ILTDAMH | CHAPTER 18

Chapter 18

 “To Keep You Safe Until I Return”

Luciene Beanoman, right?

Damon smiled softly as he recalled her—graceful and pure, yet with an air of mature elegance. 

According to the rumours, she was a young woman with a captivating charm.

Damon was deep in contemplation of Luciene when he abruptly met the gaze of a woman who was observing him closely.

A sharp sound pierced the atmosphere—

“Aaah!!”

“Your Highness! What is going on?

When Hook stormed into Damon’s room, he saw a woman unconscious and covered in blood on the floor, with Damon standing over her, his foot still pressed to her body like a man under a spell.

“Your Highness, what?”

“I warned you against taking off the blindfold. You have no right to gaze at my face. For the money, you’ll sleep with anyone, and you dare look at me?

“Please stop, Your Highness. She’s already passed out.”

At Hook’s intervention, Damon finally stepped back, as if nothing had happened, wiping the blood from his clothes and slipping on his nightgown before exiting the room.

“Your Highness…”

“Clean this up. Make sure no one talks.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hook motioned, and two guards waiting outside entered the room.

“Your Highness, why do you keep doing this? You said you would no longer use violence, didn’t you? Majesty, the Empress finds out?”

“Don’t worry. They see me as their master, so they won’t dare speak out. And you won’t tell Her Majesty either, right? Besides, these women are the sort no one even notices when they disappear.”

“Your Highness…”

As the Crown Prince’s actions became unmanageable, Hook, the Marquis of Sleeveham and Damon’s assistant, became increasingly concerned.

Now, how many times has this occurred?

Damon had attempted, but failed, to violate a count’s daughter who had accompanied him after his eighteenth birthday ceremony. 

To keep the matter from reaching Biseluk’s ears, Antouat sent the count’s family off to the provinces with a hefty settlement.

Would things have been better if the scandal had come to light back then?

Realizing that messing with noble daughters had serious consequences, Damon began secretly bringing poor women with no ties to the court into the palace to spend nights with him.

He would hide them for days, indulging his desires until he grew bored, then hand them some money and send them away.

Since he paid upfront and blindfolded them while bringing them by carriage, the women never knew the man they spent the night with was the Crown Prince.

But sometimes, out of curiosity, a woman would remove the blindfold to catch a glimpse of Damon’s face—and she would never return alive.

So far, the servants and Damon had managed to keep these secrets well, but Hook’s heart raced with every passing day, fearing the inevitable moment someone would discover the truth.

The Crown Prince’s violent temper had already put him under Biseluk’s disfavour, and if this scandal leaked, Damon might truly lose his claim to the throne.

“Get ready. The meeting time is near.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be late. Harmon’s attending today, right?”

With a lazy smile, Damon turned and strolled toward the bath.

***

Hmm, who’s that?

Mercian, sitting atop a tree in the garden, lost in thoughts about the upcoming tea gathering, glanced down at the sudden commotion below.

Ruan had just entered the living room when a red-haired woman, whom Mercian hadn’t even noticed, arrived, rushed over and flung herself into Ruan’s arms.

Despite how thin and frail Ruan had become, Mercian thought, if the woman was as slender as Luciene, it made sense she could be embraced like that.

Compared to them, at least Ruan’s arms were long enough to hold me—most men probably couldn’t manage it.

She’s not as pretty as Lucy, but prettier than me.

Well, no one’s around to see this anyway. 

They’ll probably get all lovey-dovey now, so I should just—

Wait. What… What is that?

Ruan’s sword was pressed against the woman’s throat.

Could she be an assassin?

Worry flooding her heart, Mercian hurried down from the tree and rushed into the living room.

“I warned you, one more stunt like this and I’ll kill you.”

“How could you treat me like this? Ruan, we’ve known each other for years. There’s nothing we don’t know about one another. We even bathed together! You said you’d marry me, but then you abandoned me to marry another woman. How could you?”

Whoosh!

Before the tearful woman could even finish speaking, Ruan’s sword swung sharply, aimed precisely to cut her throat. 

But the woman stepped back three or four paces just in time.

“Whoa, whoa, Ruan, please stop! You’re not seriously going to kill me, are you?”

“I don’t speak empty threats!”

“Ruan! Are you alright?”

Startled, Mercian entered the living room, and seeing her, Ruan immediately lowered his sword. 

A gentle smile replaced his previously sharp expression as he approached her.

“Mer, I’m home.”

“Yes, Ruan. Did you have a good day? But who is this lady?”

“Oh? So this must be the one who stole my love. Hohoho.”

“Tablo, cut it out.”

The red-haired woman rose from her seat and stepped toward Mercian, but when she caught Ruan’s piercing gaze, she stopped and gracefully bowed.

“Ah, what a boring friend you are. Nice to meet you, madam. I am Tablo Heineve, Marquis, and Luan Canoluf’s long-time companion of twenty years.”

“Ta-Tablo? But…”

Mercián’s eyes widened in shock. 

Just moments ago, this woman had been speaking in a coquettish, sultry tone. 

Now, from that same mouth came a deep, masculine voice. 

She turned to Ruan, stunned.

“It’s just some crazy guy’s weird hobby.”

“Wait, is this a crossdresser? Wow… but the figure is much more beautiful than me, and the face, too. I honestly thought you were a real woman.”

“Hooray, that’s what everyone says. The only friend who doesn’t value my charm is this one.

Mercian gazed in wonder at Tablo, who was too beautiful to be a man.

Ruan abruptly moved in between them and uttered,

“My lady, you’ll damage your eyes if you continue to stare.” Better to stop now. How was your day?”

“It was good, Ruan. It’s still early evening, so hurry and wash up. I’ll prepare dinner. Marquis, will you be joining us?”

“No!”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Both Ruan and Mercian replied simultaneously.

“Pah. Luan, don’t be like that.” 

Mercian giggled.

“Then let’s meet in the dining room in thirty minutes. Ed, please show the Marquis to the guest room.”

At Mercian’s words, Tablo bowed politely and followed Edward toward the guest chambers.

***

“Wow, that’s a completely different vibe from earlier.”

Mercian watched Tablo enter the dining room with curious eyes.

Just moments ago, Tablo had been a dazzling young woman with fiery red hair, but now, walking into the dining room, Tablo was a handsome man with chestnut hair and striking, alluring eyes.

“I can’t believe it’s the same person.”

“Hahaha, I’m just good at disguises. Since I’m on a secret mission and couldn’t attend the wedding, consider this a congratulatory gift.”

Tablo pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to Mercian.

“Oh! Thank you so much.”

Mercian opened the box to find a tiny perfume bottle inside.

“Wow, it smells wonderful.”

Indeed, it’s one of my favourite fragrances. I believe it would fit you well, and I’m happy I made the right decision after meeting you in person.

“That voice and face don’t go together, but you look good in it.”

“Thank you for the compliment, my lady. You are beautiful as well.”

“Thank you very much for the gift—and the kind words.”

“No problem. I keep talking to you like this, and I think Ruan is about ready to kill me with his glare.”

“Huh? Haha.”

Mercian glanced at Ruan, who blushed and averted his eyes, avoiding Mercian’s gaze.

“Enough nonsense. What happened with that matter?”

Ruan asked, and as Tablo glanced at Mercian, Ruan nodded slightly, as if to say it was fine.

“I think you’re right. The wealthy prince takes a few women for a night in his carriage—but some never come back.”

“So, our suspicions were correct?”

“Yeah. It seems that Prince is indeed the Crown Prince. The carriage bears no insignia, but it looks like one from the royal family.”

“How many women have disappeared so far?”

“By rough estimate, more than ten.”

“And their common trait?”

“All the missing ladies are in their early twenties, and none have any relatives. They’re all young women living alone.”

“So he’s picking only those whom no one will look for. Hah.”

“Um, Ruan? Sorry, but may I be excused?”

“Mer, have you finished already?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry—we were caught up in conversation.”

“No worries. Please, continue your meal.”

As Mercian excused herself with an uncomfortable expression while Ruan and Tablo continued their discussion, Tablo watched her go, then turned to Ruan with a curious look..

“What’s on your mind?”

“What’s your reason?”

“For what?”

“Why did you deliberately let your wife overhear that you’re digging into the Crown Prince?”

“I don’t want to keep secrets from her.”

“Come on, Ruan. I’ve known you for twenty years. You’ve never shown interest in any woman besides your aunt. And now you’ve been married, what, two days? And you suddenly don’t want secrets between you and your wife?”

“What’s your point?”

“You want your lady to pass that information on to her sister. What are you specifically attempting to accomplish?

“There was a flood in the Safran region. A massive number of people were displaced. The Crown Prince suggested at a council meeting that we feed them just one meal a day.”

“Hah! The same man who shows signs of death if he skips even one meal, and now this absurd notion?

“He says the imperial treasury can’t be emptied.”

“That’s just insane. So what’s the plan?”

“Prince Harmon and I have already recruited roughly two hundred highly qualified carpenters from nearby nations, and I asked His Majesty the Emperor for enough food to last two months.”

“Repairs should be completed in two months with the partnership of the residents and two hundred carpenters.”

“The problem is, I’ll have to leave the dukedom empty for at least two weeks.”

“Hmm. Are you worried the Crown Prince might do something to your lady while you’re gone?”

“He probably won’t—at least not yet. I’m letting this rumour go, though, just in case. He’ll probably hide his shame by cleaning the house if he knows I’m prying into his secrets. And he won’t touch my lady during that time.

Ruan’s words drew a curious look from Tablo.

“You’re… strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve known you for twenty years, Ruan, and you’ve never once shown interest in anyone but your aunt. She was the only woman you cared about. Yet now, you’re worried about your wife? Are you the Ruan I know?”

“What nonsense is that?”

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. He wouldn’t have told who I was just now, when things wouldn’t normally be this way. Could it be that he swung his sword at me because he knew your wife was watching and didn’t want her to misunderstand? Could it be… Don’t tell me… have you fallen for her? Or maybe… are you starting to feel something for her?”

Sigh. “Stop with the nonsense, Tablo. If she hadn’t married me, she never would’ve gotten dragged into this mess in the first place. That’s all there is to it. I just… feel sorry. That’s why, at the very least, I want her to live well until I die… and even after I’m gone.”

That’s exactly why it’s strange.

A man who never once cared about anyone but himself is suddenly worrying about his wife’s future? And this from a person who is married under contract!

Tablo glanced at Ruan, who wasn’t even aware of it himself because he was so preoccupied with his worries for Mercian. 

Maybe, just maybe, there was a miracle.

If Ruan truly started feeling something—if he fell in love with his wife…

Perhaps…

Tablo felt a faint flicker of hope, a small spark he couldn’t quite explain.

All he could hope for was that Ruan would see it before it was too late.

Hiding his thoughts behind a crooked smile, Tablo said, “Wishing for her to live well… “You know, that’s a pretty dangerous thought.”

“…Ha. Stop twisting my words. And hey, if I’m not here, will you take care of her?”

“Hmm. You trust me, right? What if I were to…”

Bang!

Tablo’s eyes darted to the sword suddenly planted right in front of him.

“N-No, I’m joking! There’s no way I’d harbour feelings for my close friend’s wife. So don’t worry and just go.”

After Tablo left the dining hall, Ruan sat lost in thought for a long while, worry etched deep across his face.

For the first time, Harmon spoke up in the conference room. 

His was a practical, achievable proposal—so unlike the outrageous nonsense spewed by the Crown Prince.

When the meeting ended, the cold, furious glare Damon shot at both Harmon and Ruan was unlike anything before.

There was no turning back now.

No retreat.

If Harmon or Ruan were the Crown Prince’s target, then it was their problem regardless of what he did.

Ruan was already living on borrowed time, so it didn’t matter if they passed away.

Harmon wouldn’t have stood against Damon without that same resolve, so it was up to him to bear the risk.

But Mercian was different.

For whatever reason, she could not be exposed to danger or threatened.

If that were possible, I wouldn’t mind handing over a few pieces of evidence—even ones that could be used against me.

So please, my wife, take the proofs I left in the study and bring them to the Crown Prince.

Stay safe until I return… that’s all I ask.