Episode 37
Yulician officially began digging into Maddy’s background.
After much inquiry, he finally found someone suitable for the job—but the man only accepted cases after personally meeting and evaluating the client.
That meant Yulician had no choice but to go himself.
He pulled a deep mahogany-colored robe over his head and moved quickly.
It had been a while since he’d gone out alone without Maddy.
He had to investigate the past that she either didn’t know or was pretending not to know.
It wasn’t because he didn’t trust her—it was the unease gnawing at him.
A few days ago, at the party, a man had grabbed her and called her by a different name.
[“Yan. Come back.”]
To identify that creepy bastard, Yulician needed to know Maddy’s past.
What kind of life she’d lived when she used the name ‘Yan’.
Following a poorly drawn map, Yulician navigated a maze of alleys to the meeting spot.
Thanks to the unfriendly directions, he had to circle the same place several times before finally reaching the damned errand center.
Even the knocking pattern had to be done as instructed.
Knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
Knock.
A moment later, the door opened.
To his surprise, he was greeted by a hunched-over old man with sagging eyelids so heavy with wrinkles that his pupils could barely be seen.
The old man strained to step aside and let him in.
Seeing him walk so precariously with a cane, Yulician felt like he should be the one helping the man instead.
How was someone like this supposed to investigate anyone?
“I… assume you’re the one taking the job? You don’t seem to be in the best shape.”
“Heh heh. I only take the requests.”
Even speaking one short sentence, the old man coughed multiple times.
His phlegm-filled voice was unpleasant to hear.
“You’re here because you need our help, yes?”
Yulician lowered his voice in case anyone overheard.
“I need a background check. I don’t know the person’s exact age—will that be a problem? I’m just curious about her history.”
“Of course not. That’s nothing for us. We can even find missing people easily. What matters is the payment.”
The old man chuckled and folded his hands.
Greedy, huh? Yulician thought. Good. That means he’ll do the job properly.
He placed a pouch full of gold coins on the table.
“Do it right, and I’ll double the pay.”
“Ohh… ohhh…”
The old man’s drooping eyes widened ever so slightly.
He pulled out a pair of glasses from his robe and began counting each coin one by one.
“Just tell me who it is. We’ll find anything you want.”
Oddly enough, his coughing seemed to improve a bit with the sight of money.
Yulician brushed it off and quickly provided the name.
“Her name is Maddy. Recently known as the lover of Duke Rondenes. Her age and birthplace are unknown. I’m not even sure that’s her real name. I want to know her past.”
“Hooh… I see. And what is your relationship with her, if I may ask?”
The old man’s coughing had suddenly stopped.
Yulician removed his robe as he replied.
“Yulician Kuhn Rondenes. I’m her fiancé. We love each other, but she won’t talk about her past, so I have no choice but to take this pathetic route. I hope you understand.”
“Hiccup.”
“Are you all right?”
The old man suddenly hiccupped, glancing at Yulician uncomfortably before standing up from his seat.
“I-I’ll do my best… No, not me—cough! Ahem! Our organization’s younger members! Cough! Will look into it thoroughly!”
The old man trembled and mumbled awkwardly.
“Ma… Maejy? Maji? What was the name again—Mondi?”
“…Maddy.”
“Ma—ha ha ha. Maddy. You came yourself to look into Maddy, your future wife, huh? Ha ha ha. Ahem! Ahem!”
“You seem unwell. Shouldn’t you go to a hospital or something?”
Deep-rooted respect for the elderly wouldn’t let him behave rudely, even to this suspicious old man.
The old man waved his hands and stepped back from the chair.
He walked normally for a few steps, then suddenly remembered something and grabbed his cane again, starting to limp.
“If this is too difficult, I’ll just find someone else.”
“No, no, no! I—I mean, our organization—knows more about Maddy than anyone else!”
“…I see.”
“But I do worry about something…”
The old man tightly gripped the cane with both hands, his voice trembling.
“Suppose this Maddy woman… well, what if she’s done a lot of thievery, is secretly a bit violent… maybe obsessed with money, or drinks like a fish but never appears drunk… or is naturally cruel and vicious to the core… Would you call off the engagement?”
Yulician’s piercing blue eyes twitched ever so slightly.
The old man quickly shook his head and wiped his eyes after removing his glasses.
“I-I mean… being obsessed with money just shows she’s resourceful, and quick hands could mean she’s got good reflexes…”
It almost sounded like the old man was defending Maddy.
He fidgeted with the cane’s head nervously.
“And, well, drinking like a fish could just mean she’s got a strong liver. Health is important, right? Maybe she’s a hidden gem… though you’d have to dig very, very deep to find it…”
He looked so desperate, like he might drop to his knees and beg Yulician.
To marry Maddy.
“I’m sure this is a hard decision for you. Marriage… isn’t easy, after all.”
Somehow, the old man’s coughing had completely stopped.
Even Yulician could tell.
This wasn’t a real old man.
And he knew Maddy.
“So what I’m asking is… once you know everything about her past… will you still break it off?”
“Hm. And what does that have to do with you?”
“Well, um, she really did seem to love you. At least, that’s what it looked like from the newspaper.”
This guy was definitely one of Maddy’s men.
How many does she have?
Yulician responded coldly.
“She loves me. And I love her. Very much. I’m only investigating because I want to understand the parts she won’t tell me. If she’s hurting… I want to share that pain.”
The disguised old man’s eyes suddenly lit with hope.
His previously hunched back straightened.
He tossed his cane aside.
Then, with surprising agility, he vaulted over the table, grabbed Yulician’s hand, and shook it enthusiastically before bowing deeply.
“Bless you! There’s no one else like her! And I mean that in the most non-positive way possible! Yet you’re marrying her anyway—oh, of course, not that I know her or anything. I’m just saying, from afar, that she seemed that way! So intense, she looked like she could send a dozen healthy men to the afterlife—”
“Hey.”
“Ah. Haha. I talk too much. I’ll get everything! In full detail! More than you hoped for! To support your beautiful love! This old man—should really be at home, actually. Our sharpest operative will take care of it!”
It had been obvious he was in disguise, but Yulician hadn’t expected a sudden blessing on his marriage.
Caught off guard, he simply nodded.
Whether or not this guy was one of Maddy’s exes, it didn’t matter.
If he was someone who knew her, he might uncover more useful details.
The real question was whether he could keep it secret from Maddy.
“Listen. She mustn’t find out. If you want more money, I’ll give it.”
“Oh, don’t worry! Maddy doesn’t know a thing, Your Grace.”
“I just said that because you seem to know her. Don’t tell her. Got it, young man?”
The old man blinked, then suddenly snatched off his wig.
White hair flipped back, revealing a head of rich brown hair underneath.
“Yes, sir. Leave it to me.”
Finally, he spoke in the voice of a proper young man.
Yulician chuckled.
“Then I’ll count on you.”
“Yes, don’t worry, Your Grace! I know everything there is to know about Maddy in this entire town!”
It was bizarre seeing a youthful voice come out of a face covered in liver spots and wrinkles, with flowing brown hair on top.
As Yulician turned to leave, he paused and looked back.
“By the way.”
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“…Does Maddy ever dress up as an old woman?”
“Oh, of course! There’s nothing she can’t do. Grandpa, grandma, middle-aged lady, young man, sort-of-young man—she can play two, three, even four roles alone. It’s not disguise—it’s transformation. She’s absolutely cra—what did I just say? Ahem. Take care, sir!”
The young man babbled excitedly, then shoved Yulician out the door and closed it.
A moment later, a desperate voice came from behind the door.
“…Your Grace, please don’t tell Maddy someone dressed as an old man said she was a violent drunk!”
“…I won’t.”
“You really mustn’t tell her!”
“I said I won’t.”
“Then I’ll investigate everything—what I know and what I don’t—and report back!”
“No need to come. I’ll be back in ten days.”
“You really mean ten days? You’re not going to come in three and scold me, are you?”
“…I’ll come in ten.”
“How did someone like you end up marrying Maddy…?”
“Hey. If you’ve got more to say, just open the door again.”
“No, no! Take care!”
The door didn’t open again.
Yulician chuckled as he walked out of the alley.
To think someone in Maddy’s circle would be this transparent—it was amusing.
Back home, Yulician stayed in his study late into the night catching up on work.
He’d fallen behind after spending weeks lying and sneaking around with Maddy.
She had claimed that to look like a true loafer, quitting work was essential.
Even if their fake marriage was a farce, she argued that people fleeing hunger to other territories would be more convincing.
Even the direct heir of the late emperor, if proven to be a man of rotten character, would lose the people’s hope.
But he couldn’t do that.
His late father had always told him:
[Yulician. We weren’t born royalty because we did something good.]
[Then why?]
[We were born to do good. To bear responsibility for many lives.]
[…All of them? What if it’s too… too heavy?]
Young Yulician had asked while holding a small puppy, which was slowly sliding out of his arms.
His father had only smiled warmly, and Yulician had pouted and asked again.
[Father. Even the puppy is too heavy…]
[Hahaha! Yes. Life is heavy. Puppies too, and people as well.]
[If life’s weight is like actual body weight, then are fat people more precious? Uncle must be really special.]
[Tsk. You shouldn’t tease others like that. And all lives weigh the same, Yuli.]
[Oh…]
His father had tousled his hair and looked down at him with kind eyes.
[Yuli. What’s my job?]
[Crown Prince! But is that really a job?]
[Of course. I was appointed. It’s a job. Just like your grandfather and I carry the responsibility of this country. We have a duty to protect others and share happiness.]
[Duty?]
His father lifted him up in his arms and, in a firm and gentle voice, said each word with weight.
[Something you are meant to do.]
Yulician dazedly repeated after him.
[…Something I am meant to do.]
