Chapter 55
It could be that.
Looking at Freely, the sincerity in his eyes made her feel the truth of his desire to set her free.
‘If he had planned to use me… he would have probably told the princess to speak positively of him instead.’
He had treated her well, had her treated by a physician, and now, despite everything, he was calling himself a bad person. Such a person couldn’t possibly be all bad.
Jel watched silently as he gazed at Freely, feeling sorry for him.
‘Who are you, and what are you thinking, looking at the princess like that? Why do you look so sorrowful…’
Jel looked at Alzent. Alzent simply looked at Freely, who was sleeping peacefully.
How long had passed?
After a long time, Freely, comforted by the presence of someone she cared about, stirred slightly in her sleep despite the uncomfortable position she had been in.
“Mm…”
In that moment, as if realizing something shouldn’t be found out, Alzent quickly left the room. His footsteps, like when he entered, made no sound.
He disappeared in an instant.
Watching Alzent try so hard not to be noticed by her, Jel silently looked at Freely.
“Princess… I feel like you’re receiving much more love and affection from others than I had thought.”
Jel gently stroked Freely’s head, just as she had always done.
Although Freely should have been exhausted from the journey, Jel gazed at her endlessly, staying up through the night.
The next day, Freely, who had woken up from a deep sleep, stretched her body.
“Ugh…”
But soon, she realized she was not in her bed and immediately jumped up from her seat.
“Jel!”
Her face paled as she thought the events from last night might have been a dream. She had definitely been sleeping on the sofa, and a thick blanket was covering her, so last night wasn’t a dream.
But Jel was nowhere to be found.
“Did I… dream it?”
She could still feel the warmth of Jel from the night before.
Her eyes were swollen from crying like a child.
Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed as someone entered the room.
“Did you sleep well, Princess?”
That kind and familiar voice… She didn’t need to ask who it was.
“Jel!”
Freely quickly jumped up and ran toward Jel. It was usually Jel who rushed toward her like this, but now, in this place, Freely felt like she had become the child.
Yet, she still threw herself into Jel’s arms.
“I thought you were gone. I even wondered if last night had been a dream.”
“Impossible! I’m right here! I’m always by your side, it’s me, Jel!”
Jel smiled just like before, placing the warm towel she had brought onto Freely’s hand.
“It’s morning.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Let’s wash up and go outside.”
With a bright smile, Jel opened the window to let in the fresh air.
“You know, this is my first time seeing the sea.”
“Ah…”
Freely came closer to Jel while wiping her hands with the warm towel. Today, the sea sparkled brightly, almost as if welcoming them.
“It’s so beautiful. It feels like I’ve entered another world.”
Seeing Jel so happy, Freely tilted her head to the side.
“Right. Every time I sit here and look outside, it makes me feel better.”
“Really?”
“Just looking at it.”
Freely sat near the window on the large sofa, and Jel naturally sat beside her. For a while, they both gazed outside.
“If we had come here when we were younger, Princess, you and I would have been running around on that beach.”
The pure white sandy beach.
Jel’s hand naturally reached toward it.
“Even now, in my heart, I want to run there…”
“Princess?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you tired?”
“…I don’t know, Jel. I don’t even know what’s tiring me… and yet, I’m not exactly happy or having fun. There’s something weighing on my chest…”
It was the first time. Speaking her feelings to someone else.
Perhaps because Jel was the only one she considered her ally. Or maybe it was something she had always wanted to say. It didn’t matter.
“Princess.”
“It’s the first time I’ve felt this emotion, and it’s… so confusing.”
“Is it your feelings for him? The man they call the king of the savages?”
“…Yes, Jel. That man hates me deeply. He dislikes me. From the very beginning, he didn’t want to bring me here. He probably… probably…”
He’ll cast me out.
Freely couldn’t bring herself to say the words to Jel, especially not to her, who wanted to live here with her, who saw beauty in this place.
“Such a bad person.”
“…Right?”
“Yes! But Princess, how do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know. I get angry, then feel fine, sometimes I have no thoughts, and then when I see his face again….”
Jel slowly stroked her cheek as Freely appeared confused.
It was love. Jel could see it even if Freely couldn’t recognize it. It was a feverish love that burned her heart. And it hurt more to see it.
Jel was sure that both of them had the same feelings. That’s why she couldn’t understand. Why go through so much if you both feel the same?
But Jel was just a maid. She might be able to ask Freely anything, but that man would never share his thoughts.
“And somehow, I feel like I must believe his words.”
Even Jel had been influenced by them.
Even though she hadn’t been sick, she had been made to undergo a physician’s examination in the royal palace, and it had been made clear that there was something wrong with her.
-Trust me just this once and get the treatment. There’s no harm in doing it, and when it’s done, you can decide whether to trust me or not.
Because of this, Jel fully trusted him.
Even though she knew it wasn’t right, she didn’t tell Freely everything. Not when Freely cherished her life so much.
“I just want you to be free and happy, Princess. Your future is more important than a fleeting love. A whole new world is waiting for you, something you’ve never experienced. My lady, please bear with it just a little longer.”
“Yeah… what’s important, right, Jel?”
“Princess.”
“My feelings have never mattered.”
Jel’s chest ached as if stabbed with a knife.
“Princess, as I’ve said before, those people were wrong!”
“…It’s okay, Jel.”
Freely’s eyes were filled with sadness.
“Okay!”
Looking at Freely’s bright smile, Jel realized for sure. Freely hadn’t yet overcome the sorrow and pain.
The mental abuse she had endured since she was a child hadn’t gone away, no matter how much Jel had told her those people were wrong. Jel had hoped that being here would make things better, but seeing Freely like this made her heart ache.
It had been over twenty years of mental torment.
‘If only she could get out of here.’
When Jel had heard that Princess Gaiya was here, she had been shocked. Would her princess, her lady, ever truly escape those people?
Jel could only wish for Freely’s freedom.
“Well, even though we can’t go down to the sea, there’s a place where you can see the sea.”
“You can’t go to the sea?”
“Right. Only he can go. Or only those he allows can.”
At that moment, Seth and Cassie entered.
Maids were like the background to the nobles. They didn’t make any noise when they entered, and they didn’t interrupt conversations.
As usual, Jel and Freely were busy talking about trivial things.
“It’s such a shame! I really wanted to go at least once…”
“It’s okay. The sea will always be there. It’s just as beautiful even if we don’t see it up close.”
“You don’t want to go?”
“Alzent. Only those he has recognized can go…”
A brief silence fell.
“Let’s have breakfast first, and then we’ll go see the sea, Jel.”
“…Yes! I’ll prepare it.”
“Are you going to eat in your room again today, My Lady?”
“Yes. I’ll stay in here.”
After that, Jel and Freely ate their meal in silence, as they always did.
It was the same daily routine. But with Jel by her side, Freely’s life was never quite the same.
After finishing the meal, Freely didn’t even bother with dessert. She only ate a few candies the physician had given her before standing up.
“Should I follow you?”
Cassie, who had been looking at Freely with displeasure, followed behind her as if she had been waiting.
“Cassie, it’s okay. Today, Jel will follow me.”
“…Will I never be able to follow you again, tomorrow or the day after?”
“Cassie.”
“Then why do you keep me around? I don’t understand why I’m here. I just want to be your personal maid…”
Just then.
Seth, unable to watch anymore, grabbed Cassie harshly.
“Stop it. Do you still not understand?”
Cassie’s eyes were still fixed on Freely, even as Seth spoke.
Being hated so intensely… Freely feared it. The look in her eyes, the tone of her voice.
Because of that, Freely’s body froze, as if it had turned to ice. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but the words stuck in her throat. She couldn’t speak.
“I can’t stay like this. If you don’t like me, just throw me out. You used to care for me, but now suddenly…!”
Smack.
As Cassie continued to argue, Seth slapped her cheek without hesitation. The room fell into silence.
“Seth.”
“I can’t stand this anymore. The princess said to keep her, but seeing a relative of mine act like this, I can’t bear it. Cassie, leave. I can’t have you here any longer!”
