Why Is Everyone Hiding Everything? - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“I’m simply poor at conversation. I’m ashamed of how unprepared I was and apologize for showing such foolishness.”

You dragged me into a place like this without a word beforehand—of course I’d be uncomfortable.

“Haven’t you and I had quite a lot to discuss?”

You’re the one who never contacted me until now. How long was I supposed to wait? I’m a prince, you know.

“The season for harvesting the tea leaves I favor has not yet arrived. Please understand that I wished to offer only the finest and rarest tea. In truth, I had been investigating the loyal knightly House Delphoi with the intention of recommending them to you, but my preparations were somewhat incomplete.”

You should at least give me time to prepare. Did you think the Crown Prince’s seat would simply fall from the sky? I’m in the middle of trying to recruit Delphoi, and then you suddenly summoned me before I could even make my move.

Invisible, blood-splattered exchanges flew back and forth between the two smiling figures.

It was like a chess match played entirely through words—countless pieces already slaughtered until only the kings and queens remained.

Meanwhile, my own thoughts spun frantically.

Just when had these two become close enough to contact each other privately?

I dearly hoped my sister had not committed the unprecedented act of threatening a prince.

Though unfortunately, a vivid scene was already unfolding inside my imagination.

“Are you truly daring to threaten the fate of the Prince’s Palace itself?”

“For my sister’s safety, I would stake far more than merely the Prince’s Palace. What will you do, Your Highness? I am Rosena—the one person more precious to Flotie than anyone else.”

If the prince had arranged this meeting because he failed to overcome my sister’s intimidation and intended to persuade me into reclaiming the title of young duke…

Honestly, that explanation felt more plausible than believing this had all happened out of simple goodwill.

Damn it.

“My lady?”

Perhaps noticing my face suddenly turn pale, Elian hurriedly prepared emergency medicine and a glass of water.

Lucian and Haston also reacted quickly, apparently noticing my condition at once.

As though they were genuinely worried I might collapse into a seizure.

Of course, I could hardly explain what I had actually been imagining, so I quietly accepted the medicine and swallowed it.

“…My apologies, Your Highness. Would it be acceptable if we resumed our conversation later?”

“If you’re unwell, you should have said so sooner.”

For some reason, he looked oddly troubled as he examined me. Then, ignoring the objections from both Elian and me—as well as Haston—he personally guided me to a bedroom.

“My lady, if anything happens, ring the bell immediately. I’ll come myself.”

“N-No, Your Highness needn’t come personally—”

“There are only a minimal number of knights, maids, and servants in this palace. And frankly, most of them are less capable than I am, so it’s better if I handle things myself. When there aren’t many people around, you become good at these things naturally.”

Hearing words like that spoken by a Sword Master made it impossible to deny them.

My sister must have truly tormented a member of the imperial family to this extent.

This was practically balancing on the line between rebellion and treason.

After finally seeing him off, I sat on the bed with Elian’s support.

“This bedroom is excessively luxurious.”

“It was Lady Serphina’s request.”

I could infer the unspoken part easily enough.

A powerless Third Prince of the Empire was hardly in a position to ignore a request from Rosena’s young duke outright.

But surely there was more to it than that.

I pressed lightly against my forehead.

“I’m worried about my sister.”

“Lady Serphina will be fine.”

“What kind of choice did she make because of me…?”

My poor sister, who only ever cared about me.

No matter what, she should never have done something like threatening a prince!

Looking back now, I realized I had made one major mistake because I trusted my only strength—my ability to read situations—far too much.

I should have known beforehand that there existed at least one field where even Flotie Rosena’s instincts were utterly hopeless.

Love.

* * *

“Doing nothing used to make up most of my life, but after moving around just a little recently, how has everyday life suddenly become this boring?”

“My lady, you’ve been incredibly busy these past two days. You need rest.”

“Elian, all I’ve done is wander around the Prince’s Palace a bit, take some walks, and have pointless conversations with His Highness.”

And honestly, the difficulty level had dropped considerably too.

At first, our conversations had at least resembled careful probing battles where we tested each other’s intentions.

But now it felt more like we were at some matchmaking meeting, with him obsessively trying to learn my personal preferences.

“What kind of drinks do you like?”

“I haven’t experienced a very wide variety, but if I had to choose, probably black tea…”

“Do you enjoy walking?”

“I tire easily, but I believe viewing scenery is always enjoyable. The sights from a carriage and the sights seen while walking yourself feel entirely different. I heard there are magical trains that allow people to travel without walking, though I worry I’d become motion sick. Still, if I ever get the opportunity, I’d like to ride one someday.”

…Thinking back on it, maybe I had gotten overly excited and talked far too much by myself.

Every visit, I tried bringing up topics related to the Mage Tower or my sister, but I returned without gaining much.

From what I gathered, the prince himself also seemed to have been handed responsibility for me without receiving any proper explanation from my sister.

Honestly, who in the world would entrust their younger sibling to royalty this boldly?

“His Highness must be struggling too, suddenly burdened with someone troublesome like me.”

“A burden? My lady, you mustn’t demean yourself like that.”

Then again, even if my sister had been a commoner instead of Rosena’s young duke, she probably still would have done something outrageous like this.

Her extraordinariness did not come from her status.

“My lady has been away from the estate for so long now. The Duke must be terribly worried too.”

“Sister said she already explained everything to Father and Mother. I also sent a letter myself just in case.”

Besides, the prince had apparently sent an official invitation as well.

“Elian, shouldn’t you return to the estate yourself? It’s alright if you go back briefly. Nothing will happen to me here. Aren’t you worried the whole time?”

“Pardon?”

Elian, who had been quietly setting dessert before me, paused slightly.

She was probably thinking she might encounter that person—the likely father of her child—here in the palace.

Not that she intended to do anything in particular if they met.

Elian stubbornly repeated the same thing over and over:

“I only pray for the Crown Prince’s happiness.”

Seeing her expression darken, I regretted bringing it up.

But then my thoughts shifted slightly.

“To be honest, if I came to the palace, I wanted to bring the child too. But things aren’t turning out the way I imagined.”

Bring the child?

Why?

My expression fell apart at the unexpected statement, and Elian awkwardly waved her hands.

“No, I don’t mean to create chaos by claiming there’s an imperial grandchild or anything like that. Lately, his face has occasionally started growing faint in my memory, so… if I saw him again, I wondered whether the child resembled him.”

“Haha… I understand the feeling, but please restrain yourself.”

“It’s only a thought, so please don’t worry.”

“Could you perhaps restrain even the thought itself?”

* * *

Several days earlier, in front of the Mage Tower.

Serphina Rosena, the regressor, fell into deep thought.

In her previous life, there had once been someone who told her he loved her.

And Serphina herself had once felt her heart flutter for him as well.

In the end, she had even resolved to overcome the pain of the past together with all those people and continue living onward.

Because her revenge had already been completed.

‘Flotie.’

But it was only while standing before that child’s grave that she realized the enormous loss she had once suffered had never truly disappeared from her heart.

The longing she thought she had suppressed and healed from rose once again.

‘Tie, something feels wrong. Let’s stay somewhere else. Why not come to the Mage Tower where your sister is instead?’

‘Ah, Sister…’

Unlike now, the Flotie of that time struggled even to leave her bed and walk briefly.

She coughed up blood whenever she had the chance, and false attendants filled the area around her to monitor her every movement.

As though she already knew everything, Flotie smiled softly and took Serphina’s hand.

Her skin, rough and peeling from harsh medicine, brushed gently across the back of Serphina’s hand.

‘Sister, before long, private soldiers from House Ross and House Kennon will storm this place. You need to prepare to flee.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Go to the Mage Tower. They still oppose the Crown Prince there. I’m really glad I can tell you this after you returned from the Mage Tower for the first time in so long. Sister, not once have I ever thought we weren’t real sisters just because you were adopted. You will always be a Rosena.’