Chapter 45
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 45
In her letter, she had written as much.
That I was the first true friend she had ever made, and that I meant the world to her.
She said she never wanted to lose that precious bond.
Father seemed displeased that I maintained correspondence with someone from House Byon.
Yet on the day I returned from the Byon Duke's Household, Father offered me one final word of counsel, and thereafter spoke no more on the matter.
- I trust you will conduct yourself properly, but do not grow too intimate with the people of House Byon.
It was both an admonition and a warning.
Though I kept those words close to heart, whenever I received Adela's warm letters, my resolve would waver.
I was only human, after all—it was inevitable that my heart would soften toward someone I had come to care for.
Adela's letters often mentioned Aiden Byon, noting that he had yet to return to the Capital.
'So he hasn't come back yet.'
Just as Aiden Byon had said, Adela confirmed that once he left the Capital, he rarely returned quickly.
I had asked how long it might take this time, but apparently he could not say with certainty.
Yet this time, she wrote, he had promised to return soon—and she was overjoyed at the prospect of his imminent arrival.
Separate from all this, I was gradually establishing myself as a true member of the Duke's House by assisting Father with his duties.
Today, as part of that responsibility, I had ventured out on an errand for him.
My destination was the Imperial Palace.
Among the new ventures our family was undertaking, there was one that required Imperial sanction.
Since the Emperor had been delegating considerable authority to the Crown Prince of late, I needed to meet with him today.
I had sensed it at the last banquet as well—the Crown Prince possessed a different temperament than the Emperor.
It was merely intuition, but he seemed to harbor different ideals from an Emperor who acquiesced to the current power structure, wherein the three Duke Families wielded greater authority than the Imperial Court itself.
Though we had never discussed it directly, one could sometimes discern a person's thoughts from the very aura they emanated.
Ediel Winston Balteus Crown Prince possessed sharp, piercing eyes and an overwhelming presence.
For this reason, I found it difficult to shake the sense that he would one day precipitate something momentous.
Of course, there were no overt signs yet—it was merely speculation on my part.
Yet even as mere conjecture, opposing the current structure would mean opposing our own family as well.
For this reason, it was necessary to observe the Crown Prince with great care.
As these thoughts occupied my mind, the carriage entered the Imperial Palace and soon arrived at the Crown Prince's Palace.
I descended from the carriage, traversed a long corridor, and came to stand before the Crown Prince's office.
The attendant stationed at the office entrance bowed respectfully to me.
"Please wait a moment, if you would."
"Understood."
The attendant entered the office.
I examined my surroundings while waiting for his return.
I had assumed he favored opulence—given the lavish banquet he had hosted before and the ornate attire he wore—yet his personal quarters exuded a composed, serene atmosphere.
Just then, the office door opened.
"The Crown Prince requests your entrance."
The attendant stepped aside, and I walked slowly into the chamber.
As I crossed the threshold completely, the door closed behind me.
Upon entering the Crown Prince's office, the first thing that caught my eye was the grand desk where he conducted his duties.
The Crown Prince sat at that desk, regarding me intently.
My gaze drifted downward, and I found myself staring at the surface of the desk.
Stacked upon it were numerous documents piled high in layers.
"Welcome, Lady of House Heitz."
"I pay my respects to the radiant little sun of Balteus and the noble Ediel Winston Balteus Crown Prince."
I bowed respectfully before him.
"Please, rise. Come sit over here."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince led me to a table larger than the desk positioned on the right side of his office.
I took a seat directly across from him.
"I am grateful for you sparing such precious time, Your Highness."
"Not at all. For matters concerning House Heitz, I would gladly make time even if I had none."
Was there truly a hidden edge to his words, or was I merely imagining it?
Because I had already formed my own judgments about him, I found it difficult to dismiss anything he said lightly.
"I shall not take up much of Your Highness's valuable time. This is the business proposal my father mentioned previously."
I handed him the documents I had been holding.
"I had no idea the Duke of House Heitz took such interest in children. An orphanage, no less—quite unexpected."
"My father has always been prepared to do whatever is necessary for the Empire. And this venture was my proposal to him."
"Is that so? You proposed this?"
"Yes. During my travels, I witnessed countless children wandering the streets without homes. I came to believe that places to protect such children were desperately needed, which is why I am pursuing this endeavor."
It was the truth.
During my travels, I had seen not only the children rescued by the Circus Troupe, including Lian, but also countless homeless children scattered throughout the streets.
And for good reason—the world I inhabited was one where monsters frequently attacked.
They descended without warning, laying waste to the villages where people lived.
As a result, many children lost their parents and were left to wander the streets.
I understood the sorrow of having no one to care for me and no home better than anyone.
Each time I witnessed children begging for food on the streets during my travels, my heart ached with compassion.
So when I returned to the Duke's Mansion, I wanted to do whatever I could—first and foremost, to build orphanages throughout the Empire or provide support for such children.
When I shared these thoughts with my parents, they readily embraced my vision.
They truly were my parents—warm and wonderful people.
"However, the Empire already has sufficient orphanages. Building more here would be wasteful, would it not?"
The Crown Prince clearly understood the situation only through the documents that reached his desk.
When I actually walked around, I discovered that countless children were indeed exposed to danger.
"I thought the same at first, but it wasn't. The Heitz Family will bear all the costs necessary for this venture."
"I heard that you received Grens from the Maxius Family previously."
Why was he suddenly asking about my lands?
Was he curious whether I had sufficient funds?
The Crown Prince's inquisitive gaze left me feeling rather displeased.
But he was the Crown Prince, after all.
At a moment when I couldn't precisely discern his intentions, revealing my emotions would be unwise.
"Yes, that's correct. I received it as compensation for the broken engagement. As you know, Grens contains a massive Diamond Mine. So you needn't worry about the finances of this venture."
Even if that weren't the case, the Heitz Family's wealth alone would suffice for the Orphanage project.
Though it seemed odd, since the Crown Prince appeared curious, I mentioned the Diamond Mine once more to emphasize that the venture could proceed without complications.
"Of course it would be. But then again..."
"Yes?"
"Are there truly so many diamonds that they lie about at your feet?"
"Ah, yes. I visited Grens for the first time during my travels, and it was truly extraordinary."
"Hmm, I see."
"Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will review this venture favorably."
Even a Duke's House standing at the pinnacle of the Empire could not ignore procedures.
This wasn't a small private business selling goods—it involved public facilities, and even a figurehead Imperial Court required their approval.
Yet the Imperial Court couldn't openly obstruct the Duke's House's endeavors either.
Father had said it was merely a formality, so I wasn't particularly concerned.
"Understood. I'll review it and contact you."
"Thank you."
I had my answer, and now I simply had to wait for the approval.
With nothing left to discuss, there was no reason to remain.
I stood up after responding.
"Then I shall take my leave."
"Take care, my lady."
Yet as the Crown Prince bid me farewell, a meaningful smile played at the corners of his mouth.
I pretended not to notice that smile and left his office.
As I walked toward the carriage after leaving the office, a thought struck me.
'What on earth?'
Why was that man even there?
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