She looked around with vigilance and tapped her blue necklace. A barrier formed around them and she said in a pleading tone. "I'm sorry for disturbing you again, but I need some help."
"You don't like your marriage?" Varian asked back casually.
If he said that in public, he'd be jailed. It's much riskier to say that in front of the Princess no less, but he didn't seem to care.
Suppressing her shock at his brazeness, Catherine bit her lip and nodded. "Barix Province wants the most talented princess while Centaurus is happy to just form a bond through marriage. I like Prince Theoron, but I can't reject the marriage, it's the key to my father's dream."
"So, what do you want me to do?" Varian raised a brow.
"P-Prince Theoron is not missing, he's in the Duchy! I met him in Ubiq, but since then I couldn't contact him. He must be in Hera now, but no matter how many people I use and networks I tap into, I can't find him. I-If he's found, then everything will be…" Catherine said with gritted teeth.
Varian didn't agree directly.
He saw Theoron in that inn with Catherine a few days ago. That guy wasn't willing to get into this marriage and was spouting that Barix Province would destroy Centaurus or something. He seemed a bit insane, to be honest.
Since Theoron could escape from Barix Province's guards, and remain hidden from the Princess' search, there must be a powerhouse behind him. Most likely a rank 3. Maybe even rank 4.
If he tried to 'bring' Theoron to a marriage he didn't want, the powerhouse would act against Varian. It's a tough situation.
But it's not that there's no chance. Varian could already handle most rank 3s. Even if it's a rank 4, he's confident of escaping.
Still—
"Why isn't he revealing himself if he's here already?"
Catherine hesitated for a long time before admitting. "H-He wants to run away. He says there's going to be a war on the day of marriage. That Barix would destroy Centaurus. H…He might've been attacked by Spirit Awakeners. I don't know. But I can't lose him. As long as we get married, then things can be sorted out, somehow."
"So I should find him?" Varian crossed his arms.
Catherine looked at him with eyes full of hope.
"Why?"
"I-I can repay you in whatever way I can."
"I need a key to the treasury."
"Y-Yes?"
"A key to the Duke's treasury at least a few hours before your marriage."
"T-That's a bit too…" Catherine's face paled and her teeth chattered. Even for her, it's not an easy thing to do.
But seeing Varian's stern face, she hesitated but still asked. "W-What are you going to do with it?"
Varian laughed at her innocent question. "What else? I'll stroll in the treasury, little princess."
Even Catherine knew how dumb her question was and blushed. "P-Promise me, that you won't take something strategic, something that could cause a big loss to the Duke."
"Once I have the key, do you think I'll still follow a promise?" Varian shook his head in disbelief. What the hell was this girl thinking?
Catherine straightened her back and looked him in the eyes with a serious gaze. "I judge people fairly well. You're not an innocent or naive person, perhaps not even a good guy by normal standards, but you have a basic conscience."
"…Now that's going a bit too far." Varian shrugged. "I do have a conscience, but I stopped letting it get into my decision-making a while ago."
A few weeks ago when he first found the Blood Race, they declared they'd rather die than submit.
Varian had two choices then. Take the long path and slowly persuade them. Or take the short path and let the blood overflow. While two paths would reach the same conclusion, he picked the bloodier path.
His conscience did scream at him back then but he ignored it willfully.
If he did find something important to Human Empire in the treasury, the so-called conscience wouldn't stop him from picking it.
Even if he had a good impression of the Princess as a person, his duty as the Emperor wouldn't let him do something as foolish as passing up a critical treasure for a few righteous words.
"…Then I misjudged you." Catherine sighed.
"So, the deal is off?"
"No. I don't have a choice, do I?" Catherine smiled wryly.
"You do. You could just marry that guy or whatever. Give up your love before marriage and try falling in love after marriage."
"…It seems like you've never been in love, Mr. Constantine. There are some things you can't just forget and move on."
Varian smiled. "Even if Theoron is by your own admission, a bit crazy now?"
"Yes. If he's in trouble, I've to help him, not push him away." Catherine said with a bright smile.
Varian looked at her with a serious expression before breaking into a smile and shaking hands. "May we both achieve our dreams."
— — — —
Theoron looked at the magnificent decorations with a sorrowful gaze. 'Everything will be gone in a few days.'
A wrinkled old man walked next to him with a cane. Anyone could tell that they're related.
Except that both were using face masks. To date, Theoron never saw the face of the man behind the red mask.
"You should find her." The old man said slowly and set his gaze to the Duke's Palace, to be specific, the Duke's treasury. "…And I'll find what I want."
"I've been hiding from the people she sent for me," Theoron said as they walked through a street lined up with blooming flowers. "I have to meet her directly and then convince her to come with me."
"…If that doesn't work?"
Theoron clutched his forehead and the disturbing images flashed in his mind. Everyone was underestimating the Lord of Barix. Not him. He knew how dangerous his father was. Just a glimpse into his plans was already enough for him to fear him like a monster.
If he really showed up now, he'd have to return to the Barix side first. And they'd either kill him or worse, distort his memories.
He didn't dare to trust the people Catherine sent. There were plenty of spies implanted by Barix Lord.
One wrong move and it's over.
"…I'll take her away. She'll hate me for some time, but once she sees what happened, she'll understand."
The old man nodded and left, leaving behind the words. "I'll help you out once. If you succeed, I'll send the two of you away. If you fail, I'll take you to safety. But either ways, only once."
Theoron nodded with a stiff face and they parted ways.
After thinking for a long time, Theoron sat on a bench in a park with shining flowers and a glittering lake.
Meeting Catherine secretly now was exceedingly difficult. But Theoron had to try. As he racked his brains, he saw a young man walking with several imperial guards.
They were getting off duty and didn't bother to maintain their usual cold face and stiff posture. Still, they would've remained stern. But the young man with them was joking and laughing with them.
The young man was wearing a half-mask but—
'Constantine!' The Prince recognized him right away.
