Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Secret of That Man
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“What kind of misunderstanding is this? Did you want to kiss me?”
Oh no. It wasn’t about the meaning of a kiss—it was about matching our words...
Flustered, I quickly played dumb with a straight face.
“That never happened.”
“Well, if the Duchess wants it, I’m always up for it.”
“Agh, I misunderstood!”
“Hahaha!”
I tried to deny it, but ended up admitting the mix-up, and Lark burst into laughter, even tearing up a bit.
How embarrassing. My cheeks flushed on their own.
“Ugh.”
“Pfft. Haha, haaa...”
With a pouty expression and my lips pressed tight, I waited for his laughter to die down before finally asking.
“...So what is it? How exactly should I match my words?”
* * *
After the shoot wrapped, we matched lips as Lark wanted. Not those lips, of course.
“Ha, I wonder if this is really okay...”
Lark, who’d found enough teasing material to last the next ten years, giggled for a good while before heading out.
I stared at the result of our “lip-matching”—the joint statement we’d agreed on—and let out a hollow laugh.
“Siena.”
“Yes, miss.”
I handed the statement to Siena, who’d been waiting nearby.
“The moment the video goes live, plaster this all over the shop and boutique street.”
* * *
The grand opening day for [Blanc de Ruby]’s first men’s clothing and accessories line.
We’d promoted it days in advance, so even though the shop wouldn’t open for hours, the boutique street was already buzzing.
A few nobles who’d camped out since early morning huddled in front of the posted notice on the shop’s board, murmuring.
“What’s this? Does it mean His Highness the Crown Prince helped out somehow?”
“Who knows...”
*
In gratitude to the little sun, Crown Prince Lark van Rashumah Decard, who graciously lent his aid for the prosperity of the Empire’s commerce.
[Blanc de Ruby] Representative, Madam Ruby.
*
Encouraging the passion of small business owners who contribute to the Empire, and wishing for the boundless development of commerce.
Crown Prince, Lark van Rashumah Decard.
A joint notice handwritten by the veiled [Blanc de Ruby] representative, Madam Ruby, and Crown Prince Lark van Rashumah Decard.
Tailor Becky, peering down from the second-floor window at the puzzled crowd, tensed up.
“Ten minutes to go.”
She glanced at the still-dark street video board in front of the building and took a deep breath.
The video boards, which had caused a massive stir after their debut, had multiplied everywhere in no time.
So in ten minutes, this killer promo video would light up streets and neighborhoods across the capital.
‘It was chaos with Sera, but this time... it’s really gonna be something!’
Becky was starting to find the boss’s knack for snagging celebrity endorsers downright scary.
Flash!
Suddenly, the video boards flickered to life all at once.
Blanc de Ruby’s winter,
The secret of that man we’ve been waiting for.
Sweeping background music.
Black screen, white text like subtitles.
The eyes of the crowd gathered below locked on instantly.
And...
“Oh my!”
“...W-what is this?”
Everyone gaped, rubbing their eyes in disbelief at the close-up of the man’s face filling the screen.
“I-isn’t that... His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“...Wait, isn’t this a winter collection promo?”
Dumbfounded, the crowd couldn’t look away. The video rolled on.
A full-body shot of Crown Prince Lark, impeccably dressed in a sleek black suit from head to toe.
“Ohhh...”
“He looks so dashing...”
“Oh my goodness.”
It was baffling to see the Crown Prince in a clothing ad out of nowhere, but people couldn’t help gasping in admiration anyway.
And how could they not? Lark’s dazzling looks were a big reason he was hailed as the Empire’s top heartthrob.
“Oh my...”
“Wow...”
Lark’s face closed in again as he strode confidently, showing off the new suits.
Everyone swallowed hard at his razor-sharp smile, and then—
The secret of that luxurious man—
[From Blanc de Ruby’s winter.]
The moment Lark’s signature husky yet smooth voice laid down the single line—
“Gasp...!”
“No way!”
“Kyaaah!”
The capital erupted.
* * *
Pacing back and forth, biting my nails in anxiety, until Wishit grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.
“You’re a mess.”
“I’m dying of nerves here. Will it work?”
“Worried the clothes won’t sell?”
“Of course they’ll sell. What I’m worried about is the Crown Prince’s image.”
“If that was a concern, you should’ve picked a different model from the start...”
“At first, I was just focused on my shop doing well—no time to think about Lark’s image...”
“And now you are?”
“Naturally.”
“He said he’d handle it. Trust him.”
Wishit shook his head as he caught my hand heading back to my mouth.
Just then, the door flew open, and Siena burst in like a bullet.
“Miss!”
“S-Siena!”
Her face was ashen for some reason. Unease crept up on me.
“H-how... did it go?”
“Well, um...”
Siena’s grim expression cracked into a grin, her lips curling up. She flashed two thumbs up under her chin.
“Argh, seriously!”
“Hahaha...”
“You scared me!”
Who knew where that stiff secretary image from our first meeting went—Siena was all playful mischief the more you got to know her.
“Sales shot through the roof in just half a day of video airing.”
“No, no, I knew the sales would boom. What I want to know is—”
“No need to worry about that either.”
“How is it? Did it really go according to plan?”
“Yes! Every merchant in the capital!”
Her face lit up like it was her own victory.
“They’re all singing the Crown Prince’s praises!”
* * *
At that moment, in Monat Palace, residence of the Decard Empire’s male imperial family members.
In the room of 2nd Prince Nathan van Rashumah Decard.
Nathan’s aide Shawn, reporting the chaos in the capital, spoke with trembling lips.
“Th-the video’s impact has significantly boosted capital visitors and commercial district sales. All the merchants are praising the Crown Prince.”
“Is that so?”
Nathan tilted his teacup calmly as he replied. His fine ash-gray long hair cascaded like silk.
Pale skin, slender build, a face so beautiful it was hard to pin down a gender at a glance.
Shawn knew Nathan seemed gentle and frail at first glance, but his true nature was worlds apart.
When his mood soured, that teacup could fly at your head any second.
Still, Shawn had to deliver the report Nathan wouldn’t want to hear.
“It’s not just the merchants. Since they collaborated with high-end boutiques targeting wealthy nobles...”
“Hm, yeah. It was unexpected for big brother, who’s always cleaning up after the poor. The nobles must’ve loved it.”
“Y-yes. Not just merchants—nobles are thrilled too, especially the younger crowd—”
“Eh, enough. Get out.”
Nathan chuckled lightly and waved him off. Shawn froze, then bolted from the room.
Nathan elegantly tilted his teacup again, but his eyes flashed.
Whoosh—
Crash!
In an instant, the teacup sliced through the air and shattered against the wall.
“Argh, making me lose my mind.”
Nathan sighed irritably, leaning back and rubbing his forehead.
“That fucking bastard...”
Lark seemed to be solidifying his position as heir.
Teaming up with luxury boutiques selling high-end goods under the banner of encouraging commerce...
It had to be a ploy to poach support from the high nobles, Nathan’s base.
“He’s got a damn sharp head.”
Nathan knew that no matter how much Lark struggled, he couldn’t close the gap set by birth.
Still, if he wanted Lark’s seat, there was only one way.
“How to kill him...”
Eliminate him entirely.
But lately, it felt like Lark was reading all his moves.
‘This is weird. Too weird.’
The traps he’d planted to drive a wedge between Lark and his aide Ren.
Yet Lark hadn’t blinked—instead, he’d traced them back, tightening the noose around Nathan’s neck.
And that wasn’t all.
He’d targeted 5th Princess Lizbet, Lark’s half-sister, to shake him, but even that failed.
Somehow, he’d lured the daughter of the Diorus Ducal House into perjuring herself for Lizbet, letting her slip away unscathed.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s off. He’s got no gaps, like he was prepared from the start. Shouldn’t he at least hesitate?”
As Nathan ground his teeth, the face of a young silver-haired boy popped into view.
A childish face around ten years old. But his eyes held deep maturity, and his playful expression felt somehow chilling.
“You look terrifying.”
“Scram, you useless shit.”
“Aw, that hurts. Without me, you wouldn’t even dream of eyeing the Emperor’s throne.”
The boy floated up into the air, flipping upside down with a giggle.
His name was Pose. Nathan’s spirit.
“Curious why all your moves are getting read, Nathan?”
Pose grinned slyly, and Nathan’s eyes sharpened.
“Curious? Thirty years~”
“Damn it.”
Spirits that could communicate directly. That meant they could know each other’s secrets.
But leaking them was a strict taboo. Forcing a leak came with massive risks for contractors.
Namely, summoning restrictions.
The “thirty years” Pose mentioned was the restriction period. A secret that heavy would be immense.
“Got anything shorter than thirty years? Something useful?”
“Hmm...”
Pose fiddled with his lips thoughtfully before speaking.
“Three months? Four? If I say it outright, it’d be a lifetime ban, but roundabout... maybe that. Though my contractor’s a bit dense—might not get it...”
“Something solid that’ll help?”
“Of course!”
Pose righted himself, shoving his face close. His playful look flipped to dead serious.
“Claim this, and all those headache-inducing power games become meaningless. No need to tug-of-war with the Crown Prince or scheme behind the scenes.”
“What?”
“An absolutely huge, vital key. Shame it’s in the Crown Prince’s hands right now.”
Nathan’s eyes wavered.
So Lark did have something.
“Tell me?”
“Four months?”
“Aw, won’t you miss me?”
“Spit it out. Now.”
Nathan’s gaze burned with madness.
As if he’d expected it, Pose cackled.
“Rubettria Diorus.”
“...?”
The unexpected name furrowed Nathan’s brow.
Pose grinned and added,
“She’s got a spirit, actually.”
Summoning cut off instantly. He vanished without a trace.