TBKBS 24

Chapter : 24

The next day, I suggested a walk to Eden first.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, would you like to take a walk in the park?”

Once I made up my mind, I didn’t even have the mental space to wait until night to visit Eden’s room. All I wanted was to leave the Everetian Empire as soon as possible.

“Anywhere is fine, but are you feeling well?”

Eden asked with genuine concern because I had stayed hidden yesterday, using illness as an excuse.

“Yes, I’m fine. Shall we go then?”

“Good. By the way, it seems you like parks. We went to one last time as well.”

Eden said cheerfully.

Right, I did like parks. But today, I had to go to the park. I couldn’t discuss my plans for exile in a crowded library or café.

“I just wanted to go to the park today. Is that alright?”

“Of course. You know I like anywhere,” he said.

Seeing him act as if anywhere suited him, I felt a chill thinking about his sly intentions.

As always, while we walked along the path, Eden kept talking endlessly. But my mind was consumed with thoughts of exile, so his words barely registered in my brain.

“…you mean it?”

He asked me something.

Mean what? Were we talking about favorite foods?

“Yes, I guess so,” I replied vaguely, assuming it was a trivial question.

“Really? Are you serious?”

Eden’s eyes widened.

Wait, serious about what? Weren’t we talking about food? Had the topic shifted?

Looking into his round eyes, I had no choice but to ask him again.

“Ah… I think I didn’t hear the question properly. Could you repeat it?”

“Why are you thinking so hard? Focus, Rin,” he chided, uncharacteristically stern.

Right, focus, Rin! The one who literally held my life in his hands was in front of me.

I nodded vigorously and replied, “Ah, yes, sorry. So… what did you ask?”

“I asked if you love Duke Leon,” he said.

“Huh?”

What was that about?

“You said you were going to marry Duke Leon.”

“Ah…”

What is he talking about? When did I decide not to marry Leon? He knew that my marriage with Leon had already fallen through. Was he testing me? That sly fox…

I tensed up immediately. He was not someone to underestimate.

Before I knew it, our conversation had brought us into the park. I spoke to Eden, who seemed to be waiting for my answer.

“Eden, I’d like to go somewhere less crowded to talk. How about over there?”

I pointed to a secluded part of the park.

Eden’s eyes widened slightly as he looked down at me.

“Do you really need to answer whether you love Duke Leon in such a secluded place?”

“Yes.”

I was planning to bring up my exile.

“Hahaha!”

Suddenly, he laughed.

Why laugh? I was serious, even tense.

Seeing my expression, he stopped laughing and said, “I wasn’t asking if you love me. Why do we have to go somewhere secluded?”

“….”

Calm down, Rin. His laughter and teasing are all just a mask. Don’t get flustered; stay composed.

Though I was annoyed with Eden, I had to focus because I was about to say something important.

By the riverside bushes, he asked, “How about here? No one else is around. Is this okay?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, so what’s your answer, Rin?”

“Eden, you asked if I love Duke Leon, right?”

“Yes.”

“No, not at all. That’s why I don’t want that marriage. You must already know that.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Eden’s previously smiling face.

“Hm, what is it that I supposedly know?”

He still had that teasing, effortless air.

“In fact, I discovered that Your Highness was negotiating with my father and the Empress. I went to your room to ask something and accidentally overheard the conversation with my father.”

“!!!!”

Eden’s expression stiffened at my sudden confession.

I quickly added, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone what you said to my father.”

Eden’s expression softened immediately, and he returned to his usual calm demeanor.

“No worries. I’m just curious why you’re bringing this up.”

I tensed further.

“Because I don’t want to marry Duke Leon.”

“So? How does that relate to what you just said?”

His face seemed relaxed, but I sensed a chill in his tone.

“From what I overheard yesterday, even if I don’t want to marry Duke Leon, the secret agreement between Your Highness, my father, and the Empress would not be broken.”

Eden stared at me intently.

“And?”

“I may not have the power to change Your Highness, the Empress, or my father’s plans, but can I at least change my own life?”

I couldn’t let myself die helplessly because of their schemes.

“Your life… what exactly do you mean?”

Before I could answer, I swallowed hard.

“I wish to seek asylum in the Dacres Empire.”

I said it.

“!!!!! What?”

His face contorted with surprise. I guessed he hadn’t expected that.

I continued, speaking quickly, as if words were pouring out of me.

“I don’t want to get involved in the Everetian Empire’s succession struggle. I can’t risk my life to make a man I don’t love the Emperor.”

“So you want exile to avoid that fight?”

“Yes. Since my father has already made a pact not just with Your Highness but also with the Empress, it seems he cannot withdraw from that conflict.”

“So you mean to take a different stance from your father?”

“Yes.”

I answered firmly.

Eden, usually so playful and teasing, suddenly had nothing to say.

I waited, and after a moment of silence, he spoke again.

“You… seem to be assuming defeat in that fight.”

I swallowed silently once more. Eden wasn’t just someone who enjoyed love and life superficially; he had already discerned my hidden intentions.

I steadied my breath and replied,

“I don’t know who will ultimately claim the throne. But one thing is certain: if my father wins, Duke Leon will become Emperor, and I will likely have to become the wife of a man I do not love. If my father loses, I will die—by Calix’s hand.”

“Hm… You don’t like Leon, and you don’t want to die, is that it?”

I had phrased it as if I had carefully considered both possibilities before deciding on exile, but in truth, they were essentially the same. I disliked Leon because I didn’t want to die.

No, if Leon became Emperor, he wouldn’t be that bad… But no, he will never become Emperor. The only time he could claim the title is the few days it takes Calix to return to the capital from the border. After that, I would be dead.

Originally, I just needed to survive.

But I couldn’t reveal all these details, so I had to phrase it as I did.

“Yes. I want neither of them.”

Eden’s eyes sparkled with interest as he said,

“What about your father and brother? I thought your father made a secret pact with me because you insisted on marrying Duke Leon?”

Insisted? Even his phrasing annoyed me. It wasn’t me who clung—it was Kaelin in the story. Kaelin and Leon liked each other; it wasn’t one-sided.

But I ignored his choice of words. Right now, that was trivial.

“I did think that way before, but not anymore. I told my father not to try to seize the throne. I persuaded him, but as you know, he didn’t break the pact.”

Even though I didn’t feel completely like family, I still felt some sympathy for my father and brother.

“You don’t feel responsible for your father, considering you caused the Duke’s decision?”

His words clearly blamed me. Of course, he might see me as a reckless child acting on whims. He had no way of knowing I was different from Kaelin, who once loved Leon.

“Even if my father made the pact for me alone, I did not wish to make an agreement that condoned the Dacres Empire’s territorial invasion.”

I spoke with blame and resentment.

“I see. This isn’t a pact that can be overturned by your capricious tastes in men,” Eden said, teasing me.

Why did my father make a pact with such an annoying person? I wanted to complain.

But I needed to ask Eden for help. I composed myself and said calmly,

“Yes, you had no plans to break the pact. So I have no choice but to leave.”

“For exile, you mean?”

“Yes.”

Eden fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, then asked,

“Even if Leon becomes Emperor, you wouldn’t necessarily have to be Empress, right? You could refuse if you dislike it.”

No, that’s not possible! Leon will definitely lose. That option doesn’t exist. I was just making it sound plausible. I will just die—Calix will kill me. He killed me even when he loved me. Now that he doesn’t, of course, he will.

“I don’t want to sit idly by, optimistically thinking my father will win. Even if he wins, I cannot stake my life in a fight that yields nothing for me. And if I lose, I will die anyway.”

“….”

Eden fell silent again. The only daughter of the Brockburg Dukedom, applying for asylum from the Everetian Empire’s Chancellor. He might have expected it, but he needed a moment to process the sudden request.

I waited calmly for him to speak.