Episode 25
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
It’s funny how even in such a situation, he maintains proper etiquette.
Nevertheless, I stood up and bowed respectfully.
My startled heart was still pounding.
It wasn’t a hallucination or mistaking him for someone else.
“You were out at this hour yesterday too.”
Yesterday?
Did this person really came to see me last night?
“Although palace security is the best in the empire, perfection is unattainable in human affairs. It’s not wise to roam alone at such ambitious hours. Aren’t you the only daughter of the duke?”
Although I didn’t like him, his words made sense.
Accepting was the right thing to do, so I nodded.
“If you enjoy exposing yourself to danger, I won’t stop you, but a person getting hurt in my territory carries a different meaning.”
As he said that, the Crown Prince handed me a black robe.
“If you can’t sleep, care to join me for a walk?”
What should I believe in you?
I thought, but I wasn’t entirely uninterested in the Crown Prince’s nightly stroll.
“Are you going outside the palace?”
“I’m thinking of visiting the market near the northern gate.”
The market under the northern bridge.
I had never been there before.
Curiosity arose, so I firmly wore the robe he handed me.
It might have been an impulsive decision, but at least I wouldn’t die while with him.
Even if I did die, wouldn’t he take responsibility?
“But do you know how to ride?”
“No.”
Surprisingly, the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.
“Guess we’ll have to ride together.”
“What do you mean?”
“A horse.”
I widened my eyes and looked at him, but he didn’t say it was a joke.
The hood, pushed by the night breeze, fluttered.
I caught the hood about to fly away with my hand.
I smelled the scent of early summer carried by the breeze.
Ah, so it was already summer.
I thought I would feel uncomfortable and awkward riding together and sharing the same saddle, but surprisingly, it wasn’t as embarrassing as I had anticipated. Maybe it was because when he had lifted me up before, there had been closer contact than I expected.
Despite him holding the reins and our bodies almost touching, it was fine. Perhaps it was due to his body heat, but I felt more at ease than I had expected. The presence of the man behind me was comforting, even though I couldn’t see his face. The narrow road caused the horse’s pace to slow down, and I even almost fell asleep and slipped off at one point.
Thanks to the Crown Prince lifting his arm to support me, I was able to regain my balance.
“Have you ever heard of people dying in riding accidents?”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn’t want to be one of them, would you? I understand your feelings, but try to bear with what I’m saying.”
“I’ll try, but it’s not entirely up to me.”
Even as I said this, I started to doze off. It was strange. I wasn’t usually someone who let down their guard so easily…
“You’d better lean your head against something. It’ll be better that way.”
“…I apologize.”
I couldn’t muster the strength to refuse. I leaned my head back. It was surprisingly solid and warm, almost unbelievable for something human-made.
“I don’t understand why someone so sleepy would agree to follow along.”
“I wasn’t… sleepy… while in the palace…”
Despite my foggy mind, I replied sincerely. I heard the Crown Prince chuckle, but I didn’t mind. I was just so, so tired. His arm wrapped around my waist. There was no command to move away. Since my body wasn’t swaying, it was even more comfortable.
As I nestled against the Crown Prince’s embrace, I gradually felt the horse slowing down its pace. I straightened up and blinked my eyes.
Originally, the law prohibited residential areas near the city walls.
However, wherever people wanted to live, modest houses made of mud bricks were clustered almost as if clinging to the walls.
It was a starkly different sight from the magnificent public facilities in the capital that I had seen along the way.
“…Have we arrived?”
“Yeah. Dragged you all the way here for nothing.”
The Crown Prince dismounted first, and as he did, my body shivered.
He seemed to have a higher body temperature than average.
As I also moved to get down, the Crown Prince held my waist and helped me down.
“Thank you.”
I almost embraced him as one would do to a horse handler. Despite my daze, I was grateful for being able to discern between appropriate and inappropriate actions.
“Are you feeling better? I can arrange for accommodations, so you can rest there.”
I shook my head at his question.
“Normally, I have trouble falling asleep in a different bed. But today…”
The Crown Prince squinted suspiciously.
Standing still in the wind, I felt my drowsy mind gradually waking up.
He seemed skeptical of my words.
“Well, let’s pretend that’s the case.”
I hurriedly followed the Crown Prince as he walked ahead.
“Have you ever gone on a covert operation with the Duchy?”
“As you know, Lordly Territory is not here. Your Highness is so diligent that there’s no need to even monitor the Duchy.”
“Looks like you’ve come to your senses now.”
“It’s been like this since earlier.”
Surprisingly, my shameless composure had returned.
As if searching for something, the Crown Prince’s steps quickened.
I followed him closely, my gaze catching a familiar figure at the edge of my vision.
“Liam Crawford?”
I blurted out his name, surprised. It seemed unlikely, but the face looked familiar.
It was undoubtedly Liam.
After seeing him for so many years, I couldn’t forget his face.
My hair stood on end for a moment.
There was a concern about being caught, but that wasn’t the only reason.
It was the unknown fear of encountering someone in an inappropriate place.
There was nothing more dangerous than someone hiding something.
He seemed more dangerous than ever.
Instead of calling out to him, I kept my mouth shut.
“Do you know that person?” the Crown Prince, who had approached without me noticing, asked.
It seemed like he knew who or what I was looking at.
“Is he a knight of the Duchy?”
We had met at the last reception, but I couldn’t tell if the Crown Prince remembered or not.
Liam was indeed a knight of the Duchy, but I couldn’t confirm if the Crown Prince had recognized him properly.
Not knowing why he was here, I couldn’t casually testify about a person associated with the Duchy.
After hesitating for a moment, I spoke up.
“…He’s someone I used to know and get along with. Before I entered Duchy.”
That expression seemed appropriate.
It wasn’t entirely false either.
“Do you want to follow him?”
I hesitated to answer.
I wasn’t uninterested in what Liam was up to, but aside from curiosity, I had no reason to follow him.
But the moment Liam disappeared down an alley, I found myself saying, “Yes.”
“If you want to go, let’s go.”
He grabbed my hand abruptly.
Without further ado, the Crown Prince led me through the crowd, maneuvering swiftly despite his conspicuous stature.
He moved deftly, not clumsy despite his noticeable size.
The Crown Prince moved agilely, as if accustomed to chasing someone.
Sometimes, he would send me behind a wall or turn his body in another direction.
Each time, he whispered softly in my ear, “Hide,” or “Lower your head.”
There was an atmosphere of darkness and danger.
“Were you lovers?” he cautiously asked without expecting an answer.
I furrowed my brows and shook my head quickly.
“No.”
It was too bold to associate myself with Liam as lovers.
Of course, it was a one-sided hatred on my part.
It wasn’t always like this from the beginning.
No, it was quite the opposite.
I blindly trusted and followed him.
Liam was a Knight, and before I entered duchy as a noblewoman, when I was being abused by the servants and starving, he was the only one who shared food with me.
I understood that he couldn’t help me because he was just a apprentice Knight.
Sometimes I felt hurt seeing him pretending not to know me when I was being abused, but I understood why he did so.
I trusted him.
I thought he was the only one who saw me as a person.
He was the only one who listened to me and responded to me at that time.
The reason I confided in Liam about my secret, trembling with anxiety, was because of him.
I was emotionally unstable, needed someone to rely on, and my secret was too heavy to bear alone.
But the next day, the secret I had only told Liam spread throughout the entire mansion.
It was on a hot summer day.
Hot mud poured over my head.
The blonde maid with freckles, who had tormented me mercilessly, spoke up.
She called me “crazy” and cursed at me.
The abuse intensified.
The servants whispered that I was possessed by evil spirits.
The maids who were supposed to take care of me said they would drive away the evil spirits they heard around me by pouring ice-cold water in winter and boiling hot water in summer.
They were moments I didn’t want to remember.
They were terrible.
Liam didn’t stand by me in that hell and wasn’t by my side during those times.
He had left as a squire on a mission.
Then Igon returned.
When Igon enrolled me and punished everyone for my sake, I begged him to spare Liam.
It was a repayment for the kindness he had shown me before he left.
By saving him like that, I gained the right to hate him as much as I wanted.
Episode 25
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
It’s funny how even in such a situation, he maintains proper etiquette.
Nevertheless, I stood up and bowed respectfully.
My startled heart was still pounding.
It wasn’t a hallucination or mistaking him for someone else.
“You were out at this hour yesterday too.”
Yesterday?
Did this person really see me last night?
“Although palace security is the best in the empire, perfection is unattainable in human affairs. It’s not wise to roam alone at such ambitious hours. Aren’t you the only daughter of the duke?”
Although I didn’t like him, his words made sense.
Accepting was the right thing to do, so I nodded.
“If you enjoy exposing yourself to danger, I won’t stop you, but a person getting hurt in my territory carries a different meaning.”
As he said that, the Crown Prince handed me a black robe.
“If you can’t sleep, care to join me for a walk?”
What should I believe in you?
I thought, but I wasn’t entirely uninterested in the Crown Prince’s nightly stroll.
“Are you going outside the palace?”
“I’m thinking of visiting the market near the northern gate.”
The market under the northern bridge.
I had never been there before.
Curiosity arose, so I firmly wore the robe he handed me.
It might have been an impulsive decision, but at least I wouldn’t die while with him.
Even if I did die, wouldn’t he take responsibility?
“But do you know how to ride?”
“No.”
Surprisingly, the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.
“Guess we’ll have to ride together.”
“What do you mean?”
“A horse.”
I widened my eyes and looked at him, but he didn’t say it was a joke.
The hood, pushed by the night breeze, fluttered.
I caught the hood about to fly away with my hand.
I smelled the scent of early summer carried by the breeze.
Ah, so it was already summer.
I thought I would feel uncomfortable and awkward riding together and sharing the same saddle, but surprisingly, it wasn’t as embarrassing as I had anticipated. Maybe it was because when he had lifted me up before, there had been closer contact than I expected.
Despite him holding the reins and our bodies almost touching, it was fine. Perhaps it was due to his body heat, but I felt more at ease than I had expected. The presence of the man behind me was comforting, even though I couldn’t see his face. The narrow road caused the horse’s pace to slow down, and I even almost fell asleep and slipped off at one point.
Thanks to the Crown Prince lifting his arm to support me, I was able to regain my balance.
“Have you ever heard of people dying in riding accidents?”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn’t want to be one of them, would you? I understand your feelings, but try to bear with what I’m saying.”
“I’ll try, but it’s not entirely up to me.”
Even as I said this, I started to doze off. It was strange. I wasn’t usually someone who let down their guard so easily…
“You’d better lean your head against something. It’ll be better that way.”
“…I apologize.”
I couldn’t muster the strength to refuse. I leaned my head back. It was surprisingly solid and warm, almost unbelievable for something human-made.
“I don’t understand why someone so sleepy would agree to follow along.”
“I wasn’t… sleepy… while in the palace…”
Despite my foggy mind, I replied sincerely. I heard the Crown Prince chuckle, but I didn’t mind. I was just so, so tired. His arm wrapped around my waist. There was no command to move away. Since my body wasn’t swaying, it was even more comfortable.
As I nestled against the Crown Prince’s embrace, I gradually felt the horse slowing down its pace. I straightened up and blinked my eyes.
Originally, the law prohibited residential areas near the city walls.
However, wherever people wanted to live, modest houses made of mud bricks were clustered almost as if clinging to the walls.
It was a starkly different sight from the magnificent public facilities in the capital that I had seen along the way.
“…Have we arrived?”
“Yeah. Dragged you all the way here for nothing.”
The Crown Prince dismounted first, and as he did, my body shivered.
He seemed to have a higher body temperature than average.
As I also moved to get down, the Crown Prince held my waist and helped me down.
“Thank you.”
I almost embraced him as one would do to a horse handler. Despite my daze, I was grateful for being able to discern between appropriate and inappropriate actions.
“Are you feeling better? I can arrange for accommodations, so you can rest there.”
I shook my head at his question.
“Normally, I have trouble falling asleep in a different bed. But today…”
The Crown Prince squinted suspiciously.
Standing still in the wind, I felt my drowsy mind gradually waking up.
He seemed skeptical of my words.
“Well, let’s pretend that’s the case.”
I hurriedly followed the Crown Prince as he walked ahead.
“Have you ever gone on a covert operation with the Duchy?”
“As you know, Lordly Territory is not here. Your Highness is so diligent that there’s no need to even monitor the Duchy.”
“Looks like you’ve come to your senses now.”
“It’s been like this since earlier.”
Surprisingly, my shameless composure had returned.
As if searching for something, the Crown Prince’s steps quickened.
I followed him closely, my gaze catching a familiar figure at the edge of my vision.
“Liam Crawford?”
I blurted out his name, surprised. It seemed unlikely, but the face looked familiar.
It was undoubtedly Liam.
After seeing him for so many years, I couldn’t forget his face.
My hair stood on end for a moment.
There was a concern about being caught, but that wasn’t the only reason.
It was the unknown fear of encountering someone in an inappropriate place.
There was nothing more dangerous than someone hiding something.
He seemed more dangerous than ever.
Instead of calling out to him, I kept my mouth shut.
“Do you know that person?” the Crown Prince, who had approached without me noticing, asked.
It seemed like he knew who or what I was looking at.
“Is he a knight of the Duchy?”
We had met at the last reception, but I couldn’t tell if the Crown Prince remembered or not.
Liam was indeed a knight of the Duchy, but I couldn’t confirm if the Crown Prince had recognized him properly.
Not knowing why he was here, I couldn’t casually testify about a person associated with the Duchy.
After hesitating for a moment, I spoke up.
“…He’s someone I used to know and get along with. Before I entered Duchy.”
That expression seemed appropriate.
It wasn’t entirely false either.
“Do you want to follow him?”
I hesitated to answer.
I wasn’t uninterested in what Liam was up to, but aside from curiosity, I had no reason to follow him.
But the moment Liam disappeared down an alley, I found myself saying, “Yes.”
“If you want to go, let’s go.”
He grabbed my hand abruptly.
Without further ado, the Crown Prince led me through the crowd, maneuvering swiftly despite his conspicuous stature.
He moved deftly, not clumsy despite his noticeable size.
The Crown Prince moved agilely, as if accustomed to chasing someone.
Sometimes, he would send me behind a wall or turn his body in another direction.
Each time, he whispered softly in my ear, “Hide,” or “Lower your head.”
There was an atmosphere of darkness and danger.
“Were you lovers?” he cautiously asked without expecting an answer.
I furrowed my brows and shook my head quickly.
“No.”
It was too bold to associate myself with Liam as lovers.
Of course, it was a one-sided hatred on my part.
It wasn’t always like this from the beginning.
No, it was quite the opposite.
I blindly trusted and followed him.
Liam was a squire, and before I entered service as a noblewoman, when I was being abused by the servants and starving, he was the only one who shared food with me.
I understood that he couldn’t help me because he was just a squire.
Sometimes I felt hurt seeing him pretending not to know me when I was being abused, but I understood why he did so.
I trusted him.
I thought he was the only one who saw me as a person.
He was the only one who listened to me and responded to me at that time.
The reason I confided in Liam about my secret, trembling with anxiety, was because of him.
I was emotionally unstable, needed someone to rely on, and my secret was too heavy to bear alone.
But the next day, the secret I had only told Liam spread throughout the entire mansion.
It was on a hot summer day.
Hot mud poured over my head.
The blonde maid with freckles, who had tormented me mercilessly, spoke up.
She called me “crazy” and cursed at me.
The abuse intensified.
The servants whispered that I was possessed by evil spirits.
The maids who were supposed to take care of me said they would drive away the evil spirits they heard around me by pouring ice-cold water in winter and boiling hot water in summer.
They were moments I didn’t want to remember.
They were terrible.
Liam didn’t stand by me in that hell and wasn’t by my side during those times.
He had left as a squire on a mission.
Then Igon returned.
When Igon enrolled me and punished everyone for my sake, I begged him to spare Liam.
It was a repayment for the kindness he had shown me before he left.
By saving him like that, I gained the right to hate him as much as I wanted.
