Married To The Enemy Kingdom's Illegitimate Prince
Chapter 26 — Her Deal

Chapter 26: 26 — Her Deal

"Is this what you’re looking for?" a familiar woman’s voice demanded, her shadow cast on the wall from behind.

Lucian, who had been bent over, straightened up, closed the wardrobe and turned to face the silver-haired woman behind him.

It hadn’t been long since he last saw her, yet here she was, standing right in front of him.

Her silver hair, though tied into a ponytail, still cascaded down to her waist. She wore a white silk dress adorned with delicate blue lace at the edges, with floral patterns scattered across the fabric.

"You?" Lucian raised an eyebrow, his voice barely audible in the large room.

"You look surprised to see me. Did you forget my face? We have met it has been only a day," Cynthia remarked, studying her husband’s expression of shock and confusion.

"The grin on her face never fades, does it?" Lucian wondered, narrowing his eyes.

"...I haven’t forgotten your face," he sighed. "And why are you in my bedroom?" He demanded, clenching his fist in order to control his anger.

The silver-haired young woman kept a smile on her face even if she could understand the unhappiness Lucian felt upon seeing her.

Because I love seeing you mad... But I can’t say that, can I?

"Now, you surprise me, Your Highness. You brought me here yourself after I took the poison meant for you," Cynthia responded calmly, settling onto the bed with an air of nonchalance, toying with the red crystal in her hand.

Lucian remained silent for a moment, the memory of that event resurfacing. After entrusting the investigation to Glain, he had put the matter behind him—just as he had with countless cases before.

But her mention of that day brought it all back: the poison, that man, and the crown prince who had visited them that day.

Though they were family, Lucian and Valen were nothing like brothers. His years in the palace had been hellish, largely due to the queen and crown prince, who had made his life a thorny path.

"Don’t tell me you forgot—"

"I have not," Lucian interrupted her sentence. "I needed to look for something," he stepped closer to Cynthia although he didn’t make eye contact with her.

His gaze locked onto the red stone. He needed it desperately. Ever since it came into his possession, the sporadic pain in his body had lessened.

He didn’t dwell on the reason why; it didn’t matter.

What mattered was that he wouldn’t collapse in agony at any moment, especially not in front of his enemy—Princess Cynthia.

"By ’something,’ you mean... this, right?" Cynthia extended her hand toward the dark-haired man who stood just a meter away.

Lucian nodded and reached out for the stone, but Cynthia quickly pulled it back, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Clicking her tongue, she shook her head. "Not so fast. How about we make a deal?"

"... what deal?"

The dark-haired young man clenched his fist, wondering what tricks this Eldorian was about to play. It wasn’t unusual for them to bargain— they were a nation of merchants.

Their land contained numerous riches and they could put any price they wished; whether it was low or high, no one could complain.

"Your Highness, how about we go on a date?" The silver-haired young woman suggested, her soft voice which he heard until now sounded unexpectedly harsh.

Lucian’s expression darkened upon hearing her absurd bargain. It wasn’t a question; it was a threat—a veiled demand for him to bend to her will in exchange for holding something he held precious in her grasp.

"I’d rather die," he muttered before turning on his heel and walking out of the bedroom.

If he couldn’t get the stone now, he’d find another way to reclaim it. He owned the mansion, and everything in it was his— apart from Princess Cynthia. Listening to what an Eldorian told him was out of the question!

"Seems like he truly prefers suffering over spending time with me," Cynthia chuckled once the door closed, letting herself fall back onto the soft mattress.

"Is this stone really not that important?" she mused, tilting her head as she stared at the ruby-like gem, her violet eyes fixed on the shimmering piece of rock.

"Your Highness," a low high-pitched voice spoke, knocking on the door twice.

Cynthia rose from the bed and sat straight, looking at the girl who stood behind her.

She was one of the maids Philip had brought to serve Cynthia— Annie.

"Your lunch is ready. Where would you like to have it?"

No greetings, no bowing, huh? How disrespectful... and childish.

Cynthia crossed her arms, wondering whether she should punish her or be gentle and try to win her trust in order to make her a servant loyal to her in this enemy territory filled with hostility towards her.

Punishing will make the rumours seem true. I should... play a little soft for now.

Curling her lips, Cynthia forced a smile.

"Oh, is that so? I will go have it at the dining table."

Wasn’t she... rude, harsh, mean, and whatnot from what the servants told me? How could she ignore my deliberate disrespect by not greeting her?

"Could you lead the way?" Cynthia stood before Anni who flinched upon realizing how close the young woman stood to her.

"S-Sure," Anni faintly smiled, guiding the lady of the mansion through the hallway.

The corridors seemed particularly long to Cynthia who loved silence. Perhaps it was due to the empty walls without any paintings hung on them. Perhaps it was due to the empty hallway where no servants were in sight despite the large space of the mansion occupied.

How many servants did we have again?

Cynthia wondered and tried to search in her memory but couldn’t find an answer.

"How many servants do we have?" The silver-haired young woman asked, striking a conversation Anni didn’t expect to take place.

Anni was one of the maids who was appointed recently once the Grand Duke received his title.

She didn’t know much about any of the two individuals whom she had to serve; however, she told herself it didn’t matter as long as she received the payment properly.

That couple was equally infamous in high society, as well as inside the mansion.

The prince had a rather good reputation among the servants, unlike the princess of Eldoria, now the Grand Duchess of Selvarys.

However, the lady Anni met looked like a fallen angel from heaven on earth. Yet, despite the grand duchess’s angelic appearance, Anni deliberately behaved rudely as her co-workers suggested.

But the response she received was nothing like the harsh treatment she expected; rather it was a gentle voice tone which softly asked her to guide the way.

"I shouldn’t believe the rumours... or should I?..." Anni muttered.

"Yes?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow, failing to hear the reply she waited for.

"Uhm... I believe it’s around 50. I am unsure. I am new myself," the brown-haired girl gently scratched the back of her hair nervously.

She had completely misjudged the person before her and she felt ashamed because of it.

"Fifty? Strange. I heard it was around a hundred," Cynthia gently laughed.

Even her laugh sounds pretty.

Anni’s cheek slightly flushed pink in embarrassment.

How could I misjudge such a gentle person?!

She cursed herself for having listened to rumours.

Seeing the pink tint of the brown-haired girl’s cheeks, the smile of Cynthia’s face grew wider. Everything was going just as she thought!

If she had acted harshly to this servant, everyone in the mansion would have started to treat her just like in her past life.

Isolate her, neglect her, give her cold water to bath in winter, throw water on her on purpose yet behave like they had committed a huge mistake only for Lucian to forgive them,

Shivers ran down Cynthia’s spine as she remembered the horrible years she spent in this vast building, alone without anyone to support her— not even her husband.

She knew even then that he loathed her, however, his negligence gave the servants the right to behave in such manners towards Cynthia. After all, a woman only had power if her husband gave it to her.

The love she felt for him soon shifted to anger and despair. Then, finally, they were on the same page! Hatred filled her heart; she wanted to ruin him more than anything else.

Even if she had to return to this hell. She tried to run away by getting married to another man— Duke Dorian; however, even then, fate brought her where she never wanted to step foot ever again— Selvarys.

A loud crashing noise was heard, followed by a scream, catching Cynthia’s attention.

"This is..."

"It’s coming from the kitchen!" Anni sprang towards the kitchen, followed by Cynthia.

"What is going on here? Anyone mind explaining to me?" She demanded as she crossed her arms, looking at the servants dressed in black and white uniforms.