Chapter 89
*I Missed You So Much*
“One of her subordinates, a scientist, contacted us.”
I rubbed my palms together and nodded.
“We have to use everything we can.”
“Estella, please don’t talk like a villain. How about we just go ho…”
“Now! Go to your desk and write! Estella is inviting Miss Baba and her friend to my future home, the Imperial Palace!”
He sighed as he walked to his desk, patted my head, and shook his head.
“I’ll… adjust the wording.”
“That’s our young master! So smart!”
“I’m only letting you off the hook this once.”
He glared at me.
“Because I promised.”
It had been a week since we arrived at the Imperial Palace. Still no progress. It was all because of the young master’s laziness over the past five years. There were even rumors that Count Zepetto was dead. Seriously. I was the one who died.
The wicked Crown Prince, taking advantage of our presence, had dragged the young master to a meeting about the capital’s tax issues. Making him do his work while he was here. He was a shrewd politician.
“A formidable opponent.”
That’s what the young master said about the Crown Prince.
—It’s time to pay for your absence from the Imperial Palace for the past five years, for not submitting reports, for skipping social events, for replying to letters after three months, and for sending representatives to important meetings.
The young master didn’t look pleased, but he had no excuse, so he went along. The life of a noble seemed troublesome.
While he was away, I wandered around the palace under the guise of sightseeing. Of course, I was followed by guards and the Crown Prince’s subordinates.
I had to lose them and find the elixir.
I discreetly took Zomrat out of my clothes. He sniffed the air.
“Zomrat, can you sense the elixir?”
He twitched his nose, but he didn’t seem to detect anything.
“Not yet.”
I put him back inside my clothes. He squeaked in protest, then settled down. He would probably be asleep, buried in my clothes, when I checked on him later.
“Lady Estella, shouldn’t you return to your room?”
One of the maids following me said. I didn’t want to go back empty-handed. But maid solidarity!
I reluctantly nodded.
“Alright. Is the young master coming back tonight?”
The maid smiled awkwardly, looking around nervously.
“Count Zepetto is busy again tonight.”
“Aren’t you overworking him? He’s too soft-hearted to complain and just does whatever he’s told.”
“It’s more like…”
She whispered,
“…He’s taking the initiative and handling the work himself, after seeing how much of a mess things are…”
“Ah, that sounds like him…”
So I was on my own again tonight. I needed his help.
He was so stubborn, always getting fired up about the wrong things.
“Squeak!”
Zomrat poked his head out of my collar.
“Eek! A rat!”
The maid next to me shrieked and jumped back. I pushed Zomrat back inside my clothes.
“Don’t mind him.”
I had to come up with a plan in place of our clueless young master.
I sat at the desk, imitating his usual poses, standing on the chair, organizing the desk… but nothing came to mind.
How could I find the elixir?
I picked up Zomrat, who was playing under the bed, and moved him around as if drawing in the air. He seemed indifferent. My Zomrat detector wasn’t working.
“I need the young master’s help.”
Was this also part of the Crown Prince’s plan? To separate us and prevent us from working together.
If that was the case, his plan was working. The young master had come to the palace for me, and now everyone was taking advantage of his presence, piling work on him.
Leave him alone! He spent the last five years cooped up in his workshop, obsessing over a dying maid and being lazy!
I stood on the desk, wishing for his return.
I glanced at the back of my hand. The arrow was gone. The arrow that had been pointing in his direction was gone.
Was he working somewhere nearby today? I hoped he would be back soon.
I might as well wait for him properly. I carefully climbed down from the desk and went to the window, watching the stars drift across the sky. The dark night passed by, strangely beautiful.
If I were human, I would be sleeping. The first thing I wanted to do when I became human was take a nap. Being awake all the time was exhausting. There was no time to organize my thoughts.
Was it an advantage that I thought about him so much? What was he thinking all those years, caring for Anna’s body, believing her to be dead?
Five years… he hadn’t given up for such a long time. It was remarkable. That level of dedication… was he in love with me?
I already knew that he relied on me. But to think he had been focusing on my treatment, thinking only of me, for five years…
It could only be explained as love!
And he had trembled and even cried when he realized I was Anna.
Perhaps we felt the same way. Or rather, his feelings might be even stronger…
“Squeak, squeak!”
“…”
“Squeak! Squeak! Squeeeak!”
“Zomrat, be quiet. I’m having serious, romantic thoughts…”
As I stroked Zomrat, who was jumping around by the window, I felt something strange.
“I’m thinking…”
Something about the scenery outside felt off. The leaves were rustling slightly, even though there was no wind. And I heard a faint, scraping sound.
Someone was coming, taking advantage of the young master’s absence.
“I know you’re there. Behind me.”
I lowered my voice and muttered.
I wasn’t actually sure if anyone was there. I just said it because it sounded cool and vigilant.
Of course, there was no one behind…
“As expected of Estella.”
“What?”
I turned around, startled. The Crown Prince was standing there. He was dressed casually, but he was holding a sword, so he didn’t seem to be here for a friendly visit.
“Are you surprised that I came myself?”
“Uh, well…”
Myself or not, I hadn’t even noticed he was there… I should pretend. I was playing the cool and perceptive character now, so I might as well enjoy it!
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin.
“I knew it! Giving the young master so much work… it was all your scheme!”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“That’s just Lupin’s personality. I was just giving him his overdue work. He’s the one who’s taking the initiative and handling it. He even seems to be enjoying it.”
He raised his sword and pointed it at me. The sharp tip gleamed menacingly in the dim lamplight.
“Is it thanks to you?”
“I am his source of energy.”
“Or is it because of the one inside you?”
“…”
His smile disappeared.
“Did you awaken Anna’s body?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Who’s Anna? I don’t know anyone by that name. It’s a common name, and coincidentally, I’ve never met anyone named Anna. Was there someone like that around the young master? A maid, perhaps? Not that I’m suspecting anything…”
His knights approached, all armed. This was dangerous.
I took a step back, my back hitting the windowsill. I couldn’t retreat any further.
“Lupin is like a wild cat. He doesn’t listen, even when I try to use him to catch rats.”
“Squeak!”
Zomrat, surprisingly, seemed to understand and squeaked indignantly. He was selectively intelligent.
“Would it be better if I had leverage over him?”
“W-well, that depends on him.”
“Then let’s test his feelings.”
He kept his gaze fixed on me.
“Seize her.”
His knights charged towards me.
Where should I run? I would be caught if I hesitated. But there seemed to be no escape from the knights surrounding me.
There was one place I could go.
“Zomrat! No time for explanations! On my head!”
I placed Zomrat on my head and then jumped onto the windowsill.
“Estella!”
I heard the Crown Prince’s urgent voice. I jumped out the window, shouting,
“Our marriage is off!”
I fell, the wind whistling past my ears. I could feel Zomrat’s heart racing. Sorry, Zomrat. But I couldn’t leave you behind.
“Oh no!”
Would I break when I hit the ground? I had jumped, assuming my body was durable! What if Zomrat was injured from the impact? I would have to throw him up in the air and catch him the moment my feet touched the ground!
Was that even possible?!
Many thoughts raced through my mind. The ground was approaching quickly. I closed my eyes.
Whoosh!
“…”
“Squeak, squeak, chirp…”
Something caught me and lifted me into the air. Had the Crown Prince caught me? I was held tightly, unable to escape. Was I really captured this time?
“Hey! Let go of me! If you’re going to drop me, at least do it from a lower altitude!”
As I struggled, the grip tightened. What was holding me? I looked closely, and it was a giant, red…
“Lizard?”
“It’s a dragon!”