episode_0016

Elaine was utterly bewildered.

She couldn’t help but wonder if this was some sort of bolt from the blue in the dead of night.

There was no mistaking it.

It felt as though a hefty log had been placed on top of her blanket.

Watching it slightly inflate and deflate repeatedly, it almost seemed as if someone were breathing.

Judging by the weight, it was undoubtedly a man.

She was afraid.

If this man were to harbor ill intentions, something dreadful would surely occur.

Yet, somehow, she felt an inexplicable certainty that screaming wouldn’t be right.

It was all so strange.

And no matter how much time passed…

The intruder remained motionless, almost as if unconscious.

This couldn’t go on indefinitely.

Eventually, Elaine summoned the courage.

After struggling for quite some time, she managed to wriggle her suppressed body out.

And then she saw it.

A silver hair peeking out from under the slightly dislodged black hood.

Under the moonlight, it gleamed brilliantly.

And among those she knew, there was only one person with such silver locks.

“Your Highness Eos…!”

Elaine hastily looked around and covered her mouth with both hands.

Seeing his face confirmed it.

The man lying there, as if lifeless.

Undoubtedly appeared to be Prince Eos of the Mersen Empire.

The crimson liquid now spreading across the pristine white blanket was unquestionably blood.

It was unmistakable upon seeing him.

The prince had suffered a grave injury.

Elaine quickly turned him over and laid him down.

Horizontally sprawled, his head and feet hung off the bed’s edge.

“….”

Elaine struggled for a long while, soaked in sweat from head to toe.

She managed to awkwardly rotate his heavy body and lay him directly on the bed, propping up a pillow for support.

Then she lit a candle.

The drafty night air seeped through the still-open window, causing the flickering light to dance unsteadily, as if about to extinguish itself.

Swoosh—

Elaine cautiously closed the window and drew the curtains.

Hastily, she removed the prince’s cloak and tunic.

Blood oozed from the gashes as if he had been struck by a blade.

The prince was fading fast.

Thump-thump-thump!

Her heart raced, and her breath quickened.

It was an intense wave of anxiety that washed over her.

Perhaps because she feared she might not be able to do anything at all.

He couldn’t bear the thought of just watching the prince die like this. If he had known, he should have mustered the courage to ask the prince about that unbelievable healing ability he had demonstrated a few days ago. But he hadn’t been able to. It was because he lacked the courage. The DeeDee and Sun world seemed so different. He couldn’t even look the prince in the eye when they were riding in the carriage. And after returning to the Viscount’s, he couldn’t bring himself to make any contact. He just found himself alone in the room during those empty hours, reaching out into thin air, trying to recreate that moment from that day. Of course, nothing happened. It was as if such a miracle would never happen again. No matter how many times he tried, it felt the same. The miracle he had performed had vanished as suddenly as a midsummer night’s dream. It was truly maddening. Could he do it? Surely the prince had come to him believing that he could be saved if he came. But she wasn’t there. Yet, in the face of someone dying, he couldn’t just stand by. “Hngh…” The prince’s unconscious face contorted deeply. His irregular breathing was getting faster. Elaine placed her hands on the prince’s wounds. They were stained with blood. The warmth of life still lingered in the warm liquid, but the scent of death was starting to permeate. However, that didn’t matter at all. Right now, Elaine had only one thought: she wanted to save him. She wanted to stop the prince’s death no matter what. She had no other desires. No need for any reward. After the fierce storm had passed, like sunlight piercing through the thick clouds. She didn’t want to just watch the death of the benefactor who had come into her life and changed so much. So, she silently prayed. Please, save this man. You can take everything from me. Just please spare this poor man’s life, she fervently prayed to the gods. “…!” It was then that a bright light burst forth, filling the room. From the palm of her hand, a powerful flash engulfed everything for several seconds.

The overwhelming light seemed to blind even her eyes.

She felt a sudden drain of strength.

Thud—

As the light dimmed, Elaine collapsed right onto the prince.

As her eyes slowly closed, she thought,

“I can’t fall like this… If anyone sees…”

But then, an extreme sense of exhaustion overwhelmed her, quelling even her anxiety, and she eventually succumbed to sleep.

***

When Elaine came to her senses again,

A faint light was seeping through the curtains.

Elaine cautiously drew them back.

It was early dawn.

What she then observed was the prince’s complexion.

It had improved enough to be discernible even in the fading darkness.

His breathing had also calmed, as peaceful as an infant’s.

It was truly a moment of relief.

Then, she noticed the torn clothes and sheets strewn beside the bed.

The sigh of relief that had momentarily swelled within her vanished instantly.

Not only blood but also the stench of it permeated the air.

If anyone saw this, it would undoubtedly be a problem.

It had to be dealt with before daybreak.

With that in mind,

Elaine grabbed some cloth and headed outside.

Although the bedsheet was stained with blood, it was too heavy to remove, and she didn’t want to disturb the prince’s rest.

The mansion was silent in the early morning.

Thankfully, no one was awake at this hour.

However, there was one concern.

The countess had no habit of oversleeping.

She was the obedient wife of the notorious count.

If she were to discover the bloodstained sheets, it would immediately reach the count’s ears.

This was no ordinary matter.

It was the scandalous act of the reviled prince secretly intruding into the count’s estate.

And in such a bloodied state.

That alone was an unforgivable deed.

Moreover,

the moment such news spread, those who had made the prince this way would not remain idle.

Villains might come to kill the prince. He could truly be in danger of losing his life.

As unwanted futures crossed her mind, her hastened heartbeat refused to calm.

Elaine quickened her steps.

The best she could do now was.

It was all about hurrying.

Elaine had been sweating profusely since dawn, secretly doing the laundry by herself. Of course, burning it would be the best way to get rid of it, but that would only invite unnecessary suspicion. So, for now, getting rid of the bloodstains was the best option. Thankfully, being originally a maid, and with Katia’s firm instructions, she hadn’t encountered any patrolling soldiers on her way. They had merely glanced at her from a distance. Eventually, Elaine finished the laundry safely. After wringing out the water completely, she picked them up and hurried back to the prince’s room. On her way, she also made sure not to forget the blanket for the prince.

Finally, a relieved sigh escaped her lips. It was, of course, as brief and hushed as a baby’s whimper. Completely removing the bloodstains was impossible, but they had now faded quite a bit. Even if someone found out, it wouldn’t be a big problem. Elaine sat down on the edge of the bed, gazing at the peacefully sleeping prince.

What on earth had happened? It was a sudden thought. No matter how she looked at it, he didn’t seem like a bad person. Although she had only seen him a few times, she somehow felt convinced of that. Unconsciously, her hand moved to straighten the prince’s messy hair. How could someone be so handsome? Was it because he was born with elven blood?

Suddenly pricked by the thought, her face flushed slightly. The hand that had brushed his cheek was now resting on it. It was an action taken unconsciously. Startled, she abruptly rose from her seat. It was only then that she realized what she had been doing. If the prince found out, it would be considered an insult to the royal family.

With a flushed face, Elaine sat in front of the dressing table. It was to ensure a safe distance. That was when the knock came from outside the door. Knock. Knock. Knock. It was perfectly emotionless, just the right interval and intensity. Those three knocks undoubtedly belonged to the housekeeper. “Miss Elaine, it’s the housekeeper. May I come in?” As expected, she was right.

Elaine’s face darkened unexpectedly.

It was an early morning so shrouded in shadows that even the golden light couldn’t dispel the deep sense of unease permeating the world. It was undoubtedly a crisis. The moment she was caught by the housekeeper. In many ways, it wouldn’t bode well for the prince. Of course, the security of the viscount’s estate wasn’t weak, so the likelihood of the worst-case scenario was extremely low. Nevertheless, the issue of illegal entry would undoubtedly further tarnish the already precarious reputation of the prince. Sneaking into a lowly woman’s bedroom in the dead of night might invite vicious rumors. Therefore, preventing the exposure of the prince’s presence was absolutely essential. Elaine hurriedly climbed onto the bed. She was so frantic that she didn’t even have the luxury to worry about whether the prince might wake up. Quickly, she sat next to the prince’s head and pulled up the blanket. Her legs ended up resting on his arms and chest, but at this point, there was no other choice. The day hadn’t fully broken yet. The bulging shape of the blanket might seem a bit odd, but unless scrutinized closely, there shouldn’t be any cause for suspicion. To preempt any potential doubts, she softly cleared her throat a few times. Then, “Come in,” she said, looking towards the door with a casual tone, attempting to speak as nonchalantly as her sister Katia, though she couldn’t be certain if she did it well. As the words left her, the housekeeper entered, making her feel as if she had been caught, much like a prison guard finding a prisoner’s room, with a solemn expression. The housekeeper glanced around the room, her gaze finally resting on the wet blanket spread out on the table. Only then did she smile and look at Elaine. “You seem to have wet the blanket in the early morning,” she said. Elaine was slightly taken aback. She hadn’t felt any inkling of being discovered. But it didn’t matter. There was no problem. The prince’s clothes were under the bed, and most of the moisture from the blanket had been wrung out. “I drank quite a bit of water last night and made a little mistake,” she said, feeling somewhat embarrassed as her face reddened. But for now, she had to go along with that story. “….” “I need to sleep a bit more, so if you’re done, please leave.” She hastily issued the dismissal.

Ha-nyang was still looking at Elaine. Her cold gaze, as if looking down on her, and the smirk of disdain on her lips remained unchanged. There was no intention of letting her off easily.

“That’s quite strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“The bedding you were washing, it was clearly stained with blood.”

As if she had found a remarkable fault, Ha-nyang’s face was filled with blatant superiority.

“What are you trying to say?”

Unable to conceal her confusion, Elaine’s voice began to tremble.

“About the mother and daughter. Where have you hidden her?”

For Elaine, who had always been looked down upon, these words held an unmistakable meaning. Ha-nyang’s words insulted her mother. They were about how Elaine had secretly brought a man into her bedroom in the middle of the night.

“Not even aware of Katia’s grace, ultimately behaving crudely as one born lowly.”

Ha-nyang stepped closer.

Her eyes and expression exuded confidence.

Elaine flinched.

It was because Ha-nyang’s gaze had turned towards the swollen bedding.

“There must be a man in this bedding, right? Who is it? A servant? A guard?”

Elaine tried to maintain a dignified expression and tone.

“Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying now?”

Under the direction of the marchioness, Ha-nyang, who had tormented Elaine for a long time, was convinced that the trembling voice surely hid something.

“I will definitely tell Katia about today’s events.”

Even though she tried to look angry, she couldn’t hide the underlying fear, and naturally, Ha-nyang paid no attention to it.

“To repay kindness with enmity, how disgraceful to tarnish the name of the Marquis with such despicable acts!”

With a snap, Ha-nyang forcefully pushed aside Elaine’s hand, revealing the bedding.

Elaine tightly shut her eyes.

She didn’t know what else to do or how to react.

“H-how could this…”

Ha-nyang’s pupils shook violently.

It was undeniably as if someone was hiding there strangely.

And the figure was undoubtedly that of a man.

“…There was no one in the bedding.”

Elaine’s eyes fluttered open belatedly, and they too were trembling.

The prince was gone.

Not even a small trace of blood remained.

Hayanjang turned urgently and rushed to the blanket.

“Why… why…” She couldn’t even find evidence to deny it there.

Even the bloodstain I had clearly seen with my own eyes was nowhere to be found, even after rubbing them clean.

Gasping for breath, Hayanjang dashed back to the bed and leaned over to look underneath.

Elaine could only be bewildered by the sight of the prince’s clothes neatly laid out there.

But once again, Hayanjang rose with a dismayed expression.

As expected.

There was nothing at all.

“I-I’m sorry, miss…”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’ll tell Katia unnie everything.”

Thud—

Hayanjang dropped to her knees.

She vividly recalled the girl Anna who had touched Elaine being driven away at Katia’s word.

“I have committed an unforgivable sin… Please, have mercy…”