Chapter 163

Chapter 163 – Secret Teahouse

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

Celestine had chosen the path she thought was right. Now everything was in Annette’s hands.

Celestine pressed her lips together, and took that hand in her own. It was a hand that had been carefully tended all her life, delicate as a flower, but with an unexpected strength.

“Did His Highness go to the place we agreed?” Annette whispered.

“Of course. All you will have to do is wait there quietly.”

Today, she would be meeting the prince.

Annette sighed with relief at Celestine’s confidence. She couldn’t imagine how she had done it; it was extraordinary that she had managed to get Ludwig out of the palace. It had been a good decision to enlist Celestine’s help.

Annette wanted to know how much Ludwig knew. King Selgratis had done all this to protect his weak son, who was to become the next King of Deltium. The King had done all this to protect the lineage of his family.

Ludwig should know it.

But Annette was uncomfortable at the thought of meeting Ludwig alone, especially after what had happened during their last meeting. But she could not let her personal feelings get in the way. This was an issue that went beyond the two of them.

Nodding to herself, Annette turned back to Celestine.

“Very well,” she said. “We can leave in ten minutes.”

That was enough time to relax with a cup of tea together, and they took Celestine’s carriage to go to the shopping center, the unmarked carriage easily lost among all the others on the road. It didn’t take long before they reached the place where she was to meet with Ludwig.

“You’re here,” said Railin, who had provided the location. Among the many businesses he ran was a teahouse that had been built for just such occasions. Drawing to a stop at the door, Celestine patted her shoulder encouragingly.

“I will take the carriage around. I hope the conversation is fruitful.”

“Celestine, are you sure you don’t want to come?” Annette asked, looking at the other woman with concern. From her point of view, it must be worrying, to send Annette to meet privately with Ludwig. Regardless of Annette’s feelings, Ludwig had once planned a future with her, and still had feelings for her.

But Celestine showed no concern for it.

“It’s all right. It will be a much easier conversation if I’m not there. And anyway, we are hardly marrying for love. That’s what a political marriage is, isn’t it?”

Celestine was a confident woman. She was not possessive of her fiancé and felt no desire to cling to him, just because he liked another woman. Annette nodded at the curt reply.

Calmly, Annette entered the teahouse alone, discreetly displaying her ring to the approaching host, who recognized the sign of the Guild of Secrets. The host escorted her through the teahouse to a room with a secret door hidden in a wall.

Prince Ludwig was already sitting there, waiting.

“Annette!”

Ludwig rose as she entered, taking her hand affectionately. But he did not cling to her this time. It seemed that the painful words she had spoken at their last meeting had had an effect.

“Thank you for coming, Your Highness,” Annette greeted him formally. “I am sorry for asking you to come to a place like this.”

“You don’t have to be that polite,” he said, with a sad flicker in his eyes. “Though you are another man’s wife, that cannot erase the childhood we shared. At least let me remain your friend, and in your society.”

Perhaps because they were half-brothers, for a moment there was a resemblance to Raphael on his features. There was no denying their relationship. But she could not falter, no matter how pitiful he looked.

“Your Highness,” she replied politely. “Then as a friend with whom I share many of the same memories, there are some things I’d like to say.”

Annette was a woman who valued logic over emotions. And she had not forgotten Ludwig’s previous bad behavior.