The confidence in his eyes was remarkable, no matter the situation. It was awe-inspiring to see soone so determined to follow their path regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
"Huh?"
How could I refuse soone like that, especially when he looked so vulnerable and insistent?
"Don't go. Let's talk here."
Darcy smiled softly at my words, as if I were coaxing a child.
"But I have to go. There's sothing I need to discuss with my brother."
Ryan snorted derisively nearby, but Darcy paid him no mind.
"I swear it’s not what you think. Stay here and eat. I'll be back, and I’ll explain everything then."
If he insisted this much, there must be sothing going on between Darcy and Ryan.
I decided to trust the Darcy I had co to know.
"Alright, then. Go ahead and talk. Just rember you have the Etvar family behind you."
No matter what Ryan attempted, he wouldn't be able to kill Darcy outright. That would give
the chance to defend him.
This seed the best course of action for the current situation.
Darcy widened his eyes at my words and smiled.
"That's reassuring. Make sure you eat well. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I prepared a bit of everything."
...His tone made it sound as though he had prepared the al himself, which made
chuckle. I nodded in acknowledgnt.
Darcy grabbed the blade with his hand and gestured with his chin.
"Shall we go?"
Even with those few words, there was a palpable tension between them. Just watching it gave
a headache.
Ryan glared at Darcy, then exhaled deeply and muttered.
"Follow ."
Darcy led the way, and the two left the room.
Creak. The door closed.
I was dumbfounded.
What in the world is going on?
anwhile, the servants began bringing in the food. I was amazed at the ongoing parade of dishes.
"...The table legs might break."
There was far too much food for just two people. The sheer number of dishes was overwhelming, and salads and desserts appeared indiscriminately.
Darcy was right; it was as if he had orchestrated the whole thing.
Yes, Darcy would find a way to settle things, just like when he created magical tools on ti.
I picked up a fork and tasted the at. The lt-in-your-mouth beef erased all my worries.
It was even more delicious knowing it had been prepared for .
"It's been so long since soone thought of ."
Consideration is an act born from thinking about another person, so I was always grateful for it, no matter its size.
...Could Darcy really be a prince?
A prince who wasn’t ntioned in the book? Although he held one of the most significant roles after the Crown Prince, I hadn’t encountered him until recently.
I recalled Darcy’s words earlier.
"You saved ."
He’d explain what that ant later. I just needed to wait for him.
Thinking back, he never once seed uncertain. He knew how to use his abilities effectively.
I should start by asking how he ca back after saying he was leaving.
The Darcy I saw today felt like a completely different person.
'It's amazing how close we've beco.'
I took a sip of soup. It ward my throat. The soup was so good that it made
smile again.
The next thing I ate was a macaron.
The imperial chefs and patissiers were masters of their craft, and their skills were well recognized.
The macaron filling was delicate and perfectly balanced in sweetness and softness. It was the happiest I had felt during my ti at the palace.
I must be so simple if eating sweets lifts my mood like this.
How nice it would be to live everything in such a simple manner.
As I exhaled, I thought of the conversation Letty and I had a while ago over so well-brewed tea.
Letty had prepared so delicious desserts for .
'I should buy Letty a box of macarons when I get back.'
I had nearly finished eating, yet Darcy still hadn’t appeared.
I had finished my al, and as ti passed, I began to worry about Darcy.
Above all, I was concerned about him being injured. He couldn’t have co away unscathed after a confrontation with Ryan.
Knowing Darcy, he would hide his injuries and walk back into the dining room as if nothing were wrong.
I decided on a course of action.
I’d wait for him in the hallway and catch him off guard. He wouldn't be able to hide any injuries out in the corridor, and I could discern his condition even if he didn’t say anything.
Standing would help
digest my al, so it was killing two birds with one stone.
And then, later, I’d eat with Darcy when he had his al.
Having decided, I stood up. If I didn’t see him in the hallway, I planned to ask a servant.
With a cool expression, Darcy leaned against the wall and spoke nonchalantly.
"I understand your feelings, but let’s talk inside. A sword fight in the hallway is a bit much, don’t you think?"
"Change your tone. It’s utterly disrespectful."
"Sorry, I can’t. I’ve grown to despise polite speech because of soone."
He was completely different from the Darcy who had asked Marceau if she preferred formal speech.
Darcy opened the door to the room beside them.
He gripped the doorknob and stepped in as if he were well accustod to it. His familiarity with the palace was indeed surprising. Instinct warned
that danger was near.
In any case, I needed to understand the aning behind his words about being brothers. Ryan furrowed his brow and followed him into the room.
"In honor of the first ti eting my sibling, I brought a very special gift."
I’ve captured your mole.
Darcy tightened the rope he held, smirking. Ryan’s gaze followed the rope to a woman lying bound on the floor.
"...How?"
There lay Letty, bound tightly and unconscious.
Ryan was genuinely flustered.
Why is she here? Who got to her? Or did Marceau discover—
"Do you like it, brother?"
With his chin raised, Darcy asked coldly. His expression as he looked at Ryan was nacing.
Ryan hesitated. Should he deny Letty’s existence? But Darcy had already captured her.
Given his confidence in confronting , it was better to start a candid conversation and negotiate.
More than anything, he couldn’t just abandon his person.
Ryan conceded.
"How did you find out?"
"I traced the source of those ridiculous rumors you intended to spread. It’s disgraceful for soone who will beco a Crown Prince."
...The rumors intended to prevent Marceau Etvar’s engagent. Knowing about them made
even more suspicious of this man.
"I guess it’s ti to wake her up."
As Darcy tightened the rope, Letty groaned and began to wake. She spotted Ryan and clenched her jaw.
In a dry whisper, she spoke.
"I’m sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t expect to be caught."
"No... it's fine."
"You care so much for your subordinate. Why don’t you co closer and untie her?"
Darcy muttered carelessly, holding the rope.
His features, partially obscured by his hair, were fierce, yet his gracefully curved eyes softened the effect.
His incongruous beauty, given the current tense atmosphere, created a peculiar aura.
"You'll hear about
directly from the Emperor tomorrow. No need for
to talk, is there? Such a hassle."
Darcy remarked in passing as he opened a window for ventilation.
"So, what will the esteed prince choose?"
It was a clear challenge directed at Ryan.
Ryan was conflicted.
This is a trap. Darcy's hostility towards
was evident without needing words.
He had captured Letty, so he wouldn’t let this go easily.
And I was the one who first put a sword to his throat.
Yet, despite my suspicions, Darcy seed utterly defenseless.
His clothes were luxurious, but he had no visible weapons.
His left hand held the rope, and his right was empty.
'A trap?'
Just as I approached, swinging my sword to cut the rope, sothing struck my head. Sothing cold pressed against my forehead.
Ryan was shocked.
'...What is this?'
"The downside of brainwashing is the lack of visual fear. It ends with just a few words, so it’s useless for threats. So, I prepared sothing different."
"..."
"It’s my favorite weapon."
A clicking sound was heard.
"My father was thrilled with it. What about you, brother? Do you like it?"
"...Where did you co from?"
"Shall I give you a little taste?"
Darcy twisted the gun pressed against Ryan’s forehead, leaning in with a sneer.
"I’m the dog who lived, coming and going from the palace for Kies. The reality of the Saizen Palace you ignored is ."
His expression was filled with deep-seated hatred, and Ryan's eyes widened.
'Saizen Palace?'
Wasn’t that the forbidden place he was supposed to inherit?
"...Are you the one father kept hidden?"
I had always suspected sothing was hidden in Saizen Palace.
I just didn’t expect it to be a prince like this.
Darcy pressed the gun further against Ryan’s forehead and spoke in a low voice, locking eyes with him.
"Do you not even rember the gratitude for saving you as a child?"
"What are you..."
"Ryan Stregen. That was the last rcy I extended to you."
"rcy?"
Darcy’s gaze pursued him relentlessly.
In a fleeting mont, Ryan recalled a childhood mory.
A mory he didn’t even know he had forgotten ca rushing back.
As a child, Ryan had boldly entered the Saizen Palace. It was to uncover its secrets.
And there, he t this man.
...Yes. He had t this man before.
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