Chapter 43
Ria’s certainty became reality.
No matter how much she tried to stop him or clung to his arm, it was useless. Promising to cover her overnight absence, Zen went down in front of the Cablick family without hesitation and walked straight inside.
“Zen! Really, it’s fine!”
Ria hurriedly called out as she followed him with quick steps.
This is definitely going to end badly. It would’ve been better to go alone. What kind of trouble is he planning?
Zen’s words of help only amplified her anxiety rather than reassure her.
“Zen!”
Despite her continued protests, Zen remained silent.
Soon, the steward appeared. His eyes widened at the sight of Zen, and upon seeing Ria following closely behind, his expression turned even more shocked.
“Miss!”
We’ve been caught.
At the steward’s shout, the door swung open, and Duke Cablick rushed out.
“Ria?”
Behind him, Hanneman appeared, visibly agitated, fully armored and wielding a sword.
“F-Father… Brother….”
“Ria! What on earth—”
As Hanneman approached Ria with long strides, Zen naturally stepped in front of her, as if to protect her.
“…Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Hanneman gritted his teeth. To him, Zen was no protector of Ria nor a crown prince of an empire—just a reckless man appearing with his sister after disappearing for a night.
“Does the Cablick family have no respect for the royal family? From the steward to the Duke himself, this is utterly shameless.”
“Zen!”
Ria hurriedly blocked him at Zen’s sharp remark.
“Your Highness.”
Duke Cablick, stepping past Hanneman, who was clearly fired up, advanced. Surprisingly, his expression was firm rather than yielding, not what one would expect from a loyal subject of the Baisen Empire and the royal family.
“You came yesterday morning without warning and took my daughter. Then you vanished all day and appear only now. Is that correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“…From our perspective, there was enough time to believe Ria had been kidnapped.”
Kidnapped?!
Ria, who had assumed she’d only face a scolding for being late, widened her eyes at the unexpected words from the Duke.
“So you intended to storm the royal palace?”
Zen squinted at Hanneman. Only then did Ria realize why Hanneman was fully armed.
So that’s why there were no soldiers guarding the Duke…
Recalling the unusually empty Duke’s residence, Ria paled. Things were escalating more than she had expected.
“…From our perspective, it’s understandable to have been concerned.”
Hanneman seemed unwilling to back down. Tension hung in the air.
I should’ve stopped Zen… No, it would’ve happened anyway. If we’d been any later, it could have led to war with the palace…
“Well, it’s not that—”
Ria tried to explain amidst the tense standoff.
“Apologize.”
Zen’s words came out casually.
“…Excuse me?”
“…Yes?”
“…What?”
All three from the Cablick family stared at Zen.
Apologize?
Not only the apology itself, but Ria couldn’t hide her astonishment at his nonchalant tone. Zen continued as if it were nothing.
“One, calling it a ‘kidnapping’ is harsh for a fiancé.”
Please don’t mean… spending a night together, right?
Even if it was an unavoidable accident and Zen bore no fault, the idea of an unmarried couple spending a night together was exactly the sort of rumor that could spread. Ria shook her head and gripped Zen’s arm, but he seemed oblivious—or unwilling to notice.
“Then what exactly happened?”
Despite the rare apology from the Crown Prince, Duke Cablick didn’t seem willing to back down. Zen pondered for a moment before replying:
“It was the Empress’s order.”
“Excuse me?”
It wasn’t just Duke Cablick who was bewildered.
Why is the Empress involved here?
Ria blinked, confused.
“You know about Ria attending the Empress’s birthday banquet. After that, my mother took quite a liking to her.”
What… nonsense?
Even so, Ria stayed quiet, sensing that any unnecessary words might cause another incident.
Duke Cablick asked, frowning:
“So the Empress summoned Ria?”
“Yes.”
“And that meeting extended past nightfall…?”
“She was engrossed in some books recently, and the discussion went long into the night.”
“Why didn’t she send word if she’d be late…? Even one letter would have sufficed.”
“She sent a letter, but something happened on the way.”
“Something happened?”
“…Probably ran into some thieves.”
Zen spoke as if mildly annoyed.
This is getting more and more careless.
Ria’s expression mirrored the Duke’s confusion and disbelief.
“In any case, from now on, you’ll visit the Empress once a week. Consider that settled.”
What on earth is he saying?
Zen continued, adding unnecessary details.
“Your Highness, but…”
Hanneman tried to interrupt, but Zen cut him off.
“Would you refuse the Empress’s order?”
Zen’s gaze instantly turned sharp, and Hanneman inhaled sharply, recalling the intimidating presence Zen had displayed at the Royal Academy.
In the tense moment, Ria quietly whispered to Zen, holding his arm:
“What are you thinking?”
“I said I’d help.”
“No, weekly visits? What’s that about?”
Before Zen could answer, Duke Cablick interjected:
“Ria, let’s talk for a moment.”
“Ah…”
Ria looked sequentially at Duke Cablick, Hanneman, and Zen.
“Then I’ll leave it at that for now.”
Zen began preparing to leave, signaling for Ria to follow. As she approached Duke Cablick, Hanneman, almost as if exchanging places, moved toward Zen.
Does he have something to say to Zen?
Ria glanced at Hanneman as he passed her and quickened her steps, knowing she still had to apologize for the night’s ordeal.
Once Ria and Duke Cablick disappeared, Hanneman stepped up to Zen with a serious look.
“Do you love Ria?”
“What?”
Caught completely off guard, Zen nearly stumbled. He had assumed Hanneman would talk about Korend or Byron, based on previous conversations.
“I asked directly. As Ria’s brother, do you love her?”
“Do I… have to answer?”
Suddenly, Hanneman placed the sword he had at his waist onto the ground. Zen frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“This sword was personally bestowed by the Empress when I became Knight Commander.”
Zen stared at him, silently urging him to continue.
“So… I’m asking not as the Knight Commander of Baisen Empire, but as Ria Cablick’s brother.”
“Hah.”
Zen chuckled.
This family is impossible to predict—brother or sister.
“Sorry, but my answer is the same, whether as Crown Prince of the Baisen Empire or Ria Cablick’s fiancé.”
Hanneman swallowed dryly, disappointment and concern on his face.
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Your Highness!”
Hanneman frowned, looking ready to charge, but Zen let it slide.
“How many people have you killed in war?”
“Excuse me?”
Images of bleeding and fallen soldiers flashed in Zen’s mind—the countless lives lost.
“Do you remember the first time you killed someone?”
Hanneman looked confused, not understanding why a Crown Prince who had never seen battle was suddenly discussing murder.
“I thought I’d never be able to return to how things were before. But being near her sometimes… it feels like I could.”
“Your Highness, what on earth does that mean…?”
“Pick up the sword.”
Zen gestured to the sword on the ground. Hanneman quickly took it and strapped it to his waist.
“Whether as Knight Commander of Baisen Empire or minor Duke of the Cablick family, it’s all you. Never lower your sword for even a moment.”
At Zen’s imposing words, Hanneman dropped to one knee and bowed.
“…Forgive my insolence, Your Highness.”
Zen gave a slight nod. A shadow appeared as he raised one hand.
“Let’s go.”
Just as Zen climbed into the carriage, he turned back once more. He looked down at Hanneman, still kneeling, and murmured:
“Above all… I don’t think that’s something I can control.”
Leaving behind those cryptic words, Zen finally boarded the carriage. Hanneman remained alone, kneeling, staring at the ground, thinking he could see a deep darkness in Zen’s face, even though there was none.
