Chapter 86
Sepia ran straight to the Princess Consort’s quarters.
“Wake up, wake up, Eslin!”
She shook the sleeping Eslin awake and dragged her outside. Eslin shook her head a few times to shake off the drowsiness.
“What’s going on? At this hour?”
“He’s appeared.”
“Who?”
“Prince Kardan…!”
At that moment, a flash of color crossed Eslin’s eyes. Smooth lips traced a short line.
Sepia shivered and rubbed her arms.
“Wants me to keep an eye on you?”
“Yes. He told me to report everything to him…”
“The magician? Was there a magician with Kardan?”
Eslin asked hurriedly. Sepia shook her head.
“A magician? No. He was alone.”
“……”
Then, has Tatulan really not returned yet?
Eslin’s blue eyes clouded with thought. His return was much later than expected. Or perhaps something had been missed…
Then Sepia spoke again.
“It really went as you said. He said he would pacify those who see you as an enemy first… and then he asked me how much I hated you.”
“What did you answer?”
“That I hated you the most here.”
Sepia couldn’t help but laugh softly. Eslin also chuckled, despite herself.
“Give Kardan just enough information so he won’t suspect you.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
Eslin added firmly, her expression resolute.
“If I judge that you’re in danger, I’ll get you out of the palace immediately. Just like I said from the start.”
“Why? I don’t want that. I’m doing this because I want to.”
Eslin shook her head silently.
“You mustn’t be in danger.”
“…You mustn’t be in danger either.”
Sepia muttered sulkily. Eslin’s gaze deepened.
All she did was help my family a little.
Eslin grasped Sepia’s hand. It was a kindness far beyond what she deserved. She silently vowed once more to protect this hand at all costs.
Sepia held it for a moment, giving it a little shake. The sleeve of her light pajamas fluttered. Looking at Eslin dressed so lightly, she suddenly spoke.
“By the way, you haven’t been going out at night lately?”
“No. There’s been some work.”
A reassuring hand landed gently on Eslin’s shoulder.
“That’s a good idea. I can’t always be keeping watch.”
“The head maid still wanders at night?”
“Yes. It’s probably sleepwalking.”
Sepia whispered as if revealing a great secret. Eslin smiled quietly.
Sepia stared at her, feeling somewhat troubled.
What exactly is she hiding behind that face?
The cruel gaze of Prince Kardan flickered before her eyes. She let out a long sigh.
“…You really won’t tell me what trouble you’ve gotten into?”
“Soon.”
This time it was Eslin who whispered like a secret.
“I’ll be able to tell you everything soon.”
Sepia swallowed hard at that low voice.
“I’ve come to collect the perfume.”
The attendant gave her a bored glance. Still, with practiced hands, he selected a bottle of perfume and handed it to her.
“Here.”
Eslin grasped the basket containing the bottles. The cold air outside hit her face.
She didn’t stop by the library.
Today, with Jex absent, it would be difficult to avoid the librarian’s gaze, and she hadn’t yet finished reading the materials Tevet had given her.
‘It’s inconvenient not being able to use the Princess Palace.’
Eslin thought as she walked. She temporarily stopped sneaking into the Princess Palace at night.
Because of that, she had to secretly read the materials in the servants’ quarters, but she couldn’t make much progress as she kept worrying about prying eyes.
“Phew.”
White breath dispersed into the air. The recently fallen snow made the ground slippery. Eslin walked carefully.
It was an unusually tiring day.
She felt the ground beneath her feet was like thin ice. One wrong step and she would fall.
She closed her eyes and opened them again. The cold air pierced relentlessly into her chest.
I’m tired.
The soles of her shoes were thin, freezing her feet. For a moment, her legs weakened and her foot slipped. Look at that. One wrong step…
“Be careful.”
A familiar voice tickled her ear. The warmth she relied on was familiar.
“Lord Tevet… what are you doing here?”
A smile came from the other. It was a laugh of disbelief.
“Even so, I’m at least a noble.”
Eslin blinked. Her brain lagged a beat. Ah.
She straightened her leaning body. Tevet let his hand drop as if disappointed.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
He touched her forehead, as if gauging her temperature, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Startled by the warmth of his hand, Eslin instinctively pulled back.
“I’m not running a fever.”
“Who would notice?”
Despite his serious look, Tevet seemed completely relaxed.
“They’d just see me as a shameless noble harassing a servant.”
His tone suggested nothing was wrong. Eslin shook her head in disbelief.
Thankfully, no one else was around.
She didn’t want to deal with unnecessary misunderstandings.
“How far are you going?”
He snatched Eslin’s basket. She tried to grab it back, but showing strength against a skilled knight was impossible.
“Really. What noble carries a maid’s basket?”
Eslin glared at him as if exasperated.
“No maid speaks to a noble like that either.”
He replied calmly as he started walking.
She had no choice but to follow, silently wishing to look like his attending maid.
‘By the way, why does a noble always travel alone?’
Eslin sighed inwardly.
“Was the material any help?”
He suddenly asked, looking down at her.
“Yes. But I haven’t finished reading everything yet…”
“……”
“Why?”
He tilted his head.
He glanced at the basket for a moment, then returned his gaze to Eslin.
“Come to think of it, you serve Prince Erdan, so why are you a maid in the Princess Consort’s quarters?”
Eslin remained silent. Reading her silence in a certain way, Tevet snickered.
“Is that a secret too?”
“How could a maid choose which palace to serve in?”
“Then how did you come to know Prince Erdan?”
Hmm. Eslin fell silent. It was a sharp but natural question.
“My connection with Prince Erdan… is somewhat complicated.”
“Complicated?”
His face twisted in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
“Well…”
She scrambled for words to dodge the question.
“Rosevel?”
A helping hand reached down.
“What are you doing there?”
Chief maid Sepia Lenard stood with her hand on her waist, looking at Eslin.
Sepia’s face turned to shock when she noticed the man beside Eslin.
“D-Duke Ripherius!”
What’s going on? Her eyes seemed to ask.
Eslin quickly reached for the basket. He resisted slightly.
“I asked what you meant.”
“The maid is watching. Let go.”
Tevet glanced at the maid behind Eslin.
“Are you deeply connected to this maid too?”
“…What?”
“That’s it, right?”
His tone suggested it had to be so.
“Yes. Anyway, please let go of this.”
Eslin mumbled and pulled the basket back.
Tevet stared for a moment, then finally relaxed his grip. What a twisting feeling this is.
“Thank you for letting go. Well then.”
“……”
Eslin gave a small bow and turned away.
“Let’s go.”
She passed Sepia and walked quickly.
Sepia stared dumbfounded at Tevet, then quickly greeted him and chased after Eslin.
“What happened?”
“Nothing. He just helped pick up something I dropped by accident.”
“Oh…”
Sepia marveled, glancing back repeatedly. Eslin didn’t dare look back.
The edge of the Princess Consort’s palace came into view. Sepia whispered as if suddenly remembering something.
“Quickly, the Second Prince is coming.”
“The… Second Prince?”
Eslin frowned at the sudden remark.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Well…”
Sepia replied briefly and moved ahead. Eslin quietly followed.
Though she asked why, she had a rough idea of why Erdan had visited. The impatient prince was beginning to make his move.
Prince Erdan Bertania visited the Princess Consort’s quarters.
It was a rather unexpected request for lunch.
Everyone, including Resilia, was confused, but there was no reason to refuse.
“Requesting lunch from me… isn’t this the first time?”
Resilia smiled elegantly.
Opposite her, Erdan sat with his long legs crossed, also smiling gracefully as he picked at the food in front of him.
“But since we are family, I thought we’ve been too distant.”
His blue eyes fixed on Resilia.
Their gazes met in an odd tension.
Erdan’s slightly damp lavender hair fell lightly, and he wore a light-colored outfit.
His features were delicate and fine, giving him the appearance of a fragile young man when expressionless, but his face was surprisingly expressive when he spoke.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to get closer to you, sister-in-law. Do you dislike it?”
Erdan lowered his eyebrows.
“Well, I don’t dislike it.”
Resilia smiled neatly.
“I’m not sure we have any particular reason to get close.”
A twitch—Erdan’s smooth brow shifted.
He barely restrained himself from jumping up. After all, wasn’t it himself who wanted this?
“It’s disappointing, sister-in-law. Of course, there are our positions… we have no reason to get close, but one can never be certain, can they?”
“What do you mean?”
“You might find this meal regrettable later.”
It was a meaningful statement.
Their eyes met in the tense silence.
“Your Highness, I’ll have the main course served.”
It was Merisa, sweating behind them, who broke the silence.
As if waiting for this, the dishes began to be brought out. The awkward meal continued.
Erdan raised his eyes once more to look at Resilia.
Specifically, he noticed the maid standing quietly behind her.
‘Anyway, he won’t even glance at me.’
I’m here trying to get noticed, babbling nonsense while eating.
Erdan suddenly felt a twinge of mischief.
