Chapter: 15
Caver Baritas, Crown Prince.
He was a person who, ever since his coming-of-age ceremony, had not appeared at any public event. Rumor had it that he had a quite different personality when he was younger.
And now, that very person had come to the Prinz Duke’s residence.
“What do you mean by that…? I was instructed to prepare a seat, so I’ll first escort you inside.”
Theo swallowed dryly and tried to ease the frozen atmosphere with an awkward smile.
“Do you think I came all this way just to have a cup of tea with you?”
“Then… may I dare to ask the reason for your visit?”
The Crown Prince sneered. There was only one reason he had come here: Reilly.
Judging by the Duke’s behavior, he seemed unaware that Reilly had even filed for divorce. Caver slightly tilted his head, glancing at the Duke’s residence.
He couldn’t sense Reilly’s presence. She had already left.
Should he feel relieved? What expression would she have worn if she had faced him? He vaguely recalled her face from his childhood but quickly shook his head.
‘Do I really think I could see the smile she gave me back then?’
He scoffed at himself for even thinking it.
He should have realized it when he received the letter that only informed him of the date and time… It seemed that Ren had anticipated everything and never intended to allow even a brief meeting between Reilly and him.
It had taken quite some time, but how hard he had worked to turn everything in Reilly’s favor.
‘That bastard Ren… He definitely dumped it all on me.’
Caver clicked his tongue in disapproval, narrowing his eyes.
After all, if Reilly had planned to stay at the Duke’s residence, he wouldn’t have needed to use his abilities at all.
“So, who do you think you are, daring to ask me questions?”
Theo’s fists clenched and unclenched at the Crown Prince’s sneering and condescending gaze.
“…I apologize.”
It was a humiliation he had never experienced before. As he bowed his head, he heard Caver click his tongue in disapproval.
“Tsk.”
Beside a man like that… what were you even thinking…
The Crown Prince didn’t want to waste any more time. Seeing the Duke prostrate before him only worsened his foul mood.
How could a head that bent so easily be so upright for her, unyielding like an unbroken tree? Caver could easily imagine lifting his head and gazing down at Reilly.
Theo’s chest tightened. Could it really be because of Reilly? She had been abandoned by both the royal family and her own.
‘What… exactly is Reilly?’
She was merely the abandoned heiress of the Trilla family, destined to carry on his line. She had a beautiful appearance, but that was all. Everyone else saw her the same way.
But Caver was different. He couldn’t be entirely certain, but it was clear that he felt something for Reilly that no one else did.
The Crown Prince’s persistent, calculating gaze sent shivers down Theo’s spine.
“Sign here.”
Caver handed Theo a crumpled, barely legible document. It was the confirmation form for the divorce petition, with only the other party’s signature line empty.
Reilly’s signature was already there, so if Theo just agreed, the divorce would be finalized.
“Your Highness, I have no intention of divorcing my wife. Why should I—”
“Stop.”
Caver raised a hand to cut off Theo’s words. His previously smiling face hardened instantly.
“I’m giving you a chance to live. From now on, you’d better think carefully before speaking.”
He stepped closer to Theo, and in his tightly closed lips, a suppressed emotion flashed briefly in his eyes.
It was frustration, embarrassment, bruised pride—ugly emotions.
Caver placed a hand on Theo’s shoulder and pressed lightly.
Theo shivered again. He tried to act nonchalant, glancing at the hand resting on his shoulder.
“Did Reilly ever rest her head on this shoulder? Or even once, did you lend her your shoulder?”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Yes, at least once, right?”
Theo didn’t answer. But the Crown Prince assumed an answer and crooked his lips.
Crack.
“Ugh, ah!”
With a dull sound, Theo screamed. One of his shoulder blades had been shattered by Caver’s hand.
Theo clutched his shoulder in pain and sank to the ground.
“I told you to think carefully before answering.”
“Ugh! Your Highness… This is clearly abuse! How can… someone destined to be Emperor… act like this? Ugh!”
Theo’s voice cracked between gritted teeth. Groans of pain escaped repeatedly.
“And that’s still not the answer I want.”
Caver leaned slightly to meet Theo’s gaze, who was writhing in agony.
“Above all, someone like you has no right to comment on the qualities of an Emperor.”
Caver, who had been smiling darkly, lightly patted Theo’s hand clutching his broken shoulder. He held Theo’s hand until it loosened, then pressed it firmly.
“Ugh… Why me!”
“Did you ever caress her face or touch her body with those filthy hands?”
“Ah, no!”
Theo shook his head, denying it with a foreboding sense. But Caver didn’t release his grip.
“Tsk, lying to me, the Crown Prince.”
He had already sent people to investigate the Duke’s residence. Moreover, he had communicated with Ren; there was no way he didn’t know the truth.
A chilling smile spread across Caver’s face. Theo, pale, tried to pull his hand away in a panic, but it was useless.
Crunch.
With another cracking sound, Theo’s body twisted.
“Ahhh!”
“I only ever looked at her because she was precious.”
Theo couldn’t even scream anymore. The pain made reality feel unreal.
“Sign.”
A low, harsh voice rumbled. Caver handed the document to Theo again, who was groaning with his head on the floor.
“Your Highness, Caver…”
Haban, who had just gotten out of the carriage, remained calm despite the scene. He merely adjusted his glasses and sighed.
The aide had followed the Crown Prince just in case. But trusting Caver’s vow not to kill anyone, he decided to quietly observe from the carriage.
“Didn’t you say no matter how angry you are, people must not be killed?”
“Look, Haban. People would misunderstand if they saw this.”
Theo was not dead.
Watching the Crown Prince standing tall, Haban shook his head. Caver tested Theo again.
He was unconscious. Caver’s face froze sharply as he looked at the document in his hand.
“Wake him. Either fix him or get him to regain consciousness.”
“My ability isn’t for treating trash,” Haban said firmly.
Caver nodded and silently gave the order.
“If you just need the signature, there’s no need to heal him, right?”
Haban bent down, placed a pen in Theo’s hand, and, holding it, signed his name on the document himself. Then he looked up at the Crown Prince.
Though slightly crooked, it was unmistakably Theo’s signature.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“That’s falsified. There’s no one to verify it. Wake him again.”
“Your Highness, why not? There’s a more than reliable witness.”
Haban straightened Theo’s appearance, bundled him up, and headed to the Duke’s residence. Smiling brightly, he returned shortly with the stack of documents in hand.
“Is this witness enough?”
Now, there was no one left to believe Theo’s words.
Clink—
“May I post a notice here?”
It was the guards. Instead of saying anything, Reilly just nodded.
‘Ah, right!’
She suddenly remembered the paper she had left on the wall. Hastily, she opened the door and told the guard:
“Here, put it here. It needs to be clearly visible.”
She even specified the position so that the words “Staff Wanted” wouldn’t be obscured.
“Yes, understood.”
The guard posted the notice exactly where Reilly had indicated.
‘But what kind of notice is this?’
Curious, she almost leaned closer to see but shook her head. Probably looking for criminals again.
‘Still, these notices are becoming more frequent lately.’
It had been a month since Reilly arrived here. During that time, incidents kept happening in the city.
“It’s cold. I should go inside.”
A gust of wind gave her chills. Reilly closed the door and glanced at the clock.
“Ren will be here soon.”
She examined the newly arrived gems while arranging the jewelry. A particularly striking red ruby caught her eye.
“This will suit Ren well.”
She intended to make a pendant. The red would complement him nicely. She anticipated Ren would complain, saying she was giving him an item that should be sold, but she didn’t care.
Carefully placing the ruby back with tweezers, her loose scarf slipped to the floor.
Bending down to pick it up, she dusted it lightly and prepared to tie it around her neck again.
Clink—
“Ren?”
“….”
There was no reply.
Reilly adjusted her scarf in the mirror, fixed her hair, and turned toward the door.
“…Reilly?”
The man standing there calling her name was someone Reilly had never seen before.
