Chapter 2
We returned to the hotel, sharing light-hearted banter along the way. While Valentina left to handle my errands, I headed toward the casino.
Upon entering the casino's entrance, adorned with vibrant artificial plants crafted from colored glass, paper flowers, and marbled animal sculptures, I felt as if I had stepped into another realm.
Most likely, the majority of the visitors were in the same mindset as I was.
People dressed to the nines under the dazzling, flashy lights, enjoying drinks and cigarettes while liberally spending money, created a scene that seemed enveloped in diamonds and roses.
The concept of moderation and reality seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by the resounding laughter, hushed murmurs, and the cacophony of the roulette wheel.
I strolled through the entrance, exchanging pleasantries with the vigilant guards stationed all around, and then made my way to a card game table brimming with lively energy.
How many times today had individuals dashed to the window of the Python Bank to borrow funds for stakes...
"I was contemplating whether to join in or not, and I almost became embroiled in that ruined game. But I'm relieved I joined."
Hearing the voice from behind me, I paused, turning to face the speaker. I had wondered if you'd be here.
"It appears you're on your way to becoming our casino's most prominent patron, Your Highness. How's your day been?"
"If I tell you I've been ousted from the game yet again, will you extend me another loan?"
"Well..."
"Don't worry, I'm here to repay you. But only half, because I've just squandered the rest at the roulette table."
Is that so? I turned my head slightly to look upwards, and Knoxus's face, unusually solemn, met my gaze.
His deep purple eyes briefly traversed my expression with almost imperceptible speed, analyzing every nuance.
"These blinding lights are giving me a headache. Let's take a stroll. Your office is bound to have prying eyes."
Our destination didn't matter, so I didn't bother contesting. After a while, we exited through the casino's rear entrance and ventured into the lavender-scented maze.
"Speaking of which, you disappeared during the Hunting Festival..."
"Ah, it wasn't amusing at all. As soon as I stepped out, a series of exciting incidents unfolded."
Knoxus must have learned of those two events long before. Which one would he be more concerned about?
"Mishaps during hunts are common."
"Perhaps when compared to drowning incidents. You appear to be the epicenter of commotion each time."
Wasn't the first incident your doing, you rascal? I chuckled awkwardly, feigning interest in the observatory where a basalt artificial waterfall cascaded.
"I didn't intend for it to happen."
"At any rate, I'm relieved to see you safe. It's a shame I missed witnessing the father-daughter duo being transported within half a day. Although that tale didn't garner much attention, it's far more intriguing than the story of a younger brother gouging out his elder brother's eye."
"… Aren't you here to repay your debt, Your Highness?"
As I mumbled, his fingers were seemingly fidgeting with his hair, and a sense of unease seemed to cloud his demeanor.
"Even now, I feel somewhat restless around you. Does that narrative bother you?"
"It's not so much that it's bothersome... It's just that it’s not a pleasant tale."
"Is that so? Well, he did seem incredibly possessive, bordering on obsession. Isn't that right?"
His interpretation of events in that manner was evidence that he knew nothing about us. I hadn't expected him to know us well, though.
A strange feeling of incongruity surged within me as I laughed at his words. Did he even realize who he was dealing with and allying himself with?
What if he discovers that he's entwined with the very individuals who orchestrated my mother's demise...
"You shouldn't speak of it like that..."
"Am I mistaken? Are you concerned that someone might overhear?"
"… It's not that. It's just that… you weren't there. The circumstances were somewhat different."
"Juan claimed that he almost killed her. If you're not frightened, why do you appear so agitated?"
Indeed, his siscon friend had told him about the matter quite curiously. I had anticipated as much, but no matter how you see it, their friendship was quite conflicting.
"I recognize that Prince Parke doesn't see eye to eye with my superiors. Especially after his altercation with the Duke last time..."
"Regarding their absurd squabble? He's infamous for his drinking and temper. Nevertheless, the real threat is his younger brother. Aren't you aware of what occurred last year? I'd assume at least one twisted individual would have informed you."
This time, he hit the nail on the head, but I shook my head and shifted the conversation.
"I'm not one to indulge in speculative rumors, Your Highness. I've known Prince Serpente since I was young... He's a good person, just like the Duke."
Knoxus sneered. It wasn't a genuine smile; it was the kind of smile you wear when you've just heard nonsense that you can barely tolerate.
"If he's a good person, then we must all be saints."
"Then, like that..."
"Okay, all right. I understand. But why do you, who works for such good people, look so downcast?"
"It's just that it hasn't been long since their death anniversaries."
That was true. My mother's anniversary. And the deaths of Benya and Lethias' parents.
It was a significant day that came around cyclically, but we couldn't visit the graves of those we missed. We all felt the same way.
We still couldn't.
I hadn't even had the chance to visit Estelle's grave. When all of this was over, then I would be able to face them all.
Knoxus gazed at my face for a moment, then spoke in a softer tone.
"Right. Even your mother..."
"Yes. During the outbreak... I apologize. It must have been a while since His Highness went for her death anniversary as well..."
"Your experience must have been quite tumultuous. The plague doesn't discriminate. Your mother must have been a good person."
She was. Not just my mother, but the late Duke and Duchess as well. Even though it wasn't the plague that took them...
"Her Imperial Majesty the Empress too... I heard she was a good person."
"My mother? Well, I can't be entirely sure. It might be true for some people."
My ears pricked at the unexpected edge in his voice. As I widened my eyes, Knoxus offered a twisted smile and shared something spontaneous.
"And perhaps for my elder brother? For someone who was once a free-spirited Fzeian young lady, the imperial court must have felt stifling. She didn't do it out of desire."
"But, Your Highness..."
"It's widely known that he loves his wife so intensely that he'd never consider having another. That's true. But my mother just couldn't. Her son, who bore a striking resemblance to her husband, was discarded at birth, and she didn't even cast a glance at him. On the other hand, she showered her eldest son, who looks so much like her except for his eyes, with all sorts of affection."
The remarkable beauty of the Crown Prince likely owed a great deal to his mother. I felt like I was vaguely grasping at the roots of the discord between the two brothers.
If, in the original story, the reason Knoxus pursued his brother's lover was...
"You must have felt sorrow when she passed away..."
"I suppose it was something like that. What a damn year it's been."
It was truly a wretched year. For all of us.
I waited for a moment and then carefully spoke up, pretending to scan our surroundings.
"Well, Your Highness... I apologize, but I must take my leave..."
"Running away again?"
"It's not about me running away..."
"I came to repay you, after all. Aren't you interested in collecting it?"
He slowly opened his eyes and stepped closer to me. Instinctively, I took a step back.
"I can retrieve it later. Today..."
"Speaking of which, the girl who clung to you like a parasite is nowhere to be seen today. Or is it perhaps her return time from some excursion?"
"Please, don't do this."
As I whispered with a trembling voice, his purple eyes flickered.
As I lowered my head and started to walk past him, his hand swiftly caught my arm, causing me to shudder and my handbag to slip from my hand and fall to the ground.
"Oh, my goodness. I apologize, Your Highness. I didn't mean to do that..."
While I stood there, flustered and apologizing for instinctively shaking off the Prince's hand, Knoxus appeared not to pay much attention to my words.
No, it wasn't like he was paying attention to the situation at all. His gaze seemed frozen as if it was glued to a spot just near our feet.
More precisely, his eyes were locked on the contents that had spilled out of my velvet handbag.
There was nothing particularly remarkable as it is just the following – my compact powder, lipsticks, pens, and memo pads... and the small vial containing dried immunity fruit.
Knoxus slowly bent down, picking up the vial. He held it in his palm for what felt like an eternity, examining it from various angles.
It was as if he wasn't trying to identify it, but rather struggling to accept what his eyes were seeing.
You must know about it, don't you?
Finally, he looked away from the vial and turned his gaze toward me. His eyes were so chillingly cold that it was difficult to put it into words.
"You..."
"..."
"Do you know what this is?"
I bit my lower lip and lowered my gaze.
"You're aware that I was nearly poisoned. I don't know if this really works, but if such an incident were to happen again..."
"Is that all? Why are you consuming this?"
Exactly. You, the one who attempted to poison me, seem to be forming a different misunderstanding now. The sequence of coincidences like this is quite amusing between us.
"For how long have you been using this?"
"Why does that matter?"
"What do you mean why does it matter? I've been agonizing because of you. Do you realize how harmful this is to your body?"
This is akin to a cat being concerned about a mouse. It's akin to consuming poison, so how could it be good? Valentina also cautioned me not to use it for more than three weeks.
A silence hung between us for a while. During this prolonged silence, Knoxus was practically glaring at me as if he was trying to dissect me.
Or, rather than glaring at me, he seemed more like he was wrestling with his emotions against someone who wasn't here.
His purple eyes darkened, and the look of him simmering with anger was truly intimidating.
After a while, he finally released a groan.
"Heh... I had my suspicions, but I didn't anticipate it to be this severe."
"Please give it back to me."
"Why? Will you be in trouble if this is gone again?"
"Your Highness..."
"I don't know if I have any reason left to not kill that bastard."
It's not that you don't know; perhaps you simply can't. Suppressing a laugh, I shook my head.
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