Ch#221
Shards of a Broken Glass Slipper Chapter 221
Count Kiran, upon receiving the Crown Prince's greeting, immediately greeted Sir Aires as well, expressing his delight. Then, as he kissed the back of Lady Roshan's hand, his gaze turned to me, his eyes lighting up. It seemed he had easily recognized who I was, even though we had only heard of each other by name.
Only then did I realize that the Crown Prince had summoned me under the pretext of the murder case to arrange a meeting with Count Kiran.
How could he do this?
A surge of anger rose within me, and I immediately covered my mouth with my hand and jumped up from my seat. I needed to escape this situation.
As I met the Crown Prince's puzzled gaze, I deliberately slipped my foot to pretend to fall.
Of course, I nearly collided with the sofa for real, but Sir Aires, who had approached in an instant, pulled me into his arms, preventing any injury. Being held in his firm embrace, which carried a captivating scent, instantly calmed my heart.
"What is the matter so suddenly, Lady Bischwaltz?"
To the Crown Prince, who spoke formally in front of Count Kiran, I forced a smile and murmured in a small voice.
"I suddenly felt dizzy and rose despite the impropriety, but it seems that only made it worse."
"Dizzy?"
"It pains me to say, but lately my mind has been uneasy, leaving me sleepless for many nights, and it appears to have taken a toll on my body. Yet when Your Highness summons me, how could I not come running...?"
The Crown Prince's expression hardened in astonishment. It was understandable; the person who had been perfectly fine just moments ago was now claiming dizziness and pretending to collapse. He had realized I was resorting to tricks to avoid Count Kiran.
However, he couldn't very well continue the conversation with someone claiming illness, so he reluctantly nodded and told me to return home.
He didn't call the imperial physician to check my pulse because he didn't want it known that he was meeting with Count Kiran. That was why we had gathered in this quiet rear garden chamber.
It was around this time that Sir Aires spoke up. With his arm firmly around my waist, he said to the Crown Prince,
"I will escort her. Please permit it, Your Highness."
It was well-known to all that the Ice Knight and I were lovers. For him to worry about my health and see me off to my carriage was only natural.
But the Crown Prince did not readily agree. Instead, he alternated his gaze between Sir Aires and me, as if deep in thought, his eyes sinking into a chilling depth.
However, that lasted only a moment, and with the Crown Prince's permission granted, I was swept out of the room in Sir Aires's arms before I could even protest. Until we emerged from the long corridor of the rear garden into the bustling area with maids and servants, I remained buried against him.
Despite the corset making it hard to support my thighs, he strode forward effortlessly, to the point where I felt embarrassed instead. Before I knew it, the displeasure from Count Kiran had melted away.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
His voice, laden with laughter, brushed against my ear like a feather. It was tender and gentle. Since I was clutching the front of his clothes tightly, afraid to fall, lifting my head had become inconvenient, so I whispered in a petulant tone.
"If I ask you to put me down, will you?"
In truth, Sir Aires knew I was faking my illness. No one present could have been unaware. My ploy was transparently obvious.
Therefore, it would have been proper to set me down the moment we left the room. He hadn't rested properly for days guarding the Emperor's body, after all. I, on the other hand, seemed far more energetic than he did.
But even with that resolve, the strength supporting my waist and legs was so unyielding that I couldn't dismount at will. Every time I squirmed, he held me even tighter, making me wonder where such power came from.
"If I say no, will you scold me for rudeness?"
"Even if I call it rude, you wouldn't listen anyway."
He chuckled lowly at my response. The deep, resonant laugh tickled my ears. My cheeks seemed to flush, so I bowed my head a little lower.
This caused my body to lean inward, making it slightly uncomfortable, but I still didn't bring my hand to his neck as he might have wanted. Doing so would have been utterly mortifying. Even this much required tremendous courage; how could I go further?
Thanks to him, the Crown Prince and all else had long vanished from my mind.
How strange. At some point, I couldn't recall when it started, but Sir Aires brought me a profound peace. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It was a fullness beyond words.
Thus, I wondered. What emotions did he feel from me? Did Sir Aires feel the same as I did?
He asked me,
"Was the dizziness because of the Count?"
With so many people passing by, his voice naturally lowered. Whispers about the Ice Knight carrying a lady through the corridor had already drawn much attention.
Even after begging several more times to be put down, he didn't blink, so in resignation, I nodded slightly instead of answering aloud.
"You're quite upset because of your sister."
"Even living barefoot on the streets, I knew what actions were vulgar and vile. I knew they shouldn't be done. Yet the one who will ascend to a position above all others tries to push me off a cliff without a care, all while pricking at my sense of shame."
Sir Aires responded with a sigh-like voice.
"And I could only watch."
"You couldn't do anything about it. I'm just curious about His Highness's intentions."
Sir Aires fell silent for a moment with a small sigh, then spoke again.
"I didn't want to have this conversation with you, my lady. Truly. But turning away with contempt in your arms is more frightening, so I must be honest."
To sum up the man's words simply: Once the rebellion was quelled, Roena, who had cooperated with the Grand Duke, would become a problem for House Bischwaltz, so this was a precaution—pairing her with Count Kiran.
Along with the explanation that, having betrayed the Empress to side with the Crown Prince, her symbolic value was great, making her a useful asset in many ways.
In other words, only if things proceeded as the Crown Prince proposed could I maintain my current situation intact. Roena was already perceived as the Empress's person, after all.
Speechless, I shut my mouth. The unexpected revelation startled me so much I couldn't find words.
To secure the house, to escape her shadow, I had tried every trick, even fabricating and spreading all sorts of ugly rumors, but never had I considered such a method, past or present.
The fear that if Roena, bearer of the legitimate bloodline, were visibly disgraced—especially with sexual shame involved—the repercussions would fully rebound onto me. That was why, despite hating her to death, I had kept her by my side as a maid to monitor her.
And now, to send her to a middle-aged man? A girl who had just turned fifteen, for my sake?
My shoulders suddenly trembled. Sweat gathered in my palms.
What was this feeling?
Fear, or perhaps a base joy at the thought of finally ridding myself of her completely? My heart pounded fiercely, unsure.
My fingertips grew ice-cold, my lips parched. An inexplicable tremor stirred a savage guilt like a chill wind.
Half a year ago, I would have accepted immediately, yet now I hesitated and agonized unexpectedly. Not out of unfounded sympathy. Why?
"Even if you refuse, His Highness will push it through regardless. Count Kiran desires Lady Roena greatly."
"Regardless of my will?"
"Yes, because of a promise."
"A promise so precious it overrides honor?"
"Indeed."
Sir Aires answered quietly. By now, our House Bischwaltz-marked carriage was visible in the distance. Suddenly, his steps slowed markedly. I could feel his reluctance so clearly it flustered me.
The man who was utterly cold to others was melting like snow in a warm breeze, behaving so softly—it was astonishing.
Despite carrying me for so long, his breathing wasn't the least bit ragged, his stamina awe-inspiring. I was in full court dress for entering the palace, so the weight of the gown and corset was no small matter.
"One that mustn't be broken?"
"...Because he wishes for happiness."
I exhaled so softly it was barely audible and barely swallowed the lump in my throat.
Today's events were ultimately the refined extreme of 'I command, and you obey.' That's why he had gathered everyone, even from the depths. Truly impressive. A sense of desolation sharpened my voice unwittingly.
"Forcing such a cruel act on me. How ruthless. Happiness is relative—how can this be for my sake? Have you not considered my conscience and morals? It's utterly miserable. Hearing this alone fills me with profound sorrow."
"I wish I could say 'do as you desire,' but my regret is that I cannot."
As the Empress and Crown Prince began clashing subtly, high society maintained an undercurrent of chill. Amid this, the poisoning incident resurfaced with evidence cropping up here and there, forcing divisions.
The final leg to the pinnacle, perhaps. An anxious feeling that something big must explode for the real events to unfold. I moistened my dry lips and asked Sir Aires,
"Very well. As you say, it's for my sake. Thus, I must ask this. Blame me if you must, or swear never to see me again and turn away."
"How could I dare say such things to you? Just hearing it tightens my chest. It's truly agonizing."
"But it's such a cowardly question."
"Anything is fine. Is it any less petty than my slowing steps just to spend a little more time with you, who claimed dizziness?"
I took a deep breath and asked Sir Aires to set me down. He looked regretfully at his now-empty arms, but he couldn't refuse my plea to speak facing each other.
He loved filling his beautiful eyes with me. That way, he could remember me long in our time apart and bask in happiness.
"His Highness knew, didn't he? He foresaw the priest's death."
A highly sensitive topic, but Michael Aires answered 'yes' without hesitation. It showed the depth of his trust in me, making my nose tingle. But I steadied my voice and asked again.
"Could something like this happen again?"
"To some extent, until major precursor events erupt."
Was it the sacrifice of the innocent or an unavoidable decision for the greater good? Regardless, the truth was that a brutal war ending only in death was about to unfold. Thus, I cautiously posed a highly sensitive question.
"If His Highness..."
Just uttering the words on the tip of my tongue made my legs tremble. Was this how a condemned prisoner felt before a death sentence? I feared he might anger at me insulting a knight's oath. But I needed the honest truth. Only then could I reveal everything to him without deceit. This was the due respect for the loving man who had vowed to flee abroad with me alone if needed, preparations ready.
"If His Highness's plans are ruined because of me, what happens? What would he do with me?"
If I kept Roena hidden without revealing where, holding her in my grasp to the end, preventing House Bischwaltz from being touched. If this caused Count Kiran to turn on the Crown Prince.
Unspoken words swirled in my mouth. I clamped my lips shut like a shellfish and awaited his answer. Just a few more steps to the carriage, but I stood frozen, as if nailed to the spot. Waiting for that single verdict.
