KLRE C9

Chapter 9

Only after the carriage carrying the children had disappeared did Kina finally turn and head back toward the orphanage. Now emptied of all its belongings, the place felt hollow as she walked through it alone.

Kina’s earliest childhood memory began here. It was of the Viscountess Senet, surrounded by children, smiling warmly as she accepted the flowers they eagerly offered her in handfuls. This had been Kina’s playground, the place where she remembered her mother—and, before she knew it, the place that had become her entire life.

“Let’s meet again.”

Kina didn’t want to believe this was the end. Though it was only closing temporarily, she held onto the hope that one day, it would open its doors again.

As she left, the orphanage—once always filled with noise and laughter—prepared to face a night alone for the very first time since it had been built.

Now, only one decision remained for Kina.

“What do you think?”

The imperial tailor was fitting a dress to match Bersha’s figure. Turning her head slightly, Bersha asked Kina. Her rose-brown hair cascaded over the pure white dress, creating a strangely captivating harmony between the soft color of her hair and the pristine fabric.

“It’s beautiful.”

Bersha looked beautiful in anything she wore—and she seemed well aware of it, nodding as if it were only natural. Watching her, so full of confidence, Kina gave a faint, powerless smile.

Fortunately, after meeting the Crown Prince, Bersha had reached out first. Perhaps because of the grace period granted to Kina, their communication hadn’t been restricted.

Kina had been struggling to find the right moment to tell Bersha everything. But as she hesitated, she somehow found herself helping choose a wedding dress instead.

Just then, there was a knock, and Sheila—the head maid of the Crown Princess’s palace—entered.

“Your Highness, Duke Graize has arrived.”

At those words, both Kina and Bersha quickly turned their gazes toward the door.

“S-send him in.”

Bersha’s voice trembled slightly with excitement. She hadn’t realized meeting Raon could make her this nervous. Still wearing the half-fitted dress, she shifted anxiously in place. Soon, the door opened, and Raon stepped inside.

“…It has been a while.”

For a brief moment, Raon looked startled at the sight of Bersha in her dress, then greeted her belatedly. His gaze lingered on her far longer than usual, and Bersha stood still, as if waiting for his judgment.

“H-how is it?”

Her voice trembled as she asked. Like a young girl preparing for her wedding, Bersha wanted to wear a dress that would look beautiful in his eyes.

“It suits you well.”

At his words, a smile bloomed across Bersha’s face—completely different from the one she showed when praised by Kina. Avoiding that radiant expression, Raon slightly turned his head—and then noticed Kina.

“Ah… greetings, my lady.”

Kina hurriedly stood and bowed. She wasn’t the only one flustered—Raon, too, seemed unsettled, as if worried that the emotions he had tried to hide had been seen by her.

“Your Highness, we must remove the pins now.”

“Yes.”

As Bersha headed into another room with the tailor, she turned back anxiously.

“I’ll be back soon, so please have some tea. Sheila.”

In a low voice, she instructed that tea requiring a long steeping time be prepared.

“Talk with Kina in the meantime, all right?”

Fearing Raon might leave early, she deliberately mentioned Kina. If she could, she would have stayed seated with him in that dress, but since she couldn’t, she tried to keep him there by any means she could.

“Please do, Your Grace.”

Seeing Bersha’s anxiety, Kina gently added her voice. Faced with both their requests, Raon reluctantly nodded. Only then did Bersha hurry away, promising to return soon.

Silence settled between Kina and Raon in the reception room.

There was a reason Raon had come all the way to the Crown Princess’s palace—it was by Chris’s command.

Chris had ordered the Imperial Knights to assist with preparations for the Crown Prince’s wedding, and he had placed Raon in overall charge.

“I refuse.”

Raon had rejected it the moment he heard.

“Why?”

“I cannot assign the Knights to such a matter.”

He was resolute. And beneath that refusal lay the fact that he understood exactly why Chris was sending him there.

“It’s something you’ve done often since Stella was alive.”

Even when Chris had first suggested that Raon continue his relationship with Bersha, Raon had refused—and had continued to do so ever since. But Chris knew. He knew that Raon still hadn’t forgotten Bersha, that he was still suffering. His face had grown thinner by the day, his vitality fading.

“That is a separate matter.”

Even as he said it, Raon looked no different from Chris himself. And yet, because of his rigid nature, he was letting the greatest opportunity of his life slip away.

“Then I’ll make it an order. I’ll use my special authority.”

“Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince’s special authority could not be refused—unless it went against the Emperor or raised moral issues. And yet, Chris intended to use that very power here.

“Why use something so important for something so personal?”

“Personal,” Raon said.

Chris let out a hollow laugh.

“Do you know what I regret most? Not seeing her for even one more day. Not telling her ‘I love you’ just one more time. Those are the things I regret the most.”

A shadow of remorse crossed Chris’s eyes. At the mention of Stella, Raon fell silent. He was no different from the man before him. Every day, he regretted not proposing to Bersha sooner, not keeping her by his side sooner.

“At least you can still say you love her. Don’t end up regretting it like I did.”

Chris gripped Raon’s shoulder tightly, urging him not to hesitate. For a brief moment, longing flickered in Raon’s eyes, wavering.

“…I… cannot…”

It was an answer he forced out, barely overcoming the desire to accept Chris’s proposal.

Chris sighed quietly.

“Then at least help with the wedding preparations. That’s an order.”

Even as Raon frowned, even as he hesitated, he gave no answer—only a silent bow before leaving. But since Chris had named it an order, it was certain that he would head there the next day.

“…I can’t even see her when I want to. You stubborn knight.”

Covering his eyes with his hand, Chris muttered to himself. He wanted at least them to be happy. This was the best he could do.

And so, unable to defy Chris’s command, Raon had come here—under the pretense of duty, but driven by the selfish desire to see her, even if only briefly. His gaze lingered for a moment on the door through which Bersha had disappeared, before he turned away.

Beside him, Kina fidgeted awkwardly in the heavy silence, absentmindedly playing with the jewel Bersha had pressed into her hands. Just then, Raon’s gaze shifted to her hand.

“Ah, it’s pretty, isn’t it? This is for the—”

She had been about to say it was the jewelry Bersha would wear at the wedding, but Kina quickly shut her mouth, squeezing her eyes closed. Why had she brought that up?

Carefully, she glanced at Raon’s face, but there was no visible change in his expression.

“It’s very beautiful.”

Kina gently set the jewel down and took a sip of tea to moisten her dry lips. Then, his hand slowly reached out and picked up the very jewel she had been holding. His touch was incredibly careful, as if handling something precious.

Watching him only made her chest ache more.

“It will suit her well.”

A soft yet faintly sorrowful smile settled on his lips.

Kina looked at him, then at the jewel in his hand.

A red diamond.

It was the very gem Raon himself had once prepared to propose to Bersha.

Realizing the truth she had forgotten amid all the chaos, Kina could now clearly see the pain he had been hiding.