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Chapter 13
Along with a knock, the voice of a knight standing guard outside the room rang out.
Sharmel tapped her feet anxiously, urging Elenoa.
“We have to leave immediately, my lady.”
With no other choice, Elenoa stood up and walked outside—but her face was still heavy with sleep. She felt unusually drowsy today, her body sluggish and heavy. The noise of preparations for the Emperor’s departure had kept her awake all night.
As long as I endure the farewell, it’ll be fine. The Emperor is returning to the Roland Empire, and I’m heading to the Grand Duchy of Astrian. We’ll never meet again anyway.
That was what she told herself as she stepped outside.
Just as Emperor Clian was about to mount his horse, he noticed Elenoa and approached her.
“It’s been two days since we last met, my lady.”
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”
Why did you even come out if you were just going to leave on horseback…
“I look forward to speaking with Lady Elizabeth again next time.”
I don’t want to. I never want to meet you again. Why would I ever talk to you?
“Then I shall look forward to our next meeting.”
At that moment, Elenoa felt something touch the back of her hand.
She looked down—and froze completely.
After the imperial entourage departed, she couldn’t even remember how she ended up inside the carriage bound for the capital of Astrian, Atlántica. It felt as if her mind had turned into ash and scattered away.
“Miss! Miss, please wake up! You’ve been tired since this morning—just close your eyes and sleep!”
“Huh? Sharmel… where are we?”
“In the carriage heading to the Astrian capital.”
“When did I get on the carriage?”
“You were so spaced out you didn’t even notice.”
Only then did Elenoa look down at her right hand—the same hand the Emperor had kissed.
At the sight of her rubbing it furiously, Sharmel quickly grabbed her hand.
“Miss, what are you doing?!”
“It gave me chills. It felt disgusting.”
“Pardon?”
Sharmel stared at the reddened hand—rubbed so harshly it was almost raw—and blinked in disbelief.
“You… felt disgusted by His Majesty?”
“Yeah. Look, I’ve got goosebumps.”
“But… he’s the Emperor. He has absolute power, and he’s also incredibly handsome. And you still dislike him?”
“I do.”
Elenoa frowned without hesitation.
“Why? Don’t you want to marry someone like that?”
“I hate royalty.”
A prince on a white horse was still just a prince. Dreams were one thing—but reality was another.
“And I don’t want to get married.”
“Oh my, why would you think that?”
“Because marriage will definitely make me unhappy.”
“What are you saying? With a face like yours, there’s no way you’d be unhappy.”
“No. I will be. More than now.”
“Miss…”
Sharmel gently called her, then cupped her face.
Normally such familiarity would have been improper—but right now, she had something she needed to say.
“Forget everything that happened in the baron’s household. From now on, only happy things will happen to you. So don’t say things like you’ll be unhappy. You’ll be happy even after marriage. I’m sure of it.”
“…Do you really think so?”
“Of course. Who do you think you are? Someone will surely come who will cherish you exactly as you are. So don’t decide you’ll be unhappy before anything even happens. And the young master would never allow you to marry someone who would make you miserable.”
Sharmel smiled softly and released her face.
Elenoa leaned into her embrace instead, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Is there really someone like that?
“Sharmel… I wish you were my mother.”
“Oh my, I’m only twenty-one and still unmarried, you know.”
“I just… thought it would be nice if someone like you was my mom.”
Like a child seeking comfort, Elenoa rubbed her face against Sharmel’s shoulder—and before long, she fell asleep.
“Miss. Wake up.”
“Mm… are we there already?”
“No. Astrian is as large as a kingdom, remember? We won’t reach the capital in a day. We’re stopping for lunch.”
As Elenoa rubbed her eyes, the carriage door opened.
“Ellie.”
Allen stood outside, offering his hand.
After a glance at Sharmel, Elenoa took his hand and stepped down.
They entered a restaurant together, while Sharmel and the knights sat separately.
“Um… how long does it take to reach the capital?”
“Winterfencer is quite large. We’ll arrive in Atlántica within two days.”
“I heard five territories surround the outer capital zone.”
“That’s right. Four territories encircle the royal capital, Atlántica. That’s why you can travel to any of them from here. Going from Winterfencer to Romania or Bastard is faster without passing through the capital, but to reach Elasion, going through the capital is quicker since they sit opposite each other around it.”
While they talked, the food arrived.
Seeing the tough meat spilling over the plate, Allen sighed and switched his plate with Elenoa’s.
“You really haven’t changed at all.”
“….”
“You don’t need to look so gloomy.”
At his words, Elenoa lowered her head.
“Eat quickly. We’ll leave right after.”
“Um… Brother, where will I stay once we reach the capital?”
“You’ll stay at the House of Philemon.”
“Philemon?”
That name rang in her mind.
She remembered the Grand Duke Einhardt calling Allen “Count Philemon.”
But hadn’t Allen just said “ducal house”?
“I thought he was a count…?”
“Philemon is a ducal house. I only hold the count title as heir. The current duke is our father.”
So he was an heir who also held a title.
“…Can I live alone instead?”
“And what kind of trouble would you cause if left alone?”
“I won’t cause trouble.”
“I’m not believing that with your record.”
Elenoa puffed her cheeks in protest.
“Stop that face. It won’t work. And where would you even get money?”
Money?
She had none.
Even if she sold what she brought, she didn’t know how long she could survive in an inn.
Without a word, she placed both hands out in front of her.
Allen looked at her hands.
“…What?”
“Please lend me money.”
The table went silent.
“Pfft.”
“Cough!”
“Urk—!”
Knights choked on their water.
“Miss, what did you just say…?”
“You’re asking me to lend you money?”
“Yes.”
“And do you plan to pay it back?”
“….”
Of course not.
She had no skills, no trade, nothing useful.
She couldn’t cook, couldn’t sew, couldn’t even make tea properly.
“…Forget it. I can’t lend you money. It’s not my personal funds to use anyway. Give up.”
Why?!
After finishing their meal, they set off again.
Sometime later, Perio rode up beside Allen.
“Is this because you said you’d take the young lady to the ducal house since she keeps causing trouble?”
“Not only that. She’d be unsafe alone.”
“That’s true. It’s a miracle nothing happened to her on the way here.”
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Sharmel faced a sulking Elenoa.
“What are you so upset about?”
“They won’t like me at the Philemon house. I’m a complete outsider.”
No blood relation. No place.
Her brother might belong there—but she did not.
“They’ll hate me.”
“Stop thinking nonsense, my lady.”
“It’s not nonsense. It’s true. Just like my father hated my brother… they’ll hate me too.”
“That’s not true.”
But Elenoa remained unconvinced.
“If that’s really the case, I’ll convince the young master to let you live separately.”
Elenoa nodded quietly and looked out the window.
Five days later, they arrived at the Philemon estate in Atlántica, capital of the Astrian Grand Duchy.
The carriage passed through the gates and stopped before the manor.
Allen stepped down first and greeted the waiting family.
His mother, Cecilia, embraced him warmly.
“Welcome home.”
“I’m back, Mother.”
“You’ve worked hard. So the Emperor has already departed for Roland?”
“Yes.”
“Brother!”
“Selena. You haven’t been ill while I was away, have you?”
Before he could finish, Cecilia suddenly remembered.
“Oh right… you came with someone, didn’t you?”
Allen turned back to the carriage.
He opened the door and held out his hand.
But Elenoa didn’t move.
“Ellie.”
“Miss, please get off.”
“….”
“Please.”
Finally pushed forward by Sharmel, Elenoa stepped down.
The moment she met the gaze of the Philemon family, she flinched—and quickly hid behind Allen.
“Ellie, greet them.”
“….”
“I’m Selena. Nice to meet you.”
Selena stepped forward first, offering her hand.
But Elenoa only clutched Allen’s sleeve tightly and refused to come out.
