Chapter Twenty-Nine and a Half: Moonlight that Illuminated a Secret

Liliana smiled more blissfully than I’d ever seen her, and dropped a bombshell of “I love you” into my heart, then fell asleep.

To be honest, even my steely rationality had its limits. After all, even iron would eventually break.

Liliana, who was in my arms, seemed to have forgotten about her disheveled attire. The front buttons of her nightgown were still undone, giving me a good view of her cleavage and the two splendid bulges that pushed up the thin fabric of her chemise.

When she called my name with a gorgeous name, lisping slightly, “I love you.” As a man, I wanted to eat her.

I held back my hand that was about to reach out, and exhaled.

“No, no, I’m a knight. A proud knight. A national hero. Do your best, William.”

I took several deep breaths, and recalled memories of the past—of training sessions full of rugged men to calm my mind.

In my arms, Liliana slept peacefully. Her sleeping face, illuminated by the cold moonlight, was so beautiful and unexpectedly warm to the touch.

Before, I sensed movement in the bed and realized that Liliana had left. I struggled to get away from Cedric without waking him, and when I went downstairs, I found Liliana sitting in this chair, looking at the moon.

Her figure, bathed in the pale moonlight, was endlessly tranquil; so beautiful, it was almost scary.

It wouldn’t be strange if she returned to the moon, so I instinctively called out to her, “Liliana,” as if to stop her.

Out of my usual habit, I muffled the sound of my footsteps and erased my presence, which inadvertently startled her.

Nevertheless, I was glad that I got up, chased after her, and spoke to her. If I hadn’t done that, just like Alphonse had predicted, she might have ended up somewhere beyond my reach with Cedric.

There were two types of monasteries in Cression.

One was a prison for noblewomen and commoner women who had committed some kind of crime. It was located on top of a steep mountain and had strict discipline. Once someone entered, they never came out alive.

The second one, Liliana’s destination, was a monastery in town. A married woman could go there to ask for a divorce and it would be granted regardless of her husband’s wishes. Furthermore, noblewomen could also go through the process of becoming commoners. From there, it was up to the individual woman to decide whether to live as a commoner while working under the care of the monastery, or to become a nun serving God.

However, both places were off-limits to men. Except for pre-adult children and certain men who had received special treatment, we men couldn’t approach them carelessly. We were even prohibited to enter the grounds.

If Liliana had been chosen to work as a seamstress, which required indoor work, I couldn’t even hope to see her. A divorced husband could ask to see his wife, but the monastery usually wouldn’t allow it. After all, women fled there in fear of their husbands’ physical and verbal abuses, so the monastery was also wary. Also, if the women refused to see them in the first place, it wouldn’t work.

I let out a sigh and turned to face Liliana again. I could hear her quiet breathing mingling with the chirping of insects.

Before anything else, I recalled her saying it didn’t hurt. I lifted her chemise slightly to see and touch the scar. The skin around it was smooth, probably because after being burned, the sweat glands and pores were no more.

I wondered if she was truly not in pain. However, when I picked her up before, she seemed embarrassed but not in pain, so I decided to take her words for it. Besides, if Liliana was ever in pain in her daily life, Elsa would’ve noticed and reported it to me straight away. Even more so if I had overstepped my boundary; she would’ve given me a beating for sure. In the end, I decided to ask Dr. Morgan for some kind of cream that would be good for the skin.

“…This scar doesn’t suit you.”

The skin around the scar wasn’t only covered with purple and red spots but also bumpy.

I also had scars here and there on my body, and I wouldn’t care if the number increased. After all, I was a man and a knight. However, to Liliana, who was 16 years old, it must’ve been unsightly.

I wondered how determined she must have been to show me that scar.

Perhaps, she did it so that I would despise and abandon her. It probably never occurred to her that I would accept her.

No words could describe the pain I felt in my heart as she shed tears and smiled painfully to push me away.

At the same time, I hated Count Eighton so much, I wanted to kill him. His daughter clung to him in fear of the thug, so how could he push her away? At that time, she was only seven years old!

If the carriage wasn’t attacked and Liliana grew up with her maternal grandparents, Viscount Everett, she would surely grow up to be a more cheerful, easy to smile woman, without this scar.

But then, what would’ve become of Cedric? Liliana wouldn’t be there for him as a mother figure, and he might end up being whipped in her place.

I knew there was no end to what-if stories, and in the end, I still didn’t know what was the right thing to do.

Still, she believed in me.

“Don’t forget,” she told me in her drunken state; wishing sincerely from the heart.

“I swear I’ll never betray your trust again.”

I kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek.

I lowered her chemise and buttoned it up, then closed the front of her robe, tying the ribbon around her slim waist. My robe was too big for her, so she appeared even smaller, and my love for her was about to burst.

Seeing her scar, my heart overflowed with joy and relief. After all, Liliana survived. Even if it wasn’t a fatal injury, people could still die suddenly from an infection.

But Liliana survived. My tears fell at the realization that she was alive and in my arms.

“…How am I supposed to live without you, my dear Liliana?”

I kissed her slightly reddened eyelids and stood up, holding her in my arms.

As always, she was too light, and I was worried.

In the small house, I carefully went up to the second floor so that her feet and head wouldn’t hit the wall, and entered the bedroom. The bed was much smaller than the one at home, and cramped for the three of us to sleep, but it was perfect for sleeping together.

When I put Liliana down, the sleeping Cedric clung to her, and Liliana unconsciously hugged him back. I laid down behind Cedric, holding the two of them in my arms.

I thought I should tell Liliana about Sandra tomorrow. As for Cedric, I was planning to decide after consulting with Liliana. At the end of the day, that woman, Sandra, was still his mother. Thinking about his naïve heart, I couldn’t just tell him carelessly.

His innocent sleeping face made my heart ache.

I whispered, “Sweet dreams,” and closed my eyes too.

The open window carried the melancholic chirps of autumn insects, accompanied by the gentle rustling of the curtains in the breeze.

***

POV: Duke Fuchsberger

“You have some nerve barging into someone’s mansion this late at night, Your Highness Alphonse.”

“What can I do? I’m busy, and so is the duke. If I don’t catch him before he falls asleep, we won’t be able to have a good chat, right?”

My cousin, who could be mistaken for my son, smiled and relished the tea James made.

I shrugged my shoulders and sat back in my chair, picking up the teacup. The clear, reddish-brown tea was the result of great skill. There was no impurity at all, and all the original flavor and aroma of the tea leaves were brought out.

At the seat prepared for us on the terrace, my cousin was dressed appropriately for a prince, whereas I was wearing a silk nightgown and a robe. True to his words, he came right when I was about to head to bed. He didn’t want to waste time waiting for me to get ready, so we spoke as we were. Normally, I would’ve told him to be polite, but since it was getting late, I gave up on the matter.

My cousin had always been like that. Once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t listen to me.

“So, what do you want…?”

“It’s a beautiful moonlit night. The full moon is floating in the cup.”

Even though my cousin was an adult, his relaxed expression resembled that of a child. He stared at the reflection of the moon in the tea cup. When I turned my gaze, I could see that the pale full moon was indeed floating in the teacup. I shook the cup, and the moon’s shape swayed in the spreading ripples.

“Drinking tea under the moon is quite elegant.”

With that, my cousin took another sip of tea. Hearing that, I thought he had a point, and enjoyed my tea for a while. The autumn breeze blowing through the spacious garden was pleasant. When I felt a bit chilly, James draped a blanket over my lap without needing me to say anything. I thanked the attentive butler and put the cup back on the table.

“I heard you are also searching for Lady Liliana’s whereabouts.”

My cousin spoke abruptly, as if he was talking about tomorrow’s weather.

“It’s been three weeks since I left Tasha’s stole with her, so I wanted to ask about the progress.”

“The marquis said that it was a gorgeous piece of work. Her needle was akin to a magic wand. Several threads were at her control, making pretty flowers bloom and birds sing on an empty cloth.”

With that, my cousin showed me the handkerchief he took out of his pocket.

The royal crest was splendidly embroidered on the white handkerchief. “Excuse me,” I said, putting on the reading glasses I took out from my breast pocket, and glanced down at the handkerchief.

The design was much more elaborate and delicate than the rose embroidery on her handkerchief. The intricacy of the workmanship was evident; a testament to the seamstress’ character.

“Tasha wasn’t very good at embroidery. When she was alive, she only ever gave me a handkerchief. She got upset when I praised her embroidery. I thought it was a cat, but it turned out to be a bear. I see, Lady Liliana will surely do well.”

I thanked him and returned the handkerchief.

“Right? I like it too.”

My cousin smiled as he said that. I had known him since he was born, but that was the first I’d seen something resembling a hint of affection in his eyes.

“…Oh my, are you planning to take her as a concubine?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. My role is to protect the country, I can’t choose the path of destruction.”

I chuckled when I saw that he was genuinely remorseful.

Certainly, making the Hero an enemy wouldn’t do any good for the country. Considering how influential he was, the destruction of the country wasn’t that far-fetched.

“Besides, I’m not in love with the lady.”

While nonchalantly saying that, my cousin asked James for a refill. James poured fresh tea into his cup.

The crown prince, who was younger than James but old enough to be considered my son, was a very talented and intelligent child from an early age.

“I admire her. She’s so pure, beautiful, and dazzling. Her brilliance stings me sometimes, but I also feel at peace. She has a noble soul, just like the Marquis.”

“…I kind of get that.”

Muttering, I lowered my gaze.

She was certainly as enchanting as the moon goddess, but what made her beauty stand out was her inner radiance.

“The polar opposite of her is that wicked woman you kept until recently, but where is she?”

“Oh my, how rude of you. A gentleman should never speak like that to a woman, no matter what the circumstances.”

“Answer me.”

My cousin didn’t seem to hear my remonstrance.

“What makes you think I know?”

“You probably knew that Sandra was connected to the Black Scorpion and was involved in human trafficking. Were you trying to profit from it?”

“That’s harsh. I’m of royal blood. Do you really think that I, who loves this country, would do something like that?”

“Ever since you lost Lady Eustasha, you’ve been feeling empty.”

He spoke bluntly and drank his tea.

I fell silent at the unexpected words. Then, as I processed them, my cousin glanced at me with his sky-blue eyes.

“A man is much more dangerous when he’s empty. The Duke Fuchsberger I know is a very patriotic and sharp man… but now, you’re merely a husk of a man.”

“…Your Highness, this is a delicate matter that shouldn’t be intruded upon so bluntly.”

“I have a general idea of what you will do with the large quantities of wheat you have stored in your territory. Do not think that a mere Minister of Foreign Affairs can do anything without the will of me or the king.”

His sky-blue eyes narrowed like a spiteful cat.

No, cats were cute, whereas he resembled that of a wild beast—a predator.

“This country is mine, and so are the people. If you dare lay a finger on any of them, I won’t remain as that adorable, young, naïve prince that you know so well.”

His cold aura made me shiver with intimidation.

There was no doubt that the current king was also an excellent and wonderful ruler.

However, the current king had the opening of competing with my father for the throne.

My cousin didn’t have such an opening. I knew my name had been dragged into the battle for the succession to the throne, but that was it. Not even the name of the second prince, who was much more talented than average, was ever mentioned.

Alphonse may appear to be a kind, cheerful, good-natured young man, but his true nature was that of a “king.” He took up arms and stepped onto the battlefield, and was more ruthless and cold-hearted than the current king. The King of Cression of the time was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to kill one to protect a hundred.

“Your Highness.”

I stared back into his sky-blue eyes.

“Avarice will be the end of you.”

I replied, smiling quietly.

My cousin’s neatly trimmed eyebrows twitched.

***

“Sandra.”

The light of the full moon poured down evenly, and the curtains falling from the bed canopy was transparent. Beyond that, there was the sound of clothes rustling, and the shadow of a woman’s captivatingly curvaceous body rose up.

“We’ve pinpointed Lady Liliana’s location.”

“Then bring her here right this instant.”

A voice dripping with languid sexiness fell.

“…You really don’t care what happens?”

The shadow shook as a man asked. A giggling, innocent girlish laughter was heard.

“I’d do anything to drag that girl to hell.”

Despite the light-hearted tone, her words were quite ominous, and my smile deepened.

As expected, she was beautiful.

Beautiful, and foolish.

“Okay, let’s get ready.”

I raised one hand, and the presence that had been waiting left the room.

“Have a good night’s sleep tonight, Sandy.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

I watched as the shadow sank into the bed once more and left the room.

The hallway, where the moonlight couldn’t reach, was pitch-black.

“A woman’s jealousy can topple a nation, but I wonder what hers will destroy.”

Aah, I thought to myself with a smile, and stepped briskly into the darkness.

---

***T/N: Is Sandra so ungodly sexy that the mafia boss bent his knees to her? Damn, the power of horn1

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