Episode 14. The Happiest Moment of My Life
“Princess, do you have any more orders?”
Matilda looked at me with curiosity when I stayed silent.
“No. But somehow, I don’t feel like letting you go yet today.”
It felt sad—like today might be our last meeting.
Just the thought of it made my eyes burn slightly.
“Is it because of the wedding? Even if you marry, Princess, I’m sure you’ll be happy.”
“I want that too. And I want you to be happy as well, Matilda.”
“Yes. Things will turn out just as you wish.”
“Thank you. Also, tonight I want to be alone, so don’t let anyone enter my room until tomorrow morning.”
“Understood.”
I nodded and sent Matilda away.
Sweet Matilda. She didn’t even take the jewels I had given her.
So, I secretly arranged for those jewels to be delivered to her family home.
She would only realize it after I had already left this place.
“Haa…”
I took a deep breath, pushing down the urge to cry from parting with Matilda.
I couldn’t afford to drown in emotions.
As darkness fell, I quietly left my room.
I put on a brown wig and changed into a maid’s uniform. Like that, no one recognized me.
Using a fake servant’s pass, I blended naturally into a group of maids leaving the Crown Prince’s palace and slipped out of the imperial palace.
They didn’t suspect me at all. Of course—none of them really knew each other anyway.
Their true identities weren’t actual maids. They were women my brother had secretly brought in from outside.
My brother often disguised prostitutes as maids and sneaked them into the palace once or twice a month.
He would then indulge in pleasures with them—things he couldn’t do with noble ladies.
I never wanted to criticize him for those nights.
I knew how difficult his life was, bound by his strict title as Crown Prince and constant scrutiny.
I respected his way of relieving himself.
Besides, it even helped me this time.
But despite my understanding, it would later bring him trouble.
After Eddy was born, multiple children appeared, all claiming to be his illegitimate offspring.
Because of that, Father began to hate Eddy even more, assuming Eddy must also be an illegitimate child.
Father utterly despised the word “bastard.”
“……”
I shook away those useless thoughts and hurried to the inn near the palace, where I had hidden my few belongings to take to the Remji Empire.
When I stepped out of the inn, I had changed again.
This time, I wore a simple dress and robe, looking like just an ordinary woman.
Still wearing the wig, I also pulled the hood deep over my head, just in case.
But instead of heading straight to the docks, I had one last thing to do before leaving.
I stretched out my wrist to an old man with graying hair.
He was a shabby-looking street doctor, famous especially for reading pregnancies by feeling a woman’s pulse.
It was said he almost never failed—only about one in a hundred times. Even the palace sometimes called for him.
I had paid extra money to make sure I could meet him tonight.
At last, his hand touched my wrist, and he closed his eyes.
I waited nervously for his lips to open.
For once, I wasn’t thinking about Henderson, Father, Helena, or Gran…
All I could think about was my precious child—Eddy.
About ten minutes passed. Finally, the old doctor’s wrinkled lips parted.
“Congratulations. You are with child.”
Even though I had believed it all along, I still asked again to confirm.
“Really? I… I’m really pregnant?”
He nodded firmly.
“Yes. Once again, congratulations.”
“Haa… thank you.”
Eddy… my Eddy.
Have you truly returned to me? Mommy is so happy you came back.
I gently stroked my flat belly.
It was impossible, but I could almost imagine feeling the baby move.
I thanked the doctor over and over before leaving his clinic.
As soon as I stepped onto the street, tears spilled down my cheeks.
I didn’t wipe them away. I just stood there, gazing up at the crescent moon shining calmly in the night sky.
Right now—knowing Eddy had returned to me—this was the happiest moment of my entire life.
Inside the clinic after I left, the old man slowly raised his hand.
Then, without hesitation, he peeled away his face.
What happened next was shocking.
The wrinkled, weary face came off like a mask, revealing a young, handsome man underneath.
When he pulled off the white wig as well, his appearance changed completely—now a decadent, attractive man.
He had been hiding his true identity behind the false skin and wig.
Looking toward the door where I had left, his red lips curled.
“Riley. Congratulations on carrying the same child as me.”
That “doctor” who had read my pulse was none other than the sorcerer I had been searching for.
As I neared the port, the salty scent of the sea filled the air.
Only now, with the sea breeze hitting me, did it truly sink in.
I’m really leaving this place.
I stood at the pier, looking back one last time at the capital city. I might never see this view again.
Then I searched for my ship.
The vessel bound for the Remji Empire was large and easy to spot.
I hurried toward it. There were about thirty minutes left before departure.
Soon, I joined the long line of passengers waiting at the entrance, where sailors were checking identities.
I had already prepared a new identity card through the guild.
With enough money, creating a new life wasn’t hard.
My turn came quickly. Two sailors at the gate scrutinized me carefully.
“Show us your ID and boarding pass.”
I pulled them out from inside my robe.
The sailors examined them closely.
“All clear. Go ahead.”
They saw nothing suspicious and let me pass.
Everything was going smoothly.
I had only taken a few steps when a commotion broke out behind me.
“…You lost your ID? I’m sorry, but without it, we can’t let you board. Please leave.”
I turned my head and saw a young man with a large travel bag.
He was next in line after me.
He wore a loose shirt and comfortable pants, yet his face stood out—surprisingly handsome.
Blue hair like the sea, pale skin, a straight nose, and dark eyes.
Those black eyes made me think of Gran.
“Ahh, this is troublesome. I swear I had it just a moment ago…”
The man looked flustered.
“People are waiting. Step aside.”
The sailor clearly had no intention of letting him through.
I was about to look away—his problem had nothing to do with me.
But then, our eyes met.
Almost at the same time, his face lit up with a smile—like he had just found someone he knew.
“Darling. Help me out.”
…Dar…ling?
That creepy word made me frown beneath my hood.
I glanced around, wondering if he was talking to someone else—but there was no other woman nearby.
His eyes were locked only on me.
“I know you’re ignoring me because of our fight yesterday… but we still love each other, right? Didn’t we dream of becoming rich together in the Remji Empire?”
I was so stunned I couldn’t speak.
The man kept talking, afraid I would ignore him.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I know you hate carrots, but I put them in the beef stew anyway. That was my fault.”
“……”
“I just thought carrots are really healthy. I wanted you to eat them…”
People nearby began chuckling at his silly excuse.
The two sailors at the entrance turned to me.
“Is what he says true? Are you really this man’s wife—his partner?”
