episode_0003

I can’t remember the last time I felt so awkward. It’s all so hazy in my memory.

‘… I need to stay calm.’

The organization that Roderick and I have set up may appear to be a mercenary group on the surface, but the majority of its members were a collection of people who had crawled up from the bottom of the Empire. So, it was not uncommon for some of the members, who couldn’t shake off their old habits, to occasionally cause trouble. However, kidnapping the Empire’s one and only princess was a whole different problem.

‘I can roughly guess the situation.’

Dressed in shabby clothes and meticulously wearing a wig, she must have ventured out recklessly, even managing to shake off her guards. Despite her foolishness, her striking features would have made it impossible to hide the fact that she was the victim of a kidnapping.

The identity of the kidnapper was undoubtedly someone from the bottom ranks of the mercenary group. They probably thought that by helping with the kidnapping, they could win favor.

As I observed the princess intently, Roderick returned, his voice hushed.

“Ugh… damn. We shouldn’t pick up the pieces now just by looking at their eyes.”

“Exactly.”

“Whatever you guessed, it’s probably the right answer.”

The fruits of disposing of the main actors in the major incident were sticking to Roderick’s palm. As I stared at the red and viscous fruits, Roderick rinsed his hands in a basin.

“Match my words, Roderick.”

“Hmm? Hey, what are you trying to do…”

I took a step closer to the princess. As the sound of my footsteps became clearer, her body gradually tensed up. When the tension of the other party reached its peak, I knelt down and removed the blindfold that was making her uncomfortable.

“Uh…?”

She let out a surprised sound at the unexpected act of kindness. At the same time, Roderick looked shocked but quickly closed his eyes. With his support, I offered the first kind greeting as calmly and kindly as possible.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Miss Unknown. The kidnappers have been taken care of, so you can rest assured.”

“Really…?”

It seemed as if her identity was a facade of a kind person who couldn’t even imagine anything. However, she responded with a shy reaction. After a brief silence, I could understand the reason.

“Ha, haha! This guy’s face is a bit ugly…! That’s why he wears a mask, so it’s understandable if you’re scared, right?”

“I, I see… I’m sorry for making you nervous about the mask…”

From her response, it seemed that she didn’t want to reveal her true identity as a princess.

It was her own kind of wisdom.

With just a word, she held the power to determine the fate of the nation. As someone who should avoid flaunting her status, she even refrained from revealing her identity.

“How long has it been since you were kidnapped? Miss…?”

Roderick asked.

“It’s probably been about an hour.”

“I see…”

Roderick sent me a glance. I understood the meaning and nodded slightly.

‘She hasn’t made the fact of her disappearance public.’

A major incident that shakes the Empire would not escape the ears of the mercenary group. If it had only been a day or two, it would be understandable, but if it had been an hour, they must have thoroughly concealed it and planned to search for her. At this point, I couldn’t help but admire the competence of the kidnappers who had penetrated the palace’s search network.

“Even if you’re talented, being too talented is crazy…”

Roderick muttered the same sentiment as he gritted his teeth. The only fortunate thing was the response from the palace side. Either way, it was a clear advantage for us.

Externally, nothing seemed to have happened in the world. There was still a chance to set everything right.

I spoke to the princess, who was starting to relax.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to take you back to your residence… Would you allow me to do so?”

Her voice, trembling faintly, as if she had been saved at the edge of the world, filled the sky with a refreshing joy.

“Thank you…! Really… thank you…”

“Hey, wait…!”

“But there’s a problem.”

“Hey…!”

“A problem?”

“…!”

“I know it might be uncomfortable, but… we have to go together.”

“That’s… oh?”

Suddenly, the princess’s words faltered, cut off by Roderick grabbing my arm and pulling me up.

“Ouch!!! I apologize for interrupting your precious words, but urgent matters have come up, so please excuse me for a moment!!!”

He quickly spewed out his words like a machine gun, dragging me into a corner. It was fine up until then, but his breath was uncomfortably close and damp, making me uneasy.

“What urgent matters are you talking about?”

“Do you think there’s something like that! Why is it that the smart ones only notice when it’s not necessary…”

I shuddered at Roderick’s shocking lie. Ignoring my shock, he continued.

“I’ll become unemployed.”

“You can just take off the mask.”

“Shut up!”

Roderick spat out a string of curses and then clutched his forehead. It seemed like all sorts of thoughts were swirling in his head. After much deliberation, he quietly revealed our secret.

“I won’t say it again. I’m afraid that as an orphan, you might do something terrible to the princess of your time. Why do you insist on doing things yourself that could be done by someone else?”

“I see.”

“You see? Just like that?”

Valid suspicion didn’t make me feel bad. But understanding didn’t necessarily mean agreement.

Sometimes Roderick would ask if I hated those who took my place. Every time, my answer was a straightforward denial. I had never had a place taken from me, and I had always considered what was mine to be mine.

Furthermore, I knew that my parents had done terrible things. Revenge and struggle were not temptations I wasted my time on.

“I wish you would tell me a plausible reason.”

“I want to know.”

“What do you mean?”

“The world that sparkles every day. I grew up in the paradise my mother was obsessed with, and I’m curious about the people my age there, what kind of person they are. I want to know.”

What kind of person my father became to persecute so many people.

What my mother enjoyed hurting others for.

If I traveled with the girl who found solace alone there, I might find clues to long-standing questions.

Roderick sighed heavily, surprised by my unexpected answer.

“Good grief, is that so. I feel like I’ve become a sensitive fool.”

That’s right.

I quietly swallowed my honest criticism.

“Ha… Well then, are you really okay with this?”

“Yeah.”

“In a way… no, can you truly enjoy watching that girl, the daughter born of your parents’ enemy, laugh heartily? Can you bear to see her face and still endure it?”

“Are you worried I’ll kill her?”

“I am.”

“But right now, it feels like you’re instigating.”

“Damn it…”

Roderick groaned pessimistically as he splashed his face with water.

A clear, indirect confession.

Doubt arose in me at his contradictory attitude.

“… It’s okay.”

“What is?”

“I’ll take care of it, no matter what. I’ll find a way to conceal it.”

“The words have changed.”

“Damn it, no matter what, I can’t be so heartless as to stop a sword for the daughter of my parents’ enemy! If I get caught, I’ll grab the money and run away to a foreign country, that’s what I’ll do.”

“Former criminal with a profound sense of humanity, huh?”

“Most of our kids come from that background.”

That’s true. We were that kind of group. A group like a dark well where people who were pointed fingers at gathered. That’s why we shouldn’t let the fingers pointing at us increase like they did with me.

“I understand Roderick’s worries. They were all wrong, though.”

“If you’re innocent, that’s fortunate.”

He put his hand on his hip and let out a deep sigh. It seemed like he was secretly worried despite pretending not to be. He had become strangely timid as he aged.

“Oh, by the way, about the parents’ enemy thing.”

“Huh?”

I casually spoke to him, my focus blurred.

“If Roderick were to be murdered, I feel like the same thing would happen to me.”

“What, wait… huh…?”

I cleared my throat and turned back to the princess. She was already looking around the unfamiliar space with curiosity.

“Oh, is everything finished?”

“Probably.”

Roderick didn’t come out of the room where we had been talking. It was fortunate that I could finally have a conversation with the princess alone.

“Are you familiar with traveling, Miss?”

“I’m embarrassed… no, not really.”

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Oh, yes! If it’s at a basic level. Actually, I’m not very fond of riding horses.”

“What a coincidence. I feel the same way.”

Mentioning their preferences for horseback riding in commoner attire.

Although their awkwardness was already showing, I didn’t point it out.

“More importantly… about calling you ‘Miss,’ would that be okay? It’s a bit awkward for me…”

“What should I call you instead?”

“Um! Please call me Serin.”

“Got it. Serin.”

“Thank you.”

She replied brightly.

It was too early to completely let go of her anxiety, but Serin smiled innocently as if she had completely relaxed.

I believed she was innocent in the ways of the world, like a child who had longed for the sparkling world. Just like me in my childhood.

“If Serin doesn’t mind, there’s no reason to delay the departure, right?”

“I’m fine. I always manage my stamina. But there’s one last thing I need to do before that.”

“I’ll listen.”

As I nodded, Serin approached me and asked for a handshake.

“I haven’t heard your name yet.”

“Lian. That’s my name.”

Of course, it’s a pseudonym. I had chosen a name that was somewhat familiar.

“It’s a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.”

She praised someone she had never seen before in the mercenary group.

We shook hands as a sign that we had both told lies to each other. It all started with lies from one to ten, but a strange sense of anticipation turned our heads. The beginning of this short journey was made in that way.

What kind of child is the paradise child that I had vaguely imagined?

How did she grow up in that place where her parents tried to press her down in the eyes of the world?

Hoping to realize something through this journey, I walked towards the gleaming sun.

… It probably hadn’t even been a day since I harbored that hope.

“Wow, the more I look, the more the male lead’s charm grows, right?”

Sometimes, she muttered to herself, uttering mysterious expressions.