TMKWPL CH 14

Chapter 14

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He Knows the Secret

“…If there’s anything that might be of help, please be sure to tell me.”

“...”

Lucia got into the carriage without saying anything in response to his words.

In the carriage's mirror as they drove away, she could see the busy man staring after her suspiciously as the distance grew. His sudden claim of wanting to see her off had prompted him to call the carriage, but the thought of the anxious child waiting at the lodging made her board without hesitation.

An escort was understandable from such a renowned gentleman, but the lingering question from that day remained unanswered. She knew that the luminous man, who effortlessly attracts people, has an excellent reputation. So perhaps the gifts were really just gifts.

But what about the note? The ridiculous threat?

Pondering his inexplicable actions, she looked down at the book he ‘d been staring on.

The book's title was:

[Child-Rearing Methods Proven by Results.]

Perhaps because she hadn’t seen sunlight in a while, this was the best-selling book the trembling librarians recommended. She briefly examined the book, then turned it over. What did Leon see in the back cover that made him so startled?

There, printed in a near-portrait style, was an image of a beautiful woman and a silver-haired boy who looked strikingly similar together.

...I feel like I’ve seen this boy somewhere.

Just as she was trying to get a closer look at the familiar face, the comfortable carriage belonging to the Marquess of Lewins suddenly slowed down.

“Lady Lucia, would you mind waiting for a moment?”

The coachman bowed politely from outside the window. Looking out, they were on a bridge spanning the river that separated the imperial palace from the hill.

When she stepped out of the carriage to assess the situation, the bridge was completely packed with several carriages. And looking at the commotion below the bridge, someone was enjoying a boat ride in the distance.

She briefly considered walking instead, but since she’d already told the coachman she would wait, she had no choice but to lean against the bridge railing and turn her gaze to the river.

The water shimmered—a truly beautiful day for a boat ride.

While enjoying the rare moment of leisure and watching the scenery, something suddenly emerged into her view.

The bow of the luxurious boat she had seen earlier was slowly emerging from under the bridge she was standing on. The leisurely boat glided along the river, accompanied by coquettish laughter. When the entire boat came into view, there was a single man surrounded by ladies adorned like flowers.

The man slowly lifted his head from under the bridge and Lucia made direct eye contact with him. When the man saw her, he smiled brightly and waved, as if he had been waiting for her. He was a handsome young man that anyone would find striking. Lucia, observing his familiar gesture, began sifting through her memories.

“Oh my, Your Highness. Are you getting off already?”

“Your Highness, you've only just arrived, let’s play a little longer! Please?”

Your Highness...?

His title came from the lips of the flower-like ladies.

There was only one person referred to as 'Your Highness'. If I remember correctly, he must be the Crown Prince of the Empire.

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As he disembarked from the elaborately decorated boat, the young ladies dressed like flowers followed after him. The group soon came up onto the bridge and came face to face Lucia.

“My apologies for the inconvenience on your journey, Commander Lucia.”

“I greet the Small Sun. Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

As Lucia lifted her head after giving her respects, the young man—who looked more like a freshly bloomed flower than the son of the emperor, gazed intently at her with a gentle smile.

He was Crown Prince Airen Ashir Eldarion.

He had soft, pink hair that suited the spring sunshine, and rich, golden eyes that looked like dripping honey. The dark circles under his captivating eyes seemed to be his only flaw, a sign of his frail constitution, but according to the young ladies who followed the Crown Prince, they were actually captivated by the decadent charm it gave him.

His popularity, which even made his flaws into a charm, seemed to have been passed down from his mother, the beautiful Empress who had once taken the continent by storm.

“I was planning to enjoy myself alone, but I didn't expect to run into so many people.”

He shrugged with a hearty laugh, as if it couldn't be helped.

“Oh, honestly. Your Highness, this is fate!”

“Then that fate belongs to me, right? Since I arrived first.”

“Oh my, Miss, you often talk about things that are just wishful thinking. Oho ho.”

“You are no different, Miss. Oho ho.”

While Leon was popular with both genders and all ages, Airen was especially popular with the young ladies. Perhaps it was due to the desire of young women in his peer group who dreams the image of a bad boy.

“Yes. I'll be going now.”

As he finished speaking, Lucia was about to walk away.

“Oh, wait. Congratulations on reaching the next level, Commander.”

He suddenly chased after her and thrust something out.

...A rattle?

A rattle with gold bells attached. No matter how she looked at it, it was not a suitable gift for a Sword master.

“Oh, perhaps she’s too old to play with this?”

Shaking the rattle and smiling playfully, he had heard about her parental leave.

“...”

...Is he making fun of me?

“Oh my! Is that the Commander of the Black Knights?”

“Then is that the person who is... on parental leave?”

A few young ladies who knew Lucia’s circumstances began whispering among themselves.

How annoying.

Nobles who were deeply involved in the war would have known Lucia's personality and quickly left, but the childish young ladies were different. Some boasted their audacity, relying on their family's name. Just like a few of the nobles right now.

“I never thought you’d have a child, Commander.”

Airen narrowing his sparkling eyes said mischievously. He was intent on continuing the conversation despite the many eyes on them.

“It's understandable not to know. Then, if you’ll excuse me—”

The Crown Prince, noticing her intention to leave after responding minimally, grabbed her sleeve. He immediately let go, hesitated, and uncharacteristically glanced around with a slightly flushed face.

“Wait, just a moment. What I wanted to say is... I have actually been watching you for a long time.”

“What!?”

“Oh my goodness!”

“Gasp...!”

His bombshell statement caused the surrounding ladies except Lucia, to gasp in shock. Among them, a startled attendant was supporting a young lady who was clutching her forehead and about to collapse.

Airen was embarrassed but smiled with satisfaction for the first time in a while. He knew exactly how people would react to the words he had just spoken. He had never felt satisfied since he was a child.

With poor health, even the indulgences he could afford as Crown Prince were reminders of how cruel a child could be in such a position. But the one who made him come to his senses was Lucia.

Lucia was sixteen when they first met. She was assigned as the Crown Prince’s bodyguard immediately upon joining the Knightage, and she treated the Crown Prince with her unchanging personality.

It goes without saying that his life, having grown up like a flower in a greenhouse, he was turned upside down by her raw, blunt presence. Airen was now five years older than Lucia was back then, but her constant indifference still made him smile.

And his heart was still pounding just as it had back then.

“Commander, you still haven't said who the child’s father is, have you?”

“...”

This is the second time I’ve heard this question. Is the Emperor’s guarantee not enough?

Despite his direct approach, Lucia was still preoccupied with other concerns.

“Your Highness...! You're just trying to console her, aren't you?”

“That’s right! This must be a joke! She’s a female knight! A bold woman who does work that men do!”

The shocked young ladies began yapping like sensitive Chihuahuas.

Then, as they noticed the Crown Prince's serious expression and quieted down, a platinum-haired young lady who had been silently watching covered her mouth with a fan, as if speaking of something unsavoury.

“Hmm. Considering the timing, it was when the war was concluding. Did something happen there? Like, a woman spending the night before marriage...”

“Oh my, my! Good heavens...!”

“How scandalous!”

The girls fussed as if it were their own business. Lucia merely watched the rapidly changing expressions of the youths before her. A composed adult wouldn't genuinely get angry even if extremely young children insulted them. So, Lucia wasn't angry.

However, she recalled a passage from the book she had just read, which warned that if a situation is not explained to a child, no matter how young, and is simply overlooked, they could grow up into an adult who gets angry for no reason.

Concerned, the elder Lucia stepped closer to the not-yet-grown foxes. The young ladies, who had been laughing, blinked their rabbit-like eyes in confusion at the shadow of the predator.

“Wh-what? What are you going to do?”

“If you come any closer, I’ll tell my father about this!”

Lucia looked down at the frightened ladies for a long time and then answered the Crown Prince’s question.

“I have no intention of telling you in the future, either. There were simply too many people I spent the night with back then to single anyone out.”

At that, the innocent young ladies, couldn't close their opened mouths and their faces flushed red as their imaginations ran wild. It certainly could lead to a big misunderstanding, but it was partially true.

She had spent countless nights on the battlefield with people, regardless of gender, over four years. The platinum-haired young lady, perhaps not expecting her to respond, backed away from Lucia with a frustrated face.

“Your Imperial Highness!! Are you alright?!”

The guard protecting the Crown Prince quickly ran up and supported Airen. The Crown Prince, his face bright red, was trying to stop the nosebleed gushing from his nose.

A blood splashed on Lucia, and he pushed the soldier away and approached her, still clutching his nose.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry about this. There’s blood on your sleeve...”

Lucia looked at Airen, who was worried about the blood on her clothes.

Just wipe your own blood first.

Whether he was aware of her discomfort or not, Lucia stopped his hand as he tried to offer her a bloodied handkerchief. But was that clumsy gesture intentional?

The Crown Prince suddenly grabbed her wrist. As Lucia hesitated, unable to roughly shake off a royal's touch, he took advantage of her momentary pause and moved closer.

“Do you know what place was closest to the training grounds where you were stationed?”

A low, deep whisper right by her ear. Lucia was flustered as the man, whom she mostly remembered as a twelve-year-old child, suddenly towered over her with surprising height.

“It was in the Crown Prince Palace. It's not a lie that I’ve been watching you. Watching the training grounds where you were every morning is one of my secret daily routines.”

Lucia listened to the Crown Prince’s whispers, and the more he spoke made her more uncomfortable.

“But, your child doesn't seem to have been born small. I never once saw your stomach swell, so that means... Ah, now, does this make it a secret between just you and me now??”

“...!!”

Airen smiled so widely that his sweet eyes closed, and then slowly pulled away from Lucia who went stiff.

“You see, I’d like to start by becoming close to you.”

And with those final words, the Crown Prince collapsed —still bleeding profusely from the nose.

Chapter 13

Chapter List

Chapter 15