Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Starting Again
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The next morning arrived. Lainen woke to the warm sunlight. As he opened his eyes, he suddenly wondered if yesterday's events had been a dream.
It had been so ecstatic that he felt a twinge of anxiety, wondering if it was all just his imagination. He couldn't recall a time in his life when he'd been this happy.
“Ugh…….”
But that thought vanished the moment he saw Carnivela sleeping beside him. She was wrapped up in the blankets just like always. And it was a stark contrast to how she'd looked during their passionate night.
Last night, she'd seemed like a seductive woman, but in the morning light, she appeared as an innocent girl. Her cuteness overwhelmed him, and he planted a kiss on her cheek. She turned away at the unfamiliar touch, but even that was endearing to him.
‘Was I too intense?’
Red marks peeked out from between the blankets, and her undergarments lay scattered roughly on the floor. He blushed like a boy in the throes of first love.
“Your Highness, are you inside?”
Just then, the attendant knocked on the door. Lainen threw on a random robe from the floor and stepped out.
“Prepare food that's good for restoring energy.”
“Your Highness, are you unwell?”
“No, it's not that.”
“Then…….”
A look of realization dawned on the attendant's face. Perhaps? Lainen's cheeks flushed slightly as he murmured in a low voice.
“It's what you think, so hurry and prepare it.”
“Ah, I see! I'll prepare a tonic meal fit for Your Highnesses!”
“Don't make a fuss.”
“Yes, understood!”
The attendant scampered off with sparkling eyes. Even as he said not to fuss, Lainen knew the loose-lipped servant would spread the word. It wouldn't be long before all the household staff knew of their night together.
‘I hope she doesn't get too embarrassed.’
He could easily imagine her face turning beet red when she woke.
‘Anyway, it's time to head back.’
His vacation ended today. Now he had to return to his duties as crown prince and keep his promise to her.
* * *
Due to the emperor's circumstances, they traveled by carriage this time. She was delighted to gaze out the window at the world passing by, unlike the journey there.
“It's so refreshing. I never knew the forest could feel this invigorating.”
The scent of nature had a way of soothing the soul. The breeze was cool. He thought the verdant forest suited her perfectly.
“Ah, back then I couldn't enjoy it properly, so I'm glad I get to savor it now.”
When she'd been sold to the Kingdom of Remus, she'd been too focused on escaping to take in the scenery. Things hadn't changed after that either. With revenge and pursuits consuming her, appreciation had been a distant dream.
“It's all thanks to you.”
“Hm?”
“You've taught me so much.”
“Like what?”
“Thanks to you, I've discovered the beauty of nature and learned about love.”
What would my life have been without you?
She was grateful to Lainen. He'd given her so much to experience and understand. They were all precious moments, making every day feel like a dream.
“Staying with me will let you discover even more from now on.”
He wanted to gift her the world, especially since she'd struggled through a dark life like his own.
“Then I'll have to stick to you forever.”
She slid over to sit beside him. She clasped one of his hands firmly and gazed at him. Her eyes made his head spin.
“If you look at me like that, I might just die.”
“Should I hold back?”
“No, do it more.”
“What?”
She burst out laughing at his adorable whining. It was a side of him different from his usual demeanor, which lifted her spirits.
Their voices carried out of the carriage. The knights escorting them shook their heads at the couple's harmony. It was hard to imagine such behavior from their normally stern crown prince.
“My ears aren't playing tricks on me, right?”
“No, it's normal.”
“You heard it too?”
“I heard His Highness whining too.”
“Eek! Tell me it was a dream!”
“Urk.”
But regardless of their whispers, the carriage pressed on diligently. And so, the two returned to the imperial palace. The emperor and empress awaited them. After a brief greeting, they parted ways to attend to their duties.
“You're back.”
The moment he opened the door to his office after so long, his aides and Kashan greeted him. He headed to his desk while listening to the various agendas.
“Your Highness, the nobles' faction this time…….”
“The budget for the bridge construction…….”
“The Kingdom of Sistia…….”
“The item we've been searching for will arrive soon…….”
He truly felt his return. The respite was over; it was time to work. Staring at the pile of documents that had accumulated in an instant, he began running again.
Having been away for some time, he needed to readjust. The mountain of paperwork exhausted him, and his body, now accustomed to rest, protested for more leisure.
Yet he was a man of duty. There was no time for complaints. He harbored no major dissatisfaction with resuming his life.
‘I do miss seeing her a bit.’
It was a small hope, a sweet reward after work. That kept him going.
One day, Kashan glanced at a dispatch from the Kingdom of Remus and headed to Lainen's office.
“Who is it?”
“It's Kashan.”
“Come in.”
Kashan placed the received dispatch on the desk buried under stacks of papers. As Lainen shot him a questioning look, Kashan sighed and explained.
“You told me to inform you if there were any signs of foreign powers tracking Princess Carnivela. What if you forgot?”
“……Ah.”
Lainen let out a dazed sound and read the dispatch. It stated that the 4th Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Rasoni was searching for Carnivela in the Kingdom of Remus.
“Ridiculous. They're not going to find anything anyway.”
“Exactly. If our house manipulates the information, it becomes truth.”
Carnivela's promise to treat ‘Carnivela lu Rasoni’ as dead. Lainen had upheld that promise.
“I wish they'd stop poking around now.”
He had falsified records to declare Carnivela dead. He hoped no one would pursue her further. He didn't want to put her in danger.
Hearing his irritated tone, Kashan suddenly clapped his hand as if something occurred to him.
“Oh, right. Recently, the Kingdom of Rasoni demanded that knight's extradition. So you can stop worrying now.”
“Good…….”
Lainen began tapping his fingers on the desk. His expression was utterly blank. But Kashan knew that look—it meant something was bothering him—and quietly slipped away.
For a long while, Lainen stared at the dispatch with cold eyes, then burned it with a candle.
Whoosh!
The flames devoured the paper in an instant. Soon, the dispatch turned to ash and vanished. Lainen brushed it off the floor, stood from his desk, and muttered inwardly.
‘That's right……. If anything threatens our happiness, I'll never forgive it, no matter what.’
How had such ordinary days become his? The everyday moments with his precious person, which others took for granted, had finally come to him. That was how vital Carnivela was to him.
And now they wanted to take her back? He had no intention of standing by. He'd use every resource at his disposal to stop them.
‘Now that most things are settled, it's time to keep my promise.’
He had made three promises to her, premised on their marriage.
First, to declare her dead. Second, to keep their marriage private. And the most important final one.
To find those who killed the former queen of the Kingdom of Rasoni. It was a notorious incident, but the kingdom had swiftly buried it, leaving few who knew the full details.
He remembered the thirst for vengeance on her face when they discussed it. It seemed he'd have to ask something quite cruel of her.
‘I really didn't want to…….’
Before gathering intelligence, he needed her testimony. Only then could the investigation begin in earnest.
With a heavy expression, he headed to her quarters.
“You're here?”
As always, she greeted him with a smile. How beautiful that smile was. He cupped her face in both hands and gazed deeply into her eyes for a long moment.
“Something wrong?”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. Her body heat warmed him through, lifting his mood. He gave her cheek a quick kiss and said.
“I have good news and bad news.”
“What are they?”
“Which one should I tell you first?”
“The good one.”
“You're officially dead now. No one will come looking for you anymore.”
She jumped with joy at his words. No more worries about pursuit from the Kingdom of Rasoni.
“Then…….”
“That's right. Now we can find the ones who killed your mother.”
Tears of happiness streamed down her face. Could she finally escape this long, dark tunnel? But what was the bad news he'd mentioned? Reading her expression, he spoke in a bitter tone.
“I need your testimony about the incident.”
“…….”
“I know it's a horrific memory. But with no witnesses or records, your account is essential to set the investigation's direction.”
“…….”
His expression was cautious. Seeing him like that, she bit her lip.
“Alright. I have to tell it.”
She took a deep breath. Recalling that day's horrors always made her tremble.
“It happened when I was twelve…….”