TBKBS 07

Chapter : 07

As soon as I left the mansion and stepped onto the walking path, I spoke to Eden.

“Your Highness Crown Prince Eden! You don’t need to give me books or gifts anymore, so I hope you won’t show up out of the blue like this to bother me again.”

“Oh, oh! Bother you? I just came because I had an important appointment with your father today. I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”

An important appointment?

Hmph! Lying.

What important appointment could you possibly have with my father!

“I see. Then I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again?”

I asked, locking eyes with him as if expecting a definite answer.

“Well, if it’s worth seeing, I might. But isn’t there a memory you want me to forget? I think you said you’d help me forget it properly.”

“……”

I don’t care whether he remembers or not. I just want to make sure we don’t see each other again.

Seeing me glare at him silently with annoyance, Eden continued.

“I have a feeling I’ll see you again, Caelin, whether in Everlen or in my own country, the Dakkus Empire. That’s why I brought a book as a gift to make a good impression. But it seems your thoughts are a little different from mine.”

“……”

Yes, different! Completely different.

In the novel I wrote, we wouldn’t see each other again.

But you’ve already appeared in front of me far too often, unlike the story.

Unable to say “Let’s stop meeting,” I kept my mouth shut while Eden went on.

“Let’s meet again, Caelin, whether in Everlen or in the Dakkus Empire.”

I said we wouldn’t meet again!

Even in Everlen, we wouldn’t meet, so why on earth would I go to your country, the Dakkus Empire, to see you?

Ah… but if he’s talking about seeing me in Dakkus, does that mean he’ll return soon?

“You’re returning to the Dakkus Empire?” I asked.

“Soon, yes.”

He’s leaving.

And that was a somewhat welcome piece of news.

Feeling a bit lighter, I politely replied,

“Ah, then please take care on your way back. Stay healthy.”

Stay healthy and safe.

And don’t get hurt later when you fight Calix.

Since you’re just a supporting character, I haven’t written your story in detail, so I don’t even know if you’ll get hurt.

“You’re saying goodbye as if we won’t meet again. Who knows when we’ll see each other next,” Eden muttered with a strangely cheerful expression.

Why is he so happy about that?

I tilted my head, puzzled at his inscrutable emotion, as Eden nodded slightly and began walking away.

As his figure grew smaller in my sight, I felt my heart lighten.

Finally, when he completely disappeared from view, I hurried back home.

The moment of being flustered by the book he brought had passed, and I had to read the book I received.

Ah, finally! A feast for my mind and my eyes awaits!

I carefully unwrapped the layers of neatly packaged books.

“Daughter of the Duke’s House….”

Right! Daughter of the Duke’s House…

“!!!!!!!”

Damn it!

You wretched man!!!!!!!!!!!

After sending all the maids away, I carefully held the book in my arms, locked the door to ensure no one could see, and unwrapped the package. The book’s title was: “Introduction to Philosophy for the Cultured Daughter of the Duke’s House.”

That bastard…

My clenched fist trembled with fury.

The next day, having recovered my composure after refusing to take a walk the day before because Eden had stopped me, I left the house again for my walk.

But as soon as I stepped outside, a lavish carriage had stopped in front of my house.

Who could it be?

The carriage door opened, and a middle-aged man stepped out.

He approached me and said,

“You must be the daughter of Duke Brockburk. Where are you headed?”

“Um… who…?”

I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to ask.

Fortunately, he seemed unbothered by my reaction and readily introduced himself.

“You don’t remember me, I see. I am Rastus Kerkain, Marquis. I came to see your father, the Duke.”

“Oh… hello? My father is inside. I was just going out for a walk, so I’ll see you next time.”

Even though he said who he was, I still didn’t know him. I just pretended I did.

He nodded at my response and headed toward the entrance, while I continued down the walking path.

Rastus Kerkain.

Kerkain… who was that again?

The name was on my character relationship chart, but I couldn’t recall exactly who he was.

Marquis Kerkain…?

Ah! That’s him!

I finally remembered who he was.

Calix’s father, the Emperor, was Klaus Everlen, and Calix’s biological mother, the former Empress, died when Calix was around ten.

Shortly afterward, the Emperor remarried.

The new Empress’s name was Rainer Kerkain.

She had become the Emperor’s consort immediately after the former Empress gave birth to Calix, and shortly after became a mother herself.

Her illegitimate son was Leon, now a Duke.

The new Empress also had a younger brother: Rastus Kerkain.

The man visiting my home was the younger brother of the new and current Empress, Rainer Kerkain.

Despite my strong demand that my father support Calix, he stubbornly adhered to his previous plan for unknown reasons.

So this man must have come to strengthen the alliance between my father and the Empress for the rebellion plot.

A red warning light flashed in my head, and my heart raced.

I couldn’t understand why my father, who initially supported the rebellion because of my love for Leon, continued to maintain close ties with the Empress’s faction.

My father had joined the rebellion under the condition that I, in love with Leon, be placed with the Empress.

Thus, since I refused to marry Leon, I assumed my father would easily let go of the Empress’s hand.

However, for some reason, my father insisted it was too late to turn back and wouldn’t change his stance.

Had he gone too deep to break the agreement with the Empress’s faction?

Was it difficult to break a pact once made?

Did he believe Duke Leon’s future was more secure than Calix’s?

Or was it because the changes in my relationship with Calix weren’t yet apparent?

I considered all these possibilities.

Perhaps these were the reasons my father refused to change his mind.

So for now, my only option was to let my father see firsthand that Calix loved me and I loved him.

When would I see Calix next?

Ah, the jousting tournament!

In the novel I wrote, the next episode was the Royal Jousting Tournament, scheduled just a few days away.

Rastus Kerkain’s visit only made me more anxious. I resolved to show Calix my affection more actively during the tournament.

Though Calix had acted indifferent at the previous royal party, by now, he was undoubtedly burning with desire for me.

Wait, Calix! For both our sakes, I’ll do my best!

Finally, the day of the Everlen Empire’s annual jousting tournament arrived.

It was a tournament using wooden lances instead of real ones.

Even with wooden lances, the competition was fierce, serious, and dangerous.

Before the match, participants would march around the oval arena once and line up at the center.

The arena had tiered seating, and the audience cheered, clapped, and shouted as the participants passed by.

This march was what young unmarried men and women of Everlen eagerly awaited every year.

Women could tie handkerchiefs to the lances of men they admired to show affection or confess love, and men could similarly ask for luck from the women they admired.

It was a public display of romance.

In my novel, Caelin would tie a handkerchief to Leon’s lance.

Calix, seeing this, would attack Leon and unseat him, leaving Leon injured for months.

But I intended to tie my handkerchief to Calix’s lance, not Leon’s.

I had to help him, who was weak against love, and for our relationship to progress quickly.

Behind Calix rode Leon, followed by numerous nobles and knights.

I held the handkerchief, scented with flower perfume, tightly, waiting for Calix to approach.

Finally, Calix’s horse neared, passing right in front of the stands where I sat.

“Crown…!”

I was about to call the Crown Prince.

“Caelin!”

It was Leon.

Leon, riding right behind the Crown Prince, stopped in front of me and called my name.

Go! Go away!

Calix is watching!

I quickly turned to check Calix’s face, throwing Leon a cold glance.

Huh?

He was just in front of me, but where did he go?

Calix had already passed by me calmly, continuing the march.

Did he just go past me?

Without even glancing at my handkerchief?

Seriously, why is he like this?

Show your feelings already!

I am not the Caelin from the novel.

Seeing only the back of Calix, I fumed internally.

Meanwhile, Leon waited.

“Caelin Brockburk, will you give me your handkerchief?”

Seriously?

Everyone’s eyes were on us.

At that moment, Calix glanced back at me and Leon.

Of course!

He would be angry if I tied the handkerchief for Leon.

I was about to refuse Leon, but before I could, Calix turned his head away and continued forward in his direction!

‘!!!!!’

Oh, come on!

I was about to refuse Leon, and he couldn’t resist looking back…

Frustrated, I turned back to Leon.

I had clearly replied to his engagement letter before, stating I would break the engagement and supported the Crown Prince, making my stance clear.

Why can’t he let go?

I wrote him as a passionate, pure first love in my novel.

What should I do?

Leon openly asking for my handkerchief, with so many eyes watching…

People’s eyes remained fixed on us, especially the Empress sitting next to the Emperor, watching me intently.

The Empress…

No, I cannot!

I must stay alert! I cannot give any indication of joining the rebellion!

I hardened my resolve and said to Leon,

“Your Grace, may luck be with you. But my handkerchief…”

I intended to give it to my brother, Luke.

Suddenly, next to Leon, a familiar face appeared on a horse.

‘!!!’

It was Crown Prince Eden.

Damn it! What is he doing here?

I thought he said he would return to his country.

Why is he still here?

Even more absurd was what Eden said next:

“You were going to give me your handkerchief, Caelin.”

What?

I’m supposed to give it to you?

When did I ever say that?!!