episode_0031

Until the belated lunch was finally over, Elaine couldn’t say a word.

It wasn’t until the empty plates were cleared and teatime began that she could finally open her mouth.

“I, I just climbed onto the bed because it looked so soft!”

It was an abrupt outburst without being asked, loud enough to be easily misunderstood as anger.

The thoughts in her head were so noisy that it seemed like she had to shout to drown them out. And her flushed face was an added bonus.

“Oh, um….”

It was a very sudden exclamation.

The prince was taken aback, and Elaine herself seemed belatedly flustered for speaking up.

But thanks to the shattered silence that had suddenly settled in, she somehow felt relieved.

That’s why the question she had been curious about naturally popped out.

“But why does Your Highness keep getting hurt like that…?”

After asking the question, she realized she hadn’t expressed her gratitude for being rescued at the Empress Dowager’s palace.

“Oh, I, thank you for saving me….”

The heat on her face, which refused to subside, had long been given up.

“No, I am more grateful to Elaine, who has saved my life several times.”

The returned voice was sweet, but Elaine’s face could only be filled with astonishment.

Even the heat that seemed unlikely to be extinguished had vanished in an instant.

…Goodness.

Miss Elaine….

Miss….

It felt as if a line had been drawn as if to divide the fields and a sign had been put up saying “Do not cross” under any circumstances.

“How can you….”

She was of lower status…. Moreover, she should be younger, so how could she be called Miss Elaine….

She never imagined that such a short phrase could contain such a powerful impact.

The moment it touched her, it was such a sharp distance that it made her blood run cold.

How is this possible, this man?

They were soon to be engaged, and he had appeared like a knight in shining armor, rescuing her both at the Viscount’s estate and at the Empress Dowager’s palace.

And even earlier, he had held her so tightly….

There was no way to stop the lingering sadness that surged like waves.

It was so bitter that tears gathered in her eyes.

So she had to speak, even if it meant avoiding the prince’s gaze and speaking with a trembling voice.

“Eleine. Please call me Eleine from now on. Don’t use honorifics anymore….”

The prince awkwardly scratched his head.

“Oh, yes….”

Of course, he seemed slightly surprised this time as well.

“Call me, right now… Right now!”

Extreme bitterness turned into anger in an instant, and the delicate dignity that couldn’t hurt anyone transformed burning anger into confidence.

“Uh, Eleine.”

Of course, despite her confident expression, the prince seemed to flinch slightly.

Thus, the cruel sense of distance that had emerged between cliffs began to diminish, neither too far nor too close.

Reconfiguration of their relationship.

And a new beginning.

Eleine’s lips curled slightly.

How could she be so disappointed by just one word, ‘Miss,’ and feel so good about being called by her name just once?

After taking a sip of tea, Eleine asked what she had been curious about again.

“Please tell me, Your Highness. Why do you keep getting such terrible wounds? What exactly are you going through?”

“….”

The prince hesitated for a moment.

“If you don’t tell me the truth, I will reconsider the engagement with the prince.”

Eleine was resolute.

There should be no secrets between those in love.

After all, according to Margaret, her mom’s friend, secrets between lovers were like small cracks in a rock, always hanging on her lips.

No matter how big the rock is.

No matter how small the crack is.

When water accumulates inside and winter comes.

The frozen water slowly begins to push out from within, yearning for freedom, which is the natural order, she emphasized repeatedly.

So, after dozens, hundreds, thousands of winters, more water enters the widening crack, and eventually, even the rock itself cracks and splits, she said that was the nature of the world.

So, take care of your man, too, Margaret used to nag Mom persistently.

So I must know the truth.

Why does the Crown Prince keep being exposed to near-death situations repeatedly?

Elaine tightened her eyes.

The Crown Prince flinched again, but it didn’t matter.

Of course, she believed in taking the engagement as a hostage.

According to what the Crown Prince had said to the Emperor and his father,

he undoubtedly wanted the engagement with her.

And clearly.

He would love himself more than anyone in this world.

Of course, with too little time together and not having seen it with her own eyes, she couldn’t be completely sure.

So, she didn’t want to test the Crown Prince’s heart once again.

Even if she was completely sure, any woman would want to confirm the sincerity of the man she loves.

So today, she will definitely listen and speak.

If he can tell her a secret that he hasn’t told anyone else, then he must surely like her.

That’s why.

While earnestly wishing for an engagement with the Crown Prince, she had confidently taken the engagement as a hostage for that reason.

Even though it might just be her own pitiful delusion.

“Elaine. Do you really want to know the truth?”

The Crown Prince’s attitude, which even hesitated to use informal speech, suddenly changed.

Facing his overwhelming presence, it was somehow difficult to meet his eyes.

In the relaxed expression with a bright smile, my heart began to race again.

Before I knew it, I felt feverish, embarrassed, and ticklish.

“Yes… I, I want to know the truth.”

“Good, then. Tell me everything.”

***

It had already been a day since Elaine came to the palace.

I told her almost all the truths.

I excluded things like being possessed by a book or problematic knowledge about the future.

After hearing my words, I wondered if I had said it in vain because of the sudden tears.

Because of the pitiful life of the Crown Prince Eos, I felt like I was being sympathized with, and it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

But I couldn’t help it.

The moment I faced her eyes demanding the truth, forgotten guilt resurfaced.

Her expression seemed to know my innermost thoughts.

So I could tell her.

The fact that I was thoroughly using her was well known, as her blue eyes quietly shone.

In the end, every word I spoke was directed towards that point.

Using her for my survival.

It felt so sinful; speaking the truth, even if it lessened my guilt just a little.

But thinking of her tear-streaked face as she cried for so long made me doubt whether it was the right thing to do.

Perhaps the only relief was that she hadn’t broken off our engagement despite knowing the truth about me.

That must be it.

I wasn’t at ease either.

Last night in my dreams, I had been fleeing from those tormented by Eos for quite some time.

It was an incredibly difficult night.

And having survived that night.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

From early morning, I rode on horseback, hurrying towards the empire’s borders, already caught up in the emperor’s plan to prevent war between the empire and the elves.

Switching horses repeatedly, it had been several hours already.

The sun, which had been relentlessly rising, was now slowly descending.

Astia and Glentino were closely behind me, followed by ten knights from the imperial guard, keeping their distance with uncomfortable expressions, relentlessly pursuing us.

As the goal was to move as quickly as possible, everyone had spare horses, and there were no soldiers following behind.

But why is Rufus Erdante, that brat, included in this?

The knight who had beaten me black and blue in the palace armory is now here to help me? And precisely at this crucial moment when I have something difficult to accomplish?

Just thinking about it made the rancid stench of old dung rise up as if it had been festering for years.

If he’s involved, surely it’s the work of Duke Schlein.

For some reason.

Unlike usual, this morning, there was an open hostility in the gazes of the nobles looking at me.

Of course, they wouldn’t be thinking of killing me.

Perhaps, with a very low probability, if the situation seemed to improve, they might plan to sow discord.

Certainly, it must have been attached according to the queen’s orders as a precaution, even though there was no expectation that the crown prince would do well.

Is Rufus alone…?

Because the queen was such a wicked woman, there was nothing certain.

The knights following behind could all have received the duke’s orders.

In the worst case.

The authors might just be decoys, and truly formidable people might appear from unseen places and cause havoc.

So, I shouldn’t let my guard down for a moment.

Of course, I had already prepared countermeasures for any worst-case scenario.

Duke Felios would also be leading the knights of the duchy covertly towards the border while concealing his identity.

And last night.

I sneaked out of the palace and went to find Lergio.

Assuming complete obedience to my orders, I made a lifelong slave contract with him.

Even while signing the contract, filled with unreasonable clauses, Lergio couldn’t hide his joy and kept shouting “Aurora!” repeatedly.

He must be advancing towards the border alone right now.

In urgent moments, I intended to use him as a shield, being a high priest of the goddess religion.

“Let’s go!”

Before I knew it, the sky was covered with a fiery sunset.

It seemed to flow magnificently, mingling the blood and grudges of the deceased.

For some reason, it was a very ominous color, warning that the future would certainly not be smooth.

Nevertheless, I urged my horse on even faster.