TBKBS 20

Chapter : 20

Back in my room, I threw the book onto the bed.

Ugh, how many days do I still have to live under the same roof with that sly man?

Nothing ever goes right because of this book.

As if the book I threw onto the bed was Eden himself, I glared at it.

Why is it that everything keeps getting tangled up… because of that book!!!!

That book!

The book… that book is…

A good book.

Come to think of it, it was just a book—it had no fault.

I calmed myself down, and with excitement bubbling up, I carefully began tearing off the wrapping paper.

Finally, the wrapping came off, revealing the title.

<The Duke’s Daughter’s Unforgettable Night>

Dun-dun!

It was that book.

At last, that book was in my hands!

I glanced around the room.

Hmm, nothing suitable.

There wasn’t any large sheet of paper to wrap around the cover.

Hmm…

As I searched the room, my gaze landed on a book by the bed.

<An Introduction to Philosophy for the Education of a Duke’s Daughter>

It was the very book Eden had mocked me with last time.

I carried the philosophy book to the table.

Then I ruthlessly tore out its bound pages.

So that Unforgettable Night could slip right inside the Introduction to Philosophy.

After the work was done, seeing The Duke’s Daughter’s book snugly hidden inside the philosophy volume put me in a good mood for once.

At least this time, that rascal had brought me the right book.

The thought of spending even one more day under the same roof with Eden became just a little more bearable.

“You say she still roams around the center of Everen?”

“Yes. On fixed days, at fixed times, in fixed places. Tomorrow is Thursday, so it will be the café street.”

Calix was receiving a report from Rajif about the movements of House Brockburke—more specifically, about the young lady who had recently been grating on his nerves.

Kaelyn Brockburke’s latest confession had been impossible to ignore or pretend not to hear.

More than a confession—she had said he could like her, even obsess over her.

It seemed clear there was distance between her and Leon now, but she was still the Duke of Brockburke’s daughter—his undeniable enemy.

Her strange behavior might well be a calculated psychological tactic, the kind women could wield with precision.

She irritated his nerves just enough on the surface, while secretly preparing a more thorough and meticulous plan for rebellion against the crown.

He almost wavered at her bright expression, but before her—claiming to know about gaps in his memory and psyche—Calix had been able to tighten his guard again.

She seemed to know he had blanks in his memory, probing him to confirm it.

Facing her cheerful expression as she poked at his missing memories, he had to fight hard to keep his trembling left hand under control.

And still, she roamed the city of Everen without fail every single day.

At fixed times, in fixed places.

“You’ve never seen her meet anyone at the café?”

“No, always alone.”

So she could move secretly enough to evade even Rajif’s eyes.

“I’ll have to meet her myself again. To find out what exactly she’s doing.”

At Calix’s grave tone, Rajif hesitated before speaking up.

“Your Highness, in my opinion…”

“?”

Rajif faltered once more, then finally said it.

“At first, I thought I might be overlooking something in her movements, or failing to read their meaning.”

“And?”

If even Rajif couldn’t discover anything, then it was safe to assume no one could.

“But… after observing her for a long time…”

“The result—say it quickly, Rajif!”

Unusually hesitant, Rajif was urged by Calix’s sharp voice.

“She doesn’t seem to have any thoughts at all.”

At last, he gave his opinion after watching Kaelyn for so long.

“What?”

“The books she borrows from the library are always of the same sort. They seem purely personal, hardly intentional. And she contacts no one. Honestly, there’s no need for you to meet her yourself…”

“Rajif!”

“Yes.”

At the sudden sharp call, Rajif stiffened at attention.

“That’s exactly what’s strange. She’s the Duke of Brockburke’s daughter. There’s no way she has no thoughts—yet she makes herself seem like she doesn’t. That isn’t easy.”

“Ah… yes.”

Rajif said nothing more and left Calix’s office.

He wondered if perhaps the Crown Prince was simply overreacting, overly fixated on Kaelyn Brockburke.

Of course, at first Rajif too had kept wary of the duke’s daughter. But after long observation, she had seemed so harmless it made watching her feel meaningless.

Aside from her dangerously beautiful looks—and the fact she was the duke’s daughter—there was nothing suspicious at all.

But the Crown Prince insisted on receiving reports about every trivial detail that seemed devoid of meaning.

And whenever he met her, his otherwise rational composure was shaken with strange, unsettled emotions.

Not something you could point out exactly, but… he seemed nervous, restless, unstable.

Very unlike the usual Calix.

That was why Rajif had wanted to stop him from meeting her again.

But if Calix insisted on meeting her himself, then so be it.

Perhaps he really had missed something.

I had planned to slip out for a secret walk, but somehow, like a ghost, Eden slithered out of the parlor on the way to the front hall. How long had he been waiting there?

Do you really have to come with me?

When I sighed, he gave me a pleasant smile.

“I heard it’s the day you go to the café?”

Ha!

Who was it! Who told him my walking routine!

According to my routine, yes—it was indeed the day I went to a café.

I would follow the path, turn toward the busy street leading to the café alley, and stop at whichever café caught my fancy to enjoy a quiet cup of tea. That was my Thursday ritual.

Must I really go to a café with this man?

His smirking face annoyed me, but I forced myself to remember the book he’d brought me the night before—the one that had kept me happy until late.

Well, at least this time he brought the right book. And to be honest, going to cafés alone every time could get a bit lonely.

Fine. Let’s go together.

Since my anger had softened thanks to his gift, I decided to stick to my usual routine and let him join me.

That book had been worth it.

“Yes, shall we go to the café together?”

“Gladly, Lin.”

!!!!

I looked up at him in shock.

“Lin”?

Only my father, my brother, and Aby called me that.

Yet, seeing my bewildered eyes, he just grinned shamelessly.

“The Chancellor and Duke Rookford call you that.”

“Yes, but that’s a family nickname.”

“Hmm… is that so? Only for family? Are you saying you want me to be family now?”

“What?”

Unbelievable! Ridiculous!

“No!”

“What not?”

“I’m saying I don’t want you to be family!”

“Then I’ll just keep using the nickname.”

What kind of logic is that?

“Do as you please.”

Call me whatever you want!

His nonsense had drained even the will to argue from me.

Throughout the walk, he kept chattering.

“Lin, when did you become this beautiful?”

Throwing out useless lines that sounded straight out of some drama.

No way he’d seen a Korean drama, though.

“I must have been beautiful from birth.”

Do beauties suddenly become beauties? I must’ve been one since the beginning.

At my reply, Eden chuckled and muttered unprompted:

“I too was dazzling from birth.”

Ha! So that’s why he started with that drama line—to boast about himself!

What was more infuriating was that I couldn’t deny it—his face truly was dazzling.

“Your Highness, you really seem to enjoy life.”

Try thinking seriously for once.

Why are you idling around like this in a foreign country, like a carefree playboy?

Some people struggle with life-and-death worries, you know.

“Life is fun if you live it with joy. Right now it’s even more fun—because I’m walking with someone so beautiful.”

Though my tone had dripped with sarcasm, Eden either didn’t catch it, or pretended not to, just smiling slyly.

“Hah!!!”

I let out a loud scoffing laugh before I realized it.

He didn’t mind at all.

“Which way has more cafés?”

Fine. I give up.

I resigned myself and answered plainly.

“Shall we go to this one today?”

I led him into the café I often frequented.

Since I always came alone, the shopkeeper was surprised to see me arrive with such a dazzlingly handsome man.

“Lady, welcome. And who might this gentleman be?”

“Ah…”

What should I say?

While I hesitated, Eden answered.

“I’m someone living under the same roof with her.”

Crazy! He really spouts whatever nonsense he wants!

“Oh my! I thought you were a young lady, but you’re a married woman! Your husband is truly handsome.”

The café owner fussed in delight.

What?

She’d never even acknowledged me before, no matter how many times I came.

I gave Eden a slightly bitter look.

Sigh, it’s depressing that you’re that dazzling.

But still—“married woman”? “Husband”?

This was chaos.

“No, no. She’s just a guest staying at my house.”

“Ah, I see!”

The café owner’s smile grew even brighter.

Why was she fawning so hard over him?

Annoyed by her over-the-top reaction, I silently swore never to come back here again, and sat down at a window table inside.

The owner rushed over to take our order but couldn’t keep her eyes off Eden.

As she walked away, I muttered:

“The owner seems completely out of her mind over handsome men, Your Highness.”

Eden only smiled.

“She has good taste. I bet her business thrives. But you know, something suddenly struck me.”

“What struck you?”

I asked automatically, by habit—then regretted it immediately.

I didn’t want to hear what this man was feeling!

Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

“The words ‘wife’ and ‘husband.’ It occurred to me… don’t you think you and I would suit those roles quite well?”

What!

Unbelievable.

This is exactly why I never want to hear him talk—this kind of nonsense has to be shut down from the start.

I looked him straight in the eyes and asked seriously:

“Your Highness, do you like me?”

Enough with the jokes!

“Hmm… well. I’ve never really thought about it. Should I start thinking about it?”

“What?”