ITD

CHAPTER XX

Until recently, Edvard had been using a nursery that was inappropriate for his age. He had to repeatedly read the same book until he practically memorized it, and his clothes were always made oversized in anticipation of his growth. Naturally, Courtney was more upset about that than about having to wear a summer dress in spring.

But now, Edvard’s room was filled with sturdy new furniture, high-quality books, and luxurious clothes that fit him perfectly. As she searched for new household staff, Courtney was also in the process of finding an excellent tutor for him.

“The fa…rmer, went to the, field?”

Listening to his clear, deliberate reading, Courtney heard someone clearing their throat outside the door. When she looked up, Hanson was standing in the half-open doorway, draped in his coat.

“Come in.”

“Yes, pardon me.”

Hanson entered the room. Over time, as they discussed household matters, Courtney had come to trust him quite a bit. It turned out that he had been one of Crown Prince Richard’s closest aides for a long time. She suspected he even knew about Richard’s peculiar tastes.

Unlike his usual demeanor, Hanson hesitated for a moment as he entered the room. He had mentioned he’d gone to the palace, so perhaps there had been some news. Courtney tilted her head and asked.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s not urgent, but… just for a moment…”

Hanson’s gaze flickered briefly toward Edvard, who was seated at the desk. Sensing something important, Courtney gently patted her nephew on the shoulder.

“Auntie will be right back. Keep reading your book.”

“Okay, Auntie.”

As Courtney left the room, Hanson quietly followed. It seemed like this was something he didn’t want to discuss in front of a child.

“It sounds urgent.”

“I apologize. His Highness the Crown Prince has sent something for you. However, he instructed me to deliver it personally when you were alone.”

Hanson led Courtney to her room. While Richard had sent many gifts before—dresses, jewelry, and more—none had been delivered this way.

Anxious about what grand item might be inside, she followed Hanson to her room.

Hanson opened the door. In the otherwise redecorated house, this room remained modest, with its original furnishings. A small wooden chest, about the size of a jewelry box, lay at the foot of the bed.

Hanson handed her a delicately crafted key.

“What’s inside?”

“I’m not privy to the details, Milady. Then, I shall take my leave now.”

With that, Hanson practically fled the room. His blatant evasion made it clear that he probably knew what was inside.

Courtney had a bad feeling about this. Was it some kind of imperial treasure?

Courtney sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the chest. The wood, intricately carved with vine patterns, was heavy, but not as much as she had expected. She shook it slightly and heard the sound of something large and hard knocking inside.

Judging by Hanson’s reaction, it seemed like something… unusual was inside. Her trust in Richard had already cracked, so she briefly considered not opening it at all. But leaving an unknown item in her room felt even worse. It was better to see what it was with her own eyes.

She placed the chest on the bed and inserted the key.

Click—

The lock turned smoothly. Steeling herself, Courtney flung the lid open.

Despite her nervousness, the contents were surprisingly underwhelming.

Inside was a short black wooden object, shaped like a small oar, and a book.

“What the heck is this.”

Courtney examined the strange wooden object first. It was shorter than two hand spans, with one end wide and flat, and the other narrow enough to grip. It was thick and sturdy, but the surface was polished smooth.

It looked like an oar or a spatula, but it was too short to row a boat properly. It didn’t seem very useful for self-defense either. No matter how much she examined it, she couldn’t figure out its purpose.

Next, she picked up the book. It was covered in luxurious leather with gold trim, but there was no title on the cover or spine. What kind of suspicious item had Richard sent this time?

She casually flipped open the book to the middle—and the moment her eyes fell on the page, her eyes widened in shock.

“Eek—!”

Courtney threw the book into the air, clutching her chest in a panic.

What did I just see? Her heart pounded so hard that she could feel the vibrations in her palms, even more so than when she had first kissed a man.

She glared at the book lying on the floor. No, it couldn’t be… Could it? Had she really seen what she thought she did?

Though she needed to check again, she couldn’t muster the courage. She nudged the book with her foot instead. Thankfully, the image she had seen didn’t leap out of the book. Instead, a small piece of paper peeked out from inside the cover.