Chapter 31
“If it’s not a misunderstanding, then what will you do?”
“Well, if it’s not a misunderstanding, then I won’t be able to look at Ian the same way anymore.”
She couldn’t tell whether the emotion he had for her was love, affection, pity, or perhaps just the same kind of sympathy one might feel for a drenched puppy.
But Pri was sure of one thing.
Her place, her position—and even her misguided affection—all of it was undeniably directed toward Argent. That much she knew clearly.
“…Sometimes, Pri-nim, you can be unbearably cruel.”
“Am I? I wanted to be kind to everyone. But I suppose that’s not so easy.”
“…You’re already more than kind enough.”
He stared at Pri for a long time.
Pri did not avoid his gaze either.
“You pity me, don’t you, Ian?”
“……”
“That’s why you keep caring. Like how one feels sorry seeing a bird with broken wings—Ian, it’s just like that. You’re just someone I can’t help but notice. So don’t get confused. I don’t want to lose you. I just want us to get along from now on.”
“…I understand.”
As if trying to carve each word into his mind, Ian looked at Pri with a sorrowful expression. With her drawing the line so clearly and showing him where he truly stood, what could he possibly say?
All he could do was continue looking at her.
“Then, I’ll go fetch Lady Seth.”
“Alright. I’ll pick out a book worth reading while I’m there.”
As soon as she gave permission, Ian left. As if nothing had happened, Pri moved her slender fingers and picked a book from those she had brought from the library. She hadn’t been able to visit the library recently, so she’d nearly run out of interesting books to read.
“I need to find something about birds too…”
She checked to see if any of the books were related to birds, but, as if by some cruel joke, there was no such book.
Only history books.
After some hesitation, Pri picked up a diary-style book written by someone anonymous.
‘Who wrote this?’
That had always been a question in her mind since she brought the book. A small, unknown book tucked among her historical reads, which had initially caught her attention due to her interest in history.
There was nothing written on the cover or the back—yet the very first paragraph was enough to captivate her.
“I was cursed. A curse that can never be undone. A curse I cannot speak of to anyone eventually led me to death. And even after dying again and again, the curse remained. We kept missing each other, always going astray. It felt like we stood on opposite sides of a long tree, forever seeing only each other’s backs. For him. And for me. I write this book.”
The first page opened with strange phrases and an eerie tone.
Pri had originally opened the book just out of curiosity, thinking of climbing up the statue. But she kept reading, a little more and then a little more.
“Deep in the mountains lived a family of rabbits. Rabbits with shaggy brown fur. But among them was one with stark white fur and red eyes. This one had unusually large ears. The family rejected and drove out the white rabbit, saying it was different from them.
The young rabbit had nowhere to go. Aside from nibbling on grass, it didn’t know how to properly hide. When it hid in the bushes, its tall ears gave it away, and its trembling body would shake the grass, revealing its location to predators. Then one day, the rabbit met a bear.”
Though Pri loved reading, she had never read a fairy tale before.
This was her first.
And judging by the awkwardness, the author likely hadn’t written one before either.
Yet what kept her eyes glued to the page were the illustrations—clumsily drawn, clearly not the work of a professional.
They were simple, even childish, but strangely familiar.
She couldn’t explain why, but Pri found herself stroking the book over and over again.
Just then—
“Milady. You’re already back?”
Seth, her face drenched in sweat from rushing, burst into the room.
Pri quickly closed the book and looked up to meet her eyes.
“Oh, Seth.”
“I was surprised when Ian-nim came looking for me. I thought something might’ve happened to you.”
“No, not at all. Since it came up, I just thought—why not go for an outing up the hill right now? So I made a bit of an unreasonable request.”
“Unreasonable? Never. I was actually preparing for it, just in case you wanted to go today.”
Smiling brightly, Seth lifted a basket she had been carrying—a woven one made of rattan.
“I didn’t have time to pack anything fancy, but I did my best.”
“Sounds great.”
Ian, standing nearby, held a large cloth meant to be laid out on the ground.
“It was a bit rushed, so I couldn’t find a proper mat for you to sit on, Milady.”
“It’s alright. We don’t need anything elaborate or fancy. As long as the three of us are together, that’s enough.”
Seth’s face was brighter than ever. Feeling proud for having prepared in advance when Pri mentioned the outing, she walked to Pri’s side.
“Shall we go, then?”
“Let’s.”
In Pri’s hand was the book she had just been reading—The Rabbit and the Bear.
And so, the three of them headed up the hill.
The place had a different charm from when she came with Ian before. Today, the sky looked even bluer, and the sea sparkled more brightly.
Perhaps it was because she had been here several times, or maybe she simply didn’t want to show surprise in front of Pri—Seth calmly spread the mat on the ground.
“Did you eat properly? Just in case, I made sandwiches with your favorite fruits and vegetables and even brought fresh fruit juice.”
“That’s plenty.”
“But… even with the mat laid out, sitting directly on the ground still makes me a bit worried…”
“It’s fine. Let’s all sit together.”
“Oh, but we can’t possibly sit beside you, Milady…”
“This is how I’ve always lived. Come, let’s sit and enjoy the scenery together.”
Though she hesitated, Seth kept refusing politely.
Ian, standing behind her, gently nudged Seth onto the mat with a soft smile.
“Come on, just sit down. The view from here is truly beautiful.”
“Ian-nim too…”
In the end, unable to resist both of them urging her, Seth sat beside Pri. The view from the ground was even more beautiful than standing.
“It really is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me to a place like this.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Seth. Ian. I have something to say.”
“Something to say?”
“Did something happen?”
Despite her assurance that it wasn’t anything bad, Pri had insisted they sit beside her. She shook her head gently.
“No. I just wanted to say thank you. I’m only able to endure here because of the two of you. And I wanted to make sure you heard that.”
“Milady…”
“Pri-nim, every time you say things like that, I feel uneasy. We simply follow you because we care for you. But when you keep thanking us like that…”
While Seth was touched, Ian looked at Pri with slightly sorrowful eyes.
“They say gratitude between people is important. I’m just expressing that, so there’s no need to worry too much. Now, shall we eat the snacks Seth brought and read together?”
As if she’d been waiting, Seth opened the lid of the basket. Inside were neatly wrapped sandwiches, fruit juice, and various small treats in containers.
“Won’t it be too much after a full meal?”
“Well, the meal earlier wasn’t satisfying. I can definitely eat more. And you two should eat, too. I always see you skipping meals and just suddenly showing up next to me.”
It reminded her of Zell in the Ezan Kingdom.
The maids there would take turns eating, but Zell, being her only personal maid, often didn’t have that luxury.
She had heard how Zell would just nibble on bread whenever Pri was occupied. That’s why she worried that Seth and Ian might be doing the same.
“You don’t have to worry. We eat better than anyone.”
“Indeed, Milady.”
“That’s the least believable thing I’ve heard all day. Just have some with me.”
“But these were meant for you…”
“I’m giving them to you, so eat.”
Pri tore open one of the paper wrappers herself and handed them each a sandwich. Finally, the two stopped refusing and accepted them.
“Today is a time for the three of us to rest. No one’s going to interrupt, and we’ll just stay here for a good while. Alright?”
“But we still have duties…”
“Your duty now is to rest. If you argue again, there won’t be another time like this.”
Faced with Pri’s firm tone, Seth nodded with a wide smile on her face.
“Then I’ll rest fully with you, Pri-nim.”
“Good idea. What about you, Ian?”
“Understood. I’ll rest with you as well.”
Only after saying that did the two of them finally relax and settle comfortably on the mat. Pri, watching them, quietly opened the book she had brought along.
