episode_0085

“I appreciate the consideration, but this feels a bit excessive.”

Spin, spin. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she checked her outfit. Turning this way and that, Arina made a slightly awkward face as she examined herself. Though she had grown much more comfortable wearing women’s clothing lately, she had never been dressed up this elaborately before.

A golden dress fit for high nobility or royalty. For Arina, whose only piece of jewelry had been the ring Ian gifted her—her first and likely last—this was entirely unfamiliar. The makeup applied by the palace maids was nothing like the simple touches she’d learned from the women of Natizan or Millen, starting with the sheer amount of time it took.

That said, the maids’ obvious displeasure at having to doll up a commoner made the whole experience so uncomfortable she never wanted to repeat it.

Still, the effort wasn’t wasted—once finished, Arina looked twice as beautiful as usual.

“It suits you. What’s the problem?”

“That’s not the point. I’m not here as some honored guest.”

Quite the opposite, in fact. Deserting the hero’s party, annihilating the Empire’s most elite knight order, crushing the Holy Kingdom’s knights, knocking out the Saintess—even if over half of it was the other side’s fault, she was practically a worse criminal than the Demon King.

And yet, here she was, living in luxury. How must that look to others?

Not that it was her place to care, but she couldn’t fathom the Kingdom’s reasoning. After fostering such negative perceptions, this kind of treatment would only hurt their reputation.

Were they really trying to win her over with carrots? If so, it was too late—she’d already seen their ugly side. But since they’d already sentenced her to death, she had no right to demand accountability.

“More than anything, I’m just… embarrassed.”

“Good. Consider this part of your punishment.”

“Then shouldn’t my sentence be reduced?”

She grumbled half-heartedly, knowing it wouldn’t change anything. A lighthearted joke laced with self-pity. Somehow, they’d grown close enough to banter like this.

Kyle had sincerely apologized for the past, and as the only one who visited her daily in her confined room, it was inevitable.

She knew she should stay wary, but in a palace where every pair of eyes glared at her with hostility, he was the only person she could relax around.

Rumors had reached her ears—that he wanted to take her as his wife, among other absurdities—but in person, he showed no such intentions and was decent company.

“Shall we go?”

Though his occasional gentlemanly act was a bit much.

“You really expect me to go out like this?”

“You’re not backing out now, are you? This is a rare chance to leave the room.”

Put that way, she couldn’t refuse. As nice as the palace guest room was, being cooped up for days wasn’t good for her mental health.

“Fine, let’s go.”

Even this “outing” was restricted to the castle grounds, where outsiders couldn’t intrude. Still, the palace gardens were well-maintained and spacious—more than enough for a stroll.

Basking in sunlight for the first time in ages, Arina stretched deeply, pausing as the scent of flowers brushed her nose.

“Oh, this smells nice.”

Her natural movement—kneeling to sniff the blossoms—prompted Kyle to remark,

“Does turning into a woman make you this sentimental?”

“That’s not it. Lock yourself up for days and see if you don’t do the same.”

“‘Locked up’ is a stretch for a room that luxurious.”

“A cage is a cage. If you can’t leave by your own will, it’s a prison.”

Real prisoners—beaten by guards in sunless cells, surviving on gruel—would’ve been furious at the comparison. But neither of them had any experience with such places, so no rebuttal came. Technically, Arina wasn’t even a real criminal—she could argue self-defense.

“Anyway, since you don’t seem to hate me anymore, mind watching your tone in public? I am the prince.”

“Too late to change now. Just drop the formalities.”

“Fine, Liel.”

He accepted it instantly. She had no right to complain, but one thing needed addressing.

“Call me noona. There’s an age gap.”

“‘Noona’?”

“What, you thought I’d make you say hyung?”

“Honestly, yeah. Is this your girlfriend’s influence?”

“She’s not my girlfriend yet…”

A faint blush crept onto Arina’s face. Seizing the opportunity, Kyle pressed further.

“What’s he like?”

“Ian? Hard to put into words.”

The first person she’d confided in, unrelated to her secrets.

The first to see past her facade to the real her.

To Arina, Ian was irreplaceable—someone who’d stood by her when she needed it most.

“Even if Ian were a woman, I’d have fallen for them.”

They’d chased her despite her pushing them away, vowed to stay even if it meant giving up their own feelings. What Ian had done for her went beyond mere help.

“Without them, I might’ve broken long ago. I’m so grateful. And, well… just looking at their face makes me happy…”

Her flushed, slightly embarrassed expression was unmistakably that of a woman in love.

“You like them that much?”

“You wouldn’t get it. No one would. The life of someone whose body changed overnight.”

The shift in how people saw her. Men’s awe and envy turned to lust; women’s admiration soured into jealousy and mockery.

“It’s laughable. My skill as a mage hasn’t changed, yet everyone treats me as just a woman. Worrying if they can bed me or if I’ll steal their man.”

Of the men she’d known, only Ian, Daniel, and Kyle were exceptions. Ian valued her as a person first; Daniel… well, that went without saying.

“You were the biggest surprise. Weren’t you a flirt as a kid?”

“…That hurts.”

“I thought maybe the shock back then made you snap and go the same way as Daniel.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

Kyle recoiled, vehemently denying it. Arina burst out laughing, wiping tears before asking,

“So, who’s caught your eye lately? At your age, you must have someone.”

Please, don’t let it still be Marika. For his sake, she hoped not.

Even setting aside her personal grudge, learning the truth would devastate him.

Though with Marika’s “relationship” public, the odds were low—but the truth was far worse.

“No one.”

“Really? Not just shy? It’s not like I’d gossip.”

“Seriously. There’s something more interesting right now.”

“If you say so.”

Arina, too, had once been so absorbed in her work at the magic tower that she ignored romance. Passion for one’s craft brought its own irreplaceable joy.

Unlike her younger self, struggling to survive, Kyle lacked nothing—money, looks—so he’d probably had his fill of love.

“So? What’s got a prince so obsessed?”

Even if she couldn’t use magic, her talent remained. If he was stuck, she wouldn’t mind helping pass the time.

“Too important to share yet.”

Kyle glanced skyward, changing the subject.

“…Looks like our time’s up. We should head back.”

“Already? Stingy with the hours.”

“Don’t complain. You know this is special treatment.”

“Believe me, I do. I owe you for this. If I get the chance, I’ll repay you.”

Whether that chance came depended on the leaders’ meeting the day after tomorrow. The Emperor and Pope would arrive tomorrow, with her fate decided after the welcome and rest.

A shadow crossed Arina’s face. Kyle spoke up casually.

“Heard you like alcohol. Want me to bring a bottle tonight?”

“Not bad. If this is my last night alive, one drink won’t hurt.”