Chapter 93

His eyes widened.

"Excuse me for a moment."

Philip opened the pocket watch to check its contents.

Inside, there was a small engraving.

[Matteo Pavel Lumentia]

It was the pocket watch of the Second Prince.

'So it is the Second Prince after all.'

Philip smiled as if to say, "Of course," and closed the watch.

The Second Prince was a notorious troublemaker. The valet in charge of Matteo lamented that his hair was thinning day by day.

'If he realizes it’s lost, he’ll probably grab some innocent person again.'

It’s better to keep it hidden.

"Thank you. I will make sure to deliver it to the Prince."

"Um…."

Just as he was about to bow and leave, the girl stopped him again.

"Why is that?"

"Actually… my friend lost a necklace, and I’m looking for it."

'There are a lot of people looking for things today.'

Still, since she was a noble lady, he had to at least pretend to look. Philip took out his notebook and asked.

"What are its characteristics?"

"It’s about this big and very clear and red."

It was a vague answer.

'In the world of nobles, there must be so many jewels that it’s natural not to remember them.'

Philip hid his smirk and said.

"I will definitely find it and deliver it to her. What is your friend’s name?"

"Um… I just met her, so I don’t know her name…."

The girl’s cheeks turned red, as if she was embarrassed.

In society, one should be able to recognize who is who just by looking at their hair.

But the girl couldn’t even remember the name of the person she had just spoken to.

It was something to be ashamed of.

Philip smiled gently as if he understood.

"I see. I understand. I will make sure to pass on the message."

"Thank you very much."

The girl politely curtsied and then turned away.

After a while, the girl who had been watching her leave turned and smiled.

* * *

'Good. I managed to pass the pocket watch to the valet safely.'

I hummed a tune and turned around.

The reconnaissance under the guise of preparing for the ball was over here.

Other young ladies would probably chat about various things.

'But it has nothing to do with me.'

I moved to return to the duke’s mansion with Demian.

"At least that girl was stupid enough."

Sniff, I hummed an unknown melody as I turned the corner.

"Ah!"

There was a large something in front of me. If I hadn’t stopped, I might have bumped into it.

"Excuse me… uh!"

I was about to apologize quickly but then clamped my mouth shut when I recognized the person in front of me.

Blinding blonde hair and golden eyes.

And a face that was somehow calm, in stark contrast to the Second Prince.

'Is it the First Prince Fabian?'

I barely managed to suppress the urge to jump.

The First Prince Fabian was a significant secondary male lead.

Although he was the First Prince, his chances of becoming the crown prince were very low because he was the son of the empress.

To make matters worse, the empress died young from illness, leaving no one to protect him.

The Second Prince was evil, the empress was out to kill him, and his father, the emperor, didn’t care.

It was obvious how lonely his life had been.

Then, he met Ashabel by chance and fell in love with her gentle nature.

'But because of his royal background, he couldn’t be with her.'

The emperor had killed Demian’s parents, and no matter what, Fabian was still the emperor’s son.

If Fabian had been a villainous secondary male lead, he would have become the emperor to get rid of Demian, but he wanted to become the emperor to protect Ashabel.

'But he wasn’t completely powerless.'

He had a very solid backing.

'The leader of the Information Guild, Reikus.'

Fabian and Reikus met by chance when they were young and became close friends.

Reikus knew all the information circulating in the empire.

Reikus’s swift information later greatly helped Demian when he attacked the empress.

'For Fabian, it was all for Ashabel.'

He was in a different league from the despicable and evil Second Prince Matteo.

Yes, such a person….

'First Prince, why are you here now?'

I opened my mouth to speak but then bowed my head first.

"Your Highness, the First Prince."

"…Do you know me?"

Fabian asked in a flat, emotionless voice.

"O-of course. You’re the Prince, after all."

"Is that so."

"Yes. Ha ha…."

And silence.

I bowed politely, even though it was late.

Still, as a prince, he must have met many young ladies like me more than once.

'Why are you staring at me?'

It was difficult to say I was leaving first in front of the prince.

I opened my mouth again.

"Y-your Highness, why are you here?"

"I came to look for something I lost."

Fabian, who had been looking in the direction the valet had walked, looked down at me again.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Ha ha… someone, I guess."

I laughed awkwardly. His gaze was persistently fixed on my face.

Could he have heard the story about the lost item?

I might be misunderstood as the thief.

'Well, I did steal it…'

I felt cold sweat trickling down my back.

No, if he had heard it properly, he would have asked me to return it immediately.

Having finished my thoughts, I spoke again.

"You’ll find it, I’m sure."

In such situations, it’s best to pretend you know nothing and offer some plausible comfort.

"…Do you think so?"

Fabian muttered. The resignation in his voice made me feel guilty.

"I hope you find it. Well, I’ll take my leave now…!"

Unable to bear it any longer, I quickly left.

Fortunately, he only gave me a lingering look and didn’t stop me.

'What a relief.'

I wiped my chest and hurried to the ball waiting room.

The class for the young nobles, which was actually a pretext for dividing the groups, had ended, but I had come out early. If it had ended in the meantime, Demian might have been desperately looking for me.

As the sound of conversation drew near, some young nobles appeared. The class seemed to be over.

I approached one of the young nobles to ask about the room’s location.

"Excuse me, do you know where the class was held?"

The young noble trembled when our eyes met.

"I, I’m not sure. Maybe you should try over there?"

He mumbled incoherently and then hurriedly ran off somewhere.

"…?"

What’s wrong? I’m not a germ or anything.

Perplexed, I tilted my head and moved in the direction he had come from.

My guess was right. As expected, Demian was looking around with a worried face.

"Demian!"

I called his name loudly, and Demian’s eyes widened as he rushed over to me.

"Elly, where were you? I’ve been looking for you for a while."

His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily, as if he had been in a hurry.

"I’m sorry. I had to go somewhere for a bit. But you…."

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Until we parted, Demian’s cheeks had been pale, but now there was a small scratch on them.

I thought it might have been because they divided the class to torment him….

'But this is too much.'

How could they hit a child?

He had just started to emerge from the darkness and begin to laugh.

I felt my blood run cold.

"What kind of person did that?"

"…."

"Let’s go. They can’t have gone far."

A fight broke out at the ball hosted by the empress. It was a matter that could be punished.

Just as I was about to rush out, Demian grabbed the hem of my dress.

"N-no, I’m fine…."

"But…!"

I was about to shout in distress but then closed my mouth when I saw Demian’s dejected face.

Yes. The first thing I needed to do was comfort the hurt Demian.

"…Come here, Demian."

I turned and opened my arms. Demian hesitated but then approached and wrapped his arms around my waist.

His grip was strong. How scared must he have been? I stroked his head.

"I won’t leave you alone again."

Demian nodded obediently.

Oh, such a gentle and kind child. It hurt my heart.

Demian rubbed his cheek against my chest and answered meekly.

"Yes. I want to be with Elly."

* * *

That evening, in the empress’s palace.

"Your Majesty, I am delighted that you have come."

Empress Kartia said with a sweet smile.

"Since the empress summoned me, how could I not come? Especially since the princes are also here."

Ventus smiled broadly, and Kartia covered her mouth as if embarrassed.

'What a joke.'

I had heard in detail what the emperor did with the women last night.

To act so affectionately after that.

Her hidden lips twisted, but she quickly hid it.

"I have prepared everything with all my heart for Your Majesty. Please enjoy it."

The meal began. The warm conversation they had just shared was nowhere to be found, and a deep silence filled the room.

'I’m annoyed.'

The Second Prince Matteo frowned.

He had come because of his mother’s summons, but he hadn’t expected his older brother Fabian to be there as well.