HOWSH~05

~Chapter 5~

“…Hmph, hmm!”

I forced myself to swallow the words that threatened to burst out, carefully suppressing them one by one, lowering my gaze in solemnity.

No, it’s fine. I’ll be able to resign soon anyway, so I might as well talk about something else.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I chose what felt like the best present I could give in the current situation.

Probably, the reward I truly wanted.

“…I just hope this banquet ends without incident.”

“That seems like such a trivial wish. Is that really all?”

“Yes. For now, that’s all I want.”

I gave a faint smile and subtly averted Carlos’s gaze.

Why does he have to look at me as if I were some strange creature?

I adjusted my arms where they were crossed and let out a small cough.

Only then did his piercing gaze finally relent. His voice, which had gone silent, resumed and filled my ears.

“Well… I wouldn’t call it a reward exactly. But by all logic, it’s something that should naturally come to pass.”

“Really?”

“Consider it my congratulations in advance for your wish being fulfilled, my lady.”

“I… thank you, Your Highness.”

Just three steps to the banquet hall entrance.

Beyond the threshold, the doormen had already spotted the prince. They stood rigidly, waiting for us.

Once our passage was verified and we crossed the threshold safely into the hall, my arm linked with his would naturally unhook—and that would be the clean end of our encounter.

Yet, something was nagging at me.

I cast my gaze downward for a brief moment.

‘…Something feels off.’

What should I do?

Can I really just ignore Carlos’s condition and leave like this?

Unanswered questions drifted through my mind, slowing my steps without me even realizing it.

Soon, my pace reduced until I came to a complete stop.

As I froze, Carlos naturally halted beside me and turned to look at me.

“Why…?”

He tried to act fine, but his face had gone pale as paper.

Though I had long labeled myself an F-rank, my three years of experience in administrative healing work were enough to know this: he was in a condition that could collapse if pushed further.

‘Strange.’

Even though this was the king’s birthday banquet, if the prince’s condition were poor, he could have asked for understanding and rested.

Why, then, had he insisted on coming to Velos Headquarters to request me as a partner, as if being chased by something?

The question lingered in my mind, and my teeth ground lightly.

Carlos’s expression mirrored mine: annoyed, pressing me for an answer.

“The entrance is just ahead. What’s the problem all of a sudden?”

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but there’s something I need to ask.”

“What is it?”

He blinked slowly, lashes lowering with a sigh.

“What is it that you’re curious about?”

“Your Highness… your body.”

“….”

His eyes, which had seemed ready to close, snapped wide open.

A low, stunned sigh escaped his parted lips.

Clearly, he was taken aback.

“…Wait, what did you just—”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!”

I was the one who was more flustered. My words had come out correctly, yet the phrasing felt awkward.

‘…I am curious about his body…?’

But the body I meant was in the most literal sense.

“I apologize. I meant to ask about your current physical condition.”

“…I see.”

“Just one thing—if you answer, this will be a very simple request.”

The violet of his eyes, dimmed earlier, flickered back to life as he gave a small nod.

Alright. Ask quickly and be done with it.

I grabbed Carlos’s shoulder, right in front of the banquet hall, and pressed firmly between his chest and collarbone.

“Here.”

“Ugh…!”

“Does it hurt?”

I wasn’t lying—my question was genuinely simple.

“What are you trying to do with me?”

“I’m just asking, Your Highness.”

I wanted to know if this spot was painful.

Carlos couldn’t withstand the discomfort and bent slightly, clutching his chest.

As expected, it was an instability in his body’s flow.

By pressing the area and observing the symptoms, I could make a diagnosis. Though uncommon these days, long ago, before medical examination machines existed, this was the only way to check a security officer’s condition.

Rose had always loved perusing healing manuals, so her fundamental knowledge was solid. That’s how I could come to this conclusion.

After all, since being detained, I had endured endless theory classes in mandatory training.

After three years, even though I had only been getting F grades, the knowledge I’d absorbed was unexpectedly useful.

I smiled faintly to myself, satisfied that the answer was clear.

“Beyond this spot hurting… what did you want to tell me?”

Carlos straightened immediately, but his violet eyes flickered with instability.

There was a warning in his expression: don’t ask too much.

As I stepped back, I continued with my words casually.

“Why are you here, Your Highness?”

“That’s rude of you to ask.”

“And you’re being foolish, Your Highness.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You know the king’s birthday banquet holds great significance. But your body isn’t in a state to insist on coming.”

Symptoms from unstable internal flow can take many forms: fainting, vomiting, dizziness… or worse.

No, thinking about the worst-case scenario would ruin today. Better not.

I wanted to carefully persuade Carlos to return safely rather than face such risks.

“I’m sorry, but it seems dangerous for you to enter the banquet in your current condition.”

“That’s not it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you really think this banquet would be meaningful? That’s laughable.”

His low, mocking voice echoed in my ears.

Carlos’s face hardened as if to say it could never be so.

“I never had a place in this banquet to begin with.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Do you think a neglected prince like me would ever be allowed to lift a toast? This is entirely my own action.”

I swallowed, stunned by the unexpected answer.

I had assumed he was merely a spoiled prince unable to hide his love for his father—but I had been completely wrong.

‘Carlos… a neglected prince?’

This was never mentioned anywhere in the original story.

Come to think of it, in the three banquets I had attended over the past three years, had Carlos ever officially appeared before anyone?

The answer was clear: no.

Today was my first time seeing him, and comparing his appearance to descriptions in the books, I realized his status.

He had only been occasionally mentioned in passing by people.

Unlike the second prince, who conducted public duties as heir, Carlos had shown no direct actions.

‘I can’t believe this…’

The hidden truth of Carlos, unknown in the original story, hit me like a second shock, right after discovering Rose’s healing identity.

Through the confusion, his cold voice continued.

“I intend to make it clear: the woman you adored has been doing terrible things to me for ten years. And the son you reproached so harshly has been enduring unimaginable suffering.”

“….”

“I’ve had enough of this cursed memory, spreading it across the kingdom would at least bring some relief. I can no longer bear being confined to my room when my body fails, resenting everyone, isolating myself.”

I lowered my eyes, stunned.

He was revealing such monumental secrets to someone like me? Is that… okay?

I was so shocked that I couldn’t help worrying about him.

Given Carlos’s nature, his default stance toward others is usually guarded. So what… was this?

It felt like I had been thrown into a whirlwind of misfortune and messy secrets on his behalf.

And then, a “curse of memory”—something not even mentioned in the novel—was revealed.

What could it mean?

Before I could ask, Carlos’s twisted lips moved, deliberately.

“Curiosity satisfied? Now you know why I act like this.”

“…Yes.”

“Then forget it, now.”

Huh?