In the Doghouse - Chapter 172
The Emperor, who had by now pieced together the full extent of Richard’s actions, sighed deeply and rubbed his temples.
“You absolute lunatic…”
Richard silently agreed with his father’s rebuke. His original plan had simply been to act as though he was sneaking out in the middle of the night, just to provoke a reaction.
But as Courtney continued to show no response, his desperation grew. He feared that her interest in him had completely vanished.
In his impatience, he devised yet another scheme, each one more extreme than the last, until he had crossed a line he couldn’t uncross. Looking back now, he wondered what had possessed him.
The Emperor, casting an irritated glance at the attendants standing at the door, shouted,
“Take this fool out of here right now!”
The attendants rushed into the room and hesitantly took hold of the prince by both arms, shutting their eyes as if bracing for impact.
Yet Richard didn’t resist. Keeping his gaze fixed on Courtney, he pleaded in a desperate voice.
“Courtney, I was a fool. Please…”
The Emperor glanced at Richard with obvious disapproval, then turned to look at the woman who met his gaze with a pained but resolute expression. The absurdity of his son’s behavior made him feel no urge to shield him from her fury. Still, he felt obliged to speak.
“So, what do you wish to do, Crown Princess?”
“Nothing has changed, Your Majesty. My terms remain the same. If you agree to what we discussed, I will honor my promise.”
The Emperor sighed. Richard’s eyes widened in shock as he realized the conversation was progressing without him.
“What terms? Courtney, tell me what they are. I’ll do anything if you’ll forgive me…”
Both the Emperor and Courtney cast him a brief, sidelong glance, but neither offered any further explanation.
Shaking off the attendants holding his arms, Richard broke free and approached Courtney, determined to beg if he had to.
But Courtney backed away, making her disdain clear. Her expression was one of utter exasperation.
“Courtney…”
He whispered, sinking to his knees in despair. He reached out toward her, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to touch her.
With a disapproving sigh, the Emperor spoke with gravity,
“Very well. I pledge on my crown.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Courtney rose from her seat, glancing at Richard one last time with icy indifference before turning toward the door.
“Courtney, please… I was wrong…”
But she didn’t look back. As she walked away, Richard found himself paralyzed, unable to rise.
He knew that an apology couldn’t erase his actions, but he had no other words to offer.
He had finally achieved the very thing he’d sought—the full extent of Courtney’s anger and contempt. But all he felt now was suffocating despair.
* * *
Back in Courtney’s room, another person was on edge. Having learned of Courtney’s pregnancy and the events that had transpired, Rebecca was overwhelmed with guilt.
After circling the room like a nervous bee, Rebecca dropped to her knees as soon as Courtney entered.
“Your Highness, I am so sorry…”
Courtney took a startled step back, while Isabella, standing beside her, merely shrugged, making no move to intervene.
Rebecca knelt on the floor, her head nearly touching the ground, her voice trembling with remorse. Courtney reached out a hand, beckoning her to stand.
“Please, get up.”
But Rebecca, overcome with guilt, couldn’t bring herself to take Courtney’s hand. With her head bowed, she confessed in a wavering voice.
“I should have only listened to you, Your Highness, but… but when His Highness the Crown Prince asked for my help, just this once, I… I couldn’t refuse…”
“I know, Rebecca. But please, stand up.”
“I’m truly sorry. I’ll leave the palace at once if you’ll forgive me…”
Rebecca’s voice broke as she wept. It wasn’t fear of punishment that drove her tears. Rather, it was the thought that if not for her, things might not have spiraled so terribly. She blamed herself more than she blamed the prince.
With a resigned expression, Courtney extended her hand again.
“I’m really not angry with you. The Crown Prince gave you orders, and I understand you felt compelled to follow them.”
Her voice was gentle, and she meant it sincerely. She didn’t hold any resentment toward Rebecca. In retrospect, Rebecca’s attempts at persuasion had been clumsy and poorly executed. Suspicious, yes, but ineffective.
If anything, it had occasionally led her to suspect that all of this was just another one of Richard’s schemes. It wasn’t a powerless maid who should bear the blame.
Rebecca lifted her head, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Courtney’s calm expression and flat stomach, then broke into fresh sobs.
“No, it’s my fault… I just felt like… like you only trusted Madam Millen, Your Highness…”
“What?”
Rebecca buried her face in her hands and sobbed openly. Courtney, bewildered, turned to Isabella for clarity.
“What is she talking about?”
“Well…”
Isabella, already aware of the situation, looked down, hesitant to explain. Courtney shook her head in frustration.
“What else don’t I know?”
“Rebecca, you should tell her,” Isabella urged.
“Y-yes… I will…”
Sniffling, Rebecca struggled to compose herself as she began to recount what had happened. Courtney handed her a handkerchief to help her collect herself.
“Once… I followed the chief aide and met with His Highness the Crown Prince in secret.”
Rebecca’s voice trembled as she explained everything that had led up to this point.
