Chapter 9
“No, Princess. That *is* indeed the meal meant for you.”
The maid, visibly tense, fidgeted as if she wanted nothing more than to escape this place at once, repeatedly glancing sideways at the door. Unlike before, the maids were now avoiding Ezra. In their eyes, fear had replaced contempt—fear similar to what one felt when avoiding the queen.
“Lord Hippolytus sends the princess’s meals every time, so we simply bring them as instructed.”
The maid added this explanation to the still-suspicious Ezra. Only then did Ezra understand the situation, and she froze like ice.
The new bedding that had been brought in, the lavish, warm meals, the clean clothes handed to her—and even the maids who used to torment her now quietly avoiding her as if nothing had happened.
At the moment all her doubts became certainty, her heart dropped heavily, as if it had fallen away somewhere far below.
“Princess… may I take my leave now?”
When Ezra nodded belatedly, the maid rushed out the door in a flash. Ezra stared blankly at the soup, thick with solid ingredients, then let everything go and sank down onto the stone floor. A chill rose up from the cold surface.
The despair lay in knowing that this was the only place left where she could push him away.
Matari arrived in the early afternoon, after Ezra had skipped her third consecutive meal. The maids clearing away the untouched food must have reported it. With not a single strand of hair out of place, Matari bowed politely.
That, too, was unfamiliar.
“I heard that you have been skipping meals. Is there some problem?”
“This… isn’t food I can eat.”
As Ezra clenched her fist and turned away from the newly brought breakfast, her nails dug into her palm until blood seeped out. Matari looked back and forth between the cold food and Ezra sitting on the floor, then turned away.
“About the maid.”
She shook out the blanket crumpled in one corner of the room and neatly spread it over the bed.
“The maid who claimed the food was sent by Lord Hippolytus.”
Caught off guard by the sudden mention, Ezra lifted her head. As if she had been waiting for this, Matari turned and met her gaze.
“I had her tongue cut out. As an example.”
“…What?”
Her voice was flat. Matari stepped closer and bent down until her face was right in front of Ezra’s. Her dry, pitch-black pupils were terrifying. Ezra hurriedly lowered her eyes, yet answered stubbornly.
“Sh-she did nothing wrong! She just answered my question. Then why—why would you…?”
“Speaking lightly of matters belonging to one’s superiors. That is the wrongdoing.”
It was a reason Ezra could not accept. Her blood-crusted palm trembled.
“Was that… also on Lord Hippolytus’s orders?”
“Of course not. It was merely a matter among the maids. Nothing the princess needs to concern herself with.”
The stench of blood seemed to thicken. Cold sweat beaded on Ezra’s forehead. Tears that had barely been held back in her green eyes finally spilled down her cheeks.
“So please, Princess, accept everything comfortably.”
Matari spoke coldly and turned away from the sobbing Ezra.
Was it fear of the horrific punishment, or perhaps misplaced guilt? Whatever it was, they were nothing but hypocritical crocodile tears.
And yet, a woman standing alone before an impassable door suddenly came to mind. Recalling even the awkward smile she had forced when their eyes met, Matari narrowed her brow slightly.
An irritating woman. If not for the gold coins she had taken, she would have left her to starve to death without a second thought.
“More importantly, Lord Hippolytus is waiting for you, Princess.”
Still, her purpose was clear.
“I ask that you accompany me.”
The chill emanating from her resolute words was so intense it was hard to believe she was alive. Yet the hand pulling Ezra up by the arm was warm, and once again tears welled up.
“Y-you were too cruel. Something like that… it might torment you someday too, Lady Matari.”
Perhaps she had lost her fear. Even as she was dragged along, Ezra spoke up. Alongside her guilt toward the tongueless maid, she felt a presumptuous pity for Matari, who must have felt compelled to act that way.
Despite Ezra’s growing sobs, Matari did not reply. She merely tightened her grip on Ezra’s arm.
Under a clear sky stood a weeping willow that had lived for hundreds of years. Its sturdy branches stretched wide, leaves swaying intermittently, while the sounds of unknown insects lingered in the air.
Beneath the great tree’s shade, a wide expanse of blue water spread out. Yellow-billed ducks floated lazily. All things moved peacefully, unhurriedly. In this scenery that calmed even the heart, Hippolytus took a few steps back.
The old ferryboat tied to the crude dock, the darkened oar worn smooth by countless hands—none of it suited him. A man rowing instead of wielding a sword should not exist.
And yet, exceptions always existed. As Hippolytus rubbed his forehead absently, he reacted sharply to the presence behind him.
“Princess.”
A cool wind swept across the cloud-dotted sky, carrying the man’s voice to her ears. The damp earth was soft beneath her feet, fresh sprouts vibrant and green. A thick tree guarding the open waters, and beneath it, a man waiting for her.
Following Matari beyond the stone tower, Ezra lost herself in the sight before her.
The man leaning against the tree straightened as soon as he spotted her. Though too far to see his expression, she knew he was looking directly at her.
Everything was vivid and dazzling, yet she dared not blink. She feared that if she closed her eyes, this would all vanish into a dream, replaced by a dull, cracked ceiling.
“Princess Ezra.”
“Why do you keep…?”
Why do you keep giving me things like this, making me want them?
If you keep reaching out to me like this, I won’t be able to refuse or turn away.
Clenching her fist in sorrow, she felt her sharp nails cut into old scars. The familiar pain now truly hurt; her throat stung, her heart ached. When she didn’t move for a long while, the man, perhaps impatient, strode over until he stood just a few steps away.
“You weren’t moving at all—I thought you were a tree.”
“You—you’re too beautiful.”
At Ezra’s nonsensical reply, Hippolytus shrugged as if he had expected it.
“What’s beautiful—the scenery, or me?”
“…Both.”
More honest than before, she smiled faintly and stepped closer. Satisfied, he took her hand and dashed toward the lakeside.
“Ah—!”
Her legs, unused to running, wobbled, but his firm hand never let go. Accepting that she could not pull away from this hand, her hidden desire lifted its head. As the turmoil in her heart faded, Ezra followed him with a wistful expression.
Still holding her hand, he headed straight for the dock. While he pulled the rope of the boat floating on the water, Ezra reached out to touch the unfamiliar willow tree.
“What are you doing now?”
After admiring the centuries-old willow to her heart’s content, Ezra peeked out from behind him and asked. Hippolytus answered innocently.
“We came all this way—of course we should ride the boat. The weather’s perfect.”
Ride a boat? Ezra stared at the rocking ferry in silent horror.
“Y-you’re serious…? I-I’m scared.”
“Just trust me.”
Turning briefly, Hippolytus thumped his chest reassuringly. Ezra swallowed hard. Judging by his confidence, he seemed skilled with boats. After all, it was a pastime of nobles—surely he had experience.
Yet she felt foolish for wondering who he might have ridden with before.
“Do you ride boats often?”
“No. This is my first time.”
Startled by the oddly familiar exchange, Ezra froze, then hurriedly grabbed his clothes and pulled him back, stamping her feet.
“No, Lord Hippolytus. D-dancing is one thing, but boats are dangerous! If you fall in—!”
“If we fall, we fall. That sounds fun too.”
“W-what?!”
As Ezra staggered backward in shock, he grabbed her waist as if abducting her.
“Come on. Ride with me.”
“I’m sorry! No! I’m scared!”
Refusing three times—was she really that opposed? As she shook her head vigorously, her hair swayed back and forth. Suppressing a smile, he shrugged.
“Just trust me once. I won’t let a single drop of water touch you, Princess.”
“Really…?”
“Really.”
As he hugged her close and whispered the promise into her ear, Ezra loosened her grip on his collar. Hippolytus gently stroked the back of her head.
Carefully easing her away, he stepped onto the boat first, then extended a dependable hand to Ezra waiting on the dock.
“Hold on tight to me.”
She knew the warmth and feel of that hand. The moment her trembling hand touched his, he grasped it firmly.
“Like that. Slowly.”
Relying on his hand, she stepped forward with one foot. As she wobbled, Hippolytus lifted her effortlessly and set her onto the boat.
“Did I surprise you?”
Was that even a question? She thought he would just hold her hand—not lift her like cargo. Tears welled up, but he only grinned like a mischievous child.
“How is it? Not as scary as you thought, right?”
Only once seated did she realize she was floating on water. The fear hadn’t fully faded, but the clear ripples were calm, and the unfamiliar scent of water was refreshing rather than unpleasant.
“There are so many birds.”
As Ezra murmured excitedly while looking around, the proud-looking man began rowing skillfully. He claimed it was his first time, yet he was surprisingly adept, and Ezra etched each of his movements into her mind.
“I’ll take us closer.”
“Won’t they fly away?”
Ezra was captivated by everything around her—the refreshing breeze as the boat moved, the yellow-billed birds that curiously avoided them, even the man’s flexing arm muscles as he rowed.
The sunlight made everything feel fresh and bright. Reaching the center of the lake, Hippolytus set down the oars. The boat drifting on the calm surface felt endlessly leisurely.
“You’re quite sly, Ezra. I know you’ve been staring at my arms this whole time.”
“W-what are you talking about? You’re mistaken!”
“If you saw my thighs, you’d be even more surprised. Want me to show you?”
As he fluttered his clothes, Ezra snapped her head away and squeezed her eyes shut. Teasing her was simply too fun.
“…I’m fine.”
“You look terribly disappointed.”
“No! Not at all! Really!”
She was curious—just a little—but she couldn’t admit it. Feeling exposed, her body jerked upward. As Ezra stood up flailing, the small boat rocked dangerously.
“H-hey, wait. Ezra, okay, calm down.”
The flustered man reached out to stop her, but Ezra, her face bright red, had already lost her balance. As the boat lurched violently from side to side, he rose to grab her—
With a groan, the boat capsized in an instant. *Splash.* With a heavy sound, both figures vanished beneath the water. Sinking deep below the murky surface, the water closed tightly around their throats.
