PLML 28

CHAPTER 28

“Surely, you’re not thinking of laying a hand on the Crown Prince, are you?”

At his words, which seemed to see right through her thoughts, Jaina flinched.

“I’m not reading your mind or anything.”

‘If that’s not mind-reading, what is it then?’

“It’s all over your face, Zenne. Even if you glare at me with that annoyed expression, I can’t help it. I’ve taken a liking to you.”

“How… flattering.”

Jaina no longer even tried to soften her tone. As she bit her tongue and forced out words she didn’t mean, Ferus laughed again.

“I’ve never met anyone as entertaining as you. It’s such a shame that you’re my brother’s wife.”

“That’s unfortunate. Don’t worry, I’m sure there are plenty of people more entertaining than me.”

“Even if you’re just being polite, thank you.”

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”

As the conversation dragged on, Jaina grew increasingly anxious. Though Theoris had stepped out without protest, he was surely outside, boiling with suppressed frustration.

Ferus, fully aware of her urgency, spoke all the more slowly on purpose.

“Next time, I’d like to meet you when my brother isn’t around.”

‘Hah.’

Jaina scoffed inwardly. Asking a married woman to meet in secret, and that woman being his own brother’s wife?

“No.”

She refused without hesitation. Seeing her unflinching eyes, Ferus dropped his act and let go of his wounded expression.

“If you’ve said your piece, I’ll be going now.”

As Jaina began to rise, Ferus whispered in a voice low and chilling.

“Are you alright with your ability being known across the Empire?”

His tone remained gentle and soft. But hidden within it was a razor-sharp blade capable of striking at any moment.

‘I figured this was coming.’

She had expected this from the moment Ferus revealed the report. Holding such a strong card and not using it? Unthinkable.

If Jaina’s unusual powers were revealed, even Theoris wouldn’t be able to protect her. Theoris was already called a demon hybrid because of his eye color. If it came out that Jaina could tame monsters, it would cause an uproar.

“……Fine.”

Jaina agreed to Ferus’s proposal for now.

Ferus set three conditions in exchange for not revealing anything about Jaina.

First: She would meet with him twice a month without telling Theoris.

As he said this, he handed her a necklace—a golden lion clasping a red gem.

“It looks like an ordinary necklace, as you can see.”

Ferus held a matching necklace in his hand. A blue aura briefly swirled around it before disappearing. Soon, the red gem in Jaina’s necklace began to glow.

‘Wait… could this be…’

Cautiously, Jaina touched the gem with her finger. The red jewel shifted to a vivid blue, like Ferus’s eyes.

Ferus brought his necklace to his lips and whispered softly.

“Zenne, can you hear me?”

Just as she suspected.

The Empire’s one and only communication stone, said to be used only by the Emperor.

“Why do you have this?”

Ferus answered with a smile. Though he was the designated heir, he was not yet Emperor. He clearly hadn’t obtained it through official means.

“No one except the person I designate can activate or hear anything through it. That means only you can hear my voice.”

“I see.”

“Doesn’t it feel a little thrilling? Like we have a secret between us?”

“Not even a little.”

“Zenne, you’re too cold.”

“I don’t feel the need to be warm to someone who asks a married woman to meet in secret.”

After explaining how to use the communication stone, Ferus moved on to the second condition.

Second: She must not use her monster-taming powers recklessly.

All powers come with consequences. Magic, for example, often causes fatigue or the need for extended sleep.

Taming monsters—creatures far stronger than humans—must come with unknown risks. Since little is known about Jaina’s abilities, Ferus asked her to refrain from using them for now.

Jaina agreed.

‘Well, I’ve already used them on Cotton Candy and Poppy, so there’s no helping that, but I should be more careful going forward. These kinds of powers usually come at the cost of life force or something like that.’

“Alright. I won’t use my powers anymore.”

Ferus nodded approvingly.

“Very good. Zenne, you may return now.”

“You said there were three conditions. Why haven’t you told me the last one?”

“It’s getting late. I’ll tell you next time.”

His evasive eyes clearly hid something. Jaina shook her head.

“Tell me now.”

Unspoken conditions always cause problems later. She refused to leave until she heard it.

As Jaina pressed him, Ferus smirked suspiciously.

“Did you know, Zenne? The moment my brother left, I locked the door.”

“…What?”

“I don’t like being interrupted. I even cast a sound-blocking spell.”

That meant, no matter how much Theoris yelled or pounded the door, no one inside could hear it.

A terrible thought crossed Jaina’s mind.

They had talked for quite a while. What if Theoris, unable to wait any longer, had started banging on the door?

“By the way, Zenne, did you know breaking down the door to the Crown Prince’s room could be charged not only as property damage but also as a threat against the royal family?”

Ferus’s barely veiled threat made Jaina shoot to her feet. There was no time to worry about the third condition now. Theoris was definitely the type to break the door down.

“See you again soon, Zenne~”

Jaina didn’t even reply to his sly goodbye as she hurried outside.

Luckily, Theoris was calmly leaning against the wall.

“Theo. I’m back.”

He turned to her with a faint smile, his cold eyes previously staring into empty space.

“You’re back, Jaina. Let’s go ho—”

He trailed off mid-sentence. His gaze fixed on the necklace in Jaina’s hand.

“What is that?”

Jaina lifted it up.

“Oh, this?”

She smiled lightly.

“It’s a communication stone Ferus gave me. He said we’ll be contacting each other with it from now on—and meeting in secret, without you knowing.”

She showed no intention of hiding her conversation with Ferus. Theoris was stunned.

Raised in the imperial family, he knew exactly what the communication stone was. But he hadn’t expected her to say it so casually.

As he stood there, mouth agape, Jaina added:

“Why? Surprised I told you so honestly?”

“…Yes.”

“Theo, I don’t want to hide anything from you. I hate unnecessary misunderstandings.”

She meant it.

Jaina had planned to tell him everything from the start.

Seeing his dazed face, she pouted.

“If I’d known you’d react like this, maybe I should have kept it secret.”

Theoris quickly shook his head.

“I was just surprised. If I upset you, I’m sorry.”

His teary, trembling eyes were so lovable that Jaina’s heart melted. She raised both hands and cupped his cheeks. Theoris leaned down to her level.

She kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“I’ll tell you everything that happened inside. Let’s go home first.”

As soon as they returned to the grand duke’s estate, Jaina headed straight to the monster pen.

“Cotton Candy, Poppy, I’m back!”

“Kyuuang!”

“Woof!”

Cotton Candy and Poppy greeted her with excitement.

Cotton Candy jumped into her arms while Poppy charged toward her, oblivious to his size.

“Hey, wait, Poppy!”

Before Jaina could shout “sit,” Cotton Candy barked from her arms. At that, Poppy froze and sat down.

‘Wait, Cotton Candy outranks Poppy?’

She’d heard that pets introduced earlier tend to win dominance fights.

‘I guess it’s the same for monsters?’

Considering their size difference, Cotton Candy shouldn’t stand a chance—but it was clear who held higher status.

Jaina stroked Cotton Candy’s fluffy fur. The creature purred, rubbing its face against her hand.

“Good job, Cotton Candy. You two need to get along, okay?”

“Kyuuu?”

Cotton Candy tilted its head, clearly not understanding.

Poppy, lying in front of Jaina, wagged his tail so fast it was nearly invisible. Leaves scattered and dust rose with each wag.

“Sorry, Poppy. You’re too big to hug.”

She patted his head instead. Thankfully, Poppy was satisfied with that.

‘Theo and I are supposed to talk again at dinner, so I’ve got a bit of time, right?’

“How about a walk for the first time in a while?”

“Kyuawoo!”

“Woof! Woof!”

Jaina hesitated as she thought of going to Elina or Homel.

‘They both looked busy.’

She wasn’t planning to go far anyway, and she knew the forest paths around the estate fairly well by now. With her two eager monsters, Jaina headed into the woods—alone.