chapter 11
Who Is the Winner (2)
“I’ll say it again—without my daughter’s consent, I cannot give mine either.”
“I told you, there’s no need to worry about that.”
With a soft clink, Tartenon placed his teacup onto the saucer. The marquis was startled and looked at him, surprised that someone as strict about noble etiquette as Tartenon would make such a sound. Tartenon’s cold eyes turned toward him.
“I will not do anything that would hurt Lebellina.”
There was something about the firmness in his voice that inspired trust. As if making up his mind, the marquis extended his hand.
“…I will trust you.”
Tartenon grasped his hand firmly in response.
In the brightly sunlit corridors of the imperial palace, servants stepped aside and bowed as someone walked briskly past. Behind Inferno, who strode quickly, followed the chamberlain sent by the emperor.
Summoned to the imperial palace, Inferno racked his brain on how to handle the situation.
Just yesterday, he had been caught by the chamberlain while with Bellarus, and the chamberlain had immediately reported it to the emperor.
This is all Lebellina’s fault!
Bellarus’s tearful face, as she sobbed about being humiliated at the Schech Dress Shop, stirred Inferno’s heart. Consoling her, he promised to gift her a custom-made dress.
Though he had already spent all the funds allocated to him by the imperial palace, Inferno was unaware of it. He had assumed that all the money Lebellina had spent on him came from the palace.
“Is His Majesty very angry?”
“I understand he summoned the prime minister for a private audience this morning.”
The chamberlain relayed the information without changing his expression. Ironically, it was that calm demeanor that made Inferno uneasy.
Marquis Asilius was a formidable man, known as the Iron-Blooded Prime Minister. What could have been discussed in a private meeting between him and the emperor?
Surely he didn’t reprimand me…?
The marquis was one of the people Inferno feared. Despite being engaged to Lebellina for many years, the marquis had never once spoken kindly to him. He always looked at him with disdain and did not hesitate to criticize him—even though Inferno was a prince.
Father will take my side.
No matter what the marquis said, he believed his father, the emperor, would support him. But…
Inferno bit his lip as tension crept in. The chamberlain noticed his unbecoming behavior but said nothing. Unaware of the disdainful look directed at him, Inferno swallowed dryly.
Though he was his father, the emperor was a difficult man to face. Aside from the moment he had agreed to Inferno’s engagement with Lebellina, the emperor had never smiled at him.
What if he finds out I broke off the engagement?
And worse—that Inferno himself had initiated it without fault on her side.
Fear came too late.
It had felt satisfying when he boldly spoke to Lebellina. Seeing her, who always carried herself with dignity, collapse before him—it had been thrilling.
Inferno had always felt inferior. Though he was a prince, his elder brother far surpassed him, making the throne unattainable. He could only remain submissive and serve as a supportive younger brother.
It was Lebellina who had extended her hand to him.
After their engagement, the way the imperial family viewed him changed. From a useless younger brother to one who at least had some standing.
Thinking about it, it wasn’t bad.
The ten years he spent engaged to Lebellina were, in their own way, comfortable. She handled everything he wanted before he even asked. Inferno passed off her good deeds as his own, earning the emperor’s trust and the people’s praise.
And that was why he grew bored.
Lebellina, who fulfilled his every desire without question, began to seem trivial.
In contrast, Bellarus—once the Grand Duke’s fiancée—was entirely new. Her love, choosing him over the famed Grand Duke of the North, felt dazzling and beautiful. Though merely a baron’s daughter, he believed he could make up for what she lacked.
He found her affectionate whispers charming. Unlike Lebellina, who constantly nagged him to act with dignity as a prince, Bellarus was gentle.
And so he fell deeper for her.
Standing before the emperor’s audience chamber, Inferno took a deep breath and spoke resolutely to the chamberlain.
“Announce me.”
“Your Majesty, the Second Prince has arrived.”
“Let him enter.”
The voice from within sounded calmer than expected. Relieved, Inferno stepped inside.
The door opened—and suddenly, a book flew at him.
It struck his chest, but he couldn’t even groan. The emperor’s furious expression terrified him into silence.
Had Inferno not immediately prostrated himself, something other than a book might have followed. Fortunately, nothing else was thrown.
“Inferno.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Even alone, he addressed him formally. Only the Crown Prince was allowed to call him “father.” Though both were sons, the difference in treatment made it clear Inferno could never rival his brother.
“I heard something strange. You asked to break off your engagement with the Asilius lady?”
“Your Majesty, that is—”
“And over a mere baron’s daughter?”
The emperor’s voice was as cold as winter wind. Inferno struggled to breathe, his voice trembling despite his effort to remain calm.
“That is correct. However, Your Majesty—”
“If you have decided so, it cannot be helped. But what can that girl do for you?”
“…Pardon?”
The unexpected response made Inferno’s eyes light up.
There was hope. If he persuaded him well, he could finalize his marriage to Bellarus without trouble.
Carefully choosing his words, he spoke.
“She loves me.”
“And?”
“I feel at ease when I’m with her. She’s lovely, and I want to protect her.”
“And?”
“When her pink hair sways, my heart sways with it. Her smile makes me smile too.”
“Anything else?”
The emperor’s expression hardened.
Seeing his face shift into one that looked at him as if he were foolish, Inferno realized something was wrong. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what.
He had simply answered what she could do for him.
Why was the emperor angry?
Unable to grasp it, Inferno fell silent. From experience, he knew it was safer to say nothing than to provoke further anger.
“My son.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the gentle address, Inferno bowed deeper. Being called “son” was even more difficult than being called “prince.”
“A royal must be able to distinguish between what benefits him and what harms him.”
Inferno listened closely. The emperor had never spoken to him like this before, and the lesson felt almost welcome.
“That baron’s daughter has nothing of use except her body.”
The bluntness left Inferno speechless.
“If you desire her so much, you could simply take her as a mistress. Why throw away your best card and hold a useless one?”
“…A card?”
“Yes, a card. The hand you hold.”
The emperor tapped the armrest of his throne. The sound weighed heavily on Inferno.
“You need at least that much not to be looked down on by your brother. What use is a girl with only a pretty face? Do you think she could even afford the clothes you’re wearing now?”
“These were paid for by the palace—!”
“Tch! What you’re wearing is far too expensive to be bought with the allowance given to you. And it’s not just that. The furnishings in your residence—every pen you use—is of a quality comparable to the Crown Prince’s.”
It felt as if someone had struck Inferno’s head.
“Then the money I’ve been using…”
“I never gave you such funds. It must have all come from the Asilius family.”
The emperor stated it firmly.
Inferno could only open and close his mouth, unable to think clearly. Realizing the source of the money he had used, he began to wonder just how much it amounted to.
“Surely, my son, you didn’t think I would give you the same allowance as the Crown Prince?”
Only then did Inferno finally understand his reality.
