.jpg)
Cerden, who appeared carrying Evelyn, dismissed all the servants from the Crown Princess's palace.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince! We have served Your Highness since she was a child! We will serve her with all our hearts!"
Cherryna and Rosie prostrated themselves on the floor. In truth, they never imagined something like this would happen to Evelyn.
Of course.
They were in a position to leech off this palace because of Evelyn. If Evelyn disappeared, their usefulness would vanish.
So, Evelyn getting hurt was not what they wanted either.
Cerden coldly stared at the two people prostrating on the floor.
They too, must be factors that cause Evelyn pain. Damn it, he was displeased with everything.
Of course, he knew he couldn't completely kick out Cherryna and Rosie. They were Duke Spelman's people.
If he got rid of them, another alternative would come. He knew they were better than that.
But he didn't want to see them right now.
Cerden issued a chilling command.
"Drag them out."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Cherryna and Rosie burst into tears, but they couldn't overcome the knights. Mortega looked at Cerden with a nervous face.
"From now on, strengthen the security of the Crown Princess's palace. Do not release the security until Evelyn wakes up and regains her health."
"……Lady Rozalina is requesting an audience."
He recalled the woman who had been hanging around all day.
"She's asking to attend to her, should we allow it?"
She was a woman who craned her neck to make eye contact with Cerden even once. If Rozalina hadn't left Evelyn alone, would anyone have dared to think of doing something like this?
Cerden stared at Evelyn, who was lying on the bed and still breathing shallowly.
Her tear-stained little face was pitiful.
'No, no. You're not the kind of person who would give up with just that.'
She would have somehow gotten rid of Rozalina and achieved what she wanted.
Then, is Rozalina helpful?
That woman would also act as a stress factor for Evelyn right now. Of course, she would think of her as Cerden's spy.
Besides, there's no way a woman whose intentions are so clear would be truly helpful.
"Lady Rozalina is dismissed from this moment on."
"Yes?"
Mortega asked back with a surprised face, then covered his mouth.
"Why. Are you going to rebel against me this time too?"
"No, Your Highness! I was just wondering... Do you think Lady Rozalina was involved in this incident?"
Mortega's voice was only cautious.
"Neglecting her is enough to be considered dereliction of duty. Since she doesn't know how to serve her superior, it's right for her to quit."
Cerden said calmly.
Mortega stroked his chest. Fortunately, it didn't seem like he thought Rozalina was involved in the current incident.
"……But wasn't Lady Rozalina assigned as a monitor?"
"She didn't even do that role properly. She didn't notice that Evelyn had disappeared. Tell the Lady that she doesn't need to bother with unnecessary things in the future."
Mortega bit his lip tightly. He still thought Rozalina was suitable for the position of Crown Princess. Right now, Cerden's eyes were just clouded by pity.
He felt like he had to soothe Rozalina's heart well and send her back.
"I will not accept any more questions. Go out, send that woman back, and urge the healer."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The door closed. Only Cerden and Evelyn were left in the room.
The palace, from which everyone had been driven out, was quiet. What Evelyn needed might be this silence and solitude.
Evelyn must have been desperately trying to hide herself every moment.
Cerden slowly stroked Evelyn's hair.
The cold hair that wrapped around his fingers was eerie.
"……Why did you do that."
Cerden asked in a cracked voice. Of course, there was no answer.
"You should have just pretended not to know and stayed still. Why do you always……."
Cerden moved his lips. All sorts of emotions were swirling like a typhoon in his blue eyes.
He didn't know what to do.
Cerden's life had always been a series of hardships and chaos. But the most difficult thing was Evelyn.
He couldn't define her as an ally, but she wasn't an enemy either.
He had no idea what Evelyn was doing all this for. But he couldn't ask.
Cerden bent down and slowly exhaled.
His body trembled. When he first found out that Evelyn had disappeared, and when she was carried out in Duke Spelman's arms.
He admitted it.
He was terrified.
He was in fear that he might lose Evelyn.
"Ha."
Cerden let out a hollow laugh.
Yes, he was the stupid one. He hadn't known anything until now.
Evelyn's struggle had reached Cerden enough.
The traces she left in his heart were not erased and still remained. Cerden's eyes shone.
Now was the time to make a decision. He couldn't maintain this collusive relationship forever. Either become one side, or completely push her away.
The healer arrived.
The bedroom door opened and the healer who came in bowed his head. Knights were standing guard behind him.
Cerden gestured.
He got up from his seat and the healer carefully walked over and sat next to Evelyn.
Cerden stood by the door and glanced at the healer examining Evelyn.
He was uneasy when she was out of his sight.
Cerden sighed and called his chief aide. He had been by his side for three years.
That meant Duke Roger also knew the man's face.
"You go to Duke Roger's residence right now and meet Duke Roger. And politely ask for Duchess Roger. I need someone to take care of Evelyn for a while."
There was no one he could trust.
There was no one to put by Evelyn's side. That was the biggest problem right now. Still, how fortunate it was to have someone to rely on in times like this.
"I will be back."
The chief aide left the scene. Ria was smart, so she would understand his intentions. It was clear that the servants he could trust would come with her.
Cerden turned his cold gaze to another person.
"You go to Oliver Hall. Secure the director of the Natural History Museum at Oliver Hall. I don't know what Augustine will do, so you have to get him before that. Take five knights with you. You can get help from our people there. And ferret out those who have been to Oliver Hall and arrest all those who are not our people. Escort Augustine with the utmost respect. You can send the rest of the guests back."
"Yes, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"
Cerden rubbed his dry eyes. The knights who received the order left their seats.
It was the moment Cerden took a breath. A servant ran up.
He was one of the people Cerden had planted in Oliver Hall.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"
Cerden's gaze turned.
"Empress has collapsed!"
Cerden chuckled. She was a weak-hearted person, so it was understandable. It wasn't surprising. If she had been someone who could rely on and ask for help when something like this happened, she wouldn't have been manipulated by Duke Spelman.
When Cerden was only 13 years old.
When he was first pushed onto the battlefield.
The Empress saw Cerden off with tears. Even back then, she was someone who couldn't protect her child.
Would it be any different now?
"Escort Empress out first. Veronica can take care of her."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Also, deploy people around the Empress's palace."
Those who received the order bowed their heads. He had to protect her this time too.
Because he was her son.
.jpg)