CH 6
dorothea10-13 minutes 31.03.2023
Daniel Kryant, the Earl of Bryant, immediately wrote a letter to the duke.
The gist of it was, ‘I apologize. I will resume my daughter’s education within the family to correct her insolence.’
Although it was just a rough estimate, it should have bought us a little time for our next move.
At luncheon, the father and daughter caught up.
“Father, how is Elsie?”
“Your younger brother, don’t even get me started. Who knows why those damn kids keep clinging onto him like that, it’s driving me crazy.”
“Hoo-hoo, another letter from the academy.”
This time of casual family conversation was precious to Ellen.
In the past, she used to think her younger brother was annoying because of the age difference, but at this moment, while talking with her father, she couldn’t bear the ache of missing her younger sibling who used to be so young.
Ellen was constantly asking Daniel for news of this and that, and Daniel answered each one, thinking it was a good thing he had come to see her.
It was nearing the end of the meal.
Knock knock knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Puzzled, the father and daughter exchanged glances.
“… Is there someone looking for you?”
At Daniel’s nervous question, Ellen nodded and said.
“The duke, or the crown prince, one or the other.”
She gave a short answer, then stood up and headed for the door.
“What’s going on?”
Once the guest was excused, the messenger waiting outside delivered the news I had brought.
“The gentleman who identified himself as Kei told me that if Ms. Kryant is here, he would like to meet her.”
At that, Ellen glanced at her father and replied.
“If it will be no disrespect, tell him I wish to see him here.”
At her words, the sergeant bowed his head, then hobbled downstairs.
“The crown prince is more short-tempered than I thought.”
On any other day, Daniel would have paid attention.
But unlike usual, he was quiet now.
It had occurred to him that one day he might actually meet the crown prince, but even he hadn’t realized it would be now.
* * *
The palace in the early morning, before noon.
Caden made up his mind.
“… I guess I have to go out after all.”
He scrambled to his feet and stomped off.
The news brought by his messenger Raven upon its return was as follows.
First, an investigation into Ellen Krembel.
It was said that there was a mass layoff of servants at the Duke’s residence.
Raven speculated that this was probably due to Mrs. Krembel’s demand for a divorce.
Caden agreed.
At this point, that was the only reason he could think of for why the servants were suddenly changed.
The next story he told was about a former gambling establishment.
It had been around for about two years and had already claimed a number of victims.
But they didn’t know the total number yet.
Caden gave a congratulatory order for his knowledge, and the Raven urged him not to make any hasty moves.
Caden’s colorful swearing began when the Raven disappeared and he was left alone.
God damn it, damn it, damn it…
They say it’s dark under the lamp1 implies that even though the solution to a problem may be obvious or simple, sometimes it can be difficult to see it because it is right in front of us, and we may not realize how foolish we look for not seeing it, but he doesn’t even want to think about how foolish he must have looked to the royal court.
Caden cursed under his breath again, determined to find out who was behind the veil.
But as he continued to curse, a strange suspicion began to creep into his mind.
How could anyone have known where the Ravens, who had begun their investigation, were hiding?
It didn’t make sense to him.
‘Maybe Krembel really is…’
So a question lead to another a question.
The gambling house, Krembel, Mrs. Krembel.
His mind kept drifting between them, and before he knew it, he was thinking about her.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
What had happened to Mrs. Krembel to make her so strangely different?
That, too, left him with a strange feeling of dread.
She had gone from being the girl who had been after her husband to a daring gambler in a matter of months.
It’s so strange and disturbing that he can’t get her out of his head since that day.
So, Caden thought.
There’s no immediate confirmation, and anyone with a clue is out there.
He’ll just have to go and find her himself.
As Caden rose from his seat, the chamberlain, who had followed him, said in a wailing voice.
“Ah ah, Your Highness! If His Majesty finds out, he will surely be furious! My neck will surely fall off!”
“My father is not that kind of a heartless person. You go ahead and call Lord Coenheim.”
Coenheim was his maternal grandmother’s house, and it was the best hand he could play at the moment.
“Just officially leave the palace!”
“Oh, no. It’s not of that nature.”
With that, Caden made his way out of the palace in a huff.
Lord Coenheim, who had to hear complaints all the way while being dragged out by the unexpected visit of the chamberlain, immediately vented his frustrations to his close friend Cheshire, who had a heavy mouth.
Of course, it was an untimely summons for Lord Cheshire, and he was furious and cursed out Lord Coenheim as soon as he arrived.
But Lord Cheshire shut up as soon as he saw the crown prince outside the palace in full regalia.
“Please go back.”
The knights pleaded, but the crown prince’s eardrums were as thick as his face.
In other words, he wouldn’t listen.
“If Kryant is here, tell her I wish to see her.”
And so he boldly went out again today.
* * *
The crown prince, holding the lifelines of all the imperial guards, including the two knights and the chamberlain, reached the door of a woman.
In the silence of the room.
The crown prince, who had come to her unannounced, simply stared at her in silence.
Ellen broke the silence.
“What can I do for you?”
The crown prince gestured to where Count Kryant and his escorts were, and asked.
“Can I say it here?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Then let me ask you this, straightforwardly: do you intend to work for me?”
The drop echoed through the silence.
Past the father and daughter on the couch, to the two burly knights standing shoulder to shoulder across from each other.
Ellen’s eyes met theirs, blue eyes that glowed brilliantly in the sunlight.
“So, Your Highness. What I’ve heard just now…”
“I asked if you would be willing to help me and work by my side.”
At that unexpected question, Ellen didn’t know whether to love or hate this situation.
She asked the question anyway.
“What exactly are you referring to when you say ‘work’?”
“Nothing much, I just want you to share information of what you know like you did last time.”
The sound of Ellen setting down her teacup rang out.
“Such information… I’m sure you have other information, don’t you?”
Even if she didn’t answer, the prince already knew the answer.
So instead of answering, Ellen asked.
“Information. Your Majesty seems to to trust me.”
“Regardless of what information you tell me, I cannot tolerate the fact that such illegal activities were taking place in this sacred place
“I understand you to mean that you need me apart from trust. Am I wrong?”
“You are not wrong, but…”
Chuckle. A light breeze blew through his teeth.
It was a laugh, a far cry from the kindness he usually displayed.
“Then I ask you, too.”
The slightly rough-looking lips fell.
And the words that came out of them were not what she expected.
“That’s the goal, anyway.”
“…!”
“Am I wrong, young lady?”
His words cut straight to the heart of the matter, and Ellen was more than a little genuinely surprised.
He’d come in so suddenly.
“I sought you because I needed you. Didn’t you need me too? There was something you wanted to do with me, wasn’t there?”
The crown prince asked with a slow laugh.
A person like this gave up to that Killian and died?
This was not the crown prince she knew.
The one who always wore a thin smile on his face.
The one who had always been on the outside looking in, the one who had joked with her and called her family.
But perhaps, Ellen thought, the man she’d known all this time was not the man in front of her.
“Then let’s just get to the point since it’s already come to this.”
He said, as if driving a wedge through her very clearly.
“You want something from me, and I’ll give it to you. What you need to give me in return is…”
His eyes, which she’d thought had a gentle warmth to them, locked on her with the sharp anticipation of an enemy.
“It is you.”
“… Yes?”
Ellen was bewildered.
Me? What does he mean by ‘me’?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and since I’m the crown prince of this country, I don’t really have a choice, and it’s too much of a waste to throw away the clues that are rolling around in front of my eyes.”
“So you’re saying you’re going to keep me under surveillance…?”
“It may seem bad, but it’s not wrong to understand it that way.”
Caden didn’t even bother to deny her, and just said it casually.
‘Look at this, he’s always smiling with an innocent face…’
It was all a mask.
It was so unexpected.
At the same time, it was also infuriating.
“Your personality is very different… from what I’ve known you to be.”
“That’s what I want to tell you. And if you don’t have that level of decisiveness, you won’t be able to get this chance for the rest of your life. So, are you going to join us or not?”
Caden’s whole body language indicated that his mind was already made up.
Ellen thought for a moment.
“Are you sure you’re not going to ask me something right now?
There were many things he could have asked.
Like how the hell she knew such a confidential secret.
Or if what she was saying was true, and if so, why she was so determined to get a divorce.
And why she told him all of that.
Normally if you are a royal, you usually tap the stone bridge and let others cross first before finally taking your own step.
But this man seemed to have no intention of doing so.
His clear pupils turned to Ellen.
“… Okay, then, Your Highness, I have one request.”
“Tell me.”
“I want you to guarantee me and my family’s safety.”
“You speak of the obvious.”
“And grant me a divorce from Krembel.”
“Speaking of which, what made you decide to do that?”
“You should have seen it yourself.”
Ellen smirked.
“I decided that only then would the safety of the family be guaranteed. Therefore, I will do whatever it takes to provide funds and information that Your Highness needs.”
“All right… Aside from the divorce, I don’t think you understood me. I clearly said that the price is you.”
“I’ll do my best to help. Of course, Your Highness–”
“No, not that.”
He held out his hand lightly.
“I was offering you my hand in marriage.”
“… Yes?”
“Your Highness!”
Lord Cheshire, who was standing behind him, exclaimed in surprise.
His eyes widened, as did those of Lord Coenheim and Earl Kryant.
The only one who understood his words was the man who had spoken them.
Daniel Kryant, the Earl of Bryant, immediately wrote a letter to the duke.
The gist of it was, ‘I apologize. I will resume my daughter’s education within the family to correct her insolence.’
Although it was just a rough estimate, it should have bought us a little time for our next move.
At luncheon, the father and daughter caught up.
“Father, how is Elsie?”
“Your younger brother, don’t even get me started. Who knows why those damn kids keep clinging onto him like that, it’s driving me crazy.”
“Hoo-hoo, another letter from the academy.”
This time of casual family conversation was precious to Ellen.
In the past, she used to think her younger brother was annoying because of the age difference, but at this moment, while talking with her father, she couldn’t bear the ache of missing her younger sibling who used to be so young.
Ellen was constantly asking Daniel for news of this and that, and Daniel answered each one, thinking it was a good thing he had come to see her.
It was nearing the end of the meal.
Knock knock knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Puzzled, the father and daughter exchanged glances.
“… Is there someone looking for you?”
At Daniel’s nervous question, Ellen nodded and said.
“The duke, or the crown prince, one or the other.”
She gave a short answer, then stood up and headed for the door.
“What’s going on?”
Once the guest was excused, the messenger waiting outside delivered the news I had brought.
“The gentleman who identified himself as Kei told me that if Ms. Kryant is here, he would like to meet her.”
At that, Ellen glanced at her father and replied.
“If it will be no disrespect, tell him I wish to see him here.”
At her words, the sergeant bowed his head, then hobbled downstairs.
“The crown prince is more short-tempered than I thought.”
On any other day, Daniel would have paid attention.
But unlike usual, he was quiet now.
It had occurred to him that one day he might actually meet the crown prince, but even he hadn’t realized it would be now.
* * *
The palace in the early morning, before noon.
Caden made up his mind.
“… I guess I have to go out after all.”
He scrambled to his feet and stomped off.
The news brought by his messenger Raven upon its return was as follows.
First, an investigation into Ellen Krembel.
It was said that there was a mass layoff of servants at the Duke’s residence.
Raven speculated that this was probably due to Mrs. Krembel’s demand for a divorce.
Caden agreed.
At this point, that was the only reason he could think of for why the servants were suddenly changed.
The next story he told was about a former gambling establishment.
It had been around for about two years and had already claimed a number of victims.
But they didn’t know the total number yet.
Caden gave a congratulatory order for his knowledge, and the Raven urged him not to make any hasty moves.
Caden’s colorful swearing began when the Raven disappeared and he was left alone.
God damn it, damn it, damn it…
They say it’s dark under the lamp1 implies that even though the solution to a problem may be obvious or simple, sometimes it can be difficult to see it because it is right in front of us, and we may not realize how foolish we look for not seeing it, but he doesn’t even want to think about how foolish he must have looked to the royal court.
Caden cursed under his breath again, determined to find out who was behind the veil.
But as he continued to curse, a strange suspicion began to creep into his mind.
How could anyone have known where the Ravens, who had begun their investigation, were hiding?
It didn’t make sense to him.
‘Maybe Krembel really is…’
So a question lead to another a question.
The gambling house, Krembel, Mrs. Krembel.
His mind kept drifting between them, and before he knew it, he was thinking about her.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
What had happened to Mrs. Krembel to make her so strangely different?
That, too, left him with a strange feeling of dread.
She had gone from being the girl who had been after her husband to a daring gambler in a matter of months.
It’s so strange and disturbing that he can’t get her out of his head since that day.
So, Caden thought.
There’s no immediate confirmation, and anyone with a clue is out there.
He’ll just have to go and find her himself.
As Caden rose from his seat, the chamberlain, who had followed him, said in a wailing voice.
“Ah ah, Your Highness! If His Majesty finds out, he will surely be furious! My neck will surely fall off!”
“My father is not that kind of a heartless person. You go ahead and call Lord Coenheim.”
Coenheim was his maternal grandmother’s house, and it was the best hand he could play at the moment.
“Just officially leave the palace!”
“Oh, no. It’s not of that nature.”
With that, Caden made his way out of the palace in a huff.
Lord Coenheim, who had to hear complaints all the way while being dragged out by the unexpected visit of the chamberlain, immediately vented his frustrations to his close friend Cheshire, who had a heavy mouth.
Of course, it was an untimely summons for Lord Cheshire, and he was furious and cursed out Lord Coenheim as soon as he arrived.
But Lord Cheshire shut up as soon as he saw the crown prince outside the palace in full regalia.
“Please go back.”
The knights pleaded, but the crown prince’s eardrums were as thick as his face.
In other words, he wouldn’t listen.
“If Kryant is here, tell her I wish to see her.”
And so he boldly went out again today.
* * *
The crown prince, holding the lifelines of all the imperial guards, including the two knights and the chamberlain, reached the door of a woman.
In the silence of the room.
The crown prince, who had come to her unannounced, simply stared at her in silence.
Ellen broke the silence.
“What can I do for you?”
The crown prince gestured to where Count Kryant and his escorts were, and asked.
“Can I say it here?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Then let me ask you this, straightforwardly: do you intend to work for me?”
The drop echoed through the silence.
Past the father and daughter on the couch, to the two burly knights standing shoulder to shoulder across from each other.
Ellen’s eyes met theirs, blue eyes that glowed brilliantly in the sunlight.
“So, Your Highness. What I’ve heard just now…”
“I asked if you would be willing to help me and work by my side.”
At that unexpected question, Ellen didn’t know whether to love or hate this situation.
She asked the question anyway.
“What exactly are you referring to when you say ‘work’?”
“Nothing much, I just want you to share information of what you know like you did last time.”
The sound of Ellen setting down her teacup rang out.
“Such information… I’m sure you have other information, don’t you?”
Even if she didn’t answer, the prince already knew the answer.
So instead of answering, Ellen asked.
“Information. Your Majesty seems to to trust me.”
“Regardless of what information you tell me, I cannot tolerate the fact that such illegal activities were taking place in this sacred place
“I understand you to mean that you need me apart from trust. Am I wrong?”
“You are not wrong, but…”
Chuckle. A light breeze blew through his teeth.
It was a laugh, a far cry from the kindness he usually displayed.
“Then I ask you, too.”
The slightly rough-looking lips fell.
And the words that came out of them were not what she expected.
“That’s the goal, anyway.”
“…!”
“Am I wrong, young lady?”
His words cut straight to the heart of the matter, and Ellen was more than a little genuinely surprised.
He’d come in so suddenly.
“I sought you because I needed you. Didn’t you need me too? There was something you wanted to do with me, wasn’t there?”
The crown prince asked with a slow laugh.
A person like this gave up to that Killian and died?
This was not the crown prince she knew.
The one who always wore a thin smile on his face.
The one who had always been on the outside looking in, the one who had joked with her and called her family.
But perhaps, Ellen thought, the man she’d known all this time was not the man in front of her.
“Then let’s just get to the point since it’s already come to this.”
He said, as if driving a wedge through her very clearly.
“You want something from me, and I’ll give it to you. What you need to give me in return is…”
His eyes, which she’d thought had a gentle warmth to them, locked on her with the sharp anticipation of an enemy.
“It is you.”
“… Yes?”
Ellen was bewildered.
Me? What does he mean by ‘me’?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and since I’m the crown prince of this country, I don’t really have a choice, and it’s too much of a waste to throw away the clues that are rolling around in front of my eyes.”
“So you’re saying you’re going to keep me under surveillance…?”
“It may seem bad, but it’s not wrong to understand it that way.”
Caden didn’t even bother to deny her, and just said it casually.
‘Look at this, he’s always smiling with an innocent face…’
It was all a mask.
It was so unexpected.
At the same time, it was also infuriating.
“Your personality is very different… from what I’ve known you to be.”
“That’s what I want to tell you. And if you don’t have that level of decisiveness, you won’t be able to get this chance for the rest of your life. So, are you going to join us or not?”
Caden’s whole body language indicated that his mind was already made up.
Ellen thought for a moment.
“Are you sure you’re not going to ask me something right now?
There were many things he could have asked.
Like how the hell she knew such a confidential secret.
Or if what she was saying was true, and if so, why she was so determined to get a divorce.
And why she told him all of that.
Normally if you are a royal, you usually tap the stone bridge and let others cross first before finally taking your own step.
But this man seemed to have no intention of doing so.
His clear pupils turned to Ellen.
“… Okay, then, Your Highness, I have one request.”
“Tell me.”
“I want you to guarantee me and my family’s safety.”
“You speak of the obvious.”
“And grant me a divorce from Krembel.”
“Speaking of which, what made you decide to do that?”
“You should have seen it yourself.”
Ellen smirked.
“I decided that only then would the safety of the family be guaranteed. Therefore, I will do whatever it takes to provide funds and information that Your Highness needs.”
“All right… Aside from the divorce, I don’t think you understood me. I clearly said that the price is you.”
“I’ll do my best to help. Of course, Your Highness–”
“No, not that.”
He held out his hand lightly.
“I was offering you my hand in marriage.”
“… Yes?”
“Your Highness!”
Lord Cheshire, who was standing behind him, exclaimed in surprise.
His eyes widened, as did those of Lord Coenheim and Earl Kryant.
The only one who understood his words was the man who had spoken them.
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