KLRE C8

Chapter 8

“Lady Kina of the Senet Viscountcy seeks an audience, Your Highness.”

“Let her in.”

At the announcement of her arrival, Chris gave his permission.

“Kina of the House of Senet greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The moment she entered, Kina bowed carefully in greeting. No order to raise her head came for a long while, so she remained as she was.

“Raise your head.”

Only after some time did the command come.

Chris did not appear as ruined as the rumors claimed. He had been drunk until the previous day, yet to Kina—who knew nothing of that—he looked perfectly composed.

“I hear you requested that those people be released?”

“They are innocent, Your Highness. If there is a crime, then please punish me instead.”

At Chris’s direct question, Kina immediately dropped to her knees and prostrated herself flat against the floor.

“I will accept any punishment. So please…”

“Any punishment? Do you mean anything at all?”

He asked as though he had been waiting for those words. Unaware of that, Kina took the bait without hesitation.

“Yes. If you would only release them, you may even take my life in their place.”

They were people who had cared for the children as if they were their own—some for a few years, others for decades. If it meant exchanging her insignificant life for theirs, she could do it.

“Your life is of no use.”

It was a cold statement. She had no political value, no powerful backing, nor remarkable beauty or figure.

“Then…”

“Your life may be worthless, but your future is not.”

“…I do not understand what you mean…”

“Marry Duke Graize.”

For a moment, Kina was so shocked that she lifted her head and met Chris’s eyes. Startled, she quickly lowered it again, still unable to comprehend.

“I don’t mean a real marriage. Just a façade. After all, the title of Duchess is one you would never obtain in your lifetime anyway, isn’t it?”

“…W-why… would you give me such an आदेश…?”

Kina’s cautious voice trembled as she asked.

“I heard you’re Versha’s closest friend.”

Chris rose from his seat and lowered himself closer to her. She could feel his feet near her head.

“I want Versha and Raon to be happy.”

He lifted Kina’s chin. Her eyes showed only confusion—she could not understand what their happiness or marriage had to do with her.

“When I become Emperor, I intend to change the law and unite the two of them. Until then, I need someone to serve as a cover.”

Only then did she understand his words.

“I’ll release those people. In exchange, you will marry Raon.”

“That…”

“It’s easier than dying, isn’t it?”

His tone was light, as though suggesting she chew gum instead of candy.

“But… what about the opinions of Duke Graize and the Marchioness Caprice’s daughter…?”

Seeing her worry over something unnecessary, Chris smiled brightly.

“They already know. You needn’t concern yourself with that.”

“Ah…”

Releasing her chin, Chris stood up.

“Well? It’s a very simple matter, isn’t it?”

His voice had risen slightly compared to before.

“Please… please give me time to think.”

At her unsatisfactory answer, he looked down at her with cold eyes. But Kina, still bowing her head, could not see it.

“Very well. But it would be wise to decide quickly. There isn’t much time, and my patience is not long.”

“…If I accept, will I be allowed to continue running the orphanage?”

Kina asked just before rising to leave.

“Unfortunately, no. I plan to shut down all orphanages within the capital. The Senet Viscount’s household will not be an exception.”

Her face darkened once more.

“On your way out, go and see your companions.”

His tone suggested generosity.

“…I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s boundless mercy.”

With a formal bow, Kina left.

“This way.”

As soon as she stepped outside, the head attendant guided her. Leaving the Crown Prince’s palace, they headed into a maze-like passage. After descending several levels into an increasingly dark underground, they reached a dim corridor lit by faint, flickering lights.

“Aaaagh!”

The moment she entered, a horrifying scream echoed. Kina flinched and stopped in her tracks. The ominous atmosphere tensed her entire body. Yet the attendant did not wait for her and continued walking.

Her body trembling, Kina followed until the attendant stopped. And before the horrific sight, she could only cover her mouth to stifle a scream.

“No… this can’t be…”

Even at her question, the attendant remained expressionless. She understood that as confirmation.

The bloodied figures sprawled before her were the very people who had been laughing with her just days ago. The blood, left uncleaned, had dried and clung to their bodies. The marks of torture were unmistakable.

“Ugh… ugh…”

At her sound, someone—unrecognizable—reacted. Overcome with fear and terror, Kina instinctively stepped backward, trying to escape. But the narrow corridor left her nowhere to go, and her back soon hit the bars behind her.

“P-please… save… me…”

A desperate voice clutched at the hem of her skirt.

“Ugh…!”

Ignoring the sound of her skirt tearing, Kina fled the place. She immediately vomited, though nothing came out but bile. She retched over and over again.

Chris had not allowed her to see them out of kindness. It was a threat disguised as generosity.

Their lives are now in your hands.

That was what he wanted her to understand.

“Do we really have to go?”

“I don’t want to…”

“I won’t fight anymore…”

When one child began to cry, the others quickly followed. Kina’s face showed her distress.

The first thing she did after returning from the Crown Prince’s palace was to begin closing the orphanage. She urgently sent messages to nearby orphanages, seeking places that could take the children in. She also included promises of financial support.

Fortunately, several places agreed to accept them.

The problem was the children.

Afraid of going somewhere new, they resisted and refused to leave.

“I’ll come visit often, alright? Etinya, you said you wanted to see the sea last time, didn’t you? They say you can see the ocean there.”

“R-really?”

“Really.”

Kina gently stroked Etinya’s tearful face as she smiled. Starting with that, many of the children reluctantly followed her decision. Of course, Kina had to seal each promise individually with them.

“Kina.”

“Devil.”

Devil ran into her arms. When she tried to pull back to see his face, he misunderstood and clung to her even tighter.

“I want to see your face, okay?”

Speaking softly as she patted his head, Devil finally peeked up and met her eyes.

“You can be brave, right?”

“Come visit me. Promise.”

“I will.”

“I’ll make you a shining flower.”

It was the flower he had spoken about before. Even until the very end, his words made Kina smile as she agreed.

“You always said promises must be kept, Kina. So you have to, okay?”

It was something she always said when hooking pinkies in a promise.

Once Devil climbed into the carriage, it began to move. Until the very last moment, his eyes never left Kina.