Doctor Hailey

Hailey smiled wryly and said, “The guards and prisoners who saw me in the cell. Most of them know who I am. Even if my father doesn’t know my whereabouts now, he will soon enough.”

“You’re trying to rely on that wretched family of yours, huh? You drug addict.”

Hailey placed her hand on her hip.

“It’s easier and faster to make you a death row inmate than it is to make me a drug addict.”

“Ha, still high on your own supply, I see!”

Chief Investigator Grand glared and leaned closer to Hailey.

Seizing the opportunity, Hailey whispered in his ear, making sure the guard behind them couldn’t hear.

“I could strip off my clothes and bite my tongue to commit suicide right here. Do you think that guard would risk his life to defend you? You would be executed for arresting and assaulting an innocent heir of Salisbury.”

Grand gritted his teeth.

“Why? Just realizing it now? You’re an investigator, not a judge. No one has to pay for your judgments. Now, lead the way.”

Hailey walked on calmly.

Grand was likely unused to a noble lady speaking to him like this.

Despite her fear, she had learned something from watching Hetos deal with the guards and prisoners in the cell. If she was going to be punished, she might as well speak her mind.

Thankfully, Grand remained silent, walking steadily.

The academy was eerily quiet at this hour. Not even a mouse was stirring.

Grand headed toward the building right next to the main gate.

‘That’s where the professors’ offices are,’ Hailey thought, narrowing her eyes.

Why would he bring her there at this time? It was already strange enough to come to the academy to extract a confession.

— Evidence, testimony, confession!

They had barged into her room and taken everything, claiming it was evidence! It was absurd, but she didn’t bother pointing it out.

“We’ll hear the witness’s testimony here. Once you hear it, confess. It’s better for both of us to wrap this up quickly.”

Hailey couldn’t believe Grand’s words.

A witness at the academy? Was he planning to use one of the professors or students as a witness?

He was certainly capable of that.

He was already framing her as a criminal. Creating a false witness wouldn’t be hard for him.

“Who’s going to testify against me?”

“Why don’t you trust me?”

“Are you sure?”

He spoke confidently.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

As Grand walked on, a creaking sound came from behind.

Hailey turned her head.

The guards behind her also looked back.

‘Who is it? Could it be the witness?’

She narrowed her eyes, staring at the main gate that was slowly opening.

As the clouds moved away from the moon, the face of a stranger began to emerge from the shadows.

With his tall frame, she had to slightly lift her head to see him clearly.

Still, the details of his face remained elusive.

She squinted her eyes for a better view.

“Y-Your Highness!”

It seemed Grand hadn’t expected this witness.

The man stopped in front of Hailey.

With a clamor, Grand knelt on one knee.

Even the guards lowered their spears and knelt before the man standing in front of her.

Hailey found herself locked in the gaze of piercing blue eyes staring at her intently.

His eyes were like the cold, deep ocean.

Her gaze shifted to his wind-tousled blonde hair above his sculpted face.

“Hailey Salisbury.”

He spoke.

She instinctively took a step back.

The icy tone in his voice made her instinctively clutch her arms, causing the cuffs to jingle.

The clouds covered the moon again, but his expression was clear.

Hailey suppressed a gasp.

In both Korea and here, she had never seen anyone so strikingly handsome.

Wow, someone this handsome actually exists.

She bit her tongue lightly to gather her thoughts.

Grand called this man “Your Highness.” With his youthful and striking appearance, he must be Kai, the crown prince of the Raven Empire.

As she was about to kneel in greeting,

“Lady Hailey Salisbury.”

He called her again.

In her awkward stance, Hailey managed a faint smile.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Despite everything, she needed to show respect.

* * *

Kai frowned as he massaged his temples.

It was an unusually painful day.

Though he always suffered from headaches, today seemed to bring one troubling event after another.

He wished he could rest for just one day.

But the position of crown prince afforded him no such luxury.

“That will be all for today.”

“Your Highness, I will prepare your meal again.”

Only then did he realize he had worked through dinner again.

But that was all. He shook his head.

“No need. There’s no need to go to the trouble.”

For some time now, eating made his stomach feel heavy, and it made it difficult to sleep.

And what time was it now? The moon was already high. Eating while everyone else was asleep seemed absurd.

He rose to his feet.

Finally, he arranged the documents he would review the next morning on one side of his desk.

From the thick stack, one paper protruded.

Frowning, he pulled out the offending sheet.

“Investigation Bureau?”

The empire had two investigation bureaus, and the report came from the one directly under the royal family.

This bureau investigated crimes against or committed by the royal family.

Given the precious few royal family members, it rarely had any reports to submit.

—Hailey Salisbury.

His hand trembled at the name on the first line of the report.

Kai first met Hailey at the entrance ceremony of the medical academy, where she smiled brightly.

Ever since then, thinking of her made his heart race, which was not good for his health. He placed a hand lightly on his chest.

‘My heart… it’s racing again.’

Today was no exception.

Kai quickly lowered his hand, glancing around to make sure no one noticed.

If it became known that the crown prince’s health was poor, it could cause trouble.

But why would the royal investigation bureau be investigating Lady Hailey?

As he quickly skimmed through the report, his expression grew increasingly grim.

Finally, he threw the report to the floor and rushed out of his office.

“Your Highness!”

Ignoring the voice behind him, he sprinted toward the academy like the wind.

And then,

“Hailey Salisbury.”

Kai called her name.

He had run all the way from the royal palace to the medical academy.

Though he was out of breath, he showed no sign of it.

Hailey’s awkward smile was no different from the one she had on the day of the entrance ceremony.

Everything else was different.

Her long brown hair was not flowing freely but tied up messily, disheveled.

Her clothes were in tatters.

Her face showed undeniable fatigue instead of her usual lively spirit.

Hailey slowly knelt on one knee.

“Hailey of the Salisbury family greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

He swallowed, feeling his stomach churn.

He had felt strange since reading the report. His heart pounded much harder than it had in his office. He should have taken better care of his health.

“I apologize for not properly showing my respect due to these handcuffs.”

At Hailey’s words, Kai finally noticed the cuffs on her wrists.

Images from the report flashed through his mind.

His lips parted slightly.

As soon as he saw her name in the report, he had run over, but now, what should he say?

His mind was blank, unable to come up with any words.

“It’s been a while.”

It was the best he could manage. Despite knowing it was not a situation to smile, an involuntary faint smile crossed his lips.

However,

Hailey looked at him with a puzzled expression, furrowing her brows.

It seemed she did not remember him.