TMLOH 34

Chapter : 34

Her voice trembled.

“I don’t understand.”

She had tried to think it over.

Still, she didn’t get it.

“Why are you doing all this for me? Am I really worth all this effort? Does it even mean anything? You could have any friend you want, right? Why me, of all people…?”

“Because it has to be you.”

His voice was firm, unwavering.

“Why am I doing this? Because I can’t leave you alone. Worth the effort? I don’t know. Meaning? There is. Could I have any friend I want? What’s the point of that—if you’re not there.”

The rapid-fire reply ended in a low, heavy statement, repeated like a quiet drumbeat.

“Because you’re not there.”

The emotion behind it hit her squarely, and for a brief moment, she wanted to run.

She was afraid she might give in just like this.

If the room hadn’t been closed on all sides, she would’ve definitely fled.

Faced with a truth she didn’t want to confront—wanted to avoid—she couldn’t muster a single word and kept her lips tightly shut. The silence between them deepened.

Even the trembling of her body began to subside.

Then a thought occurred.

‘Did he leave?’

Had he given up because she kept pushing him away?

Just as relief and bitterness crossed her mind—

“I know… that you don’t really like me.”

The voice she thought had gone quiet spoke again.

“I know.”

Then why?

“Still, I like you.”

Why?

“I want to see you.”

She stood frozen, clutching the doorknob like it was her lifeline, unable to run.

“I wonder what you’re doing, and if you ever want to see me.”

His quiet voice came through the door.

“My whole world is filled with you.”

His sincere heart pressed against hers.

“In the end, it’s all about you.”

His clumsy but heartfelt words—

“It’s okay if you don’t believe me. It’s okay if you don’t like me.”

—burrowed into her heart with a force she couldn’t ignore.

“But…”

A trembling breath.

“…Just don’t avoid me.”

She bit her lips. Again and again.

From his pained voice, she could feel just how much Pession had struggled, pondered, and agonized in that short time.

Who was she, to make someone go through all that?

“Arelien, can you hear me?”

Suddenly she felt her cheeks were wet. She brushed them with her hand—pale from gripping the doorknob too tightly.

Why was she crying?

Why, even though she was so scared and just wanted to hide again, did her hand keep holding the doorknob?

What was this feeling rising between her fear?

Why… did she want to open the door?

Why did she want to see him?

Click.

Creaaak.

The door opened for reasons even she didn’t understand.

She was soaked in his emotions, poured over her like a sudden summer downpour.

And he looked at her with eyes full of longing, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

‘Why am I…’

Even though she knew how this would all end, she still wanted to reach out to him.

—You believe what a child says?

Hadn’t she been foolish enough?

An inner voice mocked her for hoping again.

—You’ll regret this. Be disappointed. Resent him. Be hurt again.

—In just a few years, he’ll change his mind.

—He might forget all about today and act like it never happened.

—Then you’ll be alone again.

I know. I know. And yet…

I still want to believe.

Just this once.

Even just once is enough.

If I’m with this invincible crown prince who feels like he can dodge any misfortune—maybe things will be okay?

Am I really that strange for thinking something so naive?

“If you get close to me, you’ll be unhappy too.”

“If you’re there, nothing could make me unhappy.”

“People will ask why you’re hanging out with someone like me.”

“Who says that? I’ll make sure they never dare say it again.”

His unwavering, steady gaze was overwhelming. She still didn’t understand.

“Why are you doing all this?”

Then you’ll be hated.

“Why…?”

You’ll end up alone too.

“Why, of all people?!”

Words she threw at him to make him give up—

“Because I like you.”

He answered like it was nothing.

“I…”

His honesty, consistent and pure, left her speechless. She clenched her eyes shut, then opened them again with determination.

“I don’t like you.”

Even words meant to hurt—

“That’s okay.”

He said firmly, even with a face that looked far from okay.

“Because I like you.”

Like that was the undeniable truth, Pession smiled as if he had no regrets or intention to retreat.

And just like a ghost set free by the burning midday sun, she stood dazed before that radiant smile.

In that moment, as she looked at the smile shining on her—

She thought,

Maybe…

Maybe she’d been running from this moment all along.

“……”

“……”

After the emotional storm, an awkward silence settled—for a moment.

“Hehe.”

As soon as Pession laughed, all her tension collapsed. Apparently, she was the only one feeling awkward.

“Be honest. How’d you get here today? You skipped class, didn’t you?”

“How’d you know? But I promised I’ll work harder tomorrow!”

“How’d you know I was here?”

“Someone told me.”

Who on earth told him?

‘There’s a traitor in the mansion.’

How dare they take the crown prince’s side and leak information! She’d have to tell Mehen later and make sure they paid the price.

“I looked everywhere. I knew you’d come here, but it’s so big, I had a hard time finding you.”

“How did you know I was even participating in this game?”

“Hmm. By chance?”

Something was definitely fishy.

She sighed as Pession grinned brightly and clearly refused to tell her.

“Let’s just do the puzzle.”

“Okay!”

Thankfully, all the puzzle devices were simple enough for a six-year-old to solve, so it wasn’t hard.

Crack!

…Though it was a problem that Pession kept breaking things.

“That’s weird? Why did it break? I didn’t even use that much strength?”

“…Put that down and come here.”

“Okay!”

At least he listened well—that was a relief.

Sigh.

“Arelien, you usually hate moving around, but you’re walking fine here.”

“……”

She couldn’t argue—it was true—so she stayed quiet. Apparently, it hadn’t been a jab, because Pession’s eyes sparkled.

“Do you move around when it’s fun?!”

Why did she get a bad feeling?

His eyes looked way too alert—twice as sharp as usual—so she quickly changed the subject.

“Who did you come here with?”

“Griom.”

I knew it.

Forever suffering for being the crown prince’s chief aide. She sent her silent condolences to the ever-suffering Griom.

“You came with Lady Mehen, right?”

“Yeah.”

That’s my mom, after all.

“We have to go save Princess Mehen.”

“Ahaha. I need to go save Princess Griom too!”

Thinking of those two fully grown adult men turned into “princesses,” they wandered the mansion, solving its secrets and looking for the hidden device.

“…Strange.”

Suddenly, Pession tilted his head.

“What is?”

“Hmm. Feels like something changed.”

“What do you mean?”

Despite the chaos earlier, they’d quickly solved most puzzles. The finish line was close.

They just had to find the hidden room holding the “princess” and unlock it…

“Wait.”

“…?”

Pession stopped her and scanned the surroundings.

“Arelien, there’s something I figured out.”

“?”

“Why don’t we see the other kids anymore?”

“Now that you mention it…”

It was strange.

Before the chase with Pession, they’d occasionally crossed paths with others working on different puzzles.

“Hmm…”

She tried to shake off the negative thoughts, but she had to admit—something did feel off.

A strange tension, like the mansion’s atmosphere had changed.

“Huh?”

Then Pession tilted his head again.

“What now?”

“That statue—didn’t it just move?”

“…Don’t joke like that.”

“That’s weird. I really thought it moved.”

She wasn’t scared of ghosts, but she did hate creepy mysteries. It had to be a prank, like a hidden camera. No way this was real.

“Let’s just solve the puzzle and get out of here.”

“W-Whoa?!”

As she grabbed Pession’s arm and urged him forward—

Zzzzzt—

She froze.

A strange, distorted sound she definitely shouldn’t be hearing.

“Arelien? Are you okay?”

What was that ominous feeling?

“Come here, stick close. I’ll protect you.”

“Don’t be stupid. You could be in danger too.”

“But if we’re together, maybe we’ll be okay.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Why did she have a bad feeling that Pession was also in danger?

Her back tingled, like something was stimulating her nerves.

Thump.

Thump.

The survival instinct of the weakest link in the food chain warned her, beating hard. She winced, overwhelmed by the desire to flee.

Wiiing—

Suddenly, the space twisted.

“Arel?!”

On instinct, she shoved Pession away—and in that moment, a powerful force swept over her.

Her consciousness faded.

“Arelien—!”