Chapter 4

Edwin curled his hand into a fist, covering his mouth, and laughed in a blissful, almost ecstatic way.

“It was a joke.”

But it didn’t feel like one.

“…Not a very funny joke.”

“Well, that’s because it wasn’t.”

“…It was a joke, right?”

“Yes.”

I was completely caught in his game.

And so began a long, desperate, and nerve-wracking tea time—where I tried not to think anything at all so my thoughts wouldn’t be read by a telepath.

* * *

“You’re going to take it yourself?”

“Yeah.”

Edwin was a problem, but there was an even bigger one left.

My head was pounding so badly now that it felt like it might split open.

I carried the plate of food the maid had given me and headed to the annex basement. The sharp sound of my heels echoed in the silent corridor, click-clack, ringing in my ears.

I wasn’t sure if the pain in my temples or the annoying sound of my own footsteps was the cause, but my heart was racing like crazy.

Once I descended to the lowest level, I saw the gatekeeper.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all, my lady.”

He met my gaze, and I smiled brightly. His face turned red, and he quickly stepped aside.

Just like that, I was able to enter the room where Sethna Nocturne Delmaris, Crown Prince of the Empire, was being held.

Creak.

As the door opened, what greeted me was—

“…My god.”

—Sethna’s wretched condition.

I stepped inside, and the chill in the room clung to my skin like frost. I spoke slowly.

“Even if you use magic, it won’t work. You’re wearing a restraint around your neck.”

The collar he wore suppressed his abilities.

Sethna’s power as Crown Prince was ice manipulation. He could freeze anything and everything.

Even considering we were in the basement, the intense cold was likely due to his constant attempts to use his power.

“Mmgh… ngh…”

I had already approached, but he was glaring toward the direction the door had opened. It seemed he truly couldn’t see—some kind of blindfold or control device must have been in place.

“If you stop using your power, I’ll take off your gag.”

At that, his eyes shifted to a cool, glacial blue. Like the surface of a glacier—clear and striking—but perhaps slightly clouded due to his lack of sight.

I placed the food I brought on a small nearby table.

As I reached toward the back of his head, he flinched.

“I have to undo it from the back to take the gag off.”

Slowly, he eased up and once again turned his head toward the sound. Our eyes met, but it didn’t feel like he was truly seeing me.

Relieved by that, I started to undo the gag.

“Please turn your head a bit. I can’t reach.”

Unfortunately, he was restrained against the wall, and the gag was fastened like a buckle at the back of his head. It wasn’t easy to undo.

To use both hands, I had to put down the plate of food, so I placed it on the nearby table, then approached him again and worked with both hands to remove the gag.

“Ngh…”

Finally, I unfastened the buckle, and the gag came off. There were long, red marks around his mouth.

“…Who are you?”

“I’m a maid of House Rosmond.”

Lying felt uncomfortable, but if I said I was Lady Ivnes, he might remember me.

Besides, I didn’t know much of the original story.

Only the very beginning, where Edwin and Sethna meet, and some of the… more intense scenes. I skipped around and, out of curiosity, read the ending.

The problem was—they absolutely loathed each other.

Even while making love, they were filled with hate and ended up killing each other. They drank the same poison, shared a final act of love, and died together—a horrifying, twisted ending.

“This voice…”

“Yes?”

“Lady Ivnes. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize your voice?”

“…Yes.”

So he remembered. I thought he wouldn’t, since I had only ever exchanged a handful of words with Sethna despite putting a lot of effort into business dealings.

Besides, as Crown Prince, he had little reason to speak with me in the first place. He was the beloved, legitimate son of Emperor Delmaris, cherished above all.

“…Ha.”

Well, it wasn’t like I could do anything about being exposed.

“How did you know? This is the first time we’ve had a meaningful conversation, isn’t it?”

I wondered if maybe he had overheard my earlier exchange with Edwin. I stared at him, but he was still gazing off in the wrong direction—his sight clearly obstructed.

“You greatly underestimate me, Lady.”

“It’s not that. I just hoped you wouldn’t know.”

“Know what? That House Rosmond is plotting treason by capturing me?”

He was brimming with hostility—as expected. Who wouldn’t be, after being kidnapped?

“No, I just wanted you to know that I have nothing to do with this.”

“Then why are you standing in front of me?”

“I came because I was worried Your Highness might starve.”

The truth was… I needed to help him escape.

If I stayed here any longer, I might truly be framed for kidnapping the Crown Prince, just like Edwin said.

Besides, in the original story, Edwin only kidnapped Sethna out of boredom, but now? I had no idea what his motives were.

“My ability is telepathy, my lady.”

That statement still echoed ominously in my mind.

“Get lost.”

He growled, snarling. But I couldn’t let him die like this. I picked up the food and utensils from the nearby table and stood before him.

“You should at least eat. It’ll make it easier for you to escape.”

“How am I supposed to trust you?”

“What would make you trust me?”

“Think I would? Slit your throat in front of me. Then I might believe you.”

His arrogant, commanding tone reminded me exactly why I had never been able to get close to him.

“If I die, who’s going to help you escape?”

“There are plenty who’ll come for me, even if it’s not you.”

Unfortunately for him, his stepmother—the current Empress—was obstructing all rescue efforts. In the original story, Sethna only returned to the palace after being completely broken by Edwin—emotionally, physically.

He returned on the day of his father’s death—the death of Emperor Delmaris, his only ally.

Originally, Edwin only intended to toy with Sethna and kill him. But after imprisoning him, he developed feelings. After they became lovers, Edwin wanted his heart, too.

So when the Emperor died, Edwin let Sethna go—knowing he’d have nowhere else to turn and would return to him.

It was horrifying… truly twisted.

“If that’s what you believe, fine. I’ll free one of your arms. Eat by yourself.”

“…”

“Or would you rather I prove it by eating first?”

He looked confused, frowning deeply.

“And how exactly am I supposed to eat when I can’t even see?”

“Ah, right. You’ve been staring at me this whole time. I forgot you can’t see.”

I reached for his neck.

“Ugh… What are you doing?”

As I touched his skin, he strangely calmed.

“I thought maybe it was linked to the collar. Hold on.”

I pressed around the restraint on his neck, but it seemed to only suppress his powers—it wouldn’t come off.

Maybe it was the bloodied earring I’d seen earlier. I gently touched it.

“Ow.”

“Were you blind when they put it on?”

“I don’t know. I was unconscious when I woke up like this.”

I wasn’t sure if I’d seen the earring before or not, but I decided to remove it. His expression was hard to read—pain, or maybe just sensitivity—as he leaned into my hand.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“Did you awaken?”

“…What?”

He blinked repeatedly, as if his vision was returning. His wide eyes looked almost innocent, at odds with our situation.

It was the first time I’d seen him this close. I was just as surprised as he was—and I couldn’t help but stare.

“Can you see clearly now?”

“…Move.”

“Yes.”

Seeing his ears flush in discomfort, I figured I shouldn’t push my luck. I stepped back.

As I said, I freed his left arm.

“Watch.”

I scooped up some sweet potato salad with a knife instead of a spoon and took a bite.

The chef’s skills were excellent—it tasted fine.

“Now, you can eat.”

I dragged the table closer to him, placed a spoon in his freed hand, and said:

“I’ll be back soon. Ah, and if there’s a pill hidden inside the food, make sure you spit it out.”

As his glare grew sharper, I reflexively smiled and quickly exited the basement.

* * *

I felt like my guts had not only shriveled up but melted away completely—nothing left.

The reason?

“Edwin? Why are you in my room?”

I had only just returned from visiting Sethna, and there Edwin was, standing amidst the wreckage of my room. It looked like he’d vented his rage here, tearing the place apart.

And then—

“Ah, the Master ordered me to search your room, my lady. And I found something quite interesting… Lady Ivnes.”

In that moment, I realized exactly what he was holding.

“The money you funneled into a false account… you haven’t returned it yet, have you?”

It was my escape fund.

“Care to explain?”

Shit.