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Chapter 12
The words were too earnest to be a joke, yet too jest-like to be entirely sincere.
Had that subtle emotion been properly conveyed?
Yulan’s usually lighthearted demeanor grew more serious.
He fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.
After reaching a conclusion, Yulan spoke decisively.
“The sample size is too small for me to definitively say it will be completely different or the same.”
“……”
“Including you, Princess, I’ve removed names for six people so far. And…”
“The methods they used were all different?”
“We’re on the same page. Exactly.”
Clap! The crisp sound of his handclap seemed to shout, “Alright, prepare for despair!”
But Yevgenia’s face instead brightened.
‘What? Does that mean I might not be terminally ill after all?’
It was like becoming Schrödinger’s terminally ill patient.
Confirming her lifespan might reveal she is, or isn’t, terminally ill.
There was only one reason Yevgenia could take this so lightly.
She had already made peace with everything from the moment she sought out Yulan—no, Nox.
‘I’m actually happy to have even a sliver of hope.’
Even in an unbearably uncertain situation where one might grimace, her calm demeanor intrigued Yulan.
Tilting his head slightly as he studied her, he asked,
“Aren’t you scared? You don’t know what will happen.”
“Well… It would be a lie to say I’m not at all, but I’m not that worried either.”
“This isn’t something to take so lightly. In the best case, you’ll live the rest of your life needing support. In the worst, you could stop breathing by tomorrow morning.”
Each word, uttered with a hard, cold tone, was chilling.
It was as if he thought she still hadn’t grasped reality.
‘Does he expect me to burst into tears and throw a tantrum, saying I never signed up for this? Well, I am a recently-of-age, famously crazy btch, so he probably thinks I’m capable of flipping out and going back on my word anytime.’*
What could she do? It was the consequence of the reputation she had earned through her actions.
Yevgenia shrugged lightly, stroking her collarbone with satisfaction as she continued.
“Whether I live a frail life or die early… As you said, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m the Artlux Empire’s only princess. If I end up living with an illness, I’ll keep the empire’s best doctors by my side. If I die early, I’ll just enjoy life to the fullest until then.”
“……”
“Doing my best so I have no regrets.”
Yevgenia looked as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
As if there were no more obstacles left in her path.
After studying her face for a long while, Yulan noticeably changed the subject.
“So, when are you heading back? I should probably wake the coachman soon.”
“Ah, right. If I’m any later, Father will grow suspicious. I should get going.”
Her arms and legs, which had been trembling when she sat on the sofa, seemed to have calmed down.
She’d likely suffer from muscle soreness for the next week, but she considered herself lucky it wasn’t worse.
As she leaned on the sofa armrest to stand, Yulan naturally offered his support.
“Thanks. …Hmm, aside from when I deliver the payment, we probably won’t meet again. Would it be awkward to call you by your name?”
“You were screaming it until you were hoarse in bed.”
“Nox, stop! Enough!”
His voice was clearly teasing, making her cringe involuntarily.
Scowling and shaking her head vigorously, she heard a low chuckle by her ear.
“I’ve prepared a change of clothes for you. Can’t have just any fabric touching the precious princess’s skin.”
“Do you have to say things like that? It’s not like you genuinely think of me as a ‘princess.’”
“Hmm. I didn’t expect my sincerity to be dismissed like this.”
“Sincerity, my foot…”
Yevgenia snorted and swept back her disheveled hair.
Yulan’s guiding hand was quite polite, but she knew it wasn’t the same manner reserved for a “princess.”
Yet, she didn’t feel any dissatisfaction about it.
‘A relationship where we only exchange what we truly need. Isn’t that nice? Clean and simple.’
Left alone in the spacious guest room under Yulan’s guidance, she hummed while rummaging through the change of clothes.
Compared to her disgustingly clingy relationship with Raymond, this felt infinitely more satisfying.
A relationship that was endlessly dry yet held mutual respect.
‘I never thought we’d become such a decent pair.’
Perhaps it was because their first meeting had been so shocking.
Even after confirming his identity, even when he acted entirely rationally,
a wall toward him remained deep in Yevgenia’s heart.
But now, it felt like that wall had half-crumbled.
“Have I caught feelings or something…?”
That didn’t mean Yevgenia had suddenly fallen in love with him.
If anything, she was a bit surprised—and relieved—that she hadn’t.
Still, Yevgenia viewed her relationship with Yulan quite coldly.
The reason she could joke and chat lightly with him even after seeing that side of him was probably…
‘How should I put it? It feels like I’m watching from one layer removed.’
Even though he was right beside her, conversing with her, she didn’t feel like she was fully seeing him.
It was more like talking to a created character, “Nox,” rather than the person “Yulan Artlux.” That roughly explained it.
That was likely why talking to him felt comfortable too.
No one feels tension when talking to a perfectly trained AI.
Once that thought crossed her mind, goosebumps instantly rose on her skin.
‘Just how many years has that man lived like that?’
The only time he had ever acted unlike “Nox” was for a very brief moment.
When he had scolded her in a rough voice…
“Stop, let’s not think about that. Either way, it’s better to just forget it.”
Gently touching her slightly flushed cheek, she stepped out of the room, and a long arm immediately extended beside her.
“You really leave no openings.”
“That’s my forte.”
Pfft. A frivolous laugh escaped her lips.
Escorted politely, she climbed into the carriage and looked down at Yulan. For a moment, Raymond from the past superimposed over him.
That back that never hesitated, never once looked back, acting as if her very existence were erased—not even offering an escort.
At first, just seeing his back felt like her heart was being torn apart, but after years of it, she had grown quite accustomed.
Yet sometimes, really just occasionally, the forgotten pain would sting sharply.
During those times, she would console herself, thinking that someday Raymond would turn to look at her, that affection would appear in those cold eyes.
That prolonged, twisted hope eventually led Yevgenia to…
‘…Well, it’s all just excuses. The real issue wasn’t Raymond—from the moment I directed my anger at Stella instead, Yevgenia had already crossed the line.’
Disliking the suddenly gloomy mood, she forced the corners of her mouth upward.
Reaching out stealthily, she touched the ends of Yulan’s hair, and for a moment, his body stiffened.
Unaware, Yevgenia fiddled with his jet-black hair and abruptly asked,
“Nox, do you take requests for just a single statement?”
“…Depends on the kind. I can’t easily say things like transferring succession rights.”
“That’s a relief. I just want you to say something utterly meaningless, like ‘Your hair color isn’t real.’”
Glance. Yulan’s green eyes studied Yevgenia.
As if searching for the true intent behind her words, she preempted him.
“There’s really no reason. It just bothers me that the only two men in my life both have black hair.”
“Ah… Now that you mention it, Prince Larson had black hair, didn’t he?”
“Yes, annoyingly jet-black hair. Just like yours right now.”
That’s why Raymond, her lingering past, kept resurfacing.
So she needed to completely erase any connection between him and Raymond, even like this.
She likely wouldn’t meet him again after today, but she strongly wanted to shake off this uncomfortable feeling.
For that, she’d easily hand over a building in the city center if needed.
Noticing no deceit in Yevgenia’s words, Yulan looked slightly taken aback.
His expression seemed to say, “Just for that?”
“I know this seems like a really stupid request. But could you just do it? I’ll match any compensation…”
“Really? You can match ‘anything’?”
The sentence sounded almost ominous at first glance.
But judging by his playful expression and smooth tone, he undoubtedly just wanted to tease Yevgenia.
So she didn’t back down and nodded confidently.
He shrugged, looking slightly disappointed, and tapped his own cheek.
“What? Want me to hit you?”
“…Really, I can’t tell if the princess is perceptive or clueless.”
Saying that, Yulan stepped onto the carriage footboard, leaned up slightly, and planted a soft smack on Yevgenia’s cheek.
Flustered, she cupped her cheek and stared at him, dumbfounded.
But Yulan, completely ignoring her silent question of “What in the world was that?”,
“Now, the princess can do the same.”
said shamelessly, tapping his own cheek again and smiling.
