The Poisonous Princess Who Successfully Infiltrated the Enemy as an Employee - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 34.

I drew in a sharp breath without thinking. Barcan turned to look at me once.
As if to confirm something, Barcan’s eyes swept quickly over my face and clothing, scanning for any sign of disorder.
Finding nothing amiss, he turned his attention back to Cain.
“Exactly what are you attempting, Crown Prince?”
An overwhelming oppressive force bore down on all sides. His low voice froze the humid air of the Maze Garden in an instant.
At that razor-sharp question, even the warmth that Cain had been feigning to maintain drained from his face.
Barcan poured out an even colder intensity without hesitation.
“How am I to make sense of this situation, precisely?”
Then Cain exhaled a thin sigh and replied in a voice heavy with aggrievement.
“What misunderstanding are you laboring under, Duke? Surely you don’t think the princess and I were enjoying a secret meeting?”
Ha!
‘A secret meeting?!’
I clamped my teeth shut.
‘This Crown Prince is absolutely mad! The situation was already perfect for misunderstanding, so why in the world would he use that particular word?!’
Yet contrary to my alarm, Barcan’s voice remained measured.
“I made no such claim.”
“I chose this place specifically to avoid pointless and absurd misunderstandings, so I would appreciate it if you refrained from making wild insinuations.”
“If you wished to avoid misunderstanding, you ought not have summoned her here in the first place.”
Cain faltered momentarily, words failing him. Then he let out a hollow laugh as if the very idea were ridiculous.
“Duke. Are you truly suggesting that I, the Crown Prince, summoned the future Grand Duchess with improper intentions?”
Not a shred of shame, not a trace of guilt in his bearing.
Cain was actually reproaching Barcan, his face the very picture of brazen innocence.
‘Remarkable. His acting is flawless.’
Of course, Cain hadn’t actually done anything to me, but I knew perfectly well the dark designs behind all his talk of duty and state necessity, trying to sway me!
While I seething inwardly, Barcan spoke in a low, mocking tone.
“Aren’t you curious where I heard this from?”
At that, Cain’s crimson eyes noticeably wavered.
At the same moment, I froze.
‘Wait, just a moment.’
What exactly had he heard, and how much?!
‘Don’t tell me he heard everything—all that business about my preferences and all the rest?!’
As I recalled my own words—admissions that had bordered on confession—heat flooded my cheeks as if I’d been struck across both sides of my face.
At that moment, Cain opened his mouth again, teeth gritted.
“I had no idea the Duke harbored a taste for eavesdropping.”
“Perhaps. Though I’d say it’s preferable to skulking about trying to abduct someone else’s betrothed.”
…….
A cold silence spread through the garden and then dissipated.
Ah….
Are we in the North? Why do I feel the chill of the north wind cutting through the air?
As I hugged myself against the inexplicable cold, a soft footstep echoed from the direction of the garden entrance.
It was Roan.
He approached with the clear demeanor of someone who had already grasped the situation, bowing formally to both Cain and me.
Barcan turned back to me. Then, his large hand grasping my shoulder, he turned me gently and pushed me lightly in Roan’s direction.
“The hour grows late.”
…….
“We can continue this conversation when daybreak comes. Follow Roan and return first.”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded obediently, cast a quick glance at the stiffened Cain, then bolted after Roan.
All the way through the maze, I felt Cain’s gaze boring into the back of my head.

Needless to say, I hadn’t slept a wink.
What had Barcan and Cain discussed in that garden?

Whether the Crown Prince’s neck was safe.
Or rather, whether my neck would be safe.
Back in my bedchamber, I lay in the blankets with eyes wide open, wondering if Barcan would come looking for me.
But the door never opened all night.
And when dawn broke, Barcan appeared as though nothing had happened.
Remarkably, impossibly unchanged—his face was as indifferent and dry as ever. Since there wasn’t a single scratch on it, it seemed he and Cain hadn’t come to blows, and no bloodshed had occurred.
There was hardly time for pleasantries before the schedule descended upon us. We left the Byeolgung, paid our respects to the Emperor, and exchanged formal greetings with the other imperial family members.
“I suppose we’ll only see each other again when you return to the Capital for the Marriage Oath Ceremony. I think I’ll miss hearing the Princess’s voice.”
“If you’re that bored, come visit the Northern Dukedom.”
“If only that were possible… it would be lovely.”
Eleanor smiled wryly.
“Write to me. Promise?”
“Yes, I will. Take care, Your Highness. And don’t you dare forget what I told you before. Understand? Especially if matters of a Political Marriage come up—drag out the time as much as you can until I can reach the Capital. Promise me that.”
“I promise.”
Eleanor nodded, and I responded with a smile, squeezing her hand tightly one last time.
I had told her this during our final tea together—to let me know the moment she learned she’d be sent to another land.
I had made up my mind.
To save her from the fate that was meant to kill her in the original story.
That was why even a single word, a small thread of connection, mattered so much.
You never knew when a noble soul might suddenly appear to save your life.
So in a way, I was becoming that person for Eleanor. Or rather, I intended to be.
What if that meant the original story would fall apart?
‘Who cares.’
Whether the original tore itself to shreds or not, right now Eleanor’s bond with me mattered far more than that.
‘She’s the first person to see that I’m not insane.’
Before I’d grown close to her, maybe I could have walked away. But now that our connection had taken root so deeply—
‘…I can’t just stand by and let Eleanor die.’
So I would do whatever I could.
Of course, I didn’t know how much Eleanor trusted me, or how much she believed in my words.
I’d done what I could from my position.
When that moment came, whether Eleanor reached out to me would be entirely her choice.
‘I can only hope I don’t receive a letter from the palace announcing Eleanor’s death.’
And so, after that short and endless week at the palace, we passed through the great gate and returned to the Northern Dukedom.
By the time we arrived at the Grand Duke’s Residence and hastily unpacked, it was already late night, thirty minutes before midnight.
Staring at the hour and minute hands of the clock, I let out a rueful laugh.
‘What on earth is this?’
Throughout our return from the Capital, Barcan and I had traveled in separate carriages, eaten separately.
It was hardly inconvenient.
For reasons I couldn’t quite name, the knights had shown me quiet consideration—a marked difference from the day we’d departed the Grand Duke’s Residence for the palace.
‘Perhaps word about the Memorial Monument had spread?’
I hadn’t been seeking that reaction, but I was grateful for their changed behavior regardless.
During the journey to the Dukedom, I’d been able to have many conversations with the knights as they hesitantly approached me.
Though I’d had no real opportunity for an unhurried talk with Barcan himself.
Upon arriving at the Dukedom, Barcan had headed straight for his office.
It was something I’d noticed before—if you didn’t specifically arrange a meeting with him, he was nearly impossible to find.
I tossed the bundle of clothes I was holding onto the bed and strode toward the bedchamber door.
“Celin!”
“Yes?!”
“Sorry, but could you finish putting away the rest?”
“Wh-where are you going?!”
At Celin’s flustered voice, I yanked the bedchamber door open and called out.
“To see my beloved husband’s face!”
My goodness!
Celin’s eyes went wide as saucers, and she clapped both hands over her mouth in shock.
“Have a good visit, Your Highness!”
Behind me, I heard Celin’s spirited encouragement.

Yet still, Barcan Escar was undeniably formidable.
Outside Barcan’s bedchamber.
Roan stood blocking the firmly shut door, his expression troubled as he bowed his head.
“Forgive me, Your Highness.”
“Why? Why apologize already? I haven’t even said anything yet.”
Roan swallowed hard.
“The Grand Duke cannot receive you at present.”
I studied Roan intently.
“He doesn’t want to see me?”
“That’s not… it’s not that.”
“You hesitated just now, didn’t you?”
“No, Your Highness.”
I sighed softly. If I pressed him further, the Grand Duke’s adjutant looked ready to break into a cold sweat, so I relented.
I glanced at the bedchamber door and asked, “He is here, isn’t he?”
“…….”

Roan, who usually answered with an easy smile, fell utterly silent and simply looked at me.
There was a question in his eyes—how had I known?
I raised my eyebrows, incredulous. “You really did go out? You only just returned to the dukedom today? It’s nearly midnight now?”
At my interrogation, Roan managed a strained smile.
“If you could understand that while the territory was unattended, there were many pressing matters that required the Grand Duke’s attention, I would be grateful, Your Highness.”
“But you told me clearly that you had something to say to me when I returned to the dukedom……?”
“My apologies.”
Roan bowed again.
I parted my lips, then closed them once more.
“No. You have nothing to apologize for. I won’t press the matter further…….”
Just as I turned to leave.
Eleanor’s voice echoed through my mind.
“Don’t love the Grand Duke. He has someone else he loves.”
Could it be…….
‘He went to see that woman, didn’t he?!’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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