Chapter – 25
Facing a rare taste of freedom, I struggled to rein in the magic inside me that wanted to run wild like a horse with its reins cut, and I straightened my back.
This place was far too dangerous for me—and for Kalision as well—so all I wanted was to leave as quickly as possible.
“He really is His Highness’s close friend. He even told me a few ways I might earn Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
Kalision tilted his head slightly.
“Forgiveness?”
“I just confessed to the young lord that I made a fool of myself at dinner because I was so nervous before Your Highness.”
Only then did Kalision’s expression soften a little.
“Were you that nervous that day?”
“I suppose… I was.”
At last, he gestured for Samuel to rise and asked him,
“You say April staggered? Why?”
How could Samuel possibly know the reason?
Seeing the innocent crown prince’s aide straighten his posture, I interjected with an embarrassed smile.
“I heard that the well never dries even in a drought, so I leaned over to look inside. Then I suddenly got dizzy. The young lord only helped me, so please don’t misunderstand.”
“Hm.”
Kalision murmured quietly, still holding my waist.
“What do you think it means that I danced with you twice in front of everyone and invited you to my palace? Even if you didn’t understand, there’s no way the young lord failed to read that meaning.”
By now, Samuel had shed his flustered look and replied calmly.
“I did read it. That’s why I’m here. I imagine Your Highness already suspected as much.”
But Kalision didn’t even glance at Samuel. His eyes remained fixed on me, as if trying to uncover a secret I was hiding.
“If I’d known it was such a wide-open place, I wouldn’t have followed you.”
I spoke as if making excuses, then leaned my weight against Kalision in a deliberately clingy way.
“My feet hurt, Your Highness. Could you take me back to the Imperial Palace?”
For some reason, he answered while looking at Samuel.
“Gladly.”
“Hold on tight, April. If you fall, you’ll break your leg.”
Kalision said this almost like a threat as he sat atop the slowly walking horse.
Now that we had left the well behind, the area was once again thick with magical control barriers, and his escort knights and cavalry followed at an easy pace behind us.
Only then did I wrap my arms around Kalision’s waist without fear. My magic could no longer harm him, and there was no longer any risk of my true identity being exposed.
Once the immediate danger passed, an unexpected reality came into view.
“I get jealous, you know.”
Was he serious?
Even so, the sharp edge in his attitude toward Samuel earlier had truly surprised me.
Well, for now, soothing Kalision’s mood would be more advantageous for me.
“Were you really jealous earlier?”
When I asked so bluntly—like a clumsy chick newly released into high society—Kalision let out a dry laugh.
“You were in the arms of another man in a secluded forest, and now you’re telling me not to feel jealous?”
Was that genuine?
Even knowing that his affection was meant for the princess of Bristol, a strange ticklish sensation crept up my throat.
But the moment I imagined myself luring him to the well and shoving him deep into the water, that fluttering sensation instantly turned bitter, chilling my chest.
I quietly offered an excuse.
“I’ve never been to a hunting ground before… I was afraid I’d make another mistake in front of you, Your Highness, so I asked for help. It hurts when you misunderstand.”
“Hurts?”
I nodded behind his back.
Without turning around or stopping, he murmured,
“I have something that hurts me too. Would you like to hear it?”
Even without my reply, his voice continued.
“One thing, as you know, is that the princess I’ve set my heart on was in another man’s arms. It’s unpleasant.”
“That’s not what it was at all…”
Kalision continued as if he hadn’t heard my denial.
“The other thing is that a mysterious object was found in my bedchamber a few days ago.”
What…?
Struggling to keep my voice steady, I asked,
“A mysterious… object?”
Had he already found the pouch?
Of course, it was nothing more than an empty pouch.
Even if he had found it, without catching anyone in the act, he couldn’t possibly accuse me outright.
“Yes. According to the servants, it seemed like something steeped in superstition. Whether it was meant to harm me or was placed there out of twisted affection, I don’t know.”
A sinister sense of unease crept up from my fingertips where they circled his waist. The stronger it became, the more tightly I closed my eyes and rested my cheek against his back.
Listening to the steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves, I spoke truths I could never say while looking him in the eye.
Not about what I’d done—but about how I truly felt.
“Who would dare… harm Your Highness? You’re the brightest rising star in all of Justini.”
Kalision let out a small, humorless laugh as he faced forward.
“At my age, I can’t be naive enough to believe everyone will like me. Still, I hoped that at least the person I care for would return my feelings… Was that an impossible wish?”
“The person you… care for?”
Surely he didn’t mean me.
I hoped not.
“I may not be a citizen of this country, but…”
I continued, fervently wishing it were true.
“I know how loved you are by everyone. All the more so, anyone who receives your affection would never harm you.”
…If only I weren’t threatening the life of a friend as dear as family.
I was glad to be sitting behind him.
I opened my eyes wide and waited for the passing spring breeze to dry the moisture gathering at their corners.
“Hearing that comforts me.”
But Kalision’s bitter voice offered me no comfort at all.
Soon, as if nothing were wrong, he changed the subject.
“It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but there’s going to be a total lunar eclipse next week.”
“A total… lunar eclipse?”
“Late at night. The moon will be completely hidden by Earth’s shadow.”
I listened, waiting for what would come next.
“Shall we have a second dinner together that day? Then we could go to the observatory and watch the eclipse. It would be splendid.”
To watch a total lunar eclipse together late at night.
It would be an exquisitely romantic evening—and an incredibly useful one for me.
And yet, I felt no joy.
Even if that night helped me survive until the final day of this banquet, and even if I completed my last commission at the well.
Even if Miligent and I both survived and returned safely to Basewater with Raphael.
Even then, I wouldn’t feel happy.
Perhaps I would never feel happy again. By then, I wouldn’t deserve to.
With those thoughts, I hugged Kalision’s waist a little tighter.
Suddenly, the warmth of his living body felt unbearably precious.
“Thank you, Your Highness. A lunar eclipse—I’m truly looking forward to it.”
So please, even from the heavens… do not forgive me.
“How was it? The barrier… cough was there any weak spot?”
Clementine asked the moment we returned to the room.
I touched the fairy’s forehead—her complexion even worse after being left alone—and lied.
“No. It was completely airtight. Your master clearly just wants me dead.”
“Really? That can’t be right… There’s no way Master would make such a reckless demand…”
The tiny fairy tilted her head.
But I had no intention of telling such a small fairy about flaws in the barrier and making her wait even more eagerly for her own death.
Nor did I want to worry sick Al with a trivial story about a pouch.
I smoothly changed the subject.
“I ran into the crown prince at the hunting grounds. He said there’s a lunar eclipse next week and asked me to watch it with him.”
“Really? So you’re going?”
The fairy looked puzzled, but I nodded firmly.
“Of course. If I’m going to stay safely at the banquet until the final day your master mentioned, how could I possibly refuse an invitation from the crown prince?”
