Episode 74: Provocation
─One day earlier.
The moon was in full bloom on a cold night.
Starlight shimmered on a pitch-black canvas.
By the orders of Rudella, Vera had traveled to the frontier, where the second prince, Descartes, resided, to deliver a letter.
Though sealed with wax bearing an insignia to indicate it was from someone of high status, the emblem was deliberately obscured, concealing its origin.
At the same time, the use of stationery exclusive to the imperial family subtly conveyed the letter’s authenticity and gravity.
‘He won’t fail to notice.’
The second prince, Descartes, who once contended for the throne, wasn’t particularly brilliant, but he had a sharp eye for details. He would undoubtedly grasp the current situation.
After delivering the letter, Vera scanned her surroundings and pulled a black robe over herself. The dark fabric completely concealed her face.
Normally, a servant or the empire’s postal service would have handled this task, but this mission demanded utmost secrecy, leaving her no choice but to act personally.
“Phew…”
A white puff of breath fogged her vision as it escaped her lips. Winter had come to the imperial capital, but Descartes’ domain was particularly cold.
Just as Vera tightened her black robe and prepared to move,
“Vera Haslan.”
Someone called her name. A voice devoid of any emotion. But that wasn’t the important part.
‘I’m being watched!’
Vera swiftly drew the dagger strapped to her thigh. Turning toward the direction of the voice, she saw dark silhouettes standing there.
“…Who sent you?”
“…”
The black figures didn’t respond to her question. Vera narrowed her eyes.
‘The only person who would bother to have me watched is…’
The only one likely to monitor a mere aide like her was the Crown Prince.
But how? Where had she slipped up? No one, not even Yohan or Lady Fervache, knew of her contact with the Second Prince.
Only she and Rudella had knowledge of this matter.
‘Whatever the case, things are taking a nasty turn…’
A shadow fell over Vera’s face. The situation was grim. If those keeping her under surveillance had revealed themselves, it meant suspicion had turned into certainty.
If she had even a single bodyguard, she might have been able to buy some time, but secrecy had been the cornerstone of this mission, leaving her utterly alone.
“I suggest you don’t resist unnecessarily.”
Sching.
The man at the front unsheathed the longsword at his waist and stepped forward. His movements were controlled and deliberate, yet no aura could be felt. He was a skilled fighter.
Gulp.
Vera swallowed nervously. Anxiety and fear made her heart race, and her breath grew heavy.
‘I can’t be caught. Absolutely not.’
She was certain of one thing: if she were captured, the mission wouldn’t just fail; Rudella would also face dire consequences.
Vera hardened her expression and raised her dagger.
“…So, you have no intention of coming quietly.”
Shhh.
The man at the front took another step forward. His footsteps were soundless, his movements like a shadow.
At that moment—
“…!”
A dark blur swept across her vision.
Her world went black.
…
…
…
“Ah…!”
Vera gasped as she regained consciousness. Her entire body ached, and her head throbbed, but now wasn’t the time to rest.
‘Where am I?’
She glanced around, taking in her surroundings. The first things she noticed were wooden walls and old, worn-out furniture. It was a simple cabin.
‘How much time has passed?’
Moonlight streamed faintly through the window. It was still night. Not much time seemed to have passed—surely not an entire day.
As Vera calmly assessed the situation,
Click.
The cabin door opened, and a man stepped inside. Vera instinctively held her breath.
Golden eyes and golden hair.
The crown prince—Fedelian Rozino.
“You’re awake.”
With a cold expression, he dragged a chair and sat down in front of Vera. The chill in his gaze pierced her skin, leaving her numb.
“Lately, my fiancée has been acting suspicious. So, I had you monitored, but I didn’t expect to catch you so easily.”
“…”
“I suppose you won’t tell me what Rudella has been plotting. Judging by appearances, it’s clearly nothing good for me.”
“…”
“Doesn’t seem like you plan to talk.”
Although Fedelian began his interrogation right away, Vera merely glared at him with a fierce expression, her lips pressed tightly shut.
“It’s always an option to torture a confession out of you… but the better approach is to hear it from the mastermind herself. After all, she’s already here.”
Vera’s eyes widened in shock, her voice breaking as she spoke.
“Don’t tell me… the lady too…!”
“So, you can speak after all.”
Fedelian smirked as her reaction confirmed his suspicion.
“I wonder what that noble Rudella Bismarck will do now that she’s been cornered completely.”
Fedelian’s smile deepened. He was thoroughly enjoying this situation—the rare chance to see the always composed Rudella shaken.
“…Things won’t go the way you want them to.”
Vera glared at him with defiance, her gaze sharp and filled with resolve.
“Is that a prayer?”
“…”
Fedelian tilted his head, his golden eyes coldly gazing down at Vera.
“Relying on faith? That’s the domain of the weak. I have no need for it.”
“…”
The icy air hung between them as Fedelian, finishing his words, gestured toward a shadowed figure.
“Bring Rudella Bismarck.”
“Yes.”
At his command, the shadow disappeared into an adjacent room and returned moments later with Rudella in tow. Her arms and legs were bound tightly with ropes.
“…”
Seated next to Vera, Rudella fixed Fedelian with a frosty glare. Her face was expressionless, the silence amplifying her cold aura.
“Well, Rudella, let me ask you. You were planning to stab me in the back with all the evidence you gathered, weren’t you? That’s why you sent a letter to Descartes. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
Her blue eyes were devoid of any light, holding only an icy chill.
“You’re not planning to answer, I see. Well, it doesn’t matter—I already know.”
Fedelian shrugged nonchalantly before continuing.
“But I still don’t understand. Rudella, you were set to become the Crown Princess, the mother of the Empire. Why betray me now?”
There was no reply. Fedelian’s brow twitched. He was used to her cold demeanor, but it still annoyed him.
“Even now, you won’t answer? You’re stubborn about the strangest things, I’ll give you that. But it’s all over anyway.”
“Release Vera.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
Fedelian let out a breath of disbelief. Even in this situation, she was worried about her aide? How absurd.
“Vera has nothing to do with this. She merely followed my orders.”
“My lady…!”
“Be quiet, Vera.”
Despite Rudella’s brazen demand and Vera’s desperate struggles against her bindings, Fedelian’s smirk deepened.
“What a touching bond.”
“…”
“Fine, I’ll grant your request.”
Fedelian nodded slightly. At his signal, a shadowed figure drew a dagger and cut Vera’s bindings.
“…?”
Vera looked up at Fedelian, confused. He met her gaze with a cold stare.
“In exchange, you’ll have a role to play. Go to Yohan Lahart and inform him that Rudella has been captured.”
“…!”
Rudella’s eyes widened, and her shoulders flinched. For the first time, the usually emotionless woman showed clear signs of agitation at the mention of Yohan’s name.
Fedelian chuckled lightly and continued.
“Bring Yohan Lahart here.”
“What are you planning…!”
Rudella twisted her body in a panic, but with her hands and feet tied, there was little she could do.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you’re indeed connected to Yohan Lahart. I was only fishing for a response, but you’ve confirmed it for me.”
Fedelian’s lips curled into a smirk as he reached out to touch Rudella’s chin. She squeezed her eyes shut and recoiled.
“Have you fallen for Yohan Lahart? Or perhaps he’s been whispering sweet words of love to you?”
A dry laugh escaped his lips.
“Flirting with an engaged woman? He really is as sly as he look-a true fox. No wonder he managed to steal the heart of the Lady of Fervache.”
At the moment when Fedelian insulted Yohan, a shadow fell over Rudella’s face. Her sky-blue eyes darkened deeply.
“…Do not insult Yohan.”
She could endure everything else.
Even in a life-threatening situation like this, she could remain composed. But she could not tolerate anyone insulting the man she loved.
“Hmm. So, it seems that your heart was indeed stolen by him.”
Fedelian’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
“Is he that important to you? Important enough to disregard your family’s wishes and stab your fiancé in the back? Blinded by a fleeting impulse, you’ve made a decision you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
Rudella turned her head and bit her lips tightly.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. In fact, I welcome the current situation. Now I can deal with both you and Count Lahart at the same time.”
A smirk spread across Fedelian’s lips.
“Yohan Lahart will be arrested today under charges of treason for conspiring with you. Ultimately, he will end up as a slave, closing the gates of the demonic lairs. As for you, there will be no avoiding execution.”
“Ha.”
At that moment, a scoff escaped from Rudella’s lips.
“…What’s so funny?”
It wasn’t just a laugh. It was a blatant sneer. Fedelian’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.
“Seeing you so agitated now, it’s clear how stark the difference is between you and him, Your Highness.”
Rudella continued, her tone calm and cutting.
“Isn’t it amusing to target someone’s life simply because you couldn’t win the Lady Fervache’s heart? Unlike you, he captured my heart purely and without force.”
With every word, Fedelian’s face hardened further. His golden eyes flickered with an intense light.
“Oh, even without mentioning the Lady Fervache, the difference between you and him is abundantly clear, Your Highness. He won my heart, but you… couldn’t.”
Taunting him in this situation was dangerous. However, since Fedelian was already planning to trap Yohan, she knew the only way to help was to provoke him, clouding his judgment with anger.
Rudella sneered again.
“Are you perhaps feeling insecure? Well, it makes sense. After all, unlike him, Your Highness relies solely on brute force to achieve everything.”
“Ha…?”
Fedelian’s expression twisted in anger. Fury burned in his eyes, and the veins in his neck bulged as if they would burst at any moment.
“…Bring Yohan Lahart here immediately using that woman as bait.”
His voice reverberated coldly within the cabin. His golden eyes were now consumed by an indescribable rage.
“Rudella, I’ll make you watch as I utterly destroy the man you love.”
“Even for you, Your Highness, that will be a tough mess to clean up afterward.”
“There’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I see. Best of luck, Your Highness. Though it doesn’t seem likely to end well for you.”
“…”
Her sneer struck like a hammer, shattering Fedelian’s pride. The veins on his forehead swelled to the point of bursting, and his fingertips trembled.
Being compared to Yohan filled him with an unbearable sense of humiliation. The shame seared through his mind, shattering the icy control he had maintained.
“…I’ll make sure to kill him. Right in front of your eyes.”
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