Chapter 040
So the barbarian dude catches axe fever or whatever.
Father furrowed his brow deeply. From the side, my brother asked in a slightly flustered tone.
"Not just anyone, but Lady Elisia von Rosenberg? In disguise? At a café? She got caught spying on you?"
"Yeah."
It was a scene straight out of common sense collapsing. Brother's reaction was perfectly normal. This wouldn't even make the cut for a third-rate tabloid.
"Have you ever seen me lie to Father in a way I couldn't back up? Even if my head gets bashed in for getting caught, I don't lie to him. That's how I can live carefree and shamelessly."
"Are you bragging about that right now?"
"Come on, I'm pretty tame compared to others. You have no idea how wild second sons get when the eldest is as smart as you."
"Haa."
Hee hee hee. As expected, Brother's weak against me.
I continued to Father. "Just spin up the intelligence bureau, and it'll all come out. We got friendly by chance, and today's meetup was chance too. That's it. Why would I hang around the future lady of the imperial house? You know I hate living tired like that."
Brother was dumbfounded, mouth agape. I clicked my tongue.
Brother's got a long way to go. Look at Father. Not even a twitch at this bullshit.
Yeah, not just anyone can be the family head. Time for more heir lessons, Bro.
Father asked with unshaken eyes. "And?"
"Well, she was feeling cooped up, so she disguised herself and wandered the bustling streets to blow off steam, and happened to run into me. Said she was curious or something."
"And after that?"
"She wanted to go for a walk and tag along wherever I was headed, so I said sure. We're not total strangers, so refusing would've made me the bad guy."
"……."
"So we picked out some cosmetics for Aunt Marie today. The brown bottle ones."
"……Hah."
Haron let out a disbelieving gasp. Father fell silent for a moment, then fired a sharp question.
"You just said it yourself, but you're aware the lady has a fiancé, right?"
"Father."
I straightened up and nodded seriously. "When have I ever said I don't want to work and study? Have I ever said I want to live like an idiot? I didn't cross any lines. You know that."
"……."
Well, technically I did nudge over the line with some presumptuous advice right before we parted. But no need to confess that, right? It was necessary. Especially now that I'd taken responsibility for Lily.
Combining the fuzzy original story memories of Elisia with what I'd observed over the past few days...
That woman wasn't born a bitch spewing venom. She was like a pressure cooker with the vent blocked, stoking the fire nonstop until it finally exploded.
No outlet for her emotions. That's how it always is. You gotta know how to blow up properly for that. That lady clearly never had a proper meltdown in her life. Her novel tantrums were probably just a protractor gone haywire.
So stress relief was essential. Otherwise, who knows where it'd go. Like, suddenly crushing on some total barbarian thug who looks nothing like the crown prince.
So the barbarian dude catches axe fever or whatever.
Stuff like that. I'd done my best today to nip any messy plot twists in the bud.
Father stared at me silently, as if peering into the depths of my eyes for my true intentions.
A moment later.
"……I see."
Father waved his hand. "Out with you."
"Pardon? That's it?"
"Want more nagging?"
"No! None! I'll take my leave!"
I bowed like I'd been waiting and bolted from the study without looking back.
Bam.
The door shut, and Kasian's footsteps faded. Heavy silence settled over the study again.
A long while later, Haron swallowed dryly and spoke.
"……A blessing."
"What is?"
"Kasian's explanation makes the incomprehensible parts click."
The reason Haron del Parne had rushed home without telling Kasian.
It was a secret letter from the imperial guard requesting cooperation.
Direct order from His Highness the Crown Prince.
Haron gave a bitter smile. "The culprit was in our house."
Corinth didn't even pick up the report, just stared out the window. The moon in the night sky was veiled by clouds, shining dimly.
"How shall we report it?"
The crown prince and the lady. And Kasian caught in between.
Too much political weight to dismiss as mere romantic drama.
Corinth rested his chin, pondered briefly, then spoke decisively. "Take this down."
"Yes, Father."
Haron pulled out his notepad and pen familiarly.
"One rule. Stay true to the intelligence bureau's duty. No falsehoods."
That was the ironclad principle allowing the Parne family to rule as the emperor's shadow. Trust came from unvarnished truth.
But Haron knew his father wouldn't abandon his son for that principle.
"First. Lady Rosenberg's psychological state."
Corinth recited lowly. "Cause unknown. Appears distressed. Showing sharp emotional swings recently."
"Noted."
"Second. Unusual activity."
Corinth's eyes sharpened. "Immediately after meeting His Highness the Crown Prince, she disembarked her carriage, used a perception-disrupting artifact to disguise herself, and wandered the streets."
"……!"
Haron's pen paused. Crystal-clear political maneuvering. Emphasizing the timing right after meeting the prince subtly implied her deviation stemmed from stress caused by him.
In other words, you're the cause. Silent pressure.
"Third. Request."
Corinth drove it home. "If further investigation needed, request permission not just for Lady Rosenberg, but also His Highness the Crown Prince's schedule, as a potential cause provider."
"……Father."
"And the most crucial note."
"Yes."
"Contact confirmed with Kasian del Parne, but no unusual matters."
Corinth paused, then added in a crystal-clear voice. "Upon further investigation request, prepare report on Kasian del Parne personally, not Lady Rosenberg. This house is fully prepared to disclose transparently without a speck of concealment."
Haron looked up. It was a burning the boats gambit no matter how you heard it. Touch him if you dare. We'll shake down our own son and see if any dust flies.
But in exchange, give full authority to prove innocence perfectly. Dig deeper, and it's official distrust of House Parne.
"……You trust him."
Haron asked quietly. "Kasian."
"Not about trust."
Corinth picked up his pen again. "Like he says, that kid's no fool who goes around doing reckless crap."
He remembered Kasian's eyes. Feigning fear or injustice under threats, yet never truly shaken.
That cunning refusing the army for "family safety" over personal gain.
"Besides."
Corinth sighed lowly, rubbing his temple. "The kid's a stubborn non-marriage advocate."
"……Ah."
"You think your brother's dropping his vow to live free, single, and die old over some girl's face?"
"No."
Before Father, Haron couldn't voice his usual take: Kasian's laziness has soul and philosophy.
"Understood. I'll report as is."
That dawn, before the crown prince's chambers.
Hector stood night watch with the guards. Moments later.
Swish.
A shadow rose silently from the darkness. An intelligence agent in a mask. He wordlessly handed Hector a red-waxed envelope from his bosom, then vanished like smoke.
"……."
Hector gripped the envelope tightly. This held why the lady changed her heart.
He wanted to open it, but not tonight.
He turned without hesitation and knocked on the crown prince's door.
Knock knock.
Normally, he'd report at morning briefing. The prince's sleep tied to national strength.
But not this time. Bring it the moment the reply arrives. Louis's order before bed.
"Come in."
Immediate response. Louis was awake. Maybe waiting all night.
Creeeak.
Hector entered; Louis, propped on the bedhead, closed his book. Impeccable even in nightclothes. But dark fatigue under his eyes.
"Here?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Reply from intelligence."
Hector offered the envelope politely with both hands.
"You could've read and summarized first, as always."
"……Not this time."
Hector bowed. He knew. Until now, Louis treated the engagement as pure politics. No emotion—just alliance between imperial and ducal houses.
So Hector had preview rights, like any task.
But this wasn't business anymore. It was personal, laced with feeling.
He smiled bitterly, hooking a finger on the wax. "Good call."
Crack.
The red wax shattered in the silent chamber.
Rustle. Paper turning echoed loudly. Louis moved to the sofa, reading the report.
Ten minutes later, his gaze stopped on the last line: the note.
"……Ha."
A hollow laugh broke the silence. Absurd? Impressive?
Louis tossed the report on the table and eyed Hector. "Read it."
"……Pardon the intrusion."
Hector took the papers carefully. A few lines in, his eyes widened in shock.
"This……."
"Palace Count indeed. What an old fox."
Louis leaned deep into the sofa. "He put his own son under investigation. Even though it was just coincidental."