Chapter 11
“So this is where you two were.”
Princess Reni entered the terrace. It was rude to come in when someone was already on the terrace, but she acted as if she owned the place. Suppressing my rising anger, I forced a smile and gave a brief bow.
“We were here first. What brings you here?”
“Father asked me to take good care of the Duke’s young master and young lady.”
Ah, she’s approaching us because she wants to form a connection with Evan. Royals are so brazen and forward.
“We’ll wait for our parents on our own.”
“So please don’t waste your time on us.”
We politely brushed her off, making it clear she didn’t need to bother.
“Please accept my sincerity.”
But Princess Reni showed no signs of backing down easily. If we refused further, things would only get more complicated.
Let’s accept for now and get out before 6 PM. I exchanged a look with Jason and signaled that we should accept for the time being.
“Then we’ll accept for a moment. Thank you.”
We bowed in thanks. Then, guided by the princess, we ascended the stairs at the center of the party hall and sat at a prepared small table. In a way, we had been chosen by the princess, so everyone was looking up at us.
“This is a tea I’ve been enjoying lately. Please, try some.”
Princess Reni lifted a teacup filled with green tea and offered it to us.
I’m not one to judge by appearances, but that green tea looks absolutely unappetizing. No jokeāI don’t want to drink it. I feel like I’d spit it out the moment it touches my lips.
“It’s delicious. I’ll have to recommend it to our parents when they arrive.”
I’ll drink yours too.
Jason muttered quietly as he took my teacup. Even though his own would probably taste bad too, I was touched by his gesture of drinking mine as well, and I covered my mouth with both hands. Even if it had been Evan, I’d have been movedābut because it was Jason, it was even more touching.
When the child who looked like Evan took care of the child who looked like Leticia, Princess Reni looked at me with envy.
“I’m glad you find it delicious. By the way, when will the Duke and Duchess be arriving?”
“Who knows. Our parents are so devoted to each other that I can’t even guess when they’ll show up.”
I naturally conveyed that she didn’t need to be curious about my husband, while also letting her know we didn’t know when they’d arrive. Jason poked my side.
“Hey, hey.”
“This much is necessary.”
I whispered and winked. Just follow this unnie’s lead!
“Hoho, I see. Then please stay with me until your parents arrive.”
“Haha, yes.”
Inside I was going crazy and jumping around, but outside I remained composed. We continued talking with Princess Reni amidst that anxiety, and time flowed on until 6 PM was just around the corner. I couldn’t stay still any longer, so I used the ‘Whisper Item’ to speak to Jason.
“Six o’clock is almost here, isn’t it?”
“Let’s say our parents seem to have arrived and get out of here.”
“Wait, that’s too obvious. Leave this to this unnie.”
When it comes to this, leave it to a 500-year-life senior. I patted my chest confidently and smiled with my eyes.
I looked at Princess Reni with a bright, innocent child’s smile.
“Your Highness, would you play hide and seek with us?”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ve never played hide and seek in such a big, crowded place before, so we really want to try! You’ll play with us, won’t you, kind princess?”
I stared at Princess Reni with pitiful eyes that she absolutely couldn’t refuse. Her eyes showed bewilderment, but she soon forced a smile.
“Haha, of course. Since I know the palace grounds well, shall I be the seeker?”
“We don’t know the palace well, so please count to ten and come find us!”
We immediately got up and ran quickly. Times like this are when a child’s body is truly useful. No one scolds you for running in the party hall.
“You’re smart.”
As we ran to get out of the party hall, Jason exclaimed in admiration. If not for this situation, I’d have joked back.
“Is this really the time? We need to find a place to hide quickly!”
“I don’t think we have time to go outside. The terrace or a lounge would be best.”
“Let’s go to a lounge.”
I followed Jason to the lounge connected to the party hall. But all the lounges were crowded. Every single one had a sign indicating someone was inside.
“What, there are this many people in the lounges?”
“There’s no time to panic. Hurry!”
Jason grabbed my hand, looking flustered, and ran back to the party hall. This damned palace has no way to get outside from the lounges.
“Hurry, hurry!”
We darted through the crowd, thinking fast. We had less than 20 seconds left, but the party hall was needlessly hugeāthere was absolutely no way to get outside in time.
So we slipped into the nearest terrace.
‘Phew, there’s no one on this side terrace either, so we won’t be seen.’
I sighed in relief and wiped my chest. At the same time, I felt my small body growing larger. We had just barely managed to hide before the transformation.
I’d been in such a rush that I ran without using a stamina item, and now I was out of breath. I might collapse at this rateāugh. I sat down on the floor to catch my breath.
“I came looking for people and ended up witnessing an interesting sight.”
A man who appeared to be a mage materialized out of thin air. I was startled and stood up, while Evan stood in front of me warily.
“Who are you? How long have you been here?”
“You have too many questions. That’s not the important thing, is it?”
“If you breathe a word of this, I’ll kill you.”
“I haven’t heard anyone threaten to kill me in centuries.”
The man laughed as if amused, glaring at Evan, who glared back menacingly. I stepped in front of Evan, blocking him with my hand.
“Evan, calm down. Times like this call for a composed response.”
After Evan silently lowered his hand, I stepped forward, put my hand in my non-existent pocket, and glared at the man.
“Hey, do you know how many people I’ve killed in my life? Do you want to be added to that number?”
This is what composed response looks like. If you bow down to someone who looks like a scheming villain, you’ll be taken for a pushover. I’ve seen plenty of people like that.
At my threat, the man let out a dismissive laugh.
“You call that a threat? Do you think I’d be scared of something like that?”
“I thought you’d be groveling. You’re surprising.”
I said mockingly. There’s a reason I can be so confident.
‘Hmm, what item should I use?’
I have item buffs. I can easily shut his mouth with an item.
‘Find me an item to seal his mouth.’
<There is no such item.>
‘Huh, that can’t be! I definitely got one before!’
I remember clearlyāthe item I got after struggling for two hours to defeat a monster!
<The expiration date has passed.>
>
‘…You’ve got to be kidding.’
I almost cursed out loud. Since I can’t use items anymore, I can’t keep being as bold as before.
I don’t want to show Evan a weak side of me submitting.
“Why the sudden silence? Did you finally realize your own weakness?”
“Shut up before I eliminate you.”
Oh my, my husband is so assertive. But if we go further, we’d lose. Being in the party hall means this man is a noble, which means we can’t rip out his tongue or eyeballs. In a situation where we can’t do anything, arguing is just a waste of breath.
“Never mind. Revealing secrets is what cowards do. Let’s go.”
“Shouldn’t we at least cut out his tongue?”
“Are you not going to listen to me? Don’t you trust me?”
“No, I trust everything you say.”
Evan returned to being a gentle puppy and kissed my cheek. I praised him, saying good boy, and turned my head slightly, switching the ‘Whisper’ item from Evan to the man.
“Tomorrow at 2 PM, in front of the plaza clock.”
And I whispered to the man in a very small voice. Using the item that allows whispering to a specific person, Evan didn’t hear. Upon hearing that, the man immediately disappeared.
‘He’ll come. He will definitely come.’
I was sure he would.
Since it would look suspicious if people saw the younger versions of us on the terrace, I jumped down from the railing to the ground. The terrace wasn’t very high, there was no one outside, and Evan’s athletic reflexes were excellent, so I landed safely in his arms. Instead of going straight into the party hall, we took a stroll through the garden.
Evan boldly picked a rose from the palace garden, handed it to me, and smiled with his eyes. But I brushed my bangs aside and sighed.
‘Ha, things have really gotten complicated.’
My complacency had made things messy.
‘Would it be better to find another item to seal his mouth? Or would it be better to win over the man who’s probably angry and make him an ally?’
If I try to get an item and end up leaking the secret, it’s over, so the best approach seems to be to win the man’s favor while also obtaining an item.
I nodded to myself and tucked the rose Evan had given me behind his ear. Just then, along with an elegant laugh, Princess Reni appeared. It hadn’t even been ten minutes yet.
“Oh my, the Duke and Duchess have arrived. I was having so much fun playing with your lovely children that I lost track of time.”
“I apologize for being late. And thank you for playing with our children.”
“You must have worked hardāthank you.”
We naturally conveyed that we’d met our younger selves. Princess Reni smiled gracefully.
“Not at all, I enjoyed myself. I need to find your two children who are playing hide and seekāwould you like to come search with me?”
There was a thorn in Princess Reni’s words. A thorn that said, “How can you find children who don’t even exist?”
