ITD

CHAPTER XXVl

The day after the tea party, Courtney began her own investigation into the Crown Prince. However, without any real friends or connections, there wasn’t much she could uncover.

All she managed to find were a few unconfirmed rumors, like how he had supposedly broken a nobleman’s fingers for being rude to him. Sure, the Crown Prince may have snapped a few fingers, but that hardly seemed like enough to brand him as having a strange personality. A bit hot-tempered, maybe.

There had to be more to it than that. Concluding her fruitless investigation, Courtney thought she might as well ask him directly if she really wanted answers.

For now, she busied herself with organizing the family’s finances. She was drafting a list of their assets so that after her marriage, her appointed agent could manage everything, especially using the dowry that the Emperor had provided to settle the family’s debts.

Knock, knock—

Courtney looked up at the sound of knocking. There, standing in the doorway of the study, which hadn’t been fully closed, was Hansen.

“Lady Devon. Are you busy?”

“No, come in.”

As he entered, Hansen bowed deeply, as always. He had just returned from the palace after being summoned by the Crown Prince.

The saying that “position makes the person” held some truth. Over time, Courtney had grown more accustomed to the servants’ formalities, which Hansen saw as a positive development. After all, it wouldn’t do for a Crown Princess to be uncomfortable managing her household staff.

“His Highness asked if you might be available to go out together sometime soon.”

“I’m free whenever, so you can tell him that…”

Courtney trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly recalling Richard’s words from the tea party. I’ll take my punishment later, he had said. Could he be expecting one of those things from the book? The thought alone made her face flush with heat.

“Ahem. Tomorrow, then.”

“Understood.”

As soon as Hansen left, Courtney let out a long sigh.

She had finished reading that suspicious book long ago, even re-reading parts of it a few times, but the thought of actually doing any of it left her feeling uncertain. To be honest, she doubted she’d ever feel confident about it.

If only there was someone she could talk to about it. But the idea of discussing such things with Hansen was too embarrassing, and she couldn’t risk revealing the Crown Prince’s secrets to just anyone.

“This is driving me nuts…”

She buried her face in her hands, trying to gather her thoughts, when suddenly the door, which Hansen had just closed, burst open again.

“Hey! Courtney!”

The culprit, whose voice alone could cause a headache, was none other than Frederick Devon, her ever-problematic older brother. Without even looking up, Courtney responded curtly.

“What.”

“Hey. At least look at me.”

Grudgingly, she lifted her head. Frederick’s face, now completely free of the bruises from their last encounter, was somehow even more irritating than before.

“What do you want?”

“Gimme money.”

Does he think I’m a bank? Even if she had his money, the way he asked made her want to keep it just out of spite. She waved him away like she was swatting at a fly.

“Piss off.”

“Ah shxt, just hear me out.”

Frederick continued talking, despite her obvious disinterest, as she returned to her work, checking the estate’s financial ledgers from the beginning. Even though he was being blatantly ignored, Frederick pressed on.

“I’ve got a killer business plan.”

“Keep it to yourself.”

“Ugh, seriously.”

Courtney picked up a new inkwell from her desk, giving him a warning look. Frederick knew better than to push her further, especially since she had a tendency to throw things when angry.

“My dearest, beloved little sister, won’t you at least listen?”

“No. I don’t love you, and I don’t want to listen.”

Oddly enough, Frederick hadn’t raised much fuss about his gambling being banned recently. Then again, he had always claimed that he’d quit gambling and start a business once he made enough money. Maybe gambling wasn’t the problem anymore.

Despite Courtney’s uncooperative attitude, Frederick kept rambling about his idiotic plan.

“I’m serious, this is gold. Remember that servant who used to work for House Chalder? He stole a blueprint for a magical milling machine—”

“Are you insane? You’re calling theft a business plan?”

“It’s fair competition, yeah? What, do you think the imperial family’s in-laws would get reported?”

“Yeah, I’ll report you, so stop talking nonsense and get the hell out.”

Despite Courtney repeatedly trying to kick him out, Frederick only grew more frustrated. After all, he had already bragged to his friends that he would fund the venture.

“Hey, this is all for the family—”

“All you’re doing for the family is ruining it, so piss off already!”

At last, Courtney’s patience snapped. She grabbed whatever was within reach—a book, a pen, the inkwell—and hurled them at Frederick. Though he hurled a few curses in return, he knew better than to get into a physical fight with the only person who controlled the family’s finances.

After chasing him out, Courtney slumped over her desk again, holding her head in her hands. Surely, some cursed god had decided to bring misery into her life.

The thought of meeting Richard tomorrow only made her stomach twist with dread. What would happen? At first, when the Crown Prince had proposed, she thought her life had finally taken a turn for the better.

But now, the cold reality was hitting her hard. One mountain after another.

As the sun began to set outside, Courtney wished that tomorrow wouldn’t come at all.