WHYMCF 12

Chapter 12

Noah Regencia, the Second Prince, was Frederick’s half-brother. He was also the Empress’s only son.

Before Frederick had been named Crown Prince, the imperial palace had been divided into two factions.

One supported the First Prince, born to the Emperor’s consort, on the grounds that he was the Emperor’s eldest son.

The other supported the Second Prince, born to the Empress, on the grounds of legitimacy.

But things couldn’t continue that way—the Second Prince was a bit of an eccentric.

The Second Prince had no interest in the throne.

He frequently left the imperial palace, and one day he departed on a wandering journey and did not return for a very long time.

In her first life, Lizbet had met the Second Prince only once—on the day of her wedding to Frederick.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Brother. I look forward to your guidance, Sister-in-law.”

That had been the extent of their conversation.

After that day, the Second Prince left the palace again.

And he never returned—not until Lizbet stood upon the execution scaffold.

I don’t really know Prince Noah.

Other than that he had a wandering streak and a free-spirited nature.

Ordinarily, he should have been away even now, yet for some reason he remained in the palace.

Still, Lizbet needed him. Someone had to fill the position Frederick would leave vacant.

And that someone was Noah—the one who possessed the justification of legitimacy.

She had to meet him, but she suspected that a free-spirited man like Prince Noah would dislike contrived encounters.

So she used a different approach.

“Sister, I have a favor to ask…”

She asked Marcella to keep an eye on Noah’s movements, intending to arrange a chance meeting outside the palace under the guise of coincidence.

To make the encounter more memorable, she had even hired mercenaries to stage an incident in a back alley.

Of course, my sister opposed it, saying it was too dangerous…

But Lizbet believed she had to accept this level of risk to achieve her goal, and in the end, Marcella had been unable to refuse her younger sister’s request.

…It went a little off track, but I achieved my objective, so that’s what matters.

As planned, Lizbet had left an unforgettable impression on Noah.

And as an added bonus, she had learned something about him as well.

The way he beat down the thugs with movements unbecoming of a noble. The way he ate street food without hesitation. His easygoing manner while haggling cheerfully with merchants. And even his continued kindness toward her, despite her infamous reputation.

No wonder they see him as an eccentric.

Had Noah been a commoner, he would have been praised as a bright and amiable young man.

But he was no mere noble—he was a prince.

Because of that, good rumors could not follow him. Among proud aristocrats, his attitude was dismissed outright.

Perhaps that was why he had no choice but to leave the palace.

He must have been surrounded by those who tried to suppress his innate nature.

Just from how many times he insisted he wasn’t a noble, she could roughly guess what he thought.

The most exalted blood of all… the Empress’s only son. He must have stood above others from the moment he was born.

It was remarkable that Noah had defied the environment and expectations given to him.

And because of that, Lizbet thought he might be more suited to the throne than anyone else.

“We’re here.”

While Lizbet organized her thoughts, Noah had stopped walking before the ducal estate.

Even in the darkness, its grandeur was unmistakable.

Standing before the towering walls, Lizbet spoke casually.

“Just like you don’t make a fuss about who I am, I don’t make a fuss about who you are.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. To me today, you’re just someone who saved and helped me.”

She smiled brightly.

“An exceptionally handsome someone.”

At her added remark, Noah let out a breathy laugh.

His teal eyes shone vividly even in the dark.

Lizbet thought the color suited him. It was a light perfect for summer—bright and clear.

It was also a gaze that gave others confidence.

“Max.”

She couldn’t claim to know Noah well from just one day.

But somehow, she felt he might be far better than she had initially expected.

So she said,

“Let’s meet again.”

“……”

After bidding farewell, she disappeared into the darkness.

Noah stood there absentmindedly, watching the retreating figure of a woman who might once have become his sister-in-law.

He scratched his jaw.

Her voice lingered in his ears.

“To me today, you’re just someone who saved and helped me.”

For some reason, it made him feel oddly self-conscious. He cleared his throat.

“Meet again? What for? She comes out alone without a shred of fear—what if something happens to her next time…?”

It was a mutter Lizbet could no longer hear.

Noah stared at the spot where she had vanished for a long time before finally trudging back toward the imperial palace.

“My lady! Where in the world have you been until now?!”

The moment Lizbet stepped inside the estate, she was greeted by the butler’s raised voice.

He was not a man who often shouted, so his agitation made her tilt her head in confusion.

“I had something to take care of. Why? Did something happen?”

“The eldest lady has been in an uproar looking for you. She even mobilized the knights.”

“Ah.”

Since Lizbet had failed to appear at their agreed meeting place, her sister must have grown worried.

Only then did Lizbet suddenly remember Marcella and bite her lip.

Before she could think of an excuse, she came face-to-face with Marcella, who had been pacing her room.

“Lizbet!”

Marcella strode forward at once and grabbed her sister by the shoulders.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. Sister, about today—”

“Do you have any idea how worried I was?! You said you’d handle it yourself and told me not to worry!”

Lizbet, who had been about to speak, closed her mouth quietly at Marcella’s outburst.

She knew full well it was her fault for being so focused on meeting Noah that she hadn’t considered her sister.

Marcella had opposed the plan from the start. She couldn’t bear the thought of Lizbet being in danger.

I might have once thought she overprotected me just because I lack divine power…

In the past, Lizbet would have seized on that thought and ruined their relationship with accusations.

But she didn’t do that anymore.

Instead, she looked deeply into her sister’s eyes.

In the eyes so similar to her own, she saw affection, warmth, and the sense of responsibility of someone determined to protect family.

If she ignored that, her life would be no different from before.

“I’m sorry, Sister.”

“Hah. Are you really sorry?”

“I am. I spent the whole day with Prince Noah. I was so focused on achieving my goal that I failed to think of you.”

“…With Prince Noah?”

“Yes. Meeting him was my objective. I was so caught up in accomplishing it that I overlooked everything else.”

Rather than make excuses, Lizbet spoke honestly and apologized.

Marcella’s anger seemed to soften at that.

At the mention of Noah, she sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

“Lizbet. You do realize you never explained why you want to meet Prince Noah, right?”

“Yes. It’s hard to explain right now. I’m sorry.”

“…Fine. Still, it’s better that you’re honest like this. Before, you would’ve only made excuses to me. You don’t seem to do that anymore.”

“……”

“Lizbet. My little sister. I only want to understand you. You’re my precious family.”

She knew. She knew how deeply Marcella cherished her.

The sister who seemed unbreakable before anyone else had crumbled like a sandcastle in front of her.

That knowledge only made Lizbet feel more sorry.

Standing there, she reached out and clasped her sister’s hand tightly.

Marcella sighed heavily but did not pull her hand away.

Instead, she warned her sternly,

“If something like this happens again, I’ll have no choice but to report your actions to Father.”

“Understood. I won’t make you worry again.”

“Honestly… being so pretty like this… I ought to kill that bastard Calix…”

“……”

“…Ahem. You’re really not hurt anywhere?”

“No. I spoke well with His Highness, too.”

“Good. I’ll trust your word.”

Marcella reached out and pulled Lizbet into an embrace, patting her gently.