Chapter 40
As I gazed out the window at the scenery on the way home, I rubbed my sleepy eyes. Having been out from morning till evening, I felt my body growing rapidly fatigued since a while ago.
Still, today was lucky for me.
Who would have thought the Crown Prince was a true fan of Axel?
I’d known all along that the Crown Prince liked Axel, but I only discovered today that it was to the extent of rivaling me.
When I first met him, I thought I was truly doomed, but unexpectedly, things unfolded smoothly.
I even got hold of footage from Axel’s childhood!
Ah. I want to watch the footage soon….
Even amid the tiredness, a pleased chuckle kept escaping my lips.
I leaned my head against the window just like that and closed my eyes.
For some reason, I had a baseless premonition that everything ahead would go smoothly.
‘If only things could flow like this….’
But at that time, I had no idea.
What kind of misunderstanding today’s events would cause in the future….
Recently, Shuian, Axel’s loyal subordinate, had developed a new worry.
That was none other than….
“Haha, well then, take care, Your Grace! See you next time!”
Having finished her greeting at a rapid pace, Judith exited the office without a moment’s hesitation.
Shuian narrowed his eyes as he watched Judith breeze right past him.
What was going on? It was the first time he’d seen the lady leave at such an early hour. She always stuck around in His Grace’s office for a long time before heading back late.
Her retreating figure looked just like someone fleeing after committing a wrongdoing.
Puzzled by this, Shuian suddenly turned his head to look at Axel.
‘W-what in the world…!’
His wide-open eyes landed on the bunny hair clip perched atop Axel’s head. Shuian’s face gradually hardened. His clenched fist naturally tightened with force.
‘How dare she, so brazenly, do such a thing to His Grace…!’
Finally, Shuian realized the lady’s ‘true intentions’ in approaching His Grace.
She must be planning to slowly erode His Grace’s reputation and dignity in that manner.
If the one who first discovered His Grace in that state hadn’t been us….
‘A strange rumor would surely have spread through the palace….’
He didn’t even want to imagine what kinds of words would have circulated.
…Had the lady been aiming for this from the beginning?
With a darkly shadowed face, Shuian clenched his fist tightly.
He felt foolish for even briefly thinking that the lady might truly like His Grace.
It had all just been her act. He’d been played right into her hands.
The lady was far more calculating and meticulously terrifying than he’d thought.
‘…I must inform His Grace of this fact.’
It was the moment Shuian lifted his head to convey what he’d discovered to Axel.
Axel’s reaction was somehow off.
“Hah….”
His expression might appear angry to others at a glance, but the emotion underlying it wasn’t anger.
Having watched over him closely for a long time, Shuian could tell.
It was closer to exasperation than anger.
‘…Why on earth?’
But soon, Shuian questioned his own thoughts.
In this situation, shouldn’t he rightfully be furious?
His Grace had always disliked anyone touching his body, but especially something as childish as that hair clip—he’d never have anything to do with it in his life.
Yet the lady not only touched His Grace but made him wear such an absurd hair clip.
As Shuian continued his thoughts, his face grew increasingly dark.
‘And yet, instead of getting angry or ordering her to be brought back, he’s just exasperated, and that’s the end of it….’
Really? Shuian couldn’t believe it at all.
Moreover, the bunny pin, which normally would have been savagely tossed into the trash, remained untouched on the table, not discarded.
However, His Grace’s unusual behavior didn’t end there.
The twisted expression that seemed angry didn’t last long before it dissolved completely with a hollow laugh. As if reminiscing about what had just happened, his gaze wandered elsewhere.
The subtle upward curl of one corner of his mouth. It was an expression Shuian had seen frequently lately.
It almost looked like he was enjoying himself….
Unconsciously continuing the thought, Shuian suddenly froze. He furrowed his brow deeply.
…What? Enjoying himself? His Grace?
From that point, a lightning-like realization struck Shuian.
An uneasy premonition slowly took hold of him.
Come to think of it, upon reflection, His Grace’s demeanor had been strangely off lately.
During the festival preparation period, when the lady hadn’t appeared in the office, His Grace had been even more on edge than usual.
‘Because of that, most of the documents brought for approval during those few days were harshly rejected.’
At the time, he’d thought it was simply because His Grace had many things on his mind, making him react sharply….
And that wasn’t the only thing that stood out.
Even when the lady briefly visited the palace, His Grace had gone out of his way to send Xenon to find out exactly who she was going to the festival with and when.
He’d brushed it off as insignificant back then, but thinking about it now, it was quite suspicious.
‘And on the last day of the festival, it was strange too….’
His Grace had never once missed even the most trivial duty, yet that day, for the first time, he left his post. Leaving the aftermath to Xenon and me.
At the time, he’d assumed His Grace was stepping in to prevent the lady from causing any trouble in advance….
But that wasn’t it.
The puzzle pieces he’d been fitting together finally formed a complete picture.
His Grace truly had taken a liking to the lady….
Having deduced that far at last, Shuian’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. An indescribable despair and hopelessness surged over him.
Damn it, damn it…!
Your Grace, why, out of all the many women, did it have to be Judith Melberine!
It was then, as he inwardly screamed a silent cry, unable to show it outwardly. A chilling thought suddenly flashed through Shuian’s mind as he wracked his brain.
Now, Shuian’s face showed not just shock, but terror and fear.
C-could it be….
Was this included in the lady’s scheme as well?
If his hypothesis was true, tarnishing His Grace’s honor might be merely the foundation of her plan.
The real goal.
‘…Capturing His Grace’s heart and then miserably discarding him.’
That was the true plan hidden behind it all.
Having realized everything, Shuian couldn’t bear the goosebumps crawling all over his body. His hands trembled with tension.
Judith Melberine. Who would have thought she was this terrifying a woman…. What kind of deep-seated grudge did she hold against His Grace to tighten the noose around his neck like this?
He simply couldn’t understand her actions.
Shuian struggled to steady his ragged breathing. And he calmly assessed his current situation with cool detachment.
‘The best thing I can do right now….’
At least it was fortunate that His Grace hadn’t yet fully realized his feelings for the lady.
It was hopeful. Not realizing the emotions could be interpreted as merely a level of interest and curiosity.
So, he had to cut it off here before His Grace’s feelings deepened further.
…I have to stop it somehow, right here.
For His Grace’s sake.
Having firmly resolved himself with clenched fists, Shuian lifted his head with determined eyes.
