Queeneth being pregnant was... a problem.
A problem because news like that getting out would affect his name, as well as his position as eleventh in the line of succession. His father would be displeased with his promiscuity. Had it been a random hooker, it would not have mattered, but this was a literal S-rank. All she had to do was say something, and his siblings, who, it must be said, disliked him, would make use of it to bring him down.
This, of course, was what had happened in the past.
The young Morningstar had been far too terrified of being a father so young that he completely ghosted the lady, even when it was extremely likely he was truly the father, given he had taken her virginity that night. Of course, the situation had gone out of hand. It came out in the most unexpected way possible, and that led to the young prince being withheld from the right to build his legion for a long time, as well as the young lady disappearing without a trace afterward.
The name Morningstar was far too important to be tarnished with something so illicit.
That was, perhaps, the start of his downfall.
"Please just pick up, I need you right now," he read out a part of the letter, noticing the desperation of the young lady.
She genuinely seemed like a woman in love, and the more he thought about it, he could not recall why he had such a sour image of her.
"No... I remember. Tracy," he muttered, and felt his fist clench involuntarily.
At this point, he realized he was not as apathetic as he thought. Some emotions were still wholly present, one of which was the hatred he carried for his maid.
Now that he thought about it, during this moment in the past, Tracy had been his confidant. Overwhelmed by the whole situation, he had opened up to her about his affair with the S-rank hunter, and how his journey, supposedly for an event in Ashville, had actually been spent with Queeneth, a whole month trying to win her over.
It was Tracy who had painted a picture of the young hunter as a gold-digging snake, and him as the victim, further increasing the gravity of the mess and making him understand how badly things would go if the news got out. She was the one who made him lose all the feelings he had for the young hunter.
And now that he thought about it, the news getting out might not have been a matter of Queeneth getting frustrated or trying to get back at him. Tracy might have had a hand in that as well.
Reading through the letter, he let out a breath, then looked down at the drawer where his phone was.
He picked it up, swiped it open, and inputted his password. [Queeneth]
It clicked open to the home screen. The image there was of him and the lady at a park. They had gone incognito, now he recalled, and the picture had been taken at a funny angle by her.
He swiped down and tapped on the phone app, then went to the blacklisted option to find the number.
[Love]
He muttered blankly at what was written there.
He glanced at the letter once more, then at the phone.
Then at the clock on the far wall.
Tap.
He called the number.
First ring.
Second.
It connected.
"H-hello... Rel, is... is that you?!" a voice erupted from the other side.
A distinct female voice, smooth in its cadence and unmistakably hers.
"It's me... Princess," he said, that last part coming after a long thought, recalling what he used to call her.
"You finally called, you stupid, selfish... idiot bastard! sobs"
He frowned. He was sure this was supposed to stir something in him, perhaps guilt, but... nothing. He felt nothing at all.
"I'm sorry,"
"SORRY FOR WHAT EXACTLY?! SORRY FOR LEAVING ME HANGING FOR TWO WHOLE MONTHS AFTER FLIPPING MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN?!" He could hear her breaking voice. She was in pain.
This clarity he felt was like nothing he had ever experienced before. It kept him from focusing on his own emotions and instead sharpened his ability to read hers.
"I was stupid,"
"Oh, that's news!"
"I want to talk,"
"..."
"Princess,"
"You know my name, idiot!"
"I'm sorry,"
"...I really hate you. I hate you so much!"
"It's all my fault. That's why I called. I want to make it up to you. I want to see you again," he said, and the other end went completely silent.
"Princess?"
"Why? Why did you change your mind now after ignoring me for two whole months?"
"I love you. I did before, and I still do. I was simply overwhelmed," he responded, forming a mental image of her current vulnerable state, then choosing his words carefully to dampen her doubts and regret.
It was not exactly true, since he felt nothing at all.
Or perhaps it was.
At this point, the young man floated in a void of his own existence. Only logic remained his compass.
Even now, he felt no guilt for what he had put her through. All he felt was a strange sense of responsibility.
And perhaps that was enough.
"....Don't say that,"
"I'm sorry,"
"Stop apologizing, dummy!" He could almost hear her relief.
"Let's meet up,"
"No, I'm... a mess right now,"
"Princess, I want to see you. Now," he said.
"Fine..."
"Where are you?" he asked.
"...Imperion," she responded after a breath of silence.
"You're... here?" he tilted his head with a frown. Could it be she had come all the way to meet him? But then why had she never come to him in the past?
'...Tracy.'
The thought surfaced again, and he let out a breath.
"Can you come to my estate?" he asked.
"...The Morningstar Manor?!" she said in shock.
"Alright, bad idea. How about I come to you?" he asked.
"I'm at..."
"WAIT," he interrupted as a thought came to him.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just don't say it over this line. I will get another phone and call you. If a call comes in after this, do not tell them your location. Is that clear?" he asked, getting out of bed.
"...O-okay?"
"Stay safe... for me,"
"Stop being so cheesy all of a sudden, you idiot! Argh!"
The call ended, and he let out a breath, staring at the time.
"Let's begin,"