Episode 98
There’s an order to things. How could he just proceed on his own like this while I was just blinking in confusion?
“You’d find a way to escape even if I tied you up tightly. So this much shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Ugh. I had no retort to that.
I cautiously looked at him.
“…Do you still think I’ll leave?”
His hand covered mine. Our fingers intertwined, his grip tightening. I flinched.
Cesar whispered,
“No. I won’t let you go now.”
As if to prevent me from running away again, he pulled me closer, his embrace possessive.
“Are you planning to keep me confined to the Dukedom?”
“It’s more like… I’m thinking of keeping you by my side.”
His breath tickled my ear. I felt uncomfortable, trapped in his embrace, and self-conscious about being outside like this.
So I blurted out,
“…A man who only confines you isn’t attractive.”
“Really?”
“Not me, but the opinion of a certain pink bird who lived in a small cage.”
“But I did leave the cage door open.”
He casually brushed off my remark and pulled me even closer.
‘What is he doing?!’
“I-I understand, but… we’re outside, so could you…!”
“If being outside is a problem, then being inside isn’t?”
An unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes, shadowed by his long eyelashes. He was so close that I almost couldn’t breathe.
Just then, I heard a rustling sound behind us. I instinctively turned my head.
“Gasp.”
I saw the maids, their eyes wide as they quickly looked away. They bowed their heads and retreated.
‘This is why there are rumors!’
“You did that on purpose!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Seeing him feign ignorance and stroke my hair, I was too dumbfounded to speak.
“Do as you please.”
I gave up.
I poked his arm with my finger.
“What?”
“I want to go see Sylvia.”
“I’ll call her here.”
“Are you seriously planning to keep me from leaving the Dukedom?”
He chuckled at my suspicious glare.
“I wish I could, but unfortunately, we have to go out together.”
“Why?”
“The Crown Prince summoned me. He asked you to come as well.”
“…I was expecting him to call.”
Even though Cesar had taken care of the property damage, I had made a deal with the Crown Prince, telling him I could see the future, to save Cesar’s life.
But now, Cesar had no reason to side with the Second Prince.
‘I should inform him of the changed circumstances. I couldn’t be certain back then.’
I gently touched his cheek. Cesar tilted his head, as if asking why I kept touching him. His hair swayed as his gaze met mine.
“You’re really not going to side with the Second Prince, are you?”
It would be a disaster if Cesar betrayed the Crown Prince. He took my hand as I looked at him seriously.
“No. I made a deal with the Crown Prince. I’ll support him in exchange for him abandoning the Seirthe Marquisate.”
“What do you mean?”
That was news to me.
His relationship with the Crown Prince had been extremely hostile because of Sylvia. Things might be different now, but he didn’t seem to have any favorable feelings towards him.
And yet, he was siding with the Crown Prince?
“It’s exactly as I said. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
What I wanted was for Cesar to live and not be involved with the Second Prince. He was now even further from his death flag by siding with the Crown Prince, but why did he choose this method?
“…You’re the leader of the noble faction. Is it okay to change your allegiance so easily?”
“You were in danger. I have no intention of letting those who harmed you go unpunished.”
He spoke as if he would eliminate anyone I found troublesome. It was a little scary, knowing he was probably capable of it.
As I blinked, speechless, his lips touched my eyelids. A soft, fleeting touch.
“…Lily.”
It was the name he always called me, yet it sent shivers down my spine. His hand, gently cupping my head, made me realize what he wanted.
‘Seriously…’
I was so weak against his advances.
I knew I was playing with fire. But even though I struggled and protested, I couldn’t resist him when he approached.
‘I dug my own grave…’
I sighed and obediently closed my eyes. I heard his low chuckle and felt his warm breath.
“Lily!”
“Sylvia!”
I ran towards Sylvia as soon as I saw her. And as I was about to hug her, Cesar blocked my path.
“You’ll fall.”
“I won’t. So stop blocking me.”
I had tried to run towards her as soon as I saw the Veronica County carriage arrive, but Cesar had stopped me.
‘Let go of me. Sylvia’s here!’
‘Are you planning to announce to everyone that you were a maid at the Veronica County?’
‘…But my hair and eye color are different now. Of course, some people might still recognize me, but… I thought I would be working here as a maid at the Dukedom?’
‘I never said I would keep you as a maid. If I did, I wouldn’t have bothered erasing your face from their memories.’
His casual words surprised me.
‘You erased my face from their memories?’
‘Yes. It takes time, so there might be rumors, but as you said, Lily, your hair and eye color are different now, so they won’t be taken seriously. Didn’t you notice that the knights at the Dukedom don’t recognize you?’
‘I just thought no one remembered a passing maid’s face…’
His meticulousness in handling everything while I was peacefully lazing around made me think that my escape had been a miracle.
‘But is that alright? Tampering with people’s memories with magic… is that legal?’
‘It doesn’t harm them, and I’ve already informed the Crown Prince, so it’s fine. Well, I would have done it even if it was illegal.’
His casual remark, befitting the villain of the novel, showed his lack of morals. His desires always came first.
That’s why he was preventing me from going to Sylvia right now.
“Lily, it seems you’ve been doing well at the Dukedom. I’m glad you’re not hurt. I was worried.”
I froze at her words. It seemed Cesar hadn’t told her anything.
‘That’s a relief. My heart would have broken if I saw tears in her beautiful eyes.’
“I’m fine. But I’m sorry. I was kidnapped… and it put you in danger.”
“What are you talking about, Lily? I’m the one who should be sorry. My carelessness put you in danger. I should have protected you.”
Her eyes filled with sadness, and it made my heart ache.
“It’s not your fault, Sylvia! You did nothing wrong!”
Sylvia’s downcast eyes crinkled into a smile at my forceful words.
“Then you did nothing wrong either, Lily. The one at fault is that Seirthe woman.”
Sylvia’s hand naturally stroked my hair. I leaned into her touch, and she withdrew her hand.
“Sorry, Lily. It’s been a while since we last saw each other. I have something to discuss with Cesar.”
“Really? Can’t I listen, too?”
“No. It’s about the Seirthe Marquisate. You should rest, Lily. You’ve been through a lot.”
Sylvia’s firm tone seemed different than before. She used to be so gentle, but now she seemed like a reed that wouldn’t bend.
“Alright. Make sure you call me again before I leave.”
“Yes, I will. We have a lot to talk about.”
Her smile, which could melt anyone’s heart, was still the same, so I didn’t mind the change in her demeanor.
‘I wonder what they’re talking about.’
My curiosity grew. If they were talking without me, it meant there was something important besides the kidnapping incident.
I could transform into a bird and eavesdrop from the window. But since it was a conversation they didn’t want me to hear, and Cesar hadn’t stopped me from leaving, I decided not to.
‘I’ll be meeting the Crown Prince soon and getting involved in the changing political situation. I should rest for now.’
The cool breeze felt like a prelude to the upcoming hunting competition.
Much had changed from the original story. So it was uncertain how things would unfold during the hunting competition, the turning point where everything started to unravel.
I had an advantage because of my knowledge of the novel, but I couldn’t rely on that alone. The situation was favorable to the Crown Prince, but I didn’t know how the Second Prince, cornered, would react.
‘I take care of one problem, and another one appears.’
As I patted my tired shoulders, I heard a tapping sound on the window. The scenery outside was the same as usual, but the wind was unusually strong.
‘The wind…’
I cautiously opened the window, and a Sylph, giggling, flew inside. Sylvia was talking to Cesar, so this spirit must have been sent by Heron.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Heron lately.’
Well, it was more accurate to say that there was no chance for us to meet since I had been kidnapped by Prea and then practically confined to the Dukedom.
“Did Heron summon me?”
The Sylph nodded.
“What should I do? It’s a bit awkward to leave the Dukedom without permission.”
The Sylph drooped, and the wind around it died down. It couldn’t be helped, even if it was sulking.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Cesar would be worried if I suddenly disappeared. I don’t want to worry him anymore.”
Just as I was about to send the Sylph back, I saw long, raven-black hair swaying by the window. And then Heron appeared.
“Hello, Valerie.”
Seeing Heron casually greet me, I couldn’t even point out that he was trespassing.