Chapter 73

* * *

“Ha.”

Adrian clicked his tongue, dumbfounded by the sight before him.

Diano bowed his head deeply with a sorrowful expression.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

Beside Diano, who was bent at a ninety-degree angle, stood Essen with a brazen face that seemed to say, ‘Why should I apologize?’ and Artie, smiling awkwardly.

“So the cause of all this is…….”

At Adrian’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to Marie, lying on Artie’s bed.

Essen had brought her to Lily Palace, saying that if the Princess returned to Lupinus Palace unconscious, there would surely be an uproar.

“Ha. What a mess.”

For Adrian, who had just realized Artie was gone and charged over in a fury, this was an utterly deflating situation.

‘I had a bad feeling, and she went and caused trouble after all.’

The first time Artie had disappeared, his heart had dropped with a thud, and he had been ready to show no mercy even to his own sister—but now that he had seen with his own eyes that Artie was safe and unharmed, the rage that had shot to the top of his head melted away like spring snow.

Adrian felt absurdly foolish at himself for it, and somehow embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Artie, fidgeting and wringing her hands, asked for forgiveness in a tiny voice.

“……As long as you understand.”

When Artie was watching him so carefully and begging for forgiveness like that, Adrian had no choice but to forgive her.

Essen watched Adrian and his expression darkened on its own.

‘If it were anyone else, he’d be demanding to know why a person who knows they did wrong would do such a thing.’

He had heard that he himself had a bad temper, but Essen knew better than anyone that Adrian’s temper was no less foul.

Diano bowed his head heavily.

“Your Highness, I apologize.”

“Why did you do something you had to apologize for? You’re banned from sparring for a month.”

“Aagh! Your Highness! Anything but that! Please just let it slide this once!”

“Two months.”

“Ack! No!”

“Stay here quietly and wait for Marie to wake up, and when she does, send her back.”

Diano nodded tearfully.

If he disobeyed or defied Adrian’s order here, there was no telling how much longer the two-month ban would be extended.

Having dealt with Diano, Adrian this time glared silently at Essen.

Essen could not understand why Adrian was glaring at him, and glared back with a displeased expression, until he found the cause of Adrian’s irritation.

‘So he doesn’t like me being with Artie.’

Inside the imperial palace, where the palace staff watched every move, and outside, where things were freer, were different.

Having noticed the emotion in Adrian’s gaze, Essen laughed in disbelief.

“A man’s jealousy is ugly.”

“What?”

Adrian furrowed his brow as if asking what nonsense he was spouting.

It seemed he didn’t even know what he himself was doing.

‘He doesn’t know?’

That Adrian?

Essen couldn’t believe it.

Having grown up together since their earliest childhood, all of Adrian’s current behavior was unfamiliar to him.

“If you don’t know, then forget it.”

“What? How boring.”

Adrian, frowning, looked at Artie this time.

Watching his gaze melt softly, as if he had never been irritated, Essen’s expression hardened in turn.

‘What do I do. Is he very angry?’

Feeling Adrian’s gaze on her, Artie bowed her head deeply.

‘I knew this would happen—that’s why I said we shouldn’t go out!’

It couldn’t be helped, since Marie, who should have taken responsibility and sorted things out, had lost consciousness.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“I believe I told you to call me by my name.”

“I’m sorry, Adrian.”

Adrian smiled faintly. To think he would experience having his anger melt over something as trivial as this—there were days like this in life.

Artie didn’t seem to notice, but Adrian’s anger had already completely subsided. And yet, the reason he was pretending to still be angry was…….

“You know what you did wrong, don’t you.”

“Yes.”

“Then you know what you have to do from now on.”

“What I have to do from now on?”

“Clean up the mess.”

“Ah.”

Artie nodded.

“Explain the situation to Father and Mother—what happened and how. If you confess honestly, they won’t punish you harshly.”

If they had returned safely, it might have been fine, but Marie had collapsed, which changed things.

Since Their Majesties might already have received reports, it was best to go as quickly as possible, explain the situation, and ask for leniency.

Artie, who had understood quickly, nodded.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“I’ll be right beside you, so don’t worry.”

At Adrian’s casual remark, Artie smiled faintly.

“Thank you, Adrian.”

Watching Artie’s smile, Essen’s expression froze for a moment.

‘Surely not…….’

No one had yet noticed Essen’s change.

Watching Adrian and Artie as if they were in a world of their own, Essen furrowed his brow.

‘Does Artie like Adrian too?’

* * *

“So that’s what happened.”

The first place Artie and Adrian visited was Grace Palace, where Empress Ludmila was.

Empress Ludmila, who had been enjoying teatime in the warm afternoon sunlight, welcomed the two warmly.

After hearing the whole story, Empress Ludmila closed her mouth and set her teacup down on its saucer.

“Adrian, step outside for a moment.”

“Say it in my presence.”

“Won’t you step out when I’m asking so gently?”

When Empress Ludmila issued her order for him to leave with an elegant smile, Adrian’s expression crumpled visibly.

She noticed her son’s terrifying aura of displeasure, but Empress Ludmila’s expression did not stir in the slightest.

“This way, please, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Tch.”

In the end, Adrian was isolated, guided away by an attendant.

Artie, who had been cowed by the sharp tension that had hung between the two, closed her eyes tightly the moment she was left alone with Empress Ludmila.

She had thought a thunderous reprimand would follow.

Grab!

Instead of a reprimand, Empress Ludmila took both of Artie’s hands tightly.

“I’m truly sorry, new daughter-in-law.”

“I’m sorry, I was wrong……. What?”

What on earth was happening? As Artie’s eyes went wide in surprise, Empress Ludmila spoke with a truly apologetic expression.

“You must have suffered so much, caught between Marie and Adrian.”

“Ah, no. It’s all right, Your Majesty.”

“All right, nothing. What on earth is going on in this house…….”

The Empress clutched her own cheek and let out a deep sigh.

“I knew Marie was obsessed with books, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. I thought it was ordinary compared to Adrian’s love of horses, but apparently not.”

“……Liking books is a good thing.”

“It’s good only if you read good books.”

Empress Ludmila let out a deep sigh.

“As expected, I’m the only normal one in this family.”

At the Empress’s words, all Artie could do was smile awkwardly.

* * *

The next person Artie visited after Empress Ludmila was, naturally, Emperor Carlo.

She had thought that as the supreme sun of Appennino, he would be difficult to have an audience with, but unexpectedly, the audience was arranged quickly.

There was just one difference: the Emperor refused the Crown Prince’s presence from the start.

“So that’s why you came to me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress also said it would be better for me to tell you directly, so I requested an audience despite the impropriety.”

“Impropriety, what impropriety. My daughter-in-law’s visits are welcome anytime. Come comfortably without worry.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

When Artie grasped her skirt and bowed slightly in courtesy, Emperor Carlo nodded with a satisfied expression.

“By the way, I didn’t know Marie loved books so much that she would faint over them.”

“Haha…….”

She hadn’t fainted because she loved books, but somehow, in trying to explain things as favorably as possible, it seemed he had understood it that way.

As Artie smiled awkwardly, Emperor Carlo smiled along with her.

“Don’t worry, new daughter-in-law. I won’t punish you over something like this. Besides, when you think about it, isn’t this all Marie’s fault? Hahaha.”

“That’s true…….”

She wasn’t sure this was something to laugh about, but Artie nodded.

“Both Marie and Adrian take after the Empress and have a collecting habit. The Empress collects teacups, Adrian collects horses, and Marie collects books.”

“I see.”

Artie tilted her head. Emperor Carlo, for his part, had a hobby of collecting small, cute animals.

“Tsk, tsk. Everyone is so absorbed in collecting something. Goodness.”

Emperor Carlo shook his head and lamented.

“As expected, I’m the only normal one in this family.”

“…….”

Now where had she heard that before?