<Episode 71>

“Your Highness, why are you here?”

Eveline was just as startled. She spoke to him as he pretended to sleep while holding her.

He wasn’t actually asleep. She’d seen him smirk at Elkais and Abellard’s questions.

“I came to wake the young lady because she seemed to be having a nightmare.”

“I am awake now, though.”

“It just sort of happened.”

Crown Prince Ferite smiled as he sat up. Eveline, still groggy from waking up, struggled to grasp the situation.

“I couldn’t sleep at dawn.”

“What?”

“Can I just sleep a bit more before we talk?”

At Eveline’s words, the Crown Prince chuckled.

She was truly exhausted. She had been plagued by nightmares all night and had barely gotten any real sleep.

“Eve…”

“Don’t cry, brother. I won’t go back to sleep.”

When Abellard called out to Eveline, tears began to fall from his eyes, but Eveline shook her head.

“I wake up, and Your Highness is right beside me.”

“I thought the young lady was having a nightmare, so I came to wake you. But then you held onto me.”

“I see. I must have grabbed you in my sleep.”

Eveline said this as she tried to open her eyes. But, having slept so little, her head felt heavy, and she kept drifting off.

“I’d like to sleep alone, so would you all mind leaving?”

“I’m staying here.”

“Fine.”

Knowing that refusing would only make things more troublesome, Eveline agreed. At that, Abellard bent down and entered the attic.

Elkais watched them with a slightly annoyed expression before speaking.

“Are you very tired, Eveline?”

“Yes.”

Eveline noticed a strange sadness in Elkais’s voice and continued.

“It’s still early morning. Why don’t you come over here, too?”

When she said that, Elkais hesitated for a moment before moving closer to her.

“Let’s all get a bit more sleep together.”

“…Alright.”

Abellard deliberately wedged himself between Crown Prince Ferite and Eveline as he lay down. In response, Eveline turned her back to him.

When she turned, her eyes met with Elkais’s. He stared intently at her before lying down beside her.

“Eve, can’t you lie facing me?”

“Ah, I’m so sleepy. Good night, brother.”

“Huh? Oh, alright.”

As Abellard tried to say something, Eveline quickly cut him off and closed her eyes again.

She had only closed her eyes for a few moments before falling deeply asleep.

All four of them ended up truly sleeping together.

And so, they all overslept.

Eveline awoke to the sound of steady breathing and the sensation of someone gently stroking her hair.

She slowly opened her eyes to see Elkais, carefully tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

He seemed startled that she had woken up, his eyes widening in surprise.

Before he could apologize, Eveline smiled, and he mirrored her expression with a smile of his own.

Eveline thought how beautiful his red eyes looked when the sunlight caught them.

His pupils contracted in the light, then slowly dilated again. She could hear the steady thumping of his heart.

Eveline knew, in her mind, that dilating pupils and a racing heart could mean someone was either lying or feeling affection.

She reached out to touch Elkais’s face, running her fingers over his thick eyebrows, then playfully brushing them against the grain.

He smiled even more deeply as he gazed at her.

Eveline lowered her hand from his eyebrow, gently touching his eyelashes. The softness of his lashes contrasted with his stern expression, and she found it pleasant.

As she touched his eyelids and then his cheek, he opened his eyes.

It felt like she was touching the face of a predator. The moment their eyes met, a strange tension filled the air, and her heart began to race.

Her hand, which had been caressing his cheek, moved down to his nose. When her fingers brushed against his lips, he playfully nipped at them.

Eveline laughed at his antics, and in response, he pulled her finger further into his mouth, wrapping his tongue around it.

“…”

As she let out a soft sigh, he grew more insistent, tasting her hand with a playful persistence.

The sensation was both ticklish and pleasing. She enjoyed how he explored her fingers, lightly nibbling them.

It became difficult to think as their eyes remained locked. When she unconsciously tried to pull her hand away, he bit down gently, preventing her escape.

Eveline pressed her thumb against his lips and caught his tongue between her index and middle fingers. At her assertive gesture, Elkais closed his eyes with a pleased smile.

* * *

The four of them woke up around half past ten.

Though Eveline couldn’t be certain of the exact time, she guessed it based on the sun’s position, which hadn’t yet reached its peak, and the chirping of the birds.

“It’s nice to have something to eat for breakfast.”

The leopard meat they had left over a low flame was perfectly roasted.

“Eat up, Eve.”

“You too, brother. And don’t make a mess.”

“Alright.”

Eveline wiped Abellard’s mouth, as he seemed unaware that he had something on his lips, his focus entirely on her.

Only Eveline was unaware; Ferite and Elkais knew full well that Abellard wasn’t oblivious to the food on his lips.

“After the meal, I’ll go wash up.”

“I’ll join you, my lady.”

“You’re not allowed.”

Abellard’s firm response made Crown Prince Ferite chuckle.

Abellard found it infuriating how Ferite had sneakily tried to spend time alone with Eveline that morning. And his fox-like charm only made him more unbearable.

On top of that, Ferite was Eveline’s first love.

The thought drove Abellard to the brink of madness.

Moreover, he didn’t know if it was permissible to deal with Ferite simply because he was an Alpha. Until now, all his hunts, all the targets he had been ordered to eliminate, had been Omegas.

Corrupted Omegas at that.

But now, standing before him was an Alpha, dressed like him and Elkais, in ceremonial attire.

That made him even more loathsome. Perhaps Ferite was in the same position as himself.

“I’ll go alone.”

Eveline insisted.

After the meal, Eveline spoke up.

“I’ll go alone.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Abellard thought it would be better to let Eveline go with Elkais rather than entrust her to Crown Prince Ferite.

Whatever else might be true, Elkais hadn’t taken advantage of Eveline, despite having had plenty of opportunities. And if anything urgent came up, Abellard could always rush over.

Abellard found Crown Prince Ferite highly suspicious and thought it might be a good opportunity to pry something out of him while they were alone together.

Not that sending Eveline off with Elkais made him feel entirely at ease.

But sending her alone was even more unsettling.

What if she got hurt?

Of course, if she got hurt, he could treat her, but she would still suffer. He would rather endure the pain himself.

“Why don’t we draw lots?”

“Is that allowed?”

“Yes, of course.”

Crown Prince Ferite conjured up a long piece of ice. Among the sticks of ice, one had a white tip.

“Whoever picks this one will go with the young lady.”

Abellard thought it was a reasonable approach but couldn’t help letting out a sigh.

“You go first.”

“Very well.”

Elkais stepped closer to Crown Prince Ferite, examining the sticks. Without hesitation, he picked one.

“No way!”

On his first try, he pulled the stick that would let him accompany Eveline.

Abellard pouted like a sulking child. Even though he preferred Elkais over the Crown Prince, it still bothered him that Elkais seemed to be the one who always ended up with Eveline.

“Eve, remember you promised to go with me next time.”

“But we already drew lots.”

“Eve…”

“Let’s go together tomorrow.”

By the time Abellard remembered what he had said before, it was too late.

“Then, next time, after Lord Abellard, it’ll be my turn. It’s probably best to take turns keeping watch.”

“Alright.”

Eveline answered absently, gathering the handkerchiefs nearby.

Then she added, “Please, try not to fight while I’m gone, brother.”

“Okay… When you get back, let’s go together when I bathe.”

“Who will be on guard duty then, Your Highness?”

“Tell them to manage on their own.”

“I can handle it with magic. The young lady can keep an eye on the lord.”

As Crown Prince Ferite retreated slightly, Abellard’s suspicion only deepened, casting a sharp gaze at him.

“You’re a difficult person to please, Lord Abellard. You don’t like friendliness, but being antagonistic only makes things louder.”

“What did you say?”

“Please, no fighting. I beg you.”

“Eve…”

Abellard lowered his head at Eveline’s words, then gently grasped the sleeve of her nightgown and whispered.

“Promise you’ll be back soon, alright?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll pick some wild berries before you return.”

“That would be nice.”

And so, Eveline, with a strange sense of familiarity, set off with Elkais.

They walked separately until they reached the edge of the cabin, but as they approached the lake, Elkais reached out and took her hand.

As the lake came into view, Eveline felt a strange sense of tension.

The water was as clear as ever, revealing the fish swimming beneath the surface.

“Let’s catch some fish later.”

“Alright.”

She released Elkais’s hand and took out the pistol hidden beneath her negligee, setting it down nearby.

After assembling the gun and the magazine, she placed it down and looked at him.

Elkais furrowed his brow, hesitating before finally speaking.

“Can’t we bathe together?”

As he spoke, Elkais’s face turned a deep shade of red, making it difficult for her to refuse.