🔊 TTS Settings
But from Sundubu’s perspective, it seemed it wasn’t like that at all.
Honestly, even without exchanging words, I felt like I could understand how he must have been feeling.
In a way, ever since the curse began, El was practically the first person who truly recognized him.
So I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I only held him tightly.
Soon after, as El applied the medicine the maid had brought, she finally ended up shedding tears.
I had noticed it from the moment he was covered in blood, but seeing his skin torn open like that was painful for me too.
“Woof!”
At that, Sundubu whimpered and squirmed his body.
It was the kind of movement someone makes when they don’t know what to do because the person they care about is crying.
El spoke as if trying to calm him down.
“We have to… apply the medicine, so stay still… okay…?”
“…Whiiine.”
After that, silence followed.
El quietly continued treating him, and not only Sundubu, but Lari and the maids as well could only watch El carefully, reading her mood.
Since it wasn’t possible to wrap bandages around Sundubu’s front paws, El placed thin gauze over them instead.
Only after confirming that he could walk without discomfort did El finally let him go.
Sundubu, now showing off a perfectly normal gait, stared intensely at El.
It was obvious he wanted to know what had happened.
However, El—still too shocked by Sundubu to pay attention earlier—also applied medicine to Lari and the others, then turned away.
“I’m tired.”
“…Whiiine—”
Sundubu looked stunned by El’s attitude, whimpering helplessly as though he didn’t know what to do.
He couldn’t even approach and simply froze in place.
“Whimper…”
“…”
“…Grrr…”
He cried pitifully.
Finally, El turned back and patted the spot beside her.
“I didn’t take you with me because I was afraid something would happen to you. The prince is a lunatic.”
“…Whine…”
“If the same thing happens again, I’ll leave you behind again.”
“Woof woof!”
No! Sundubu shook his head side to side, but El was firm.
“If you act recklessly like this again…”
“…”
“Then I’ll really… spank your butt.”
Sundubu turned to look back at his fluffy rear—and completely froze.
“I’ll also give you a bath… and kiss you 500 times.”
“Waaang…”
Though he looked like a dog, Sundubu’s mind was still human—so it was undoubtedly a cruel(?) punishment.
After being summoned by the Emperor and harshly scolded, Reynard trembled with humiliation.
He couldn’t understand what his father was thinking—why he would take that woman’s side so completely. He had asked if she was the Emperor’s mistress, and in return, he’d been slapped across the face.
Bang—!
Reynard kicked the table violently, and as if that had set him off like a fuse, he tore through the room, shouting like a madman.
The attendants and maids standing nearby trembled in fear, terrified they might be blamed for something.
Reynard was not an easy master to serve.
He had a bad temper and a worse habit of using his hands. Whenever he lost control, he acted without thinking. Even though working in the Imperial Palace was considered a prestigious job, many servants couldn’t endure it and ended up quitting.
Especially the maids—he was a notorious womanizer who couldn’t keep his hands off any pretty face. The head maid had even begun assigning only older, experienced women to him on purpose.
“Aaaah!!”
Reynard might have been foolish, but he wasn’t blind.
The Emperor was clearly plotting something with the Second Prince’s consort—something Reynard didn’t know about.
And he was almost certain it had something to do with his younger brother, Schuert.
“Grit…”
He was anxious.
Whenever the Emperor looked at Reynard, he would click his tongue and compare him to his imprisoned brother.
Schuert would have done this… Schuert would have done that… Schuert… Schuert… Schuert!
No matter what Reynard did, the Emperor always brought up Schuert.
Schuert was called the “monstrous prince” and was shunned by everyone, yet Reynard had spent his entire life living in his shadow.
Perhaps, at that banquet, the Emperor had wished Reynard—not Schuert—would become the monster.
What secret did the Second Prince’s consort have… one that Reynard didn’t know?
“Summon Marquis Tenero.”
But in truth, that didn’t matter much.
No matter how much he schemed, Reynard had never once escaped the Emperor’s grasp.
He believed that anyone who blocked his path simply needed to be removed.
Whatever the Emperor was planning, Reynard would not let it go as intended.
Elle did not fully trust the Emperor.
He had promised to handle Reynard, but… she wasn’t sure. After seeing the hatred burning in Reynard’s eyes, she doubted he would back down quietly.
It was unsettling to remain careless, so she reinforced the palace staff.
Perhaps the Emperor didn’t trust his own son either, because without protest, he dispatched knights to her.
“I am Dominedi Serk, commander of the Second Imperial Knights.”
“I am Shuberon Kairi, commander of the Fourth Imperial Knights.”
“Thank you. I’ll be relying on you.”
“Yes.”
Elle knew the First Knights served as the Emperor’s personal guard, while the Third handled the palace outskirts—so the Second and Fourth had been assigned to her.
Even though Renne had declined greatly, the Imperial Knights were still reliable enough to offer some reassurance.
The Second Commander, being more skilled, stayed close to Elle as her personal escort, while the Fourth oversaw both divisions and managed the overall defense of the Lily Palace.
Still, Elle lived a simple, monotonous life.
Most of her time was spent inside the palace.
The only time she had gone out recently was to find Schuert’s nanny.
Reynard might be an idiot, but surely he wouldn’t cause trouble inside the Imperial Palace itself.
Even if she increased security, if someone sent spies in secretly, there was little she could do.
That was why Elle believed the greatest danger came from those closest to her.
In fantasy stories, what assassination attempt happens most often?
Poison.
It was always the people nearby who did it.
So Elle selected only attendants who were not desperate for money and had no family that could be threatened.
Even then, she couldn’t feel completely safe. If someone’s life was held hostage, it couldn’t be helped.
So she ordered the knights to monitor each maid and servant one-on-one.
At first they complained it was uncomfortable, but once they realized how much they were being paid, they accepted it.
Money might not solve everything, but people always want more of it.
Even so, Elle knew it still wasn’t perfect.
“Nothing will happen,” Lari said.
“Yes… it has to be that way.”
Elle’s routine became even more restricted.
Aside from walking with Sundubu and having tea in the garden, she barely went anywhere.
And she spoke cautiously, only asking questions when the only people present were those she truly trusted—Lari and Sundubu.
“Oh, by the way… can you provide protection at night too?”
“Of course. That’s the foundation of escort duty.”
“…Actually, every night… I go to meet Lord Schuert.”
“…Pardon?”
Dominedi and Lari both widened their eyes in shock.
“Lady Elle? You never told us that!”
“I’m telling you now.”
“…Since when have you been meeting him?!”
“It hasn’t been long since we began meeting in person.”
“…So at night…”
“Yes. I’ve been seeing him.”
Lari stared, mouth hanging open.
Dominedi recovered first and said that if Elle told him the time, they could provide support discreetly.
“Woof woof.”
At that moment, Sundubu circled Elle anxiously, whining as if uneasy.
Elle hugged him and added softly:
“He’s… actually a little scared.”
“Oh! Then we’ll guard from a distance.”
Sundubu looked at her with betrayal in his eyes.
Was that not what he wanted?
Elle had nothing more to say, so she looked away.
“But what kind of person is the Second Prince? Is he really that timid?” Lari asked.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Elle.
“He’s kind. Gentle. Even cute.”
“But no more questions. Later, when you meet him yourself, you’ll understand.”
“Me?! I will?!”
“Yes. You will.”
Lari tilted her head, confused, but Elle only smiled mysteriously and ended tea time.
Late at night, Elle went out as promised to meet Schuert, accompanied by Dominedi.
Because he was a knight with keen senses, he didn’t enter all the way to the garden lake, instead standing guard nearby.
Schuert likely already knew guards would come, but if they were too close, Elle worried he might run away.
The garden at night was quiet and serene.
In the past it might have felt eerie, but perhaps because Schuert was here…
As always, Schuert had arrived first.
Their eyes met, but neither greeted the other.
They simply stood, looking at one another for a long time.
They had only met yesterday, yet it felt like much longer.
And since they had parted so abruptly, and this was their first meeting after revealing secrets, it was awkward.
Elle spoke first.
“Um… the air is nice tonight?”
“Yes… it is.”
“…Shall we sit and talk?”
“Yes.”
Still keeping a slight distance, the two sat down with two trees between them, as they always did.
Schuert’s gaze remained fixed on Elle.
“Irin…”
“Yes?”
“Can I… call you Irin? I don’t think I ever received permission back then.”
“Of course you can!”
Elle smiled brightly.
She had thought that name would be forgotten.
At first, the name Raella Randmiken had felt unfamiliar.
But humans adapt. After being called “Elle” so often, she had gradually come to respond to it.
“And… please call me… Shu… El.”
“A nickname?”
“Yes. From when I was young.”
He had once been called by it more than by his real name, Schuert.
His mother had loved that “El” was part of her own name as well.
As Schuert smiled bitterly at the distant memory, Elle said:
“My nickname is ‘Elle’ too. It’s common, but… I think it’s nice.”
“…Ah.”
“Having something in common with someone you like is a good thing. Even if it’s small.”
“…Yes.”
“Shuel-nim.”
“You don’t need the honorific.”
“Okay! Shuel! And speak casually with me too.”
“Ah… yes.”
A breeze passed between them, and the leaves rustled softly in the night.
