Mess 157

157.

“Rude, you say?”

The crown prince echoed mockingly, his eyes flicking swiftly around the room.

The atelier staff and serving maids, who had been sitting on the floor or steadying themselves at tables, shocked and out of breath, hastily straightened their posture.

“We greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“We greet the Little Sun of the Empire.”

Only then did the crown prince’s attention leave those who bowed their heads in greeting.

“Peonia.”

He entered the room fully and grabbed Lilié’s forearm, hauling her up from the floor.

“Ah…”

A pained cry escaped Lilié, forced to her feet.

The prince’s expression twisted with spite, his grip on her arm only tightening.

Peonia, seeing Lilié wince in pain, tried to intervene.

“Your Highness, please, your hand—”

“How can a person be so cruel?”

Peonia, who had been about to ask him to let go, and Lilié, who had been suffering under his grip, both froze.

“…Pardon?”

“…?”

Both looked at the crown prince in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lilié cast white magic on her own ears, momentarily doubting her hearing.

The atelier staff and maids were bewildered as well.

“What did someone do that Lilié ended up on the floor?”

“Good grief…”

Peonia couldn’t suppress a small, awed sigh. Never in her life had she heard such words that left her so utterly speechless.

“…”

Lilié silently cursed the prince with her eyes, even a faint killing intent flaring in her desolate gaze.

‘How dare you—to Lady Peonia…!’

I’m only on the floor because of you!

Just as Lilié was about to slap away the prince’s hand, Peonia bowed her head and spoke.

“My apologies, Your Highness.”

Everyone, Lilié included, was startled. It was an undeserved apology.

“It is my oversight. Had I known Your Highness would honor us with your presence, I would have made sure nothing like this happened.”

In short: This would not have happened if you’d announced yourself.

“I was so focused on having the dress fitted that I failed to notice your approach, Your Highness.”

You’re the one who barged in, bastard.

“So perhaps you could release Lady Albéolos? I do understand your concern for her…”

You’re hurting Lilié, can’t you see?

Beneath Peonia’s courteous words, her meaning was cold as ice.

Only then did the crown prince seem to realize he was still gripping Lilié’s arm.

“Are you all right?”

He helped her up, his face suddenly softening, his voice so gentle it was almost moving.

“….”

But Lilié turned her head away with a stony expression.

“Give Lady Albéolos something to cover with.”

Peonia instructed.

A maid brought a large shawl, draping it over Lilié’s exposed shoulders: her outfit had been minimal for the fitting.

Meanwhile, other maids quickly set up a screen and escorted Lilié away for more privacy.

“So,”

Peonia asked,

“What brings Your Highness here?”

Suddenly feeling exhausted, she rubbed her temple wearily.

“You…”

The prince’s tone grew sour.

“How cruel will you become?”

The room fell silent, as if swept by a winter blizzard.

“…”

How many idiotic things can one hear in so short a time?

Peonia couldn’t think at all—her mind went blank at the sheer absurdity. She had no idea just what sort of dazed expression she was making now.

“Being shameless must run in the family.”

It was obvious mockery, but Peonia was not particularly wounded—unfortunately, shamelessness really did run in her family.

“Can you truly say you had no influence on His Majesty’s decision to send Lilié to the guest palace?”

That, she could not deny.

She had worried so much for Lilié’s safety; she had sincerely wished her out of the prince’s residence as soon as possible.

“When jealousy goes too far, it turns ugly.”

Peonia’s composure wavered for an instant.

‘I actually liked this man?’

Now that the veil had been lifted, the man before her was empty gloss. Selfish in thought, twisting everything to suit himself, a monster lacking all empathy.

‘Does he even like Lilié at all?’

Instead of caring for Lilié, scantily dressed as she was, he let his anger take precedence.

If he truly cared, he would never have acted as he just had.

Now, even the sincerity of his feelings toward Lilié was in doubt.

“Your Highness.”

Peonia spoke.

“I am nowhere near influential enough to sway His Majesty as you suggest. No one in the Empire can shake its sun.”

“His Majesty used the coming ball as an excuse. That day, I must enter by your side…”

“Because it wouldn’t do to have another woman residing in the crown prince’s apartments when he already has a fiancée.”

Peonia finished the sentence for him, and the prince’s face twisted in displeasure. She responded with a subtle, taunting smile.

“It’s a perfectly rational reason, is it not?”

The fact that Lilié had been kept in the prince’s residence so stubbornly until now seemed the real mystery.

“….”

At a loss, the crown prince clamped his mouth shut, but the sharpness in his eyes only glinted more fiercely.

“And…”

Peonia glanced at the cowering maids and atelier staff.

“Please—do not cause any more embarrassment for your fiancée, newly returned from a long journey.”

“You care for your own dignity, but not for others’ safety?”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Do you think I came here simply because Lilié’s residence was changed?”

Peonia tilted her head.

The prince let out a snort, then raised his voice a little.

“Why did you place a spell on Lilié?”

“What spell do you mean…?”

“A binding spell!”

The prince pounded a nearby table with his fist. The table toppled under the force. The teacups crashed to the floor and shattered.

“Why would you use such a dangerous spell…!”

“That is not your concern, Your Highness.”

Peonia’s voice was glacial.

“That was His Majesty’s order: the spell was cast to maintain the joint confidentiality of the imperial family and the Magic Tower’s shared affairs. Not only Lady Albéolos, but anyone with even the slightest chance of revealing our secrets has been bound by it.”

Furthermore, the magic was set to be released after a certain period.

“So if you wish to pursue this further, Your Highness must address His Majesty…”

Peonia trailed off.

The crown prince’s rage vanished in an instant, but the atmosphere in the room grew heavier, harder to breathe.

When Peonia met his gaze—not so much a stare as a glare—her heart lurched.

In spite of herself, she swallowed dryly. She could feel the sweat gathering in her palm.

The crown prince was angry.

Just before, when he had struck the table and raised his voice, he had only pretended to be angry. That had been an act. He hadn’t truly been angry.

That cold and empty face, blank except for a chilling, listless look.

“…”

Peonia was finally seeing the true face of the crown prince.

---

The incident passed without further trouble.

Peonia herself had done little; the crown prince had simply left on his own.

Only then did the terrorized people begin to breathe freely again. The release of tension made the maids break down in tears, and the atelier staff were in no state to return to work.

“Lady Peonia!”

Lilié emerged from behind the screen, checking Peonia’s condition.

“Are you all right? You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“This isn’t the time to worry about me.”

Peonia clicked her tongue, eyeing Lilié’s arm, half hidden by the shawl. He must have squeezed so hard: her fair arm wasn’t just red, it was already turning bruise-blue.

“Shall I fetch balm—”

“It’s fine!”

The bruise faded gradually. Lilié used white magic to heal herself.

“…”

But Peonia’s sour expression didn’t loosen.

“You’ll be all right, yes?”

Lilié, fidgeting with her fingernails, was just as anxious.

“It’s so frightening here. I just want to get out, quickly…”

“Don’t worry too much.”

Peonia patted her head. Lilié’s face turned crimson at once.

“For His Majesty’s sake, there’s nothing he would dare to do now.”

But Peonia’s concern extended beyond Lilié.

“And all of you—don’t go anywhere alone for a while.”

She cautioned the villa maids and atelier staff as well.

“Maids must always go about in pairs at minimum, and try never to enter secluded places. Atelier staff, under any circumstance, enter the palace with me or not at all.”

The frightened faces relaxed, if only a little.

But Peonia herself could not so easily recover. Above all, she couldn’t shake the dread of what the crown prince might attempt.

The next day—

Peonia entered the palace with the atelier staff. This time, Seraphie and Looney joined her.

“My lady! Secretary!”

Lilié, overjoyed to see her friends, ran up to them.

“I heard that lunatic threw a fit yesterday? You’re all right, right? You look absolutely worn out!”

Seraphie and Looney bombarded Lilié with concern, not giving her a moment to answer. Flooded with worried questions, Lilié could only gape.

“But where’s your guard?”

Peonia, shielding Lilié behind her, asked.

“Fura’s on vacation,” Seraphie answered.

But that was an excuse.

While everyone was absorbed in preparations for the ball, Fura was investigating the crown prince’s usual haunts and routes.

“Fura?”

Lilié peeked out from behind Peonia’s back.

“She’s Seraphie’s bodyguard. Quite cute, so she’s memorable.”

“……!”

A look of dread and imminent crisis passed across Lilié’s face.

“Anyway, now that we’re all gathered, let’s get down to business,” Looney said, tapping the table and directing everyone’s attention.

“When would be the best time for Penny to break off her engagement to the crown prince?”

“Ah, my poor fate…”

Peonia could never have guessed she’d discuss such treason right here in the palace.

“T-the engagement? Are you serious?”

But Lilié’s face bloomed with joy.