IDHGA 27

Chapter 27

The Crown Prince of the Libre Empire, Cherode Elsias Hue Libre, possessed the noblest and most exalted bloodline in the empire. Born as the precious son between the Emperor and a mother from a prestigious family, the Crown Prince excelled in everything he learned, and was always surrounded by things as beautiful and noble as himself.

The most beautiful things in the world were all his, and even God loved him enough to allow every exquisite thing to remain by his side. His beautiful mother and younger sister, the beautiful palace, the beautiful servants, the exquisite fabrics, jewels, and flowers.

Yet in his otherwise perfect life, there was still one thing he had not yet obtained.

“What is Eloise doing?”

“Lady Eloise Mason is visiting the Ertel household today—”

Crash!

Before the aide could even finish his sentence, a vase filled with flowers flew right past him and shattered into pieces.

Water from inside the vase splashed all over the aide, ruining his clothes, but Cherode didn’t even bat an eye as he stared cold-eyed at him.

“Who went where?”

“……I misspoke. Lady Mason visited the residence of Marquis Ertel today.”

Matthew Genius, the Crown Prince’s aide, didn’t even dare wipe the water trickling down his head. He bowed low, his shoulders stiff with fear.

Even though she already had a fiancé, Cherode loathed the idea of anyone other than himself uttering her name. Eloise had to belong to him, the most perfect being, above all else.

Cherode looked at his terrified aide with a chilly gaze and asked, “And where is the Princess?”

“Her Highness the Princess also headed to Marquis Ertel’s residence upon Your Highness’s command. They have likely met by now.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Only then did Cherode wear a satisfied expression.

All beautiful things had to be in his grasp. If that wasn’t the case, there would be no reason for him to be born so perfectly, nor any reason for his surroundings to be filled with nothing but beauty.

Cherode pulled up the corners of his mouth and leaned back into his chair.

“The Princess isn’t stupid either, so she’ll fulfill her role.”

“Before leaving, she thoroughly checked the letter Your Highness sent as well.”

“Yes, as she should.”

Therefore, if possible, he would use every available method to make her his again—even if it meant taking a slightly roundabout path.

“Now, leave. If you get any word regarding Eloise, report to me immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Having said all he needed to say, Cherode waved his hand for the aide to get out.

Matthew stepped carefully around the scattered fragments of the vase and exited Cherode’s office.

Having kept his shoulders huddled in a servile manner, the moment the office door closed completely, he straightened his back. His expression contorted as if he were looking at the most disgusting thing in the world.

“Fucking idiot. Look at the way he acts.”

Disgust bled through his low murmur.

Cherode’s aide, Matthew Genius, pushed up his glasses and clicked his tongue in distaste. Seeing such foolish behavior every single day was something he simply couldn’t get used to.

Contrary to what the public believed, despite Cherode’s handsome appearance, his head was completely empty, and his thoughts and actions were so stupid it almost seemed deliberate. Of course, it was true he was smarter than average people, but compared to himself—a recognized genius—it was equally true that the Crown Prince was a mindless fool.

Matthew sighed as he walked away from the office.

How did I end up serving a master like that?

The reason he, once called a prodigy of the Academy, was doing such ridiculous work here was all because of money. What was money anyway, that he got blinded by it and took on a job that would choke him for the rest of his life?

But what could he do? He was receiving more than double the salary of others, and he was a man who lived strictly by the motto of working as much as he was paid.

“It’s always poor me who ends up suffering.”

Tsking his tongue and uttering a self-pitying line, Matthew walked down the corridor with slumping shoulders, casting subtle glances around. Since he had to send a message as soon as he returned, it was best to avoid drawing any attention.

A long shadow stretched over Matthew’s back as he gradually disappeared into the darkness.

To think that the name of the Crown Prince, Cherode Libre, would come out of here.

My aunt and I looked at Melody, unable to hide our shocked expressions.

So, the person she met before marriage was…

“You met the Crown Prince before your marriage?”

“Yes…… Though no one else knew about it.”

“Hmm, indeed. No matter how much I search my memory, I don’t recall any rumors about a relationship between you and the Crown Prince before your marriage.”

My aunt nodded at Melody’s words.

And unlike the two of them, I was experiencing my own shock.

‘The Crown Prince met Melody Ertel……’

This was something I didn’t even know existed in my past life, nor had it ever been revealed.

The Ertel family I knew in my past life was simply the most stable and harmonious house among the five high noble families, a tranquil place without a single whisper of trouble. I heard rumors that the Marchioness was exceptionally supportive of her husband, though even those rumors faded after a while.

Yet the mistress of that harmoniously rumored Ertel family, Melody Ertel, had met the Crown Prince before her marriage, and because of that, she had been desperately craving her husband’s love with such an anxious face—thinking her husband would be just like all other men.

“T-To my husband……”

“I do not know Marquis Ertel personally, Marchioness. But as you know, I also have some uncomfortable feelings regarding the Crown Prince.”

Melody Ertel stammered again, bringing up her husband first.

Just what on earth does he say when meeting people that makes this innocent woman look so terrified every single time?

I gritted my teeth inwardly and asked Melody, “Was it the Crown Prince who told you that all men are the same?”

At my words, Melody quietly nodded.

“And that if you aren’t their first, you seem to have no value?”

Melody nodded once more.

Wow. For a split second, I had to suppress a curse from escaping my mouth.

“By any chance, did he use that as leverage to demand unreasonable favors from you?”

“Demands?”

“Yes. Like spreading certain rumors in high society, or……”

“Ah, come to think of it, he did send a letter.”

An influential piece in high society that he had trained to be easily handled. Considering his nature—using any means necessary if it served his purpose—it wasn’t difficult for me to recall the events of my past life.

“It was a letter asking me to send an invitation to this party to Her Highness the Princess as well. Since the Princess is still young and it would be difficult for her to attend such a party, I thought it was a bit strange for him to make such a request.”

“But you had no choice but to send it.”

“That’s…… right……”

Melody nodded awkwardly.

Right. Only then did the full picture come together.

The rumors that had spread uncontrollably throughout high society, and the reason why Asiad, who had trusted me so firmly, slowly began to waver.

The Crown Prince had mobilized every single person my husband had even the slightest acquaintance with to shake him up. A respectable, gentle-mannered noblewoman who held influence in social circles and had dined with Asiad a few times; someone he might run into occasionally, exchange brief greetings with, and chat politely to ask after each other’s well-being.

I stared at Melody Ertel, the woman who might have been used as a tool for all my misery in my past life.

“Though, she hasn’t arrived yet. Since it’s a short afternoon tea party, some guests will be leaving soon……”

“My Lady, it’s Anna.”

It was the moment Melody tilted her head in confusion.

An ominous knock sounded, accompanied by sudden commotion outside.

“What is going on?”

“You need to come outside for a moment. A guest has arrived.”

“Right now?”

A guest arriving just now.

I was certain that I wasn’t the only one who had a specific person come to mind at that moment.

My aunt, Melody, and I looked at one another, and unable to wait out that brief silence, another knock came.

“My Lady. Her Highness the Princess has arrived.”

Why? Why are bad premonitions never wrong?

The moment I heard those words, I closed my eyes tightly.

“I’m so sorry for being so late, Marchioness. I wanted to come earlier, but I thought everyone might feel uncomfortable if I arrived too early.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. I am simply grateful that you came.”

The Princess, Delphina Libre, smiled as brightly as sunlight.

She then turned around and cast her gaze somewhere specific.

“Still, I’m glad I came. It’s nice to see familiar faces. Have you been well?”

Fortunately, however, no one properly noticed to whom that final question, ‘Have you been well?’, was directed.

Replies to the Princess’s greeting poured out from all directions. Several people tried desperately to stand by her side, but unfortunately, her eyes were not on them.

“……He really tries everything, doesn’t he?”

“Indeed.”

Standing beside me, watching the scene, my aunt murmured like a sigh.

And I, who directly received the gaze the Princess had casually thrown in our direction, felt the same way.

‘The Crown Prince must have sent her.’

He likely told her to deliver something to me here, or to keep me tied down. In my past life, she always played that role, and as a bonus, gained opportunities to meet Asiad—a win-win relationship for the two of them.

“It would be better to stay a bit longer before leaving. It’s best not to cross paths with the Princess for too long.”

“I know, Aunt.”

While people brushed past my aunt and me in their eagerness to catch the Princess’s eye, we conversed in low voices.

As we were pondering how to slip away from this chaotic crowd…

“Marchioness Wellington! Oh my, Lady Mason is here too.”

The Princess, who had been greeting guests one by one, suddenly appeared right before us.