* * *
“That is not possible. It is too dangerous. How about taking Lord Joel to Count Grey’s castle instead?”
“Joel’s condition is critical and we are racing against time, plus we cannot guarantee that the carriage will hold up until we get there, so that is not an option.”
“But even if we go to Baron Bennet’s estate, aren’t we in a situation where we cannot be sure of its safety?”
“Sir Abe is correct. Your Highness, there is no reason for you to take such a risk. I will take Lord Joel to Baron Bennet’s estate. If you would permit just one member of the 4th Knights to accompany me…”
“There is no reason for me to take a risk? Are you truly, truly so sure of that?”
As Robert subtly sided with Abe’s words, the Crown Prince looked directly into Robert’s eyes and questioned him.
What a penetrating gaze. In that moment, the Crown Prince was acting exactly as if he knew the fact that Joel was pregnant.
However, since the Crown Prince’s knowledge of Joel’s pregnancy was uncertain, Robert closed his mouth, unable to respond either way.
Deceiving a member of the royal family was a serious crime that would not end with a mere execution.
While it would have been different if he hadn’t lied from the beginning, having deceived the Crown Prince once, he had to keep up the lie until the end.
Abe and the members of the 4th Knights exchanged troubled looks.
Just looking at the problem of saving Joel right now, going to Baron Bennet’s estate seemed the best option, but the issue was that they couldn’t guarantee its safety.
If, as they feared, Baron Bennet had suffered a revolt, heading to Count Grey’s castle would be the better choice.
As Robert suggested, sending only Robert and Joel to Baron Bennet’s estate, or sacrificing Joel’s immediate treatment to go to Count Grey’s castle together, would be the best choice for the Crown Prince and everyone—even for Joel himself.
However, the problem was that the Crown Prince, who held the final decision, had lost all reason after seeing Joel’s blood.
“Everyone, follow my orders. Baron Bennet’s estate has less than 150 residents, including the elderly and children. The twenty adult male attackers are all dead, so it’s safe to assume there are not many able-bodied men left at Baron Bennet’s estate. Even if there was a problem at the estate, as you worry, five armed knights will be enough to suppress it.”
“That may be true, but still, Your Highness…”
“And we will cover up this attack here. If it becomes known that Joel’s biological father, Baron Bennet, was involved in this incident, it will harm Joel’s future.”
Knight Commander Abe, who had not agreed with the Crown Prince’s order, attempted to offer advice again, but the Crown Prince cut off all dissenting opinions, saying, “Enough!”
He looked ready to draw his sword if the discussion dragged on any longer.
The knights, and even Benjamin and Felix, seemed unable to understand the Crown Prince, who was insisting that he absolutely could not be separated from Joel, but with the Crown Prince being so extreme, they had no choice but to follow his decision.
“Your Highness, if so, since horses are much faster than the carriage, we will first go to Baron Bennet’s estate and check the condition of the territory. Your Highness, please follow with Lord Joel in the carriage.”
At Abe’s earnest request, the Crown Prince fortunately nodded, saying, “Very well.”
Cedric, one of the 4th Knights, departed for Count Grey’s castle on horseback, and the remaining personnel prepared to leave for Baron Bennet’s estate.
Felix seemed eager to escort his master to the safe Count Grey’s castle, but they couldn’t afford to be burdened with luggage, as they needed to request help from the Count’s castle as soon as possible, and since every armed knight was desperately needed, Benjamin and Felix also had to accompany them to Baron Bennet’s estate.
As everyone shook their heads in confusion, unable to understand the Crown Prince’s abnormally obsessive behavior regarding Joel’s safety, only Robert, the Imperial Doctor, was trembling with anxiety, as he seemed to guess the reason.
Robert thought there was only one reason why the Crown Prince would risk his own life to protect Joel.
Anxiously wondering if the Crown Prince had noticed Joel’s pregnancy, he realized his suspicion was correct when the Crown Prince passed him and muttered, “When we arrive at Baron Bennet’s estate, there is one fact you will have to report to me. I hope you will be honest this time.”
Robert tightly shut his eyes.
‘He knew after all,’ Robert regretted belatedly.
It was his fault for believing that the foolish Joel could deceive the Crown Prince.
Even though Joel had also deceived the Crown Prince, Joel was carrying the Crown Prince’s child, so he would not die.
But he himself was surely a dead man once this journey was over.
However, Robert quickly shook off his fear and decided to concentrate on Joel’s treatment.
In any case, it was too late to regret it now, and participating in Joel’s lie had been his own choice.
Perhaps he had known that such a moment would come, even as he said, “But let me make it clear, this is only once.”
Even if time were turned back to the moment he learned that the child in Joel’s belly was the Crown Prince’s, he still wouldn’t have been able to turn away from Joel, whose eyes were red with tears, saying he didn’t want to be despised anymore.
Joel had always been like a younger brother to him, and Joel’s biological father, Baron Bennet, was the benefactor who had believed in his potential and supported his tuition when he was living with only his elderly grandmother.
Robert prayed that Joel’s baby would be safe and quickly gathered his medical bag from the damaged wagon before climbing into the carriage carrying the Crown Prince and Joel.
By the time the carriage carrying Joel reached the swamp surrounding Baron Bennet’s estate, the day was bright.
To prepare for any contingency, the Crown Prince decided to wait for the 4th Knights to return, standing on a hillside overlooking Baron Bennet’s estate.
While he stood with his hands behind his back, watching Baron Bennet’s estate, Robert was preoccupied with caring for Joel.
After confirming that Joel’s condition was stable, Robert got out of the carriage and approached the Crown Prince.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
“Yes, how is Joel’s condition?”
“Unfortunately, Lord Joel has not yet regained consciousness.
The wound barely missed a vital spot, but since he did hit his head, the extent of the injury and any after-effects will need to be determined by a more detailed examination after Lord Joel regains consciousness.”
“…I see. Then, what about the child?”
As Robert hesitated to answer the direct question, the Crown Prince spoke quietly, his gaze still fixed on Baron Bennet’s estate.
“I am giving you one chance to be honest, so you must choose carefully.”
The Crown Prince’s tone carried a clear warning, and the nervous Robert gulped.
Frankly, no matter how precious Joel was, he didn’t want to die.
There was no need to continue telling ridiculous lies and deceiving the Crown Prince in a situation where everything seemed to have been exposed.
Giving up, Robert admitted Joel’s pregnancy, saying, “There is no sign of bleeding, and fortunately, there is no sign of miscarriage yet.”
‘It was true that he was pregnant, after all.’
The Crown Prince, who had tried to gauge Robert’s reaction just in case, pressed his lips together tightly.
In fact, the Crown Prince had consistently believed Joel’s words that mating had not occurred and that he was not pregnant.
He felt slightly odd when Joel desperately tried to avoid going to bed or reacted excessively sensitively to his pheromones, but if he thought about it, Joel’s outrageous behavior was nothing new, so he just brushed it off as usual.
That is, until yesterday, just before Joel nervously touched his lower abdomen.
A person suffering from indigestion would not touch their lower abdomen instead of their upper stomach, and only then did the Crown Prince suddenly grow suspicious.
If he assumed that mating truly did occur that day and Joel got pregnant, all of Joel’s occasional suspicious behaviors could be explained.
He missed the opportunity to question Joel because Joel lost consciousness, but the Crown Prince, who had probed Robert just in case, felt his heart sink when he confirmed the truth that Joel was indeed pregnant.
If he had known Joel was pregnant, he would never have brought him on this dangerous journey.
Come to think of it, Joel had not wanted to accompany him on this matter, even though his biological father’s safety was at stake.
It was none other than the Crown Prince himself who had forced Joel to come along by mentioning Benjamin’s name, despite Joel tearing up with worry about his father yet still refusing to accompany him.
Forcing an early-stage pregnant person to travel all day in a carriage, and even demanding to share the bed with him when he was exhausted from the difficult schedule.
Was there another pathetic man in the world as unqualified to be a parent as himself?
The Crown Prince thanked God for the miracle that the child was safe, while simultaneously feeling the urge to harshly slap his own dull and stupid past self.
* * *
Omg yay I love it when the prince suffers!! Not in a bad way but idk I just like reading these kind of emotions