Chapter:17
But there was no way he could be here. Hadn’t she been the one who rejected him so coldly?
There’s no way he came looking for me.
It was a ridiculous thought. Even when she had been at the mansion, she’d harbored a faint hope—but she hadn’t seen even his shadow.
If asked whether she felt regret, the answer would be “no.”
To her, everything connected to the imperial family was an object of hatred.
Rayleigh cast a sidelong glance at Kaber. Though his appearance was different, the way he carried himself was enough to remind her of him.
How ridiculous.
That she would think of him now, that she would harbor some vague, unexplainable expectation.
Kaber’s ears perked up at the remark about seeming familiar. Without realizing it, a small hope took root.
Will she recognize me, even a little?
He had changed his appearance, but perhaps she might still recognize him—that faint hope lasted only a moment.
“I don’t know. Maybe I saw you in the newspaper?”
At Rayleigh’s flat expression and indifferent tone, Kaber’s heart tightened.
Ah…
What was he expecting, like an idiot?
Kaber met Rayleigh’s eyes.
“I’m not such a great person that I’d appear in the papers.”
With an awkward smile, he stroked the chair beside him and looked away.
It was clear—she hadn’t recognized him in disguise.
Ren began to shake with suppressed laughter.
“I knew it. I should’ve come without a disguise…”
Kaber muttered as he pressed a hand to his forehead. He didn’t like how things had turned out. When they met again, he had planned to explain everything.
Ren, who had been watching Kaber with amusement, moved closer to Rayleigh.
“Give it here. No matter how much you do it, your skill never improves.”
“Ren’s just good at it.”
Ren took what Rayleigh had been tying and deftly tied a ribbon.
“You delivered everything properly, right?”
“Of course. I always do.”
At Rayleigh’s request, Ren had personally gone to deliver the items. She’d made such a fuss about how disastrous it would be if anything broke that he’d had no choice but to leave her alone and go.
Good thing I came back quickly.
Standing beside Rayleigh as she watched him wrap the package, Ren let out a short breath. Kaber’s blatant gaze was so obvious even Ren could feel it, and his brow furrowed.
If he keeps staring like that, Rayleigh’s bound to find it strange. That idiot…
To send Rayleigh back inside, Ren casually brought up a topic that might catch her interest.
“Setria, I brought the raw gemstones you asked for.”
“Hm?”
Rayleigh didn’t hear him. How could someone wrap things so beautifully? Ren’s meticulousness amazed her several times a day.
Ren really is amazing.
She kept murmuring admiration as she watched the gift take shape.
With his sleeves rolled up, his forearms showed firm muscles and taut veins. It was hard to believe that such rough hands could tie ribbons better than hers.
Tap—
A large hand came down on Rayleigh’s head. Startled, she looked up.
“Go inside and check it quickly. If you say later that you don’t like it, I won’t buy anything for you again.”
Before she could even answer, Ren spun her around. Caught off guard, Rayleigh had no choice but to head inside. She turned her head slightly and looked at Kaber.
Kaber, who had been quietly watching the two of them, dipped his head in greeting.
“I think you’ll like it! Goodbye. Oh—and please come again!”
When Rayleigh smiled and waved, Kaber’s expression suddenly twisted.
At least she looks much better.
Kaber was anxious—more so now that he’d seen her. What if she was with someone else again, like before? What if he’d been too late this time, too?
As he roughly wiped his face with his hands, his head bowed. His lips, which had stubbornly refused to part, finally opened as he asked Ren,
“Why did you hide it from me?”
“Because Rayleigh doesn’t want it yet.”
“Ah…”
At Ren’s words, relief washed over Kaber. He’d been afraid there was another reason she wouldn’t come back.
“And also—”
Smiling, Ren handed Kaber the neatly wrapped gift.
“I’ll have to think about whether I’ll send this to you.”
Moreover, Rayleigh’s memory was currently incomplete. She had forcibly erased matters related to the child in order to form the contract, leaving gaps scattered throughout her memories.
What she wanted to forget was the guilt and pain tied to the child.
Ren didn’t know the exact reason either, but it seemed some of Rayleigh’s past memories had been erased as well—perhaps a side effect of the incomplete contract.
Even the reason she had come here now was likely distorted.
“And don’t say anything unnecessary. Rayleigh’s memories are fragmented right now.”
At Ren’s words, Kaber’s lips twitched—but then sealed shut as Rayleigh came back outside.
Kaber immediately understood. There was no way she could have forgotten the pain of losing a child, and yet the Rayleigh before him looked far too bright.
Following Ren’s advice, Kaber decided it would be best to hold his tongue for now.
Did she erase even her past memories?
A sharp pain stabbed at his chest. He feared that even his own existence had vanished from her memories.
Ren composed his expression and asked Rayleigh in a gentle voice, not once looking away despite Kaber’s persistent gaze.
“Do you like it?”
“The gemstones are nice. They must’ve been hard to get.”
Rayleigh nodded with a smile of approval. When she turned her head from Ren’s gaze, her eyes met Kaber’s for a few seconds.
Ah… he’s still here. I hope he liked it.
Her gaze shifted to the gift in her hands.
“I’ll have the rest delivered to you.”
Ren said calmly to Kaber. In the end, Kaber offered a brief farewell and forced his reluctant feet to move.
It was an unavoidable retreat.
Clink—
As Kaber left the shop, Ren’s eyes narrowed. Rayleigh deliberately ignored his gaze and began organizing the gemstones.
“You—earlier.”
“Hm?”
A lecture. Rayleigh rolled her eyes, already plotting her escape.
“I told you to be careful.”
“…I didn’t realize.”
Ren turned Rayleigh toward him. She fidgeted, then offered an awkward smile.
As he retied her crooked scarf, Ren looked at her with gentle eyes.
An incomplete contract. A sword that continued to call out for renewal.
She couldn’t reject its summons forever.
Still, Ren wanted Rayleigh to forget everything and be happy, even if only a little. Even if there wasn’t much time left—just a bit longer, he hoped that smile would stay on her face.
As long as that bastard’s patience holds.
“Your Highness, did you confirm it?”
“Ah, I must’ve been mistaken.”
“Yes, understood. But what is that paper in your hand?”
Haban asked, staring at Kaber’s hand.
At a glance, he could make out the words Urgently Hiring…
As a sense of unease brushed past him, Haban shook his head.
Surely not. You’re imagining things too much these days.
Kaber’s expression after leaving the shop had been odd, but Haban assumed it was simply because he hadn’t found Rayleigh.
“Ah, this?”
Kaber readily handed the paper to Haban.
“So, I was thinking—I should keep an eye on things.”
“Pardon? W-what do you mean?”
His eyes darted as he carefully read the paper.
[Urgently Hiring Staff]
No way. Right. That can’t be it.
Haban chuckled softly and crumpled the paper in his hand. Smiling brightly, as if he’d seen nothing at all, he shook his head vigorously at Kaber with innocent eyes.
“I’m not saying I’ll go every day. It says right there—not all day, just mornings.”
“Oh! You mean you’ll send someone as an employee to observe the situation?”
Haban shrugged, playing dumb with exaggerated cheerfulness.
Though his face clearly pleaded for this not to be the case, Kaber shattered his hope without hesitation.
“No. I’ll be the one working there. Take care of the aftermath.”
“…Absolutely not. Never.”
Haban shook his head resolutely, his expression hardening. But Kaber glanced once more toward where Rayleigh was, then patted Haban’s shoulder.
“Isn’t it about time you got used to this?”
This—this insane Crown Prince…!
A curse nearly burst from his lips, but he swallowed it down. If he didn’t, his head might truly roll.
Haban lowered his head, eyes welling. The moment they returned, there would be mountains of work to do. First, he’d need to fabricate a fake identity to hide the Crown Prince’s status—and what about reporting to His Majesty?
What kind of insane country lets its Crown Prince work menial labor in a shop?
His head throbbed; he felt like collapsing on the spot.
“Absolutely not.”
This was the one thing he could never allow. He even considered throwing himself on the ground and begging to be stepped over.
No—he really would step over me.
Desperately, Haban tried to think of another proposal, but he knew it was hopeless against someone this stubborn.
“If I report this to His Majesty, I might die on the spot.”
“Then I’ll report it myself.”
“Do you not realize that alone could cost me my head?”
“It’s important for a Crown Prince to experience the lives of the people.”
“Your intentions are impure.”
No matter how nicely he framed it, Haban knew Kaber too well. Even if the target wasn’t Rayleigh directly, there was clearly a connection.
“What is your reason?”
“Haban, are you daring to question my intentions?”
Kaber narrowed his eyes with a solemn expression—a fairly intimidating gesture. But Haban had known him since childhood.
That tactic wouldn’t work.
“No matter what, I cannot allow it.”
“Others won’t do. They don’t know Rayleigh well. Isn’t that reasonable?”
“No, it is not.”
“You know resisting me is pointless.”
Kaber was not one to change his mind once it was made. And Haban, who had served him all this time, was just as stubborn.
“You know I’m the same.”
“Haban!”
“Raising your voice won’t help. You’re not planning to throw a tantrum like a child—or try some strange cutesy act, are you?”
Haban blocked every avenue, determined to break Kaber’s resolve. The Crown Prince working as a mere shop employee was unthinkable.
If the people found out, the imperial family’s prestige…
His hair stood on end, goosebumps spreading across his skin. A chill ran through him, and he wrapped his arms around himself, shivering.
