TOSWB 28

Chapter : 28

I thought the original story was over, but 

Only then did I realize that I was still holding Leopold’s hand.

I let go of his hand.

“Sorry, for grabbing it all of a sudden.”

“…….”

Leopold stared silently at the hand I had been holding. Uncharacteristically, he seemed almost dazed.

His hand had a faint red tinge, probably because I had gripped it a little tightly while running.

Why is he staring like that? Could it hurt? Or… no, he wouldn’t try to use this as an excuse to punish me, would he?

Causing injury to a member of the royal family was a grave crime.

I didn’t think he would, but I couldn’t help being anxious because I never really knew what was going through Leopold’s mind.

Even though we’d spent quite a bit of time together, that didn’t mean I understood him fully.

I cautiously spoke to the still-blank-faced Leopold, testing the waters.

“Leopold, you’re not thinking of punishing me for this, right? Hmm? We’re friends.”

“…….”

I never imagined I’d be the one to use the term “friend” that Leopold had once declared to the Empress so casually.

I asked, hoping to imply, “You wouldn’t be petty enough to do that, would you?”

Leopold usually had a cold, indifferent personality, like a blade in the wind, but sometimes he would react unexpectedly—like when he lost to Asad in sword training. It was a little intimidating.

At my words, Leopold stared at his hand and murmured as if speaking to himself.

“……No, it felt like a… love escape. You wouldn’t have—”

“What?”

Leopold, speaking in a dreamy voice with a flushed face, froze at my question.

What was he saying? A “love escape”? That choice of words was a bit embarrassing.

I couldn’t hide my confusion and stared at him. Leopold, as if forgetting to breathe, fell silent for a moment before finally speaking again.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“…….”

He seemed to return to normal. It was clearly a slip of the tongue, but I had already heard it all.

Embarrassment lingered on Leopold’s face as he looked at me. He’d been making odd verbal slips recently, uncharacteristic of him.

If I ever had to go to the royal palace again, I might need to peek at his bookshelf—hopefully it wasn’t filled with strange books.

I stared at him suspiciously.

“……So, you wanted to say something to me?”

“Ah.”

Before I could speak, Leopold hurriedly changed the subject, trying to hide something, clearly.

But I had something important to explain, so I let his minor slip go.

“Mm……”

“…….”

I hesitated but finally spoke. I had to explain myself, but I wasn’t sure how to make Leopold understand.

He didn’t know that Asad had served as the Empress’s confidant during his childhood.

“About… Asad.”

“…….”

The moment I mentioned his name, Leopold’s expression grew icy.

It was normally cold, but hearing Asad’s name made him at least fifty times colder. He tried not to show it, but clearly, it affected him.

I carefully continued, speaking slowly.

“There’s a complicated situation here.”

“…….”

“He definitely didn’t come because he likes me! If anything, I wish he’d leave right now.”

“…….”

“Actually, someone was threatening me—”

“…….”

I nervously glanced at Leopold as I spoke.

Even while I talked, he just stared at me.

…How is anyone supposed to understand what he’s thinking?

Wait—why am I even making excuses?

Leopold hadn’t said a single word, yet I felt like I had done something terribly wrong.

I felt as if I had deeply wronged him.

“Don’t make the same mistake twice.”

The words from my previous life’s last conversation with Leopold kept echoing in my ears.

I moved my lips slowly, choosing my words carefully. Leopold still remained silent.

…I wish he would say something. I looked up at his beautiful face with that hope.

“……Haa.”

Then, unexpectedly, Leopold sighed deeply.

It was a sigh too mature for his childlike appearance. He sighed and said, almost predictably,

“It’s probably the Empress’s doing anyway.”

“Huh? How did you know?”

…Does he have foresight too?

Even before I said anything, Leopold spoke as if he already knew everything.

I asked in surprise.

He replied in a sighing voice,

“I just tested it. Turns out it was true.”

“….”

A coward.

From the look of it, this wasn’t the first time he’d used this trick.

I decided I’d have to be careful with my words around him in the future. Though, this particular matter wasn’t really a secret anymore.

“So… are you angry?”

“…….”

From Leopold’s perspective, I had almost unintentionally colluded with a traitor. It was understandable if he were upset.

I studied his expression.

Leopold didn’t even blink, staring straight at me. His golden eyes seemed to pierce through my thoughts.

After a long pause, he finally answered.

“It’s fine, as long as it wasn’t your will.”

“……Yeah.”

Rather than being angry, he seemed strangely relieved.

Why? Even though the Empress had planted a spy nearby to keep an eye on him, he didn’t seem bothered at all.

“Thanks for telling me.”

“Uh… yeah.”

There was no need to thank me—I hadn’t said much. Leopold had figured it out himself.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. Wasn’t he supposed to be angry?

He seemed unconcerned as long as I hadn’t summoned Asad of my own volition.

“Well, at least you’re not mad. That’s a relief!”

“…….”

I said, feeling refreshed. Perhaps because I shared the secret, I felt lighter. Even pretending not to care, keeping it to myself had been uncomfortable.

“Shall we head back?”

After finishing with Leopold, I turned, my heart much lighter.

As we walked along the lakeside for a few steps, a high-pitched voice called from behind.

“Tina.”

“Huh? Why?”

Did they need me for something?

I turned around lightly—and froze.

Leopold was staring at me intently with uncharacteristically serious eyes. He looked so resolute that I instinctively tensed.

“……Why?”

I asked again, my voice tense. Leopold stood as if frozen. The lake’s reflection made his pupils shimmer oddly.

Then, a warm breeze blew across the lake, ruffling both our hair and tickling my forehead.

“……Never keep secrets from me again.”

Leopold spoke in a slightly husky voice. The sudden comment made me tilt my head in confusion.

“Why?”

“That’s……”

Leopold moved his lips to speak, but at that moment—

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

From afar, people were calling for Leopold. Knights bearing the royal crest were shouting his name.

I guessed they had followed us, worried because I had taken Leopold away and we hadn’t returned.

Since I was around Leopold’s age, they probably let it slide this time, but ordinarily, they couldn’t leave the young prince alone for so long.

In my past life, I knew Leopold well, but now, I was a suspicious stranger who had only recently met him. Leopold glanced at them and said,

“……It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”

“?”

He turned, clenching his fists. …That didn’t look like someone thinking it was truly nothing.

I wanted to ask more, but Leopold started walking quickly.

I followed behind, dazed, watching his silver hair blow in the lake breeze.

When we returned to my room with Leopold, Asad was there.

He sat on the sofa, arms crossed, legs crossed, looking displeased.

He must have been waiting like that, eyes narrowed, for the door to open.

“You’re late.”

Asad grumbled when our eyes met. He looked perfectly at ease, as if he owned the place.

…So he was still here.

I suppressed a reflexive sigh and opened my mouth.

“Mi—”

I hadn’t wanted to, but since he was left alone, I was about to apologize for being late.

“I thought you had gone back already.”

Leopold stepped forward, blocking my path, and said.

“What?”

“Ah, so you can’t return empty-handed?”