Chapter 52
“…What?”
Elina repeated in disbelief. Dayfs continued, suppressing his anger.
“Do you know why Reinsic is leaving right now? He’s trying to separate him from that painter.”
“Separate them? What do you mean…?”
“That painter. You know very well there’s something strange about her.”
Painter. He meant Prim. Elina pressed her lips together. Dayfs let out a mocking laugh.
“I don’t know how well she hid it, but His Majesty seems to have noticed something.”
He continued.
“There’s nothing good in getting close to that painter. You know what I mean, right? You’re smart.”
Think carefully.
Leaving only those words, Dayfs released her arm.
Left alone in the alley, Elina went over his words.
Why was His Highness Reinsic trying to keep Prim away?
‘Because His Highness favors her too much?’
No, even then, sending her to another country seemed too extreme.
Thinking deeply, a conversation from a few days ago suddenly came to her mind.
‘…Elina, you once asked me that, remember? If I was a witch.’
Prim had looked incredibly anxious when she asked that.
‘…Elina. Could you do me a favor?’
‘A favor?’
‘I think I’ll have to be away for a while. Please… take good care of His Highness.’
‘What do you mean? Where are you going?’
‘It’s nothing. Just… if something happens to me and I end up having to leave His Highness’ side.’
Was this what she meant?
Elina bit her lips hard.
‘It wasn’t my imagination… her eyes did look purple.’
Thinking back, Prim had done many things that didn’t make sense.
Was that because she was a witch?
A witch. Trembling with fear, Elina shook her head violently.
If Prim were truly a witch who cursed people, she would never have helped her when she was in trouble.
Not to mention, she had undone Reine’s curse—it didn’t add up.
Even if Prim really was a witch, Elina didn’t want to avoid her.
Regaining her senses, Elina began to think quickly.
‘Dayfs said His Majesty has started to suspect something.’
Which meant they definitely wanted to keep even His Highness Reinsic away from her.
‘There’s no time.’
Elina quickly rushed out of the alley.
“I don’t want to go.”
They were inside the passenger ship. A familiar complaint echoed. Prim turned, looking troubled.
Rein, his face full of childish sulking, was glaring down at her.
Prim glanced sideways, rolling her eyes. His longtime nanny, Marianne, was watching them with a conflicted expression.
Marianne was allowed to escort him because she was his nanny, and Prim because she was his exclusive painter.
It didn’t seem like things would end with a simple farewell… but showing this kind of behavior in front of Marianne wasn’t good.
Prim gestured slightly and whispered.
“You can’t say that now.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to go.”
Rein grumbled—then suddenly froze.
“…Do I seem too childish?”
“That’s a very random question.”
Prim smiled faintly. Rein, lips tight, spoke cautiously.
“Does that mean yes?”
“…”
Prim didn’t answer. Rein’s face twisted.
It wasn’t like he wanted to be like this.
But thinking about not seeing Prim for a long time made his chest twist painfully.
‘I want to hold her.’
If he could just feel her warmth one last time, maybe he could bear it.
Rein silently signaled to Marianne. Understanding immediately, Marianne stepped out.
“Then I’ll just…”
Prim tried to follow and leave as well—but Rein grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into his arms.
He had never hugged her first before. He only managed to when she forced him to practice or when throwing childish tantrums.
But today—
“…I’m anxious.”
His heart was pounding wildly with an unknown fear.
Rein rubbed his forehead against her neck. Prim bit her lip silently.
“…Your Highness.”
She lifted her hand and gently stroked his head. Rein slowly lifted his gaze.
His blue eyes were filled with anxiety.
It was only natural. Not long ago, he had lived marked as the prince who would bring down the empire.
But things couldn’t go on like this forever. The more Rein relied on her, the less she could leave him.
She wanted him to live proudly.
…Even if she wasn’t by his side.
Having finished her thoughts, Prim carefully opened her mouth.
It hurt her heart, but Prim pretended to be calm and strong.
“Have a safe trip. I’ll be waiting for you.”
It might very well be the last lie she ever told him.
Rein’s face slowly relaxed. Hearing that she would wait for him made his anxiety vanish like a lie.
“Okay.”
Just as he nodded, someone knocked on the door—signal for departure.
“I should go now.”
Prim stepped away from him. But Rein’s arms around her waist did not let go.
“Your Highness?”
Prim blinked in confusion. Rein’s face seemed to be getting closer.
‘As if he’s going to—kiss me?’
The moment she thought that—
Tap.
Something touched her forehead.
Rein was pressing his forehead against hers with his eyes closed.
‘…So it was just my imagination.’
What was she thinking about a teenager? Her face flushed.
“Th-then I’ll go now. Your Highness, please stay healthy.”
Embarrassed, she gave her final farewell and turned away.
At that moment, his voice came from behind.
“When I come back.”
She stopped and turned again. Rein’s face was stiff with tension.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Uh… can’t you tell me now?”
Knock knock. Another impatient knock called for departure. They had little time, but Rein shook his head.
“No. I’ll say it when I come back. By then… the timing should be right.”
“…”
She might never hear those words. She wished he would say them now, but Rein clearly didn’t intend to.
“…Okay. I’ll listen when you come back.”
As soon as she agreed, Rein quickly added:
“When I come back, I won’t look like a child anymore.”
“…What?”
She burst into a laugh at the sudden remark. Rein didn’t seem to realize how cute that sounded.
“I’ll treat people well, and like you said, I’ll show a kinder side of me. Enough for rumors to spread. So…”
Rein trailed off. Clenching his fist, he mustered the courage to speak.
“Please listen to me. Got it?”
Knock knock. Another knock urged them again. Time was truly up.
“Yes. I understand.”
Because of Rein’s words, Prim was able to smile in her last farewell.
“I’ll get going now. Your Highness, stay safe.”
Prim gave her final bow and left the room. The attendant’s uneasy glances felt strange.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
Did she stay too long? Feeling awkward, Prim quickly stepped off the ship.
The anchor was lifted. The ship really was departing.
Watching the ship grow distant, Prim felt a swirl of emotions.
“Prim!”
Someone grabbed her wrist.
“…Elina?”
It was Elina. She was drenched in sweat, as if she had run hard.
Panting, Elina pulled her urgently.
“Prim. Quickly, this way.”
“Now? But His Highness’ ship is about to—”
“Hurry…!”
Seeing her desperate expression, Prim followed without thinking.
The other nobles were wiping imaginary tears with handkerchiefs as they watched the ship disappear over the horizon.
Everyone’s attention was on the ship—this was their chance.
Elina dragged Prim into a quiet alley. They had little time.
She got straight to the point.
“Prim, run.”
“…What?”
“There’s no time to explain.”
Elina looked around anxiously. The ship was getting farther, but the nobles would wait until it vanished completely.
“Prim, you once asked me something. Why I thought you were a witch.”
“…Yes.”
“His Majesty seems to think the same thing.”
“…What?”
“Prim, you have to run. Now.”
“If you stay here, I don’t know what will happen. Over there—there’s a carriage with my family’s crest. Take it and flee anywhere. This is all I have, but it should help.”
Elina pressed a handful of gold coins into Prim’s hands.
Prim’s eyes trembled violently. She looked confused—unable to understand why Elina was helping her so much.
But she couldn’t refuse. Shameless as it felt, she had no other choice.
“…Thank you, Elina.”
Leaving those words, Prim ran toward the carriage.
Elina clasped her hands together tightly as she watched Prim’s back grow distant.
She prayed that what she feared would not come to pass.
Prim ran without stopping. She glanced at the sea—Rein’s ship was drifting farther away.
‘I have to get farther away.’
But where?
Where could she run?
Her anxious mind provided no answers.
Then she spotted a carriage with the emblem of the Zerbeta family. The one Elina had mentioned.
She started toward it—then froze. If she used that carriage, Elina might fall under suspicion.
‘No. I can’t.’
Prim turned away. It was a busy port—there would be plenty of carriages for hire.
She spotted a coachman feeding his horse. Prim approached him quickly.
“Can you leave right now?”
“Right now?”
“Yes, right now!”
The coachman blinked at her outburst but nodded.
“Well, I mean, I can operate but…”
“Then please.”
Prim climbed aboard without hesitation.
The coachman stared blankly at the slamming door, then climbed onto his seat.
“So, where to? You’re not gonna tell me the destination?”
“…”
Prim bit her lip. Elina said it wasn’t much money, but to a commoner like Prim, it was a considerable amount. Still, she had no idea what might happen—she needed to save as much as possible.
“What, you didn’t even decide where to go before boarding?”
The coachman grumbled. As she bit her lip, a place suddenly came to mind.
“…The temple.”
The forest temple where she had seen all those red roses with Rein.
“What? Where?”
Her voice had been too quiet. The coachman frowned and asked again. Prim hesitated before answering.
“To the Katreina Forest, please.”
