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Looking for the Runaway Princess – Chapter : 6
It was the first day of the week. The first class was Understanding Ancient History.
But today, the atmosphere felt different from usual. That was because Rakan, who normally sat far away, was sitting right next to Elizia.
Just before class started, he walked into the lecture room slowly and sat down beside her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Naturally, all eyes turned toward them.
But Rakan looked calm and unaffected. The only one who was flustered was Elizia.
‘Is he trying to cause trouble for me as an enemy nation’s princess?’
As if to prove her suspicion wrong, Bess sitting in front of them was glaring at her like she was her father’s enemy.
Elizia quietly turned her head away. And there was Rakan—his usual indifferent face.
“—The early ancient empire’s pope held religious authority as a ruler, but as a symbol of divinity, he did not participate in politics. However, as time passed…”
The professor continued the lecture.
But Elizia could not focus at all.
The reason was obvious—Rakan.
She quietly sighed and looked at his fingers.
His long, elegant fingers held a metal pen gracefully.
And what he was drawing on the paper were doodles—circles, triangles, and cloud shapes.
“……”
Elizia silently turned her head away.
His face and posture looked completely serious, yet his hand was clearly doodling out of boredom.
She glanced at him again—but his expression still looked like a model student.
‘…What exactly is this guy?’
Elizia frowned slightly.
She barely remembered how the class ended.
Slowly, she packed her books, hoping Rakan would leave quickly.
But after finishing, Rakan simply stood beside her and waited patiently.
Then, when she was done, he said as if it was obvious:
“Let’s go.”
Why is he acting like this? He could just leave.
Were they supposed to go together to the next class—swordsmanship?
Elizia turned to him with slight annoyance.
“Are you saying we should go together?”
“Is asking obvious things your hobby?”
“And is answering questions with another question your specialty?”
“……”
“……”
Silence fell between them.
After a moment, Rakan laughed as if amused.
“You are my direct junior, so I’ll take care of you properly from now on. So let’s go together.”
Only then did a proper answer come out.
But Elizia still looked displeased.
‘Take care of me now? After ignoring me for two weeks?’
She didn’t say it out loud, but the thought lingered.
Swordsmanship class was as usual.
The only difference was that Rakan, who normally kept his distance, was now right beside her, swinging a wooden sword.
“Stop. Take a break.”
At the instructor’s words, Elizia wiped her sweat and bent forward, breathing heavily.
As she looked down, someone approached her.
Without even looking, she knew who it was.
She sighed and stood up, not wanting to look exhausted.
Rakan was there, still looking completely fresh.
As if he had infinite stamina.
He glanced at her.
“Elizia. A sword is for cutting, not blocking.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re weaker than men, so instead of clashing, you should deflect. Don’t take it badly.”
“I’m not offended. So?”
“If you keep using your wrist like that while tense, you’ll only injure it.”
“Hmm.”
It was unusually detailed advice.
Elizia looked at her wrist.
“Relax my wrist?”
As she tilted her head, Rakan smirked slightly.
“Your fingers are already full of blisters, and now your wrist too—you’re definitely going to suffer later. Do you enjoy overworking yourself? Or is that a hobby of Ortygia princesses?”
He was giving advice, but ended with a mocking tone.
Elizia glared at him.
But Rakan simply stepped back after finishing what he wanted to say.
Elizia looked down at her wrist again.
It had been aching recently, but she had thought it was just training fatigue.
She swung her wooden sword again.
Her wrist was still stiff.
Rakan shook his head slightly as if pitying her.
‘Why does that annoy me so much?’
Elizia bit her lip and carefully rotated her wrist.
Then she tried again—this time loosening her grip.
Her movement became smoother.
Rakan’s lips curved slightly in a small smile.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he returned to his usual expression.
“……”
Elizia stared at her sword quietly.
That brief smile felt strangely unsettling.
Something itchy, like it was poking at her chest—but she couldn’t tell where.
Maybe she was just too tired from training.
Time passed quickly.
Elizia had adjusted well to life at Swena Neutral Kingdom Royal Academy.
Ignoring Bess’s constant sarcasm, she was actually enjoying herself.
It surprised her that someone raised so delicately in a royal palace could adapt so easily.
She hummed as she walked quickly toward a figure in the distance—a blond man.
In her hands was a small box of cookies.
Sophie had given it to her during lunch.
‘We made these in cultural studies. They taste good, so please give a box to His Imperial Highness. I already left yours in your dorm.’
Sophie had said that and left for another class.
Elizia had just stood there holding the box, confused.
An imperial prince? Why was she supposed to give this to someone she had never even met?
Was this some kind of plan to build connections between nations?
As she walked through the school, she spotted a blond man near the philosophy building corner.
‘Is that the prince?’
She wasn’t sure, but her instinct told her it might be him.
She tightened her grip on the box and walked toward him.
“Elizia.”
A familiar voice called from behind.
Rakan.
She stopped and turned around.
He walked toward her calmly in the sunset light.
“What are you doing here? You don’t have philosophy classes.”
He leaned slightly closer, adjusting his height to meet her eyes.
Sunlight caught in his golden hair.
Elizia briefly lost focus staring at him, then snapped back to reality.
She had completely forgotten about the prince.
‘I got distracted by this ridiculous face…’
She quickly turned her head.
The blond figure was gone.
“…He’s gone.”
“Gone? Who?”
“Nothing.”
She answered casually.
Rakan looked between her face and the cookie box.
Then he asked seriously:
“Who are you giving that to? A man?”
“Yes, a man.”
“…Someone you like?”
“Excuse me?”
Why did that suddenly sound strange?
She had no time for romance.
And besides, there was Damian.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
She shook her head.
Rakan quietly walked beside her as she headed toward the dormitory.
He glanced at the cookie box.
“What is that?”
“Cookies.”
“Cookies?”
“Yes. Cookies for the great Imperial Prince.”
Rakan took the box without hesitation.
Elizia stared at him suspiciously.
‘Why are you taking it?’
But she assumed he was just helping deliver it.
“Did you make these?”
“Of course not. Sophie senior asked me to deliver them. They made them in class. Maybe I should take that class next semester.”
“Do it.”
Rakan casually replied and tried to open the box.
Elizia immediately slapped his hand.
“Senior! Don’t just open it!”
“…Why not?”
He rubbed his hand.
Elizia sighed.
How could a noble be so rude?
But Rakan was never normal to begin with.
So she decided to tolerate it.
“Anyway, don’t open it. It’s rude.”
“……”
Rakan finally closed the lid again.
“Is Ortygia culture different from ours?”
He muttered softly.
Elizia walked on.
Then she suddenly became curious about the imperial prince.
She still hadn’t met him since arriving.
Was that good or bad?
Either way, he was an important figure from an enemy nation.
She looked at Rakan.
“What kind of person is the imperial prince?”
Rakan looked slightly confused.
“That’s a difficult question.”
“I’m just asking.”
“How do you think he is?”
“I heard he’s arrogant… but that’s normal for royalty. He’s also popular.”
“…And?”
“I don’t really like his looks.”
“……”
“But maybe he has hidden charm. I don’t know yet. This is just my personal preference.”
“……”
They arrived at the dormitory.
Elizia turned to leave.
“Then I’ll go first. See you next time.”
She waved and walked away without hesitation.
Rakan stood in the sunset road, silently watching her leave.
A pigeon flew across the sky peacefully.
