PRKE 36

CHAPTER 36………………………………………….

“Nightmare?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask what kind of dream it was?”

Karsatuna murmured with a dazed expression.

“It’s a dream where people turn into demons… It’s terrifying. I can’t even remember the last time I slept well because of insomnia. Even though I know it’s all my delusion, I can’t get close to people.”

Her face grew gloomy.

“Living feels suffocating. The air is so stifling.”

She was fragile and translucent, like a bead about to break.

No wonder she couldn’t bear the news of a political marriage with the empire’s prince in her current state.

I stared at her silently.

Her eyes weren’t sharp; they were soft and blurry. Despite her enchanting appearance, they looked incredibly pure—different from Princess Laratou, who grew up naïve and innocent. This was a different kind of purity.

Suddenly, she looked at me and smiled.

“Today is really good. Eunyang, you make me feel refreshed.”

“…….”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

I accepted without much thought.

“Are you, by any chance, a priest in disguise?”

I looked at her in surprise. She seemed genuinely curious. When I shook my head, she raised her eyebrows as if puzzled.

“Really? That’s strange. I felt at ease, even briefly, when I was near a priest.”

It felt strange. Leo’s words about my potential as a priest came to mind.

Karsatuna was just an ordinary person, not a priest or anything, but somehow her words seemed to affirm my potential.

I spoke gently.

“I’m glad I could help. Contact me anytime you’re struggling. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Karsatuna smiled the brightest smile I had seen from her today.

“Thank you. You really are a good person, Eunyang.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

A “good person”? Unless someone is cunning…

Karsatuna widened her eyes and laughed out loud.

Thinking she was being modest, I shook my head.

“Ugh, it’s hot.”

Princess Laratou looked up at the sky while eating a sorbet made from frozen blueberries.

The maids had set up tents to make shade and block the direct sunlight, but they couldn’t block the rising heat.

“The sun has been unusually strong lately,” Karsatuna said.

“Yeah. That’s why the flowers keep wilting,” Princess Laratou grumbled, pointing around with the spoon she was using for her sorbet.

The princess’s garden stretched out around an artificial spring, with wide flower beds.

The beds were a harmonious mix of grass and flowers, but the hot sunlight had slightly dried the soil surface.

The water level of the artificial spring was low, and the water from the fountain lacked strength.

“That’s why we need to water it often.”

Though the garden was incredibly beautiful, it was a shame for the family.

“Shall I bring some water?”

When I suggested it, the princess shook her head.

“No need to carry something so heavy.”

She said this while holding her spoon-hand up as if supporting the sky.

It was the clear, resonant voice I had heard at the banquet hall. Soon after, gentle rain fell.

The plants, wilting under the hot sun, revived as if rejoicing at the princess’s rain.

I stared blankly at the rejuvenated greenery.

The princess’s voice drifted to my ears.

“The sun is so strong that it seems the priests sent from the temple have increased. I’ll be busy for a while, too.”

The beautiful spring filled with water, the sparkling flowers—watching the miracle brought by rain, I recalled a wish I had secretly kept for a long time.

More than shining jewels, more than high status, I wanted that miracle.

At the palace gates, Princess Laratou personally saw me off.

“About what we talked about today…”

“It’s a lady’s secret.”

“You really are Egrain!”

Pleasing Princess Laratou was easier than teasing Aris.

Her eyes already sparkled with fondness when looking at me.

The kingdom’s first lady considered me her friend.

‘Not what I expected, but not bad.’

Considering that less than a year remained before I’d face the guillotine, increasing connections that could help me was excellent.

I racked my brains.

‘I need to get closer to the princess, but Giovanni is a complication.’

Half of today’s conversation had been about Giovanni. Princess Laratou was smitten at first sight.

I needed to reduce official dates with the prince.

‘Juggling the king’s mood and the princess’s favor is busy work.’

When I was actively responding to the princess, who chirped like a lark about how enjoyable and meaningful today had been, her eyes suddenly widened.

“Oh! Prince?”

She turned her head sharply.

Giovanni was approaching with his aide, Kitchev.

His broad shoulders, height towering above others, and sturdy build made him look like a completely different race from the slender men of the kingdom.

The passing attendants walked carefully, aware of them.

As they drew closer, I could feel Princess Laratou tense. Her heartbeat seemed audible even to me beside her.

Soon, they were close enough to see even the moles on their faces.

Taking a deep breath, Princess Laratou stepped forward with a full smile.

“Hello, Prince. Are you out for a walk?”

Unlike at tea time, she displayed proper etiquette—truly princess-like. Her subtle smile looked surprisingly mature.

Despite her tension, the two conversed naturally.

“You’re touring the kingdom? I’ll have someone accompany you.”

“No need. Just enjoying the breeze.”

“Ah, right. It’s best you go comfortably.”

The princess nodded awkwardly at his curt reply.

“There are many beautiful lands in Liorsa. I hope you have a good journey.”

She hesitated, seemingly wanting to say more, but Giovanni merely nodded lightly and continued walking.

His heavy steps resonated with his size.

I kept my head lowered with Karsatuna. The footsteps stopped before me.

‘…?’

“Not going to greet him?”

I thought he might be talking to me and lifted my head. Princess Laratou stared wide-eyed beside me.

‘Oh no…’

Cold sweat ran down my back. Outwardly, I tried to look composed as I lifted my skirt to bow.

“Greetings, Prince.”

It was unusual. Normally, he paid little attention to greetings, saying the empire’s etiquette differed from the kingdom’s.

Even after I greeted him, Giovanni didn’t move.

His gaze was on the ground.

‘What is he looking at?’

I glanced down. Nothing.

‘Ah, there’s dirt on his shoes.’

Shoes that Jenny had agonized over for an hour, out of only three pairs.

I thought I’d clean them later, but the shadow stretched on the ground.

I nearly screamed. Giovanni squatted before me and brushed the dirt off his shoes with his palm.

My ankles twitched, and my heart raced.

“They’re clean now.”

Proud, it seemed, and I was stunned.

‘What? Suddenly? Obsessive-compulsive?’

It wasn’t just me. Everyone stiffened, yet Giovanni rose as if nothing happened.

Everything was the same, except my shoes were now clean.

Giovanni asked casually,

“What brings you to the palace?”

Instead of answering, I glanced at Princess Laratou. Late to realize, she responded.

“I invited her to the tea gathering.”

“Tea gathering?”

“Now that Egrain and I are close, we had a wonderful time.”

She lowered her head at me, showing it was an honor.

“Next time, Prince, will you attend?”

“…….”

“My tea gatherings are quite fun. And tidy too.”

Princess Laratou concluded he was obsessive-compulsive.

It must have taken immense courage from her. Everyone aware knew King Hermanon was extremely protective when his beloved daughter met a barbarian.

She had risked that.

In comparison, Giovanni’s response was brief.

“If conditions allow.”

Though not a definite answer, the princess brightened.

I slightly bowed and observed them. Their posture together stirred strange emotions.

‘Is this really going to result in a political marriage?’

A real marriage between the princess and the prince. A new development no one expected.

Kitchev, seeing the princess party leave, glanced at Giovanni with a puzzled expression.

Rolling his eyes as if he had something to say, Giovanni finally spoke.

“What do you want to say?”

Kitchev cleared his throat.

“It seems the princess is interested in you, Prince.”

“Is that so.”

Unlike Giovanni’s indifferent response, Kitchev chuckled happily.

“If the king finds out, it’ll be chaos. He tried so hard to separate you and the princess. Thinking of his trembling beard, I feel tipsy even without drinking.”

“Don’t even think of playing games. Even if you don’t like the king, there’s no need to offend him in the kingdom.”

“…Quite right.”

It seemed Kitchev had intended a prank, but the sparkle left his eyes.

After staying quiet for a while, he spoke again as if he couldn’t hold it in.

“You seem to have become close to that crazy woman as well.”

“Crazy woman?”

“The one called Egrain or Madrein.”

He spoke oddly, despite remembering her name, due to his dislike of her. Giovanni snorted incredulously.

“Do you dislike her?”

“Do you think I would like her? She made advances without even seeing my face, and the first meeting was rude. Considering the missing cufflinks! She must be crazy.”

Kitchev’s eyebrows twitched as he aired complaints.

“Do you keep close for, whatever reason, our work?”

“What’s there to worry about?”

“She seems… familiar.”

“She seemed that way?”

Giovanni tilted his head in puzzlement. She had just quietly bowed, pretending not to know him. Kitchev had never made a fuss over anything like this before.