Chapter – 12
There wasn’t much gained from today’s conversation.
‘I was going to ask how he ended up with madness.’
If she stayed by Cheyton’s side while treating his madness, she could naturally ask how he came to suffer from it. And from there, she could probably approach the story of the subjugation force from that time.
Beyond that, she might even be able to ask about the hero.
‘But why can’t I still read Cheyton’s presence?’
Perhaps… it was because that man was stronger than her current body.
Roshanne was walking down the long corridor, heading toward the garden instead of her bedroom.
“Miss.”
At that moment, a maid hurried toward her.
“Yes?”
“There is a guest in the reception room…”
A guest?
Maybe he had forgotten something and came back. Or perhaps he forgot something he wanted to say.
“Alright. I’ll go now.”
Roshanne turned back toward the reception room. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
‘The weather is nice again today.’
Maybe that was why.
Roshanne’s moment of carelessness prevented her from noticing the completely different presence waiting beyond the reception room.
Distracted by the pleasant weather, she walked lightly toward the room.
Without sensing the strange atmosphere at all, she opened the door and stepped inside.
“Lady.”
The moment a playful voice full of amusement called her—
A chill ran down her spine like a cold winter wind brushing across her body.
Roshanne slowly lifted her head.
The first thing she saw was silver hair, shining like winter snow that could freeze everything.
‘Ah.’
She instantly regretted raising her head.
Every time she saw that pure, spotless hair, she remembered how badly she had wanted to stain it with blood.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
Seeing Roshanne’s twisted expression, the man smiled wickedly, like someone who had found an entertaining toy.
Every time his shoulders shook with laughter, his silver hair shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.
His golden eyes sparkled beautifully as if they contained all the light in the world, yet inside them swirled filthy emotions—contempt, disgust, and hatred.
“…Joseph. Crown Prince.”
It was none other than the Emperor’s son and the next ruler of the throne—Crown Prince Joseph.
‘Why is the Crown Prince here…?’
The imperial family.
Those who sealed the hero, put a leash around him, and dragged him around like the Empire’s dog.
The Emperor proudly passed down the hero’s leash to his descendants, and they all naturally accepted their role as the hero’s overseers.
Not a single imperial ever sincerely spoke about the hero’s freedom.
And now, one of those very royals had personally come to visit Roshanne.
‘Did he… notice me?’
Cold sweat ran down her back. In the quiet reception room, the sound of her dry swallow echoed loudly.
“Why so tense, Lady? I just came to have a conversation. At least sit down. My neck hurts from looking up.”
For generations, they had personally managed the sealed hero.
Joseph himself was the next successor.
Perhaps he really did possess some ability to recognize the hero.
‘Should I run now?’
If she truly wanted to, she could escape. It would be better to live as a fugitive forever than to be captured and dragged away.
‘Or… should I kill him?’
The sharp sword that once protected the Empire could also become the cruel blade that tore it apart.
Despite Joseph’s invitation, Roshanne remained unmoving. He let out a light sigh.
“I see. You want to skip the introduction and go straight to the point? That works. No need to waste time.”
Joseph stood up.
When she had seen him as the hero, she hadn’t felt it—but now an overwhelming pressure radiated from him.
“Lady.”
Joseph looked down at her with a mocking smile.
“I came to retrieve something that was lost.”
Something lost.
The hero’s soul.
‘I’ve been found out.’
Her heart plummeted.
Now there were only two choices.
Kill him.
Or run.
Roshanne quickly scanned the reception room. Many ordinary decorations could become weapons in her hands.
“Looks like this will be a long talk. Are you going to keep standing there stiffly?”
Joseph lazily gestured.
“Someone might think I came to eat you alive. Relax. Even if I were going to devour you, it wouldn’t be today.”
He slowly examined her tense figure before sitting down on the sofa.
‘Killing the Crown Prince here would be foolish.’
There were many eyes outside the reception room. His secretary was probably waiting outside in the carriage too.
‘I can’t kill all those people just to kill Joseph.’
After reaching a rational conclusion, Roshanne sat down across from him.
“You canceled your wedding?”
Joseph crossed his long legs the moment she sat.
Despite his disdainful gaze, Roshanne remained calm.
‘He’s grown a lot… Last time I saw him he was just learning letters.’
She recalled the last time she saw him.
That little boy had grown into this.
Time suddenly felt very real.
“Why did you cancel it?”
Joseph reached for the sugar jar on the table.
“Didn’t you say you came to find something you lost? Shouldn’t that come first?”
His hand froze mid-motion.
Her answer had been short, but it hit strangely.
Joseph looked at her in disbelief.
“I heard rumors you went crazy… but you really are insane, Lady. Did you hate that marriage that much?”
The story of her canceling the wedding and speaking wildly to guests had already spread across the capital.
Still, he hadn’t expected it to be true.
Joseph tossed a sugar cube into his mouth and laughed dryly.
“So now you’re planning to date Grand Duke Barpheus too?”
“…Grand Duke Barpheus?”
“Lady. Even if you’re crazy, you should know how to separate public and private matters. You know he might be a dangerous figure capable of rebellion, yet you associate with him?”
Roshanne blinked at his aggressive tone.
The boy who once struggled to read was now lecturing her about responsibility.
“A while ago you asked if finding what I lost should come first. What I came to retrieve is the loyalty of the Empire’s only truly faithful house—House Leilaten—and you, Lady.”
Joseph glared at her while crushing the sugar between his teeth.
“When I become Emperor, shouldn’t you support me? Don’t make His Majesty doubt your family’s loyalty.”
The crushed sugar melted sweetly on his tongue.
Perhaps because of the sweetness, his sharp tension slightly eased.
“No matter what Grand Duke Barpheus does, he’ll eventually die alone on the battlefield. His Majesty will keep sending him into deadly situations until the day he dies.”
Joseph looked happier than ever while talking about someone’s death.
His eyes were filled with joy.
It was chilling.
An ordinary person would have been terrified.
‘Still just a child.’
But Roshanne was different.
Realizing Joseph hadn’t recognized her, she quietly sighed in relief.
‘Good thing I didn’t kill him earlier.’
That would have been disastrous.
Joseph was transparent.
His hatred was obvious.
His killing intent was directed at Cheyton.
It made sense. Rumors had spread that Cheyton—whom he despised—was close to Roshanne, the only daughter of the pro-imperial Leilaten family.
Still.
She had no intention of living like the imperial family’s obedient dog again.
“So what you’re saying is—you’re jealous I’m spending time with Grand Duke Barpheus?”
Joseph’s brow furrowed.
What did this crazy woman just say?
“But whether I associate with him or not—that’s entirely my choice.”
“Lady.”
Joseph leaned forward, his eyes flashing.
“This is the last time I overlook your madness. Think carefully before you speak.”
This time, his killing intent was real.
An indescribable pressure filled the room.
But Roshanne didn’t flinch.
She picked up her teacup and calmly took a sip.
“You asked earlier why I canceled the wedding.”
“Shut your mouth, Lady. That’s a warning.”
“For the same reason. It was my wedding. So I did what I wanted.”
The moment she finished speaking—
Joseph grabbed his teacup violently.
Without hesitation, he hurled it straight at her.
But Roshanne did not move.
She didn’t even blink.
As if she already knew she wouldn’t be hit.
Her clear, noble eyes weren’t watching the flying cup—
They were fixed on Joseph.
Smash!
Crash!
The teacup barely missed her cheek and shattered against the wall.
Silence fell.
Joseph swallowed dryly.
When their eyes met at that moment, his heart had started pounding violently.
Thump.
Thump.
Without realizing it, he clutched his chest.
What was that feeling?
For the first time in his life…
“Now it’s my turn?”
Her soft voice cut through his thoughts.
Joseph looked up in surprise.
Roshanne was smiling, holding her now-empty teacup.
And just like he had done moments ago—
She raised it, ready to throw it.
“…What?”
