[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 25

"Announce the engagement officially."

"Are you sure about this?" Seth asked with concern at Edwin’s command.

"It can’t be hidden forever. It's better to reveal it sooner."

"I wonder how the royal family will react."

"They’ll be shocked, no doubt. They won’t know what hit them," Edwin said, placing his long legs on the footrest below the sofa with a grin.

"Raven’s surveillance will likely increase."

"Doesn’t that sound fun? The most thrilling moment in a hunt isn’t when you catch the prey but when you’re driving it toward the trap."

He smirked, thinking about how the prey, unaware of the hunter’s snare, would run frantically, only to be gripped by fear and despair when it finally faced the hunter.

"How exciting will this hunt be?" Edwin’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"I’ll prepare for the hunt to coincide with the engagement announcement," Seth replied.

Edwin nodded in agreement. 

"Um... There aren't many days left until that day. Are you sure it’ll be alright?" Seth asked cautiously.

The smile vanished from Edwin’s face as he took off the necklace hidden beneath his clothes. 

It was an item of great importance to him, one he always kept concealed from others. Attached to a platinum chain was a small, round glass vial filled with black shards that shifted in colour like a rainbow depending on the angle.

"I can hold out a little longer," he said.

Edwin tightened his grip on the glass vial.

"I wonder what Madam would think..." Seth hesitated, carefully watching Edwin’s reaction.

"She hasn’t awakened her abilities yet. There’s no need to scare her unnecessarily. She’s already quite frightened as it is." He couldn’t understand why she trembled so much over something as simple as being fed.

It was endearing, yet also frustrating. What had he done wrong? He was being as gentle and kind as possible with her. If he acted the way he normally would, she might actually run away.

His bride was as timid as a rabbit. A rabbit... Now that he thought about it, her white hair did resemble that of a rabbit. The way she trembled with her head down also reminded him of one.

A smirk crept across Edwin’s face. Seth noticed the sudden shift in Edwin’s mood but didn’t dare question it. Edwin’s emotions were notoriously unpredictable, changing several times a day. However, it was rare to see him in such a good mood, so Seth couldn’t help but be a little curious.

"So, what do you plan to do on that day?" Seth pushed his curiosity aside and asked with a serious expression.

"I’ll make sure my bride doesn’t leave the room. I’ll give her instructions beforehand, but just in case, you need to keep a close eye on her."

"Understood," Seth responded, bowing with a stern expression.

*  

"The Duke of Crawford is engaged?"

"Yes, the Crawford family has officially announced the engagement," Dylan reported, prompting Crown Prince Genoa to chuckle in disbelief.

"Did he kidnap her? Or maybe he threatened her? No sane person would willingly marry a man infamous as a mad killer."

"We haven’t confirmed anything yet."

"You’ve investigated the fiancée, haven’t you?" Genoa asked, extending his hand. Dylan, for once, looked uncharacteristically troubled.

"Why?" Genoa questioned.

"We did investigate, but there isn’t much information."

"Let me see it," Genoa demanded.

Reluctantly, Dylan handed over a single sheet of paper, with only a few lines of information on it.

"What is this?" Genoa’s voice dropped, a sign of his growing displeasure, which darkened Dylan’s expression further.

"My apologies. We tried our best, but we could find nothing beyond her name."

"Did the Duke block the information?"

"There are no signs of him deliberately erasing her traces."

That in itself was suspicious. The Duke might be erratic, but he was meticulous when it came to matters concerning himself and his family.

"Angelina... I’ve never heard of that name before."

"We’ve reviewed all the noble registries, but no such name exists."

"Could she be an illegitimate child not listed in the records?"

"None of the illegitimate children we’ve identified bear that name."

"Well, that’s a relief. At least there’s no one foolish enough to challenge the royal family directly," Genoa remarked. The strained relationship between the royal family and the Crawford family was no secret. An alliance with the Crawfords through marriage would be a blatant declaration of opposition to the royal family.

"In conclusion, she must be a commoner, so why can’t we trace her past?"

"We’ve found a few women named Angelina, but none of them have any connection to the Crawford family."

"What about other countries? The western border is close."

"We’re still investigating that possibility."

"Why would he suddenly decide to get engaged? And to a commoner at that?" Genoa rested his chin on his clasped hands. Given the ongoing tension with the royal family, it would make more sense if the engagement were with a powerful family. Yet, the fact that the Duke’s fiancée had no prior title and unclear origins suggested she might even be an orphan.

"Perhaps he thinks it’s time to secure an heir? The Crawford line has never been broken before," Dylan suggested.

"True. Some previous duchesses were commoners as well," Genoa admitted. The dukes of Crawford had always been notorious for their eccentricity and madness, which made the more prestigious families hesitant to form marital ties. Consequently, the Crawfords were often more lenient regarding their brides' backgrounds. Still, Genoa couldn’t help but feel puzzled.