When the princess was fiddling with the letter, suddenly there was a commotion outside.
Thud. The sound of something falling in the courtyard, startled by the patrol team’s voice, the princess sharply asked.
“Is it an intruder?”
“I will check.”
The knight who had been guarding the princess quickly jumped out. Then the knight returned with a sheepish face.
“What happened?”
“Well, that is… Miss Ciello has arrived.”
“Ciello?”
‘Just as the duke said.’
The princess nodded as she looked at the letter.
“Guide her. I will go out.”
The princess put on her coat over her indoor clothes, and the knight hurriedly pushed the wheelchair towards the transfer gate.
Arriving at the gate, Ciello was holding Noah and the elder, crying unexpectedly.
“What is this…Has the mansion been raided?”
At the princess’s worried question, Noah quietly shook his head.
“No, it seems they had a fight.”
Noah whispered softly to the princess.
“A fight? A battle?”
“No, no, not in that sense…I mean, she had a quarrel with the Duke.”
At Noah’s mumbling, the princess nodded.
‘It’s a quarrel disguised as a fight.’
But Ciello was crying too sorrowfully for it to be an act. The elder comforted Ciello, patting her back.
“Are you going to cry more here? Or will you go inside and cry?”
“I’m okay now…”
Ciello sobbed and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. But for some reason, as soon as Ciello saw the handkerchief, she seemed to remember something and cried out in sorrow again.
‘That girl… I don’t think she can act like that.’
The elder, as if familiar, sighed and comforted Ciello. The princess’s forehead creased.
‘Is it the Duke’s unilateral plan?’
The princess sighed.
‘If it’s that guy, he could do it. But if he’s so harsh, will that girl’s sanity remain, well…’
Noah discreetly pulled a handkerchief from his own pocket and offered it to Ciello.
“Thank you…”
Ciello, distraught, buried her face in the handkerchief, sobbing. She didn’t seem to realize that the person who offered her the handkerchief was Noah. At that sight, the elder laughed and shook her head.
“The princess is here too. Now go inside and cry more.”
“Huh.”
Ciello quickly got up and bowed politely to the princess.
“I apologize for my rudeness, Princess. If it’s okay with you, may I stay in this castle?”
Sniff. Ciello barely held back her tears and spoke.
“The Duke’s heart, sob, uncomfortable, and I’m scared that my ability might disappear again…”
Ciello’s eyes turned red again. The princess looked at her with sympathetic eyes.
When she first heard about Ciello through the elder, she thought, regardless of the circumstances, how could a pickpocket who harms others be righteous? But her behavior, which seemed to do as she pleased, yet struggled to do her assigned tasks well, was pitiful and admirable.
Perhaps not only Ciello, but many good people are committing unwanted evil deeds and living their days. It was her job to allow those people to pay for their sins and live a new life. And to punish the one who created this shackle.
“Ciello. You don’t have to talk about your abilities. If you’ve decided to be my person, I have a duty to protect you.”
The princess lightly tapped Ciello’s arm.
“So come in as Perez said and cry more. The night wind is cold.”
“Yes. Thank you…”
The knight pushed the princess’s wheelchair, and the elder followed, leaning on her cane. Noah, who was left behind, patted the sobbing Ciello’s shoulder and entered the castle.
“There’s an empty room on the second floor, the fourth one. Guide Ciello there.”
“Okay. Noah. Can I ask you for this? I think I’ve caught a cold. If I’m not careful, I’ll pass it on to you.”
At the words of the princess and the elder, Noah nodded.
“Yes. Both of you rest comfortably. Ciello, let’s go.”
After Noah saluted, he guided Ciello to the stairs. Then Ciello, who had finally stopped sobbing, spoke to Noah.
“I’m sorry. I suddenly…”
“What are you sorry for? Obviously, that person must have done something wrong.”
Noah answered coolly, lowering his head, but his face was filled with complex emotions.
Noah had noticed the relationship between Ciello and Estribal. So he thought he would naturally step back if Ciello could live happily.
But now.
“Well. It might be hard to do as well as where you were, but at least your mind will be at ease, won’t it?”
Noah opened the door and spoke. As he said, the room was modest but clean. Ciello hesitated and entered the room.
“If you need anything, tell me. It’s a bit hard to talk to adults, isn’t it?”
“Thank you.”
Ciello nodded her head. Noah lightly squeezed and let go of Ciello’s shoulder.
“Then rest well, and let’s talk tomorrow.”
“Yeah. You sleep well too.”
****
The next day, Ciello was thrilled at the princess’s order to infiltrate the founding ceremony disguised as a palace maid. Her spirited voice made one wonder if she was the same person who had cried so much yesterday.
“I can really do it. I’ve already learned all the rules to follow in the palace!”
Of course, it wouldn’t be as good as going with the Duke, but at least as a maid in disguise, she would have enough to look around the palace. The princess closed her mouth, wondering whether to tell that this plan came from Estribal’s mind. There must have been a reason why he didn’t instruct Ciello directly, but told her.
“That’s right. It won’t be difficult if you practice a little more with the kids I brought.”
“Yes!”
Noah shrugged his shoulders at Ciello, who was nodding her head.
“I think you’re the only maid with swollen eyes.”
“Hey!”
Noah chuckled and teased. The princess smiled slightly.
“That’s right. It seems your mood has improved a bit.”
Ciello scratched her cheek as if embarrassed.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“No. It’s not a sin to show emotions in a private place.”
“Hey, but yesterday was a bit too much… Ah!”
Ciello jabbed Noah’s waist with her elbow as she spoke spiritedly. Noah pretended to scream, clutching his waist. Ciello glared at him and then sighed.
“I want to sort out my thoughts for a moment. I’m not used to thinking a lot in my daily life, so when I think a lot, it’s really hard.”
Ciello mumbled, tapping her foot shod in worn leather shoes. This time, Noah didn’t tease her. In fact, everyone knew that Noah’s joke was to lighten Ciello’s mood. The princess spoke kindly.
“That’s right. First, rest enough.”
“Oh, but the practice…”
“It’s okay. Let’s try again when you feel better.”
“That’s right. And what if it doesn’t work? There will definitely be another opportunity…”
Then, a servant rushed into the room. The princess turned her gaze.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt. Elder Perez has collapsed.”
The princess’s eyes widened. The other two also got up from their seats in surprise.
“Collapsed? The elder?”
“I see. Let’s go quickly.”
Noah quickly pushed the princess’s wheelchair towards the room where the elder was. Worry, tension, and a sense of responsibility were evident on Noah’s face. Ciello, who noticed this, spoke brightly to Noah.
“Hey, it’ll be okay!”
“That’s right. It should be.”
The princess also agreed with Ciello’s words, but Noah only briefly answered yes.
“Noah, come in quickly.”
In the elder’s bedroom, several other Liberation Force executives had gathered. Most of them, with serious expressions, were older than Noah.
“Elder. Noah is here.”
The executives immediately made way for Noah to talk to the elder. Noah saluted respectfully.
“Thank you.”
Ciello stepped back a little in the heavy atmosphere, which was quite different from the usual playful mood. Then Noah spoke to Ciello.
“You come too, Ciello.”
“Me too?”
Ciello’s eyes widened in surprise. Noah silently nodded and reached out his hand to Ciello.
“Come.”
“Uh…”
Ciello awkwardly held his fingertips and followed him to the bedside where the elder lay. The subtle gaze of the other executives was felt at the fingertips of the two touching people.
Ciello subtly let go of his hand, as if she was embarrassed. Noah clenched and unclenched his empty hand, then calmly knelt in front of the bed.
“Elder, are you okay? It’s Noah.”
The elder faintly opened her eyes and smiled.
“What a boast for an old woman to have startled you like this.”
At the elder’s chuckle, Ciello looked upset.
“Is it because of me, grandma? I was outside with you for too long yesterday…Should I try this?”
Ciello made a gesture of snapping her fingers, but the elder shook her head with a smile.
“It’s useless, Ciello. It’s a natural course for an old woman to lie in bed. This is not a problem that can be solved by moving time.”
“Don’t give up, Perez. There is no case where effort is useless.”
The princess nodded her head firmly, as if to boost her spirits. Then the princess asked her attending physician.
“Doctor, is there no other solution?”
At the princess’s question, the doctor cautiously answered.
“I’m sorry, but there doesn’t seem to be any particular ailment…She just has to take care of her body without overexerting it.”
“Your Highness. I appreciate the grace you have bestowed upon this old woman, but it seems that it is time for me to step down.”
The elder turned her head with a smile and looked at Noah.
“Most of the work has already been done by you… Now it seems that it is really time to pass this position to you, Noah.”
“Elder!”
Noah, who had been calm, urgently shook his head.
“Don’t say that. I still have a lot to learn.”
“Of course. But I am also lacking in some aspects compared to you, Noah.”
The elder looked around at the other Liberation Force executives with a faint smile. They were already silent, as if they had foreseen this situation, and were sending encouragement to Noah with their eyes.
“So I hope you all understand each other’s shortcomings and build the Liberation Force together with Noah. And…”
At the elder’s gesture, one of the executives brought a round orb.
“Our Liberation Force aims for the liberation of Peregrine itself, not the Peregrine dynasty. But the orb of this royal family has a deep weight, so now Noah, you should cherish it.”
The orb looked like an ordinary bead, its decorations that adorned the surface were broken. The national symbol that had been on top had fallen off a long time ago. At that moment, Ciello felt a sense of foreboding and murmured, “Uh.”
“Ciello?”
