Chapter 11
However, Iris seemed either unaware of that fact or completely unconcerned, and Jack had no intention of pointing it out.
Looking at the closed door, Jack walked down the corridor and descended the stairs to the first floor.
As he reached the first floor, someone silently appeared and followed him.
Jack, as if accustomed to this, took off the servant’s cap he was wearing and ran a hand through his hair.
His red hair, roughly swept back, stood up in spikes.
In the darkness, his menacingly glinting eyes turned to the person trailing him.
“Keep an eye on the Crown Prince’s surroundings. Report even the smallest details.”
“Understood.”
“Be careful not to get caught by the Crown Prince’s information network.”
“Yes.”
At Jack’s command, the man melted back into the shadows, his footsteps silent. Instead of leaving the mansion, Jack glared at a spot in the garden through the window.
‘He’s got someone tailing her.’
Jack clicked his tongue, shoved his hands into his pockets, and, instead of heading outside, put a short cigar—something Iris disliked—in his mouth.
Rather than lighting it, he chewed on it, his lips twisting as if something displeased him.
His gaze observed someone watching her mansion. The moonlight-drenched mansion was filled with shadows.
* * *
The Crown Prince, Cliff, returned to his palace after an enjoyable day.
His aide went to the study, and the remaining palace attendants helped him undress.
“Today was quite an interesting experience.”
“Was it, Your Highness?”
The attendant by his side asked.
The Crown Prince laughed, sounding amused.
The attendant, unaccustomed to seeing him so cheerful, gave an awkward smile.
‘He doesn’t usually laugh this much.’
Wisely, the attendant refrained from adding anything and stayed silent while the other palace staff assisted with the Crown Prince’s undressing.
If the Crown Prince had something to say, he would speak first.
As expected, after changing into his indoor clothes, the Crown Prince spoke to the attendant.
“She’s an interesting woman.”
“Lady Iris, you mean?”
“Yes. Right about now, she’s probably racking her little brain, wondering what I’ll do next.”
He spoke as if pleased that he occupied her thoughts.
The attendant, being one of his close aides, knew the Crown Prince had chosen Lady Iris to avoid the Empress’s marriage candidates.
‘But strangely…’
He seemed to genuinely enjoy her company.
Sure, it’s better to enjoy a task than find it burdensome, but in the Crown Prince’s case, it went a bit beyond that.
“You’re not actually developing feelings for her, are you?”
At the attendant’s words, the smile vanished from the Crown Prince’s face.
Seeing his expression turn cold, the attendant realized his mistake and hurriedly bowed.
“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”
“No, it’s fine. Honestly, I find this side of myself a bit unfamiliar too.”
He spoke candidly.
“The old me, who thought she was just a foolish commoner girl with nothing but a flower garden in her head, feels like an idiot now.”
As if he hadn’t known about Iris. He’d been aware of her since her second divorce. By her third, he’d thought she was quite an amusing woman.
‘But from the fourth, it got strange.’
What kind of problem could lead to divorces as regularly as meals? And so, he’d assumed her fifth divorce would be just as easy.
‘The Crown Princess?’
It might not be a bad idea.
He’d told Madame Hestia he was keeping Iris by his side as a decoy, but in truth, once her public image was stripped away, she was more cynical and intelligent than expected.
‘Isn’t that the kind of woman suited to be Crown Princess?’
Compared to other women obsessed with bringing benefits to their families.
In fact, a woman with no significant relatives would make things easier for him when he became Emperor.
‘Of course, it’s like losing a card to play.’
But considering the imperial family’s history of always clashing with maternal relatives, having none might be better.
‘Why not go all in and aim for the Crown Princess position?’
The thought of her shocked face made him chuckle. Up until now, it had been like watching a cute kitten—just that much.
Really, just that much.
Knock, knock—
At that moment, someone knocked on the Crown Prince’s bedroom door.
Ah, the fish were finally biting. Thinking this, the Crown Prince commanded,
“Come in.”
Creak—
The door opened, and as expected, a maid from the Empress’s palace entered. She bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince before stating her business.
“Her Majesty the Empress requests Your Highness’s presence for tea.”
“As if I could refuse. I’ll go.”
Pleased that his opponent had taken the bait, the Crown Prince, accompanied by his attendants, headed to the imperial greenhouse where the Empress awaited.
The gilded imperial greenhouse, built by the founding Emperor for his Empress, had been passed down to successive Empresses.
“Come in, Prince.”
“You called for me, Mother.”
Though not a drop of blood connected the Crown Prince and the Empress, they used such terms without the slightest
awkwardness.
Their smiling gazes met, but the temperature was frigid.
“Sit.”
The Crown Prince sat in the chair quietly pulled out by an attendant and offered a brief greeting.
“The weather is nice.”
Though he smiled lightly, his eyes didn’t. His face was like a well-crafted statue.
The Empress, Loberia, with vibrant red hair and green eyes, let out a short sigh upon seeing him.
“Prince.”
“Yes.”
Unlike the roundabout greeting, it was the Empress, Loberia, who got straight to the point.
“I respect your wishes, Prince. But Lady Iris, of all people?”
“What’s wrong with her?”
Lady Iris was useless as a pawn to the Empress.
A commoner girl with no backing—how could she possibly be to her liking?
“I wanted to find you a good match. A woman who’s not even on her first marriage…”
“What matters most is wisdom for the role, isn’t it? Whether it’s her first marriage or not, what does that have to do with it?”
“Wisdom?”
The Empress, Loberia, curled her lips slightly in a smirk.
“A woman divorced four times due to her husbands’ infidelity—how wise could she possibly be, Prince?”
Her words stabbed at the absent Iris. The Crown Prince, still smiling faintly, looked at her silently.
Their gazes locked, neither yielding an inch. Soon, the Empress spoke again.
“Your judgment is unlikely to be wrong, but I need to see for myself.”
“Isn’t it a bit soon?”
“What’s there to delay, Prince? You’ve already declared your feelings in front of everyone.”
The Empress covered her mouth with her fan, smiling faintly.
“As a mother, I must see for myself. I’ll handle it, so don’t worry, Prince.”
Realizing the Empress was moving faster than expected, the Crown Prince thought he’d need to discuss this with Iris. He hadn’t anticipated her acting so quickly.
“I think it’d be better if I were there.”
“No.”
The Empress gave a firm smile.
“Don’t women understand women best?”
She looked at the Crown Prince with hawk-like eyes.
“I’ll see for myself if that girl is worthy of being your match.”
The Empress’s attention was now fixed on Iris.
Though things were going according to his plan, the Crown Prince felt an odd discomfort.
[“A woman divorced four times due to her husbands’ infidelity—how wise could she possibly be, Prince?”]
Those words grated on him. Forcing a smile, the Crown Prince ended the prickly tea time.
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By Anna 💓
