Episode 17
A Small Misunderstanding
Chris called for the people waiting outside the cabin.
The brown-haired knight who had made me a cane was named Wilshire, and the knight in blue armor who led the group was called Friedkin.
Chris spoke to Friedkin.
“Friedkin. Bring something to write with.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
While Friedkin was gone, Chris ordered Wilshire to untie the rope that bound my wrists.
Once my hands were free, I bowed politely to the prince, bending my knees and rising again.
Seeing this, Noah frowned unhappily.
“Unbelievable… Just like Father, you’ll end up being dragged around, and this is how you finish it? Don’t come crying when you regret it later.”
Noah slammed the door and left, leaving only the three of us inside.
Chris sighed and said,
“Since we escaped during wartime, we must return soon. So I’ll be direct.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please speak.”
“Can you promise, here and now, to keep everything about this matter a secret?”
“About this matter…?”
“You just need to deny everything related to the Second Prince. Fortunately, since the Bahal Trading Company is also involved, it won’t be difficult.”
I tilted my head in confusion. I knew Bahal was a long-time rival of our family, but this was the first time I’d heard they were connected to the assassination attempt.
Did Bahal conspire with the Second Prince?
While I was lost in thought, someone lit a candle. A thick scent of peppermint and clove filled the room.
The kingdom’s knights always burned incense before a battle—it was almost a ritual. Even though the window was open, my eyes began to sting.
Soon, Friedkin returned with a pen, ink, and parchment.
Chris sat at an old round table and began to write the terms of our agreement. It looked like an oath or a contract.
I peeked at the elegant handwriting, trying to read it, when Friedkin leaned toward the prince and whispered something.
Then Chris read aloud what he had written.
“According to this contract… First, you must remain silent forever about the Second Prince’s crime of ordering an assassination. Second, you must give up your candidacy to become the Crown Princess. Third, you must keep all of this secret from the Duke of Mermandi.
If you break any of these terms…”
Chris looked straight at me and finished his sentence.
“You must either serve as a spy for the contract’s provider—or surrender your own life to them.”
I didn’t like that last condition, but I had no choice.
If I refused, I’d end up facing the kind of future Noah wanted for me.
I rolled up my sleeve and asked,
“Where should I sign?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. I understand everything you said. You’re busy with the war against the barbarians—there’s no point in wasting your time over me.”
My eagerness made Wilshire and Friedkin exchange awkward looks, but soon they guided my hand to the parchment.
“Then… excuse me.”
With Wilshire’s help, I signed my name and pressed my red fingerprint seal on the paper.
Chris tapped the table lightly, satisfied.
He glanced at me—my eyes were still blinking rapidly from the strong incense smoke.
“My knights will escort you to the outskirts of the Duchy. I’ll send an anonymous letter to Mermandi, so wait there until your family arrives.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll never forget our promise today.”
Seeing my distant gaze, Chris gave a small signal to his knights.
A squire came forward, carrying a silver shoulder guard. Chris began to put on his armor.
As the squire tightened the straps and fastened the buckles, the prince asked quietly,
“Do you resent us, Lady?”
I said nothing.
“I doubt you’ll keep your promise. Still, I want to give you a chance.”
It seemed he felt guilty about what Noah had done—about how I had lost my sight.
After a pause, I replied,
“Saying I don’t resent you would be a lie. But it was still my choice. Even if I could go back, I’d probably make the same one.”
Fully armored, Chris stepped closer. His tall, broad figure looked even larger in full plate armor. He looked down at me—the blind girl who once stood beside him—and asked,
“Tell me this: Has Nicholas ever thanked you for what you did for him?”
The unexpected question caught me off guard, and I missed my chance to answer.
Seeing my silence, Chris gave a crooked smile, as if he had expected it, and turned away.
“Stay with her in the camp,” he ordered.
“At dawn two days from now, head east.”
The knights bowed. As he was about to leave, I called out to his back—words I had always wanted to say.
“Prince Christopher!”
“…”
“It was my idea to visit the secret garden. No one told me to. I didn’t mean anything improper by it.”
The secret garden had been built for the late queen.
I could only imagine what Chris must have thought when he heard that someone from the Mermandi family wished to go there.
He hesitated for just a second—maybe I only imagined it—and then walked out.
Cold air slipped through the door crack, stinging my eyes even more.
Tears, mixed with incense smoke, finally spilled down my cheeks.
I quickly wiped them away before anyone could misunderstand.
***
Meanwhile…
Devon was an expert at tracking. It was a basic skill for members of the Dark Guild, but he was especially good—his nickname, the Shadow, suited him well.
He had been secretly following the princes’ men for three days.
Faint hoofprints marked the forest path ahead.
They passed through not long ago.
Touching the ground, Devon estimated the time and moved his horse into the birch forest. Soon, the trees opened up to reveal a lake and a wooden cabin.
A thin trail of smoke rose from the fire outside.
Devon crept into the bushes and pressed against a tree trunk. The eerie cries of animals echoed nearby. As he blended into the shadows, he heard men talking.
“Staying here is a waste of time. If it weren’t for the Second Prince, we’d already have the Nir Tribe’s leader’s head by now.”
“Shh! Keep your voice down. The prince could return any moment. I just hope he doesn’t cause trouble after seeing the lady.”
Curious, Devon peeked out from behind the tree.
Through the beams of sunlight, the cabin door opened. A tall blond prince—Christopher—stepped out, motioning to his men.
So they finally met. The Second Prince must have come here too.
Chris mounted his horse and rode off with his group.
But Devon didn’t see the lady anywhere.
Then, after a moment, he spotted several knights exiting the cabin—with a woman.
A familiar voice reached his ears.
“Um… may I be alone for a while?”
It was Natania. She bowed her head, sobbing softly. Even when she had been imprisoned in the tower, she hadn’t cried like this.
One of the knights handed her a handkerchief, and she dabbed her eyes.
Her hands were tied together like a prisoner’s.
Devon’s heart dropped.
Seeing Natania cry so painfully made his chest ache.
Did the princes hurt her? Or did someone betray her…?
“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath.
