TBFP 16

Chapter : 16

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***

First, putting Gaien in prison made everything else proceed quickly.

Ferik called for a doctor to examine the prince and had servants move the prince’s quarters.

“Where should we move them?”

Until now, they had stayed in what was essentially a guest room attached to Gaien’s chambers.

After brief consideration, Ferik recalled the prince’s twig-like limbs and answered.

“First floor, near the dining room.”

Climbing stairs or walking long distances didn’t seem particularly good for the prince.

Hilda nodded and asked.

“There’s the room that the First young master used when he couldn’t walk yet, shall we prepare that?”

“Yes.”

Since it was a room decorated by Astrid, unlike the rest of the Grand Duke’s castle with its rough and heavy atmosphere, this room was bright and cheerful.

Leticia had already been amazed by Gaien’s guest room, but this new room was less like a single room and more like a house, leaving her mouth agape.

It had a bedroom, dressing room, playroom, side room, drawing room, and even a terrace attached.

After the doctor left, Leticia, sitting alone in the drawing room, carefully asked one of the servants to carry her belongings.

“What will happen to grand- I mean, Lord Gaien?”

“He’ll remain in the underground prison until His Grace releases him.”

Seeing Leticia’s concerned look at the servant’s blunt response, they added an explanation.

“He’s usually released after about ten days.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Leticia bowed her head deeply.

The servant stared at her briefly, seemingly surprised, before leaving.

Left alone, Leticia mulled over the word “ten days.” It wasn’t really that long of a period, which made it difficult to proceed with things on her own.

‘Should I wait? What if I set myself on fire and it spreads somewhere else? Or… should I talk to His Grace?’

Leticia wracked her brain.

‘But grandfather said His Grace is emotional and might interfere…’

Just as she was leaning toward waiting, she heard a familiar boy’s voice.

“Stay still, Tan.”

It was Chamuka. Beside him, Tan was wagging his tail.

When Leticia looked at them, Chamuka asked.

“May I come in?”

Leticia nodded. The door was wide open for moving luggage anyway, and moreover-

“Yes. This was originally Chamuka’s room, wasn’t it?”

“But it’s your room now.”

Her room… The reality of staying in this room suddenly hit her.

“Grandfather told me to tell you to wait. Though I’m not sure what you’re supposed to wait for.”

“Ah…”

Leticia felt somewhat relieved at Chamuka’s message. It resolved her earlier worries.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

Chamuka alternated his gaze between Leticia, who was expressing her gratitude, and the empty table before speaking.

“Bring your companions who came with you to use this place. They won’t assign separate staff, so tell the maids to go to the head maid and the servants to the butler.”

It would be troublesome to assign separate servants, and besides, the prince would probably be more comfortable with their own companions.

Chamuka turned to leave after saying this.

However, Tan, who should have followed Chamuka, remained lying down. Right at Leticia’s feet.

“Come here, Tan.”

“Woof.”

Though called a wolf-dog, why did it sound exactly like a regular dog? Leticia thought this while looking down at Tan lying at her feet.

Deep blue eyes looked up at her gently.

“…Hello?”

When she repeated her interrupted greeting from earlier, Tan’s mouth opened.

Leticia flinched, but fortunately, Tan didn’t bite her.

Rather, he kept his mouth open quietly, umm…

“Is Tan sick somewhere…?”

He was just staring at Leticia blankly with his tongue hanging out, as if suffering from heat. It was a bit strange how he stayed completely still like that.

Chamuka quickly came back and knelt on one knee in front of Tan. While stroking his chin and head, he muttered:

“What’s wrong, Tan?”

But when there was no response to his touch, Chamuka quickly picked Tan up and hurriedly left the room.

Once again, Leticia was left alone.

“Oh…”

She withdrew her outstretched hand somewhat bitterly.

Though after reuniting with Emma, who came to visit after hearing the news, she thought being alone might have been better.

***

Emma, who seemed to have lost weight from stress, stared at Leticia with sharp eyes.

It might have been better if she had openly shown her annoyance or outright contempt like before.

A rather long silence passed. Until the evening glow completely faded and dark night fell.

Finally, Emma spoke.

“Are they treating you well in Basilinte, Your Highness?”

Surprisingly, it was a dry question asking about the actual situation, without any sarcasm.

However, before Leticia could answer, Emma provided her own answer.

“They seem to be treating you well. Giving you a room like this. They said it was the Grand Duke’s son’s room?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have they perhaps discovered your identity?”

“Emma, you said what they needed here wasn’t Prince Sion specifically, but rather someone from the Herta Imperial family.”

From everything she had overheard, it seemed their interest wasn’t in someone from Herta being sacrificed, but rather in something more specific.

They had simply stated that ‘making an offering to the great water’ would suffice.

“No, Your Highness. They specifically need a prince from the Imperial bloodline.”

Emma bowed her head toward Leticia. A very small voice reached her ears.

“Surely they haven’t discovered the truth?”

“Is that important?”

The gender of the sacrifice didn’t seem particularly important, but Emma’s voice was firm.

“Yes. The contract with the Imperial family specifically stated Basilinte’s condition was for ‘a prince of the Imperial line.’”

“Ah.”

Only then did Leticia understand.

Emma had no interest in what value Leticia’s death would have in this land. She only needed to ensure the contract with Basilinte was successfully fulfilled.

Since all those of the proper lineage in the Herta Imperial family were princes, Basilinte had set such a condition, and the signed contract had to be absolutely honored.

If it were broken…

So if, by chance, they discovered she was a girl…

“If it’s revealed that the Imperial family didn’t send ‘a true prince of the bloodline,’ they must provide another prince, Your Highness.”

Emma’s voice was sharp and anxious. As if she were worried about the real prince left behind in the empire’s capital.

“If that happens, Your Highness will be of no use to the Imperial family… Would they have any reason to keep Your Highness’s family alive?”

Leticia felt her breath catch for a moment. As if she still hadn’t escaped from the flames that had consumed the troupe.

Taking shallow breaths, she slowly answered.

“I will die as a prince of Herta, Emma.”

Looking into Emma’s doubt-filled eyes, Leticia added firmly.

“Until the moment of death, I absolutely won’t struggle to live.”

“Even if someone reaches out to save Your Highness?”

“Yes. I still won’t take their hand.”