Before the awkwardness settled between them, Bertina asked, “How did you find out?”
It was a question without a subject, but it was impossible not to understand.
Just moments ago, he had been crying without a care, and now Enoch lifted his head as if nothing was wrong and said, “I saw it with my own eyes.”
“What? How did that happen?”
“There’s a forest between my mother’s palace and mine. I ran into him while passing through that forest.”
Enoch didn’t say where he was going through that forest. It was a matter of pride.
Bertina didn’t pry into that part, either. She had a rough demeanor but was good at sensing people’s weaknesses. It was a sense that only someone who had been weak in the same way could have.
The girl asked, “Who was it?”
“The fourth prince.”
“The fourth prince?”
“Yeah. His name is Kinas Nasant.”
“I’ve never heard of him.”
Bertina frowned as she said this. She had always had trouble remembering her siblings’ names. It was because she wasn’t used to such complicated names in the place where she grew up.
She said her original name was very short and simple. She received this name when she entered the palace. As she spoke, Bertina pouted as if she were displeased.
Enoch wanted to know what her original name was, but Bertina didn’t tell him. She said it was a secret that she couldn’t share with just anyone.
However, in the case of Kinas, she might really not know. Enoch recalled that he had also seen the fourth prince for the first time that day. He might have crossed paths with him when they were very young, but at least from the moment he started to remember, it was a face he had never seen before. If he had, he wouldn’t have been able to forget it, so that was a fair assumption.
Enoch frowned as he thought about it more. “It’s strange, though. I’d never seen him before.”
“What? How is that possible? We gather quite often.”
While it was a bit of a stretch to describe their meetings as frequent—only coming together on official occasions—it seemed that even that was frequent in Bertina’s view.
Enoch didn’t bother correcting her perspective. That kind of relativity wasn’t important.
He said, “It’s just odd. We should have crossed paths at least once.”
“Maybe you’ve met him but just don’t remember?”
“That can’t be. He looks just like the Emperor.”
Although he didn’t attach any honorifics to his words, Bertina didn’t challenge him on it. She was the only one who understood the pain he felt whenever he encountered the Emperor.
Bertina furrowed her brow. “I’m not sure.”
“Right.”
It was a comment he had made without expecting much anyway. Enoch nodded.
It was then that the girl added, “But my sister might know. I’ll ask her.”
“Iliad?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t say you asked.” She stood up, speaking as if she understood his concerns.
“Okay.”
Enoch wanted to ask her to stay just a little longer, but his remaining pride held him back.
“Alright.”
Bertina looked at him quietly, as if trying to read the feelings behind his unbothered response.
She added in a small voice, “Take care.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Two days later, Bertina came to visit him again. Enoch was a bit surprised that she hadn’t called him to the garden this time. Bertina disliked the gazes of others and often avoided moving between her siblings’ palaces.
He had thought she would simply tell him to come out. Enoch thought as he looked at the girl sitting on the sofa in his reception room.
She was wearing a red dress that matched the color of her hair, and she seemed to be in a good mood, smiling brightly.
The girl said, “I found out!”
“What did you find out?”
“About the Fourth Prince. My sister told me. He doesn’t usually appear at official events.”
Enoch already knew that. What he was curious about was the reason behind it.
As he set a box of snacks down in front of Bertina, he asked, “Why? Is there a reason?”
“A long time ago, something happened, and since then, the Emperor said he didn’t have to appear anymore.”
“Really? What happened?”
“I don’t know that much. My sister didn’t tell me.”
“Probably for the best, anyway.” Saying that, Bertina opened the snack box and took out a treat topped with stewed fruit. It was her favorite kind of snack.
Watching the girl take a big bite of the treat, Enoch asked, “Are you happy to have found that out?”
“Hmm? How did you know I was happy?”
She responded with a look of curiosity, her expression rather innocent. Enoch couldn’t help but smile slightly at her demeanor as he replied, “It’s written all over your face.”
“Oh, really?”
“But that’s not why I’m happy,” Bertina said, popping the remaining snack into her mouth. She absentmindedly brushed the crumbs off her hand and picked up the teacup next to the snack box.
As she gulped down the tea filled with jam and milk, Enoch asked, “Then why are you happy?”
“I found something precious.”
Her tone sounded like something a pirate would say. Although he had never met a pirate, Enoch thought that as soon as he heard Bertina’s words.
“You shouldn’t say that elsewhere.” He looked at the girl with a bit of concern and asked, “What did you find?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“What? Then why did you mention it?” He didn’t hide his disappointment, but Bertina just smiled broadly.
“I’ll let you know when we meet in the garden later.”
In other words, she was telling him to come outside if he was curious. Enoch shook his head at the girl, who had a triumphant expression.
“Okay, got it. Next time, we’ll meet outside.”
At that, Bertina immediately raised the corners of her mouth. “You should have said that sooner.”
Enoch was about to tell her that if she had mentioned it earlier, he would have gone out today, but he stopped himself. After all, he was two years older than her, and he didn’t want to come off as childish.
That day, as Bertina stood up to leave, she added, “Three days later at three o’clock, come to the place where we always meet.”
It sounded like she was plotting something very secretive. Enoch struggled to contain his laughter and replied, “Okay.”
“If you’re late, I won’t let it slide.”
“I’ve never been late.”
That wasn’t a lie. He had never been tardy for their meetings. Given that he had only been waiting for her, it was only natural.
But Bertina frowned as if she couldn’t believe him. “But I have waited for you before!”
“That’s because you came out too early,” he replied.
“Does that matter?”
Then what does? Enoch shook his head slightly, holding back the words that nearly made it to his throat.
“Okay, okay. I’ll go out on time, so don’t worry.”
Hmm. With an expression that feigned disbelief, Bertina added quietly, “If you come out on time that day, I’ll tell you what you’ve been wanting to know.”
Her tone sounded as if she was doing him a favor. Enoch asked the girl, whose expression betrayed a hint of hesitation, “What do you mean by that?”
“If you want to know what it is, then come out on time.”
With that, she tilted her chin up. Enoch wanted to say that he was always on time, but he held back. After all, he was two years older than her.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
However, it was Bertina who didn’t keep the promise.
Two days after their meeting, she left the palace and went to Count Heseta’s territory. Iliad had suddenly decided to take her with her for a planned inspection of the count’s lands.
Bertina had not even thought to refuse. Enoch learned this from the whispers of the palace maids. The girl had smiled brightly and jumped with joy the moment Iliad made the offer.
Of course. Trying to suppress the rising feelings of betrayal and sadness, Enoch muttered to himself. Bertina had always wanted to leave the palace, so she must have seized the opportunity without hesitation.
Logically, he understood, but his gloom didn’t dissipate easily. Every night, Enoch curled up and thought about it. Just one more day, and she could have kept her promise before leaving. What was the rush to leave without looking back?
“…She was the one who suggested we meet first.”
See? I’ve always kept my promises. Even though he muttered these words in frustration, there was no one to hear him out. This realization made Enoch feel even more miserable. It hurt more because he had considered her a friend.
If it had been me, I would have hesitated even once.
While pushing the untouched box of snacks into a corner of the reception room, he muttered to himself. If it had been me, I would have looked back at least once.
But she hadn’t. To her, freedom was more important. Just like how Letina had been with Eben.
Even though this wasn’t the first time he had experienced such a thing, Enoch couldn’t shake off his thoughts of the girl for a long time.
