IDHIT C8

Chapter 8

“What does Emperor Tordi want?”

At Franz’s question, Alexei fell silent.

If there was any plausible reason, there was only one.

The document stated “bride and groom of the Aurora vessel,” but Emperor Tordi’s true target had been the Crown Prince and his fiancée.

“So you’re saying the kidnapping was ordered by Emperor Tordi?”

“Yes, Angel.”

They could not deny the document bearing the imperial seal.

“How can he plan something like this? Even hiring pirates to assist him?”

Angelina’s voice rose in anger.

“Emperor Tordi is a man who will use any means necessary to achieve his goals. The war that broke out immediately after the new emperor ascended the throne happened for the same reason. He only understands victory and defeat.”

“Even so… how could he go as far as kidnapping a foreign crown prince?”

“A foreign crown prince?”

Naomi’s voice cut through their heated exchange. The two of them paused.

“So, let me get this straight. There’s a crown prince among you?”

…Oh no.

Angelina swallowed hard.

If she said Naomi had misheard, would that reckless girl believe her? Or should she pretend “Crown Prince” was just Alexei’s nickname?

While she hesitated, Alexei stepped forward.

With the expression of someone who had just taken an amusing bait, he looked at Naomi and said,

“Yes. I am Alexei Werner, Crown Prince of the Latria Empire.”

“Wow. This is my first time seeing a crown prince.”

Naomi’s eyes sparkled as she moved closer.

Beep—beep.

Alarm bells rang in Angelina’s mind.

With the same reflexes she once used when shooting at pirates, she shoved Alexei aside without hesitation and stepped in front of him.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Naomi narrowed her eyes.

Angelina crossed her arms and looked down at her confidently.

“And I am Angelina Agate, Crown Princess of the Latria Empire.”

“…Liar.”

Naomi’s gaze drifted downward, scanning the torn, dirt-stained remains of what had once been a wedding dress.

“You held a wedding on the ship you pirates hijacked this afternoon. This may not look like it now, but it’s a wedding dress.”

“….”

“So don’t speak informally to me, child.”

Naomi lowered her head sharply.

Too harsh?

Seeing her deflated posture, Angelina felt a slight pang of guilt. As someone five years older, she should have been more composed…

“But why don’t you have wedding rings?”

Naomi suddenly lifted her head again and asked boldly.

“What?”

“You said you had a wedding earlier. Then there should be rings.”

Angelina looked down at her own finger. As Naomi said, there was no ring. She remembered Alexei taking it from the case—but then the pirates had appeared.

Ah. That’s right.

A cannon blast had thrown her off balance.

So where did the ring go?

“I have them.”

Alexei said flatly, his hand in his pocket.

“When the pirate ship appeared, I immediately put them away.”

Naomi opened her mouth as if to argue, then closed it again. Conflicting thoughts flashed across her face.

“Anyway… the wedding wasn’t finished.”

“….”

“Then you’re not really a crown princess yet.”

That wasn’t wrong.

Naomi turned away and smiled brightly.

“Then I can still join your journey, right?”

“Yes. A promise is a promise.”

It was frustrating, but there was no reason to stop the crown prince.

Naomi stuck out her tongue at Angelina, who remained silent. Angelina swallowed her irritation.

“However.”

Alexei’s voice sliced through the night air.

“Do not be disrespectful to Angelina. I will not forgive anyone who treats my future crown princess poorly.”

“Doesn’t it bother you that your identity has been exposed? Then you shouldn’t act like this toward me.”

“No. Our status as members of the imperial family is not a weakness. It means you must treat us with respect. That is principle. Whether pirate or child—it does not matter. It must be upheld.”

“You’re being awfully scary…”

“Answer me, Naomi. Can you do it or not?”

A cold wind swept through Naomi’s hair. For a moment, she looked genuinely intimidated.

Her satisfaction at having put down a noble girl.

Her expectation that she could no longer be ignored.

Her excitement at discovering that the “prince-like man” truly was a prince.

All of it froze under his cold gaze and voice.

So this is what a crown prince is like.

A dignity and authority she had never seen even in her own father radiated from him.

So this is what a real grown man is like?

It felt distant—far away. That distance was frustrating, yet strangely fascinating. It even sparked a bit of defiance.

Naomi reached into her pocket, then slowly pulled her hand out.

She nodded quietly.

“Let’s move. If we don’t want to freeze or get attacked, we need a fire.”

Franz Boyle, dragging a bundle taken from the pirate ship, urged them on.

The others, who had been standing still, began to move.

“This should do.”

Franz chose a large tree overlooking the beach.

The four of them gathered branches. Dry twigs were stacked, and burning leaves were tossed in. Franz coughed, waving his hand to fan the flames.

Naomi inspected the sack of stolen goods from the pirate ship—lighters, compasses, bread, fruit, cheese, even ham.

“They really did loot a lot. Even nobles steal when they’re desperate, huh?”

“Do you think they actually paid for this?”

“Theft of stolen goods is still theft.”

At Angelina’s remark, Naomi replied curtly.

“Naomi.”

“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

At Alexei’s warning, Naomi pouted.

Franz handed the food bundle to the crown prince.

“Eat this. It’s not much, but it should help.”

The bread was hard, the ham smelled odd, and the fruit was overripe—but it was better than starving. They divided the bread into four, roasted the ham over sticks, and ate the fruit for moisture and sugar.

“Now that we’ve escaped, tell me something.”

Alexei began.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m not from Latria.”

“I know that much.”

“I left so long ago that I don’t even remember anymore.”

Franz smiled faintly. In the dim moonlight, it looked bitter.

“Have you forgotten… or do you want to forget?”

“Hard to say. At first it was the latter. Now… probably the former.”

“Still sounds like the former.”

“….”

“Or not?”

He had looked into the newspaper after Angelina suddenly appeared demanding money. He had thought it was quite impressive—the illustration of her entering the hotel had captured her perfectly from such limited observation.

Not something an ordinary illustrator could do.

So he investigated.

Franz Boyle. Age unknown. Origin unknown.

Sharp-eyed and quick-handed, sought after by newspapers and the security bureau alike.

The security bureau?

The servant had not been able to answer that question.

Even after being offered a large contract, he refused every attempt to recruit him, saying only that he preferred to remain in Latria for a while.

So he was that remarkable?

During the investigation, he discovered the emperor’s involvement behind the articles. The redacted scandal pieces, the forced dress return request—all of it felt unnatural.

But commissioning a wedding illustration was unexpected.

“I simply regretted not being able to witness it myself. It might become a historical record. He seemed the most suitable.”

That was the explanation given by “his mother,” but it did not fully resonate.

That was why Alexei could not stop watching Franz Boyle.

Could he be trusted?

“Why keep it a secret?”

“Instead of worrying about a foreigner’s story, wouldn’t it be better to think about how Emperor Tordi knew in advance about the crown prince’s wedding?”

“Thanks for the advice. But still…”

And Alexei realized it.

This man did not trust him either.

“You might be from the Tordi Empire.”

Silence fell.

“Oh dear, you noticed.”

Franz’s lips curled upward.

“Truth is, I am a servant of Emperor Tordi. I came here under his orders and assisted your escape according to his plan. Luring you to this island was my mission. By tomorrow morning, Tordi soldiers will arrive and you will be taken as prisoners…”

Click.

The sound of a pistol slide cut through the night air.

Franz instinctively raised his hands at the gun pointed at him.