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“I’m Looking for the Runaway Princess” Chapter : 6
The first day of the week. The first class: Understanding Ancient History.
But today, the atmosphere felt somewhat different from usual. It was because Rakan, who had always kept his distance, was sitting right next to her.
Just before class began, he had slowly entered the lecture hall and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, taken the seat beside Elizia.
Naturally, all eyes were drawn to them.
But Rakan remained unfazed, wearing a calm and composed expression. The only one flustered was Elizia.
‘Is he trying to put me in trouble because I’m the princess of an enemy nation?’
Contrary to that suspicion, Beas sitting in front was glaring at her as if she were the sworn enemy of his father.
Elizia quietly turned her head away as if she hadn’t noticed. And there was Rakan—his face as indifferent as always.
“—In the early Ancient Empire, the 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 lecturing. But none of it really reached Elizia’s ears.
The reason was, of course, Rakan.
Suppressing a sigh, she glanced at his fingertips.
His long, beautiful fingers—both rough and refined—held a slender metal pen elegantly.
And what the pen was drawing on the paper were doodles: circles, triangles, cloud shapes.
“……”
Elizia silently turned her head away.
His face and posture were completely serious, yet his hand was clearly bored and doodling.
When she glanced at him again, his expression still looked like that of a diligent student.
‘…What on earth is this guy?’
Elizia’s brows furrowed slightly.
She barely remembered how the class ended.
Elizia slowly gathered her books, hoping that Rakan would leave the classroom first.
But after packing his things, Rakan simply stood beside her and waited patiently.
Then, once she was done, he said as if it were obvious:
“Let’s go.”
Why is he like this? He should just go on his own. Was he planning to walk with her to the next class—swordsmanship?
Elizia turned to him with a slightly displeased expression.
“Are you saying we should go together?”
“Do you have a habit of asking obvious questions?”
“Do you have a habit of answering questions with sarcasm?”
“……”
“……”
Silence fell between them. After a moment, Rakan let out an exasperated laugh.
“You’re my direct junior now. I’m planning to 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 unconvinced.
Take care of her from now on? Considering he had completely ignored her for the past two weeks, that sounded ridiculous.
That complaint lingered at the corner of her lips.
Swordsmanship class was mostly the same as usual.
The only difference was that Rakan, who always kept his distance, was now beside her, swinging a wooden sword.
“Stop. Take a break.”
At the professor’s words, Elizia wiped her sweat and bent over. Her breath escaped uncontrollably.
As she stared at the ground, someone approached her.
Without even looking, she already knew who it was. She sighed and straightened up, unwilling to look exhausted.
When she turned her gaze, Rakan was there again. Even after intense training, his face looked perfectly composed—almost inhuman stamina.
Rakan glanced at her.
“Elizia. A sword is for cutting. Not resisting.”
“Pardon?”
“Since you’re weaker than men, it’s better to redirect attacks rather than block them head-on. Don’t take it personally.”
“It doesn’t sound personal. So?”
“If you keep your wrist tense like that when you swing, you won’t deflect anything. You’ll just injure your wrist.”
“Hm.”
It was unusually detailed and kind advice.
Elizia looked down at her wrist with a strange expression.
Relax her wrist?
As she tilted her head and thought about it, Rakan’s lips curled slightly.
“Your fingers are already covered in blisters, and now you’re overworking your wrist too. Are you the type who enjoys torturing your own body, princess of an enemy nation?”
He had started off kindly, but of course he had to end it with sarcasm. Just like him.
Elizia glared at him.
But Rakan, having said what he wanted, simply stepped back with his hands behind his back.
Elizia looked down at her sword again.
Come to think of it, her wrist had been aching lately. She had assumed it was just fatigue.
She swung the wooden sword once more—still stiff, still tense.
Rakan shook his head with a pitying look.
‘Strangely annoying.’
Elizia bit her lip and slowly rotated her wrist. Remembering his advice, she swung again—this time more softly, releasing the tension.
Only then did a faint smile appear on Rakan’s lips. But as if it had never happened, he quickly returned to a neutral expression.
“……”
Elizia stared at her sword, touching her wrist.
That brief smile had strangely pricked at something inside her.
Something itchy, but she couldn’t tell where. Maybe her chest felt strange.
It must be because training was too exhausting.
Time passed quickly.
Elizia had adapted somewhat to life at the Svena Neutral Kingdom Royal Academy.
It was a pleasant life, except for ignoring Beas’s constant sarcasm.
She was surprised that someone who had been raised so delicately in the royal palace could live alone so well.
Humming softly, Elizia walked briskly forward, heading toward a distant figure with blonde hair.
In her hand was a small box of cookies, given to her by Sophie during lunch break.
‘These cookies were made in today’s liberal arts class. They’re quite good, so please give a box to His Imperial Highness. I already brought yours to your dorm room.’
Sophie had said that before leaving for another class.
Elizia could only stare blankly at the cookie box.
The prince? The imperial prince? Why would she, someone with no connection to him, deliver this? She had never even met him.
But Sophie had already left, and the box was in her hands.
Maybe this was some grand plan to build connections with the imperial prince… some diplomatic gesture between heirs of enemy nations for continental peace.
Muttering to herself, Elizia wandered through the campus.
Then she turned a corner near the philosophy building—and saw a blonde man.
‘Is that the prince?’
She couldn’t see his face clearly, but her instincts told her it was him.
Elizia tightened her grip on the box and quickened her steps.
Just as she was about to approach him—
“Elizia.”
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Rakan.
Elizia stopped and turned around. Rakan walked toward her in the sunset light.
“What are you doing here? You don’t have a philosophy class, do you?”
He leaned slightly forward, adjusting his height to meet her eyes.
Sunlight caught the ends of his golden hair.
Elizia stared at him for a moment, momentarily dazed by his beauty.
Then she snapped back to reality.
She had been chasing the imperial prince.
“I think he left.”
“Left? Who?”
“Never mind.”
She turned away casually.
Rakan narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing between her face and the cookie box.
“Who are you giving that to? A man?”
“Yes, a man.”
“…Someone you like?”
“Pardon?”
What kind of question was that?
Her life was too busy even to talk properly with male classmates, let alone like someone.
And wasn’t there Damien?
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
She answered dismissively.
Rakan walked beside her as she left the building.
He glanced at the cookie box.
“What is that?”
“Cookies.”
“Cookies?”
“Yes. Cookies for the great imperial prince.”
Rakan took the box with interest.
Elizia stared at him like, ‘Why are you taking that?’
But then thought, ‘Maybe he’s delivering it for me.’
“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.”
“Yeah, you should.”
Rakan absentmindedly replied while shaking the box.
He tried to open it.
Startled, Elizia slapped his hand.
“Senior! Don’t just open it!”
“…Is that not allowed?”
Rakan rubbed his reddened hand.
Elizia shook her head.
Of course it wasn’t allowed. How could some noble brat casually open something meant for the imperial prince?
But the man in front of her was not exactly normal.
So she decided to be generous.
“Anyway, don’t open it. It’s rude.”
“……”
Rakan silently looked at her as if he didn’t understand at all.
But he obediently closed the box.
“Is Ortygia’s culture different from ours?”
He murmured, half to himself.
Elizia walked on.
Then she suddenly remembered the imperial prince again.
She had been in the academy for a while now, yet she had never seen him.
Was that fortunate or strange?
Not just him—she hadn’t properly greeted many students at all.
But he was not just anyone. He was the prince of an enemy nation.
Someone she would inevitably meet someday, for better or worse.
Elizia asked Rakan:
“What kind of person is the imperial prince?”
Rakan looked slightly dumbfounded.
“I’m not sure how to answer that, Elizia.”
“Is it a difficult question?”
“How do you see him?”
He smiled faintly.
Elizia replied without turning her head.
“I hear he’s arrogant, but that’s expected for royalty… and popular, apparently.”
“But?”
“Personally, he’s not my type.”
“……”
“Still, maybe he has some hidden charm beyond looks. I don’t know yet. But that’s just personal preference, so don’t take it as criticism.”
“……”
She pictured the prince from portraits.
Soon, she slowed her steps.
The dormitory building was already in front of her.
She should say goodbye.
She looked up.
Rakan was watching her quietly, with a slightly strange expression.
Then Elizia smiled brightly.
“Well, I’ll go in first. See you next time!”
Her dress swayed as she turned away without hesitation.
“……”
Rakan stood on the path in the evening light, watching her back silently.
A pigeon flew peacefully across the sunset sky.
