Chapter 40
Overcome with misery, tears began to fall before she even realized it.
Killian gently wiped them away. His thumb brushed beneath her eyes, then slid down her cheek before softly cupping her chin.
Even without experience, Adelaide wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what he wanted. Slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders.
The light in her eyes faded. Resignation dulled them, and soon her eyelids lowered, hiding them completely.
When she closed her eyes and parted her lips, something warm and soft slipped inside.
At some point, the rain had stopped, and the moon emerged from behind the clouds. Bathed in pale moonlight, the scene looked almost romantic, like a lover’s kiss.
But from Adelaide’s eyes, tears continued to fall without pause.
* * *
From below, the imperial guards waiting outside heard footsteps descending.
Recognizing the Crown Prince, the captain stepped forward and saluted. Many among the guards were seeing him for the first time, and they gazed up at their young master with awe.
Nineteen—no, just past midnight, now newly come of age.
The Crown Prince looked like someone born to stand above others. It wasn’t just his broad shoulders or imposing height. There was something in his gaze that made it hard to even breathe when you met his eyes.
“Your Highness, have you finished interrogating the culprit?”
“Mm.”
Killian gave no proper answer. Instead, he stepped in front of the guards and bowed his head. The soldiers froze in confusion. Even the captain faltered.
“Y-Your Highness… what are you—”
“I’m ashamed. I used you all for a personal matter.”
“…What?”
Killian calmly explained the situation involving Adelaide. The count’s daughter he had been seeing for years as a lover had tried to leave him in secret, unable to overcome the difference in their status.
Panicked, he had searched for any way to stop her and that desperation had led him to commit such an absurd act.
As he spoke with quiet remorse, the oppressive aura around him seemed to fade. He no longer looked like the fearsome Crown Prince, but simply a young man in love.
“Could you keep what happened here today a secret? I’m not trying to avoid responsibility… but I’m sure you’ve all heard my lover’s rumors.”
Killian spoke carefully, as if choosing his words with caution. Yet there was no hesitation when he referred to Adelaide as his lover.
His lover. The firmness in his voice left no room for doubt. The guards looked at him in surprise.
“As you’ve seen, the rumors surrounding Lady Eport are all baseless lies. And yet, I couldn’t correct them. I couldn’t persuade the woman I love—who feared becoming my weakness—and I couldn’t present her openly before others.”
He smiled bitterly.
“You all know who resides in the North, don’t you?”
At those words, the soldiers’ expressions hardened. Their fists clenched and unclenched in agitation.
Yes. Fabian Nachtmann.
That damned son of the former emperor—he was the root of it all. If not for him, this unfortunate pair would never have had to meet in secret like this.
“So, what happened here today—”
Before Killian could finish, voices erupted from all around.
“Of course, Your Highness! We will not speak of this to anyone!”
“That’s right!”
“We swear it!”
Somehow, the truth of what had happened began to blur.
Was it a sense of camaraderie, having glimpsed the Crown Prince’s human side? Their anger shifted entirely toward Fabian, and Adelaide—who had seemed pitiful—now appeared as a gentle and admirable young lady.
There was only one thing they needed to do for the sake of these young lovers: Keep silent.
“Thank you, all of you.”
Killian bowed his head once more, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Then I’ll be on my way. I can’t be away from the celebration banquet for too long. But make sure this matter doesn’t reach the North. Release the count’s family after some time and ensure the servants keep their mouths shut.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
On the carriage ride back, dawn was already breaking in the distance.
Inside the carriage, Killian suddenly burst into scattered laughter like a madman. He couldn’t help it.
He had secured Adelaide, who had been on the verge of slipping from his grasp again. And this time, he had fastened chains that would ensure she could never escape.
That alone was more than enough reason to laugh.
It was the most perfect beginning he could have asked for a twentieth birthday.
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