Chapter 63
After the Problematic Night
Arun had been waiting outside, and when Cheilen opened the door and came out, he silently held out a handkerchief.
But Cheilen walked right past the white handkerchief.
“Wipe it off. Others will be shocked if they see you like that.”
“If I wipe with that, it’ll stain.”
“Then use Your Grace’s. You have a black handkerchief, don’t you?”
“I don’t. I gave it away to someone.”
Cheilen roughly wiped the blood off with his hand, then asked about Ellua.
“Did Ellua seem all right?”
“Who, the Princess? Yes. She didn’t seem to be injured. But… is she really the Princess?”
“Why? Doesn’t she look the part?”
Arun shook his head firmly, recalling the scene he saw when he rushed into Cheilen’s chamber after hearing Ellua’s words.
“A sword-wielding intruder was brought down by someone who looked like she wouldn’t even know how to hold a sword. That’s why I’m doubtful.”
“That’s why I want to grow close to her. Because she’s different from the rest.”
“I understand now she’s not an ordinary person. Still, I must properly thank her. I was too flustered earlier.”
Things could have ended terribly, so Arun’s heart was filled with gratitude toward Ellua. The same went for Cheilen.
“Of course. She helped us twice today.”
“Then what will you do about that man?”
Cheilen’s eyes flashed with a strange light, as though he had already decided on the matter.
The turbulent night passed slowly, and morning broke as if nothing had happened.
“Your Highness, what on earth happened to you?”
“Well, here’s how it happened…”
Ellua avoided Jane’s gaze as if she were a guilty child.
“When you left yesterday, you didn’t have a scratch. When did you get hurt?”
“It’s just… I took my shoes off because they were uncomfortable, and then…”
Jane’s stern look softened as she glanced at Ellua’s scraped foot, but her face twisted with sympathy instead.
Last night, when Ellua returned to the palace, Borens was the first to notice the handkerchief tied around her foot. He must have told Jane, because as soon as Jane entered Ellua’s chambers, she went straight for her foot.
“It must’ve hurt terribly. Are you all right now?”
“It’s not serious, I’m fine.”
Ellua thought little of the wound, which no longer hurt, but Jane wasn’t about to let it slide.
“No, this won’t do. I’ll summon the royal physician.”
“No, he must be busy. I’ll go see him myself. I can still walk just fine.”
“But still—”
“I really am fine.”
Ellua stood up with ease to reassure Jane. Realizing she couldn’t sway her mistress’s stubbornness, Jane relented with a sigh.
“All right. Then I’ll prepare shoes that are more comfortable for today.”
“Thank you.”
Just as Jane turned to leave, Ellua stopped her.
“Jane.”
“Yes? Do you need something else?”
“No… have you ever seen anyone acting suspicious? Someone asking questions about me, or showing unusual interest in my chambers?”
“In your chambers? Oh!”
At Ellua’s words, Jane immediately thought of someone.
“There was such a person?”
“Yes… actually, there was one. I’d been wondering if I should mention it.”
“Who?”
“Marie. One of the maids working in the palace.”
“Marie?”
Ellua immediately pictured her face—she knew all the servants by name. But she had little interaction with her, and knew nothing else.
Jane, deciding it was the right time, confessed her concerns.
“Marie once came up to your floor, even though it wasn’t her assigned area. And honestly, she always seemed… unfriendly toward you.”
“So, she just doesn’t like me.”
“…Yes.”
Jane nodded carefully. Ellua was pleased to have discovered Chenille’s planted spy earlier than expected.
If someone were to be planted, she had expected it would be a maid who often interacted with her.
Such a sloppy choice. The stronger the emotions, the easier it shows in their actions.
Ellua stored the information in her mind.
“Thank you, Jane.”
Jane was puzzled by Ellua’s lack of action regarding Marie.
“You’re going to leave her in the palace?”
“Yes.”
“Is that safe? What if she tries to harm you?”
“We only have suspicion, no proof. For now, I’ll watch and wait. I’ll inform Borens.”
Since Ellua’s reasoning made sense, Jane nodded, determination lighting her eyes.
“Then I’ll keep a close watch on Marie. You can count on me.”
“That’s reassuring. But don’t put yourself in danger.”
“Don’t worry.”
Jane left with confidence. Ellua found her endearing.
She had her reasons for leaving Marie alone. As dangerous as she might be, she was also a chance—
—A chance to catch Chenille by the tail.
And even if she snoops, she’ll find nothing suspicious.
Ellua was confident Marie would learn nothing from her. She had brought no sensitive information from Zebenica when she came.
The only thing worth hiding would be…
She opened the bottom drawer of her desk, where stacks of letters were kept—all her correspondence with Bellea.
She pulled out the most recent letter and read it with ease. Marie had never understood them.
“Even if she saw this, she wouldn’t know what it says. I’m glad I prepared for this.”
The letters were written in a script no longer used—an old Zebenican script from before its writing was unified with Rubein’s after the peace treaty.
Ellua had learned it out of scholarly curiosity during her princess studies, never expecting it would one day protect her secrets.
When Bellea first wrote to her, she had suggested using the old script just in case. Since then, all their correspondence had been in that code.
“Your Highness, I’ve prepared the shoes with the lowest heels I could find.”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Ellua began preparing to visit the physician.
As she rose, her eyes fell on two neatly washed handkerchiefs Jane had left on her desk—one white, one black.
“How did these end up with me, I wonder?”
The handkerchief Terban had given her had been torn, but she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away, so it had been cleaned and mended.
She placed both handkerchiefs carefully in her drawer before leaving her room.
Of course, the physician she sought was Wontil, who greeted her warmly.
“Your Highness.”
“It’s been a while, Sir Wontil. Have you been well since then?”
“Of course. What brings you here?”
“I need your help. I injured myself a little.”
“I see. Let me take a look at the wound immediately.”
At the word injury, Wontil moved at once. Ellua showed him her foot.
“My maid insisted I come, even though I told her it wasn’t serious.”
“It must have been painful. Next time, please come to me right away.”
“Yes, it just… happened that way.”
He disinfected the wound and carefully wrapped it in bandages to protect it from her shoes.
Though a day had passed and it barely hurt anymore, Wontil still gave his warning.
“Please continue caring for it until it fully heals. Otherwise, it could worsen.”
“I’ll be sure to. My maid worries enough for both of us.”
“You’re fortunate to have such a good person by your side.”
“Yes. I’m blessed with people better than I deserve.”
Their conversation felt like a return to the past.
When others began entering the infirmary, Ellua excused herself.
“You’re busy, so I’ll take my leave. Thank you for treating me.”
“Safe travels, Your Highness.”
Stepping outside after treatment, Ellua felt the warmth of the midday sun.
“Too soon to return to the palace… maybe I’ll take a walk first.”
Feeling lighthearted, she wandered away from the palace buildings to a quiet spot where few people passed.
Knowing the grounds well, she arrived quickly at her destination—a wide meadow of grass and trees that opened her heart with its expanse.
Yes, this feeling. It’s been so long.
It was a familiar place.
As a child, after following Terban to the palace, whenever she grew weary of the unfamiliar life and harsh training, she had always run away here.
“Though, I always got caught before long.”
With a smile at the memory, she found a large tree with broad shade and circled it once with fondness.
“It’s still here. As big as ever.”
She sank down beneath it, leaning comfortably against the trunk. Looking up, she saw sunlight sparkle through the thick canopy of leaves.
“This feels wonderful.”
The breeze, the sunlight, the shade—everything was so pleasant that her eyes slowly drifted shut, and she slipped into dreams.
“You’re so mean. It’s my first time, of course I can’t do it well. I’m struggling, but you keep scolding me.”
In the exact same spot where Ellua now sat, a younger El crouched with her knees together.
Her brown hair was neatly tied back, but her frame was smaller, her face rounder with youth.
Her training uniform was smudged with dirt and dust, proof of the drills she had been put through.
That day too, she had run away here, worn out from the harshness of training.
He’ll be angry, no doubt.
Still, she buried her face in her knees, worried about having left without permission during practice. Uneasy thoughts swirled.
Can I really do this? What talent do I have?
She had been astonished when the Crown Prince himself invited her to come with him. Since then, her life in the palace had begun.
There had been good things—living in far better conditions, eating delicious food.
But the training overshadowed it all with its severity.
She couldn’t understand why Terban had brought her here to endure this. There were so many knights far more skilled than her.
“Ugh, I don’t care anymore.”
With those tangled thoughts, El leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes, deciding to worry later.
Exhausted from starting drills so early, she quickly fell asleep.
Time slipped away mercilessly… and before long, a shadow loomed above, gazing down at the slumbering girl.
