NIYTR 55

Chapter 55

Don’t Forget That I’m a Son of a B*tch

“…Yes?”

Countess Lumire blinked blankly. Damian didn’t miss the moment to scan her from head to toe, as if to say, how dare she meet his gaze.

Realizing it too late, Countess Lumire lowered her head.

“When I ask something, answer. Don’t ask back.”

“…”

“I clearly said I had an appointment with the young marchioness. And now I’m being made out to be some scoundrel fabricating nonsense.”

As Damian let out a faint chuckle, Countess Lumire bowed her head low.

“T-That wasn’t my intention, it’s just that the young marchioness—”

“If that’s how I felt, do you think your intentions matter?”

Countess Lumire floundered awkwardly until Empress Roxanne gestured for her to step back.

At that moment—

“Mother?”

Through the creaking door, possibly damaged by Damian’s earlier kick, Adolf stepped in.

“Adolf…”

“Mother!”

Adolf quickly assessed the situation and rushed to support Empress Roxanne as she showed signs of dizziness.

“Just moments ago, you were perfectly fine, weren’t you?”

Damian tilted his head, eyes filled with curiosity. Adolf clenched his hand tightly, his face twisted.

“Brother, please show proper respect to my mother. She is the lawful wife of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I believe I’ve shown more than enough respect to a concubine.”

“Brother!”

A “concubine” referred to one’s father’s mistress.

‘Calling her ‘stepmother’ isn’t exactly wrong, but in this situation, it’s no different from calling her a concubine.’

In the suffocating atmosphere, Edelweiss looked at Damian. He met her gaze with a calm expression, silently reassuring her not to worry.

“If you’re going to speak of courtesy, Second Prince, you should observe it first.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Did I ever give you permission to call me ‘brother’? There’s a strict distinction between legitimate and illegitimate birth. Calling me brother so informally is deeply unpleasant.”

“Oh? Then shall I address you as Grand Admiral, to be polite?”

Adolf sneered, mocking Damian for being particular about titles despite both being princes.

“Ha!”

Damian raised an eyebrow and let out a short laugh—devoid of warmth, pure mockery.

He slowly raised a hand and rubbed at his eye, as though the absurdity of it all amused him.

“You—who shirked your royal duty—want to honor me as Grand Admiral?”

When he looked up again, his voice was cold enough to freeze the air.

‘…That’s right. Adolf never joined the navy as a diplomatic envoy.’

All princes of Rejenoel were obliged to serve in the navy.

But Adolf had used his diplomatic mission as an excuse to avoid it.

“Shirk? I… I went to sign trade agreements on behalf of Rejenoel.”

Shame tinged Adolf’s expression.

Oddly, he kept glancing at Edelweiss.

‘Why is he looking at me?’

Clenching his fists tightly, he tried to steel himself.

“I’m sure the young officers who died on battlefields under a hail of bullets would be very grateful. Such a marvelous trade agreement it must’ve been.”

“…”

“I don’t want to hear you call me brother, and you don’t even deserve to address me as Grand Admiral—so don’t call me anything at all.”

Damian’s voice was low and quiet, but laced with scorn.

“…Prince Damian. That’s enough. Please take the young marchioness and leave now.”

Empress Roxanne, who had been watching with anxious eyes, finally spoke.

She understood that if Damian stayed any longer, it would only hurt Adolf more.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t summon the young marchioness again. If it’s unavoidable, inform me first.”

“…Must I seek a prince’s permission to summon someone who will soon be part of the imperial family?”

Damian looked at Edelweiss once before replying to Roxanne. The Empress let out a breath of disbelief, clearly displeased.

“The young marchioness is the daughter-in-law of my late mother—not your daughter-in-law..”

“…”

With that, Damian silenced her entirely.

By invoking Empress Anastasia, he left Roxanne speechless.

“So this is why Prince Adolf rampages around, ignorant of legitimacy. I suppose I’ll overlook it—seeing what he’s learned from you.”

Damian extended his large, calloused hand to Edelweiss.

The reason neither Roxanne nor Adolf could confront him was the power Damian had built up over the years.

‘Damian was sixteen when Empress Anastasia died.’

A wave of realization echoed in Edelweiss’s chest.

She imagined his youth—risking his life on the battlefield to protect the frail newborn Princess Charlotte, all to gain the power to oppose Roxanne and Adolf.

‘It was Empress Roxanne who accused Empress Anastasia of treason, wasn’t it?’

Suddenly, Edelweiss felt guilty for ever trying to curry favor with her.

She still missed Isabella dearly, but her place was now at Damian’s side.

‘They tried to make me have tea alone with Adolf—clearly hoping for my engagement with Damian to break.’

They probably believed that if the Blossomweaver family sided with Adolf, he could become crown prince.

She had to draw the line with Roxanne—for Isabella’s revenge, yes, but also for Damian’s sake.

Edelweiss took Damian’s strong hand and followed him out.

The moment they exited, he let go and walked ahead.

“…Your Highness!”

Damian seemed visibly upset. He didn’t answer even when she called out to him.

‘Does he think I conspired with Empress Roxanne…?’

The one who broke the silence was the sound of Rosemary sniffling from behind a pillar.

“P-Prince Damian.”

She pretended to hold back her tears, trying to appear pitiful.

Having already been cast aside by Empress Roxanne, it seemed she had now decided to cling to Damian instead.

“Charlotte is looking for you. Stop by Calliope Palace today.”

“…Understood.”

She had already planned to stay at Calliope Palace after what Damian had said to Empress Roxanne.

Even though he clearly saw Rosemary, Damian walked past her as if she didn’t exist.

Behind them, Rosemary blinked in disbelief. Edelweiss quickened her pace to catch up with him.

“Why are you so slow?”

“Y-Your Highness is just too fast.”

Out of breath from the effort, Edelweiss exhaled briefly. Damian slowed down and matched her pace.

As the mood slightly softened, Edelweiss cautiously spoke.

“Prince Damian. The reason I met with the Empress today… was because Rosemary claimed I stole the ruby necklace. That’s why I was summoned.”

Only then did Damian’s lips ease slightly as he listened in silence.

“Why are you making excuses like a child who’s done something wrong?”

“…Because you seemed displeased. I just didn’t want you to misunderstand.”

“I am displeased, but not because of any misunderstanding.”

Edelweiss wondered what he meant by that.

‘He definitely seems angry with me…’

“Then why…?”

“It’s not that you argue with me—but that you always gauge my reaction first. That’s what annoys me. If you weren’t conscious of me, there’d be no reason to act that way.”

Edelweiss stopped in her tracks.

‘Is it because Adolf kept looking at me earlier?’

She had only thought it was because she happened to be present during an awkward scene he didn’t want exposed.

Even if Damian was conscious of her, she hadn’t thought much of it.

She hadn’t given Adolf any chance, nor spent time with him, so she hadn’t expected any feelings to stir.

And she wasn’t even sure if Adolf truly loved her, so she hadn’t taken it seriously.

“Edelweiss.”

“…Yes?”

Damian also stopped and turned around.

His gaze locked directly onto hers.

“A dog that’s had its prey taken doesn’t care if it’s out of breath—it’ll run and tear into its rival’s throat however it can.”

“…”

“Don’t forget that I’m a son of a b*tch.”