Chapter 17
Even if they didn’t hate each other enough to want the other dead, the best they could manage was to treat each other like they didn’t exist and continue their uneasy days. And a marriage like that would surely end in an unhappy conclusion.
His decision was made. Logan spoke in a low, sunken voice.
“Send someone to the Avery household.”
“Pardon, right now?”
Benjamin turned his head toward the window. It was still afternoon, but sunset wasn’t far off. Unless it was extremely urgent, it was customary to send word the next morning. But Logan’s face was more serious than ever.
“Sorry… what?”
“Tell Miss Anne Agnes Avery… that I request a visit. As soon as possible.”
Logan clenched the hand holding the pen tightly. Benjamin’s eyes darted uneasily. What was going on. Surely he wasn’t planning to carry out revenge for something from more than ten years ago? He believed the prince wouldn’t resort to violence against a woman, but he certainly seemed very strange today.
Logan glared sharply and pressed him.
“Didn’t you understand?”
“No, no, I did. I’ll inform them immediately.”
Not wanting the trouble to spill over onto himself, Benjamin hurried out of the office. He would relay the prince’s order exactly, but he also intended to add a quiet warning. That the prince wasn’t in a normal state today.
Left alone, Logan began tapping the desk again with his fingertips. Since that day, he had thought and thought, but he hadn’t found a better solution. He couldn’t predict how she would react. But today, this unhappy engagement would come to an end. At least, that was what he believed.
Anne Agnes arrived at the palace after the sun had completely set. She had been told it didn’t have to be today, but she had come anyway, too anxious to wait. It was the first time the prince, not the queen, had summoned her, and the additional message from his aide especially bothered her.
She had told the Duke and Duchess of Avery that she had simply forgotten an appointment she had already made. She didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily. They were already concerned enough.
As she moved to head straight to the office as usual, a servant stopped her.
“Please allow me to guide you there.”
“Pardon? Yes.”
This was a first. But visiting at this hour was already unusual. Anne quietly followed the servant.
He led her in a completely different direction from the office. Even though she had come often, she usually only moved through the same areas. Walking down the unfamiliar corridor, Anne tilted her head.
The farther they went, the simpler the decorations became. She had never been here before, yet it felt strangely familiar. Only then did Anne realize where they were heading. It was the very corridor she had once secretly run down as a child.
Then the destination was probably Logan’s bedroom. It could be somewhere else, but even in an ordinary mansion, the private quarters were separated from guest areas. It was unlikely there would be a reception room this close to a bedroom.
‘Why…?’
Since it was late, it wasn’t strange that he had retired to his bedroom. But she had already sent word through a messenger that she would come today. Knowing someone was coming and still remaining in his bedroom… She couldn’t understand that at all.
However, even if Anne had come the next morning, Logan would have summoned her to his bedroom just the same. But the Anne of now had no way of knowing his reasoning.
They stopped before a closed door. A wooden door, more elaborately carved than the others. Anne was certain. It was the same room as before. The servant knocked.
“Miss Avery has arrived.”
“Send her in.”
The reply came immediately. Logan had clearly been waiting for her. But Anne felt an uneasy chill. If she went inside, it felt as though something irreversible might happen.
The servant urged her with his eyes. With no choice, Anne grasped the handle. Creak, as the door opened, the dimly candlelit room greeted her.
“Your Highness…?”
“Come in.”
Only his voice answered. She couldn’t see him. Why was the room kept so dark. Anne stepped inside hesitantly.
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