TWMP 69

Chapter 69

“A Very Long Time Ago”

‘Let’s go on a date, tomorrow.’

Maybe it was because he heard something so unexpected.

That night, Calliere dreamed of something from a very long time ago—something he couldn’t even remember until then.

It was probably around ten years ago, the day he stayed in Zeros to discuss the Remstone trade.

That day, newly given his title, he wrestled with sly merchants trying to cut every coin possible. In the middle of it, Calliere saw a girl about Zion’s age at Adelie Square, the capital of Zeros.

A girl with deep violet hair like lavender and clear blue eyes like the sky.

Wearing a very fine dress, wandering alone through the square, she gave off a fragile impression.

Of course, the gazes of ruffians watching a noble child alone also made him watch more carefully.

While he was worrying about what to do, his eyes suddenly met hers.

The girl, holding a big chicken skewer, looked between it and him before slowly walking over.

‘Are you hungry? Is that why you’re staring?’

‘What?’

‘Here, take it. My mother said a true noble should share what they have.’

Was she brave, or just naïve?

Calliere considered ignoring her and turning away—but then he saw the ruffians’ gazes, making her flinch and hide. He decided keeping her company for a while was enough repayment for the skewer.

‘Are you out alone?’

‘Yes. I think my mother got lost, because she hasn’t come back home. She’s beautiful, so I worry maybe bad people took her.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better to tell the adults?’

‘My father and the servants told me not to look for her. They said there’s no need to worry… but they never told me why. So I came out myself.’

‘…How long has your mother been gone?’

‘Ten days.’

Calliere was struck silent.

A noblewoman gone for ten days, and a household that refused to search.

As he struggled for words, the girl calmly said:

‘Actually, the servants said my mother ran away.’

‘What?’

‘I overheard Annie and Benny whispering behind me.’

Calliere’s neck stiffened. Servants openly insulting their lady—he couldn’t believe it.

‘You don’t need to care about gossip. They don’t know anything.’

‘That’s true.’

‘…’

‘But I don’t really care.’

‘About what?’

‘About my mother running away. I’m not worried.’

Her clear blue eyes met his, without a single lie. He couldn’t speak.

‘When she was in the mansion, she looked like a withered flower. But when she went out with me to the square, she smiled like a flower in bloom. I liked that, so I often asked her to come out. Maybe she found it troublesome.’

Children were pure. Sometimes that purity made your chest ache.

‘Ah, Annie—Annie’s there!’

‘I have to go now. Before I get dragged back to the mansion, I want to visit one more place.’

On impulse, he grabbed her wrist.

‘Why?’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Huh?’

‘Your name.’

After hesitating, the girl spoke softly.

‘…My name is…’

Calliere opened his eyes to the burning sunlight.

The sky above was a piercing blue—like the girl’s eyes in his dream.

‘…My name is…’

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember the name she gave.

He frowned, confused.

‘Why did I suddenly dream of that?’

Shaking it off as unimportant, he pulled the rope beside his bed. He decided it was nothing. Just a memory that surfaced without reason.

“Isn’t the weather wonderful today?”

I spoke while looking at the sky. Calliere said nothing, only stared at me as if trying to read my heart.

Flustered by his gaze, I rubbed my cheek with my hand.

“What? Do I have something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I think people’s hearts don’t change without reason.”

“…So?”

“I’m wondering why your heart suddenly changed.”

His serious tone made me grin playfully.

“Maybe it’s just whim?”

Seeing he still didn’t relax, I added lightly:

“Of course, usually there is a reason for change. But sometimes… it’s just whim. So don’t overthink. The weather’s too nice to worry about such things.”

At last, he let out a small laugh and leaned back in his chair, looking at the sky.

“True enough.”

He turned back to me.

“But is this little walk enough for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t this too short? Just to the inner garden. We could go farther.”

I giggled.

“If your wound worsens, you’ll get another three-day fever.”

“…I didn’t know I seemed that weak to you.”

“Who sees you as weak, Your Highness?”

His face twisted. Recognizing the expression, I quickly waved my hands.

“No, no! I meant—you’re a prince who comes out walking just a week after being bedridden. Isn’t that more like a monster?”

“…‘Monster’ isn’t much better.”

“Um… want a cookie?”

I slid a cookie from the tea table toward him. He chuckled.

“Go on, eat it. I didn’t bake it, but I can at least share.”

For a moment, Calliere’s face stiffened as he accepted it.

I didn’t notice. I leaned back in my chair and looked at the drifting clouds.

The sky was dazzling blue, the sun hot, but the breeze gentle.

‘Ah… it’s the perfect weather to play dead.’