Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Conflict
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Canibella headed to Aire territory. It was in the opposite direction from where she had gone with Lainen, a place famous for its hot springs due to the somewhat chilly weather. But she had no interest in such things. All her focus was on escaping.
“Your Highness, couldn’t I come with you?”
“No. You’ll be tending to the maids there, so don’t worry about it.”
Eora seemed eager to follow her to the end, but Canibella refused. More people would only complicate the escape.
The carriage raced on and finally arrived at the territory. An exotic landscape, almost like a foreign country and different from the capital, caught her eye, but it meant nothing to her. Instead, she closely observed the people’s clothing. She might have to blend in among them someday.
‘Fortunately, there are plenty of blondes with blue eyes.’
She had worried her appearance might stand out, but that concern eased. For now, she acted as usual. She toured the mansion briefly, pretended to take a stroll, and had dinner in the evening. Then, using the excuse that the snacks were delicious, she packed some simple ones into the bag she had brought.
‘No one’s around.’
She removed the necklace Lainen had given her and neatly placed it on the vanity. Looking in the mirror, her somewhat unfamiliar blonde hair and blue eyes stared back. After gazing at her reflection, she began her preparations.
She wore thick everyday clothes, strapped daggers to her waist, and slung the bag over her back. She double-checked the contents: map, clothes, food, jewelry—everything she needed was there.
With a satisfied expression, she crept outside. She fetched a horse from the stables and quietly led it out of the mansion. Agilely mounting it, she urged it forward.
“Hyah!”
The horse she rode swiftly carried her to the neighboring village.
* * *
Lainen had spent a full month exhausted by the affairs of Sistia Kingdom. Yet his fatigue paled compared to his longing for Canibella.
“Your Highness, you must rest.”
He wanted to rush to her side. But the imperial physician’s firm insistence that he absolutely needed sleep forced him to lie motionless like the dead for a full day. Then, confined to his room for a week, he was made to eat nourishing foods and recuperate.
He grumbled about it, but afterward, his body felt lighter.
“I’m not as tired now.”
Stretching his stiff muscles, Lainen went to find Canibella at her palace. But it was empty, with only the maids chattering in disarray. His face hardened. Where had she gone?
“Your Highness…”
The maids looked at him with pity while silently reproaching him. Why hadn’t he been with Canibella during her difficult time?
“…”
That was when he first heard about her miscarriage. And that she knew of Lucamin’s death.
“I’m going to the Emperor.”
He went to the Emperor. Exhausted from the past month, he pleaded to see his wife and demanded to be taken to her. He even threatened that if not told, he would neglect his duties as Crown Prince.
Faced with his son’s unreasonable demand—which wasn’t truly unreasonable—the Emperor had no choice but to relent. But unable to admit the Crown Princess had left under the pretext of recuperation, he pointed him in the completely opposite direction.
‘Kashu territory…’
As he walked down the corridor, a clear, childlike voice addressed him.
“If I were you, I’d never go to Kashu territory.”
“…Who are you?”
Even lost in thought, how had he failed to notice someone standing right in front of him? Sighing at his own declining skills, he watched as the owner of the voice approached.
A small child—impossible to tell if girl or boy—with black hair down to their waist wore a faint smile at his expression. His face stern, he said to the child,
“I may not remember every servant in the palace, but I’ve never seen anyone who looks like you. How did you get in?”
“Think of it as a special skill. And it’s a trade secret.”
“Surely not magic?”
He growled. But the child ignored his murderous aura and continued,
“Now’s not the time to wonder about my identity. Shouldn’t you be looking for your missing wife?”
He shivered, as if the child had read his mind. An enigmatic child with strange features and speech. A lump formed ominously in his throat. The child grinned at his reaction.
“…”
For the first time in ages, he felt fear. Suppressing it, he said,
“…Earlier, you said you’d never go to Kashu territory. What did you mean?”
“Just what I said. The one you’re looking for went to Aire territory. And she’s heading there diligently to cross to another continent.”
“…!”
Lainen was shocked by the child’s words. What? Not Kashu, but Aire? And why to another continent?
His mind reeled. Doubting the child’s words, he stared into their eyes for a long time but sensed no lie. Then doubt arose. Why had the Emperor lied to him? And why was she trying to flee to another continent?
“Ask her yourself when you see her.”
The child snapped their fingers. His body floated up, engulfed in light, and vanished in an instant.
Canibella rode and rode until she reached the port city. Short on time, she planned to cross to another kingdom first, then board a ship to the other continent. She quickly bought a ticket, restocked food, and wandered the streets.
“We’ll check your ticket for a moment.”
She boarded the ship smoothly. Anxious inside, she was relieved no one came bursting in.
“We’re departing!”
Thanks to the crew’s swift preparations, the ship set off earlier than expected. Canibella stood on deck, dazedly watching it cut through the sea amid the clamor.
“Nice.”
The weather was clear, the mood peaceful. She hoped nothing would happen until they arrived.
‘Please, let it go smoothly like this.’
But then, a wind blew, and someone grabbed her. Startled, she turned to see Lainen. She struggled with all her might, but he held tight, and with the wind already lifting her body…
“Let go!”
In an instant, she was sucked with him into a dark passage. The wind stopped. Opening her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.
“…Why didn’t you keep your promise to me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you’d never leave me. So why! Why does everyone… leave me…”
His face twisted, then crumpled. She suddenly recalled that when they signed the marriage contract, he had included the condition ‘never leave.’
But he had no right to be angry. He was the one who broke the contract first. He had endangered her, and instead of finding her mother’s killer, he had killed someone she cherished.
“…”
She said nothing. Even speaking felt like a waste of energy now. At her silence, he clenched his fist and rang the nearby bell. A maid entered.
“Crown Prince Your Highness.”
“From today, confine the Crown Princess to the Palace of Punishment. The reason: ‘crime of lying to the imperial family.’”
“Pardon?”
The maid was flustered. Not only had the Crown Princess, who had left for recuperation, suddenly returned, but now she was to be sent to the Palace of Punishment? It was a place for exiling offending royals, rarely used. Just being sent there scarred their pride.
Moreover, rumors had spread throughout the palace that the Crown Prince and Princess were a lovey-dovey couple. For him to order her confinement personally? This could turn the entire palace upside down!
“What are you waiting for? Carry out my command.”
“Yes… Understood.”
The maid reluctantly escorted the Crown Princess to the Palace of Punishment. Structured like a prison, but Canibella remained silent. The maid glanced at her: lips tightly shut, a chilling aura. Terrifying.
“H-Here it is.”
The maid opened the door. Inside: a soft bed, desk, lantern, a few clothes. Canibella scanned the room impassively, gestured for the maid to leave, and lay on the bed. The plush feel did nothing to lift her spirits.
‘What should I do…’
How far had Lainen promised with Rasoni Kingdom? What had he received in exchange for silence on Lucamin’s death?
She didn’t believe the rumor that he had conspired with Muila to make Lainen forget everything about Rasoni and focus on her. If emotions alone resolved everything, why have politics and diplomacy?
Inter-kingdom issues weren’t that simple. Calming down, she realized the documents Ray gave her made no sense. Special products trade? Rasoni lived off tourism.
If they had specialties, she would know best.
Her mind raced, but nothing clicked. Her eyes ached; she closed them. She fell asleep and woke to bright sunlight, rubbing her eyes.
‘Stings.’
The sun’s glare was sharp and hot, but bearable. She decided to ask Lainen directly: What had he gained from Rasoni in exchange for silence on Lucamin’s death?
‘He probably won’t confess easily. Better to lead him with questions.’
Stretching, she paced the narrow room. Then came a knock, and Ray entered.
“Ray?”
“Your Highness…”
“What is it?”
“Worried this place might trouble you, I brought your usual tea.”
She drank the tea Ray offered. The bitter taste was just right.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. How can Your Highness be in such a humble place? I hope His Highness the Crown Prince calms soon. I want to serve you in the palace again.”
She wanted to snap that she hated being in the imperial palace at all, but swallowed it. She just gave a wry smile. Ray looked worried but obeyed her dismissal and left.
‘Right, I need to meet Lainen. Learn everything quickly and eliminate the threats.’
Her swordsmanship wasn’t exceptional (high standards from Lucamin), but she could probably beat Lainen. Not kill, but subdue. Plus, living as royalty, she knew secret passages. She could escape through one.
“I want to see the Crown Prince.”
The maid stared at the Crown Princess, who suddenly burst out demanding to see him. She called a nearby knight to inform Lainen.
“What’s going on?”
Rushing after clearing a mountain of documents at her request, Lainen panted heavily. A faint joy lit his face. But she remained unmoved.
“Let’s talk.”
With that, she stepped out of the Palace of Punishment. Guarding knights tried to stop her, but retreated at Lainen’s gesture. She walked endlessly. He followed quietly behind.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been alone like this.”
“Yeah.”
Her words moved him deeply. He kept pondering why she had tried to leave him. His conclusion: the sudden miscarriage had shocked her into an impulsive flight.
“You must have suffered.”
“I did. I lost someone precious, and I couldn’t do anything.”
He took it as their lost child. Lightly embracing her, he said,
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t there when you were grieving.”
“No, it’s fine. It was something I couldn’t tell anyone.”
Yes. The grief of losing Lucamin, like a father to her, couldn’t be shared.
“Let’s overcome it together now. We have plenty of time left.”
“No, we don’t. I’ll never overcome it. Not while you’re with me.”
She snapped coldly. He was speechless. She pressed him.
“This happened because of you. We were never meant to meet. If we hadn’t, none of this would have!”
“What? Not meant to meet? Absolutely not! How could I…!”
They grew heated. Lainen forgot to comfort; Canibella forgot her questions for truth. They just hurled painful, stinging words at each other.
“Enough. Can’t talk like this. Later.”
“What? Say it now. About my precious person…”
Then, a knight came running.
“Y-Your Highness! Big trouble!”
He whispered: a massive landslide in a northern village had turned it to rubble. Lainen bit his lip.
“…We’ll talk later.”
“There won’t be a next time.”
“You…!”
The knight looked baffled. But Canibella ignored him, glaring at Lainen. He sensed instinctively there’d be no next chance from her expression.
“Be….”
“Your Highness!”
But his call scattered into the air amid the knight’s urging. She watched his retreating back, then turned toward the Palace of Punishment.
Ray, who had seen it all, muttered,
“Success.”
『Cinderella’s Tears』 Volume 2 continues