201 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 201
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Now it becomes certain. He and I cannot coexist. Rather, I had to be anxious about being devoured whole by the predator, the Crown Prince. Because all I can do in this suffocating jungle is just watch blankly.
It's because of the father and son who grabbed my ankles in different ways. No wonder, they cut off both my arms in the name of neutrality, so what else can I do?
It was so natural and terrifying how they drove the situation to a point where I couldn't do anything and then forced me to choose as if they were showing mercy.
In the history of the Empire, there has never been a case of a noblewoman directly participating in politics. Even those who were praised for their outstanding political sense could only move within the shadow of their spouses.
Therefore, I have no choice but to follow this example, but it was even more impossible because the only person I can put forward now is the guardian appointed by the Crown Prince. Shielding myself by putting him forward is already blocked. So, how chilling is this arrangement?
It is truly a complete defeat. All I learned from my previous life was the political maneuvering that took place among women, so I couldn't be a match for the Crown Prince, who had been fighting against his political rivals since childhood.
Well, he's even completely deceiving the Emperor, so it wouldn't have been difficult for him to deal with someone like me.
No, it would be fortunate if he saw me as an opponent. How ridiculous must my appearance have seemed to him, not deviating from his expectations? Now I'm even confused about what is true and what is false.
Do nothing and wait. I will decide your fate later. Instead, I won't touch your life as you wish.
Yes, 'life'. Because of this, there was nothing I could do. I was blinded and deafened by this sweet bait.
I should have noticed that what was hidden behind the forced proposal was the shadow of a large cage that suppressed freedom, but I was so desperate to live that I eagerly bit the bait they offered as charity.
It was a perfect scheme that eliminated any possible danger and also made the subsequent disposition his decision.
After all, Sir Ayres is clearly the Crown Prince's henchman, so he will follow him, and the Bischwartz family, which maintains neutrality, cannot refuse their demands when the country demands loyalty and asks for troops, as it is the duty of a nobleman.
The Crown Prince suddenly interpreting the Witch's prophecy and revealing the Empress's involvement is also for this reason. He was keeping me in check in case I suddenly sided with the Grand Duke.
The fact that the Empress hates me is already blatantly revealed. Especially these days, she keeps plotting something with Roena. If the Grand Duke were to win, I couldn't even guarantee a stable future, let alone receive recognition for my contributions.
Even if the Emperor's document serves as a shield, who can stop someone from stabbing me in the back? The Empress, or rather, the people of the Imperial Family, were more than capable of doing so.
In the end, the Crown Prince ends up taking everything. The fact that the Emperor clicked his tongue, saying that he had to give him strength, was also because he accurately understood what 'neutrality' meant.
In fact, if my adoptive father were alive, he wouldn't have been able to do this. Touching him means having to deal with Lavalliere as well.
But with my adoptive father's death, Madam's help was limited, and it became easier for the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke to interfere. The fact that I possessed an excellent knight like Sir Halberd was actually a poison.
Come to think of it, I previously investigated my adoptive father's death with suspicion and almost suffered a great misfortune.
What if all of that was a grand plan for this situation, a strange combination of both sides' plans that created this synergy? How long have they been drawing this big picture and waiting?
If so, who was the person who ordered my kidnapping when they asked to see me back then? The Crown Prince, or the Grand Duke?
As I remained silent, racking my brain, the Crown Prince smiled. He seemed to be fully aware of my storm-like emotions, and his relaxed way of speaking was quite annoying.
"There's no need to think too complicatedly. If you just allow me a little more leeway, as you are now, I am willing to grant your wishes as much as possible."
"What leeway are you talking about?"
"Shouldn't you be showing a wavering appearance after all this?"
I wasn't even taken aback by his selfish words. It wasn't the first or second time I had experienced this.
Is that why? Even in this situation, I could only muster up the most refined curse words. I just regretted that I couldn't spit them out and had to suppress them.
"You said you would protect my honor, didn't you?"
"I did. But I thought you should show some signs of being swayed by the scheme."
"Your Highness."
I called him, trying to make my voice as affectionate as possible.
"This isn't just about my honor. In fact, I am also trying to protect Your Highness's honor."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm talking about a pathetic yet romantic, but in reality, a romance closer to tragedy. The more I don't waver, the greater the sympathy and pity for Your Highness will be."
"No, I'll look ridiculous. What situation could be more amusing to everyone than a playboy in love?"
"No, Your Highness. That's not true. Think about it carefully."
I felt like a sigh would escape my lips in this frustrating situation, but I calmly moved my tongue to persuade him. Now that Sir Ayres has given me some breathing room, would I be crazy to throw it away?
The sword hilt is so worn out that the blade is dangling, but that doesn't mean I can't stab my opponent.
Of course, I dare say that if it were someone else, they would have trembled with fear and tried to listen to his words unconditionally. If they could avoid the current situation, there would be nothing they couldn't do. It wasn't that I didn't feel the urge to do so either.
But the moment I let go of the hilt of Aires, it was clear that they would try to tear me apart from all sides, so I had no choice but to desperately hold on to it like a lifeline. Enduring the current pressure.
"Most people are saying that they saw sincerity in Your Highness. No one is paying attention to the past. What they want is not a romance of the century, but a situation that ends in tragedy and is beautifully packaged as a memory. They want the ideal romance to continue. But what will happen if I show signs of wavering to Your Highness at this time?"
I took a breath and slowly continued.
"Not only Your Highness but also I will not be able to escape moral judgment. They will be clamoring to tear us apart from all sides. Is there any need to create such a flaw now, when you have important things ahead of you?"
"Well, it seems that Lady is more worried about her reputation than mine?"
"Of course. Because it's clear that they will place more responsibility on me. Until I can't stand the criticism and leave Your Highness's side. So please reconsider."
As soon as I finished speaking, the Crown Prince muttered with a strange smile that I couldn't understand.
"Lady is not an easy person. Usually, they would waver around this point. There are countless people with that level of flaws in the social circles. She says she's not interested in high positions, but she's greedy for her family, and she's afraid of me, but she doesn't avoid me, and she even shows a bold appearance. How can this be?"
"Isn't it because Your Highness looks favorably upon me?"
"Did you put honey on your tongue? You're quite good at saying flattering things, unlike you."
"Oh my. It seems you didn't feel my sincerity. I'm disappointed. Was everything I've shown Your Highness so far in vain?"
As I forced a smile that looked like it was drawn on, he asked in a low voice.
"Well, that's for Lady to think about. But is Mel in that sincerity?"
At the unexpected question, the Crown Prince shook his head and said, 'No, let's pretend I didn't hear that.' I don't know what his intention was, but for a brief moment, it felt like the edge he was building up had softened.
"Anyway, since you say so, shall we watch a little longer? I hope that in the future, you will treat me a little more kindly. Sometimes I get hurt."
"I thought you had a strong heart that wouldn't waver in any storm. It seems I've been mistaken."
"Even the hardest rock is weathered in the face of a strong wind. Especially if a beauty like you treats me coldly. Even though it's a play, I feel a strange sense of loss. It's strange."
I felt like I would burst out laughing at his ridiculous words, but I pretended to be nonchalant and said I understood. And I boldly brought up the story about my life to hide my uneasy feelings.
"By the way, there was such a place in the palace. It's a really scary place."
"Why?"
"It looks like a place where a locked-room murder wouldn't be awkward. Oh my, don't laugh like that. I really thought today was the last day of my life when I saw this room. If I hadn't happened to find Your Highness looking at the documents, I wouldn't have dared to come in."
"You've had some interesting thoughts. But why the documents? What does that have to do with feeling relieved?"
"Because I could see that you had clear priorities. If my disposition was first, you would have met me with nothing, right?"
"That's true."
"If you ever feel like doing that in the future, please change the place to a garden full of flowers instead of this secret room."
"A garden?"
To the Crown Prince, who was shining his eyes as if he was interested, I replied in a soft voice. I still needed to show him myself becoming a naive lady from unexpected actions. To induce carelessness. As the Crown Prince said, I had to become a fool to survive in power.
"What could be a more romantic ending than being buried in flowers?"
"Those are words you can say because you don't know the fear of death."
"And you will think of me every time you see that garden."
Then the Crown Prince looks at me as if he has lost his words. He is narrowing his brows with a very strange expression, and it is strange that he does not take his eyes off me.
And after a while, he leans forward with his fingers interlaced. I don't know what it is that causes tension, but it makes my lips feel dry. His deeply sunken eyes were shrouded in darkness to an unknowable depth.
"I don't know what it means, but I want to believe that it wasn't intentional. It's a remark that brings to mind many things."
"It was just a light resentment. So Your Highness, please think of Sir Ayres every time. Then there will be no misunderstandings."
"That's a disappointing thing to say. I told you, I'm not immune to being hurt."
But the voice flowing out of such a reason was so calm that I could only think that he was joking to tease me. So I brushed it off lightly.
"Then I should step down before I get hurt more. If Your Highness allows it."
"I allow it."
"Thank you."
As I got up from my seat, giving a ceremonial greeting, the Crown Prince picked up the documents and said as if muttering.
"I heard your brother was born? A perfect successor, too. Congratulations."
"Yes, that's right."
"You must feel both relief and anxiety at the same time."
It was a remark that pointed out the reality that he was guaranteed his current position because his son was born, but he would have to hand over the family to that child in the future. It was very Crown Prince-like to throw out these words to create anxiety until the very end.
"He's my brother. So what's there to be anxious about?"
"How about guaranteeing a definite position instead?"
"A definite position? Is there such a thing?"
"I've said it many times. You have to stand by my side."
I wondered what kind of trick he was playing again, so I looked at him, and he shrugged his shoulders and said, 'You're being too openly wary.'
I wondered if he was testing me because of his concern for Sir Ayres, so I quickly said that I declined the excessive position.
"There's no need to continue the play even here. I know well enough what intentions you are acting with."
Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at me before letting out a sigh. And what he muttered was nonsense that 'Seeing this, I definitely feel strange.'
Then, as if nothing had happened, he lowered his gaze to the documents, and unlike when I first came to this room, he looked a little confused, so I wondered if I could leave like this.
But even as I moved my steps little by little, he didn't show any reaction, so I turned my back and left the room.
Going back the way I came, I arrived at the secret door and carefully opened it. The mute servant I had seen earlier bowed his head and greeted me, as if he had been waiting all along. And he took the lamp from me and twisted his body as if to guide me.
I slowly walked down the long corridor, following him. Perhaps because we had a fairly long conversation, darkness was gradually descending around us.
I licked my dry lips with my tongue and lightly blinked my eyes, which were filled with heat due to the rapidly rising fatigue.
As Sir Ayres had asked before, I thought about meeting him while I was in the Imperial Palace, but it was too late, and I thought that going to see him would be a nuisance, so I changed my mind.
As always, being alone with the Crown Prince is mentally exhausting. Today, I should go to bed early, no matter what. This was the thought that strongly came to my mind while I was moving in the carriage.
If I hadn't seen Roena crying in Sir Halberd's arms in the garden of the mansion, I would have done so.
But the moment I saw them, I woke up as if I had been hit with cold water on the top of my head. Sir Halberd was lightly patting Roena's back as if to comfort her.
