Chapter 28
Esha pressed her lips together and stayed silent for a long moment, trying to find words, until finally her mouth twisted.
“How… how could I ever do that to you? All that work was yours. You suffered through Princess Louise’s scolding to expose the Second Prince, and then… What? You thought I’d steal that from you?”
Esha strode closer, fists clenched so tight that her knuckles had turned white.
“Or what? Did you really think I was the kind of person who’d snatch a friend’s merit just for a moment of glory? Is that how you see me?”
“No… I…”
My voice faltered.
I hadn’t imagined she felt that way.
It hit me just how thoughtless I had been.
‘Esha was someone who wanted to have her relationship with Loren acknowledged openly, in a rightful way. Yet I offered her an easy, cowardly solution.’
“You awful brat…”
The words hissed between clenched teeth. Before I could react, Esha pulled me into a hug and suddenly started pummeling my back with her fists.
“You should’ve told me! Even if I didn’t remember… you should’ve kept telling me. We were friends, weren’t we?! You should’ve said it a hundred times, a thousand times… I…”
Her voice weakened, breaking down into quiet sobs. Esha rested her chin on my shoulder, holding me as she shook.
“Stupid girl… carrying it all by yourself…”
“I’m sorry.”
That was all I could say.
A sinner had no right to say more.
All I could do was lower my gaze and offer her a shoulder until she calmed down.
I patted Esha’s back, and although her body shook for a while longer, she gradually began to settle down. Just as my hand was slowing.
“Uh… Do the two of you… know each other?”
The voice came with an awkward cough.
I spun around instinctively.
There, deep within the rose maze I hadn’t thought to inspect…
“……?!”
It was Angel and Asel.
Asel was slumped where he sat, fatigue evident across his face.
“Are you resting for a moment?”
“As you can imagine, this matter has been highly complicated.”
Asel responded with calm indifference, but I felt a sting of embarrassment. I hadn’t expected to be witnessed pouring my heart out like this.
‘Esha must feel the same.’
I was brushing the back of my neck in awkwardness when Esha stepped forward, brushing past me.
Even with faint streaks of tears still on her face, she wiped at them roughly with her sleeve and sniffled sharply to cover any evidence of crying.
“No, but wait… Did you just ask if we knew each other?”
“Uh, yes?”
Angel gave a wary nod.
That was enough for Esha to explode into a rapid-fire storm of questions.
“Of course we do! What are you talking about?! How many times have you followed Laura and me when we went down to the bustling streets? Even when I told you to go, you wouldn’t leave. And now you ask if we ‘know each other’?”
Then, as if a thought suddenly clicked, Esha stopped and turned to me, mouthing quietly:
‘They don’t remember?’
I nodded, and Esha let out an exasperated, “What the hell!” as she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Then, still blinking wildly, she marched towards Angel and Asel.
“Are you saying you don’t remember any of it? Not a thing?! Do you realize how many times I gave His Highness dating advice?! Or told him which spots were best for a date?!”
Asel responded, furrowing his brows slightly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, my lady.”
Angel spoke too, shaking his head.
“Are you sure you’re not mistaking reality for one of those romance novels you read?”
Asel’s voice held a faint edge of discomfort.
“Wow… Unbelievable. What the…”
Esha’s voice rose sharply, almost into a squeak. Suddenly, a light sparked in her eyes.
“So you’re telling me that you’re absolutely certain that none of that ever happened?”
“Of course.”
“Naturally.”
They responded in unison.
“Then can I record this?”
Esha pulled out a recording device.
‘Why does she carry one of those?!’
Anyway, she got their verbal confirmation that ‘they had never liked or shown interest in Laura.’
When I asked why she was recording it, she responded darkly:
“So I can listen to it when I’m feeling down… over and over…”
Then she gave a quiet, satisfied chuckle.
‘Those two have no idea what’s coming.’
With that recording saved, she could torment Angel and Asel for a long, long time.
Esha, now looking much more at ease, glanced at me languidly.
“By the way, Prince Malken is being sent back to Mortum, right? Since he’s a royal from another kingdom, we can’t punish him here. Will he be gone within fifteen days?”
“Uh… According to protocol, yes. But…”
“Why?”
Esha’s eyes widened, genuinely puzzled.
“Because…”
It was obvious.
Even if Prince Malken was a fool, he was clever enough to try every tactic available to keep from being sent back and executed. Yet I wasn’t sure how to phrase it when—
“Your Highness.”
A messenger entered, halting when he noticed Esha and I.
“Report regardless.”
With a wave of the hand from Asel, the messenger lowered his head and spoke.
“Yes, Your Highness. The inspectorate has secured several ships used for smuggling.”
“Excellent. And?”
Asel crossed his arms and urged him on.
After a long moment of hesitation, the messenger sighed and spoke.
“Among them… one has been identified as belonging to the Luweiz family.”
“What?!”
Esha reacted first, and Angel’s jaw dropped in shock.
The messenger squeezed his eyes shut and forced out the rest of the report.
“Apparently… Prince Malken has accused Lady Luweiz of being the true mastermind behind this affair.”
* * *
The Marquis had called Gepetto useless, yet he never truly gave him the training needed to be an heir. This was because he feared an overly capable son might one day overthrow him.
Consequently, Gepetto failed to resolve my family registry issue before being imprisoned for drug trafficking.
After that, with Gepetto out of the picture and no more headaches from the Luweiz family, I had nearly forgotten about him.
But now, languishing deep within the Imperial Palace dungeon, Gepetto announced he was ready to give testimony—and a formal inquiry was called.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve taken care of the Luweiz matter first…” Asel sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead.
He had intentionally delayed the investigation of the Luweiz family to diminish their strength, allowing Gepetto to rot in the dungeon. Yet he hadn’t anticipated the Second Prince making contact with him.
“Your Highness, this isn’t your fault. No one could have foreseen this.”
I, too, had suspected the Second Prince would use a stalling tactic, but I hadn’t known how it would manifest.
But before I could dwell on the matter further:
“None of you needs to step in.”
The door slammed open, and Princess Louise stormed in, voice shaking with anger.
“That boy’s scheme is obvious. He’s trying to drag you down with him. Spewing nonsense to tarnish your name! But…”
She slammed the table with a force that made the teacups rattle.
“I will take care of it. Not one word from that wretch’s mouth will taint a single strand of your hair.”
As the one with countless ears throughout the palace, she must have learned the news immediately.
I felt grateful.
In this life—or the last—I had never had an elder stand up for me like this.
But…
“Thank you, Your Highness. However, you don’t have to trouble yourself with this.”
“Why? Do you feel burdened?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because this matter is too insignificant for Your Highness to step in. The grace you have shown me is too precious for something like this. It should be saved for a matter truly worth it.”
