Chapter 259
The Third Prince’s palace was filled with a rare, excited energy. Ever since Rosalyn Inverness’s existence was publicly revealed, letters, bribes, and requests had poured in, much to Hares’s delight.
“Rosalyn, look at this. Just days ago, these people wouldn’t have so much as bowed their heads to me. Now look at what they’re offering with their own hands!”
“It’s truly impressive, Your Highness.”
Rosalyn gave him the bright, admiring smile he wanted, laying on the compliments as he liked. Once Hares felt properly praised, he straightened his shoulders and declared,
“If you become Duke Inverness, things like this won’t even catch your eye anymore. I guarantee it.”
“Oh my.”
“So cheer up. They’re family in name only—you barely even remember them. To you, they’re little more than strangers.”
Hares continued to unwrap packages piled high around the sitting room, while Rosalyn sipped her tea and watched him.
When Hares discovered a beautifully crafted ceremonial sword, he exclaimed with genuine pleasure.
“Ah, this is excellent!”
“Didn’t the Second Queen tell you to stay away from swords?”
“That was when I was a child. You do worry a lot. You’re starting to remind me of my mother more and more. Though you weren’t like this when you were younger…”
He set aside the intricately adorned scabbard, his eyes growing distant as he drifted into old memories.
“I remember you used to be so afraid of the dark. You’d wander the halls at night, only to be scolded by the Baron. You were truly adorable back then.”
With a laugh, he reached out and patted Rosalyn’s head, then gently stroked her cheek. Rosalyn smiled silently and set her teacup down.
“It’s almost time for you to go, isn’t it? Aren’t you supposed to meet with the northern nobles and the Second Queen today?”
Her reminder made Hares frown slightly.
“You nag too much.”
“It’s not nagging. If I want a real chance at inheriting the duchy, I need their support. And if I can’t bring the North as a dowry, you’ll have a much harder time becoming Crown Prince, Your Highness.”
She wasn’t wrong. Still, Hares’s brow didn’t smooth out. Rosalyn pouted.
“Hares, are you really going to act like this? Even the Second Queen said now is the time.”
Hares clicked his tongue. She was right—this was a rare window of opportunity. With the scandal surrounding the Wheddon family, the eastern faction led by the First Queen and Crown Prince was at its weakest.
People had always predicted that the First Queen’s power would recover as soon as the Wheddon situation was resolved, with Nathan taking the fall.
But for Hares, who’d kept his head down, waiting for his chance, this was heaven-sent. Before the First Queen could regroup, his mother unveiled the ace up her sleeve—a child lost in the bloody forest, found with no memory: Rosalyn Inverness.
It really was a stroke of fate.
Hares recalled how his mother had once told him the story.
Back then, the Second Queen was obsessed with the First Queen’s every move. After Hares was born, accidents kept happening, and she became convinced the First Queen was behind it all.
One day, she noticed something strange about the First Queen’s activities and sent people to follow her. That was how she discovered Rosalyn lying in the rain-soaked forest, surrounded by corpses.
[My God…]
She’d thought it was a plot to harm Hares, but it turned out to be a scheme to wipe out the entire Inverness family.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, a decisive moment that would never come again.
The Second Queen had two choices: join forces with the North to bring down the First Queen, or try to destroy her alone.
But my mother chose neither.
Instead, she took Rosalyn in, telling no one the truth and leaving the First Queen’s fate untouched.
Smiling softly, Hares let his hand drop from Rosalyn’s hair. Ever since hearing that story as a child, he’d cherished and loved her—just as his mother had. He’d made sure Rosalyn would come to love him, too, so that she would never leave.
“Your Highness.”
Rosalyn urged him, her glance at the clock sharper than usual.
“If you’re late, the Second Queen will be terribly disappointed.”
She always got flustered whenever his mother was involved. Hares sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated.
“It’s not a big deal if we’re a little late.”
“That’s your problem, Your Highness. I don’t have that luxury.”
Rosalyn replied, feigning anger as she raised her eyebrows. Helpless, Hares flicked her cheek lightly before turning to go.
“…”
Rosalyn watched his retreating figure with an indifferent gaze.
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