Chapter 34
“Seems there’s nothing more to hear.”
“…Yes?”
James scrambled forward as Michael stood up.
“Y-You’re not… just leaving like this?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
Michael tilted his head slightly, asking with a hint of defiance.
James, clutching the prison bars, shouted in disbelief.
“But I haven’t told you who the culprit is yet!”
“Oh, that.”
Michael let out a soft chuckle.
But despite the slight upward curve of his lips, his eyes did not smile at all.
He took a step closer to the cell.
The distance closing quickly, James flinched.
“I feel like I already know, even without you saying it.”
“…Huh? What do you mean by that…?”
James asked dumbfoundedly. How could he know without being told?
Instead of explaining, Michael summoned the knights back into the prison.
“From now on, no one may enter here without my permission.”
“Yes, sir!”
“W-Wait! What happens to me then?”
Michael turned his back, answering quietly over his shoulder.
“I won’t personally kill you, so rest assured.”
Even without Michael touching him, it was clear that James would likely face consequences from other forces—or maybe it had already been set in motion.
‘He wouldn’t leave traces like this otherwise.’
Michael entrusted James’s surveillance to the knights and left the prison quickly.
Having dealt with this kind of situation before, he could already predict how the other party might act.
‘He failed to kill me again, so he’ll probably stay quiet for a while.’
Michael smirked bitterly.
Since coming of age, it had always been the same pattern:
Attempted assassination.
Failure.
Period of quiet as if nothing happened.
Strike again when I let my guard down.
After more than ten years, it had become tiresome, almost boring.
‘…But this time, he crossed the line.’
If he had only targeted Michael, he might have let it slide as before.
But today, not only Michael but also Cynthia had been put in danger.
She was the first person he genuinely wanted to get close to.
Thinking that someone he cared about was nearly harmed because of him woke Michael up like a cold splash of water.
Until now, he had tried to avoid causing a stir. But he couldn’t keep hiding forever.
Michael closed his eyes, staring at the void.
‘…It’s finally time to end this tiresome battle.’
After arriving at the mansion, I didn’t go to my bedroom but headed straight to Elliot’s room.
“Brother, can I come in for a moment?”
Knocking lightly, Elliot’s voice called from inside.
“Come in.”
I opened the door and stepped in. Elliot, sitting on the sofa, looked up to greet me.
He had a book in hand, probably resting.
“Am I interrupting?”
I gestured toward the book, and he chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“Not at all.”
He set the book on the table and gestured toward the sofa.
“Don’t just stand there. Sit comfortably.”
“Shall I?”
I quickly took a seat across from him, and Elliot spoke gently.
“Did you go into the city?”
“Yes. Just went out to get some air.”
“I heard there was a bit of commotion there. Smoke appeared on the streets out of nowhere.”
“…Really? I didn’t notice at all.”
Feigning ignorance, Elliot narrowed his eyes at me.
With a sigh, he asked in a probing tone:
“Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to?”
“…Pretending? I don’t understand what you mean.”
Caught off guard, I swallowed nervously. Elliot gave a small chuckle, as if resigning himself to my response.
“Alright. If that’s the case, I’ll take your word for it.”
Luckily, he didn’t press further and naturally shifted the topic.
“So, why are you here in my room?”
“Ah, that…”
I let out a quiet sigh of relief and got straight to the point.
“I briefly met Eren while I was in the city, and he didn’t look well. Could you check if something’s wrong?”
“…Eren? You mean the third of the Rainer family? The one who used to be your friend?”
“Yes. He somehow ended up in the capital.”
Elliot murmured, with a strange expression.
“Wasn’t he supposed to have cut ties with his family? He wouldn’t be here for some event, would he?”
“I’m not sure about the details. That’s why I’m asking you.”
I frowned at the thought of his neck, marked with reddish handprints.
‘I hope it’s nothing serious.’
Elliot, noticing my expression, tried to reassure me.
“I’ll check it out, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Thanks, brother.”
Right. Eren isn’t a child; it probably isn’t anything too serious.
I forced down the creeping anxiety and stood up.
“I’ll return to my room. You rest comfortably too.”
“Alright. Be careful on your way back.”
After leaving Elliot’s room, I headed to my bedroom to change.
Silly, coming out of the dress room, greeted me.
“You’re back, Princess. You’re earlier than expected today.”
“I didn’t feel like shopping. Just went out for some fresh air.”
I placed my bag on the floor and removed my hat. Silly approached and skillfully helped me change.
“You didn’t shop? At this rate, the sun might rise in the west.”
She said it teasingly while helping me.
“Anyway, you’ll return to the estate in a few days, so no need to carry extra luggage.”
I replied nonchalantly, and she widened her eyes at me.
“Oh, you still haven’t heard the news, Princess.”
“…What news?”
I brushed back my disheveled hair and asked curiously.
Earlier today, there had been no mention of anything.
“Well, while you were out, someone from the palace came by.”
“From the palace?”
“Yes. I don’t know all the details, but apparently the hunting competition has been moved up by a month. So the Duke plans to stay in the capital until then…”
The news hit me like lightning from a clear sky.
The emperor-hosted hunting competition was the second biggest event after the founding anniversary.
The winner received an incredible reward.
Nobles who were good at archery competed fiercely to claim it.
Of course, my father took it seriously.
But unlike others, he didn’t participate just for the prize.
He went to the competition for only one reason:
To offer the victory flower to my mother.
The flower bouquet awarded with the win contained rare blooms only found in the emperor’s garden.
Meaning, it could only be obtained at the hunting competition.
‘What a romantic. Attending a hunting contest just for a single flower.’
I shook my head in disbelief.
Unlike other events, there was no way my father would skip this one.
‘Father and Elliot will definitely attend. Mother will probably be with them…’
If I wanted to go to the estate, I’d have to go alone.
Assuming father allowed it, of course.
‘…I guess I’ll have to stay in the capital as well.’
The competition was usually held about three months from now.
With the date moved up by a month, I’d have to stay in the capital for at least two months…
‘I need to ask father properly about this tomorrow.’
The emperor wouldn’t move the date without a reason.
Such a sudden change might indicate a problem within the royal family.
‘Since this isn’t in the original story, staying in the capital to investigate isn’t a bad idea.’
Meanwhile, after parting with Cynthia,
Eren immediately turned into an alley once outside.
After ensuring no one was around, he spoke in a low, tense voice:
“…If you were going to watch me, at least hide your presence better.”
