TBKBS 34

Chapter : 34

The maids rushed into the room.

“Miss, are you all right?”
“Oh my, Miss, why are you trembling like this?”
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has left.”

Even as I heard the maids’ words, I couldn’t quite process what they were saying.

It was as if the words entered my ears but never reached my brain—my mind was completely blank.

“Miss, would you like to lie down?”
“Shall I help you take off your dress?”

Dress?

Ah… the dress…

Of course, I was still wearing the dress.

Only then, prompted by the maids’ words, did I finally glance down at it. My hands were clutched to the fabric as if frozen, visibly trembling.

“The dress… I need to take it off. It needs alterations.”

Even in my weak state, I muttered to myself.

Yes, I still had to finish fitting the dress… and quickly, I needed to go to the Dacus Empire.

I had to ask the designer to finish as soon as possible.

A whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind.

I looked up and tried to find the designer among the maids.

But she wasn’t there.

I cast my gaze toward the door.

Perhaps sensing my look, one of the maids whispered softly,

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, took the designer with him.”

“What?”

Calyx took the designer? Why?

“He said that a wedding dress for the Dacus Empire is no longer necessary…”

“…….”

Ah… what is going on?

No longer needing the dress for the Dacus Empire?

!!!!!

Calyx… really intends not to let me go!

My half-conscious mind snapped fully awake, as if injected with a stimulant, the moment I realized the certainty in Calyx’s intention.

The dress wasn’t the problem.

I had to escape!

Right now, I had to run!

Before he caught me!

Where are Father and Luke?

Suddenly, I realized that while the duke’s house was being practically invaded, I hadn’t seen my father or brother anywhere.

They hadn’t stopped them from entering my room…

Ah, right!

They said they were visiting the Marquis of Lastus today.

Then it finally occurred to me—Calyx hadn’t just barged in by chance.

He had targeted today.

I had to act fast.

Calyx was already watching everything.

The progress of my marriage, the state of my household… everything.

I had to leave Everetian immediately.

Otherwise, I would inevitably be caught by him.

I summoned the butler at once.

I had to get Father home immediately.

As soon as Father and Luke returned, I ran straight to them.

“Father, I have to leave for the Dacus Empire tonight.”

“What?”

Father’s eyes widened in shock.

“You heard that the Crown Prince came, right? Crown Prince Calyx. Did you also hear that he said he loves me?”

“What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden! I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

Father shouted, utterly bewildered.

Right, from his perspective, this must sound like a sudden thunderclap.

In fact, it would have been stranger if Calyx hadn’t loved me all along.

“I’ve told you many times! Calyx loves me. I guess he’s only realizing it now.”

Only now!!!!!!

“This father of yours cannot understand a word you’re saying, Kaelin! Does any of this make sense? This situation… is completely…”

Father’s face had turned red with agitation.

Whether it made sense or not, it was fact. It was reality!

“Today you already reported that Calyx came to our house!”

Even though Father must have hurried home after receiving reports from the butler about everything that had happened, he seemed unable to comprehend or accept the situation.

He neither wanted to believe it nor could he.

“Does the Crown Prince really love you?”

Father asked again, still suspicious.

“Yes. And he said I cannot leave Everetian and must break my engagement with Sir Eden.”

“!!!!!!”

Father finally seemed to grasp the gravity, his face stiffening as his body trembled.

“And if Calyx demands to marry me, Father, what will you do? What if he blocks me from going to the Dacus Empire with his power?”

“The Crown Prince… what power…! That’s something I…!”

Calyx does have that power! He does!

I interrupted Father immediately.

“No, Father! I’ve already refused marriage to Leon. Calyx’s proposal will be impossible to refuse. He will neither accept my refusal nor let me escape.”

If I’m caught, it’s over!

There’s no other choice.

“My daughter wants to go to the Dacus Empire, and what right does the Crown Prince have to stop her?”

Father still underestimated Calyx’s power, unaware of his obsession with me.

“What will you do if he blocks me? He’s the Crown Prince! Sir Eden has already sent the engagement papers; the wedding is near! The safest option is for me to leave Everetian safely and go to the Dacus Empire, Father.”

“You’re safe here.”

Haah…

I’m not safe.

“Father, listen carefully. If Calyx demands marriage, I will accept it—but only if I cannot leave Everetian. In that situation, what will you do? How will you handle your promise to the Empress and your secret contract with Sir Eden?”

I had already told Calyx I was in love with Eden, not him.

Even if I pretended to love Calyx now, I couldn’t be sure he would trust me.

But in the worst case, if I were trapped here and couldn’t escape, I’d have no choice but to pretend to love him again.

And after failing in rebellion, I’d have no choice but to beg him for my life.

“Kaelin!!!!!!”

Father’s eyes nearly popped out as he finally seemed to understand.

As long as I’m in Everetian, I will never side with him.

“So, Father, I have to leave for the Dacus Empire tonight.”

It was too late to pretend to love anyone.

If I could run, I had to run.

Father’s expression contorted in agony.

“Lin….”

Seeing Father in such pain, I continued speaking.

“I’m only leaving a bit earlier than planned. You’ve already started the rebellion plot; you can’t turn back. The wheels are already in motion. It’s only right that I leave when I can escape from Calyx, Father.”

To escape immediately and save my life, persuading Father weighed heavily on me.

Father must have believed the rebellion would succeed, but the reality of me running while knowing it might fail and we could die left me guilty.

But there was no other way.

Father had even plotted to poison the Emperor with the Empress and made a land deal with Eden Dacus.

Breaking all that now would only hasten Father’s death.

If I fell into Calyx’s hands, I would die, and Father, unable to do anything, would suffer and eventually die.

I had no choice but to escape to Eden.

Finally, Father spoke with a heavy voice.

“Lin, yes… leaving is best.”

His voice was heavy with sorrow.

My heart ached.

But I forced a bright smile.

“It’s just a few days earlier. You’ll still attend the wedding, won’t you?”

“Yes. Yes. I’ll see you at the wedding. Yes.”

Father repeated “yes” several times, as if to reassure himself.

He then summoned the butler.

The conversation was brief, and preparations for leaving for the Dacus Empire began immediately. By the time darkness fell, everything was ready.

On a pitch-black night, as I prepared to board the carriage to leave for the Dacus Empire, Father approached me.

“I’ll go with you, in time for your wedding.”

His embrace was tight, his voice low and choked.

“Don’t worry too much, Father.”

I forced a bright smile in reply.

“It’s time to go, Father.”

Luke, standing beside me, urged us on, and Father finally released me from his embrace.

I had told Luke to come to the Dacus Empire for my wedding as well, and he insisted on joining to protect me.

In the end, four of us rode the midnight escape carriage: me, the coachman, a maid, and Luke.

Leaving Father behind, our carriage began its journey toward the Dacus Empire border.

The carriage began to shake violently.

After leaving the paved roads of Everen, we were now on an unpaved dirt path in the outskirts.

How far had we gone?

“Woooah!”

Suddenly, the coach shouted, stopping the horses, and the carriage came to an abrupt halt.

What was happening?

I had a bad feeling.

“What’s wrong?”

Luke asked the coach through the window.

“There’s something ahead, Master.”

“What… something?”

Before Luke could respond further,

Clunk!

The carriage door swung open.

!!!!!!

A knight in full uniform had opened it. And I knew exactly who he was.

Razif, deputy captain of the Crown Prince’s personal guard.

“What are you doing?!”

Luke shouted.

But behind Razif, an intimidating figure appeared, and Luke fell silent.

It was Crown Prince Calyx.

The carriage fell into a tense silence.

Calyx’s unnaturally calm voice broke it.

“Kaelin, where do you think you’re going? On such a dark night?”

“Your Highness….”

Going… I was running away from you.

But the path ahead was already blocked.

Seeing Calyx’s face through the open carriage door, I knew instantly:

Our escape to the Dacus Empire had failed.

I was already caught.

“Where are the young master and young lady of the Brockburk house going at this hour?”

Calyx asked, cynically, yet with genuine curiosity.

Really? You’re asking because you don’t know?

You already know, you came to catch me!

“We’re going to the Dacus Empire for my sister’s wedding. Please clear the way.”

Luke said boldly.

Yes, Luke could say that; on the surface, we were just leaving a little earlier for the wedding.

But my nerves were on edge, wondering how Calyx would react.

To my surprise, Calyx’s expression didn’t change.

He simply muttered, as if pondering Luke’s words.

“…Going to the Dacus Empire for a wedding…”

Yet, despite the calm expression, his face seemed colder than ever.

The chill was so severe that I shivered involuntarily.

He asked lightly, as if choosing dinner:

“Lord Lukeford, choose. Will you step out and fight with swords, or will you hand Kaelin over quietly and peacefully?”

Swords…

My body trembled again.

That’s not a choice—it’s a threat.

Being caught, there was no choice.

But Luke stood up from the carriage seat without hesitation, left hand on the scabbard, right hand on the hilt.

Crazy!

Does he want to die?!

Calyx, watching us, spoke in a calm, almost lazy tone that could be either persuasion or mockery:

“Rather than drawing your sword and showing your sister her brother dying, wouldn’t it be better to hand her over quietly? I don’t want to kill in front of Kaelin. If she faints from shock, it would hurt my heart too.”

If I faint, it hurts his heart?

He’s the one who could kill me with a sword!

Yet everything he says seems sincere: he doesn’t want to kill Luke, he’d be upset if I faint… but he could if he wanted.

But Luke, unwilling to let his sister be harmed, didn’t waver.

“Your Highness! Kaelin is only leaving to marry the man she chooses. You have no right to stop her! If you won’t let her pass, I will open the way with my sword!”

Luke, now is not the time!

He could really die!

Faced with someone capable and willing to kill, even Luke’s brave defiance was reckless.

As expected, Calyx’s eyes flared dangerously at Luke’s words.

“Kaelin wants to marry…?”

I instinctively looked at his left hand.

Tense, veined, clenched into a fist.

No!

I mustn’t anger him!

The escape to the Dacus Empire was already doomed.

“Luke!”

I called to my trembling brother.

But he still glared at Calyx, unmoving.

“Brother, please don’t do this.”

I grabbed Luke’s hand on the scabbard and pleaded.

Yet he wouldn’t relent.

Calyx’s gaze shifted to my hand holding Luke’s.

I felt an eerie chill. I let go of Luke’s hand.

Finally, Calyx looked at Luke’s face.

He muttered briefly:

“I want Kaelin, not your life. Don’t be reckless, Luke.”

!!!!

Luke?

I widened my eyes, startled—not by the words, but by how he addressed my brother.

He called him “Luke,” not Lord Lukeford.

Just like when they played together as children.

Even Luke seemed to flinch slightly at being called that.

Childhood memories subtly softened Luke’s hostility, even as he was ready to risk his life for me.

Why Calyx chose to call Luke by name—deliberately or unconsciously—I didn’t know.

But Luke’s wavering was a good opening.

“Luke, I’m really okay. I don’t want you to fight him. Please, alright?”

Luke, already shaken by the name “Luke,” finally calmed, restraining his impulse to attack.

The immediate threat had passed.

I forced myself to stay calm and spoke to Calyx:

“I give up on going to Dacus. We will return to the duke’s house, and Your Highness may leave. If you doubt me, you may watch us return home by carriage.”

Calyx fell silent, as if considering.

Luke still huffed beside me, but didn’t speak further.

Finally, Calyx spoke again.

Fixing his gaze on me, he shouted to his knights:

“The carriage carrying Lady Kaelin Brockburk will return to the Brockburk manor. The lady shall become Crown Princess of the Everetian Empire, and from this moment onward, she will be under the protection of the Crown Prince’s personal guard!”

‘!!!!!!’

Crown Princess of the Everetian Empire?

Haah…

So this is how it ends.

In the end, he is obsessed with me.

He never acted like this when he was supposed to, and now—why now?

His sudden change is incomprehensible, leaving me frustrated.

But I cannot dwell on frustration.

The Crown Prince, obsessed with me, leaves me only about a year to live.

From the start, I had to figure out a way to survive.