CH 168

I suddenly recalled the crown prince’s strange gaze.

He said he had to compensate for the ‘trouble’ I went through, didn’t he?

He talked as if it was a mistake that she targeted me.

I remembered the image of Mago Philip talking to Zen, and the existence of the ledger.

There might be a possibility that the Crown Prince caused the scene from the start so that the ledger could be used legally.

Although he had the justification to investigate the case by making the case of the Rocke Merchant Guild get bigger in the academy, if the power behind Philip’s Viscount was greater than expected, it would have been dangerous to reveal the ledger and punish them.

But it would be different if the Crown Prince was attacked because of the ledger’s existence.

Was the absence of Samuel Bolton, who stuck to him like a shadow, also to give room for the attack?

“Everything was a trap from the start.”

Zen, who somehow had already been on my side, was silent at the sentiment.

That alone was enough to be an answer.

“Was it you who cooperated to have Mago enter this place?”

The one who provided the place was Orion, the one who coaxed Mago and pretended to help her was Zen, and the one who was the bait was the Crown Prince.

“I was the only one who didn’t know.”

I felt like a fool.

I walked away from Zen and sat on the bed.

The guy, who was silent, only opened his mouth after a long time.

“I thought it had nothing to do with you anyway.”

“Even though you did this in the mansion where I live?”

Disappointment swelled up.

He must not want to make me troubled. Even so, it upsetted me.

How much did he torment me because I didn’t tell him about the problem in the previous academy?

“I wouldn’t have done this if I knew she would go to you.”

“It doesn’t matter. The problem isn’t about where Mago went to. I’m upset you told me nothing.”

In times of disadvantage, Zen averted his eyes.

I didn’t feel regret for the actions of the Crown Prince.

I understood enough why he did this.

I felt very thankful to him for excluding me from the parade.

“Looking at how the case was made to be this big, the one behind the House of Philip must be someone great, huh?”

When I saw the guy who didn’t respond to the casually asked questions, I somehow felt down.

“Why don’t you just go if you won’t say anything?”

I was tired, likely due to a lot of things weighing on me.

The moment I waved my hand, he suddenly snatched it.

It was a very careful touch that couldn’t be compared to the touch that left dark red on Mago’s wrist.

When I flinched in pain, a faint light fell on my hand.

I felt a faint vibration from Zen’s pocket when the small wound disappeared without any trace.

The item that looked like a communication device was ringing.

Annoyance flashed on Zen’s face at the small beep.

The guy zoned out, then he laid me, who still had things to ask, on the bed, and covered me with the blanket. After that, he turned his back.

I felt uneasy when I looked at his back.

“Zen.”

“What?”

“If the Crown Prince and I fell in the water, who would you save first?”

I never knew I would ask this childish question.

Instead of answering, Zen, who stared intently at me, escaped through the window.

I got more restless as I recalled the Crown Prince’s great ambition, ‘to make him his person.’

* * *

The next day, the Crown Prince summoned me to the palace.

I thought I was compensated enough with the cancellation of the parade, but it seemed he thought he couldn’t compensate me with that alone.

The Crown Prince, who had his hands behind him and carried all the worries of the world, looked out the window with a lonely face and said,

“I’m sure you have a lot to ask.”

No. I know everything.

“Professor Ardin who saved you yesterday isn’t simply the academy’s professor.”

He turned, looking at me with a serious expression, and said,

“He came as the professor from the academy because of the offer I gave him. He is still not my person, but he’s cooperating with me.”

I hope he won’t be your person even in the future, Your Imperial Highness.

“You didn’t know, but what happened yesterday was under the consent of other people in the Duchy.”

I know.

He looked down while sighing.

“The reason we didn’t tell you about yesterday’s event . . .”

“It’s fine, Your Imperial Highness. Please don’t worry about it.”

I wouldn’t care about it if Zen weren’t involved.

His face got darker when he heard my words.

“In your eyes, I must look like a detached and heartless brother to my only little brother, the prince. However, there’s a lot of secrets in the Imperial Palace. Jeremy is also one of them.”

I know that too.

As I thought about it one by one, I really knew about a lot of things.

I never intended it, but somehow, all the people around the Crown Prince were related to me.

It was surprising that I knew everything he wanted to keep secret, but I felt sorry for him.

“Anyway, there’s nothing I can tell you, but it’s better for you to not know. You’ll only be more in danger if you know.”

I only bent my knees at the serious remark.

I’m sorry because I know why you can’t tell me.

His eyes looking at me, who gave such a greeting, were filled with admiration.

“Just like what Orion said, your consideration is really wonderful, Young Lady. You must be curious, though.”

“ . . .”

He only sent me back after going far to open the Imperial Family’s storage and gave jewels to me, who had already repeated multiple times that it was okay.

My feelings as I returned with a jewel box after an offhand remark—how it looked like a parrot— were bewildered.