Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Invitation
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Days passed like that, and one day at lunchtime.
The Imperial Crown Prince came to my room.
"Uncle Aiden."
"Oh? What's up?"
Have I gotten used to this kind of relationship now?
"Well... I heard you're heading back to the Grand Duchy soon. How about dinner with me tonight?"
He was the Imperial Crown Prince, far above my station by rights...
But ever since I became the Emperor's brother, it was only natural for the Crown Prince to show me respect.
"Hmm... Sure, why not?"
"Great! I'll have everything ready for dinner!"
The Crown Prince left with an excited grin.
Watching him go, I thought to myself.
He must be approaching me because I'm close to Luna, right?
From what Luna told me, he'd been putting in tremendous effort to plant spies in the Grand Duchess's palace.
He clearly saw me as a favored retainer of Luna's and was trying to get to her through me.
This could be a chance to make him give up on her.
Honestly, trying to steal the underwear of the woman he likes... It's only natural she'd despise him for it.
Whether I'm around or not, things between Luna and the Crown Prince were never going to work out.
He's a pervert, but he's still my brother's son. I should look out for him.
"Sigh... My brother is so upright, but his son is like this... The empire's future looks bleak."
-Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
I opened the door at the sound of Luna's voice, and she came in with a bright smile.
"Aiden, want to sneak out of the palace for some fun tonight?"
"Ah..."
I'd already made plans with the Crown Prince... Luna's sudden invitation put me in a tough spot.
"What's with that look?"
Maybe because I looked awkward, Luna eyed me up and down.
I told her about the Crown Prince's visit.
"What? And you accepted dinner with him?"
"Yeah. He's family, sort of, and I didn't have a good reason to turn him down."
Luna frowned.
"Ugh... Fair enough, but he's obviously going to spout some nonsense..."
Luna spoke with an anxious glint in her eyes.
"He wouldn't try to assassinate you, right?"
"Come on, I'm still his uncle. How could he? The Emperor hangs on my every word anyway."
That uncle of his has some guts—lately, he's been summoning me daily for drinks.
Thanks to that, I chugged a ton of yang liquor last night too.
"Sigh, true... The Emperor does seem to really like you."
I smiled at her half-lidded expression.
"Heh, it's all for the good of the Grand Duchy, isn't it?"
"You're right, but I still can't believe you became sworn brothers with the Emperor. Even the knights were shocked..."
A woman like Luna would probably never understand the Emperor's feelings.
About how I was his savior.
"Anyway... Let's go out tomorrow instead."
"Sounds good. Sigh... That guy's always such a hassle."
Luna's deep sigh echoed softly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Evening came soon enough.
Following the people the Crown Prince had sent...
"Uncle, you're here!"
Imperial Crown Prince Ferdinand sat at a massive dining table, beaming at me.
Sculpted features, lustrous golden curls, a fresh smile.
Even another man had to wonder how he could be so handsome.
"Yeah. Wait long?"
He shook his head.
"No, I've only just arrived myself."
Ferdinand had been awkward with the formal speech at first, but now he flashed a suave smile and called me "uncle" without missing a beat.
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I had the head chef bring out their specialties. Hope it suits your taste."
"Come on, my nephew prepared it. Of course it'll be delicious."
We exchanged smiles and chatted as the food started coming out.
As expected of the imperial palace cuisine. The Grand Duchy's chefs were good, but this was on another level.
"Is it to your liking?"
"Yeah, tastes even better knowing my nephew picked it out."
"Glad to hear it."
Ferdinand gave a subtle smile.
Dinner wrapped up, and during dessert...
After sipping his black tea, he spoke up.
"Uncle. I hear you're quite close with Grand Duchess Luna."
"Huh?"
Ferdinand's words—"quite close"—made my body tense as I pondered their meaning.
No way... Does he know about me and Luna?
A bead of sweat trickled down my back.
No? How?
We hadn't done anything in the room while at the palace.
I'd only teased her with caresses...
I was starting to worry if the food might be poisoned when...
"They say Grand Duchess Luna treats you with great consideration because of your talents. I'm jealous..."
Phew, he doesn't know?
Half-relieved, half-wary inside, I played it cool.
"Nah, what talents do I have? Just got lucky."
"Even so... Just being by her side is something I envy."
The Crown Prince smiled bitterly.
Yeah, so why'd you try bribing a maid to steal her underwear?
"Ahem, I heard you proposed to Her Grace the Grand Duchess..."
"Yes, that's right. Though she turned me down."
The mood grew heavy.
"So what now? You can't leave the Crown Princess position vacant forever."
Ferdinand was already of marriageable age.
The best outcome for me would be him naturally taking a wife and withdrawing his proposal to Luna.
Yeah, even one less rival would help.
He gave an embarrassed laugh at my words.
"But no one else catches my eye like she does."
Of course not.
In the novel, there couldn't be a character prettier or more captivating than the heroine, right?
But leaving Ferdinand like this...
He might show up at the wedding with an army one day.
Guess I'd have to play cuckoo bird and help him out.
"Ahem... Ferdinand. I know you're heartbroken, but there are plenty of women out there."
"I know. But..."
Ferdinand hung his head.
"Grand Duchess Luna keeps popping into my mind. What can I do?"
"Ferdinand, as one man to another, let me ask one thing."
I looked at him seriously, and he lifted his head to meet my gaze.
"Go ahead."
"Did you really try to bribe a maid to steal Her Grace's underwear?"
He flushed red, clearly caught off guard that I'd ask.
"That... um..."
I gave him a look that said "tell the truth" and waited calmly...
"Sigh, yes."
This guy's supposed to be the romance novel hero?
In the original story, Ferdinand was a pretty cool guy.
Handsome, good manners. Not like this at all...
"Why... would you do that?"
"Well..."
He hesitated, turning away, then forced out the words.
"I was just curious... what kind of scent her underwear would have, a woman that beautiful..."
I couldn't hide my shock.
Trash... He's total trash.
"Um... Uncle, why are you looking at me like that?"
"No... Just respecting your tastes... Ahem... Yeah."
A brief silence fell between us.
"Ferdinand. Listen up. If you hadn't been caught, fine, but since you were... You should give up on Her Grace."
I'd never heard of a protagonist stealing the heroine's panties.
And this wasn't even a comedy—it was a romance novel.
"But if she knew my pure feelings..."
"Pure? Is your purity frozen solid? Stealing women's panties is 'pure'?"
The handsome guys around here all seem to have a screw loose.
Jin was like that, and now this one too...
Maybe this isn't a romance novel but an erotic one?
Luna jumping me every night made it a reasonable suspicion.
"I... I've been reflecting on it!"
I shook my head roughly at that.
"No way. It's hopeless. Just give up."
Tears welled up in the Crown Prince's blue eyes at my harsh words.
"I can't! I... I can't live without her!"
"You only like Her Grace because of her looks, right?"
"That's... partly true, but not all! Her icy demeanor, her sharp intellect—everything about her makes my heart race."
Give me a break; it's all an act.
After meeting Luna, talking with her, living with her, I realized.
She's not actually cold. She just plays the part.
Ferdinand, fooled by the performance, doesn't deserve her.
He just wants the facade she puts on.
"So how do you plan to smooth over trying to steal her underwear? And you're the Crown Prince. Don't you know how much it's worrying your father not getting married?"
Whenever I drink with my brother, 90% is him bragging about melting my sister-in-law's heart or how his body's stronger than in his twenties, and 10% is fretting over Ferdinand not settling down.
He knew it too, hesitating.
"I know... But..."
"You have duties to think of."
He squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
"I won't marry anyone but her."
This guy... He's really serious about her looks, huh?
I could understand, seeing his strong fixation on beauty.
After seeing a beauty like Luna, no ordinary woman would satisfy a Crown Prince.
"Urgh..."
I racked my brain for a suitable match but drew a blank—until one idea hit me.
"Ferdinand... Want to come to the Grand Duchy with me this time?"
"Pardon? The Grand Duchy?"
He perked up and nodded eagerly.
"Really? I was worried Grand Duchess Luna wouldn't invite me... But you're inviting me, Uncle?"
Huh?
Her not inviting him caught my ear, but...
Eh, it's just my house in the Grand Duchy. Should be fine, right?
Probably fine?