Chapter 30
Up ahead, Cedric was patrolling the festival grounds, accompanied by a group of men who appeared to be his subordinates.
By some miracle, he hadn’t looked their way yet, but it was only a matter of time before they were spotted if they stayed where they were.
Cedric, more than anyone, would recognize Ian and Lobelin immediately.
If it were revealed that the two of them had spent time together like this, it would be detrimental to Lobelin above all else.
“Lobelin, come this way for now.”
Ian took Lobelin by the arm and pulled her into a nearby alleyway.
The alley, barely wide enough for one or two people to pass through, was quiet and devoid of light—a stark contrast to the boisterous atmosphere outside.
In the middle of the alley, hay, boxes, and wooden planks were strewn about haphazardly, likely materials used for work.
The two carefully tucked themselves behind a pile of crates and sat down.
“Of all people, to run into Marquis Maxwell here.”
“I know. If we’d kept walking like that without a care, we would have run right into him.”
Lobelin spoke as she tried to calm her racing heart.
For a moment, the two sat in silence, soothing their startled nerves.
‘Ah.’
Just then, the fireworks—the highlight of the festival—began.
Even from the alley where Lobelin and Ian sat, colorful bursts of light were visible between the buildings.
“It’s beautiful…”
At Lobelin’s murmur, Ian followed her gaze and looked up.
The blooming fireworks painted the surroundings for a fleeting moment before slowly fading away.
“It is.”
But there was someone right beside him who captured his attention more than the scattering sparks.
“Beautiful.”
Ian spoke while watching the curve of her soft lips, her dainty nose, and her eyes that sparkled like stars.
With every burst of the colorful fireworks, her face was bathed in shifting hues.
“Your Highness, now that I think about it—”
Lobelin turned her head instinctively, only to fall silent when her eyes met Ian’s.
They were much closer than she had realized.
Ian’s face was far nearer than she had expected.
Even in the dark alley, she could clearly see his blue eyes shining like jewels.
“Now that you think about what?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“What is it? You were about to say something.”
“Oh, stop—don’t come any closer!”
When Lobelin pushed his shoulder in a sudden fit of fluster, Ian froze.
He scanned her face, noting how her blush had spread all the way to her ears, before leaning his back against the wall again.
“What you just said hurt a little.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“The part about not coming closer. It reminded me of the past.”
“I didn’t mean it like 그that…”
Seeing the strangely lonely expression on Ian’s face, Lobelin felt a sudden wave of pity.
Was that why?
Without thinking, Lobelin reached out toward him.
Her hand moved of its own accord, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Ian’s forehead.
“…Oh.”
The moment she realized what she had done, Lobelin’s face turned beet red.
Ian also looked surprised by the unexpected gesture, but soon his eyes crinkled into a soft smile.
“What’s this? I thought you didn’t like being touched.”
“Well, that is… I mean…”
Seeing Lobelin stammer, the corners of Ian’s mouth lifted uncontrollably.
He idly toyed with the earlobe her fingertips had brushed against and murmured.
“That’s a relief.”
“Pardon?”
“That you don’t actually hate it when I touch you.”
…Then what was all that during the shooting game?
But Lobelin didn’t bother to ask.
Ian’s expression looked far too pathetic for her to press the issue.
“Wh-who said I hated it when Your Highness came close?”
“You did. Just now.”
“…”
However, at Ian’s subsequent playful remark, Lobelin decided to take back her feelings of pity.
After watching her and chuckling for a moment, Ian spoke again.
“I told you before that I can’t trust the Empress.”
“Ah, yes…”
Lobelin recalled his words from the other day.
‘I can’t fully trust that side. Count Wighill, the head of the City Guard, is one of the Empress’s people.’
At the time, she had let it go, thinking it was Imperial business she didn’t need to know.
While Lobelin wondered if it was alright for her to hear this, Ian continued his story.
“A long time ago… when I was ten years old, the Second Prince was born.”
A faint smile touched Ian’s lips as he recalled the day his brother was born.
As a child, Ian had been terrified of the Empress, who berated him at every opportunity, but he had genuinely liked his younger half-brother.
Even though the Empress strictly limited the time he could see the Prince, Ian had made sure to spend every allowed minute with Maximilian.
Then one day, Ian found an old music box he had once loved in the Imperial storehouse.
He wanted his young brother to hear the same lullaby melody his own mother used to play for him.
“Your visitation time is up for today. No more.”
But he had already used up his time for the day.
Young Ian had no choice but to turn away with a dejected expression.
Yet, on that particular day, he couldn’t give up his desire to see his brother.
‘Maybe I can sneak in if I avoid the maids’ eyes?’
In the end, young Ian made a reckless decision.
Luckily, he managed to make it all the way into Maximilian’s bedroom.
Despite it being nap time, the baby was lying there with his eyes wide open.
Seeing this, Ian felt glad he had come.
‘Maxim. Big brother is going to play a wonderful lullaby for you.’
It happened the moment he set the music box on the nightstand and began to wind the key.
“What do you think you’re doing?! Get away from my son!”
“Agh!”
“Waaaaah!”
A scream like a bolt of lightning tore through the air, and a powerful force struck his cheek.
Small for his age, Ian was sent flying and collapsed onto the carpet.
He heard the young Maximilian crying in fright.
Everything happened so fast that Ian couldn’t even cry; he just clutched his cheek and stared blankly toward the baby.
The Empress, looking horrified, scooped Maximilian into her arms.
‘The Prince, the Prince! Heavens. A doctor! Where is the doctor?’
‘Your Majesty! What has happened?!’
Hearing people rushing in, Ian crawled out of the room on all fours.
The maids quickly helped him up and brushed off his clothes, and Paula came running to fetch him after hearing the news.
Even then, the Empress never spared Ian a single glance.
“Your Highness, why on earth did you do that?”
“I… I just… wanted Maxim to hear Mother’s music box too…”
“Your Highness…”
Paula hugged Ian tightly, her heart breaking for him.
He thought the commotion would end there.
‘Paula!’
A few days later, Ian was horrified to see Paula’s body covered in dark bruises.
Count Wighill informed him that Paula had been beaten in Ian’s stead because of the incident.
He gave a stern warning never to do anything that could be misunderstood again.
“So, never approach the Prince again without Her Majesty the Empress’s permission.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Paula, because of me…”
Paula hugged Ian again, telling him it was alright, but Ian wept bitterly in her arms.
It remained a painful memory of his childhood, embedded deep in his heart even now.
“…That’s when I realized. Ah, the Empress is not my mother. The path I must walk is one of opposition to her.”
“…”
“But still, whenever someone rejects me, I can’t help but remember that day.”
Lobelin was lost for words after hearing Ian’s story.
In his lonely expression, she felt she could see the wounded child from that day.
“You wouldn’t want to hurt the man you like, would you? Be careful from now on.”
“L-like…?”
‘What is he even saying?’
Just when she started to feel for him, he always had to go and ruin the mood.
Lobelin grumbled to herself.
And yet, she still felt sorry for Ian.
‘I heard he received the Empress as his stepmother when he was very young.’
No matter that she was a stepmother, she must have been the mother the young Ian wanted to trust and lean on.
The shock that child must have felt…
She couldn’t even imagine how many lonely hours Ian had endured to be able to speak of it so indifferently now.
“I didn’t know until you told me. That Your Highness and Her Majesty had that kind of relationship.”
“Well, we have an obligation to show the ideal Imperial image the citizens desire.”
“Were you never lonely?”
“…What?”
As Ian turned his head, their eyes met.
Looking into those blue eyes gazing at her, Lobelin felt her cheeks flush involuntarily.
“No, I mean, I’m not trying to compare myself to Your Highness… but my parents have often been away from home for business since I was young. I couldn’t throw a tantrum, so I acted like it was nothing, but sometimes I did feel a bit lonely.”
“…”
“I just asked because I wondered if Your Highness felt that way too. My parents went to Newerie again yesterday. I guess I’ve just become a bit emotional. Don’t mind me—”
Feeling embarrassed, Lobelin tried to stand up.
But Ian quickly took her arm and pulled her back down.
