Chapter 36………………………………………………..
I Want to Know You Better (1)
Ever since meeting Lillian Crimson, Enrique Luquein Ignos had begun to feel a strange sense of discomfort within himself.
And it wasn’t surprising.
The woman before him was the most unusual of all the ridiculous private tutors the Emperor had assigned after his return from exile.
“From today onward, I will remember Your Highness,
Lillian Crimson.”
She was also the most outstanding tutor of them all.
“There is a way for you to reign even more overwhelmingly.
Would you not choose it?”
Whenever he observed her calm expression, pale skin, long lashes casting shadows, and vivid pink eyes, he would find himself unconsciously listening to her composed voice.
“Your Highness?
Is there anything you find difficult to understand in what I just said?”
“No. Continue.”
The wrist holding her pen was so slender it was hard to believe she was someone who had once clenched her teeth and run through the training grounds.
Where did that unshakable resolve come from, inside such a fragile body?
She didn’t seem ignorant of the value of her own life, considering she always left when told to.
Yet she always held her head high, her back straight.
Always opposing him, always refuting him—
And yet constantly insisting that she was on his side…
“Your Highness?”
Her voice snapped Enrique out of his thoughts.
“……”
A few strands of hair clung to Lillian Crimson’s pale cheek.
Though she was covered in dust from the collapse, her deep pink eyes remained striking.
Eyes like a mirror, reflecting the other person exactly as they were.
“……”
And the smile reflected in those eyes—
His own smile—
Somehow looked pathetic.
Thump.
His heart began to beat strangely.
Enrique Luquein Ignos did not know this feeling.
Or rather—
It was a feeling he had forgotten.
A feeling he had shoved deep into his chest and locked away, now beginning to rattle against the door.
No matter how much he tried to push it away, that woman kept coming closer.
It was unbearable.
…I want to get rid of her right now.
Rumble.
The ceiling shook once more.
“……”
Enrique blinked slowly as he looked at Lillian Crimson.
Yes.
He needed to remove her.
First, after escaping this place.
* * *
“Your Highness?”
What is it?
Why isn’t he saying anything?
Enrique kept staring at me without a word.
Do you know how much scarier it is when someone doesn’t speak and just looks at you?
Especially when that someone is called a murderous demon—
And is holding a bloodstained sword.
Rumble.
“…Hm.”
On top of that, we were in a collapsing underground passage.
In a situation where it was impossible not to be tense, Enrique’s attitude went beyond calm—
He was outright ignoring everything around us.
Did he not care if he got crushed to death?
Maybe he didn’t.
But I did!
“……”
Just as I cautiously tried to push away the hand resting on my waist—
“Ah.”
The moment I twisted my body, my legs suddenly gave out.
I was too nervous.
And naturally, my head landed right against his chest.
Thud.
“……”
“……”
A silence fell again between us in that awkward, staged embrace.
Am I going to die?
Is this finally it?
“……”
Slowly, I grabbed his collar and lifted my head.
Enrique’s face looked completely normal again, as if he had never been unsettled.
A faint sneer.
“You’re really something.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Let’s leave. We don’t need the necklace. But—”
He trailed off mid-sentence and narrowed his handsome brows slightly, looking down toward my legs hidden under the hood.
“Judging by how you can’t even stand, walking will be difficult.”
“W-wait. Just give me a moment—”
But Enrique ignored me and bent down slightly.
The metallic stench of blood rushed over me.
“……!”
Don’t tell me he’s going to carry me like an escort?
Lift.
“Don’t struggle.”
“…Understood.”
That was my wishful thinking.
Instead, Enrique grabbed my waist and hoisted me over one shoulder.
My legs dangled uselessly in the air.
Am I baggage?
…Yes. I am baggage.
Still, it was better than trying to follow him and tearing my legs apart.
His shoulders were broad, and despite how humiliating it looked, it was surprisingly stable.
“……”
It was embarrassing, but given who the other party was, I couldn’t even focus on it properly.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—there was no one here besides corpses.
Rumble!
Enrique skillfully avoided falling debris and entered the escape route, beginning to climb the stairs.
Because it was an emergency stairway, it was much steeper, and my dangling became even worse.
Without thinking, I muttered—
“This is depressing…”
“Are you complaining even after being saved?”
“No, Your Highness.”
Even though I spoke politely, Enrique didn’t look particularly pleased.
Maybe because he didn’t find what he was looking for?
“By the way… what were you here to find?”
When I tilted my head slightly, I could see the round black back of Enrique’s head as he carried me.
Even just his head looked so…
Cold.
“Curious?”
“No, Your Highness.”
When I shut my mouth, Enrique did too.
Even though I was smaller than him, I wasn’t light.
Yet his steps never slowed, even after climbing for a long time.
Maybe because he’d lived through battlefields.
Since I had nothing to do except hang off his shoulder, we emerged outside in what felt like an instant.
“……!”
“That’s enough.”
Outside, bright moonlight poured down.
“…Teacher!”
Logan spotted me being carried out like luggage at an absurdly fast speed and ran over.
“…Ah…”
This is one of those times when pretending not to notice would’ve been nice.
Enrique gently set me down.
Only then did Logan recognize him properly and froze, stepping back.
“…I greet the Empire’s Small Sun,
His Highness Enrique Luquein Ignos.”
“Enough. But…”
Enrique scanned Logan up and down, then shifted his gaze toward me, wearing the same hood.
The expression on his face was plainly one of contempt.
“Did you come together?”
“Yes, we did.”
“So the teacher brings an underage student to an auction house late at night.”
“……!”
Unfair!
I immediately protested.
“To be precise, Logan brought me!”
“Ah. Yes.”
He looked completely unconvinced.
“……Th-that…”
Logan blinked anxiously, unable to jump into our conversation.
“…Sigh.”
I glanced at the flustered Logan and let out a light sigh.
Then I nodded.
“Yes. Actually, I brought Logan.”
I’ll just take the misunderstanding.
“If I’d known it was such a dangerous place, I wouldn’t have brought him. Still, we escaped safely, so it’s fortunate.”
The alley was packed with people leaving the auction house and nobles protesting at staff.
“I knew it.”
“Yes, yes. I’m a terrible teacher.”
Enrique called a carriage with a single gesture despite the chaos.
Then he spoke flatly.
“Since I’ve met the Grand Duke’s son with such a terrible teacher, I suppose I should have a talk with him.”
“Then I’ll come too.”
I couldn’t leave Logan alone with the murderous Crown Prince.
“No. Teacher, you should go back.”
Enrique cut me off sharply.
I looked at Logan worriedly, but Logan blinked as if to say not to worry.
Is this really okay?
Reluctantly, I nodded.
I’ll ask later what happened.
Then Logan suddenly widened his eyes.
“Oh—Teacher. Are you hurt anywhere? I’m sorry. I should’ve come out with you…”
“Aww.”
What a good kid.
Was he feeling guilty for escaping first?
“I’m completely fine. See? Don’t worry about me.”
I reached out and ruffled Logan’s hair.
“……”
Enrique watched with a strange look in his eyes.
“…Hm.”
Feeling awkward, I quickly pulled my hand away.
Right. I shouldn’t touch my student’s head so casually…
But even after I moved my hand, Enrique’s crimson eyes continued to stare at me.
What?
Why is he looking like that?
Then, quietly, he asked—
“Teacher. Can you return alone?”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern. It’s not far.”
“Good. Then get lost.”
“…Um. Yes.”
I tugged my hood down like a skirt, bowed quickly, and climbed into the carriage.
The entire time, I stayed tense, afraid Enrique might strike from behind—
But he did nothing.
So why was he staring like that?
Outside the window, Enrique’s silhouette speaking with Logan gradually grew distant.
It felt like I’d missed something important.
And the consequences came back to me in an unexpected way.
* * *
“…His Highness says he feels unwell again today?”
“Yes. He said he will not attend today’s lesson either.”
Dietrich lowered his head cautiously, watching my reaction.
“……”
I stood motionless in the Crown Prince’s palace corridor, holding my book bag.
Four times now.
Twelve full days.
Enrique had started avoiding me deliberately.
