Chapter 5
“Is there perhaps a woman you have in mind? Is that why this talk of an engagement does not please you?”
It seemed the Emperor had misinterpreted Ian’s reaction.
Ian struggled to ignore the afterimage flickering in his mind as he replied.
“It is not that, Your Majesty…”
“Oh, my. Your Majesty, you must give the Crown Prince some time to think.”
The Empress did not miss the opportunity and quickly intervened.
If Ian managed to secure a prestigious family as his backing, it would only serve to strengthen his position—something she could not allow.
For her, it was far more advantageous to delay this engagement for as long as possible.
“This is, after all, the most significant event in the Crown Prince’s life. While he prepares himself, I shall personally meet with Lady Bennett first.”
“Hmm. If that is your wish, then do so.”
The Emperor nodded as if he had no choice.
He could not coldly ignore the request of his kind-hearted wife, who seemed so concerned for her stepson.
Of course, it was all an act orchestrated by Carola.
With the talk of Ian’s engagement concluded, the imperial breakfast came to an end.
“Then, I shall take my leave first.”
Normally, etiquette dictated that the Emperor and Empress should rise first, but today, Ian hurried away.
He could hear the Empress faintly mentioning etiquette behind his back, but he didn’t have the composure to care.
‘Why do I keep thinking about that woman?’
He wondered why he hadn’t been able to say no immediately when the Emperor asked if there was someone else.
Because he had hesitated like a fool, hadn’t he given the Empress the opening to interfere?
Ian felt a surge of displeasure at the feeling of being swayed by a woman whose face he didn’t even know.
He wondered if debauched men lived their entire lives burdened by this sort of feeling.
Of course, Ian did not consider himself on the same level as such trash.
‘Strictly speaking, I’m the victim here.’
Yes, Ian was entirely the victim.
He needed a perfect engagement to secure a stable foundation for his power.
He couldn’t afford to be toyed with by the illusion of that audacious woman every time the subject came up.
‘I will find her and make her pay.’
How did the Imperial Law punish those who caused injury to others while intoxicated?
Perhaps she could be charged with the crime of insulting a member of the Imperial Family?
Regardless, once he found that woman and gave her the punishment she deserved, he would surely be free from these witch-like hallucinations.
He would find her, no matter what it took. Ian nodded with grim determination.
A few days later, Lobelin was heading toward the plaza to meet Cornelia.
For a while, Lobelin had been forced to stay shut in her room, avoiding high society entirely because Ian had been attending every single banquet.
Then, not long ago, Cornelia had visited and insisted they go to a newly opened dessert shop in the plaza.
Since Ian was unlikely to show up at a dessert shop outside the Imperial Palace, Lobelin readily agreed.
‘Mm, the weather is lovely.’
The soft, warm air, carrying the scent of the fast-approaching spring, tickled Lobelin’s cheeks.
Enjoying the pleasant temperature, Lobelin decided to get off the carriage and walk the rest of the way to the plaza.
‘It would have been nice if Brian could have come along today, too.’
Lately, Ian kept Brian by his side all day long, making it impossible to create any points of contact with Cornelia.
And it felt awkward to force her plans on Brian when he was already suffering from such an excessive workload.
‘Still, two days ago was a really good opportunity. What a waste.’
That day had been Brian’s first day off in a long time.
Having been waiting for such a chance, Lobelin had visited the Raven Dukedom since morning, and Brian had welcomed her warmly.
‘Bell! What brings you here alone?’
‘Hi, Bri. I’m going to the theater with Connie now. Want to come along?’
That day, Lobelin had planned to give Cornelia and Brian some time alone at the theater.
Since a theater date was a scene that had existed in the original novel, she had devised the plan thinking it would help advance their relationship.
‘Really? Then I’ll go after I finish this paperwork. It’s just a signature, so it’ll be quick.’
Fortunately, Brian had agreed to go without any suspicion, and the atmosphere up to that point had been a success.
That was, until the Duke’s butler urgently knocked on the drawing room door, causing the mood to shift abruptly.
‘Pardon me, Your Grace, you must come out immediately—’
‘Hey, Duke Raven! Come out this instant!’
‘……Your Highness?’
The moment Ian’s voice drifted in from over the shoulder of the troubled butler, all of Lobelin’s plans crumbled.
‘Oh, dear. Bell, wait just a moment…… Huh? Bell?’
When Brian, scratching the back of his head with a troubled expression, turned around, Lobelin had already vanished.
As soon as she heard Ian’s voice, Lobelin had instinctively jumped out the window and fled.
It was obvious Brian would find it strange that she left without a word, but Lobelin had no other choice.
Setting the plan aside, if she had stayed there, she would have been forced to greet Ian.
In any case, Ian Heriet was a man who was unhelpful in many ways.
‘At this rate, when will I ever get those two together?’
Had she taken this task too lightly just because they were childhood friends?
Lobelin sighed at the difficulty, which was greater than she had expected.
It seemed she needed to revise her plans to be more meticulous and detailed.
Since Ian could burst in at any time, she decided to exclude the Dukedom as a meeting place.
‘I need to create a situation where their emotions flare up instantly.’
Something like being suddenly trapped alone in a narrow warehouse, or Brian gallantly saving Cornelia from a moment of dire peril.
A situation where the brain mistakes a pounding heart from a sudden accident as a signal of attraction.
‘Hmm, an accident. How was it in the original……’
Various incidents and accidents from the original novel flickered through Lobelin’s mind.
However, no brilliant ideas came to her immediately, forcing her to agonize over it.
Lost in thought, she soon found herself stepping into the plaza.
‘There’s Cornelia!’
Snapped out of her thoughts by the noisy surroundings, Lobelin instantly spotted Cornelia standing in front of a shop building.
Having arrived first, Cornelia was looking at the shop windows with her back turned.
“Connie! You’re ear—”
Happy to see her, Lobelin called out her name loudly.
It was at that moment.
Neigh—!
“Aaaah! Watch out!”
The sudden sound of a horse’s whinny, the thundering of hooves, and urgent screams shattered the peace in an instant.
Startled, Lobelin turned around to see a black carriage charging forward.
The madly snorting horse was heading straight toward the row of shops where Cornelia was standing.
‘Connie!’
If things continued like this, the carriage would crash into Cornelia!
Her mind went blank, and without a second thought, Lobelin sprinted forward.
Cornelia also turned her head at the commotion and discovered the carriage hurtling toward her.
“Why are you just standing there! Connie! It’s dangerous!”
Lobelin shouted, but Cornelia, pale with fright, was frozen to the spot.
She could hear the screams and shouts of the people around her, but they only seemed to make her legs feel more leaden.
“Connie, get out of the way!”
Lobelin grit her teeth and reached out.
Thud.
Lobelin threw her weight into it and shoved Cornelia as hard as she could.
She didn’t have the luxury to think about anything else.
The only thought in Lobelin’s head right now was that she had to save her.
“Kyaaa!”
Pushed by the sudden force, Cornelia was thrown clear of the spot.
Just before she hit the ground, Lobelin saw someone catch and support her.
‘Thank goodness.’
Relieved, Lobelin lost her balance as she failed to overcome her own momentum.
By then, the carriage felt as if it were right in front of her.
Paralyzed, Lobelin curled her body and squeezed her eyes shut.
The screams of Cornelia and the onlookers felt as if they were drifting away into the distance.
Soon, the massive frame of the carriage would crush her—
Grab.
—Or so she thought, but suddenly, someone snatched Lobelin firmly by the waist.
“Huh?”
Lobelin was pulled away helplessly by an unfamiliar strength.
CRASH!
The carriage, having charged into the spot where Lobelin had been standing just a moment ago, collided with the shop window with a thunderous roar.
Lobelin just stared blankly at the chaos of flying glass shards.
She was so shocked that she didn’t even realize there was a firm arm wrapped around her waist.
Then, a low bass voice sank into Lobelin’s ears.
“Hey, are you alright?”
