MWAMR|CHAPTER 58

Chapter 58

Howard had planned to stay in Sailport for about ten days, using Ethan’s injury as an excuse, before returning to the capital. Both Ethan and Elisa agreed with his idea.

But their plan was ruined the moment a letter arrived from King Petra—four days after Princess Camilla had left Sailport.

Two separate letters were delivered, one to Ethan and one to Howard, but they both carried the same message in essence:

You have until the weekend. Report to the palace.

If Ethan’s injury prevents him from traveling, I will send a royal physician. This is both a reward for saving Princess Camilla and an expression of gratitude to the hero who saved the kingdom. Do not refuse.

“Reward, my foot. It’s a threat, plain and simple,” Howard muttered with a cynical smirk as he crumpled the letter and tossed it aside like trash.

Elisa gasped softly, startled at the sight of a prince treating the king’s letter with such disregard. 

But Ethan and Conrad didn’t even flinch—clearly used to such behavior.

Conrad merely picked the crumpled letter up again, smoothed out the creases, and set it aside neatly for safekeeping.

“If the royal physician comes here, he’ll find out Ethan’s been faking his illness,” Elisa said cautiously. “Wouldn’t it be better to return to the capital first?”

Howard shrugged. “It wouldn’t make a difference. His Majesty already suspects Ethan’s perfectly fine.”

“Then… what should we do?”

“Well,” Howard rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing out the window where the blue sea glittered beneath the clear sky. “We could send a letter saying Ethan’s condition has worsened, and then… ambush the royal physician on his way here.”

“K-Kill him?” Elisa stammered, horrified.

Howard burst into laughter, waving his hand dismissively. “Ha! I’m joking, don’t take it so seriously.”

It didn’t sound like a joke at all…

Elisa recalled what Conrad had once told her—that Prince Howard only looked easygoing, but in truth was meticulous and calculating. That memory made the prince’s “joke” feel far less humorous.

“Is there another herb—like the one before—that can make someone appear sick temporarily?” Ethan asked calmly while rereading the king’s letter.

Howard shook his head. “Nope. Do you think those herbs grow on trees? I could make you really sick if you want, though.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Shame,” Howard sighed dramatically.

“All right,” he went on, “just keep the bandages around your ‘torn ligament’ and your head. No matter how skilled the royal physician is, he can’t see inside your skull. Say you’ve had a severe concussion and were in a coma. They won’t be able to prove otherwise.”

They continued discussing their plan until the golden light of day faded and the sea outside turned crimson. As the eastern darkness crept in, the room slowly filled with dusk.

When their conversation finally ended, Elisa tucked the sleeping child from her lap onto the bed and quietly stepped outside.

“Elisa Leslie.”

Howard’s voice stopped her just as she closed the bedroom door.

“When we return to the capital,” he asked, “will you go back to the House of Leslie?”

Ah… right. That too.

Elisa’s face fell. She had been so focused on the king’s summons that she’d momentarily forgotten that problem—the one she still hadn’t solved since finding Ethan alive.

When Derek Grenville had cornered her back in Kando, she had decided that sooner or later, she would have to confront her father directly. But that had been an act of desperation. Her heart still wasn’t ready.

What should I do? Should I go back to Leslies?

“If you don’t want to go,” said a soft, low voice behind her, “then don’t.”

Elisa turned around. Ethan stood close—closer than she’d realized. When their eyes met, the gray in his gaze darkened.

“Don’t go,” he said firmly, taking her hand. His voice was strong, full of conviction that sent a tremor through her chest. “Stay with me. I’ll protect you.”

The weight of his words—steady and unshakable—felt as if they could shield her from every storm in the world. Elisa slowly nodded, her heart finding its resolve.

***

After nearly half a day of discussion, they decided to leave Sailport the next morning.

Once in the capital, Ethan and Howard would go straight to the royal palace, while Elisa and Noah would head to Baron Estevan’s estate.

That evening, Elisa went down to the dining hall with Howard for supper.

Conrad was busy preparing for the trip, but the real reason Howard accompanied her was because, ever since the incident on the terrace, Ethan had grown wary of Conrad and insisted Howard stay close instead.

“By the way,” Howard began cheerfully as they descended the stairs, “this morning, something rather amusing happened—”

His words were light, teasing as always, but Elisa couldn’t bring herself to laugh. The polite smile she forced quickly faded.

“You seem very worried about returning to the capital,” he observed, his tone gentle but probing.

Elisa stopped in her tracks.

“Don’t worry,” Howard said reassuringly, stepping up beside her. “Everything will work out. I promise, Ethan will return safely to Baron Estevan’s estate. You have my word as a prince.”

He thumped his chest with confidence, as if to lend her courage.

Elisa glanced out the darkened window, then turned back to him with quiet determination.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Your Highness. I know you’ll handle the king’s matter perfectly.”

“Then why the grim face?”

“There’s something… I must take care of myself.”

Her hands tightened around her skirt. She closed her eyes briefly, then looked back at him.

“I heard you personally appointed the head butler of Baron Estevan’s household. Can I trust him enough to leave a child in his care?”

Howard’s eyes narrowed slightly at the unexpected question. He studied her face—steady, resolute, like that of a soldier marching to war.

“You’re not planning to leave Noah there,” he asked slowly, “and return to the Leslie estate alone, are you? Without telling Ethan?”

A faint, wry smile touched her lips. “You catch on fast.”

Howard let out a short laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable. You finally escaped, and now you want to walk right back into the lion’s den? You know what your father might do to you.”

“Well… I doubt he’ll kill me,” Elisa said in a detached tone, as if speaking about someone else’s life. “But he might lock me up until I agree to marry Sir Derek Grenville.”

“You know that—and you still intend to go back?”

“I can’t keep running forever.”

A gust of wind blew through the hallway, stirring her hair, but her blue eyes remained clear and unwavering.

“If I keep running, Father will never stop chasing me. Grenville won’t give up either. So I have to end it—once and for all. That’s the only way to protect Ethan and Noah from getting caught up in this.”

Ethan had promised to protect her, but Elisa didn’t want to hide behind his back. She wanted to walk beside him, as his equal.

“You really think the Count will give up or accept Ethan just because you confront him?” Howard asked quietly.

“Maybe not,” she admitted. “But I still have to try. That’s why I need to leave Noah at Baron Estevan’s estate. I can trust him there, can’t I?”

“Yes,” Howard said at last. “You can. That butler is a man of absolute loyalty.”

“Good.” Relief softened her face, and a faint smile returned.

“Oh—and please,” she added, lowering her voice, “don’t tell Ethan about this. If he finds out, he’ll lose his mind.”

“I won’t say a word.”

Howard’s lips curved faintly, though his eyes glinted with quiet intrigue as he looked down the dim hallway ahead.

But I wonder what will happen when he finds out anyway…