.


    * * *


    When she met him again, it was in a city she could no longer remember the name of, only that it was a long way off from the capital. Valentia was a bit of a bind, searching for a place to stay for the night.


    She could still remember that winter, a biting season where she felt like all hope had been lost.


    The colder it got, the heavier her stomach felt. Thanks to the cold, she had every reason to bundle herself up using thick clothing, but if anyone had any amount of reasonable insight, they could easily tell she was a pregnant woman.


    She left home so quickly that she didn¡¯t even have enough time to sort out where she would go or where she would live. She couldn¡¯t even find a place to rest for the night, much less a place to settle down.


    And that day was when her unlucky nature was at its peak. It was especially late, but she still couldn¡¯t find anywhere to stay. The sky quickly grew dark in the winter, and Valentia tilted her head down, looking at the creature that stared at her with anxious eyes.


    [Valentia] ¡®But at least I have you.¡¯


    Valentia sincerely thanked Goldie, meaning every little word. With such a big dog at her side, no suspicious individuals dared to approach her. That was most especially true with men, to whom Goldie would bare his teeth and growl until they left.


    If she had been alone, she would¡¯ve felt more hopeless and scared. Thanks to Goldie¡¯s presence by her side, she felt at least some semblance of comfort. From the very beginning, Goldie had always tried to help her.


    [Goldie] ¡®Woof.¡¯


    Goldie let out a cute little woof. He still sounded so harmless, just like when he was a puppy, but back when he barked at the Baroness, he sounded quite fearsome.


    Valentia held his head in her hand, giving him little scritches and pets. All the while, his tail wagged wildly like he was trying to sweep away all the dust on the ground.


    [Valentia] ¡®Let¡¯s go in here.¡¯


    Valentia opened the door and entered the building, causing the bell that was hanging to ring. Since that sound meant customers, the innkeeper immediately jolted to readiness.


    [Innkeeper] ¡®Welcome.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I¡¯d like to stay for the night. Are there any rooms available?¡¯


    [Innkeeper] ¡®Oh, of course. But what¡¯s with the dog?¡¯


    The innkeeper looked at them both, his gaze alternated between them.


    [Valentia] ¡®He¡¯s staying with me.¡¯


    [Innkeeper] ¡®You mean you¡¯ll be keeping it in the room with you?¡¯


    That was when the innkeeper¡¯s tone shifted, something that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Valentia.


    [Innkeeper] ¡®Sorry, but there¡¯s no rooms available.¡¯


    And just as she thought, what he said next was very predictable.


    [Valentia] ¡®What? But just a moment ago, you said¡­..¡±


    [Innkeep] ¡®And I¡¯m saying now that there¡¯s no room. Just get out.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®But¡­.¡¯


    [Innkeeper] ¡®This is a bad omen, I swear.¡¯


    A heavily pregnant woman with a large dog, traveling alone on a cold winter¡¯s night was suspicious for most of them. Nine out of the ten inns she visited refused her outright.


    The most likely cause of their refusal was probably the presence of such a large dog, but Valentia had no intention of relenting on the condition that Goldie remained with her.


    [Valentia] ¡®I¡¯m sorry. Let¡¯s keep our chins up, okay Goldie?¡¯


    Goldie barked like he was telling her everything was okay. Valentia swallowed the sigh she was about to let out, reaffirming her grip on Goldie¡¯s leash, and then turned around.


    This was a fairly large city, so there were plenty of inns around. If she kept looking, there was bound to be one willing to take both her and Goldie.


    She just needed to move quickly while there was still light to spare.


    [???] ¡®¡­¡­¡­..entia?¡¯


    A heavy and fierce wind blew through, but carried on the wind, she could¡¯ve sworn she heard her name being called. Perhaps she heard wrong? There was no one in this world who would be able to recognize her from a distance.


    [???] ¡®Miss Valentia?¡¯


    Just a moment ago, she was thinking she misheard things, but then she heard a voice calling her name once more from just behind her.


    The voice calling her seemed somewhat familiar, but who could it be? Very few people knew who she was, much less by name, so just who was this person?


    Valentia turned around with a mixed expression, one filled with both surprise and frayed nerves, and what she saw standing behind her was a very unexpected person.


    * * *


    astralmech t/c: In case you forgot, Jays was first introduced as a character in chapter 24 and was the one to warn Valentia about Lexus. He also helped her out back in chapter 51. I only thought to mention that since one of the raw comments pointed out that they¡¯d forgotten who he was, haha.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°She Used to be Mine¡± by Waitress OST ¡¹

 Chapter 68

    There was a familiar face behind her, of which also seemed very surprised to see Valentia.


    [Jays] ¡®Is that you, Miss Valentia?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®¡­¡­.Mister Jays.¡¯


    Valentia called his name with confidence, but she couldn¡¯t tell all the tension leaving her body was a result of relief or disappointment.


    [Jays] ¡®I called out without being sure, but to think it was really you, Miss Valentia.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®It¡¯s been a while.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to meet you all the way out here, but it¡¯s good to see you.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®What brings you here yourself, Mister Jays?¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®My family owns a small merchant¡¯s guild, so I came out here to handle some business.¡¯


    He gave an awkward smile.


    [Valentia] ¡®Oh, I see.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve last seen each other. Why don¡¯t we chat for a bit?¡¯


    She needed to find a place to stay for the night as soon as possible, but meeting a familiar face in a place that was so unfamiliar to her brought her a greater sense of comfort than she thought.


    Valentia nodded.


    [Valentia] ¡®I would like that.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Since you¡¯re giving me some of your time, I will find you a place to stay. If you will allow me, that is, Miss Valentia.¡¯


    Had she actually managed to find a room at this inn, he never would¡¯ve known she was in such a difficult situation at the time.


    [Valentia] ¡®I can¡¯t trouble you like that.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®You are a fellow Academy graduate and we are both alumnus. And above all, I am taking up your time, so this is the least I can do to make up for it. Please allow me that.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Then please.¡¯


    Valentia knew that Jays was a kind person. It felt comforting to meet someone she knew in such a strange place, and so it would probably be in her best interest to accept his help if he was insisting, rather than being stubborn about it.


    She thought about it for a while, and then nodded.


    [Jays] ¡®Let¡¯s go and find you a room first. And you should probably eat something, too.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes, I do.¡¯


    [Innkeeper] ¡®Oh, I didn¡¯t realize the gentleman was a part of your party. Why didn¡¯t you say something sooner? I will prepare a room right away.¡¯


    The innkeeper¡¯s attitude suddenly changed, but then Valentia realized why that was the case.


    It would seem that Jays was originally planning on staying at this inn, but that he might change his mind because of Valentia.


    [Jays] ¡®I don¡¯t think will be necessary. Let us go, Miss Valentia.¡¯


    It was just as she thought, but that was all well and good since Valentia really didn¡¯t wish to stay here. She nodded, stepping out first.


    The place Jays led her to was a small inn near the city center, and once they were inside, a neatly dressed manager came out to greet them first.


    [Manager] ¡®Welcome. I am Sitri, the manager of the inn.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®We¡¯ll be staying for the night. Please prepare two rooms.¡¯


    [Manager] ¡®We will prepare a separate space for the dog.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®We¡¯d like to keep him with us.¡¯


    [Manager] ¡®But, dogs¡­.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Please consider this a favor.¡¯


    Then, she noticed Jays slip the manager a couple of coins.


    Oh, she thought, Was I supposed to do it like that? Once more, Valentia was given a stark reminder of just how woefully inexperienced she was with some things.


    [Manager] ¡®Your family dog is also a valued customer.¡¯


    With a kind expression, the manager led her to a room.


    [Valentia] ¡®How will we eat?¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®It¡¯s a bit late, so why don¡¯t we eat in our rooms and talk in the morning?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Thank you for your consideration.¡¯


    [Manager] ¡®Then I will order your meals to be sent to your rooms. Here is where the lady will stay.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I will see you tomorrow morning, Miss Valentia.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡°Yes. Tomorrow.¡¯


    The inn was fairly nice since it was so close to the square. The bed was soft and the blankets smelled clean. There were two chairs to rest in as well as a table and a personal bathroom.


    Valentia sat down in one of the chairs, setting her bag down beside her.


    [Valentia] ¡®You must have been thirsty.¡¯


    She poured Goldie some water, and he lapped it up quickly and emptied it out within seconds. Once he was finished, he looked up at Valentia, and she poured him some more, of which he finished off, too.


    That¡¯s when she heard a knock.


    [¡ª] ¡®Your meal is ready.¡¯


    When she answered the door, carried on carts and pushed in by the staff were trays of food. A stew with small amounts of meat, soft bread with jam and butter, eggs, and sausages. It was a very simple meal.


    Valentia made sure to give Goldie some of his dog food before eating herself.


    Now that she was safely in a comfortable room with a full stomach, all her exhaustion finally caught up with her. She thought she was only going to lie down for a moment, but in a matter of seconds, she was out like a light¡ªlike both her mind and body were completely drained.


    * * *


    She opened her eyes to the sound of birds. Before she knew it, it was already morning.


    Maybe it was because this was her first proper night¡¯s sleep in a long time, but she felt good. Goldie was already awake, and once he noticed Valentia opening her eyes, he ran up to her and shoved his face against her.


    [Valentia] ¡®Did you sleep well?¡¯


    [Goldie] ¡®Woof.¡¯


    After she was able to rest so comfortably here, she thought about staying for a few more days. It was a bit pricier than other places, but considering how difficult it would be to find anywhere else, the price suddenly didn¡¯t seem so bad.


    Then, she had breakfast on her mind. Normally, if she were alone, she might¡¯ve even skipped it, but since she was technically here with Jays, she thought it would only be right to ask him.


    But while she was thinking so intensely, she heard a knock at the door, and when she answered it, Jays was already there.


    [Jays] ¡®Good morning.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes. Good morning, Jays.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Did you sleep well?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I did. I don¡¯t remember the last time I slept this comfortably.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Then, would you like to have breakfast with me?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes, I would.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Since we ate it yesterday, the food here wasn¡¯t all that bad, but why don¡¯t we find something delicious to eat this morning?¡¯


    At his suggestion, they left the inn and wandered around the plaza. This was near the central square, so there were plenty of small little shops scattered around. Eventually they settled on a nice looking restaurant.


    She wanted to bring Goldie, so they couldn¡¯t eat in the main hall, so they rented a private room instead.


    [Valentia] ¡®I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t leave Goldie alone.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®That¡¯s alright. Please, choose what you¡¯d like.¡¯


    She ordered something that wouldn¡¯t be too heavy for the first meal of the morning. The inn¡¯s food was acceptable, but it was hard to compare it to the food from a dedicated restaurant.


    After they¡¯d nearly finished their meal, Valentia looked up at Jays across from her.


    [Valentia] ¡®Thank you for your help. I wanted to say that earlier, but there was never a chance for it.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®What do you mean, help? I only did what was obvious. More importantly, I was wondering about this yesterday, but¡­¡­¡¯


    Her stomach had gotten so big at this point that it was impossible to hide. She¡¯d been struggling for a while now, so her arms and legs were thin, but that just accentuated her stomach, making it difficult to miss.


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes.¡¯


    Valentia nodded. Jays looked shocked for a second, but then he quickly straightened out the look on his face.


    [Jays] ¡®Is it his?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®No, never. It¡¯s not his. Not at all.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡°My apologies. I asked a rude question.¡¯


    Silence fell between them, before eventually, Jays¡¯ awkward cough cut through the emptiness.


    [Jays] ¡®I only thought it might be since I heard word that the Imperial Prince is looking for you.¡¯


    Those words were so unexpected that Valentia just stared at Jays, blinking loosely as she did. He was looking for her?


    [Valentia] ¡®Why?¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I wouldn¡¯t know about that. So when I noticed, I thought it might be his.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®It¡¯s definitely not. I would have no reason to hide it if it were.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®¡­..Right.¡¯


    In the mind of most others, her course of action should¡¯ve been clear. If this really were the child of the Imperial Prince, she would have no reason to hide them or run away.


    The truth, however, was far more complicated than that and most of the details did not bear repeating, and so she decided that Jays didn¡¯t need to know about them.


    [Jays] ¡®Have you ever thought about going back?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®And where exactly would I go even if I did?¡¯


    Jays look back at Valentia as if he were speechless.


    [Jays] ¡®Well, he¡¯s looking for you.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®We have nothing to do with each other, so I don¡¯t have to go back just because of that.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I see. Do you have any mind to meet him again?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®None whatsoever.¡¯


    Valentia said this with absolute certainty.


    She didn¡¯t know why he was looking for her, but the fact remained that she did not wish to see him again, especially not like this. Just imagining him cursing her, accusing her of being pregnant with another man¡¯s child, made her sick.


    [Jays] ¡®Are you traveling?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Well¡­..¡¯


    She wasn¡¯t really sure if ¡®traveling¡¯ was an appropriate term for the aimless wandering she was doing.


    [Jays] ¡®Do you have any plans for the future?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Do you have a place to stay?¡¯


    Question after question, and with still no answers to give, Valentia smiled bitterly and shook her head.


    Jays would already know the answer to that question. If she had a place to stay, she wouldn¡¯t have been wandering around late at night, struggling to find a place while having a difficult time as she did.


    [Valentia] ¡®I wanted to settle down before giving birth, but things aren¡¯t working out as I¡¯d hoped¡­¡­¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Miss Valentia.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Yes?¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I have something I¡¯d like to say to you.¡¯


    He straightened out his back and looked Valentia dead in the eyes, and she immediately felt flustered by the look in his eyes.


    He looked both polite, but desperate, like he was trying to fix his posture right before talking about something extremely serious.


    Almost like he was about to confess.


    Confess.


    It couldn¡¯t be.


    Was he really trying to confess? Although, come to think of it, he was always very kind to her.


    I can¡¯t believe I never noticed, Valentia thought, silently lamenting her lack of social sense. Why didn¡¯t she figure it out until right this moment? After he went out of his way to help her yesterday, too!


    They didn¡¯t really know each other all that well, and like he said before, they attended the same Academy together. However, perhaps showing her such consideration was only possible because he held a heart for her.


    But, though she appreciated his feelings, she could never accept them. So her plan was to tell him that she would gladly pretend they never talked about this.


    There was no possible chance she could accept his confession all while pregnant with Lexus¡¯ child.


    She may hate him now, but she did love him at some point.


    It was then that Jays finally spoke up.


    [Jays] ¡®Miss Valentia, I¡¯d like to formally extend an offer your way. Why don¡¯t you come work at my commerce guild?¡¯


    * * *


    T/N: Korean publishers are bringing the hammer down on fan translations for manhwas and novels alike in recent days. If you are not reading this on my site, you are putting me at risk of shutting down entirely. Be a friend to me and your fellow readers


    astral t/c: Oh Valentia¡­.


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Cappuccino¡± by BigRicePiano ¡¹

 Chapter 69

    [Valentia] ¡®I will pretend you didn¡¯t say that¡­¡­.Wait, I¡¯m sorry?¡¯


    Valentia covered her mouth with her hands. What did he just say? Did he just ask her¡­¡­to work at his commerce guild?


    [Jays] ¡®As I thought, it¡¯s a bit difficult, isn¡¯t it?¡¯


    He was so determined a moment ago, but at her rather lukewarm answer, Jays¡¯ shoulders drooped.


    [Valentia] ¡®But what did you just say? Your commerce guild?¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Hah, I ask only that you reconsider my offer. I know it¡¯s a bit sudden, but I really want to be able to help you if I can.¡¯


    Oh.


    Valentia felt her face burning up in embarrassment.


    Now she knew she really had no social sense, considering she made that kind of misunderstanding.


    Though, it should¡¯ve been obvious. Unless he was trying to mess with her like Lexus was, why would he ever fancy a woman like her? Rather than confessing his love, an offer for work made much more sense.


    And hearing this kind of suggestion from him, she felt both grateful and sorry.


    Valentia smiled bitterly.


    [Valentia] ¡®There¡¯s no need to pity me.¡¯


    But of course, that kind of sympathy was desperately needed. A part of her wanted to ignore the obvious pity in his offer and accept since she needed work now more than ever.


    [Jays] ¡®What do you mean, pity?¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®I sincerely thank you for the offer, but I don¡¯t know how much help I could offer in return. And I wouldn¡¯t wish to place a burden on you.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®A burden? No, it¡¯s not like that. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s making you think like that, but I will be honest. This offer is very much in my favor.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®What do you mean?¡¯


    This was in his favor? That was hard to believe, considering this was a matter of him unconditionally lending a helping hand towards a woman in a difficult situation.


    [Jays] ¡®I¡¯m actually looking for someone to assist me, but the last person I spoke with just rejected the offer. He said he didn¡¯t like the idea of a smaller guild like us, and I didn¡¯t do a very good job of negotiating his wages.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Oh, that¡­.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®But you were the brightest mind in the Academy, taking the top position for your entire academic career. If you can¡¯t help me, then no one can.¡¯


    It sounded for a moment like he was about to slip out of formal speech, but he smiled and spoke with cheer in his voice.


    [Jays] ¡®As you may well know, Miss Valentia, I am not the most skilled negotiator. In all honesty, I am uncertain a commerce guild as small as mine can promise you the payment you deserve. That¡¯s why I helped you yesterday. I was hoping it might make this offer more appealing in your eyes.¡¯


    In other words, he was saying his assistance from the previous night was also a form of extending this job offer towards her.


    But somehow, she was getting the feeling he would¡¯ve helped her anyways, even if he wasn¡¯t interested in hiring her. Just like before, Jays was the only person who expressed concern when he noticed Lexus becoming close to her.


    [Jays] ¡®I can provide you with a place to stay as well. Once your child is born, wouldn¡¯t it be good to have a job and a home to raise them in?¡¯


    He said this arrangement would be favorable for him, but everything he said was a near perfect situation for Valentia.


    [Valentia] ¡®¡­¡­Thank you.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Is that a yes?¡¯


    Jays¡¯ face brightened.


    [Valentia] ¡®I would be most grateful if you took me on. But I don¡¯t know much about commerce, so I¡¯d like it if I could start with something simple.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®That can certainly be arranged.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®In exchange, I myself have something I¡¯d like to ask for in return.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®Whatever it is, you need only ask.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®You said he was looking for me.¡¯


    [Jays] ¡®I did.¡¯


    [Valentia] ¡®Then I¡¯d like to change my name before I accept.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t want to see him again, especially not now.


    So in that case, she needed to make it impossible for him to find her.


    * * *


    That was how she came to work for the guild.


    Thinking about how it all happened in retrospect, she ran into a rare stroke of luck meeting Jays that day. She didn¡¯t want to imagine what would¡¯ve happened if he hadn¡¯t found her, and she probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to find a place to settle.


    And it would¡¯ve been hard finding work during a time when her child still needed his mother.


    When he was still very young, she couldn¡¯t send him to the child care center, so she got by doing smaller jobs at the guild while caring for him. Then, once he was a little older, she could send him to the center and start her work in earnest.


    [Valentia] ¡°What should we have for dinner tonight?¡±


    Now, she was at a place where worrying about the little things was fun.


    She stopped by the market, not forgetting to purchase some of her son¡¯s favorite vegetables¡ªmainly broccoli and beans. Elijah was a very strange boy sometimes, and he often enjoyed bitter vegetables more than sweet fruits.


    Then, she went off to the child care center. Just inside, she saw her son, speaking with his teacher.


    [Valentia] ¡°Eli!¡±


    Elijah Reid.


    He was Valentia¡¯s son. Or more specifically, he was the son of a woman named Valencia Reid.


    After she left that place, she gave up the name of Syner that she held since she was born, and after she heard Lexus was looking for her, she changed her given name as well. Reid was her late mother¡¯s maiden name, the surname she carried before her marriage to Baron Syner.


    Though she thought she¡¯d lost all the remnants of her mother, it turns out this small little legacy of hers still remained.


    And so, Valentia actually rather liked her name now because it was one she had chosen for herself.


    [Elijah] ¡°Mom!¡±


    Noticing her, the boy ran up to her and threw himself in her arms.


    He had lovely blond hair, sparkling pink eyes, and chubby cheeks that made everyone around him muse about how adorable he was, as well as envy towards her for having such a cute child.


    He was healthy too, and the only minor concern she held was that he was a little small for a six year old boy.


    [Valentia] ¡°My Eli. I¡¯m sorry Mama was a little late today.¡±


    [Elijah] ¡°No, I liked waiting for you.¡±


    Sometimes she wondered how it was even possible for a child to be so lovely and kind.


    [Valentia] ¡°Have you been waiting patiently?¡±


    [Elijah] ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Valentia] ¡°Thank you again, Miss Teacher.¡±


    [Teacher] ¡°It¡¯s truly no trouble at all. Elijah is a calm and gentle boy. It¡¯s my own joy to be able to care for him.¡±


    Even the lady who worked with the children at the center looked upon Elijah with eyes filled with affection.


    [Teacher] ¡°I will see you again tomorrow, Elijah.¡±


    [Elijah] ¡°See you tomorrow, Miss!¡±


    Elijah waved his hand, saying his goodbye to his teacher. With her bag in one hand and Elijah¡¯s hand in the other, Valentia went on her way.


    [Valentia] ¡°Did you have fun today?¡±


    [Elijah] ¡°Yes. The book we read was fun, and I like playing with my friends. But today, two of them fought and they had to make up. I don¡¯t know why they have to fight every day.¡±


    Valentia held back her smile. She¡¯d already heard before from the teacher about this one, and so she knew the story of how Elijah¡¯s friends kept bickering.


    The start of it was a fight between two little girls who were also being cared for at the center. They were both fond of the same dolls, and so they would often fight over which of them would be able to play with them¡­¡­.


    That was when Elijah intervened, holding each of their hands as they fought, scolding them by saying how friends shouldn¡¯t fight so much, and lo and behold, their squabble ceased.


    It was all because of how lovely and adorable Elijah was. Ever since then, any time they started to fight again, he would hold their hands and help them reconcile. Those two little girls would always forget exactly why they were fighting when Elijah held their hands.


    His big and sparkling pink eyes were a powerful tool¡ªone that no one wanted to upset.


    [Valentia] ¡°So did you help them make up again?¡±


    [Elijah] ¡°Yes. They¡¯re good friends again.¡±


    Their home, just beyond the city center, was a greystone building, topped with a triangular roof. A myriad of vines snaked their way around the exterior, decorated with both the buds and blooms of various different types of flowers. It had a modest yard and a single floor, just big enough for three people to live in.


    As they got closer, the door opened seemingly on its own, and the final member of their family ran out to greet them.


    [Elijah] ¡°Goldie!¡±


    [Goldie] ¡°Bark! Bark!¡±


    Letting go of Valentia¡¯s hand, Elijah ran off as Goldie ran to match his pace.


    Bringing his leash with him, Goldie put the handle of it in Elijah¡¯s hand, and once he had it in his grip, the two of them went on their way with Goldie taking the lead. This had become somewhat of a routine for them.


    Valentia went about her work, moving to organize the groceries she had bought while Elijah topped off Goldie¡¯s water, pouring some of his food into his bowl. Even while Valentia was busy with the cooking, Elijah took to watering the herbs in the garden and playing with Goldie.


    In fact, Goldie really liked playing with Elijah, and he was good at it, too.


    When it came to parenting, Goldie was Valentia¡¯s dearest friend who¡¯d been watching over Elijah ever since he was a little baby.


    Having become accustomed to everyday tasks and chores, Valentia quickly put together dinner using the ingredients she¡¯d brought back from her trip to the market.


    [Elijah] ¡°Thank you for the food.¡±


    With a lovely smile, the boy said his proper thanks.


    [Valentia] ¡°Enjoy, everyone.¡±


    That was how every meal of theirs started¡ªa small thanks for the food before them. Just as they started to eat, Goldie dug into his food, too.


    [Valentia] ¡°You always eat so well, my sweet.¡±


    Unlike other children who would quickly turn these foods away, Elijah really enjoyed broccoli soup and cooked beans. He liked certain types of meat, but his sense of taste was a little unique in that he far preferred vegetables.


    Though, she wasn¡¯t sure exactly where this palette of his came from. As far she could remember, Lexus never showed any kind of preference for vegetables.


    [Elijah] ¡°Everything you make is yummy, Mom.¡±


    By the standard of another, one would be hard pressed to call Valentia¡¯s food ¡®delicious¡¯ or ¡®yummy¡¯, and so she was grateful Elijah was a sweet and kind boy, enough to speak such words regardless.


    When she first tried to cook, everything turned out a mess.


    She did exactly what was written in the cookbook, or at least she thought she did, but the end result was a complete disaster. She could¡¯ve sworn she measured everything perfectly, but the proof of her failure was right before her eyes.


    She thought maybe her ill fated attempt was because it was her first try, but no part of her cooking got better no matter how much time went by. It was while she was eating yet another one of her strange flavored attempts that Valentia realized something¡ªshe had no talent for cooking.


    But now, at least her food was edible.


    Valentia cut up some of the sausage on the plate and passed it off to Elijah, who immediately stabbed at it with his fork.


    Sometimes, he¡¯d puff out his cheeks when he chewed and it was the cutest thing in the world. All she wanted to do was kiss him, but she held back since he was eating.


    The happiness her son gave her was indescribable. There was no word that could adequately sum it up, but on the whole, it was unconditional.


    She did not know such happiness was even possible for someone like her to achieve, but right now, she was the happiest she had ever been in her entire life.


    * * *


    astralmech t/c: Elijah¡¯s name is spelled like [???] or ¡®Aisha¡¯ in direct hangul to romanization. However, Elijah¡¯s nickname is spelled like [??], which is like, a phonetic syllable difference ¡®Aisha¡¯ to ¡®Aesha¡¯ or ¡®Elijah¡¯ to ¡®Lijah¡¯. Later on in the story, they remark the difference between his nickname and his name as being pretty important, but in contrast to the raws, the difference is basically nonexistent when I translate his nickname directly, so I changed it to the more recognizable shortening of the name Elijah, ¡®Eli¡¯.


    I felt like this was a fair change to make considering that the direct translation of the name doesn¡¯t really work all that well in English. I agonized over it for a while, but this is the decision I¡¯m settling on, haha ¡ª astralmech


    ¡¸Õ¤Άh¤ª¤¹¤¹¤á: ¡°Mother¡± by Porter Robinson ¡¹