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“I’m Looking for the Runaway Princess – Chapter : 7”
The swordsmanship class had ended.
Elizia slowly changed her clothes after washing in the shower room inside the training grounds.
She was deliberately moving sluggishly, wondering if Rakan might still be waiting outside.
If it were a coincidence, that would be fine—but walking together as if it were a routine somehow felt uncomfortable.
Please don’t be waiting for me… I hope he already left.
Muttering to herself, Elizia passed through the dim corridor alone.
When she stepped out into the afternoon sunlight—
“Elizia.”
Without fail, Rakan was there waiting for her.
Was it the dazzling light stabbing into her eyes, or his bright golden hair shining so intensely?
Elizia narrowed her eyes and hesitated. But soon, at Rakan’s gesture calling her over, she could only give in and step forward reluctantly.
He wasn’t even being forceful, so why couldn’t she refuse him?
Elizia found her own feelings puzzling, but she had no answer.
The two walked together as if it were the most natural thing. With no more classes left, their destination was the dormitory.
The late afternoon sun was warm, and only the sound of birds filled the quiet between them.
“Relax your wrist.”
Elizia recalled something he had once told her as she sliced through the air with a wooden sword.
Since that day, her wrist no longer hurt, nor did she feel as much shock when clashing blades with an opponent. His advice had clearly been useful.
“Considering you’re the princess of an enemy nation, I might’ve been too kind teaching you.”
“If a war ever breaks out, I’ll use it well. Thanks.”
Elizia replied with a small smile.
The Kingdom of Ortizia and the Kashtra Empire had already been in a ceasefire for twenty years.
Because of that, the word war no longer felt so heavy. Even jokes like this were possible now.
And strangely, spending time with him wasn’t as unpleasant as before. If anything, she felt they had grown closer.
She didn’t dislike this atmosphere—but she was curious about his intentions.
Is he interested in me? No way.
She glanced up at him.
However, judging from the half-step distance he kept while walking, it didn’t seem like he had romantic interest or any hidden scheme.
“Senior, why are you suddenly approaching me like this?”
“Why? Worried I might’ve taken an interest in you?”
“Please don’t say scary things.”
“Scary? I’d call it gracious.”
“……”
She was no longer surprised by such remarks. It seemed she had become quite used to Rakan.
Yet she still couldn’t hide the slight crease in her expression.
Meanwhile, Rakan, the one making absurd remarks, simply continued walking calmly.
“If I ever get the chance, I’d like to introduce you to my younger brother.”
“Your brother?”
Elizia tilted her head, genuinely confused.
The younger brother who supposedly looked like her? The half-brother who was said to be handsome?
She already knew this wasn’t about romantic interest—but she hadn’t expected matchmaking.
Rakan chuckled lightly as he noticed her confusion.
Strangely enough, Elizia found herself thinking that his faintly curved smile was quite beautiful.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not free enough to worry about my brother’s—or an enemy princess’s—love life.”
“Then why?”
“For political reasons.”
“Political reasons?”
Elizia narrowed her eyes.
She was the future queen of Ortizia. His words must be related to that fact.
But how much influence could connections with imperial nobles really have politically?
Rakan didn’t seem interested in explaining further. He tilted his head slightly and looked at her seriously.
“Anyway, since you and I met first, let’s build a connection. You won’t lose anything from it.”
“I see.”
I feel like I would lose quite a lot, though.
For example, jealous looks from female classmates, her falling reputation, or her increasingly complicated expression because of him.
She swallowed her thoughts and nodded.
He seemed a bit twisted, but not inherently malicious. And even though he was from an enemy nation, he seemed well-connected.
It didn’t seem like a bad idea to maintain a connection.
“By the way, who are you going to the party with tomorrow?”
“Sophie senior.”
“I see.”
Gravel crunched under their feet.
Elizia kicked a pebble absentmindedly.
“And you, senior?”
The question was casual, but for some reason, waiting for his answer felt strangely tense.
If he says a girl’s name… I might feel weird about it.
“Frederick Watts.”
But the name he gave wasn’t a girl’s.
Frederick Watts—the boyfriend of Sophie, her roommate.
Elizia let out a quiet breath of relief.
Soon, the dormitory building came into view.
At the fork where the boys’ and girls’ dorms split, Elizia gave a small nod.
“I’ll go now.”
“Sure.”
Rakan waved casually as well.
Then they separated.
A clean farewell.
* * *
“Elizia, are you really going like that?”
“Yes. Why?”
“……”
Sophie’s expression turned strangely unreadable.
It was the day of the academy’s foundation celebration party in the annex.
The two of them were getting ready in their dorm room.
As expected of a merchant’s daughter, Sophie wore a silk dress in a trendy design.
A pink dress with a voluminous skirt that flowed elegantly, decorated with sparkling embroidery like scattered jewels.
Elizia lightly touched Sophie’s glossy dress and looked down at hers.
It was nothing particularly special compared to hers—high-quality, but simple. A dark navy dress that rose neatly up to her neck.
Though it followed her figure in a feminine way, it didn’t have the so-called “princess-like” aura. More like a strict governess.
Sophie opened Elizia’s wardrobe wide. Inside were dozens of extravagant dresses shimmering under the light.
Her nanny had prepared them. Dresses she had never worn since entering the academy.
“You have all these fancy dresses and you choose that?”
“Yes. It’s not like I have anyone to impress.”
“…What exactly is wrong with our princess?”
“My problem? Maybe… my hands?”
Yes. The problem was Elizia’s lack of skill.
At the palace, maids would dress her and do her hair, but here she was alone.
Tying corsets or braiding hair meticulously was simply too annoying.
She liked fancy things, but sitting still and decorating herself didn’t suit her personality.
Sophie sighed, then pulled every dress out of the wardrobe and began trying them against Elizia.
“This is pretty, but too plain… this doesn’t match your eye color…”
“Hm?”
“A merchant must have good sense. As a merchant’s daughter, I was fortunately born with that talent. So leave your styling to me today.”
“……”
“I’m not as good as maids, but I’ll do my best.”
Sophie’s usually gentle eyes sharpened with determination.
Overwhelmed, Elizia nodded obediently.
Even though she looked like a gentle sheep, she couldn’t refuse this kind of enthusiasm.
Sophie moved quickly, selecting jewelry, hair accessories, and gloves from Elizia’s wardrobe.
Elizia simply stood in the middle of the room, letting herself be arranged.
“Is this tight enough?”
Elizia asked while tightening Sophie’s corset.
Sophie groaned, struggling to breathe and nodding.
Elizia was surprisingly strong for her slender arms.
Sophie had even removed her own dress earlier to focus on dressing Elizia.
Now she had to put it back on afterward.
Elizia carefully fixed Sophie’s hair and helped her necklace into place.
The two stood facing each other.
“You’re beautiful, Elizia.”
Sophie smiled brightly, flushed with satisfaction at her work.
“You are too, Sophie senior. As always.”
Elizia smiled gently.
It was strange how close she felt to a roommate from an enemy nation, one year older than her.
Perhaps it was Sophie’s kind personality with no hidden motives.
“Let’s go.”
Sophie picked up her gloves and smiled as sunset light poured in through the window.
The party was about to begin.
“Wow, Elizia! You look amazing!”
“That violet necklace suits you perfectly!”
“This is such a new look for you! Of course, I mean it in a beautiful way!”
As they reached the first floor of the dormitory, they encountered several female students dressed for the party.
Friends of Elizia came over and showered her with compliments.
She usually wore neatly braided hair and simple dresses.
So seeing her now felt unfamiliar—but beautiful.
Elizia replied with small smiles and continued toward the venue.
She felt unusually excited. Her heart was light, fluttering.
Even the faint scent of flowers in the garden felt perfect that night.
Her loose hair swayed gently over her shoulders.
A violet dress flowed softly with lace layered over it.
Transparent fabric revealed her delicate collarbones and shoulders.
It was elegant yet youthful—almost alluring in its subtle exposure.
The dress flared gently from her waist.
Each step made the layered fabric sway, and jewels embedded in it shimmered under the moonlight.
She recalled her reflection in the mirror earlier.
It was the familiar version of herself from the palace—but unfamiliar to the students here.
She was the type who shone brightest when dressed extravagantly.
Soft classical music spilled from beyond the large doors.
Sophie and Elizia each held a rose and a lily given by the attendant and waited for the doors to open.
Soon, the gilded doors swung open, flooding them with dazzling light and music.
Elizia stepped forward gracefully.
Tables filled with colorful finger foods and drinks, sculptures wearing flower crowns, paintings of books and pens—everything was elegant.
There was nothing lacking.
But Elizia soon froze mid-step.
Something in front of her felt unfamiliar.
She blinked slowly.
[Elizia Wader Ortizia]
Her name was clearly engraved on a voting vase for choosing between roses and lilies.
