Chapter 73
Having finished his work quickly, Nox hurried to Sia’s room after hearing Cedric’s report that the Crown Prince had gone out to the rear garden.
On his way there, looking forward to seeing Sia for the first time in four days, he stopped short when he sensed nothing from inside her room. Expanding his senses to scan the surroundings, he still could not feel her familiar presence.
He had asked her not to leave the room under any circumstances, so as not to risk exposing her to the Crown Prince. He had even coldly refused her plea to go out, saying even a short outing was not allowed.
So Sia should be in this room now, waiting for him. For it to be empty made no sense.
He rushed the last few steps to the door and went in, but as he feared, Sia and Marie were nowhere to be seen. The hair on the back of his neck bristled, and he felt his blood run cold.
“Cedric!”
Nox hurried down to the first floor, calling his aide’s name harshly. But at that moment, Louis and Dylan were coming in through the rear entrance of the main building.
“…Your Highness.”
“Duke. I was just on my way to see you.”
At Louis’s words, Nox’s entire body tensed until his muscles felt ready to snap. The Crown Prince’s timing could not have been worse.
He stared fixedly at him, wary that the man might mention Sia, but Louis only gave a small, sly smile before speaking.
“I’ve caused you many inconveniences these past days. I think I shall return to the palace now.”
“…You’re leaving?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, all the fatigue I’d been carrying seems to have melted away. Time to return to my palace.”
Nox studied Louis’s face, searching for intent behind the almost refreshed expression, then answered slowly,
“I’ll see you off.”
Just then Cedric, having just heard Nox was looking for him, came hurrying in from the garden side. Nox gave him an order.
“Cedric, His Highness is departing. Assist with the preparations.”
“Yes, Master.”
Louis’s sudden decision threw not only the palace attendants but even Dylan into hurried motion. As everyone scattered to prepare for departure, before long only Louis and Nox were left standing in the entrance hall.
The Crown Prince, who usually kept a careful distance, stepped closer to Nox and spoke in a low, almost conspiratorial voice.
“If your lover was staying in the manor, you might have at least introduced her.”
“……”
At those words, Nox’s mouth went dry and his heart pounded wildly. All he could do was school his features into perfect calm.
“I seem to have interrupted the cozy time of lovers.”
“…Where did you meet my lover?”
His voice came out low and tight, as if strangled, but Louis didn’t seem to mind. His golden hair shifted lightly as he moved, and his pale blue eyes glimmered with faint mischief as he looked up at Nox.
“Somewhere near the valley… I just wandered without a set path, so I can’t say exactly.”
“Is that so.”
Noticing Nox’s tension, Louis recalled the humiliation he’d suffered the first day and let out a thin, mocking smile. In an uncharacteristically familiar gesture, he even reached out and tapped Nox’s shoulder, teasing.
“I don’t know where you found a woman like yourself, but you suit each other well. Even the fur color.”
Having said so, Louis quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his own hand. It was a rather rude act, but Nox neither reacted nor seemed to see it. Or rather, he didn’t let himself see.
Fur color, Louis had said.
Even after seeing Sia, the Crown Prince referred only to ‘fur color’. That meant her true identity hadn’t been discovered. When Louis first said he would return to the palace, Nox had thought he was going back to report to the Emperor about Sia.
But, no.
Nox kept his face composed to the end, pretending nothing was wrong. Louis, still carefully wiping his hands, suddenly spoke again, as if just remembering something.
“Ah, about your lover.”
Nox’s heart thudded violently once more, but not with the same terror as before. Now he knew Louis didn’t understand what she truly was.
“Yes. She is indeed my lover. I apologize for not introducing her sooner.”
“…Hm? Oh, well, that doesn’t really matter.”
Louis clicked his tongue softly, half in regret, before continuing.
“I see now why you seemed so anxious.”
“…What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“She’s the clumsiest woman I’ve ever seen. I’d advise you not to let her out of your arms.”
Though unease surged again, Nox answered steadily—no, deliberately.
“Yes. I have no intention of ever letting her go. You needn’t worry, Your Highness.”
“Ha. The Duke has fallen hard indeed. Well, first loves are always dangerous.”
As Louis exchanged light words with Nox, Dylan and the palace attendants returned, preparations complete. The Crown Prince stepped lightly into his carriage.
Nox, Cedric, and the ducal staff all came out to see him off. Before leaving, Louis opened the carriage window and called out.
“Duke! Still, I’m glad to have visited your estate at least once. Truly.”
With a light laugh, the Crown Prince’s carriage rolled away. Nox watched it until it vanished from sight.
Then immediately turned on his heel and strode off at speed.
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