Chapter 12: The First Vow

“Your Highness, you have a guest.”

Upon returning to Boronia Palace, Rohan found an attendant waiting for him.

“A guest?”

Rohan’s brows furrowed.

At a time like this, the only one who would come to Boronia Palace as his guest would be...

“No way.”

Rohan and Martin’s eyes met at the same moment.

“Show them in.”

Following the attendant’s guidance, Rohan made his way to the reception room where the guest waited.

---

“Heh, I’m so used to meeting you at the Grand Board, but seeing you here at Boronia Palace feels quite different.”

“Count Nidro.”

Rohan greeted him with a radiant smile, extending his hand.

“I hope I haven’t come at a bad time.”

Count Nidro took his hand as he spoke.

It seemed he had been waiting for Rohan for quite a while.

“I had some business at Eastern Palace and just returned. Had I known you were coming, I would have postponed it. Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Count Nidro waved a hand dismissively at Rohan’s apology.

“No need to apologize, Your Highness. It’s entirely my fault for coming without making an appointment.”

He let out a hearty laugh, and Rohan gestured for him to take a seat.

A maid brought in tea and refreshments, placing them on the tea table as the two began their conversation in earnest.

“It’s about the matter you mentioned before.”

Clink.

Count Nidro set his teacup down.

“But before we get to that, there’s something else I’d like to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

Rohan had a feeling he already knew what was coming.

And as expected—

“Does Your Highness wish to ascend to the position of Crown Prince? And...”

The question Rohan anticipated was delivered just as he thought.

To ask if he wished to become Crown Prince—whose seat was currently vacant—was as good as asking...

“You want to know if I have ambitions not only for the Crown Prince’s seat but for the next Emperor’s throne, don’t you?”

“Ahem, yes, well. That’s right.”

Count Nidro glanced swiftly around, making sure no one was nearby before replying—such words, aiming for imperial authority, were not spoken lightly.

“It’s something I need to be clear about, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

He was in a position where he had to confirm even the smallest details.

Although he’d once said he wished to solidify his position with the Gerald Territory affair, he’d never openly stated his aim for the ‘Crown Prince’s seat.’

If vague words were misinterpreted and things got out of hand, he wouldn’t just lose out—his political life could be at risk.

“I won’t beat around the bush.”

Rohan stroked his chin and spoke.

“The vacant Crown Prince’s seat will be mine.”

“...!”

Was Count Nidro expecting that? Or was he surprised by the bluntness?

His eyes widened slightly.

“Why do you think I requested a Kingshire Grand Board match from you?”

“...”

“Let’s see.”

Rohan crossed his legs.

“I doubt you’re so dense that you couldn’t predict at least this much.”

One of Count Nidro’s eyebrows twitched.

“You just wanted to hear my clear opinion for yourself, isn’t that right?”

“...That’s correct.”

Rohan smiled slightly, uncrossing his legs.

“It was you, Count Nidro, who introduced me to Kingshire.”

He intended to shift the mood.

“All the questions you threw at me whenever you explained Kingshire—at first, I didn’t understand.”

It hadn’t been that long ago.

After Crown Prince Joshua died.

Count Nidro, having no other acquaintances in the Imperial Capital, would often request Grand Board matches and visit him frequently.

At first, it was curiosity, then hope, then disappointment...

“But do you really think I didn’t know anything?”

“What do you mean by that...?”

“As a candidate for the next Crown Prince. Wasn’t I the first person you kept in mind?”

“...!”

Count Nidro’s eyes widened in shock.

“Do you remember what you said to me the first time we met?”

“Hmm, let’s see?”

Rohan tapped his palm to his chest.

“You asked if I knew what kind of responsibility the title ‘Second Prince’ held.”

“I remember.”

Count Nidro nodded.

“And the second time we met, you asked me this: ‘Your Highness, do you love Schubert?’”

“...I remember that as well.”

Rohan grinned at the Count’s reply.

“Did you really think I was ignorant of everything?”

“...”

Count Nidro felt his heart drop.

‘At the time, I thought he was just a commoner boy placed in the prince’s seat, knowing nothing.’

But that wasn’t the case.

The fact that Rohan remembered every single thing he’d said in such detail meant he hadn’t just let those words slip by in ignorance.

“Your Highness... you’ve deceived me completely.”

For the first time in his life, Nidro felt the strange sensation of a pleasant betrayal.

‘A terrifying figure has been born.’

If he could fool Nidro, then there was no one he couldn’t fool.

Such was the confidence in his own discernment.

“You asked if I loved Schubert? I do love this country—Schubert, and its people. And I believe you do too.”

Rohan stood up with a smile.

He extended his hand.

“The time has come, Count. Will you join me?”

The Count felt it.

An overwhelming aura from the still young, uncalloused hand.

Where did this Prince get such confidence?

He did not ponder long.

Thud.

Instead of standing, Count Nidro slipped from the sofa and knelt.

“Your humble servant, Devon Nidro, swears fealty to Your Highness.”

Though his body was aged, his movements were impeccable, honoring the occasion.

“I know well your loyalty to the Empire.”

Rohan knelt on one knee to meet his gaze.

“So I promise you this—I will surely repay the precious trust you’ve given me.”

---

After the meeting ended, night had fallen.

Having dined with the Count, Rohan returned to his study, flicked the golden badge in his hand into the air, and let out a quiet chuckle.

“Beautiful.”

Rohan had succeeded in bringing Count Nidro to his side.

He’d fastened the very first, crucial button perfectly.

The golden badge he’d flicked was the symbol of loyalty Count Nidro had given him.

Something he had never gained in his previous life—this, exactly.

“Perhaps it’s fortunate that I have such a shameless personality.”

He’d expected Nidro to be more reluctant, but the Count was more favorable toward him than he’d thought.

Yet Rohan wasn’t satisfied with just that.

‘I needed a greater trust.’

With only a half-hearted loyalty, too many doubts would arise about what he intended to do.

So, he chose to recall even the events of the past in detail, to win the Count’s faith.

Back then, he’d thought his good memory was just a useless quirk...

“But looking back, there’s nothing as precious as this memory of mine.”

Rohan let out a wry laugh.

In fact, he remembered nearly every word Count Nidro had said during their Kingshire matches, down to the smallest detail.

If someone asked him to recite it all, he probably could do it on the spot.

At any rate, Count Nidro had pledged loyalty, and promised to take responsibility for the Gerald Territory matter.

He had gained everything he wanted.

Just then.

Tap, tap tap!

Something tapped at the window.

Creak.

When Rohan raised the window, a crow flapped away.

Left behind where the crow had perched was an envelope.

Rohan opened the envelope, held it up to the candlelight, and read the letter.

“Perfect timing.”

He smiled and shrugged on his coat.

“Your Highness?”

Stepping out, he found Martin, who’d been dozing against the wall, suddenly startled awake.

“Martin, let’s step out for a bit.”

“At this hour?”

It was deep into the night, when everyone else was asleep.

At Martin’s puzzled question, Rohan just shrugged.

“Don’t you know? All great things happen at night.”

---

Rohan and Martin snuck out of the Imperial Capital.

Not through the main gate, but via a passage used by knights coming on and off duty.

The streets were nearly empty.

Most people, trying to save on fuel, had turned off their lights and gone to sleep. Those few who kept them on let only faint glimmers leak through their windows.

“The streets weren’t this dark before.”

“Coal’s gotten expensive lately, so they have little choice.”

Though coal wasn’t used for lighting, it was needed for cooking and heating water for baths and the like.

With coal so closely tied to daily life, its rising price naturally made everyone more frugal with their fuel.

‘Which is why the Gerald Territory’s mine dispute is all the more important.’

So.

Rohan and Martin slipped into a narrow alley.

Knock, knock knock, knock!

He knocked, and the sound of locks being undone came from inside before the door creaked open.

“You’re here.”

This place was none other than—

“Lucretia. It’s been a while.”

—the workshop of Lucretia Finch, the tailor.

Inside, bolts of fabric were draped everywhere, creating a colorful sight.

Lucretia brushed aside scraps of cloth and led Rohan and Martin to the sofa.

“Shall I make you some tea?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

At Rohan’s gentle refusal, Lucretia flashed a smile and sat opposite them.

Rohan was the first to speak.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, here.”

Lucretia handed him a document envelope, arching a brow.

“Hm... These contents are quite shocking.”

“I’m sure they are.”

“It’s amazing. You already knew exactly where to find all this information, Your Highness...”

Her sharp gaze glinted, and Rohan gave a faint smile.

“I might know, but too many eyes are watching. That’s why I asked you.”

“Fair enough. Well, you are the prince...”

Lucretia nodded in understanding.

“Oh, by the way, I hear you visited Elysia Palace recently.”

“Yes, thanks to you, Your Highness. There, I even met Empress Emilia. And the adorable Prince Elliot.”

Lucretia smiled brightly.

“I must thank you properly. I feel like you’ve given me a great opportunity, Your Highness. Like I’ve taken a big step toward what I must do.”

She gave a playful wink.

Even if she sought brutal revenge, her expression didn’t give the slightest hint.

“Nothing out of the ordinary happened?”

At Rohan’s question, Lucretia shrugged.

“Nothing major, really. If anything, Empress Emilia was so obvious that it was almost boring.”

“Oh?”

As expected.

‘She really is strong-hearted.’

Among all the women he knew, none had a stronger heart.

After all, who else would even think to stick a needle into a prince’s neck?

“I agreed to tailor Prince Elliot’s clothes. I’ll likely have to visit three more times for that.”

“Not bad. Even after this, you might keep getting work from there.”

Rohan was pleased.

Lucretia’s frequent visits to Empress Emilia’s Elysia Palace would be a huge asset for Rohan.

With her on his side, it would be easier to gather information.

“Work’s going to pile up soon, so take it easy while you can.”

Rohan gathered the envelope and stood up.

“Work will pile up?”

Lucretia cocked her head in curiosity.

But Rohan just left her workshop with a faint smile.

“Hm. What is he plotting this time?”

Lucretia’s lips curled as she watched the closed door.

Click, click, click.

She walked over to one wall, where rolls of fabric were stacked high.

Rustle.

She pulled a bolt of fabric, and a hidden door slid open silently.

With that, Lucretia slipped into the secret chamber and vanished from sight.