CHAPTER 66………………………………………………
Why was I in the temple at such a late hour? The question lasted only a moment.
Princess Laratou blinked as she saw Giovanni in front of Egrain.
Her heart sank heavily.
His face was just as blunt as when he was with her, yet strangely softened.
Watching him smirk at whatever Egrain had said, Princess Laratou unconsciously clutched her chest.
Since when had those two had that kind of atmosphere?
She couldn’t explain it, but it was completely different from when they were with her.
It felt as if an invisible wall had been erected around them. She felt like she shouldn’t intrude. And that feeling irritated her immensely.
An urge rose within her to demand what was going on with Egrain.
“He said we’re nothing to each other.”
Nothing to each other. That was a phrase more suited to her relationship with the prince than with him.
She recalled something a maid had said long ago.
[That terrifying prince already has someone. Just yesterday, they were loudly going on a date at the temple.]
At the time, she dismissed it as merely following her father’s orders.
But his face, that atmosphere—it couldn’t be seen that way.
“No way…”
Could they already have feelings for each other?
Could Egrain also have feelings for him?
Her palm hurt. Without realizing it, she had clenched her fist so tightly her nails dug into her skin. Princess Laratou bit her lip.
The deserted streets at dawn.
Jacque, having finished a midnight tryst with Aris, pulled his hat low and hurried through the alleyways.
“Lord Rocky doesn’t seem to expect much from me or Shinu.”
If they failed, it would be disappointing, but discarding them wouldn’t have serious consequences. That was their situation.
Jacque twisted his smooth lips.
“I won’t leave it like that. To become a legitimate warrior of the Empire as a half-blood, I need to accomplish something significant here. If I do what other desert warriors can’t, Lord Rocky’s opinion will change.”
Having been scorned for his origin since childhood, Jacque’s ambition was extraordinary.
Not just another random desert warrior, but a distinguished palace warrior.
“For that, I won’t refuse even the impossible. Even if being caught means instant execution.”
Jacque’s gaze grew cold.
He recalled the letter from Lord Rocky, delivered secretly the previous evening by a visiting kingdom noble.
He had quickly dismissed the noble, curious as he was, and broke the letter’s seal. The strong, deliberate handwriting confirmed that it was personally written by Lord Rocky.
<Secure the legitimate princess’s safety.>
There were other minor instructions, but this was the most important.
Even ever-cheerful Shinu was speechless at the letter.
It was almost an impossible order. Only then did Jacque understand why they were considered expendable.
Yet he was not discouraged.
“This might actually be an opportunity.”
Jacque’s mind worked coldly, having decided to carry out the order.
At first, he had considered asking the Shadows for support. The warrior corps would create a distraction elsewhere, drawing palace guards away to abduct the princess.
But after careful thought, he realized there was a better move: using the target itself.
“Consolidating my relationship with Aris Lorenst works to my advantage.”
Aris likely had no idea what critical information she had given him.
To her, it had merely been complaining about her family.
But Jacque had gleaned very important information from her grumbling.
Egrain Lorenst.
The so-called “fake princess” was actually close to Princess Laratou.
And Aris Lorenst lived under the same roof as Egrain Lorenst.
Jacque’s eyes curved in satisfaction as he found a way out of the dead-end.
Clatter.
It was quiet. The sound of a teaspoon stirring tea seemed unbearably loud.
Plop!
“Ah, I added another sugar cube.”
It was already the third. She had been counting sugar cubes discreetly.
She removed her hands from the unsatisfactory tea and leaned back. The wider view revealed Princess Laratou and Karsatuna.
It was a prearranged tea gathering. Since it had been a month, she had expected laughter and chatter to flow freely.
“What’s going on?”
Karsatuna was watching the princess, who seemed cold and distant.
The chill in the air felt unfamiliar.
“Princess.”
She could see that my tense voice vibrated the stiff atmosphere.
“I have something important to tell you today.”
“…….”
“What is it, Egrain?”
Karsatuna asked on behalf of the silent Princess Laratou.
I glanced at Princess Laratou, looking down at her teacup.
“It seems suspicious people are moving around the kingdom. Just in case, Princess, travel with soldiers and avoid going outside the palace.”
What would Empire spies want in the kingdom? Likely something disadvantageous to the kingdom but advantageous to the Empire.
In a previous life, the traitor incident had caused chaos when spies’ attempt to abduct the princess was revealed.
Daring to harm the royal family’s precious one…
The king’s wrath fell on me as an accomplice, and I was executed without escape.
“This time, they’ll try to touch the princess again.”
Karsatuna covered her mouth.
“Suspicious people? Is that really true, Egrain?”
“Yes, so Princess, you should…”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
A cold voice cut me off.
Princess Laratou stirred her tea with a smile at the corner of her lips.
“Egrain always advises me like my mother would.”
Seeing her genuine smile, my mouth automatically closed.
“……I spoke out of turn.”
The awkward atmosphere made Karsatuna force a smile.
“Egrain is worried for the princess. And suspicious people are around. Since there’s been a lot of going out lately, being careful is…”
“You don’t even know if it’s true.”
Princess Laratou’s cold gaze silenced Karsatuna, who had tried to change the mood.
Because of me, even Karsatuna was troubled.
‘But what on earth is happening?’
Princess Laratou wouldn’t meet my eyes. I could not understand why.
Finally, I decided to stand and speak a farewell.
“Princess, you seem unwell today. I won’t take more of your time.”
“Can’t even handle this one thing?”
“Pardon?”
I noticed the princess’s hand gripping the teacup tightly.
‘Something is definitely wrong.’
“May I ask something?”
“Yes, anything.”
Finally, her gaze met mine.
“What is your relationship with the prince?”
“…….”
My lips went dry. The realization hit, along with a wave of embarrassment.
My relationship with Giovanni?
Grandly put, it was a state-level cooperative relationship. Each of us, as Empire royalty and kingdom nobility, worked together. In short, a business relationship.
‘Of course, it’s more complicated than that. I don’t know how sincere he is. He made a scout proposal, and that day he restrained Aris’s rampage…’
Thinking of Giovanni’s warmth, my thoughts stopped.
“Ha.”
Ah. I answered too late.
Seeing Princess Laratou forcing an uneasy laugh, I snapped back to reality.
“The prince and I are…nothing in particular.”
“Go see him.”
“…….”
“Enough. Go, Egrain. You’re unwell.”
Princess Laratou turned her head, ending the conversation.
A sigh escaped me. Today was hopeless. No explanation or excuse would work.
I left the garden where the tea gathering was held. Soon after, slightly hurried footsteps followed.
“Egrain!”
“Karsatuna.”
“Don’t take it too hard. The princess likely had no ill intent.”
I quietly studied her worried face.
What fault could Karsatuna have?
Princess Laratou’s thoughts must have been filled with me and Giovanni.
“Seems something bad is happening to the princess.”
I smiled faintly at her, hoping at least one person would feel reassured.
The quiet garden with only the fountain’s dripping sound. The tea table felt frozen in time.
Swoosh.
Karsatuna quietly sat down after pulling out a chair.
“Egrain handled that well, Princess.”
She spoke while observing the quiet princess.
Princess Laratou bit her lips, then soon her face was full of a smile.
“Let’s go boating tomorrow.”
“What? Egrain said it’s dangerous…”
The princess’s expression changed completely.
“Why should I listen to her?”
“…….”
“Someone who lies to me.”
“……”
“How could I trust her?”
Karsatuna asked cautiously.
“What lies did she tell?”
The princess only smiled. A smile without sincerity.
“We’re going boating. Got it?”
Karsatuna could only nod.
A few days later, a letter arrived.
It bore the seal of the House of Legatan.
It was a letter from Karsatuna.
Reading it, I touched my forehead.
“What? They went boating?”
I had warned it was dangerous.
“Thankfully, nothing serious happened.”
I took out new stationery. Writing down the identities of the unwelcome visitors in the kingdom and how dangerous they were, I paused.
“Can I trust this?”
Princess Laratou firmly misunderstood me because of Giovanni.
‘Well, maybe it’s not exactly a misunderstanding.’
I couldn’t be fully honest with her. I had no idea what to do.
With the princess so hostile, it was likely she wouldn’t believe me.
I looked down at the letter about going boating again.
“Maybe I should use this as an opportunity.”
I muttered without realizing it.
The letter crumpled in my hand.
“A chance to catch these fools.”
The deserted midnight prayer room. In the sacred space of prayer, the sound of skin brushing against skin echoed oddly.
Smack.
Aris kissed the nicely tanned, firm cheek and grinned.
“Princess Laratou went boating again. For now, we’ll follow your plan. Can you leave it to your friend alone? Don’t hurt the princess. Just scare her enough, okay? I’ll be the one to save her from danger caused by Egrain.”
“This is a matter my professional friend can handle. You will be the princess’s new companion.”
“But you said your friend’s a little rough.”
She murmured, a bit anxious.
