RODH Chapter 25

25.

Seor was as delighted as a clueless child.

Is it really that fun…?

“How about that? Impressive skill, no?”

Sure. Enjoy yourself while you can.

I didn’t feel unwell, but my overall stamina was still low. Honestly, I just wanted to go home and rest.

I expected either Seor or Peter to tell me I could return to the ducal estate soon, but the two of them kept going on about that stupid game of rock-paper-scissors.

Eventually, I couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke up.

“I’ll be returning to the ducal estate now.”

“Already?”

“What do you mean, ‘already’? Even if I’m the Crown Princess-to-be, it’s not a good look for me to be coming and going from the Crown Prince’s residence.”

“Tch. So that sharp tongue of yours is working again, huh?”

I’m saying I want to go home—what’s it to you, you bastard.

I didn’t even have the energy left to insult him properly, so I told Bain to hurry and prepare the carriage.

Bain glanced awkwardly between Seor, Peter, and me.

“Bain, go get it ready. Mother must be worried.”

“Yes, my lord!”

As the unfilial child I was, I could only use my parents as an excuse.

Seor looked somewhat displeased but started explaining in detail what had happened at the hunting competition.

“They were Count Gillat’s remnants. Seems they held a grudge and targeted you for revenge.”

“Is that so.”

“You expected this, didn’t you.”

“Lucian asked me if I had any enemies.”

Seor scowled.

“The Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan?”

“Yes. When he asked that, Count Gillat was the first one that came to mind. They were only aiming to kill me, after all. Anyway, is the Dragon Crown Prince all right?”

“He’s more than fine—flying around like nothing happened. Those insolent fools. How dare they try to lay a hand on what’s mine.”

What’s yours?

I corrected him immediately.

“Since when am I yours, Your Highness?”

Seor looked genuinely confused.

“You’re my person. Who else would you belong to, as the Crown Princess-to-be?”

“I belong to no one. The word prospective means it’s temporary, not official, Your Highness.”

“Ian Pearl Ruben.”

“You can try to intimidate me all you like. But as I told you before—if you keep this up, I’ll personally request a dissolution of our engagement from His Majesty the Emperor.”

Seor opened his mouth, then stared at me with an expression full of offense.

“I carried you all the way here, you know.”

“……”

“I even gave strict orders to the royal physician to treat you with utmost care.”

“……”

“Not to mention I—was investigating who was behind the attempt on your life…”

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, Peter stepped in and cut him off.

What was that?

“…Anyway. What I meant is—don’t take what I’ve done for granted. I’m someone who can do a great deal for my omega.”

He’s not even emperor yet, and already he’s full of himself.

If I actually became the Crown Princess, I’d be stuck enduring Seor’s constant foul moods.

Whether emotional or physical, the suffering would be unavoidable.

“Young master, the carriage is ready.”

Bain arrived just in time, and I stood up from my seat.

“I’ll take my leave now. Please forgive the discourtesy.”

“See you again, Ian Pearl Ruben.”

“Yes.”

Supported by Bain, I walked toward the carriage.

---

Seor couldn’t hide his disappointment at Ian for not acknowledging his efforts.

So he just blurted out what was on his mind.

“I carried you all the way here, you know.”

“……”

“I gave strict orders to the royal physician to spare no effort in your treatment.”

“……”

“And I even tried to find out who was behind the attempt on your life—”

“Your Highness.”

Peter stepped in just in time to cut Seor off.

This wasn’t the kind of conversation to be had in front of a patient.

Especially considering the method Seor used to extract that information—brutal torture.

Peter had seen the state of the assassins Seor ordered to be interrogated and could only click his tongue in disbelief.

Though Seor might show more human traits around Ian—unbuttoning his collar or showing flashes of anger—he still resembled the Emperor to an eerie degree.

The same cruel Emperor who had, with just a single command, left Grand Duke Kirias completely alone in the world.

“The northerners will never be tamed. I respect their spirit. However, as long as Ferost lies within imperial borders, they must follow my command, not a duke’s. Do you understand, Sir Hubert?”

Because of that one order, Grand Duke Kirias was left alone at the age of nine.

Nine—an age still meant for clinging to one’s parents.

Even after taking his parents from him with his own hands, the Emperor had looked upon the boy left behind with pity.

Seor’s voice interrupted Peter’s thoughts.

“What is it, Peter?”

“It’s nothing. The world just… feels a little different today.”

“Are you getting sentimental because it’s spring?”

“……”

“I think I am too. When I see Ian, I go from seething with anger to quietly observing him.”

Seor spoke as if the word breakup had completely slipped his mind.

“When he frowns, it feels like I’ve been punched in the chest. And if he’s really mad, he just turns completely blank—like ice. Now that I think about it… why doesn’t Ian smile?”

Seor asked the question seriously, genuinely puzzled.

But Peter just shook his head, saying nothing.

---

The first thing I did upon arriving home was to see my parents.

When my mother heard the whole story and saw the scar still left on my arm, she nearly foamed at the mouth.

Only after my father hastily summoned the family physician were we finally able to sit down and talk.

“That vile Count Gillat… how dare he…”

Veins bulged on the back of my father’s hand as he gripped the armrest tightly.

“His Highness the Crown Prince said he’d personally take care of the remaining conspirators, so everything should be fine.”

“You’re right, Ian. His Highness the Crown Prince is much like His Majesty the Emperor—he shows no mercy in matters like this. But from now on, avoid going out alone. Even when visiting the Mage Tower, always take guards with you.”

“Yes, Father.”

With the most urgent matter resolved, I was finally headed to my room when the butler approached me with three letters resting on a silver tray.

“All of these are addressed to you, young master.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

Curious about the senders, I checked the names. They were from Lucian, Alvis, and—Grand Duke Kirias.

Grand Duke Kirias?

That one surprised me the most. I hadn’t expected a letter from him.

I picked up the envelope and noticed the messy handwriting.

It looked like it said “Ruben,” but I wasn’t entirely sure. Was this really meant for me?

Once I returned to my room, I opened the Grand Duke’s letter first, driven by curiosity.

[To Duke Ruben,

It would be best to begin mining operations in the early half of summer. During that time, monster activity is relatively low, so safety can be ensured first. As for the profits to be distributed to the people of the territory…]

“This isn’t even my letter.”

The handwriting was so bad, the butler must’ve made a mistake.

Even I had struggled to tell whether the envelope said “Duke” or “Young Duke.”

Still, it wasn’t completely unrelated—Grand Duke Kirias would likely become an important figure in my future life.

Maybe I should send him a letter in return, just as a courtesy.

I asked Bain to deliver the Grand Duke’s letter to my father instead.

Then I pulled out some fine paper and began writing a new letter.

“Something simple like ‘Dear’ would be a good start,” I mumbled to myself as I began writing.

Before I knew it, one page became two, and two became three.

Isn’t this getting a bit excessive?

Once the etiquette tutor returned, I’d have to ask for guidance on northern customs.

Popping a piece of chocolate into my mouth, I pressed my seal onto the envelope.

---

The Grand Duke’s Estate in Ferost.

Nevan had just returned from training when Klain handed him a letter.

“It’s from the Crown Princess-to-be.”

“From him?”

“Yes. Whatever it is, he seems to have had a great deal to say,” Klain said, nodding toward the thick envelope.

“Leave it on my desk. I’ll read it after I wash up.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Even after bathing, Nevan had no time to open the letter—he was busy addressing an issue that had come up in the territory.

By the time that was resolved, it was already dinner, and his time was taken again by mediating a dispute during the meal.

At last, deep into the night—

Seated at his desk under the dim silver glow of moonlight, Nevan broke the seal on the envelope.

Inside were three pages.

Most of the content consisted of polite inquiries about his well-being.

Since such pleasantries were uncommon among Northerners, Nevan was about to flip through the second page without much thought.

But then, something made him pause—there was a mention of a deer.

[…You once told me, didn’t you, Your Grace? That deer are guides for the lost. Something like that truly happened this time. Although things turned into chaos after an ambush in the middle…]

He had thought he’d forgotten that story about the deer.

Caught off guard by the memory, Nevan found himself reading the entire letter with quiet interest.

He stood with the letter in hand and gazed out the window.

The outline of the blue moon looked especially cold tonight.

There had been a time, long ago, when even the midday sun had felt just as bitter. He had been seated before his father, riding up a cliff, gazing down at a herd of deer.

‘The eagle is born with a free soul, the deer with a pure one, and we Northerners—with a strong soul, Nevan.’

The fur on his cloak had whipped violently in the wind.

Nevan had barely managed to speak.

‘I’m not strong, Father.’

‘You’re strong enough. Even if you’re left all alone, you’ll still have the strength to endure everything.’

‘But I still…’

As he trailed off in a faint voice, his father had gripped the reins firmly and said,

‘Nevan, inside you is a soul so strong that not even the loneliness of the snow-covered mountains could ever break it.’