Chapter 27: The Past — After She Was Gone (2)

Beneath a sky of unbroken blue.
In a wide garden cleared of anything flammable, a single figure stood burning something.

He tore open luxurious wrapping paper, seized a carefully wrapped blue-silver dress, and threw it into the roaring flames.
Fed with fresh fuel, the fire surged higher.
Ruby-red eyes stared intently at what had once been a dress as it blackened and burned.
When the dress was reduced to ash, the wrapping paper followed it into the fire.

“Lord Cain.”

Cain turned his ruby-red eyes toward Ryun, the attendant who had come to call him.
What emotions lay within those eyes was something even Ryun, who had served Cain for many years, could not read.

“Lady Elvira wishes to speak with you.”
“There is nothing more for me to say to her.
Tell her instead to focus on the education she needs to become Crown Princess.”
“I did say that, but she insists, ‘I won’t return to my room until I can speak with my brother!’
She won’t listen.”
“Then tell her this.
Unlike Fana, Elvira has no time at all.
Not a single minute or second to waste.”
“If you were to say so directly, Lord Cain, I believe Lady Elvira would understand—”
“……Ryun.
I don’t want to see Elvira’s face anymore.
If I do, I don’t know what I might say.”
“……There is one difficult matter I must report.
Her Ladyship also says she wants you to come to her at once.”
“My mother is the same.”

The wrapping paper finished burning away.

At Cain’s feet lay numerous unopened gifts.
He reached for a large box, untied the ribbon, tore away the paper, and lifted the lid.
Inside was a lovely dress adorned with frills, incorporating the colors of spring.
Without hesitation, he threw it into the flames as well.

“Oh, Ryun.
Later, call the head maid.
Have all the jewelry that can’t be burned given to Elvira.
Say it’s a congratulatory gift for her marriage into the royal family.”
“……Is that truly all right?”
“Elvira won’t notice.
No—no one will notice.”

The box that had held the dress he just burned was tossed into the fire as well.
Ryun clenched his fists, angered by his own helplessness as he watched Cain stare into the flames, suppressing emotions of regret and sorrow.

“Lord Cain!”

Rushing over in a fluster was Linsu.
Once Faustina’s personal maid, she had now been reassigned to serve Cain.

“What is it?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—”

Cain let out a sigh.

“If it’s Elvira, tell him she’s in her room.”
“No…
His Highness says he wishes to speak with you.”
“……I have nothing to say.
Ryun, take Linsu with you and escort His Highness to Elvira.”

Cain lifted a small pouch and dropped it into the flames.
Ryun nodded at Cain’s instructions and turned on his heel with Linsu—

“I do.”

Bernhard, the Crown Prince, stood there, having followed after Linsu.
When Cain shifted his gaze from the fire to Bernhard, his eyes were filled with dark emotions akin to murderous intent—emotions that should never be directed at royalty.
Though the hostility was not aimed at them, Linsu and Ryun felt their spines freeze, while Bernhard met it head-on with equally sharp lapis-blue eyes.
When he noticed the burning flames and the gifts scattered at Cain’s feet, that severity only deepened.

“……Those presents are—”
“That is no longer any of your concern.
Please hurry to Elvira’s side and see her.
There isn’t much time left before the wedding ceremony, is there?”
“……There’s something I want to ask.”
“Your Highness.
Just like with Elvira and my mother, I don’t want to see your face either.
……Could you please disappear already?”

Under normal circumstances, Cain’s words would have constituted grave disrespect.
Ryun and Linsu turned pale.
Bernhard continued to glare at Cain with a hard expression, but as Cain reached for yet another gift, saying nothing further, his gaze faltered.
This time it was a blanket embroidered with blue azaleas.

“……”

At the sight of it, Bernhard released a pained breath.

“Ryun, Linsu.
Escort His Highness to Elvira.”
“Yes, sir.”

Ryun and Linsu guided Bernhard away toward Elvira’s quarters.
Cain did not look back, staring only into the flames as they consumed everything.

Lyudmila’s voice could be heard faintly in the distance, but it no longer concerned Cain.
When Elvira graduated from the noble academy, Cain would inherit the title from Citrine.
At that time, he would have his parents withdraw to their territory without delay.
The arrangements were already in place.
All that remained was to wait for Elvira’s graduation.

The gifts Cain was burning were all those that had once been sent to Faustina.
Who they were from did not matter.

Without opening a single one, Cain methodically reduced them all to ash.