Chapter 5

THEODORE CONFRONTED HIS BROTHERin a modest room on the outskirts of the capital.

The crown prince sat in a chair, chin propped on one hand. Theodore read no emotion in his face, but he still appeared to be in a bad mood.

“I’m so happy you came all the way here to see me,” Theodore welcomed his brother. Arnold said nothing.

Theodore did not allow this to dampen his high spirits. “And without any guards too! Such a delight, considering how you always ignore my invitations. How long has it been since we last sat down to talk like this? This might be the first time ever!” Theodore cackled loudly, and then his face twisted into a grimace. “I guess that means you must be doing this for her sake.”

Even saying the words made a hot pulse of rage streak through his chest.

Finally, Arnold spoke. “You’re wasting my time. Get on with it already.”

“Rude. Shouldn’t you be showing me some brotherly love?”

“Why would I do that? I have no reason to speak to you.”

Theodore tutted. “Don’t you understand you’re in no position to argue? I’ve abducted your favorite woman. I was expecting at least a smidgen of panic. Or don’t you care about her at all?”

He knew the answer, but he said it anyway. Anything to provoke his brother.

When I learned of his betrothal, I thought it a farce. That he’d done it on Father’s orders.

The emperor had been pushing his son toward a political marriage for months, ordering him to bring home a foreign princess. All royal marriages were coordinated political moves; Theodore’s late mother had been the princess of a once-thriving nation brought under Galkhein’s rule.

When word of Arnold journeying home with some random woman spread, Theodore naturally assumed the crown prince was just following orders. He’d begun to rethink that, however, when a messenger arrived ahead of Arnold’s return with orders for a cadre of maids to serve his fiancée.

Theodore took that opportunity to sneak Elsie in among the potential servants, learning that his brother planned to prepare the detached palace for his bride and move in with her when all was ready. This was not a man who was marrying a woman in name only.

I’m jealous of her. Of course I am.

He’d never received a moment of kindness from his brother. Arnold had even gone so far as to order Theodore to stay away from his bride, not even allowing him to greet her. When Theodore heard that she’d been allotted an herb garden, he’d wanted to trample it to death. He restrained his childish envy and managed to just take a nap instead.

He could use her. And he had. Finally, Arnold was here. Arnold was speaking to him.

“What you’re doing is pointless,” Arnold declared, his expression oddly cool for a man whose fiancée had been taken prisoner.

“Pointless?” Theodore snickered. “I know you view me as a stranger with no strategic value. But now you must acknowledge at least this: that I can hurt you.”

He copied his brother’s posture, propping up his chin in a mirror image. “As you well know, what I want is your throne—the seat of the crown prince.”

Had his brother guessed that this was his price? Or was Theodore so irrelevant in his eyes he hadn’t even bothered to wonder at his motives? Arnold’s face revealed nothing.

He glared at me so coldly that night at the chapel. Why won’t he do it again?

Arnold wouldn’t give a damn about a challenge to his succession. Rishe was his only weakness, and Theodore held her life in his hands. He stood up, continuing his threats. “Are you listening? If you want your bride returned to you unharmed, you’ll abdicate in my favor. Otherwise, I can’t promise you her continued well-being.”

He was met with silence.

“You care about her. You’re playing it cool, but I know you’re terrified.”

Theodore took a single step toward him.

“She means a lot to you, doesn’t she? Far more than the brother you loathe the sight of and the sisters you sent away! You cherish her, and you want her by your side. I completely understand that. I know you—I’ve been watching you for a long time.”

Another step. Theodore was inching closer than his brother had ever allowed him.

“And right now, the life of the woman you care so much about is in my hands. You’re very worried, aren’t you? You must be on pins and needles! The fact that you came here so late at night without an escort is proof of that!”

His vision wavered. He felt almost lightheaded as he stood over his brother, voice rising to a screech.

“C’mon, say something already! Admit I won this round! Say ‘well played, Theodore’ and give me your title!” Theodore smacked a hand against his chest. “That’s all I need! Give me this, and I’ll be happy for the rest of my life!”

A long silence hung between them. Then his brother finally said, “Theodore.”

Theodore was overjoyed to hear his brother say his name, butstillthere was nothing on his face. No fury or contempt—not even mild dislike.

Why not?

Arnold smiled slowly, leisurely, like he had all the time in the world. Certainly not like he felt threatened. “Very well, I’ll play along for the moment. You claim that you’ve locked her up somewhere. Tell me, is it a prison?”

“What?” Theodore snapped, annoyed. He wasn’t that stupid; he hadn’t put her in somewhere as mundane as a prison. The city prisons were under the jurisdiction of the knights—surely Arnold would have searched them all.

His brother already knew the answer, so why was he bothering to ask? Theodore replied snidely, “I put her in a cramped, dirty room. She won’t escape. It’s basically an isolated cell, locked from the outside.”

“My, so youlockedit,” Arnold said. “What else?”

“I posted some ruffians to guard her. They’re armed. Her room is up high, so she can’t jump out of the window. If she tries to scream for help, the guards will silence her in an instant.”

“Oh, there’s even a window?”

Arnold’s arched tone just wound Theodore up further. “Did you hear a word I said? There’s no way she can jump from a window that high!”

“Is that what you think?”

“Yeah, it is. And even if she did somehow manage to get out, my guards will capture her.” He couldn’t believe he had to explain this; it was so obvious. Nevertheless, his brother showed no sign of losing his composure.

“Normally, I’d agree with you.”

What the heck was he talking about? Theodore’s irritation was beginning to shade over into anxiety. What if he’d made a miscalculation when choosing her as his hostage?

No way. It can’t be.

Theodore knew he’d interpreted his brother’s feelings correctly. Hedidcare about Rishe—it was plain as day in his gaze when he looked at her.So why wasn’t he angry? Why wasn’t he looking at Theodore with hatred and showering him with scathing words?

“Maybe I’ll…cut off a finger,” Theodore mused. “Show you I mean business. It’s not too late for that, you know. The guards will hurt her on my command, I promise you that.”

“My foolish little brother.” Arnold smiled with disdain.

Theodore had just thrown everything he could to make Arnold react, but this wasn’t what he wanted. His brother was looking at him with pitying contempt for his foolishness, not because the capture of his bride had left him helpless.

“You already lost, Theodore. The second you thought you’d captured her, you’d already lost.”

“What?”

Arnold glanced at the door. “See? She’s decided to join us.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? You’re being absolutely ludicr—”

The door flew open with a bang. Theodore let out a shout. That door was locked. He was sure of it. Nevertheless, it was standing open.

“No. No, that’s impossible.”

In the threshold stood a girl with coral-colored hair. She had a dagger in her hand and was spreading out the ragged skirts of her dress.

His brother’s fiancée—the beautiful Rishe—looked at him, smiled, and hooked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Good evening, Prince Theodore. I’m here to settle this.”

Theodore shrank back. “This can’t be happening!”

Don’t tell me Elsie was moved by her kindness?! But that still doesn’t make sense. I put Hugo and his men at the door. They would never betray me, or allow Elsie to either!

Rishe ignored his sputtering, her gaze shifting to the right. “Prince Arnold.”

It was almost awkward, the way she said his name. A furtiveness to her expression. Theodore knew these two hadn’t seen one another since that night in the chapel. He didn’t know what had happened between them, but Arnold was regarding her coolly.

“I’m sorry for my idiot brother ruining your night,” he said.

“Oh, it’s all right.”

“Theodore was just telling me about the room where he locked you up. Did you jump out the window? Or just make a hole in the wall?”

“I have no idea what you mean! I left through the door like any normal person would.”

Arnold laughed. “You left like ‘any normal person’ would leave a locked cell watched by armed guards.”

Rishe looked troubled but less nervous than before. Not that any of that mattered to Theodore.

“Who the hell are you?!” He clenched his fists. “How did you get here? How did you escape?!”

“Prince Theodo—”

“Someone must have betrayed me. That’s the only explanation! What was the point of doing all that if—”

“Your Highness. With all due respect, I’d love to offer you a few words of advice.” Rishe’s face had gone cold.

Theodore flinched away at her intensity. He couldn’t help it, even if she was only an ignorant noblewoman—someone the same age as him. “Advice?”

“First of all.” Rishe put up a finger. “Don’t let a prisoner of war out of your sight. You mustn’t leave them alone, even in a locked room. If you can’t be there yourself, post guards inside the room with them. At least two.”

“Wh-what are you talking about? Prisoners of war?” he blurted. A normal noblewoman would never say something like this. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Second.” Rishe raised another finger. “Always search your captive for weapons more than once. If you have an underling frisk a prisoner, you should do the final check yourself.”

Rishe moved toward him, nonchalant, crowding Theodore up against the wall. She flipped her dagger from hand to hand. Where had she even gotten that?

“Honestly, you shouldn’t leave them clothed—strip them completely. That way they won’t be able to hide any weapons or tools to aid their escape. This is especially important if the prisoner is a woman. If she’s indecent, she’ll feel she can’t run away, and she’ll be afraid to try.” The words fell from her red lips with a casual air, as if this was only common sense.

She then held up three fingers. “Third. You neglected to bind my hands and feet. When youdobind a prisoner, make sure they’re in handcuffs and that the base of their thumbs is tied off with a durable rope. As for their ankles—I imagine this goes without saying, but it’s best to fasten them to a pillar or a bed, something solid.”

Her long-lashed eyes pierced Theodore. Her face was as pretty as a doll’s but alight with something fierce and fearsome. He couldn’t look away.

“But even with all of that, it’s still half-hearted. Do you know how best to ensure someone can’t run away?” Rishe leaned in.

“H-how?”

“You break their arms and legs.”

Theodore swallowed hard. Was she serious? His back hit the wall, Rishe leaning in close as she said matter-of-factly, “Those three actions are a sure thing. Broken bones, secure bonds, everything confiscated. Oh! And always post guards in groups. That’s the only way to guarantee your prisoner won’t escape you. Or…probably won’t. You have to prepare for any eventuality.”

What in the world is wrong with this girl?!

Theodore recognized the look in her eyes. He would never forget it. He’d seen it in the eyes of wounded soldiers when he’d treated their injuries on the front lines.

“Escaped enemies will have information about your position and the makeup of your army. They will endanger you and your allies. Civilians. You must always do what is necessary to ensure a captive can’t slip your grasp.”

Oh, wait. I was wrong.

She had the eyes of a solider standing on the battlefield, sword in hand. Just as he was sure of it, Rishe asserted, “That is what is required when you capture an enemy.”

A chill ran down Theodore’s spine.

Rishe, who had no idea what she was doing to him, smiled bashfully. “At least, that’s how I learned it from a book. You went too easy on me, considering you were trying to threaten Arnold with my well-being. You even told them not to be rough with me.”

“How—”

“I know, I know, I’m talking too much. But I still haven’t told you the most important thing. I will be keeping how I escaped a secret—oh!”

A big hand grabbed Rishe by the shoulder, pulling her backward. Behind her stood Theodore’s brother, looking consternated.

Rishe looked up at him. “Your Highness?”

“Why are you giving the person who captured you a flawless method of keeping someone restrained?” Arnold asked as he draped his jacket over Rishe’s shoulders.

That was when Theodore noticed that her dress wasn’t just ragged—it was torn all the way from waist to hem.

Rishe looked flustered. “Your Highness! You mustn’t! I’m fine; please keep your jacket on.”

“I’m not cold. You wear it.”

“But your scars…”

Before Rishe even spoke, Theodore’s gaze had locked on Arnold’s shoulders.

What are those wounds?On Arnold’s body were countless scars. They were old, but he could tell they had been deep.When was he injured? I had no idea that happened to him. He must have been hiding it. Butsheknew.

That was when Theodore understood.She really is better than me.He clenched his teeth.He doesn’t tell me his secrets. He doesn’t trust me. I know that, and yet…I can’t help how I feel.

He thought back to several years ago, when Galkhein was still at war. Theodore signed up as a battlefield medic, working at a first-aid station where the injured were transported. By mutual agreement of both sides, it was designated as a safe zone.

Someone attacked anyway. They were brigands, rather than soldiers. They’d looked feverish, intent—rendered destitute by the war. They’d shouted at the medics to hand over their medical supplies, valuables, and food, menacing them with blades.

Those who could flee did so, leaving the ruffians to target the most severely wounded. Theodore had tried to run as well, but then he’d realized something. He recognized their attackers: they were men from the slums. The realization rooted him to the spot, and then he’d reflexively run to them.

Theodore had grown up ignored by his father and constantly compared to his prodigy brother. He knew these people. They’d smiled at him as he went about his charity work, the way his father never had. They’d worried for him in place of his late mother. They were dear to him. He refused to fight.

He might be injured. He might even lose his life. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the moment he’d feared never came. Instead, he had heard a hoarse scream.

When Theodore opened his eyes, he saw his brother, back to him, wielding his sword.

Brother…?He forced the word out around the fear.

His brother slowly turned. A crimson arc was painted across his face, arterial spray from the man whose throat he’d cut. Red droplets dripped down to the ground. The crown prince’s expression didn’t change as he surveyed the bodies at his feet. He wiped at the blood on his face with a cuff, careless.

For a moment, Theodore was sure his brother would kill him as well. After all, he could count on one hand the number of times they’d spoken in living memory. His beautiful, terrifying brother. The stranger.

Theodore knew of Arnold’s achievements on the field, and of his cruel nature that didn’t bother to distinguish between friend or foe. He was paralyzed with fear.

But after a moment, his brother withdrew his icy gaze and said, “You did well.”

Huh?Theodore was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what his brother could mean.

Arnold didn’t meet his eyes. “Despite your trembling, you were right to protect our subjects. It’s hardly a royal’s job, but an admirable deed as a lord, nonetheless.”

Theodore was at a loss for words.

“Next time, don’t risk your own life,”Arnold said gently. “But you should be proud of how quickly you acted.”

Arnold had been watching him. He had been watching Theodore, the child who couldn’t wield a sword and could only assist in the camp. It made him indescribably happy to know this.

Back in the present, Theodore glared at Rishe, who wore his brother’s black jacket on top of her dress.I adore my brother. And that’s why I cannot permit this. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but if I must…I don’t care. I’ll die. I’ll die if it will hurt him. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her and then my brother will hate me—

“Trying to kill me would be an exercise in futility,” Rishe said.

He flinched. Was she reading his mind? Under normal circumstances, he could have hidden his disquiet, but his mind felt storm-tossed. Her manipulations had left him utterly lost.

“I know I said I was here to settle this, but I’m not going to fight you,” she added. “I entreat you to tell me your goal.”

Theodore scowled. “Isn’t it obvious? I want to be the next emperor. Why else do princes fight?”

Rishe shook her head. “I don’t think that’s true. I beg you to take this chance to explain yourself to us both.”

He would never tell her. He refused to tell her. However, Theodore’s determination was immediately overruled.

“Your true objective is to wear the stigma of a heinous criminal,” Rishe guessed. “You want people to believe you a usurper. You don’t actually want the throne.”

Arnold frowned. Theodore was even more surprised.How does she know?He nearly blurted the question out loud, but he didn’t dare let his brother hear it.

“What are you talking about?” he snapped. “Nobody commits crimes simply to become a criminal.”

“Well, I suppose calling it your ‘true’ objective is misleading. But let’s assume your goal is what happens after you are named an enemy of the state.” It had to be just a random guess, but Rishe sounded so sure of herself. “I couldn’t figure it out for the longest time. Why would you go after me of all people? But this theory explains that, and everything else.”

“How? I told you already—I did it to hurt my brother.” Theodore forced a smile. “You’re just dismissed as a hostage inside the palace, but the nation will celebrate you as the crown prince’s bride. And my brother’s reputation would be ruined if he failed to protect you.” Theodore didn’t dare look at Arnold; he couldn’t risk him seeing how shaken he was. “You were far more useful than I could ever have predicted. That’s why I chose now to make my move. I was going to threaten Arnold with your safety and force him to give up his line in the succession!”

“To outsiders, my only value is that I’m the crown prince’s fiancée. His position matters, and nothing more.”

“I suppose.”

“You didn’t possibly think it would work, did you?” Rishe asked. “Using me as a means to force His Highness to hand over his title?”

Her words were humble, but Rishe stood confidently. It didn’t seem to bother her at all that other people saw her as worthless.

“I can say definitively that there was very little value in having me abducted. You’re not stupid. Why did you bother? Was it just to annoy everyone?”

“No,” Theodore said, averting his eyes from Rishe.

“You’ve had next to no official duties as the second prince for the past few years, is that right?”

Rishe was right, much as he wanted to scoff. Theodore had resigned from his professional duties as an imperial prince. Everyone in the palace knew itandthat it was by his own choice. His every action was to cultivate a wild and uncontrolled persona so that when people spoke of him, they would say, “There goes the second prince, gallivanting around and sleeping in weird places again!”

“I’ve had a look at the records. You stopped doing charity work in the slums two years ago. You’ve been going there to help out since you were very young. Why stop?”

Theodore shrugged. “I lost interest in it. Charity work is boring. I’d rather nap or do anything else.”

“Another lie,” said Rishe. “You haven’t ever stopped. I saw no traces of public funds being moved—I assume you’ve used your own.”

How many records did she read?!

To a certain extent, records were available to the public in the palace library. They contained what could be called history books at this point, all the way to very recent public finances. Anyone who worked in the palace could read them. But they only listed superficial information. Perhaps one could draw the conclusions Rishe had through careful scrutiny, but not if you didn’t know what you were looking for.

Just who in the world is this woman?!

Rishe continued, “You’ve made every effort to support the people of the slums; you are on very amicable terms. Why, I hear you even took care of an orphan while they were sick—never leaving their side for a moment, holding their hand. Once, you arranged a doctor for a woman who had no one to support her during childbirth, staying with her to offer words of encouragement. You nap all day because you are out all night.”

It almost sounded like she had seen him do this for herself.

Theodore started laughing. “Ha ha ha! You make me out to be quite the saint. But service works both ways—I helped them so they would help me.”

“Those thugs did indeed seem to be under your control.”

“They’re willing to do anything—anything—for money. I courted them to use them, that’s it!”

“They’re under your protection, then,” said Rishe. “You take the criminally desperate under your wing so they’ll have food to eat tomorrow. Am I getting that right?”

Theodore made a strangled noise in his throat.

Rishe continued to gaze at him. “You have affection for the people in the slums. You wish to save them, but you know you lack the power. What I don’t understand is why you feel like you have to do it under the table. Why shirk your duties?”

“Because.” Theodore’s voice stuck. His heart was beating painfully. His brother’s gaze scared him—was Arnold becoming aware of his plot? Theodore couldn’t bear to look at him.

“I don’t think you want to a be a prince,” Rishe went on. “I think you’d prefer to abdicate. Or rather…force yourself from the succession with a desperate plot to kill your brother’s fiancée.”

“As if. I just want what’s his.”

“If that were true, you’d go after Prince Arnold directly, not through me. You must have had countless chances before I arrived.” Theodore sucked in a breath. Rishe ignored him. “But you never tried to hurt him, did you? I believe that everything you do, every choice you make, is for your brother’s sak—”

“No.” The ground seemed to writhe and contort beneath his feet. His heart pounded in his chest, dizziness crowding his mind. Theodore screamed, the world bucking under him. “That’s not true! No, no, no, you’re wrong! Why do you keep talking?!”

All Theodore could do was deny everything she said. He didn’t care if Arnold was here—he couldn’t let her be right. “Fine, if you have to know! I want my brother to hate me! I want him to shun me, to loathe me, to get rid of me! If he can’t accept me like he’s accepted you, then I’d rather just die!”

“Prince Theodore.”

“When he looks at me in anger, I’m so happy. I delight in his disdain! That’s why I did this. That’s all!”

“Your Highness.”

“Shut up!”

Rishe’s voice was repulsively gentle. “What are you afraid of?”

What kind of question is that? It’s like she thinks she’s on my side.

Rishe was looking at him in puzzlement, brows pinched. Slowly, she said, “Perhaps you and I fear the same future.”

He couldn’t imagine this woman fearing anything. “What?”

“Rishe.”

Theodore stiffened at the sound of his brother’s voice.

“That’s enough. Don’t say anything else.”

“But Your Highness—”

“I told you not to speak to him,” Arnold said.

A bead of sweat ran down Theodore’s neck. Nerves crowded his throat, and stinging pain writhed in his chest.

“Your Highness, wait,” Rishe said urgently. “I need to understand.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’ll just lie to you.” Theodore winced at the apathy in Arnold’s voice, though it didn’t come as a surprise.

Did she truly work it all out?

He was paralyzed, his brother’s voice driving in the knife and twisting. “I don’t care what he wants—it doesn’t concern me.”

Theodore made a choked noise and bolted for the door.