Don’t Ask, It’ll Hurt If You Know - Chapter 58

“The application deadline is this week, but you haven’t submitted the form yet. Well, you were so busy you couldn’t even attend the Hunting Competition, so I suppose that makes sense.”

Though Chloe and Ian’s expressions completely hardened, Antonio smiled brightly like a flower in full bloom on a spring day.

“So I intended to apply on your behalf, but unfortunately, it’s impossible without your signature. So, would you sign it? I will submit the document myself.”

At the favor that bordered on coercion, the space between Ian MacMilden’s eyebrows narrowed significantly.

“……I believe I mentioned that I was considering it before.”

His voice was bone-chillingly cold, but Antonio didn’t mind it in the slightest.

“I thought you were just saying that because you didn’t want your mother to worry about it, but it seems I was wrong.”

“I am not…….”

“Since things have come this far, why don’t you just apply?”

Antonio cut him off, speaking as if to prevent Ian from refusing.

“The Duke of MacMilden is still vigorous, so you can afford to receive your successor training a little later. If a capable and trustworthy person like you protects me and the Imperial Family, it would be truly reassuring in many ways. His Majesty the Emperor would also be pleased.”

Chloe, reading the coercion and pressure hidden within the praise, stared at Antonio with a dumbfounded expression. Having experienced it firsthand during the Rumonie incident, she knew the relationship between the two was not good, but she hadn’t realized it was this bad.

No, it seemed like the Crown Prince was unilaterally hating Ian.

“Young Duke Ian MacMilden, join the Imperial Knights for the sake of the Empire and the Imperial Family.”

Is he openly coercing him now? The reason Chloe felt both dumbfounded and guilty was that, strictly speaking, she was the starting point of this mess.

Yes. If only I hadn’t challenged Ian to a match with the condition of joining the Imperial Knights, this wouldn’t have happened.

As the displeasure on Ian’s face deepened, her guilt grew stronger. She couldn’t just stand by. Chloe hardened her resolve, determined to somehow fix the situation, and watched for an opportunity.

“Ah, you need a pen to sign.”

Whether he was truly oblivious or just pretending, Antonio smiled innocently and took a fountain pen from his inner pocket.

From the document to the fountain pen. At the actions that clearly showed he had come prepared, Ian sneered and looked down at the Imperial Knights application.

The desire to tear it up immediately was immense, but he couldn’t because of the Crown Prince’s signature. The moment he tore the document, it would become an insult to the Imperial Family. He would only be providing fodder to the Crown Prince, who was already trying to use his weakness to drag him down to hell.

If he were falling into hell alone, he would gladly endure it.

Burning in hellfire was much better than gauging the Crown Prince’s mood and currying favor with him. The problem was that Ian wouldn’t be falling into hell alone. Several faces came immediately to mind.

“You must not disobey the Imperial Palace’s will, Ian.”

As the face of his mother, who had repeatedly pleaded with him while tightly grasping his hand, came to mind, Ian swallowed a sigh and took the fountain pen.

“Oh!”

As he set the application form on the table to sign, a high-pitched scream was heard, and yellow tea spilled over the document. Surprised by the event that happened in the blink of an eye, both Ian and Antonio looked at the culprit.

“Oh, what should I do!”

Chloe covered her mouth with both hands and stamped her feet, as if at a loss for what to do, then began wiping the spilled tea with her sleeve. Her sleeve turned yellow from it, but she didn’t care. She wiped so diligently, with tears welling in her eyes, that no one dared say a word.

“I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s fine. You can stop now.”

Ian held her shoulder to stop her. Chloe let the barely contained tears fall as she looked at him, then subtly glanced at the Crown Prince. His face, where the smile that had once bloomed like a flower had vanished, was sharper and more intimidating than when she first met his eyes—but strangely, she wasn’t scared at all.

Perhaps it was because she knew the Crown Prince wouldn’t punish her, even if he was angry.

The possibility of him getting angry was also remote. Losing his temper over such a small mistake would be improper for a gentleman.

“I am truly sorry, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I just wanted to drink my tea because I was thirsty, but to commit such a mistake…….”

Just in case, Chloe firmly insisted it was an accident. She covered her mouth so that her sleeve, stained from wiping the tea, was clearly visible. Then, shedding tears, she repeatedly insisted it was absolutely not intentional.

The Crown Prince, who had been looking at her with displeased eyes, let out a short sigh and then spoke to Ian.

“The document is wet and unusable, so it must be redone. So, would you come to the Imperial Knights headquarters tomorrow? I think it would be best if you filled out the document and submitted it there immediately.”

“I will do so.”

Even though it was an affirmative answer, the Crown Prince’s smile, as if dissatisfied, was slightly twisted. He then left the room without even saying goodbye.

* * *

As the Crown Prince left, the string of tension that had been tightly pulled snapped. Chloe, whose legs gave out at the same time, slumped into the chair as if collapsing. As she pressed her back tightly against the backrest and tilted her head back, her pink hair hung down long like a curtain.

Ian’s eyes, watching her, rolled and landed on the damp application form. Black ink, blurred by the yellow tea, floated around like impurities.

Saying “thank you” was also something like an impurity to him. He had never helped a stranger, nor had he received help. There had only ever been transactions for mutual benefit.

“……I owe you a favor.”

Because of this, Ian couldn’t honestly say thank you. Furthermore, since his expression was stiff and his voice was dry, it hardly felt like an expression of gratitude.

Perhaps sensing that, Chloe blinked her eyes wide and looked at him. Feeling uneasy meeting her gaze, Ian uncharacteristically shifted his eyes to an odd place and added,

“I will definitely repay you for today’s matter.”

His face and tone were so grim that it seemed like he was declaring revenge rather than repayment, making Chloe burst out laughing. Then she raised her languidly leaning upper body.

“It’s fine. You found out who was behind concealing the case, so that’s enough.”

The truth was that she did it because it was a matter caused by her, and she wanted to make amends, but she couldn’t say that honestly, so she gave a different excuse.

Above all, she hadn’t solved the problem perfectly. She was seriously considering whether she should meet the Crown Prince first to settle the matter before Ian entered the palace tomorrow, but Ian spoke firmly.

“I investigated that at the request of Sir Mars Elena, not Lady Lloyd, so it cannot be said that I have repaid the favor I owe you today.”

Unnecessarily rigid. Chloe inwardly clicked her tongue, yet she didn’t think it was bad. She was already at a loss as to how to fulfill Bianca’s wish related to Ian MacMilden, and it seemed like she could use this.

“Well, if you insist. Then grant me one favor next time.”

“That seems too abstract.”

“Why? Are you worried I’ll ask you to pluck a star from the sky?”

“Yes.”

Chloe had meant it as a joke, but since he answered seriously, she felt slightly embarrassed and cleared her throat.

“Don’t worry, I won’t ask for anything that human strength cannot accomplish. Of course, I won’t make any monetary demands either.”

There was no wish on Bianca’s bucket list asking her to receive money from Ian MacMilden. There was one about receiving a gift, but she could resolve that in a different way.

“For your information, you still have to buy me a new dress, regardless of the favor.”

When Chloe made the demand, holding up her sleeve soaked with yellow tea, Ian readily nodded.

“I will speak to the Julianet Boutique, so you can go there anytime and have a dress fitted.”

Julianet was a designer considered the best on the continent, and the clothes she made were dozens of times more expensive than the dress Chloe was currently wearing. Not only that, but her schedule was so full that she wasn’t taking reservations for the next five years, unless it was a special case.

Chloe’s eyes widened slightly in surprise when he told her to go there and have a dress fitted. Ian, taking that to mean something else, added,

“If you have a preferred boutique, you can have a dress fitted there and bill the Duke’s household Then I will pay for it.”

“No. The money is fine.”

Chloe flatly refused. Receiving money was meaningless. To grant the wish written on Bianca’s bucket list, she had to receive something material, not money. Going to the boutique alone and having a dress fitted could also hardly be considered a gift.

Since she couldn’t ask Ian to go with her, and he certainly wouldn’t go, she briefly contemplated what to do, then spoke.