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CHAPTER 14
For the first time, I truly felt the awe-inspiring presence of a Transcendent being.
“We’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
“…Yes.”
It hadn’t even been ten minutes since I escaped from Isabel.
In that short time, Richard had crossed the second boundary (beyond the hunting grounds), and since I had never crossed it even before the regression, I gazed at the inner forest with clouded eyes.
My stomach churned.
“Ugh…”
When I groaned, Richard’s eyes turned toward me.
He knelt down beside me, crouching to check my condition as I sat there in pain.
Then, his gaze shifted to my hand, which was wrapped tightly in bandages.
“…What happened to that?”
“Hm? Oh, my hand?”
He silently nodded.
Maybe I was imagining it, but his expression seemed a little darker. Tilting my head slightly, I spoke casually.
“I tripped in a thorn bush and scraped it. Thankfully, the Marchioness of Eolin was kind enough to treat it for me.”
“You didn’t call for the royal physicians?”
“I didn’t want to bother them.”
“Why not?”
“…Why are you asking?”
I looked at Richard curiously. In his past life, he was never one to ask me questions.
He always looked at me with that quiet gaze, as if he had no curiosity about me whatsoever.
This talkative, youthful version of him felt oddly unfamiliar.
‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden…?’
As I squinted at him, he averted his gaze awkwardly.
“What I meant is—it’s natural for royal physicians to treat royalty. You don’t need to be concerned. That’s their job and their duty, since they’re paid by the crown.”
But not everyone receives those so-called ‘natural’ benefits.
Many, like Evgenia and her brothers, sought favor by treating and flattering those above them. But some, like me—a princess with no real power—were seen as a nuisance.
Suppressing a bitter smile, I slowly stood up.
“You don’t need to worry, Young Duke. I do call them when it’s really necessary. But… what do we do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve crossed the second boundary. From here on, the forest is like a maze. Maybe we should just head back.”
I had heard little about the third boundary, but even seasoned knights tended to avoid patrolling Zone 3.
‘Probably because, as knights, the idea of getting lost in a forest is inconceivable to them.’
But there was an even greater reason.
It was…
“If it’s monsters you’re worried about, don’t be. I’ll protect you.”
The reason was the monsters—creatures born from the former emperor’s twisted ambitions.
“You might have to risk your life, you know?”
“Of course.”
“…You’re a strange one.”
I brushed past Richard, scanning the deeper part of the forest.
The former emperor, Lucbert Lujern Caliberg, had a bizarre hobby of collecting monsters. Had he merely collected them, I wouldn’t be so cautious now.
“The monsters here are modified. One of them could probably snap your arm like a twig.”
The former emperor had conducted experiments on monsters to make them bow to him.
The result was a catastrophe, but unable to part with his creations, he released them into Zone 3.
And so, Zone 3 came under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Knights.
“I just hope the knights are doing their job…”
When I murmured that, Richard calmly replied as he came closer.
“If you’re truly concerned, please don’t leave my side. I’ll protect you with everything I have. If you wish, I’ll swear my life to you.”
“That’s… unnecessary, so don’t.”
“You’re quite firm.”
“I don’t like joking about people’s lives.”
“Is that so?”
He chuckled lightly at my words.
I looked at him, wondering what was so funny, but he simply shrugged and started walking again.
We arrived deeper in Zone 3.
I was startled, but the thought of being caught by Isabel and becoming her punching bag made me follow Richard without protest.
Surprisingly, he was the one who spoke first as we walked.
“Your Highness, how much do you know about Zone 3?”
“Not much. Just that the Golden Lion Knights oversee it, and that the monsters here were modified by the previous emperor…”
“Then do you know about the ‘Blue Lake of Zone 3’?”
“A lake…?”
I furrowed my brow and thought hard, then shook my head.
“No, I’ve never heard of it.”
The topic of Zone 3 was considered taboo even among nobles, so I blinked in confusion.
“No one has ever mentioned a blue lake to me.”
“Well, that makes sense. Most people avoid this area altogether, let alone talk about it. But back when the previous emperor was still a crown prince, Zone 3 used to be open to nobles.”
“Well, no one back then would’ve imagined he’d try raising monsters here. Of course it was open.”
Still… why was he bringing this up?
From what I remembered, Richard didn’t believe in superstitions.
In fact, he used to look down on those who relied on mystical beliefs.
“So why are you telling me this?”
“There were a few people who said they saw something strange near the lake.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Something was drifting in the water. So fast they couldn’t even register it with their eyes.”
“…Really…?”
What’s wrong with him? Did he eat something strange?
‘Why tell me this now, when we’re heading toward that very lake…?’
I stared at Richard like he was some kind of bizarre creature.
Sensing my stare, he quickly turned away with a mischievous smile.
“Are you scared?”
“M-me?”
“Your voice is shaking. If you’re frightened, we can turn back.”
“N-not at all! Just keep leading the way!”
When I snapped at him in indignation, he shrugged again.
We walked a while longer.
“When will we get there…?”
“We’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
Just as my feet began to ache and I was about to give up, Richard stopped walking. The surface of the lake shimmered on his face.
I looked up and saw the same expression he had.
“Wow…”
The childlike awe escaped from my lips before I could stop it—but I barely had time to process it. The lake was mesmerizing.
Drawn in, I took a step closer.
Sunlight poured onto the water, making it sparkle like scattered gemstones.
Even the lake water was so clear that I could see the bottom.
Around it bloomed aquatic flowers, and an old but still-functional dock stood nearby.
This scene was far too picturesque to be called a “cursed zone.”
I glanced at Richard. When our eyes met, he looked around and said, “No signs of movement,” putting me at ease.
Once we reached the water’s edge, I dipped my hand in.
The cold stream touched my fingertips.
Splash…
“You’re not going to look too, Young Duke?”
“I should stand guard.”
Was he doing that because of the promise he made me?
Even in a monster forest, it felt strange that nothing had shown up yet.
Come to think of it, I recalled how once a year, knights were given special leave if they brought back 12 or more monster corpses. That incentive raised morale and led to massive monster purges.
“Come on, just enjoy the view. I heard the knights do a full sweep of the monsters once a year for their vacation days.”
“Still, we must stay alert, Your Highness. I can enjoy the lake with my eyes while keeping watch.”
He smiled as he scanned the forest again.
Not one to push, I let him be and turned my gaze back to the lake.
Just as I was about to stare into the water…
A fish.
A tiny red fish swam in the depths of the lake.
A small school of them gathered. When I waved my hand in the water, they seemed to react.
And then—
Swish…!
“…?”
Suddenly, something darted across the fish’s path.
I widened my eyes, but whatever it was disappeared like a mirage.
Startled, I backed away. Sensing something was wrong, Richard approached.
“Your Highness?”
“S-So-Young Duke. I think… I think the rumors are true.”
“…Excuse me?”
“You mentioned earlier! That people said they saw something in the water here! I think I just saw a strange light—!”
But I couldn’t finish my sentence.
Something tugged on my sleeve with great force, and I was pulled—
Toward the lake.
Splash—!
My mind went blank, fearing I’d drown before I was even poisoned.
The grip on my sleeve only tightened, no matter how I struggled.
It was as if some mysterious force was dragging me somewhere.
Squinting my eyes, I saw a faint glow attached to my sleeve. Then I was yanked forward.
“Haaack!”
“Your Highness!”
It was Richard’s voice.
He stared at me with a darkened expression as I spat up water.
Coughing and gasping, I was dragged to land. Richard gripped my shoulders and scolded me.
“Why would you fall in all of a sudden?!”
“W-What…?”
“This lake may look shallow, but people have drowned here. It’s far deeper than it appears, thanks to the clear water.”
“No, it’s not like I fell in on purpose—”
Just as I was about to protest, the ground began to tremble.
Both our expressions froze.
Grrrrrr… Grrrrrrrrr…
Too deep a growl for any normal wild beast.
Only monsters, wolves, and bears lived in Zone 3.
‘Could a wolf or bear make the ground shake like this…?’
There was only one possible answer.
Grabbing Richard’s wrist, I cried out.
“Run…! It’s a monster! It has to be…!”
As I panicked, Richard pulled me closer.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but please don’t let go of me.”
“Huh? Wait, this is not the time! We need to run—”
“Please don’t tell His Majesty about what happened today.”
What was he saying now?
I looked at him in disbelief.
I tried pulling away, but a dazzling light suddenly flared beneath our feet.
“I’m still not used to teleportation magic,” he said.
“…What?”
“I’ve never transported more than one person at a time. Please go back first, Your Highness.”
“Wait, what? Hey!”
“I had fun today. Please, avoid the Second Prince at all costs.”
And with that, light enveloped me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the thicket where I had hidden from Isabel—alone.
My face paled, and I began to tremble from the cold water soaking my clothes.
“I-Ilia… I need to find Ilia…”
No—should I report this to the Emperor instead?
“H-How do I explain this? I crossed the second boundary with Young Duke Eliette to escape Isabel, and then I fell into a lake, and… and…”
What if the trust I worked so hard to build is shattered?
‘I don’t want to be a burden.’
I bit my lip hard and collapsed to the ground. As I sighed, someone touched my shoulder.
“Why are you still here?”
“…?!”
It was Richard—soaked and disheveled, just like me.
I gasped at the shallow cut on his cheek.
“Young Duke Richard Wil Eliette…!”
Honestly, I preferred the aloof adult Richard who didn’t care about me.
Not this reckless one.
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him.
He gave a sly smile.
“Just think of it as a little excitement in an otherwise dull day, Your Highness.”
“Don’t even talk to me for a while!”
For the first time, I shouted at Richard. Breathing heavily like a raging bull, I turned away.
Though he didn’t follow me, once I returned to the First Princess’s quarters, all eyes turned to me.
“Your Highness, you’re back— …Wait, Your Highness?!”
“Ilia, listen, this is—”
“W-Why are you all wet?! Did—did you fall in the water?!”
“…Yes, but first, calm down—”
“P-Physician! The First Princess fell in water! Call the royal physician immediately!”
Thanks to Ilia’s panic, the entire palace learned that I had fallen into a lake.
Blushing furiously, I muttered under my breath.
“Young Duke Eliette…”
This humiliation—I will make sure to repay him for it.
* * *
News that Princess Lilien had slipped and fallen into a pond during her garden walk reached none other than Emperor Rius himself.
His hand, paused mid-paperwork, finally set the pen down.
Renald spoke.
“Apparently, her palm was scraped too. Her maid, Ilia, said the Princess’s hand was bandaged.”
“‘Was bandaged,’ meaning it wasn’t treated by the court physicians?”
“No, Your Majesty. She said a certain noblewoman treated it for her.”
“I see.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Renald bowed, the Emperor rose slowly from his seat.
“I’ll pay the First Princess a visit.”
Renald’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at his master.
It had been ten years since Lilien was born.
This would be the first time her father—the Emperor—visited her quarters.
