Chapter 42
Only after the sun had climbed to the center of the sky did Terhan step out of the swamp of his emotions and move with lighter footsteps.
The long corridor was quiet, with only a few servants immersed in their own tasks.
The afternoon sunlight filled the hallway completely.
Damn it.
Terhan muttered a curse under his breath and roughly swept his hand through his hair.
His keen presence caught the attention of a group nearby. The kind of people he never wanted to meet in this mood…
Insignificant, fly-like humans.
Terhan stopped abruptly, and his expression hardened instantly.
Soon, a group of people appeared in the distance.
The moment he saw someone in the group, Terhan ground his already reddened lips once more.
At the forefront of the group stood one person.
Someone closer to the sun than anyone else.
With brilliant blonde hair and crimson eyes that looked down on everything.
It was the empress’s offspring, the First Prince, Felix Presto.
Terhan was not afraid of Felix. He was merely annoyed.
When he was younger, Felix had been intimidating. It had felt like he held the leash on Terhan.
But now he knew. He was nothing more than a puppet who didn’t truly know what he was doing.
“Ah, who do we have here? Isn’t this my beloved younger brother?”
Felix twisted his lips into a crooked smile as he glanced at Terhan.
“…It’s been a while, brother.”
Terhan bowed slightly to Felix with his trademark calm smile.
It was not yet the right time.
He had to wait silently. Now was the moment to observe without revealing that he knew anything.
A few nobles were around Felix, but they avoided Terhan’s gaze and did not offer any greetings.
“Walking alone again? It suits your pathetic little self, I suppose…”
Felix’s eyes swept Terhan up and down, dripping with mockery.
“What if the child who will soon compete with me is wandering around alone? If something happens, won’t my mother and I be misunderstood again?”
The nobles behind Felix cleared their throats nervously and turned their bodies as if they hadn’t heard.
Suppressing a snicker, Terhan replied:
“Do not worry. I always carry my will with me, so even if you tried to harm me, brother, there would be no suspicion. Well… tampering with evidence or my will would probably be easy for someone like you. You are quite capable, after all.”
He spoke quietly, wearing a naïve, innocent smile as if unaware of anything.
“Watch your words.”
Perhaps Felix sensed the hidden meaning.
He stepped closer, issuing a subtle threat.
Not entirely foolish, it seemed.
“Oh? Brother, you seem to be in a sour mood today.”
Terhan stepped back slightly.
“You are destined for great things. I shall step aside and not be an obstacle.”
He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed. A formal gesture of respect.
“Yes, Terhan, my younger brother. Such an appearance suits you.”
Felix looked down at Terhan’s bowed figure and gave a mocking smile, drenched in superiority.
“Well then, go on ahead.”
Felix turned his head slightly toward those behind him as he started to walk, then added:
“Ah, let me give you a piece of advice for my dear younger brother.”
He kept a benevolent expression aimed at the still-bowed Terhan.
“Live within your station, and you may at least preserve that stubborn life of yours. Remember that well.”
Felix tapped his temple with his index finger and left. The nobles following him coughed and hurriedly followed, leaving under the prince’s attention.
Once again, the corridor fell silent. Even the servants attending to their duties seemed to have left.
Only then did Terhan straighten his back. The light falling on his face revealed a sharp gleam in his eyes.
Like a fierce predator lurking in the shadows, waiting to snatch its prey.
“…Not much longer now.”
Let him enjoy his fleeting superiority.
Terhan’s lips curved slightly, but his golden eyes were icy and cold. His expression was cruelly cynical, a stark contrast to earlier. There was no hint of mercy.
In truth, bowing to Felix had been only to hide his current expression.
Normally, he would have remained silent, but today he could not control his emotions.
“Haa…”
Terhan closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Veins bulged on his clenched fists.
He was barely suppressing something that wanted to erupt.
Reina Werner…
No, it was because of Hestia.
His composure broke only when he had Hestia on his mind.
“One month.”
Terhan slowly opened his eyes.
His resolve solidified once more. The deep golden eyes set a firm barrier.
In the crown prince competition starting in a month, he would emerge victorious. He would become emperor.
He would rise to the highest rank, forcing those who had lost their lives because of him to kneel and apologize.
He would hold them accountable for his mother’s death.
Even if that price was their lives, it would be exacted.
Terhan’s steps quickened toward the study.
“Your Highness! Where have you been? I was worried when you went out like that!”
Milan, who had been searching for him, spotted Terhan and hurried over.
“….”
Still, Terhan did not stop walking.
“Why did you suddenly pour water on Ms. Werner? Do you know how alarmed I was? Look! Your clothes are still soaked with cold sweat!”
Milan did not stop speaking either.
But then he noticed Terhan’s reddened lips, and the topic shifted.
“Oh? Your lips—”
“Don’t look at me as if I’ve been beaten somewhere.”
Terhan anticipated Milan’s words and stopped him before he could continue.
Milan narrowed his eyes, examining Terhan’s wound.
“…Well, I suppose Your Highness is no longer the age to be beaten.”
He shrugged as if giving up, offering a bitter smile.
“This is nothing to worry about.”
Terhan nodded quietly to Milan’s resigned reassurance and continued walking.
Milan hurried after him, speaking again:
“When was that…? You came covered in bruises when you were fifteen, three months and two days before, right? I would have gone after that foolish knight myself if Cesar hadn’t driven him away!”
“….”
“It was clearly disguised abuse under the guise of training! How could they strike someone so small? Did you know that child abuse is punishable by death in the neighboring Uel Kingdom?”
“…Sir Milan.”
Terhan reached the study door, holding the handle as he quietly called Milan.
“So you’ll receive treatment quietly, yes?”
Only then did Milan stop speaking. Terhan gave a small, reluctant nod, showing his displeasure, and swiftly entered the study.
This was Milan’s way.
From minor scratches to matters of health and life, Milan would not yield. He would use all knowledge and past incidents to persuade until his goal was achieved.
Milan turned, satisfied, and called to a passing servant:
“Bring the medicine chest to His Highness’s study.”
Then he hurried off, likely intending to complain about the suddenly reduced budget for the Second Prince’s residence.
The emerald light of his eyes flashed with the spirit of battle.
Knock. Knock.
“Reina Werner.”
Knock. Knock.
“Sir Leopold?”
Knock. Knock.
At the Second Prince’s study, even after three knocks, there was no answer.
“Is no one here? Hmm… then I’ll just leave it here.”
Hestia considered leaving, but since she was carrying the medicine chest, she decided to quietly leave it, just in case of an emergency.
She gently opened the study door and…
“Ah…”
Hestia froze, utterly overwhelmed by a longing she could hardly believe.
“Is this how maids are trained nowadays?”
Terhan’s low voice left her unable to move, as if shackled.
The breeze through the slightly open window swayed the white curtains and brushed his dark blue hair. The only sound was the faint scratching of a pen across paper.
The harmony of it all reminded her perfectly of a distant past, like being caught in a memory-induced hallucination.
The scratching stopped, snapping Hestia back to reality.
Click.
Terhan set down his pen and lifted his gaze from the documents. His golden eyes looked at her coldly.
“…You said you needed the medicine chest.”
Hestia, still holding the doorknob, barely parted her lips.
“You saw me this morning, and now you skip greetings? It seems the court etiquette has changed without my knowledge.”
Ah, that’s right.
This was no longer the royal court she knew, and the man before her was no longer someone she recognized.
It was time to step out of the sticky grip of the past.
“I am here to see the Second Prince.”
Hestia let go of the doorknob, lightly lifted her dress, and knelt in a proper bow.
“Trespassing into the prince’s study… if you are a spy, it would be best to leave immediately.”
Removing the wall of memory, she felt Terhan’s gaze fully upon her.
His eyes assessed her deeply, his tone and expression measuring her.
Was he trying to determine if she really was a spy?
“Trespassing… such frightening words. I only wished to carry out the task entrusted to me.”
