Chapter 03
Callier Esperos
The morning wind was unexpectedly chilly for late spring.
Leo watched the man polishing his dagger on the café terrace, concern in his eyes.
The cold breeze fluttered the man’s jet-black hair. Leo cautiously spoke up.
“Crocan Piace is like a snake, Your Highness.”
The man’s gaze shifted from the dagger to Leo.
Facing his piercing red eyes, Leo continued carefully:
“It’s strange that he’s cooperating so easily with our plan.”
Despite the warning, the man’s expression remained calm.
Then, after a pause, his lips moved.
“Are you suggesting we cancel everything now?”
His indifferent eyes unnerved Leo, who bowed his head.
Callier Esperos.
Grand Duke of the Hestonian Empire and Leo’s liege lord—he was a man who had lived solely for this very day.
There was no way Leo could suggest postponing it.
And yet, with someone as unpredictable as Crocan in the loop, moving forward blindly was equally dangerous.
Lowering his head firmly, Leo said:
“…Forgive me. I misspoke.”
This mission could mean the downfall of the entire Esperos household, which had long ties to Hestonia.
The only thing Leo could do now was help ensure its success.
Callier rose from his seat.
“You’ve made up your mind, then.”
“Yes.”
As Callier sheathed his clean blade, he glanced over the city from the terrace, overlooking Zeroth’s bustling central square.
Just as he was about to leave, he paused.
His gaze landed on the seat across from him.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“…Where’s Lafer?”
“Pardon? Sir Lafer should be—”
Leo followed his gaze across the table.
Lafer was there, smiling innocently.
But something was off.
Callier drew his dagger again—and without hesitation—threw it directly at Lafer’s forehead.
With a crackling sound, the illusion dispersed. Lafer’s image vanished, and a scroll was pinned beneath the blade.
Callier smirked.
“Looks like Delphian Zeroth isn’t the only one spying. Next up is Lafer Wizard, huh?”
“……”
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
His eyes held no humor. Leo wiped a cold sweat from his brow.
“Please wait just a moment. Preparations will be made right away.”
After serving light refreshments and tea, the attendant politely withdrew.
I savored the faint aroma of the tea and sorted out my thoughts.
First off, I had reincarnated into the fantasy romance novel “Zeroth Prince on a White Horse.”
I hadn’t originally wanted to read it—the cheesy title was off-putting—but a community review caught my interest.
It claimed the novel had outrageous twists and drama like a weekend soap opera.
But unfortunately, I dropped it before finishing volume one.
Mostly because the male lead, Delphian Zeroth, was incredibly dull.
He was obsessively devoted to Heidi—nothing else mattered to him.
Sure, I could accept his attachment to someone he knew since childhood… but it was way too much.
The novel even opened with Delphian, the Crown Prince, crossing the empire’s border just to rescue kidnapped Heidi.
“…He went so crazy he forgot he was royalty.”
“What did you just say?”
Oops. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Annie, the maid, glared at me.
So touchy.
Seeing her reaction to my muttering about Delphian, I just smiled innocently.
“Hmph…”
She couldn’t say anything back, just grumbled and drank iced water.
I returned to my thoughts.
In the first chapter of the novel, Heidi is kidnapped by none other than Callier Esperos, the Grand Duke of the neighboring Hestonian Empire.
But the story never really explained why he kidnapped her or how it happened.
Because shortly after that, he was defeated by Delphian, who came to rescue her…
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
A calm, elegant voice interrupted my thoughts.
A middle-aged woman in a classic yet simple dress bowed slightly.
“I’m Shanelle Claude, owner of Claude Boutique.”
After the rare outing, I was physically and mentally exhausted.
Well… mostly mentally. It was a lot to process all at once.
I just wanted to lie down and sleep.
But just then, a sharp voice rang out behind me.
“Your behavior at the boutique was a disgrace to the Piace family!”
It was Annie again.
She had been annoyed with me all day.
Looking at her flushed, angry face, I asked flatly:
“Disgrace?”
“The Eliana family is only a count’s house! We’re a marquisate! There’s a difference!”
“……”
“And yet you asked what kind of dress Miss Heidi Eliana had ordered!”
“Ha…”
I sighed at her rant.
Servants nearby began whispering and turning toward us.
But Annie didn’t care. She raised her voice even more.
“Piace is the most powerful marquis house in the empire! And yet, you showed interest in what a mere count’s daughter wears?!”
“……”
“It makes it look like Rebelia Piace is jealous of Heidi Eliana!”
“And what’s the problem with that?”
My casual reply made Annie’s lips twitch.
I walked down the steps I’d just climbed and looked her in the eye.
“Heidi is the flower of Zeroth. Even someone like me, locked up here for ten years, knows that.”
“……”
“Everything she wears sells out. Her hair accessories inspire dozens of copies. Even the food she eats runs out in the markets.”
Annie bit her lip.
She couldn’t argue—everyone knew Heidi ruled the social scene.
I stepped closer, nearly nose-to-nose with her.
“After the ball, Heidi’s dress will be the new trend—color, style, everything.”
“Lady Rebelia!”
She snapped, glaring at me. I leaned toward her ear and whispered:
“How stupid do you think I am, Annie?”
“……”
“Do you think I really believe it when you tell me dresses from ten years ago are still fashionable?”
Her face turned ghostly white.
I calmly continued:
“I get it. After ignoring someone for ten years, it’s hard to treat them like a master now.”
“……”
“But Father told me last night: no one in this house will mistreat me anymore.”
“……”
“That’s what your one and only ‘ally’ said.”
“T-that’s—!”
“What is all this noise?”
That voice.
Father was home? He’s usually not around at this hour…
Annie clearly hadn’t expected that either—her face went even paler.
I bowed my head slightly, then noticed the tall figure next to Father.
‘…Who is that?’
The man was huge—so tall he made Father look small.
His face was hidden beneath a cloak, but his presence was powerful.
As I stared at him, his red eyes suddenly met mine.
“…!”
Startled by the lifeless gaze, I quickly looked away.
My heart pounded like prey cornered by a predator.
Father bowed his head to the man first.
“Forgive the scene.”
“Piace seems more equal than I expected.”
“……”
“A maid shouting louder than her master—how democratic.”
I looked at the man again, but he was already walking away.
Father clenched his teeth—furious at being humiliated by someone so much younger.
His left eye burned more fiercely than ever.
