Chapter 7
“So.”
The man’s voice was chilling.
“Did you find her? That woman.”
“Estimated to be in her early twenties. Wavy blonde hair down to her waist. Blue eyes. A noblewoman.”
Ian let out a sigh as he replied.
“Your Highness, do you have any idea how difficult it is to find someone with just this scant information?”
“Just tell me the results.”
“Of course…”
Ian seemed to draw out the tension, stretching his words deliberately before breaking into a smile.
“I found her.”
“…….”
“Who do you think I am? None other than Ian Jacqueline. Maybe not the entire empire, but at least everything that happens within the capital is under my control.”
Ian Jacqueline. A nobleman close enough to the Crown Prince to speak casually.
“She’s the only daughter of the Adelheit Count family. After her birth mother died, she gained a stepmother and a stepsister. I don’t know how they managed to manipulate the Count, but things have gotten pretty strange since then.”
[Hold me. Please.]
“Word has it the Count favors his stepdaughter over his own. The man’s completely lost his mind.”
[It doesn’t seem like you dislike it. Can you match my pace?]
“And you know Duke Delsen? That old man? The count is planning to sell his daughter to him for a hefty sum.”
Ah.
So that’s it?
The man let out a small, mocking laugh, then slowly parted his lips to speak in a lazy, sinister tone.
“Bring that woman to me. Right now. In front of me.”
“What? Where’s this coming from all of a sudden… Wait a moment.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Crown Prince Lexid. He paused, then looked Lexid over more carefully, his expression turning to one of disbelief.
“You… You don’t show any signs of the madness. And the full moon is approaching soon…”
“…….”
“What happened? Nothing we’ve tried before has had any effect, and yet…”
“I think I’ve found the answer, Ian.”
“What?”
“I need to have that woman, no matter what.”
Though Ian couldn’t grasp what was going on, one thing was clear: if Lexid spoke with such determination, then Rayliel Adelheit was going to be his, one way or another.
Lexid was always like that. Once he desired something, he would obtain it by any means necessary.
If he found a flower by the roadside beautiful, he would pluck it even if it would soon wither, and if a magnificent steed refused to obey him, he would rather kill it and claim it as his own in death.
“…I’ll give you another update soon. Just wait a bit. It won’t take long.”
Realizing there was no point in asking further questions, Ian nodded and left.
In the Crown Prince’s bedchamber—
Left alone, Lexid looked down at his hands, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
He recalled the feel of the woman’s chest as she was crushed beneath his weight. The tight entrance that gripped him and wouldn’t let go. The soft flesh that clung to him, making wet, sticky sounds.
***
“Damn it, what is going on…?”
Heinz’s sigh was filled with despair.
His wife Karin said nothing, merely refilling her husband’s empty glass. Heinz drank it down without hesitation, and Karin filled it again, repeating the meaningless gesture over and over.
“This time… I really thought we had a chance to rise…”
Heinz’s plan had been perfect.
That Duke Delsen, the most powerful and influential noble among those who supported the second prince.
Heinz intended to use his daughter Rayliel as a stepping stone to forge a connection with him, and with the Duke’s power, rise even higher.
“…It seems Rayliel was very lonely.”
Karin spoke softly, with a gentle, affectionate smile, as she refilled the glass once more.
“I tried my best to fill the void for her, but… perhaps it was too much to ask, given that I’m not her birth mother.”
“Karin…”
“It’s okay, dear. I understand Rayliel’s feelings. Everyone goes through periods of wandering in their life, don’t they? Rayliel was just going through hers. Unfortunately, the timing was bad.”
Heinz’s eyes filled with emotion as he gazed at Karin.
Come to think of it, his beloved new wife had always been like this.
Even though Rayliel wasn’t her own daughter, Karin had always treated her like a precious gem, sometimes even caring for her more than her own daughter, Seltin.
But what has become of this?
How could Rayliel, that little wench…
“However… I’m a little concerned.”
Karin spoke carefully, slowly.
“Rayliel’s marriage to Duke Delsen… It was meant to benefit all of us in the Adelheit family.”
“…….”
“Of course, he is a bit older, but I knew how much the Duke was fond of Rayliel. Not just because he offered a large sum, but because I felt his sincerity when I met him.”
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