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~Chapter 12~
Elleanor struggled desperately to move forward, yet no matter how much she ran, her feet only kept moving in place.
I’m not moving forward at all…
“Hah. Wouldn’t it be better if you just gave up?”
“Please… let me go.”
“If you promise you won’t run away, I’ll let you go, Lady Ricardor.”
“……”
Her silence made it obvious—if he released her, she would run again. It was written all over her. He couldn’t let her go so easily. He needed to know why she reacted this way every time she saw him. Being treated like this wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“Have I done something wrong to you?”
“No.”
“Then I’d like to know why you run every time you see me.”
“I didn’t run.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
She had screamed and fled at the mere sight of him, and yet she insisted she hadn’t run. It was almost amusing. And what was that earlier—“It came out”? Was he some kind of ghost?
“Tell me. Why do you run from me? Did I do something so unforgivable without realizing it?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“Then why?”
Why won’t you just let it go…?
Elleanor’s mind spun in frustration. Why did she even have to step outside and run into the Grand Duke of Ainhart?
“…It’s just… every time I unexpectedly meet you, I get startled.”
“What?”
Before she could continue, another voice interrupted them.
“Your Highness, Ren.”
Ren turned his head toward the voice. Alen was approaching.
“What are you doing?”
“She kept running from me, so I instinctively grabbed her.”
“What?”
Alen’s gaze shifted between Elleanor and Ren.
“Eek…”
Elleanor looked at him with teary eyes, silently pleading for help. Alen’s brow twitched slightly.
“Stop bothering her and let her go.”
“I’m not bothering her. I already said—I just reacted instinctively.”
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
Ren released her, and Elleanor immediately dashed behind her brother.
Seeing that, Ren let out a dry, exasperated laugh.
Even after everything—no wrongdoing, no mistake—she still ran from him.
“Eli. Go back to your room.”
Though he was her brother, he felt unfamiliar after so many years apart. She flinched slightly.
“I came out to look around the garden… Staying inside all the time is suffocating.”
“Is that all? You can’t stay still for even a moment, can you?”
“That’s too harsh…”
“Harsh? You’re the one who ran off in the Crentica Forest and nearly became wolf food, got bitten by a snake, and even stood before His Majesty while lying about your identity.”
“That’s—!”
She tried to protest, but closed her mouth and lowered her head.
She had nothing to say.
“Rest a bit in your room. We’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Where to?”
“The capital, Atlantica. I can’t leave you alone.”
“So… I won’t be sent back home?”
At his nod, her face brightened immediately.
“Then go inside and talk,” Ren said.
As they walked, Ren recalled a conversation with the Emperor.
“I find this amusing. Lying about your name right in front of me, the Emperor.”
“You already knew. Why say nothing?”
“I was curious. And you did save my life. I’ll let it slide this time as repayment. Ren, keep an eye on that girl. I’ll be returning to the palace, but I’m interested.”
Ren exhaled and continued walking.
Meanwhile, Elleanor sat in the garden, clumsily weaving flowers into something.
“…A flower rag?”
The result looked pitiful—crushed petals, broken stems, barely holding together.
Why am I so bad at this…
“It was supposed to be a flower crown… or a necklace…”
“You’re making that face too. I’m a girl too!”
“Who said otherwise?”
Still, she was clearly not convincing anyone.
“Enough. Go inside. It’s getting dark.”
Elleanor looked up at the sky, now dyed red.
“Right… I forgot.”
Then she suddenly remembered something.
“By the way… why is my brother called Filémon, if I’m Ricardor?”
That question made Shamel hesitate.
“…You should ask the young master directly.”
“Why are you stopping mid-sentence?”
She had a bad feeling, but before she could press further, they moved inside.
That night, in the Filémon ducal office…
“Father would be furious if he knew…”
“And what would he be furious about?”
His wife, Cecilia D. Filémon, entered.
“…Alen has contacted us.”
“He found his sister. That woman’s daughter.”
Cecilia’s expression stiffened.
“…Is she with him?”
“No. Just the girl, a maid, and a knight. He plans to bring her here.”
“I see… Then we should prepare.”
The next morning, Elleanor was still half-asleep, grumbling at the noise outside.
“Lady.”
“Waaah… too loud…”
Knock knock.
“His Majesty has departed.”
