By Zephyria 
“Hoo, I’m tired…”
The eyes of the young ruler, who would soon become Emperor, were full of fatigue. Well, it was only natural, since he had to manage the funeral of his late father while dealing with the various state affairs that had been postponed since Noah Hamilton’s accidental disappearance. From the beginning, his aides had repeatedly suggested that he first resolve the pending matters, then hold the funeral, and then hold the wedding, but he paid no attention to them. The lifelong goal of ascending to the throne had long been blurred. The most important thing in Adrian Pearson’s life now was to make Noah Hamilton his own and live happily ever after.
“Has there been any news from the Hamilton mansion?”
“Here is the report.”
Even though he was so tired, it would have been better to close his eyes for a moment, but today as well, the Crown Prince carefully reviewed the reports from the people he had planted in the Hamilton mansion. Fortunately, the contents of the report were not very long or serious. Originally, he had planted people everywhere, so the reports used to be three or four times this amount… But almost all of them had been discovered as the manager of the mansion had completely transitioned from Count Hamilton to Little Count.
Now, all the Crown Prince could know about his only fiancé’s daily life inside the Hamilton mansion was superficial information such as what time he woke up, what he ate, and how he spent his time today. Usually, that alone would be enough to monitor a person, but it was far from enough for Adrian, who had been vividly reporting every move as if he were seeing it with his own eyes. But it was okay. It would only take two weeks. In two weeks, Noah Hamilton would become Noah Pearson and be right next to him.
Noah Pearson, Noah Pearson… The feeling of rolling it on the tip of his tongue was unfamiliar but quite satisfactory. Adrian chuckled softly and swallowed the whiskey that the attendant had brought him.
According to the report, everyone in the mansion had overslept today for some reason, causing quite a commotion. Noah also woke up late and only ate enough to satisfy his hunger in his room, spending his time with pastimes such as reading. The only person he met was his servant, Nicole Seymour.
The Crown Prince somehow felt a headache when he thought of Nicole Seymour. She was certainly arrogant, but that wasn’t particularly bothersome. What was truly bothersome was that Noah was overly friendly with someone who was only a servant. There was no way such a thing would happen, but occasionally, it was unpleasant when it seemed that he prioritized the servant child more than his future spouse, Adrian Pearson.
Her father, who practically led the information guild, and her mother, who was close with the Countess. She had a pretty decent background for a commoner, but it wasn’t difficult to get rid of. He was no longer an incompetent fool with no power other than the information guild.
Nevertheless, the reason he simply overlooked that offensive behavior was because he knew that the servant looked at Noah with as much, or even more, deep loyalty as Noah cherished the servant. You couldn’t deliberately create such a servant. He should rather be grateful that Noah had such a limb by his side. If it was a subordinate who showed that much loyalty… Surely, even in situations that Adrian could not have foreseen, she would risk her life for her master. It was a waste that she was disposable, but surely, she would be willing to die for Noah at least once.
“Where is the Chamberlain? It’s about time he came back.”
“Not yet. I will report as soon as he returns.”
“Alright, I understand. Hehe… He should like it.”
The Crown Prince smiled contentedly, recalling the letter he had sent to Noah through the Chamberlain. He had bought a villa in the east, where the sunset scenery was said to be so beautiful, in advance. Of course, in the name of Noah, who would become Empress.
It was difficult for the Crown Prince to leave the capital during the mourning period, so he had become even busier while organizing his schedule in advance. How long had it been since Adrian had realized true love, and how could he want to exchange words only through letters with his fiancé, whom he wouldn’t even want to hurt if he put him in his eyes? Still, he was determined to make a formal proposal before the wedding, and he was stubbornly managing his unreasonable schedule while only thinking about surprising him. However, Noah Hamilton didn’t need to know about these efforts.
Fortunately, it seemed I could clear my schedule for the entire next week. So, today, I only sent word through the Chamberlain that we would be going on a trip together next week, so he should prepare in advance. When the Chamberlain returned, I wanted to ask what Noah’s reaction was upon receiving the letter. He usually acted obedient and submissive in front of me, but Noah Hamilton had a subtly sharp side, so would he have shown his claws, wondering why a trip all of a sudden? It didn’t matter. Right now, I just… wanted to see Noah Hamilton, whom I hadn’t seen in far too long, immediately. To meet him, bury my face in his arms, and bury my nose in his delicate nape, so the stinging scent of roses would settle fragrantly on my tired nerves.
Once I thought that way, I couldn’t suppress the desire at all. It was fine if he was angry or annoyed, but I felt like I needed to see him alive and moving with my own two eyes and touch him with my own two hands to breathe.
“What happened to the ambassador from the Sachsen Kingdom?”
“He still hasn’t recovered from his severe cold and seems to need to stay in the capital a little longer.”
“Well, let him do as he pleases. Instead, reschedule the formal dinner after the ambassador has fully recovered… Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon.”
“…”
“Are you going to tell me it’s not possible?”
“…No, Your Highness. I will make it possible, even if it isn’t.”
“Good. I’m satisfied.”
Now, by the time the sun was shining brightly in the sky tomorrow, I would be able to hold that beautiful face and laze in the sunlight without a care in the world. Thinking that, the Crown Prince’s irritable brow relaxed for the first time in a while. It was right around then. A spy from the information guild burst into the office, breaking the window without so much as a knock.
“Your Highness!”
If the spy, who was desperately screaming for the Crown Prince as if spitting out blood, hadn’t been in such a high position that the Crown Prince recognized his face, it would have been impossible to even cross the walls of the Imperial Palace. He probably would have had his head chopped off as soon as he rushed near the window. It was strange. Everything had been progressing smoothly in a series of peaceful days, and even though the moon hadn’t risen, the night sky above was incredibly comforting… Adrian felt as if his heart was dropping to the very bottom the moment that familiar spy called out to him.
Because the role entrusted to that spy… was the last bastion, whom even the Chamberlain, who had taken care of and served him meticulously since birth and was truly like a parent, couldn’t be fully trusted, so he had been told to secretly watch over Noah Hamilton’s safety without telling anyone. Usually, that spy didn’t recklessly enter the Count Hamilton’s mansion. It was obvious that he would be caught in the Little Count’s net the moment he entered the mansion. So, he had been ordered to hide near the mansion and follow Noah wherever he went.
The guild master of the information guild seemed displeased, saying, “Is it really necessary to go that far?” and that it was undesirable to let such high-level personnel sit idle like this, but Adrian didn’t care. Hadn’t he already lost him once after confidently saying he would protect him? He hugged Noah Hamilton, who had miraculously come back to life, and vowed all the way up to the capital. If he could only avoid losing him, there was nothing, really nothing, he couldn’t do.
And so. Hiring a capable spy to watch over Noah Hamilton’s safety should have remained nothing more than a thorough waste, as the guild master had said until the end.
“It’s a disaster. The Chamberlain, he has betrayed you! He took His Highness and his attendant in the carriage he was riding and escaped to the outskirts of the capital. The place they arrived at was the Grachio family’s Safehouse. I tried to rush in immediately and bring the Prince out, but… what’s stopping me and guarding the inside is…”
“…”
“The elite… Royal Knights.”
The moment Adrian Pearson heard those words, it felt as if his vision was turning black. If the Royal Knights the Chamberlain had taken were the ones he had gathered and raised himself, there was no need to think twice. They were his direct subordinates, whom he had nurtured until now.
The reports coming from those he had planted in the Duke Grachio’s family had also been consistently normal, so from what point had things started to go wrong like this? He had never even imagined that they would collude with the Duke Grachio’s family. It wasn’t because he trusted their loyalty or character. It was because the resentment they held towards the Grachio family was darker and deeper than Adrian’s.
“…Summon the Magic Tower Lord. I’m leaving right now. Guide me.”
But now was not the time to despair. He bit the inside of his cheek painfully and gave the order. There was someone he had to save. All he had to focus on now was that.