—A day ago.
On a night when the moon bloomed coldly.
Starlight glittered on the pitch-black canvas.
Vera had traveled to the outskirts under Rudella’s orders, delivering a letter to the second prince, Descartes.
The letter, sealed with an embossed wax insignia, indicated the sender’s high status, yet its design was concealed, leaving no clue as to its origin.
At the same time, the imperial stationery subtly conveyed that the letter was no idle jest.
“They’ll have no choice but to recognize it.”
Prince Descartes, who had once vied for the throne, wasn’t particularly brilliant but was keenly observant. He would surely grasp the current situation.
After sending the letter, Vera glanced around and pulled a black robe over herself. The dark fabric completely obscured her face.
Under normal circumstances, a servant or the imperial postal service would have sufficed, but this task demanded absolute secrecy. Thus, she acted alone.
“Haa…”
Her breath escaped in a white puff, momentarily clouding her vision. Winter had arrived in the capital, but Descartes’s territory was especially frigid.
As Vera tightened her robe and prepared to move, a voice called out.
“Vera Haslan.”
The voice was devoid of emotion, but that wasn’t the alarming part.
‘Surveillance!’
She swiftly drew the dagger strapped to her thigh.
When she turned toward the source of the voice, dark figures stood before her.
“…Who sent you?”
No answer came from the black-clad silhouettes.
Vera narrowed her eyes.
‘Who would place me under surveillance?
Someone who would suspect a mere aide like me… The crown prince. It must be him.’
But how? What had aroused his suspicion?
Her contact with the second prince was known only to Rudella and herself. Even Yohan and Lady Ferbache were unaware.
‘In any case, things have taken a terrible turn.’
A shadow fell over Vera’s face.
The situation was grim. For her pursuers to reveal themselves like this meant suspicion had solidified into certainty.
If she had guards, she might buy time. But secrecy was paramount, so she was alone.
“I’d advise against unnecessary resistance.”
With a sharp metallic sound, one of the men unsheathed a longsword from his waist. His movement was precise yet devoid of any detectable aura. A highly skilled opponent.
Gulp.
Vera unconsciously swallowed, her throat tightening. Her chest heaved with anxiety and fear, her breathing quickening.
‘I cannot be captured. No matter what.’
She was certain: if she were caught, not only would the mission fail, but Rudella would also be implicated.
Setting her face into a determined expression, Vera raised her dagger.
“….You have no intention of coming quietly, I see.”
With a soft sound, the lead man took another step forward. His footsteps were silent, his movements shadow-like.
At that moment—
“…!”
With a flash of darkness,
her vision went black.
…
…
…
“Gasp…!”
Vera took a sharp breath and opened her eyes. Her whole body ached, and her head throbbed, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.
‘Where am I?’
She turned her head, scanning her surroundings. The first things she noticed were the wooden walls and old, worn-out furniture—a simple cabin.
‘How much time has passed?’
Pale moonlight streamed through the window. It was nighttime. Not too much time seemed to have passed…it couldn’t have been a full day of unconsciousness, surely.
Just as Vera was calmly assessing the situation—
Click.
The door to the cabin opened, and a man entered. Vera instinctively held her breath. Golden eyes and golden hair.
It was none other than the Crown Prince, Fedelian Rogino.
“You’re awake.”
With an indifferent expression, he dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Vera. The chill in his gaze pricked her skin like needles.
“Lately, my fiancée has been acting suspicious. So, I had you watched. I didn’t expect to catch you so quickly.”
“…..”
“I doubt you’ll tell me what Rudella is plotting. It’s clear enough that it won’t be anything beneficial to me, just from the look of it.”
“…..”
“You don’t seem inclined to answer.”
Fedelian began his interrogation without hesitation, but Vera simply stared at him with a sharp gaze, her lips tightly sealed.
“It would be convenient to force a confession out of you here… but hearing it from the person herself would be far more satisfying. And since she’s already here—”
Vera’s eyes widened in an instant. Her voice cracked as she spoke.
“No way… the young lady too…!”
“You’ve finally decided to speak.”
Seeing her clear reaction, a sly smile crept across Fedelian’s lips.
“Aren’t you curious to see what kind of reaction that lofty Rudella Bismarck will have? She’s already been driven to the edge.”
Fedelian’s smile deepened, clearly relishing the situation. It was his chance to see Rudella, always so composed, finally shaken.
“…Things won’t go the way you want them to.”
Vera glared at Fedelian with burning eyes. Her gaze was filled with murderous intent.
“Is that a prayer?”
“….”
Fedelian tilted his head stiffly, his golden eyes gazing down at Vera with disdain.
“Relying on faith…that’s for the weak. I have no need for such things.”
“….”
An icy silence enveloped the room. Having said his piece, Fedelian gave a curt nod to the shadowy figure lurking in the corner.
“Bring Rudella Bismarck.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Fedelian’s command, the shadowy figure brought Rudella in from the adjoining room. Her arms and legs were tightly bound with ropes.
“….”
Placed in the chair next to Vera, Rudella stared coldly at Fedelian, her expression void of emotion. Her silence only amplified the frostiness in her demeanor.
“Well, Rudella. Let me ask you this. You were planning to stab me in the back with the evidence you’ve gathered, weren’t you? That’s why you sent that letter to Descartes. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
Her icy blue eyes held no light—only an unrelenting chill.
“I see you have no intention of answering. Not that it matters. I already know.”
Fedelian shrugged, shaking his head with mock indifference before continuing.
“…But, no matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. Rudella, you were supposed to become the Crown Princess and eventually the mother of the Empire. Why betray me now?”
No response. Fedelian’s eyebrow twitched. He was familiar with her cold demeanor, but it didn’t make it any less frustrating.
“Not answering this either, huh? You do have a knack for being stubborn in strange places. It’s all over anyway.”
“Release Vera.”
“Hah, that’s all you have to say?”
Fedelian let out a dry laugh, incredulous. Even in such a dire situation, she was concerned about her aide.
“Vera has nothing to do with this. She was simply following my orders.”
“Young lady…!”
“Stay quiet, Vera.”
Rudella’s audacious demand stood in stark contrast to Vera’s desperate struggle. Fedelian’s amused smirk only deepened.
“What a touching display of loyalty.”
“….”
“Fine, I’ll grant your request.”
Fedelian gave a slight nod. At his signal, the shadow drew a dagger and cut Vera’s bindings.
“….?”
Vera looked up at Fedelian with a confused expression. He lowered his gaze to meet hers.
“In exchange, I’ll give you a task. Go to Yohan Rahardt and inform him that Rudella is in my custody.”
“…!”
Rudella’s eyes widened in shock. Her shoulders flinched…a clear reaction. It was the first time she had shown any emotion since the ordeal began.
Noting her response, Fedelian chuckled lightly and continued.
“Bring Yohan Rahardt here.”
“What are you planning…!”
Rudella twisted her body in desperation, but bound as she was, there was nothing she could do.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you are connected to Yohan Rahardt. I was only fishing for a response, but now it’s confirmed.”
Fedelian smirked wickedly, tilting her chin with his hand. Rudella clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away.
“Have you fallen for him? Or has he whispered sweet nothings to you?”
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
“A fox like him seducing an engaged woman—how fitting. That pretty boy always did know how to play the part. No wonder he managed to steal the heart of Ferbache’s noble daughter, even though she’s already betrothed.”
The moment Fedelian insulted Yohan, a shadow fell across Rudella’s face. Her pale blue eyes darkened, like a still lake clouded by a storm.
“…Do not insult Yohan.”
Everything else was bearable. It was possible to remain calm in this potentially fatal situation. But insulting the man she loved was unbearable.
“Hmph. I see now that you have taken a liking to him.”
Fedelian’s eyebrows arched subtly.
“You liked him so much that you defied family policy and plunged a knife into your fiancé’s back? Blinded by a momentary impulse, you did something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
Rudella chewed her lip as she turned her head away.
“Well, it doesn’t matter, I’m rather glad things are the way they are. I can deal with you and Count Rahardt at the same time.”
The corners of Fedelian’s mouth turned up.
“Today, Yohan Rahardt will be imprisoned for the same treasonous crimes as you. You will not escape the death penalty, and you will eventually become a slave to close the Magul.”
“Haha.”
At that moment, mockery escaped Rudella’s mouth.
“…What’s so funny?”
It wasn’t just a laugh. An outright sneer. Fedelian narrowed his eyebrows.
“It’s just that now, with your eyes like this, I can clearly see the difference between him and His Highness.”
Rudella spoke up.
“Isn’t it funny that you should seek his life because you cannot have the heart of the Princess Ferbache, when he took mine purely for the sake of it?”
As she continued, Fedelian’s face hardened into a stern expression. His golden eyes widened.
“Ah, even if you are not Princess Ferbache, the difference between him and your Highness is clear, for he has taken my heart, and you have not.”
It’s dangerous to provoke him here, but Ferdelian will trap Yohan anyway. To be of any help, she must draw on his anger to cloud his judgment.
Rudella let out another mocking laugh.
“Are you not confident? Well, you have every reason to be, for unlike him, His Royal Highness seeks to control everything by force alone.”
“Ha…?”
Fedelian’s face contorted. Burning anger flared in his eyes, and the lump in his throat swelled to the point of bursting.
“…Bring me Yohan Rahardt at once, with that woman as bait.”
His voice echoed low in the cabin. His golden eyes reflected an indescribable fury.
“Rudella, I will kill the man you love before your very eyes.”
“I’m sure you won’t be able to handle the aftermath, even if you’re the father of the child.”
“I won’t. I won’t.”
“Good luck with that, Your Highness, though it seems unlikely.”
“…..”
Her sneer hit Fedelian’s pride like a hammer. The veins in his forehead swelled to the point of bursting, and his fingertips trembled.
The shame of being compared to Yohan burned in his mind, chipping away at his coldly maintained rationality.
“…I will kill you. Before your eyes.”