Chapter 23
Chloe acted innocent and replied casually,
“Because the Duke and I are in love.”
Prince Frederick gave a dry smile.
“If talking comfortably is hard, then don’t add ‘loyalty’ at the front of your sentence.”
“Understood. The Duke and I…”
“I was the first one to visit after my uncle made a scene at the banquet. I can guess what’s really going on.”
Frederick smiled gently and cut her off. Chloe glanced down toward Curtis on the lower floor—but the Prince standing on the terrace never took his eyes off her.
Chloe sighed inside.
First the King, now this prince? Another test?
But Chloe was a soldier. Even if Curtis and the prince seemed close, their contract marriage was a secret. If she leaked that to someone without proper authority, her military career would be over.
“Let’s be honest. Do you think my uncle is the kind of man who would share a bed with someone?”
I really agree with that—but I can’t say it out loud.
“He would, if he loved me.”
Chloe replied without shame, and Frederick smiled.
“It makes sense that he would choose you. Even as his nephew, I sometimes find my father’s deep-rooted inferiority complex exhausting.”
“Thank you for trusting such a foolish person like me.”
What Chloe really meant: Prince, are you crazy? We just met, and you’re bad-mouthing your father—the King—in front of me?!
But Frederick just kept smiling.
“But the person I don’t understand is you, Lady Amboise.”
“…”
“From what I can see, only my uncle is benefiting from this arrangement.”
“That’s not entirely true—”
“Is this marriage beneficial to you? I don’t think so. My great and mighty father now hates you.”
The way he spoke about the King was shockingly disrespectful.
But those who knew Frederick understood why. Children raised under greedy and manipulative parents usually grow into one of two types:
- Just like their parents, or
- People who mock and reject their parents.
Frederick was the second kind. That’s also why he got along with Curtis.
He had watched the tense battle between his father and his uncle for over ten years. At just 22, Frederick understood Curtis well. But one thing still puzzled him—Chloe Amboise.
Frederick had also looked into Chloe’s background. And he found it hard to believe.
Most people assumed Chloe joined the military to raise her status and marry into a higher family.
But for someone like Frederick, raised as a royal heir, that theory made no sense.
If she wanted a powerful marriage, why join the navy? Everyone knew that after leaving the navy, it was bad luck to marry for at least a year due to superstition.
If he were Chloe Amboise, and he wanted a rich husband, he would’ve used her decent looks and tall height to quickly get into the marriage market.
But now, Chloe is 26.
What kind of crazy woman spends six years rotting in the military if she wants a wealthy marriage?
And she hadn’t even applied for retirement. She was just on leave for the wedding. Technically, the aide position she held under Curtis didn’t allow retirement—but in a special case like this, it would’ve been possible.
“I checked too. It seems the Duke would have a hard time finding a new aide.”
“I know. But normally, Duchesses don’t stay in the military for that reason.”
Frederick cut in sharply.
“No matter how hard it is to find someone, this is the army. If no one volunteers, they can just force someone in.”
In short—Chloe planned to continue her military career. Why?
Because she’s the only breadwinner in the Amboise family.
Frederick guessed there had to be some kind of reward for this marriage. After all, unlike military roles, marriage can’t be forced.
Curtis had also once mentioned:
“There won’t be a next time, Frederick.”
A strange thing to say about a wedding—which is meant to happen only once in a lifetime.
That must mean: This marriage won’t last long.
A short marriage. A hidden deal. Nobody knew what Curtis had promised her.
But it was clearly a one-sided rescue. Afterward, Chloe’s reputation would be ruined for life.
She was ambitious enough to volunteer as Curtis’s aide. Could she really bear the consequences of this decision?
So then… What was she gaining?
To the prince, it was an impossible choice to understand.
He knew how hard and important the aide position was. If she had just finished her term under Curtis and moved on, she’d have a great military record.
But by marrying him, she was throwing that away—and would likely be hated by the King for life.
She had to know that.
That’s why Frederick grew curious.
“What I want to know is—why did you save my uncle, even though you’re the one losing everything?”
But he had forgotten one thing:
Frederick, even though honest and sharp, was still a man raised as royalty. A logical person.
He couldn’t imagine the mindset of someone like Chloe—who had worked overtime for three straight months under the Duke and decided to ruin her life just because she wanted to see him embarrassed on his knees.
Obviously, Chloe couldn’t say:
“I was just a little crazy back then.”
So she smiled sweetly and lied.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve always admired the Duke from afar.”
Frederick’s smile turned a little stiff.
“I thought we were going to be honest, Lady Amboise.”
“I am being honest.”
Chloe put her hands on her cheeks and blushed.
“I used to read about the Duke’s military achievements in the papers and fell for him. It was one-sided love. So when the navy posted the aide job, I thought—‘this is it!’ and applied.”
“…”
“I never imagined he’d actually pick me. I planned to just admire him up close, but to think he’d fall in love with me too…”
Silence filled the space.
Chloe wondered if she overdid it. She peeked at Frederick, but he soon relaxed his stiff expression and replied calmly,
“Indeed. You’re a perfect match for the Duchess of Berg. Understood.”
“…Thank you?”
At that moment—
“You’re a really good liar, you know that?”
Chloe turned around quickly. Curtis had come up the stairs and was now walking toward them.
He put a hand on her shoulder and looked at Frederick.
“Dear nephew, aren’t you being a bit too mean to your future aunt?”
“I was just checking whether my uncle was mistreating innocent citizens of Ibanes.”
Frederick shrugged.
“I’ve never heard anything as shocking as my uncle being in love. Isn’t he the easiest person to hate in the world?”
Curtis gave a short laugh.
“I’m starting to hate you too.”
“An honor, Uncle.”
Chloe was nervous—but clearly, this kind of teasing was normal for the two of them.
Curtis spoke casually.
“The priest wants to see you. Something about the blood oath ceremony. You need to head to the prayer room.”
“Alright. I’ll see you both at the ceremony later, then. Lady Amboise.”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.”
But Frederick wasn’t quite done.
“Lady Amboise. Even though I may have come off as rude, I truly hope what you said is the truth.”
“Excuse me?”
“I hope my uncle, with his awful personality, has truly found someone he can’t help but love.”
“Curtis.”
Curtis finally stepped in and told the prince to leave.
Frederick winked and walked away.
As soon as he was gone, Curtis lifted his hand off Chloe’s shoulder and brushed it off.
Chloe looked at him nervously.
“Umm… how much did you hear…?”
“Most of it.”
“So that means…”
“This is the royal family’s private chapel. Even if you whisper on the second floor, your voice travels down the columns. I heard everything.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. That meant Frederick knew Curtis would be listening from below the whole time.
One wrong word and I could’ve been in big trouble!
Curtis spoke with his usual calm voice.
“You did well. But don’t say stuff like that again.”
“Like what…? Oh.”
Chloe remembered what she said: “I’ve always admired the Duke from afar.”
She smiled awkwardly. Maybe he was telling her not to make up silly things they never agreed on.
But Curtis’s next words were totally unexpected…
