Chapter 46: The Unraveling Ties

Prince’s Palace Bedroom.

The master of the room, Narcissus, frowned upon hearing the attendant’s report.

“What? Irene is not feeling well?”

“Yes, that is correct, Your Highness…”

“Hmm…”

Narcissus rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

‘Dealing with those lowly beings is indeed not an easy task…’

But unlike himself, wasn’t she just a mere commoner?

“No, that’s not it…”

Narcissus had spent a short time with Irene, but he had a general grasp of what kind of person she was.

‘An empty-headed b*tch who doesn’t know her place.’

Actually, when he first told her to speak comfortably.

He never imagined she would actually speak comfortably right away, and even drop honorifics.

‘Well, that was refreshing, so I’m playing along with her, but…’

When he told her to call Angelina ‘Mother’.

The sight of her immediately calling her ‘Mother’.

He couldn’t describe how amusing it was.

His mother’s hideously contorted face was truly comical even when he recalled it now.

Anyway.

The fact that she wasn’t feeling well.

Meant she intended to rest today instead of going out to do volunteer work for those slum dwellers.

Thinking so, Narcissus said with a sly smile.

“Alright, I also overexerted myself late last night and wasn’t feeling well, so this is good.”

“Pardon? By that, you mean… Ah, I understand.”

The attendant was about to question Narcissus.

However, upon seeing his expression and the woman beside him, he immediately bowed his head and retreated.

“Aww~ Your Highness~ Are you quitting after just one day~?”

A woman with orange hair and a voluptuous chest asked Narcissus coquettishly.

At this, he frowned and retorted.

“Hmph! Surely you don’t mean for me to go out and work alone?”

“Aww~ That’s not what I meant~ I’m asking if you shouldn’t hurry if you want to pull down the Crown Princess even a day sooner~”

As the woman pulled his arm between her breasts.

Narcissus, his expression considerably softened, replied in an arrogant tone.

“It doesn’t matter since I ordered my underlings to do it instead.”

“And since those church fellows said they would step forward starting today, there’s no need to worry.”

After finishing the relief activities yesterday.

Irene said she went to the church and received a definite confirmation.

That from the next day, the church would also distribute food to the ‘dogs and pigs’ and incite them.

‘Well, she did a lot yesterday, so she might really be tired and resting.’

– You worked hard, Irene! Thanks to you, it feels like things are finally starting to work out one by one!

– Thanks, Narcissus… Ehehe…

– Then, shall we have a celebratory drink today?

– Ah… Sorry… I think I overdid it today. Can I go rest now?

– Hmm… Really? Go ahead. I’ve prepared a separate space for you, so rest there.

– Yes, thank you…

Her expression, which had been bright when they finished the relief activities.

Became very dark after she returned from the church.

At first, he wondered if it was because she hadn’t handled things properly.

However.

Soon after.

– From tomorrow, our church, including the Hero and the Saintess, will diligently work alongside His Highness the Prince in relief activities.

Judging by the report from the priest who came from the church regarding their future plans.

It seemed that wasn’t the case.

It really seemed like she wasn’t feeling well.

“Well, not my problem.”

“Pour me some wine.”

“My~? Shouldn’t you go visit her to see how she is~?”

The woman asked, even as.

A wine bottle was already in her hand.

Pour…

Narcissus tilted his wine glass and said languidly.

“Hmph, didn’t I tell you clearly?”

“That I also overexerted myself and am not feeling well.”

“Oh my~ I’m sorry.”

“Then I’ll have to make Your Highness feel better today.”

“Khahahat! Yes, you should!”

“Let’s enjoy ourselves after a long time!”

Narcissus, smiling lewdly, greedily reached out his hand towards the woman’s ample bosom.

“Kyaa~ Your Highness~”

The woman flirted with Narcissus and nestled into his embrace.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Enjoy yourself… to your heart’s content… Fufufu…”

---

An annex, a little distance away from the Prince’s Palace where Narcissus was staying.

The person staying in the best room there was Irene.

The room was not only decorated with all sorts of splendid furniture and ornaments.

Outside the room, several attendants and maids were on standby, making it a very comfortable place to rest.

It was the luxurious space she had always longed for, where only the noble and high-ranking could reside.

However.

“Ah… Ah…”

Irene couldn’t help but continue sobbing on the bed, her face buried in her hands.

Because the lingering effects of the dream had not yet faded.

No, the future that should have happened…

For some reason, she was certain.

This wasn’t a dream.

It was reality that should have definitely occurred.

“Logan… Logan…”

Irene shed tears, repeating his name.

Whenever she felt this troubled and sad.

The person who was always by her side even before she looked for him.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

She missed his warm presence.

She missed his tenderness so much.

But no matter how much she cried and called his name desperately.

Logan did not come to her.

“No, it’s because he doesn’t know where I’m staying…”

Irene shook her head and consoled herself.

She made excuses to herself, denying reality.

“Yes, and like that dream… it didn’t really happen, did it?”

I haven’t even married Logan yet.

I haven’t sought other men after marriage either.

I can fix it now.

I have never betrayed his heart…

At that moment.

The words Sera had said yesterday flashed through her mind.

– As if betraying Logan wasn’t enough…

– “Ah, stop hitting me! Are you seriously saying that’s not true? That you didn’t betray Logan, that man? You crazy b*tch..!”

Next, Fiona’s words came to mind.

– “…Are you being serious right now? Ignoring Logan’s feelings and being infatuated with another man, and you say that?”

– “Think about how much Logan gave up for you!”

– “How can you say such things after shamelessly giving your heart to other men?”

Ah.

Truly, how foolish.

Ah.

Truly, how pathetic.

Ah.

Truly, how shameless.

“Ah, no… I did it all for Logan…”

Really?

Do you sincerely think so?

“……”

Irene didn’t answer.

She kept her lips firmly pressed together…

And slowly rose from her seat.

---

Crown Princess’s Palace Garden.

“Hmm… It looks like we’ll have to eat inside today…”

Anastasia looked up at the sky with a genuinely disappointed expression.

“I’m worried about Ms. Fiona and Hanna.”

“They must be working hard on relief activities in our stead…”

“Yes, I am worried too.”

“However, Anya.”

“You have a separate schedule this afternoon, so please refrain from saying you’ll go help them.”

“Ahaha… I know, Logan.”

“I have to do the final review of the reconstruction project with the officials in the afternoon…”

Anastasia was speaking to Logan with a gentle smile when.

Her expression immediately stiffened.

‘I heard she was staying in the Imperial Palace annex, but why has she suddenly appeared here…!?’

Because she saw the silhouette of a woman slowly walking from behind Logan.

‘Anya…?’

Logan also noticed her troubled expression and immediately turned around.

And there.

“Logan…!”

Was Irene, walking pitifully, drenched by the pouring rain.

---

Dining Hall inside the Crown Princess’s Palace.

Various dishes were already laid out on the table, but Anastasia hadn’t taken a single bite.

She merely gazed out the window at the fiercely falling rain.

Her eyes lost in deep thought.

At this, Renate looked at her with a worried gaze and urged her.

“Your Highness… Please eat… If you keep this up, the food will get cold.”

“Wait a moment.”

“I’ll eat with Logan when he comes.”

“…Understood, Your Highness.”

Renate sighed inwardly.

‘If you were going to do this, you should have just waited nearby…’

Or.

Couldn’t she just say no?

If she had insisted strongly.

He probably would have accepted it without a word.

“…I can see what you’re thinking all over your face, Renate.”

“Your Highness, your expression is truly not good…”

“How can it not be?”

“That woman shamelessly came looking for Logan again.”

“Then why don’t you just tell her to leave?”

“Ha… I want to do that more than anything.”

“But the decision isn’t mine to make, it’s Logan’s.”

“And…”

That woman, who had never shown even a modicum of respect.

To her, a member of the imperial family.

– Pl… Please… Please allow me to speak with Logan… Your Highness…

Because she had knelt and bowed her head immediately upon seeing her…

Given her generous nature, it was very difficult for her to refuse.

“…Aren’t you worried about Logan?”

“Of course, I’m worried.”

How could she not be worried?

Just the sight of the women in the slums looking at him with favorable gazes.

Just seeing the young girls smile at him while receiving relief supplies.

Made her feel like she was going crazy, unable to control herself properly.

Let alone.

Leaving Logan alone with none other than that Irene; she couldn’t help but worry.

However.

“…I trust Logan.”

She trusted him.

That pure love, to which he had devoted almost his entire life.

Giving everything unsparingly.

He was a man who was steadfast to the point of being foolish.

But the fact that such a man had given up on his feelings.

Meant it was by no means a light change of heart.

And before they parted for a while.

Though he hadn’t said anything.

The way he looked at her warmly.

Those two blue eyes of his, free of falsehood, filled only with sincerity.

When she recalled them.

She could trust him more than anyone.

“I trust Logan.”

Thus-

Anastasia was waiting for Logan.

“Uhm… Everyone… Doesn’t it feel kind of cold in here?”

“That’s right, it feels cold.”

“Is it because it’s raining today..?”

The twin maids attending them shivered, wrapping their arms around themselves.

“Cold, you say?”

“Ah… You’re right… It feels like it’s gradually getting colder.”

Anastasia also felt a chill run down her spine and goosebumps rise on her skin.

It was strange to attribute the coldness solely to the rain.

Therefore, just as an inexplicable sense of unease began to bloom.
.
“This is… Your Highness…!”

Knight Escort Renate exclaimed in a flustered voice.

“I sense an incredibly ominous mana from outside!”

“Wha-what did you say!?”

Mana, all of a sudden?

And incredibly ominous at that?

Who in this imperial palace would be crazy enough to recklessly use magic…

“Ah.”

Anastasia’s heart sank.

Because there was only one woman in this imperial palace who wouldn’t be out of place.

No matter what she did.

“Logan!!!”

Anastasia called out a man’s name—

And immediately shot up from her seat and dashed outside.